Go to bed seasonably, and rise early. Redeem your precious time: pick up the fragments of it, that not one moment of it may be lost. Be much in secret prayer. Converse less with man, and more with God. --George Whitefield, Colonial era revivalist
Marine World was a wonderful time!. We took 48 people and had a blast! Best of all - no injuries, no blood, no upset stomachs. (I consider that an important part of the success of any outing that includes children) I wish that I could share with you the expressions on the children’s faces as they watched sharks swim overhead or dolphins dance backwards on their tails.
Praise God for the great reports coming from the Billy Graham Crusade in NYC. I have heard that between 8 and 10 thousand people made a decision for Christ. If that doesn’t make you want to just praise your socks off - I don’t know what will!
Khamla has lymphonema in her arm. She has had some lymph nodes removed and is receiving therapy to help the arm get stronger.
Geri Kinnish’s husband had an angioplasty today. Please pray that he recovers quickly.
Mike Schwab had knee surgery recently at Veterans Hospital. Please pray for full recovery.
H. Spees (Pastor of Northwest Church) has a daughter, Andrea, who underwent surgery for scoliosis in San Francisco. Please pray for complete recovery for Andrea, and strength for her father as he travels back and forth.
Pam Hartman’s daughter, Ashley, is in the hospital with an infection in the lining of her heart.
Carol Robertshaw & Geri Kinnish are requesting prayer for Jane Irwin who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
I find it hard to believe that Ilene Luna is permitting this - but Will and Hitomi De Luna will be shortly moving to Japan. Please pray for Father’s blessings on them.
I am requesting prayer for Father’s guidance in my life on a life-direction decision.
We continue to pray for the following: Judi Wright’s shoulder surgery, my co-worker’s sister with the brain tumor, George & Margie Martin and his cancer, Merle Rush, Matt & Dan Johnson, Michael Ferris, Candance & Nick Brown, Meredith Nunn, Erica Hensen, Bob Melchor, Emmy Lou Graves, Laura in Ohio, John Rogers & cancer, Bryan Hitch & his blood pressure, Lillian Seward & shingles, Chris Vercoe & family, Chuck Beal & his heart, new employment opportunities for Dan Hansen, Tim & Lorna’s adoption of Drew, Bobbie Ronsley & lupus, Stan Reed & cancer, Kassel Coon in Afghanistan, Ray Rahn & his wife. Please send me any updates you might have!
Pray for our missionaries - Gospel For Asia, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw as they work at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Dr. George Pe Myat & the hospital in the Congo, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Please keep our two church plants in prayer. Please pray for Karl & Shellie Roth with Flipside. Please pray for Horacio & Cheryl Aleman at the LIFEhouse in Reedley.
Pray for our pastors, our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others. Pray for the Church that in these troubled times that she stands strong.
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
Jehovah-Jirah, Our LORD God Who Provides,
Thank You so much for the way that You love us. We depend on Your love every moment of every day. You are more necessary than the air we breathe or the beat of our heart. All could be taken away from us - including our very lives and still Your love sustains us.
Thank You LORD, for Your hand of protection when Care Fresno went to Marine World. I pray for all the volunteers during the summer break and ask that You renew our hearts with a passion to reach these beloved children.
Thank You for the great harvest of souls in New York. We ask LORD, that You bless these new lives and surround them with people who will mentor them and support them as they discover the joy of a personal relationship with You.
Great Physician, we pray for those in our family who are facing medical challenges. We pray for Khamla and her arm. We pray for Geri Kinish’s husband and his angioplasty. We pray for Mike Schwab as he recovers from knee surgery. We pray for Andrea Spees, LORD God, that she recovers from her surgery and we ask a blessing of strength and power to Pastor Spees as he travels. We call out for Ashley and ask that You destroy the infection in her heart. We pray for Jane Irwin and her cancer. Father of All, we ask that You bring healing and comfort to each of these situations.
We pray Your guidance and protection on Will and Hitomi De Luna as they move to Japan. Help them to find a new church family quickly - and remind them that they will always be in our hearts.
LORD Jesus, Lamb of God. We cry “Worthy is Your Name!” We ask Your continued protection and touch in each of the lives and situations that we pray for.
We lift up our missionaries - those we know already and those we will not meet until we are home with You. In this increasingly hostile world - grant them peace and protection.
