September 5, 2004
Prayer Request
School Starts This Week -- A Letter To A Mother

The "Little Things"
In Honor of September 11th

Next time your morning seems to be going wrong, the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, don't get mad or frustrated; God is at work watching over you. Doubtful? Think about this:

After September 11th, one company invited the remaining members of other companies who had been decimated by the attack on the twin Towers to share their available office space. At a morning meeting, the head of security told stories of why these people were alive, and all the stories were just the "little things."

Now, when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone -- all the "little things" that annoy me -- I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.

May God continue to bless you with all those annoying "little things" and may you remember their possible purpose.
From the internet thanks to the Hoods Redding CA

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church -- Won't it be something when we'all get to Heaven and find out all the "little things" that spared our lives?

2) Pray for our country. . .tornadoes and hurricanes are causing great havoc in the south. Pray for the victims.

Give thanks to God for the success of the Olympic Games, rejoicing in His answered prayers for the protection of all involved, and for the positive spirit of American athletes in particular.

Give thanks as well, for answered prayer for God's protection and care over the city of New York and the Republican National Convention.

3) Pray for the president. . .Pray he is able to keep his time with the Lord in light of the demands of his campaign and his office.

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: II Chronicles 7:14 & Psalm 66:16-20

Missionaries

4) Pray for Richard and Charlotte as they return home. His mother has worsened. Pray for Gayle and the rest of the family as they don't yet know the Lord as Savior.

5) Pray for Mark and his family. They serve with Campus Crusade for Christ in Florida. Recent contact verifies that plywood to cover windows and other items are in very short supply. Mark asks for prayer as to what he can do to serve his neighbors through this crisis.

Oregon

6) Pray for Fred, Jim, and John, men in the Oregon Veterans Home in The Dalles who are now in need. There are many more there --over one hundred men and women -- who have served their country in past wars and are now in need of your prayers. There is probably a facility like this in your community. Pray for those men and women too.

7) Pray for Darrell who is in prison and getting out soon. Pray that he makes better choices this time than he has in the past.

8) Pray for Mike that God would continue to encourage him.

9) Pray for Betty. 2 years ago her grandson drown in a tragic accident. 2 months ago her husband died of cancer after a 7 month illness. The following week, she fell down her front porch steps and broke her hip. The physical therapist did damage to her knee and that caused a blood clot in her leg. This week she is traveling to the Midwest to stay with her daughter to heal. She is a strong and active Christian. Pray God gives her a time of peace and rest and that she heals so that she can come home.

10) Pray for a young man who wants to straighten out some old problems but has not followed through.

11) Pray for a lady who is using all kinds of excuses to avoid dealing with reality.

Illinois

12) Pray for Ted and Nancy. Ted had emergency abdominal surgery not too long ago and there has been no news about his recovery. Pray for his healing and pray for her strength and peace.

School Starts This Week -- A Letter To A Mother

A mother entered her daughter's bedroom and saw an envelope with "Mom" written on it lying on the bed. In great trepidation, she tore open the letter and, with her heart in her shoes, read:

Dearest Mom:

I am so happy. I have eloped with my new boyfriend. I have found real passion and he is so nice with all his piercings and special tattoos, especially the one with my name in a heart. I just love his big motorcycle, but it is not only that, Mom, I'm sort of pregnant and Yaqui (that's Swahili for "Warrior Prince") said that we will be very happy in his trailer in the woods.

I've learned that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone, so we'll be growing it for ourselves and Yaqui's friends, who will swap for all the cocaine and ecstasy drugs we want.

In the meantime, we'll pray for science to find the AIDS cure, for Yaqui to get better.

Don't worry about me, Mom. I'm 15 years old now and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'll visit so you can get to know your grandchildren.

Your daughter, Melissa Louise

P.S. Hey, Mom, don't freak -- none of this is true. I'm at Judy's house. I just wanted to show you there are lots worse things in life than the report card in my desk drawer. . .
Love you, Missy

September 12, 2004
Prayer Request
New Version of the 23rd Psalm

The Ministry That Lasts

I work in a Christian retirement community. Our facility offers a continuum of care, from beautiful independent living homes to a full nursing care building.

