Back in 1921 a missionary couple named David and Svea Flood went with their 2
year old son to what was then called the Belgian Congo. They met up with
another young Scandinavian couple. In those days of much tenderness and
devotion and sacrifice, they felt led of the Lord to set out from the main mission
station and take the gospel to a remote area.
This was a huge step of faith. At the village of N’dolera they were rebuffed by the
chief, who would not let them enter his town for fear of alienating the local gods.
The 2 couples opted to go half a mile up the slope and build their own mud huts.
They prayed for a spiritual breakthrough, but there was none.
The only contact with the villagers was a young boy, who was allowed to sell
them chickens and eggs twice a week. Svea Flood- a tiny woman only four feet,
eight inches tall - decided that if this was the only African she could talk to, she
would try to lead the boy to the Lord. In fact she succeeded. But there were no
other encouragements.
Meanwhile, malaria continued to strike one member of the little band after
another.
In time the Ericksons dedided they had enough suffering and returned to the
central mission station. David and Svea Flood remained near N’dolera to go on
alone.
Then, of all things, Svea found herself pregnant in the middle of the primitive
wilderness. When the time came for her to give birth, the village chief softened
enough to allow a midwife to help her. A little girl was born, whom they name Ain.
The delivery, however, was exhausting, and Svea Flood was already weak from
bouts of malaria. The birth process was a heavy blow to her stamina. She only
lasted another 17 days before she died.
Inside David Flood, something snapped in the moment. He dug a grave, buried
his 27 year old wife, and then took his children back down the mountain to the
mission station. Giving his newborn daughter to the Ericksons, he snarled, “I am
going back to Sweden”. I’ve lost my wife, and I obviously can’t take care of this
baby. God has ruined my life”.
With that, he headed for the port, rejecting not only his calling, but God himself. Within 8 month both the Ericksons were stricken with a mysterious malady and
died with days of each other. The baby was then turned over to some American
missionaries, who adjusted her Swedish name to “Aggie” and eventually brought
her back to the United States at the age of three.
This family loved the little girl and were afraid that if they tried to return to Africa,
some legal obstacle might separate her from them. So they decided to stay in
their home country and switch from missionary work to pastoral ministry. And that
is how Aggie grew up in South Dakota. As a young woman, she attended North
Central Bible College in Minneapolis. There she met and married a young man
name Dewey Hurst.
Years passed. The Hursts enjoyed a fruitful ministry. Aggie gave birth first to a
daughter, then a son. In time her husband became president of a Christian
college in the Seattle area and Aggie was intrigued to find so much Scandinavian
heritage there.
One day a Swedish religious magazine appeared in her mailbox. She had no
idea who had send it and of course she couldn't read the words. But as she
turned the pages, all of a sudden a photo stopped her cold. There in a primitive
setting was a grave with a white cross – and on the cross were the words SVEA
FLOOD.
Aggie jumped in her car and went straight for the college faculty member who,
she knew, could translate the article.
“What does this say?” she demanded.
The instructor summarized the story : It was about missionaries who had come to
N’dolera long ago … the birth of a white baby…the death of the young mother ..
the one little African boy who had been led to Christ…. and how, after the whites
had all left, the boy had grown up and finally persuaded the chief to let him build
a school in the village.
The article said that gradually he won all he students to Christ…. even the chief
had become a Christian. Today there were 600 Christian believers in that one
village…
All because of the sacrifice of David and Svea Flood.
For the Hursts’ twenty fifth wedding anniversary, the collage presented them with
a gift of a vacation to Sweden. There Aggie sought to find her real father.
And old man now, David Flood had remarried, fathered 4 more children, and
generally dissipated his life with alcohol. He had recently suffered a stroke. Still bitter, he had one rule in his family: “Never
mention the name of God- because God took everything from me.”
After an emotional reunion with her half brothers and half sister, Aggie brought
up the subject of seeing her father. The others hesitated. “You can talk to him,”
they replied, “ even though he’s very ill now. But you need to know that whenever
he hears the name of God he flies into a rage”. Aggie was not deterred. She
walked into the dirty apartment, with liqueur bottles everywhere, and approached
the 77 year old man lying on a rumpled bed. “Papa?”, she said tentatively.
