December 4, 2005
Prayer Request
Test For Dementia

She Prayed For Neighbors

Corrie ten Boom received Jesus Christ as her Savior when she was just a young girl in Holland. Thrilled by the good news of salvation, she immediately became concerned for all her neighbors. "If they do not know Jesus as their Savior," she thought, "they won't go to heaven when they die." So Corrie began praying earnestly for every one of her neighbors by name.

When Corrie grew up, the Lord led her to do all she could to help other people. She still prayed for those neighbors and often wondered if they knew Jesus yet.

Then the German army marched into Holland and the Nazis took command. They persecuted the Jewish people. Corrie and her sister Betsie helped their neighbors and others to escape from Holland. Thus the sisters saved their lives.

When the Germans learned about what they had been doing, they arrested the two sisters. They took them and many others to a wretched concentration camp. Lice were in the beds, which made it hard to sleep, and Corrie and Betsie had hardly enough to eat. But they held meetings every day for the other prisoners. They told them about Jesus and how He had died to save them. Many prisoners believed, and thus they found hope and joy.

Betsie's Vision-And How It Came True

After a while Betsie became very weak and sick from lack of food. One night she woke her sister up. "Corrie," she said, "God has spoken to me. When we are free, we must do nothing but bring the good news of Jesus our Savior to people around the world. The Lord will give us strength, help, and money. We can tell people from experience that Jesus' light is stronger than the deepest darkness."

"All right, Betsie," Corrie promised. Betsie died a week later. One week after that Corrie was released from the prison camp. After that she wrote a book about how she and Betsie had helped rescue Jewish people and their long stay in the prison camp-and about Betsie's vision of their reaching people all over the world for Jesus. Because of that book Corrie became famous and was able to travel all over the world to testify for Christ.

Long-Time Prayer For Neighbor Answered

From the time she was a girl she had kept praying for those neighbors she had once known. When she was 78 years old, she was invited to speak on the most popular television program in Holland. Thus she had the joy of sharing the good new of Christ's salvation with six million people.

One man who heard Corrie's testimony was one of the neighbors she had prayed for since girlhood. When he heard about how the Lord Jesus had died for his sins, he bowed his head and asked Jesus Christ to be his Savior. Thus Corrie's long-time prayer for that neighbor was answered.

After World War II, Corrie ten Boom helped establish several rehabilitation homes for the victims of the war. For her Christian witness and efforts during the war, she was made a Knight of the Order of Orange Nassau by her Majesty, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. She also received the highest award given by the Israeli government. And she testified to millions of people all over the world when she was featured at Billy Graham's meetings. Thus her sister's vision had come true in a way the two sisters never imagined.
© Muriel Larson, Greenville SC

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. . .We so readily share gifts, recipes, parties, and fun, during the holidays. Do we as readily share our faith in Jesus?

2) Pray for our country. . .Pray for those working to bring rebuild homes, services and infrastructure in the city of New Orleans and to the entire Gulf Coast, asking God to bring His justice to the region, providing relief and support to every person still displaced and homeless. Pray also for ministries that seek to bring the love and compassion of Jesus Christ that God’s love will be powerfully displayed.

3) Pray for our president. . .As Christmas festivities at the White House begin this week, pray for President and Mrs. Bush as they welcome thousands of guests to a great variety of Christmas celebrations. These will include employees, troops, White House staff and their families. Pray that God will be honored and glorified in each of these and that hearts will be drawn to Him.

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: Psalm 62:8 & Matthew 6:5-6

4) Pray for the world. . . Pray for the continued growth of freedom and democracy in Iraq as security forces grow stronger and the nation as they prepare for elections on December 15th.

Editor's Note: Last week I found a website that every parent should visit and know about and every grandparent should share with their family. It is called www.kidescape.org. John Hall, the head of this organization, teaches kids and parents how to escape when there is an attempted abduction. Be proactive with you children and grandchildren. Teach them how to deal with an attacker. Mr Hall had methods designed for even the smallest children. I urge you to visit this website, share it with others, and teach your children to protect themselves..

Missionaries

5) Pray for Bruce and Deb who have lived and worked in Haiti for nearly 20 years, putting in water lines to deliver water to villages so that people don't have to walk 5-10 miles a day for the water they can carry. He has found a dragline (heavy equipment) but needs a knowledgeable dragline operator who can come to Haiti, do some work, train someone to use the machine, and return to check on things. Do you know anyone who would be interested? Pray!

6) Report from Dr. Tim and Joan Herrick in Mali: "Once again, we do thank you for your prayers and support. Our relationships with not-yet believers are progressing, we’ve been traveling in safety, the boys are happy in school and we know that this is because of your prayers. You might pray for some Advent activities that we hope to share with our neighbors. And speaking of Advent, please accept our wishes for a wonderful Holiday season, and a blessed 2006."

Oregon

7) Pray for Zachary who was hitchhiking from Portland to Boise. He is a Christian but he is going home to some hard decisions.

8) Pray for Jennifer and Barb, friends of Bobbi, who have cancer.

9) Pray for Dave and Suzi hosting a Child Evangelism Fellowship Christmas party for kids on the 16th.

