June 5, 2005
Prayer Request
Money

I Wonder What Would You Have Said...

(This is an excerpt from a missionary letter -- from Jay Neuharth in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, who also adds "thanks for praying!")

Yesterday, in the village, we began to read Romans. We didn't get past the first few verses when one lady asked something like, "It says here Jesus is God's Son. Well, ... we know God has never been born nor gave birth (one of the Muslim sayings that all Kyrgyz can recite), so how can Jesus be God's son?" I answered that God didn't father Jesus in a physical sense, but in a miraculous spiritual way. And a few other men put in their two cents. Then she went on, "Well, OK, but what really bothers me is that he is called 'Lord.' To a Kyrgyz person, that means 'God.' But there is only one God. So, how can I understand that???" And another man jumped in, "That would be two gods -- ridiculous. Jesus is a prophet!" And the discussion got nice and heated ...

Then the original lady spoke up again, silencing the others, "OK. Listen. This is what I have concluded, and I have been thinking about this for a while. There is only one God. And He came to earth in human form as Jesus. In human form, but God." That sounded awfully good to me, and I had to restrain myself from applauding right then and there. She went on, "And He was raised from the dead and lives even now. Now who but God can do that??" I was praising Him silently as I listened. And then another man put in -- "But it also says that He is raised from the dead and is now seated at God's right hand. If Jesus is God, how could he be seated at his own right hand?" The lady took that in, and then said, "I guess that doesn't work, either ... I don't know." Then Abdu put in, around this time, "I think, it can be said 'Jesus is God' and it can be said , 'Jesus is not God.'" ... and I'm sitting there enjoying this immensely.

It strikes me that we -- from our decades of Christian education and study, and centuries of Biblical background in the West -- we have become used to saying such things as "Jesus is both God and Man." and "God is Holy Spirit and Son and Father, three in one." And other such things which, in fact, are outrageous and mysterious and make no common sense at all! Talking with these folks here is so good for making me stop and wonder at who Jesus is, ... making me stop and smell the flowers, as it were.

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. . .how would you answer these claims?

2) Pray for our country. . . Give thanks to God for the continued help and protection our nation enjoys as the struggle to defeat terrorism at home and around the world goes on. Pray that God will continually protect our land from attacks within and without, and that our nation will rise up to express gratitude to God for His providential care. Pray that any attacks developed against our country will be foiled before they are formulated, and that those who would promote terror in the world will stop. Pray for the end of insurgent activity in Iraq and the Middle East.

3) Pray for the President and Mrs. Bush as they take time away from Washington at their Crawford, TX ranch this weekend. Pray that God will meet them there with enjoyment, renewal and refreshment. Pray also for godly wisdom and profound moments of spiritual strength for them both. Pray for a continuous boundary of divine protection around them and their family.

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: Deuteronomy 4:7 & Romans 8:26

4) Pray for the world. . .There shall be wars and rumors of wars!

Missionaries

5) Joan from Israel writes (after the New Age Festival): "Thank you all for your prayer support. God abundantly exceeded all our hopes and our expectations. As I wrote, the Conference began just a day after a witches convention. God showed Himself to be undeniably stronger." Keep praying! Joan is off to more encounters!

6) Jay Neuharth writes: "News Flash from Kyrgyzstan: This week Eva Pearl Neuharth, while eating a BBQed hot dog in the Neuharth's back yard, lost her first tooth! All present, including several guests and the pets, were duly impressed. This event coincided with the last day of school for all our kids. The hardest part is saying goodbye to school friends, some of whom they will not see again on earth.

Please pray this week for a retreat on the coming weekend for Kyrgyz we work with. We are expecting several from each of the three villages our team works in, as well as from the city. We'll meet out in a village, at the home of one of our friends there. There will be teaching, prayer, and lots of talking and tea. May Jesus fill our hearts and give us freedom, and bring us in deeper relationship with each other."