He turned and began to cry. “Aina”, he said. “I never meant to give you away.
“It’s all right, Papa,” she replied, taking him gently in her arms. “God took care of
me”.
The men instantly stiffened. The tears stopped. “God forgot all of us. Our lives
have been like this because of him.” He turned his face back to the wall. Aggie
stroked his face and then continued, undaunted. “Papa, I've got a little story to
tell you, and it is a true one.
You did not go to Africa in vain. Mama did not die in vain. The little boy you won
to the Lord grew up to win that whole village to Jesus Christ. The one seed you
planted just kept growing and growing. Today there are 600 African people
serving the Lord because you were faithful to the call of God in your life…. Papa,
Jesus loves you. He has never hated you.” The old man turned back to look into
his daughter's eyes. His body relaxed.
He began to talk. And by the end of the afternoon, he had come back to the God
he had resented for so many decades.
Over the next few days, father and daughter enjoyed warm moments together.
Aggie and her husband soon had to return to America – and within a few weeks,
David Flood had gone into eternity.
A few years later, the Hursts were attending a high-level evangelism conference
in London, England, when a report was given from the nation of Zaire ( the
former Belgian Congo). The superintendent of the national church, representing
some 110,000 baptized believers, spoke eloquently on the gospel's spread in his
nation. Aggie could not help going to ask him afterwards if he had heard of David
and Svea Flood. “Yes madam,” the man replied in French, his words then being
translated into English. “It was Svea Flood who led me to Jesus Christ. I was the
boy who brought food to your parents before you were born. In fact, to this day
your mother’s grace and her memory are honoured by all of us.” He embraced
her in a long, sobbing hug. then he continued, “You must come to Africa to see,
because your mother is the most famous person in our history”. In time that is exactly what Aggie Hurst and her husband did. They were
welcomed by cheering throngs of villagers. She even met the man who had been
hired by her father many years ago to carry her back down the mountain in a
hammock-cradle.
The most dramatic moment, of course, was when the pastor escorted Aggie to
see her mother’s white cross for herself. She knelt in the soil to pray and give
thanks.
Later that day, in the church, the pastor read from John 14:24: “I tell you the
truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a
single seed.
But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” He then followed with Psalm 126:5:”Those
who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy”.
How do we see people through the eyes of God and how do we develop compassion for the people who are all around us?
Let me give you a few things to try:
1. Realize that every person has a story.
Every one of us has hurts, fears, successes and failures. We have a story. But as long as we allow people to remain faceless, we’ll never be able to develop compassion for them.
2. Understand that people are not obstacles for us to try to avoid. I know that’s hard to do. People drive slow, talk slow, talk too long, interrupt you, make mistakes, procrastinate their responsibilities, and do a thousand other things that become problems for our agenda.
But in the end, at the end of our lives, nothing we do will outweigh the compassion, the empathy we’ve shown for those people in our path.
3. Realize that God will hold us responsible for the measure of compassion we have given to others, because of the amazing compassion we have been given. I know that’s not an altruistic reason, but it’s true nonetheless.
Again and again in the Gospels, we read that Jesus had compassion on those around him. God is compassionate with us, and he commands us to show the same compassion to others.
4. Seeing our world – through hope
It’s easy to want to give up when it comes to our view of the world. People are whacked! The economy is whacked! And we think, “What a mess.”
Yet with all that’s going on in our world, I don’t believe that God wants us to just give up and become spiritual monks.
In Jesus’ great sermon, the Sermon on the Mount, he said this: "You are the salt of the earth...You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” And so it’s obvious that God doesn’t want us to pack it in and give up. God wants us to see the world around us through hope.
5. The hope that comes through knowing that God’s will and purpose will be done in this world… In spite of the doomsayer’s, God is firmly in control of what’s happening in our world. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a recession or a
depression, God is still in control. It doesn’t matter whether nations are at war, or nations are at peace, God is still in control.
Jesus taught us to pray, " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
That prayer is both a petition and an affirmation of what is ultimately true: God is in control.
We see the world with Hope, because we know God is in control and God has a plan.