I often come to work early to walk around the grounds. Some of the parked cars have "clergy" stickers on them, and I realize that pastors are visiting. As I look into one of the sun room windows I can see a pile of boxes -- one marked "preparations for Vacation Bible School," indicating that many of these godly people still volunteer in their home churches and former neighborhoods. The doors, houses and carefully kept gardens often have decorations with Scripture verses on them. Many residents in the retirement community also visit our nursing home to offer aid. Talented musicians play for our patients. Men create beautiful things in the woodshop to donate. Men and women come in to read the Bible to those who can no longer read for themselves. This is a wonderful loving ministry from one senior saint to another. It is much needed and much appreciated.

But what of the nursing care patients themselves? Some of them are clergy also. . .and former Sunday School teachers, lay leaders and outreach workers. How do they continue to serve the Lord? How does a man or woman who is nearly blind and deaf help others? How does a feeble grandparent (or great-grandparent) affect the life of an impetuous youth? How does one who is bedridden further the kingdom of God?

The answer, of course, is prayer. One can affect the spiritual realm with praise and thanksgiving. . .and on a personal level, one can affect lives through intercessory prayer.

Prayer is a ministry that can be performed by any believer. From a toddler's first "God bless Mama" to a voiceless stroke victim's prayer that is heard by God alone, prayer changes things.

Do you know a house bound person who is discouraged by all the things he can't do well? Remind him how critically important prayer is. Encourage him to pray and reassure him that he is still a needed part of the Body of Christ. Thank him for the time he spends in prayer.

Then contemplate your own prayer life. If you were suddenly unable to move and speak, would you consider yourself useless? Or is your life so well steeped in prayer that it would sustain you? Develop the discipline of fervent prayer. The time may come to any of us when the "ONLY" thing we are able to do is pray.

Praise God! The one thing we need most - close fellowship with Him, He graciously provides, even when all other things are failing us.
(c) M. E. Albertson, Gouldsboro, Maine

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. . .No matter what the situation, the only effective thing to do is pray!

2) Pray for our country. . .physically -- as the East Coast takes on yet another hurricane -- and morally -- this election seems to have brought out the worst in everyone.

3) Pray for our president -- the office, not the man. Pray that the ideals of the founding fathers be upheld in the election.

Pray for past president Clinton as he heals from major surgery.

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: Psalm 4:1 & Psalm 46:1-3

Oregon

4) Pray for Beverly who has a blood clot on her lung.

5) Pray that Tim Mills finds unity in his ministry.

6) Pray that Ian and Anna find a vibrant church.

7) Pray for Sean as he works with a group called "Potter's Clay". He asks for prayer for both workers and for receptive hearts in those the group ministers to.

8) Pray for Shelly and Colleen as they consider working with The Master's Work this semester.

9) Pray for Jennifer and her husband as they work through the issues involved in her pregnancy.

10) Darrell (who got out of prison last week) has heard the gospel - again. Pray that he makes one of those "good choices" you'all were praying for in his decision to follow the Lord.

Missionaries

11) Pray for Mark and Lola. They ran an orphanage in Albania in the height of the Bosnian war. Many of the orphans were leftovers from that war. They recently divorced and there is no word on their whereabouts or the fate of the orphanage.

12) Randy , who you'all prayed for when he went to Russia on a short term mission recently writes the following. "I have been concerned about Marina, my interpreter. She came to the Lord, but wasn't ready to leave the Orthodox church. My concern was that it's very hard to grow, or even to maintain without fellowship. Recently a friend went to Russia to serve in a children's camp. She found Marina and reported back that Marina is studying with a mature Christian woman and growing daily." Praise God that He allowed Randy this follow up news, that Marina is grounded and growing, and that the ministry is also going and growing.