7) Rod Taylor writes from Ireland: "We can't emphasize enough how we rely on your prayer. Thanks for laboring in prayer with us as a family and for our ministry. Here are a few things you can be praying for:

***Emotional & Physical tiredness - As I think about our family, I just think we're all tired. Obviously the situation with Dawn's dad (who has brain cancer) is taxing emotionally but this time of year (end of school and change of program) brings tends to draw down our energy reserves anyway. Pray that we can receive real, core level rejuvenating rest. (on their vacation) Pray that we would be growing in our relationship with God and in our support and love for one another.

***Co-Workers - Our assistants, Jon and Stacey Covell are in the USA working to rebuild their support team. So far, this isn't going well. Pray that they will be able to raise the required monthly support by August so they can return to the ministry after our annual conference. Also, we have several missionaries appointed to join us. Pray their support will come in quickly and they can join us soon.

***GEM YM Office - We continue to have problems getting the office fully functional. The current issue is our internet access. Some rodents chewed through our phone line because it wasn't installed correctly and after the repair our line won't support internet access.

***GEM-K Conference - Please pray for the preparations for our conference in Budapest in August. Pray God will work in the lives of our teenaged missionary kids this summer.

***Lee and Betsy Rubottom (Dawn's parents)- Please continue to pray that God will strongly support and care for Lee and Betsy and all of the family as they struggle day by day with all the issues surrounding the cancer." Keep praying!

8) Some facts: There is a revival going on in Argentina! In one city 5,143 believers grew to more than 100,000.
An evangelical satellite network is making a big impact in the Muslim world. Listeners are growing steadily and responding!
A group of 16 Christian church denominations have begun a project to church plant 1,000 new churches in NEW YORK CITY!

Illinois

9) Last week you'all were asked to pray for a young man who had a very serious auto accident. He is doing "much better than expected" according to his doctors. Wonder why! Keep praying!!!

10) Pray for an emotionally fragile lady who is afraid that her brother is going to come to have her declared incompetent and take away her assets. He is not saved and has been angry in the past.

Money

It can buy a house	But not a home
It can buy a clock	But not time
It can buy you a position	But not respect
It can buy you a bed	But not sleep
It can buy you a book	But not knowledge
It can buy you medicine	But not health
It can buy you blood	But not life

So you see money isn't everything
And it often causes pain and suffering
I tell you this because I am your friend
And as your friend I want to
Take away your pain and suffering!!
So

Send me all your money
And I will suffer for you!

Cash only please
Thanks to Erwin, The Dalles OR

June 12, 2005
Prayer Request
Some Good Thoughts To Live By

Even Me

Lord, You hand out blessings to everyone, even me!

The Lord chooses who He wants to use. He can choose from the top, the middle, and the bottom.

The Bible tells of Saul. He was working against the Lord, but God saw fit to use him. The Lord wanted Saul to do His work, so He stopped him in his path and turned his life around.

Saul's name was changed to Paul and he started working for the Lord, instead of against Him.

Just like Paul, God has Chosen people to do His work. It does not make a difference who you are. You could be Young or Old, Black or White.

The Lord knows who He wants, Even Me.
© Annie Wall, Brooklyn, NY

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. . .Are you ready to do His work?

2) Pray for our country. . .Pray for wisdom as Congress soon votes on reauthorizing the Patriot Act, asking God to lead them into all wisdom, and to honor Him.
Pray for the members of the Supreme Court as they rule on cases regarding the Ten Commandments.
Pray for the members of our military who sacrifice to serve and safeguard our freedom. Pray for godly wisdom, protection and divine help as they do their jobs so faithfully day after day.

3) Pray for the President and his team as they work toward a culture of life in our country, seeking to protect the gift of God given through human life.

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: II Timothy 1:3

4) Pray that the nations of the world, following the leadership of President Bush and Prime Minister Blair will make appropriate responses to the financial and hunger crises in Africa.