6. The hope that comes through knowing I have a part in God’s plan… Jer. 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. “
Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
As we look at the world around us we have to know that God has a special and unique plan for our lives that is not forfeited because of any of the crazy events happening around us.
7. The hope that comes through knowing that while I’m here on this earth, I can make a difference… God wants to use you; in spite of all the craziness, he wants to use me to make a difference in this world… Salt of the earth, light of the world… a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. That’s your role in this world.
Eph. 2:10 “For we are God’s masterpiece.
He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
8. The hope that comes through knowing this world is not my home… The Bible tells us to live our lives as strangers in this world, because ultimately, this world is not our home.
We were created for eternity with God, and when we view the world through that lens, the problems, the trials, take on new meaning. The writer of Hebrews says it this way in
Hebrews 11, “All these people [people of faith like you and I] were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and
strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own… they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
I hope you’ll step back and adjust your vision—particularly the way you see other people, yourself, the world we live in, and most importantly, God.
Life is all about perspective…
Psalm 67:1-2:
May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us. May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere.
Psalms 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and saw that she had only three hairs on her head. "Great," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today."
So she did, and had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "Hmm," she said, "I guess I'll part my hair down the middle."
So she did, and had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only one hair left on her head.
"Wow," she said, "today I get to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did, and had a wonderful, wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that there wasn't a single hair on her head.
"Thank God!" she exclaimed. "I was running out of things to do with my hair!"
ATTITUDE is everything! Let's be grateful for the things God has given us and have a wonderful day!
4/14/12
Do you know what the shortest chapter in the Bible is? It is Psalm 117. It says..
1 All you nations, praise the Lord. All you people, praise him 2 because the Lord loves us very much, and his truth is everlasting. Praise the Lord!
This shortest chapter in the Bible gives the “Who, What, and Why” of life.
1. Who …
Who is this Psalm written to? EVERYONE! Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. Psalm 117:1
2.What …
And so, WHAT should the whole world do in response to this love?
Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. Psalm 117:1
3. Why …
Psalm 117 verse 2 tells us WHY God deserves our praise. We Praise God for His power. We Praise Him for what He does. But more than that, we Praise God for Who He is. He is a God of Love and Faithfulness.
1 All you nations, praise the Lord. All you people, praise him 2 because the Lord loves us very much, and his truth is everlasting. Praise the Lord!
This shortest chapter in the Bible gives the “Who, What, and Why” of life.
1. Who …
Who is this Psalm written to? EVERYONE! Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. Psalm 117:1
2.What …
And so, WHAT should the whole world do in response to this love?
Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. Psalm 117:1
3. Why …
Psalm 117 verse 2 tells us WHY God deserves our praise. We Praise God for His power. We Praise Him for what He does. But more than that, we Praise God for Who He is. He is a God of Love and Faithfulness.
4/2/12
Why did Jesus have to die ?
Jesus said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). He came to give his life, to die, and his death would result in salvation for others.
So, why did Jesus have to die?
This question is the core to our salvation. Too often people believe that they will reach heaven because they lead a "good life". This is a belief found in almost every religious group. If you do good, you will be saved.
The Bible makes it clear that leading a "good life" is impossible: Rom 3:10 "There is no one righteous, not even one." And Rom 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
If you base your salvation on your own merit, you will not make it! Rom. 5:21 tells us that there is only one way to get to heaven: "Through Jesus Christ our Lord." There is only one way to salvation: John 10:9 9: "I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture."
Eternal life is not given to those who try to do good, but to those who believe in Jesus and accept Him in their life. John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Why? Rom 5:8-10: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!"
We are saved by the blood of the Lamb. This is the only way to salvation! Jesus is the only answer for our salvation!
Is there any other way to obtain salvation?
Acts 4:12: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Salvation can only be found through Jesus Christ! No other name can save you, not even your own!
The great news is that Jesus didn't stay dead, but He came back. Death could not hold Him! He is alive! You can read about this in Luke chapter 24.
It's not to late to accept Jesus in your life. Will you accept His salvation for you now?