13) Pray for Joan. While waiting for her apartment in Israel to be readied, she is off to Budapest, Hungary and Krakow, Poland to speak at conferences. Pray for her trip and the results of her speaking.

Nevada

14) Continue to pray for both Dorothy and Chuck. Both are involved in serious bouts of illness. Pray for strength and peace.

15) Pray for Peg. This week she has major oral surgery. Pray for peace, comfort, and a quick recovery.

Everywhere

16) Pray for safety for the children. --- School has started. Pray not only that they are physically safe from traffic dangers going to and from school, but that they are morally and spiritually safe in the classroom. Pray also for the teachers! Pray even if you don't have kids in school!

New Version Of The 23rd Psalm

My appetite is my shepherd; I always want.
It maketh me sit down and stuff myself.
It leadeth me to my refrigerator repeatedly.

It leadeth me in the path of Burger King for a Whopper.
It destroyeth my shape.

Yea, though I knoweth I gaineth, I will not stop eating
For the food tasteth so good.
The ice cream and the cookies, they comfort me.

When the table is spread before me, it exciteth me
For I knoweth that I sooneth shall dig in.
As I filleth my plate continuously,
My clothes runneth smaller.

Surely bulges and pudgies shall follow me all the days of my life
And I shall be "pleasingly plump" forever.
Ginger did it again!!!!   Thanks!

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September 18, 2004
Prayer Request
School's In

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in your church. . . Do others see a "tapestry of God's grace" in your life?

2) Pray for our country. . .the devastation of lives and property in the South is incredible -- and yet another storm follows.

3) Pray for our president. . .pray that he continues to honor God in all of his decisions.

4) Pray for your local and state candidates

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: James 5:16

Missionaries

5) Praises from Joan in Israel. She has moved into her new apartment. Before getting unpacked, she has found ways God has used this move for his glory. Pray for the new contacts, the new house guests, and the new children of God.

6) Last week you'all were asked to pray for Mark and Lola. More information -- Lola is now serving a mission in Mexico and Mark has fibromyalgia. Pray for both situations.

7) Anti-Christian elements in Bihar have captured, severely beaten and are threatening to kill GFA native missionary Pastor Manrathan and his wife. GFA Bible woman Sarita is also being held hostage. This is a really dangerous place to be a Christian. Pray for their safety -- threats have been made to kill all 3.

Washington

8) Alley asks for prayer for the situation with her brother, Steve. Pray also for safety for Alley's 2-yr-old niece, Courteney. Pray that Alley's mother, Darlene, accept the Lord.

9) Alley would also like you'all to pray that God would place a smile on the face of everyone in the world who has not had one this day.

10) Brit, Pastor Jim's 36 yr-old son-in-law, has terminal brain cancer. He has had 5 operations so far. His daughter, 9 years old, has just been diagnosed with Leukemia. Pray for healing for these two. Pray for Brit's wife for strength and peace. Pray for Brit's 3 yr-old son for protection.. Pray for Brit's parents and parents-in-law, Jim and Annette, to be a strong support. Pray for the witness to the doctors.

Oregon

11) Judy Dirks' family has asked for prayer. Judy began having seizures and she was taken to the hospital and is now in a non-responsive coma. The doctors have downgraded her condition to Non-stable/Serious and have given the family a 50% chance of her pulling through. Judy was the wife of Terry Dirks, founder of IRM (International Renewal Ministries -- the group that does the Pastor's Prayer Summits) who passed away suddenly in 1999. Please pray for the family, both daughters are pregnant. Dana is past her due date and Debbie is 7 months pregnant with twins. Please pray for their family.

Nevada

12) Pray for Jay's dad, Jim. He is 95. He had surgery this week for cancer. He had chest pains, the doctors did blood tests, discovered he was anemic, the doctors did more tests, discovered a tumor and an affected lymph node, did surgery. WOW! That was fast! He is up and around. Seems to be doing well. Pray for quick recovery and the results of the pathology tests. Pray for Jay's mom, Peg for comfort and peace. Her oral surgery has been postponed due to all of this. They were to have come to Portland for a visit next week -- that too has been postponed.