10) Pray for Tom and his son, Tom, both facing difficulties.

11) Continue to pray for Steve. He is doing much better.

12) Pray for Ed.

13) Pray for caregivers in nursing homes and retirements centers. This time of year is particularly hard.

Test For Dementia

Below are five questions. Answer them instantly.

Q: You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?
A: If you answered that you are first, then you are absolutely wrong! If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second.

Don't take as much time as you took for the first question.
Q: If you overtake the last person, then you are...?
A: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST Person?

Q: Very tricky math! Note: This must be done in your head only! Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.
Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000. Now add 10. What is the total?
A: Did you get 5000? The correct answer is actually 4100. Don't believe it? Check with your calculator!

Q: Mary's father has five daughters:
1. Nana
2. Nene
3. Nini
4. Nono.
What is the name of the fifth daughter?
A: Nunu? --NO! Of course not, Her name is Mary. Read the question again.

Q: There is a mute person who wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done. Now if there is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself?
A: Just ask!
Thanks, Roger Payne, Gaston OR

December 11, 2005
Prayer Request
Best Prayer I Have Heard In A Long Time...

Amazing Experience
Written by a Denver Colorado physician

I was driving home from a meeting this evening about 5, stuck in traffic on Colorado Blvd when the car started to choke and splutter and die. I barely managed to coast, muttering, into a gas station, glad only that I would not be blocking traffic and would have a somewhat warm spot to wait for the tow truck. It wouldn't even turn over.

Before I could make the call, I saw a woman walking out of the "quickie mart" building, and it looked like she slipped on some ice and fell into a gas pump, so I got out to see if she was okay. When I got there, it looked more like she had been overcome by sobs than that she had fallen; she was a young woman who looked really haggard with dark circles under her eyes. She dropped something as I helped her up, and I picked it up to give it to her. It was a nickel.

At that moment, everything came into focus for me: the crying woman, the ancient Suburban crammed full of stuff with 3 kids in the back (1 in a car seat), and the gas pump reading $4.95. I asked her if she was okay and if she needed help, and she just kept saying "I don't want my kids to see me crying," so we stood on the other side of the pump from her car.

She said she was driving to California and that things were very hard for her right now. So I asked, "And you were praying?" That made her back away from me a little, but I assured her I was not a crazy person and said, "He heard you, and He sent me." I took out my card and swiped it through the card reader on the pump so she could fill up her car completely, and while it was fueling walked to the next door McDonald's and bought 2 big bags of food, some gift certificates for more, and a big cup of coffee. She gave the food to the kids in the car, who attacked it like wolves, and we stood by the pump eating fries and talking a little. She told me her name, and that she lived in Kansas City. Her boyfriend left 2 months ago and she had not been able to make ends meet. She knew she wouldn't have money to pay rent Jan 1, and finally, in desperation, she had called her parents, with whom she had not spoken in about 5 years. They lived in California and said she could come live with them and try to get on her feet there. So she packed up everything she owned in the car. She told the kids they were going to California for Christmas, but not that they were going to live there.

I gave her my gloves, a little hug and said a quick prayer with her for safety on the road. As I was walking over to my car, she said, "So, are you like an angel or something?"

This definitely made me cry. I said, "Sweetie, at this time of year angels are really busy, so sometimes God uses regular people." It was so incredible to be a part of someone else's miracle.

And of course, you guessed it, when I got in my car it started right away and got me home with no problem. I'll put it in the shop tomorrow to check, but I suspect the mechanic won't find anything wrong.
© Thanks, Jennifer Demagalski, Keiser OR

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. . .that spreads outside the church too!

2) Pray for our country. . .Pray for the influence of the film Chronicles of Narnia, asking God to bring the message of His love to many who see it.

3) Pray for the president. . .Pray for the President as he continues to lead as Commander-in-Chief of our troops-for strength and wisdom and pray that our nation will be unified in spite of the controversy over the war.

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: Psalm 43:3-4

4) Pray for the world. . .As criticism of the war in Iraq mounts, pray against the division and dissension spreading across our nation. Pray for democracy in Iraq, for wisdom for military leaders, for the end to attacks on innocent people and for safety and protection for all troops serving around the world during these difficult days.

Oregon
5) Pray for Neil and Rick who seem to be suffering with the flu.

6) Pray for Helen who is having eye problems.

7) Pray for Mattye who has Macular Degeneration. She had a good report from the eye doctor. Her vision isn't getting any worse!

New York
8) Pray for Marcia who is having serious eye problems.

Missionaries
Update: Remember Brother Howard Hunter was leading a team of preachers and medical folk into remote Philippines' villages for a week? Here's the report:

"Thank you for your prayers. We held one day of our mission to the Munyan people, saw many families and were able to show a film, "Light of the World". It was amazing to hear the response of those Munyans who are saved, to see the story of their savior illustrated. And many who do not know the Lord Jesus as savior heard the message. We did not see any additional folks saved as the service was shortened by a "brown out" and heavy rains. We did not feel safe going back the next morning to the mountains and know it was the Lord as the roads have washed out and the island has been having the worst flooding in it's history, but the Lord provided for the Munyans many medical supplies and food for several days."     *** Keep praying for this area. ***

9) Pray for Chere Rempel who works with Kurdish refugees in Virginia. Her group goes into Northern Iraq every summer to teach "English as a Second Language" courses with the express purpose of using the Bible as a text book and witnessing. Pray for a new project to facilitate this project which needs lots of copyright permission to work. Pray for smooth sailing.