The Bible makes it clear that leading a "good life" is impossible: Rom 3:10 "There is no one righteous, not even one." And Rom 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
If you base your salvation on your own merit, you will not make it! Rom. 5:21 tells us that there is only one way to get to heaven: "Through Jesus Christ our Lord." There is only one way to salvation: John 10:9 9: "I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture."
Eternal life is not given to those who try to do good, but to those who believe in Jesus and accept Him in their life. John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Why? Rom 5:8-10: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!"
We are saved by the blood of the Lamb. This is the only way to salvation! Jesus is the only answer for our salvation!
Is there any other way to obtain salvation?
Acts 4:12: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Salvation can only be found through Jesus Christ! No other name can save you, not even your own!
The great news is that Jesus didn't stay dead, but He came back. Death could not hold Him! He is alive! You can read about this in Luke chapter 24.
It's not to late to accept Jesus in your life. Will you accept His salvation for you now?
2/21/12
A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.
A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.
A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.
The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.
In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?
One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?
A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.
A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.
The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.
In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?
One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?
2/12
One of the most popular passages in the Bible is:
Nehemiah 8:10: "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Why is joy so important? Because the joy of the Lord is your strength! Joy produces strength, and strength is needed to fight. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of faith." Who are we fighting against. Satan! Satan is going to attack and tempt you in any way he can to steal your joy, or your strength away. James 1:2 states: "Consider if pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." Can I just say that joy isn't happiness. You see happiness comes from the word happens. Happiness, therefore is based on what is happening. If something good is happening, then you are happy. If something bad is happening, you may or may not be happy. However, God says that pure joy occurs even in the midst of trials! Why is James telling us to count it pure joy whenever we face trials? Because joy gives you strength to fight your trials and to overcome the temptations of Satan. I love the story in Habakkuk 3:17-19. Habakkuk says: "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crops fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls...(sounds like this guy has some problems), he says in the next: YET, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be JOYFUL IN GOD MY SAVIOR (v.18). He is going to rejoice because, "The Sovereign Lord is my strength: He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights." (v.19) You see Habakkuk had no intention of staying defeated. He may look defeated, but he isn't going to stay that way, and for sure he isn't going to let that take his joy away. His joy is in the Lord, no dependent on circumstances. The difference between the person who is defeated and the person who is victorious in Christ is their attitude. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." Let's not just be happy but let's depend upon God for our Joy, which will make us strong even in the midst of a bad day or days.
12/10/11
What do you think life would be like if that first Christmas never happened? Here are some thoughts:
The law would still be in effect. If Jesus never came, the sacrificial system would still be in place and there would be no permanent atonement for our sins. We would be caught, like hamsters in a wheel – performing the same rituals over and over again, hoping for a different outcome.
God would not be “with us.” Immanuel means “God with us.” If Jesus never came, God would still be distant and unapproachable because of the stain of our sins. With no “high priest,” we would have no access to the throne of God. Our sins would keep us separated from Him – a very sad place indeed.
Salvation through works would reign. We would still be trying to earn our way to heaven by weighing the good we do against the bad on a scale of morals. Pharisaical mindsets would prevail. We might look good on the outside but inside we would be full of decay and sin – like “whitewashed tombs.” Salvation by grace would be a distant dream.
We would have no model for love. Jesus redefined love for us. He personified a love that is sacrificial, pure and unconditional. Without His example, we would have no leader in the true ways of how to love our neighbor – we would be a “body” with no “head.”
The forgotten would still be forgotten. Jesus came to “seek and to save the lost.” Without Jesus, the grieving would still grieve without hope, the hungry would go hungry without the “bread of life”, the persecuted would receive no reward, and the meek and lowly would remain last instead of first.
It is not often that we think like this in the days before Christmas, is it? The picture painted above is not a hopeful one. But there is Good News! Jesus DID come. And because He, “who, being in very natureGod, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very natureof a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” (Phil 2:6-11).
11/29/11
We just celebrated Thanksgiving. I hope you had a great time. I was thinking about it, and wondered why we have one day to give thanks. Maybe we should have 364 days to give thanks and 1 day to gripe and complain! Just a thought. Also, isn't it funny that we sit around a table giving thanks and then in less than 12 hours, fighting for a place in line to get the latest thing at the cheapest price? I'm not saying doing that is wrong, if our attitude is right. Just remember there are a lot of things to be thankful for. Life that God has given us, family, this beautiful earth that we get to live on, friends, laughter, etc. I'm sure you can think of a lot more. Remember to take time out of your day to give thanks to God for all He has done, and all He is doing!
