June 6, 2004
Prayer Request
Do You Remember When. . .?

All Things Work Together

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

My husband John and I drove to the “Autos for Cash” lot where we hoped to sell our 10-year-old car. Lord, give us a reasonable price, I prayed.

John’s chief concern was Autos for Cash might not offer us much because the car’s odometer read 146,000 miles. Most of the mileage had been accumulated a few years earlier when we had lived in Southern California and John had a long drive to work each day. However, the daily commute had been mostly highway driving in which the driver makes fewer stops and that means less stress to the engine. A better engine meant more money for us.

I held my breath when the buyer approached us. John shook the man’s hand and began to talk about the car. As the buyer looked over the car, he commented on an old junior college parking sticker on the lower right-hand side of the windshield.

“Did you attend this college?” he asked my husband. The college was located 1,100 miles away from Autos for Cash. “A few classes there,” John answered. “I went to a 4th of July fireworks display there two years ago,” the buyer said. The conversation changed.

We learned the buyer was from the same area in Southern California we were. He had even worked in the same city as John, driving the same long stretch of highway each day. He completely understood John’s explanation of the high mileage because he knew the area. He purchased the car from us for a reasonable price.

It reassures me to know that our God is so big, so caring, and so detail-oriented that He would take the time to match us up with the right person, even if it’s only to sell an old car.
(c) Millie Thomas Kearney, Lynnwood WA

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for a revival and an awakening in the churches. . .True, God would take the time to take care of the details, but do we trust him to do it?

2) Pray for our country. . . Continue to pray for the troops in transition. As thousands are being relocated every week, pray for smooth transitions and good adjustments, whether to live at home after months in the combat zone, or battle-readiness and concern due to deployment in the Middle East.

Also, those of us who understand need to repent for the sin of our country.

3) Pray for our president. . . Pray for the results of the G8 Summit held June 8-10 in Sea Island, GA. Pray for each Head of State and their advisors to be attentive to God’s wisdom and will--that God will intervene in their opinions and the positions they form over the issues presented. Pray also for the protection of every leader as well as the local, national and international security efforts surrounding this event. Pray that no terrorist efforts against this group.

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: 1Kings 8:28 & Psalm 66:20

Oregon

4) Pray for Chuck. He chose a cancer treatment that the doctor thought would be the best for him. Well this past week he had to take many tests to see if he would qualify for the treatment. They discovered that he has some blockage in some of the arteries in or to his heart. Now he will have to have an angiogram, angioplasty or even open heart surgery before he can begin the treatment. He goes to a cardiologist this week to see what they can do.

They are still waiting for the test results for Donna, his wife. The doctor discovered that she had some internal bleeding. After testing they found a tumor in her colon. They took it out and think that it looks cancer free but it is still being tested. Pray for healing, strength, and peace for each of them.

5) Pray for Bill. Pray for salvation first then pray for healing.

6) Walter has had a further setback. Lift him up before the Lord.

7) Pray for Lili as she battles to give up a really troublesome habit.

8) Pray for a man who will retire this month. Pray for guidance and wisdom from the Lord. Pray for rest and peace. Pray for new direction.

9) Pray for a church that seems to be going through a spiritual awakening.

Missionaries

10) You’all have prayed for Bruce and Deb Robinson in Haiti for years. He is the one who runs water lines from known springs to communities so that the people can have fresh running water and not have to walk 5-10 miles to get a pitcherful they can carry home on their heads. Well, last week the floods came and thousands died in Haiti and El Salvador. We have had no report from Bruce but this is a country of great economic hardship, great political upheaval, and huge spiritual confusion. Floods can’t have helped much. Pray for Bruce and Deb’s safety (both physical and spiritual), and great opportunities to witness because of these tragedies.

11) Pray for Scott and Evani Hunnicutt in Brazil with Pioneer Missions. They ask for prayer in the following areas:

• That they will allow God to do His work in their lives.
• That God will place in them a greater love and compassion for each other.
• That God restore their marriage and balance in their lives.

12) Every mission board does a lot with summer short term missionaries -- two weeks, two months, or all summer. Pray for these teams of usually inexperienced travelers to find God’s grace in their lives, and to find out more about God and more about themselves than they ever thought possible. Pray that their time and efforts are productive for the kingdom. Pray for safety and travel mercies.

13) Pray for Retno who works with OC International in Indonesia. She recently made some deeper discoveries about her walk with the Lord and He has opened the gates of heaven and is pouring out His blessings on her life. Pray that she remains close to the Lord and continues to learn and gain wisdom from Him.

14) Pray for Jon and Judi as they minister in Indonesia also. This country is always in political upheaval but now it is excessively so as elections -- several -- spread over 4 months -- bring out the worst on the campaign trail. Pray for safety for the missionaries living in Indonesia.

15) Praise God -- there are 7 more Christians in Siberia than there were this time last month!!!

Do You Remember When...?