Oregon

5) Marty asks for prayer: "We have two boys in our Wednesday night group at church who live just down the street. We are beginning a new friendship with them. Their mother just had a baby girl four days ago, and then yesterday the boys came over, asking for prayer. Their uncle on their mom's side of the family was killed by a tree in Idaho. Both families need prayer for God's comfort and peace, some for salvation too."

6) Pray for Dawna's youngest boy who is going to get his GED so he can get into a career more suited to his gifting and skills.

7) Pray for a woman in severe depression.

8) Last year you'all were asked to pray for a young woman on meth and pregnant, homeless in downtown Portland. Ron and Karen Rohman, doing street preaching in the area began to minister to her. Keep praying. She has had the baby and no one quite knows the real story. She is even deeper in meth and now reports she has HIV. She has not yet responded to the gospel message.

9) Pray for a man with some decisions to make.

Illinois

10) Pray for Nancy's uncle who has emphysema, pneumonia, and several other things and now has a "spot on his lungs". More tests this week. He is a strong Christian with a good support system but it is still scary when you can't breath.

Update: Remember the young man in the car accident who was a mess. While taking his stitches out this week, Nurse Nancy witnessed to him. Pray he receives the gospel message and acts on it.

Missionaries

11) Pray for Peter and Debbie Dodd and their girls as they prepare to return to the USA in July. They have to settle details of their house in Taiwan, pack, finish the loose ends of their work and be prepared to travel within a month.

12) Here is a prayer concern: "Under the guise of national security, the government of Kazakhstan has developed legislation that would dramatically restrict religious liberty.

In an Education Ministry initiative seen by some as part of a deliberate policy to restrict believers' rights, authorities in one village have put pressure on schoolchildren who attend Christian prayer meetings. Teachers are telling 8 year old children that it is very harmful to pray and that it "can even cause death." Children who attend prayer meetings are kept for "educational talks" by teachers, during which the children are told they are being turned into suicide bombers and zombies. To tell children that prayer can kill you, destroy your mind, or turn you into a suicide bomber is reprehensible.

We are told we will be persecuted for His sake. There is, however, a sliver of irony in the slander being propagated in the schools in Krasnoyarka, Kazakhstan. The educational authorities are not entirely wrong. Praying Christians are dangerous. They tend to turn the world upside down. They have a propensity to be those whom God uses to advance His kingly rule on earth. They are inclined to be those who win others for Christ. It is little wonder that those who oppose God would seek to stop such a "dangerous" practice as prayer. Pray that this new law will be defeated. Pray that even more kids will attend these prayer meetings and in doing so may become those who win Kazakhstan for Christ. (Glenn Penner-Communications Director-The Voice of the Martyrs in Canada).

Some Good Thoughts To Live By

• Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.
• Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
• A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
• Words that soak into your ears are whispered. . .not yelled.
• Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
• It doesn't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
• You cannot unsay a cruel word.
• Most of the stuff people worry about isn't going to happen anyway.
• Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
• Don't judge folks by their relatives.

June 19, 2005
Prayer Request
One Leftover Father's Day Joke
Some Interesting Trivia

In His Presence

In the presence of the king
There is only peace
Every heart and everything
Shines like wintry fleece

No more crying no more tears
Joy is only found
No more hurting no more fears
Love is all around

Tender voices sing with glee
Praises to his name
Ears can hear and eyes can see
Only mercy reigns

There's no darkness no more night
Shadows flee away
Jesus is the source of light
Morning noon and day

In His presence there is grace
All eternity
One day standing face to face
Where I want to be
© Michael Salerno, St Charles IL

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. . .Where do you want to spend eternity? What have you done about it? Who have you challenged to meet God?

2) Pray for our country. . .Heard some ugly statistics --- 68% of all children grow up without their biological father in the home. Stability goes out the window without solid marriages and united parents. Pray for the family unit in America.

3) Pray for our president. . .Pray for President and Mrs. Bush and their family to find time together. Pray for them to stay centered on Christ no matter what.

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: 1 Peter 2:11 - 17

4) Pray for the world. . .Pray for all those who do not have the gospel in their own language.