13) Pray for a lady who doesn't know she has a problem. Pray also for her salvation and her husband's.

School's In
This is a Real Answering Machine Message For a School In California

"Hello! You have reached the automated answering service of your school. In order to assist you in connecting with the right staff member, please listen to all your options before making a selection:

• To lie about why your child is absent - Press 1.
• To make excuses for why your child did not do his work - Press 2.
• To complain about what we do - Press 3.
• To swear at staff members - Press 4.
• To ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you - Press 5.
• If you want us to raise your child - Press 6.
• If you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone - Press 7.
• To request another teacher for the third time this year - Press 8.
• To complain about bus transportation - Press 9.
• To complain about school lunches - Press 0.
• If you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable and responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, homework, and that it's not the teacher's fault for your child's lack of effort: Hang up and have a nice day!"

September 26, 2004
Prayer Request
Recognizing A Stroke

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. Pray for everyone you know that they (and you) are not living "life without".

2) Pray for our country. . .Pray for the folks in Florida who are being hit with Hurricane #4. They are getting so tired that they are no longer evacuating as they should. Pray for safety and protection.

3) Pray for the president. . .As the nation prepares for the presidential debates, pray for the candidates in their preparation, and for those who will observe, both in the halls and around the world, that the issues and views will be clear so all Americans can be wisely informed as they vote.

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: Psalm 7:9 & Psalm 29:2-4

Missionaries

4) A missionary in Central Asia asks for prayer concerning a meeting with a lady who has been interested in the Gospel. Pray the message gets through.

5) Joan in Israel asks for special prayer for a lady who has shown great interest in the Gospel recently. The lady is coming to Joan's for lunch this week and attending a conference with Joan. Pray for the message to speak deeply to this lady.

6) Dee in Alaska asks for prayer for Amanda. Dee witnessed to Amanda who readily admits to not being a Christian but not quite understanding the difference.

7) Jim asks in Washington for prayer for a 25 yr-old man named Dave. Pray that Jim's message creates enough curiosity to cause Dave to come back.

8) Jay in Portland asks for prayer for a lady who is taking care of her older sister. Pray this lady finds a good teaching church.

9) Pray for Bruce and Deb who are missionaries in Haiti. The country has been devastated by the hurricanes. More than 1000 dead. Haven't heard from Bruce. Pray for safety and survival.

Oregon

10) Pray for a young man as he moves from the subculture of youth into the mainstream of Christianity. Pray that God would give him wisdom and vision for the future.

11) Pastor Mitchell of Cedar Hills Bible Church was killed this week by his son. Pray for the pastor's family as they absorb this crisis and pray for the son as the realization of his actions comes upon him. Pray for the church as they reach out to meet needs.

12) Pray that the doctors are wise in settling on Earl's medication. Changes are hard to deal with.

13) Pray for a veteran who has been moved to another facility which may not meet his needs spiritually.

Update: The story of how Judy Dirks recovered is truly a miracle. She went from "perhaps being able to go to a nursing home" last Thursday to "being released to a friend's house for care" to "you may go home" on Tuesday! She is on some medication, but she is walking and talking and eating, etc. with no real problems. She wanted to make sure to greet and say thanks to all who prayed. So, continue to pray for her, but also rejoice at how God has restored her.

Recognizing A Stroke

This might be a lifesaver if we can remember the three questions! Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say any bystander can recognize a stroke asking three simple questions:

• ask the individual to smile
• ask him or her to raise both arms
• ask the person to speak a simple sentence

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's 28th annual International Stroke Conference February (2003). Wide-spread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage."

Prayer pulls the rope down below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly; others give only an occasional jerk at the rope. But he who communicates with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously with all his might. --Charles Haddon Spurgeon, 19th century pastor and author

Clown was being served for dinner and one cannibal said to the other,
"Does this taste funny to you?"

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