All the girls had ugly gym uniforms?
It took five minutes for the TV warm up?
Nearly everyone's Mom was at home when the kids got home from school?
Nobody owned a purebred dog?
When a quarter was a decent allowance?
You'd reach into a muddy gutter for a penny?
Your Mom wore nylons that came in two pieces?
All your male teachers wore neckties and female teachers had their hair done every day and wore high heels?
You got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped, without asking, all for free, every time? And you didn't pay for air? And, you got trading stamps to boot?
Laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or towels hidden inside the box?
It was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents?
They threatened to keep kids back a grade if they failed. . .and they did?

Do you remember Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Laurel and Hardy, Howdy Dowdy and the Peanut Gallery, the Lone Ranger, The Shadow Knows, Nellie Bell, Roy and Dale, Trigger and Buttermilk, Helen Trent and One Man’s Family?

What things do you remember?

June 13, 2004
Prayer Request
Great Truths

As America observes a National Day of Mourning on Friday, June 11, pray that a spirit of gratitude and thanks to God for the life and leadership of Ronald Reagan will arise across America. Pray for those who mourn his loss: Nancy Reagan and children Michael, Ron and Patti, that God will comfort them in their time of mourning.

As the G-8 Summit wraps ups today, concluding its meetings in Sea Island, GA, pray for the initiatives considered there-particularly one concerning international travel security, affecting travel and trade. Pray also for the many leaders gathered there, that they will be open to God's wisdom, seeking His guidance. Pray for newly appointed Iraqi interim President Ghazi Ajil al-Yawer as he works toward the political, social, and economic rebirth of Iraq. Pray for the successful transition of power to the Iraqi interim government as June 30 approaches.

Prayer Requests

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: Psalm 116:15

Pray for Jean and her family as her mother passed away this week.

Pray for Jim Taylor, a missionary with Hard Hats for Christ. He was bitten by a rabid bat. The doctors are giving him the rabies shots which are very painful and they are monitoring his condition. Pray for healing, wisdom, and peace.

Pray for Marty and Dawna's daughter and granddaughter. The ex- husband is threatening to kidnap the 4 year old. He has a rather poor track record for good behavior. Pray for protection for all concerned and salvation for the ex husband.

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.

Additional leaders to pray for:

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

June 27, 2004
Prayer Request
Change Of Perspective

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. . .The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor!

2) Pray for our country. . .Pray for the ongoing efforts to keep marriages and families strong and healthy in both the public and private sectors. Pray for the President as he works to codify marriage as being between one man and one woman.

3) Pray for our president. . .as he travels the world. Pray for protection - both physical and spiritual

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: Psalm 91:15 & I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Oregon

4) Pray for Ryan. Pastor Tom led him to the Lord very recently. Also recently, Ryan's doctor changed some of his medication and then Ryan had a beer. Currently he is in a very deep coma and showing no signs of coming out of it. Pray for Ryan to be restored and to live fully for Jesus. Pray for his family.

5) Pray for Del. He is an elderly Christian and has been doing pretty well. This week there has been a noticeable slide in his behavior and cognition. Pray for Del's health and pray for his wife's peace in God.

6) Pray for Jim who is in treatment for cancer and isn't responding.

7) Pray for Don who has to have extensive blood transfusions this week. Pray for his health. Pray for strength for his wife, Ruth.

8) Pray for Elnore. She has been having chemotherapy and thought she was finished with that and ready to begin radiation treatments when another crisis hit. She had an emergency appendectomy this week. Pray for healing and comfort. Pray for strength to endure. Pray for her husband, Tom.

9) Pray for Ruth. The doctors thought she was having a stroke but she also had a heart attack at the same time. Pray for her recovery.

10) Pray for Jim who was recently "downsized" from his company. He is looking for work. Pray he finds it soon.

11) Pray for Ryan. He's 8. He goes to church and says he knows Jesus. He has some obvious problems and not a good prognosis.

Everywhere

12) Pray for all the churches who are doing Vacation Bible Schools this summer. Many children will be reached that never come to church on Sundays. Pray for the staff, the volunteers, the kids, and even for the "cookie providers" -- it all counts. (Be one if you can!!!)

California

13) Pray for the Charter School in Placerville that you'all have been praying for. The Principal reports that graduation was a tremendous success. (Two students even accepted the Lord). God was faithful in upholding the finances of the school even through a crisis in enrollment and a crisis with the State. Pray that the needed changes in staff be made, that enrollment returns to the needed level, and the mountains of paperwork for the Dept of Ed can be completed before it is time to start again in the Fall.

Change Of Perspective

An atheist was taking a walk through the woods. "What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!" he said to himself.

As he continued walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes. Turning to look, he saw a 7 foot grizzly charging towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. Looking over his shoulder he saw that the bear was closing in on him.

His heart was pumping frantically and he tried to run even faster. He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear raising his paw to take a swipe at him.

At that instant the atheist cried out: "Oh my God!..."

Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent.

It was then that bright light shone upon the man and a voice came out of the sky saying: "You deny my existence for all of these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?"

The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps, could you make the BEAR a Christian?" "Very well," said the voice.

The light went out. And the sounds of the forest resumed.

And then the bear lowered his paw, bowed his head and spoke, "Lord, bless this food which I am about to receive and for which I am very thankful. Amen."