Missionaries

5) Here is a "new-to-PrayerWorks" mission to pray for. GRN (Global Recording Network) headquartered in Central California, has a growing network of people around the world who are recording the gospel message in more than 5,500 languages. (One group catalogs 6,912 living languages and 39,431 dialects). GRN records not only the Bible, but messages for radio and cassettes for distribution.

6) Pray for the Institute for International Christian Communication. This is the group, headed by Dr. and Mrs. Don Smith, who founded Daystar University in Kenya, and now lead an intercultural ministry near Western Baptist Seminary in Portland. They educate people for healthy communication in cross-cultural ministry.

7) Pray for Bob and Becky Otten who work with professional men and women in Almaty Kazakhstan. Part of their team is leaving without replacements. Recently they found a house to purchase, one of only 2 they found that had an indoor kitchen and bathroom and was still in their price range. Pray for God's will in housing. Pray for Bethany, their daughter who seems to be having some difficulty in school. Pray for physical and emotional energy to meet the challenges God has put before them.

8) Pray for Greg and Heidi Carlson who live and work in Poland with the Josiah Venture. This is a youth oriented program. The camp is coming ever closer to reality. The auction process will start very soon and they are planning on being up and running by next summer. Pray for God's continued guidance. Pray also for a two month furlough as Greg and family come back to the USA. Pray for travel safety, rest, and reconnection with family.

9) Pray for Ron and Karen Rohman, street preachers in downtown Portland. In May they had a new grandchild!--the first grandson. Strong and healthy. The Rohmans meet the challenge of many evil things on the street. They love, and pray for a wide variety of people, from the saved to the downright hostile. Pray for their safety.

10) Pray for Frontier Missions who meet the physical needs of Native Americans in order to open doors to their hearts and spirits. They take food and clothing, tools and vehicles to reservations and hold crusades. They also support native pastors. Pray for this work!

11) Pray for East/West Ministries. They work with Muslims in Central Asia. (And a lot of other places too!) Recently a Muslim accepted the Lord deeply and openly. He and his wife were shunned by their families, forced out of their home, and lost all their belongings. God led him to a pastor training center and is now a church planter. His church is in the middle of his home town and his congregation now numbers 150 people -- mostly former Muslims. Pray that this congregation is shielded by God's love and protection.

One Leftover Father's Day Joke

What is a father? He's the man who carries pictures in his wallet where there used to be money!!

Some Interesting Trivia

• Many years ago in Scotland, a new game was invented. It was ruled "Gentlemen Only --- Ladies Forbidden" ...and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
• In the 1400's a law was set forth that a man was not allowed to beat his wife with a stick thicker than his thumb.
  Hence we have "the rule of thumb."
• Coco-Cola was originally green.
• The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28%
  The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
• 50% of all Americans live within 50 miles of their birthplace.

June 26, 2005
Prayer Request
Some More Interesting Trivia

Even the Small Things

Friday was "one of those days". Well, it really started Thursday night. We were getting close to bedtime and I was playing a game on the computer when I heard an inappropriate noise in our back yard. You know the kind. Who is helping themselves to the contents of our yard?

I quietly and quickly walked into the living room, woke up Jay, and told him what I'd heard. We do have a sticky fingered friend (but I thought he was in jail) and a bunch of druggies at the end of the street. Jay called the police and they had a really short arrival time. By the time we did the paper work and all it was after 1:00 AM when we got to bed. (No one in the yard!)

So 6:00 AM came very early. I had to go across town, pick up a friend, and get her to the airport by 7:30 (close to 25 miles of rush hour traffic). I woke up with the alarm, but didn't stay awake so when 6:30 came, I was already late.

Mission accomplished, I dashed off to my first client (I care for elderly folks in their homes). I had never been to this person's home before and it was in Vancouver -- across the river from Portland; one of those towns where you can live on the corner of 112th St and 112th Ave. I found it, jumped out of my car, my keys slipped out of my hand onto the floorboard, I slammed the door, and went to work..