10/14/11
A Holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, 'Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.' The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table.. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.. The Lord said, 'You have seen Hell. They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, 'I don't understand. 'It is simple,' said the Lord. 'It requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other. The greedy think only of themselves.' When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you.
9/21/11
A small group of teens in Burleson, Texas, came together for a DiscipleNow weekend in early 1990. They came seeking God. Little did they know how powerful God was about to move. On Saturday night God penetrated their hearts like never before. The students were broken before God and burdened for their friends. Compelled to pray, they drove to three different schools that night. Not knowing exactly what to do, they went to the school flagpoles and prayed for their friends, schools, and leaders. Those students had no idea how God would use their obedience.
God used what He did among those teens, and others who were holding similar prayer meetings at their schools, to birth a vision in the hearts of youth across Texas. The vision was that students throughout Texas would follow these examples and meet at their flagpoles to pray simultaneously. The challenge was named, See you at the pole. The vision was shared with 20,000 students in June of 1990 at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas.
Only God had envisioned how many youth would step up to the challenge. At 7am, on September 12, 1990, more than 45,000 teens met at their school flagpoles in four different states to pray before the start of school.
A few months later, a group of youth ministers from all over the country gathered together for a national conference in Colorado. Many of them reported that their youth had heard about the prayer movement in Texas and were equally burdened for their schools. No other events had been planned, but it was clear that youth across the country would be creating their own national day of prayer. There was no stopping them!
On September 11, 1991, at 7am, ONE MILLION youth gathered at school flagpoles all over the country. From Boston, MA, to Los Angeles, CA, youth came together to pray. Some sang, some read Scriputres, but most important, they prayed. Like these first youth, they prayed for their schools, for their friends, for their leaders and for their country.
God used the obedience of a few youth to ignite what has become an international movement of prayer among teens.
Since 1991, See You at The Pole has grown to huge proportions. Within a couple of years, youth were praying in several countries around the world. Now more than two million students from all 50 states participate in See You At the Pole. Youth in more than 20 countries take part. In places like the Netherlands, The Congo, the Philippines, Canada, and Mexico.
God is continuing to call His people to repentance and prayer. Countless inspiring testimonies of how God has used See You at the Pole to bring youth to relationship with Christ and to changing lives. Bible clubs, weekly prayer meetings and other ministries have begun on campuses where youth participated.
This year it is on Wednesday, September 28th at Newberg Middle Schools and High School. Join the millions from across our nation and world as they continue to pray for their school, friends, leaders and country.
9/11/11
Have you ever thought, "Where was God on 9/11 when the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked?" Well, I know where my God was on the morning of September 11, 2001, and He was very busy!
He was discouraging people from taking those four flights. Together they could accommodate more than 1,000 passengers, yet there were only 266 aboard. He was on those four flights giving the terrified passengers the ability to stay calm. Not one of the people who was called by a loved one on one of the hijacked planes mentioned that passengers were panicked, nor was there any screaming in the background. And on one of the flights, God gave strength to the passengers to overcome the hijackers.
God was also busy creating obstacles to prevent people who worked in the WTC from getting to work on time. The work day had begun, more than 50,000 people worked in the two towers, yet only 20,000 were at their desks. On that beautiful morning, God created scores of unexpected traffic delays, subway delays, and commuter train delays. A PATH train packed with commuters was stopped at a signal just short of the WTC and was able to return to Jersey City. And far more meetings were scheduled elsewhere than was usual.
God held up each of the two mighty towers for a half hour so that the people on the lower floors could get out. And when He finally let go, He caused the towers to fall inward rather than to topple over, which would have killed so many more people. The foundations of six surrounding buildings were demolished by the fall of the towers, but God held them up for many hours until all the occupants were safely evacuated.
And when the WTC and Pentagon buildings went down, my God picked up almost 3,500 of His children and carried them to their home for all eternity. He also sat down and cried that 19 of His children could have so much hate in their hearts, that they did not choose him, but another god that doesn’t exist, and now they are lost forever.