10) For Thanksgiving, Joan in Israel gave out some invitations to her home for dinner. She planned on 12-15. 40 showed up. God provided enough food. Pray for all these people who heard or reheard the gospel that day that they act on what they heard.

REPORT FROM CITIZEN MAGAZINE (FOCUS ON THE FAMILY) The battle for marriage continues: There were several victories, and a few disappointments, in the fight to preserve traditional marriage. On the upside, voters in Kansas and Texas came out in record numbers to overwhelmingly approve marriage amendments in their states -- and four other states passed measures to put such amendments before voters in 2006. In California, meanwhile, the Legislature passed a bill to allow same-sex marriages, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger promptly vetoed it. On the downside, Connecticut passed a civil-unions law and a federal district court struck down Nebraska's marriage amendment, claiming it was unconstitutional, a decision that underscored the need for a federal marriage amendment.

Best Prayer I Have Heard In A Long Time...

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the nut who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed , disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot everyday (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts You give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love. By the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the blessed Savior’s name I pray. Amen.
Thanks BessieJo Wagner, Keiser OR

December 18, 2005
Prayer Request
Divert Your Course

His Plans

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. . ..You following His plans?

2) Pray for our country. .As the 1/11/06 deadline for Hurricane Katrina victims to apply for aid from FEMA approaches, pray that those needing help will get it. Pray for evacuees who remain in government-provided housing to have obstacles to their successful placement removed. Pray for everyone working to rebuild and bring relief to the entire Gulf Region, particularly faith-based efforts.

3) Pray for the president. . .Now that it has been 1,000 days since the invasion of Iraq, pray for President Bush as he leads our efforts there as Commander-in-Chief, asking God to guide him with wisdom, that our efforts will bear positive results strengthening the Middle East by the establishment of democracy in Iraq.

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: Luke 11: 2-4

4) Pray for the world. . The bus crash in Nigeria involved YWAM staff. Two were killed. Here are requests from YWAM: "Pray that God helps those who have been grieving to be comforted and for understanding. Pray for the families of both fatalities as they prepare for their deceased daughters/ sisters arrival. Please continue to pray for Dagmar whose condition is still critical (still unconscious I believe). Please pray for Erin in Johannesburg who is needing surgery.

Please pray for the 4 girls in Ghana that they would continue to recover and be well enough to travel. Please pray for all the girls as they come to terms with the shock/trauma of the accident and dealing with the death of 2 close friends."

Washington
5) Pray for Robert, Verna & Rob. They would like to grow in Christ and be able to radiate God's beauty to the world around them. (They already do.) Neither of their daughters has been attending church nor has their grandchildren. Pray the daughters find their way back to the Lord.

6) Pray for Judi's family. Her children need to come to the Lord. Her son is having some difficulties in his marriage . Her daughter needs the Lord and blessings. She is unequally yoked in her relationship. Pray for encouragement and discipleship for Mike and Judi.

California
7) Pray for Wayne Clark. He has a brain tumor which is still small. The doctors are trying to determine if it can be removed safely. This kind of thing seems to run in the family. Wayne and his wife, Genetta, are both Christians.

Missionaries
Update: Brother Howie in the Philippines reports great success with the medical group going into the back country. Many people were seen and given medicines and treatment and the Jesus film was shown with great success. Naturally, Satan had to show up and there were floods, brownouts etc. Thanks for praying.

8) Pray for Peter and Debbie Dodd who are on home stay from Taiwan. It has been much busier than being on the field.

Oregon
9) Pray for Joe and Nikki who are getting married this month. Joe is in the military and will be shipped out in the spring.

From an article in the Reno Gazette: edited for space
Bill O'Reilly wrote:

"You can now open a business in the state of Oregon that includes live sex acts as part of your inventory..... That's because the Oregon Supreme Court recently ruled 5 to 1 that telling a business it cannot have sexual exposition on its premises is a violation of freedom of expression under the Oregon Constitution..... The state now has doctor-assisted suicide, some of the nation's most lenient drug laws, including almost total access to medical marijuana, and now live sex acts in a saloon near you." Mr. O'Reilly ends by saying, "This is where the nation is headed under the secular- progressive jihad that is being waged all over America. . . .It has been said that freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose. But if we lose all standards of behavior, are we really free?"

Divert Your Course

This is the transcription of the ACTUAL radio conversation between the British and the Irish off the coast of Kerry.

Irish: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
British: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.

Irish: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.
British: This is the Captain of a British Navy Ship. I say again divert YOUR course.

Irish: Negative. I say again, you will have to divert YOUR course.
British: This is the aircraft carrier hms britannia! The second largest ship in the british atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers, and numerous support vessels. I demand you change your course 15 degrees north! I say again. That is 15 degrees north or countermeasurers will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.