I called Jay to come rescue me. He was home waiting for the phone repair man -- our land line hadn't worked for several days. He was so sweet about it and my "knight-in-shining-armor" started across the river to save his "damsel-in-distress".

While I waited I discovered one window was down several inches. I found a willow stick that was bent and tried to reach in to pull up the lock button. It almost worked when the stick broke. I went in search of another stick, asking God to help me find one that would work. And there on the ground in this huge well manicured, ultra clean apartment complex where nothing was out of place. . . lay a piece of wire about 24 inches long! It took me less than a minute to unlock the door.

I called Jay and he was sitting at the green light waiting for traffic to turn on the on-ramp that would have committed him to a 5-6 mile trip across the Columbia River into Vancouver before he could have turned around.

If God cares enough to see that we didn't have a burglar on Thursday night...If God cares enough to make sure I got my friend to the airport on time. . .If God cares enough to see that I found the address in another city. . .If God cares enough to see that someone left a piece of wire in an inappropriate place where I could find it. . .If God cares enough to be sure I called Jay in time to prevent a long trip (by the way, he got back home 15 minutes before the phone repairman arrived!). . .If God cares about all these "little things" . . . . I'll bet He cares about the big things too!
© V.Ann Mandeville, Portland OR

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. . .Can you trust Him for the little things? Do you?

2) Pray for our country. . .Pray for the Billy Graham New York City Crusade this weekend. Possibly Rev. Graham's final crusade, more than 20 language groups will be served. Pray for strength for Rev. Graham, for protection over the event and for an overwhelming response to the message of the Gospel. Pray for the members of our military, especially those who have left their careers and families, asking God to encourage, strengthen and protect those who serve. Pray for their families who continue on without them, and for the heartbreak of those who have lost loved ones in battle.

3) Pray for our president. . .Pray for the President and the leaders of the EU as they follow up on agreements made this week on the important concerns of the Middle East, Weapons of Mass Destruction, the war on terror, human rights, help for Africa and more. Pray that their resolutions will produce positive change in the world in accord with God's will.

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: Psalm 86:1, 6

4) Pray for the world. . .Pray for the President and the leaders of the EU as they follow up on agreements made this week on the important concerns of the Middle East, Weapons of Mass Destruction, the war on terror, human rights, help for Africa and more. Pray that their resolutions will produce positive change in the world in accord with God's will.

Missionaries

5) Pray for Bill and Julisa Rowe who are expecting to leave for Kenya in September. The Kenyan government has revised their tax laws regarding missionaries and the Rowes now have to add about $1,000 a month to their support budget for taxes. Pray for God to take care of all the details - big and little - of their going.

6) Pray for a short two month furlough for the Herrick family. The schedule sounds like they will have to return to Mali to recuperate from their "vacation". Joan is coming early to attend to conferences. Pray for Tim and the boys as they "batch" it for a couple of weeks!

7) Jay and Linda Neuharth will be on furlough July and August from Kyrgyzstan. They will be with family after the death of Jay's brother. Pray for travel mercies and a good rest.

8) Pray for Joan in Israel. There is another New Age Festival her group will be attending. They seem to have good results witnessing.

9) Pray for Dave and Ann Williamson who work for Hard Hats for Christ. They will be traveling most of the summer working on projects and setting up future projects. Pray for them.

Oregon

10) Continue to pray for a church that is looking for "just the right man -- God's choice" for their pulpit.

11) Pray for Pastor Tom and his wife, Elenor, as they go into the next phase of their ministry.

To prevent truth decaybrush up on you Bible.

Some More Interesting Trivia

• Each day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.
• The state with the highest percentage of people who walk to work is:
  Alaska.
• The cost of raising a medium-sized dog to the age of eleven:
  $6,400.
• The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour:
  61,000.
• The first novel ever written on a typewriter:
  Tom Sawyer.
• If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would use the letter "A"?
  One Thousand.
• What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?
  They were invented by women.
• What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
  Honey!
• Which day are there more collect calls than any other day of the year?
  Father's Day.