He sent people trained in dealing with earthly disasters to save those that were injured. And he sent in thousands of others to help in any way they were needed. And He brought people together across the world in a way that moved thousands to tears and hundreds of thousands to prayer—and caused millions to turn to the one true living God.
He still isn’t finished. Every day He comforts those who lost loved ones. He is encouraging others to reach out to those who don’t know Him or believe in Him. He is giving the leaders of our great nation the strength and conviction to do the right thing, to follow His will, not a popular poll.
So if anyone ever asks, "Where was your God on 9/11?" you can say, "He was everywhere! And, in fact, he is everywhere today and every day." Without a doubt, this was the worst catastrophe most of us have ever seen. I can’t imagine getting through such a difficult time without God at my side. Without God, life would be hopeless.
Additionally…
As you might know, the head of one company survived 9/11 because he took his son to kindergarten.
Another fellow is alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.
Another lady was late because her alarm clock didn’t go off on time.
One was late as a result of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.
One more survivor missed his bus.
One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.
One’s car wouldn’t start.
One went back to answer the telephone.
One had a child that dawdled and didn’t get ready as soon as he should have.
One couldn’t get a taxi.
The one that, struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, went to work by his usual way but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.
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.
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.
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.
May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purpose.
8/16/11
It is hard to believe that summer is almost over. It has gone by so fast. We had a great time at Aldersgate Summer Camp, seeing many come to Christ for the first time, dedicating to be a team player and not just a spectator or fan, and breaking down walls that keep us from growing closer to Jesus. Remember, don't let these decisions end once school starts, or now that you are getting back to the swing of normal life. Hold on to these decisions and make a difference in your life and others.
6/6/11It has been a while since I posted something, so I thought I better write something! I just have a few thoughts for you to think about and consider. For some of you it might be hard and for some it might be easy. If you weren't a Christian, why would you become one? What would it take? What would you need to see? What would you need to feel? Or is there something else that would need to happen? Would you need an experience like Saul on the road to Damascus, or just hearing what God could do for you would be enough to believe? Think about what it would take for you to believe and then think of how you can use your answers to help others believe. In essence, put yourself in their shoes. Maybe they just need an invitation, or maybe they need to hear how Jesus loves them and cares for them. How they can have true peace from a compassionate Savior. How Jesus can heal them of their hurts and comfort them. Maybe they just need to hear how Jesus has saved you and changed your life and made a difference. Consider these thoughts as you continue to be a witness for Jesus!
4/26/11
Most celebrate love around Valentine's Day. I find appropriate to celebrate love around Easter. Romans 5:8 says that "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." If you were to look up love in the Oxford Dictionary, you would find the definition: "An intense feeling of deep affection." Is love a feeling? Many times Jesus showed His love or demonstrated His love. Love is more than just a feeling, it is a choice. This type of love which someone chooses to love no matter what the circumstance is crazy to some people. Join us for a series called "Crazy Love" starting on Wednesday nights and Sunday evenings. Let us love others as Christ loves us.
4/13/11
All of us know that on Easter or Resurrection Sunday as some call it, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But, what if the resurrection never happened? How would that change everything we believe in? The fact is Christianity is based on the resurrection. As Christians though we do believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, but is there any proof this actually took place? This Sunday morning during the 9:00 am service in the coffee shop we will look at "Legal-Historical Proof" of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is how a detective or a lawyer would prove their case and present the evidence to a judge and jury in a court of law. Hope to see you there!
3/29/11
For some of us, it is hard enough to do things with two arms, but could you imagine having to do things with one arm? For 14 year old Bethany Hamilton, this became a reality when she was attacked by a shark while surfing. Just try to do some of your normal everyday activities only using one arm. You will know a little bit of what she had to go through. Come with us to see her story when we go see the movie "Soul Surfer" on Friday, April 8th.
Sometimes we don't know why bad things happen, but we have to have faith that God is in control, and everything happens for a reason, even if we don't understand why. Proverbs 3:5 says: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."
I hope you all are having a great week. Hope to see all of you at youth group!
PT