Father, we ask that You continue to bless and empower the pastors, families and congregation of Flipside Church and LIFEHouse church.
We pray for our local congregations, Holy Spirit. We pray for our pastors, that they will always hear Your voice clearly and that they will follow them. We pray for our leadership and our ministries that You will provide volunteers and resources to continue them. We pray for each member of our congregations that our hearts will be turned to You first and that we will be given opportunities to share Your Good News of Life to a dying world. Enlarge our territories.
I pray for all who are Your Church, Jesus. You call us Your bride. Help us to be worthy of You. Help us to be strong.
Yesterday, today tomorrow You are God alone. We fall on our knees before You in awe and wonder. You are all that our hearts are living for. We love You, LORD God, we will love You forever.
Widening Horizon - June 2005
The Eternal God is our Refuge and Strength and underneath is the Ever Lasting Arms - has been proved again and again, as many trials and difficulties came our way. It is ONLY because of the Ever Lasting Arms, which has held each one of us, and prayers of many like you that we could widen our Horizon.
For the last few years we were concentrating and making the foundation strong in villages like Rabaguda and Jamguda but with a challenge thrown out by Remo to widen the horizon and enter new villages with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, the 20 committed staff took up the challenge to venture into new villages.
To report just a nutshell of what is being done here is Romesh Khosla who could contact two Kondh tribal villages - Pakhanmuhar and Gajulkuonda and has started a children's program and an evening literacy programme. The response is amazing. In spite of increasing opposition and closure of the work at Ayeteguda (due to external opposition) the Lord is enabling us and leading us to widen our horizon and start work in new villages.
Sobita and Rukmoni go by Scooty (a moped - a very rare sight for a woman to ride a moped in Malkangiri) to Sanyasiguda a Kondh village 12 KMS from Malkangiri to conduct literacy programme and the children and young adults have learnt action songs and Bible verses all in this last 2 months.
Minothi and Shanti have started work in Khadval a Poraja tribal village. They are finding it difficult to balance their active one plus year sons on the cycle and drive the rough road so often they have to make their sons to sit on the back seat and push the cycle! This does not deter them from going to the villages regularly. The rainy season has started and village visit with their young sons is going to be even more difficult so we will appreciate your prayers as staffs under various difficulties are pushing forward to widen the horizon.
Sopon has started work in MV 19 a Bengali village. Bengalis are the main community who oppose the work of God in this area so we need your special prayers.
The work started by Somesh Nayak in Sandural which is 45 Km north east of Mundiguda is expanding and new people are joining the group. They belong to the Harijan community. To reach this village one has to cross 6 small hills of about 1000 to 1200 feet high and reach a height of 2000 feet above sea level. So this is an up hill drive by bike and in the rainy season it is rather difficult to reach. So please cover Ranjith and Romesh who are now continuing the work in Sandural village.
Niranjan Gorada' s uncle Anthony Nayak as suddenly developed left side paralysis for which no medical cause is found and so all in the family feel that witchcraft has been done on him and requests to cover Anthony Nayak with prayer.
Somesh children have fully recovered from chicken pox and now John's three children are recovering from chicken pox. Please pray for the arrest of chicken pox among the staff and in the villages.
We are able to widen the horizon because of our faithful 21-fulltime staff and 2 part time staff and 6 part time evangelists. I am enclosing a list of our staff and their family detail with their living and children allowance, if any of you are led to sponsor any one of them or at least a part of their allowance, we will be most greatful to you, for this last one year has been very stressful financially for Reaching Hand Society.
Our heartfelt thanks to each one of you who pray and each one who have sacrificially contributed for the work which God helps us to do.
Closing with prayers
Dr. Iris. G. R. Paul
Founder Director,
Reaching Hand Society
Valerie Rae Hanneman
Acts 19:15 (The Message) “when the evil spirit talked back: "I know Jesus and I've heard of Paul, but who are you?"”
When I was in elementary school - in about the third grade - this girl walked up to me and said, “Joanie doesn’t like you and she is going to beat you up.” I was - of course - horrified. Joanie (name made-up - I remember the incident, not her name) was a big girl with a reputation for a bad attitude and quick fists. Rumor has it that she had started beating up kids in kindergarten so she had been doing it for most of her life. I hadn’t ever spoken a word to this girl so I couldn’t imagine what I had done to gain her attention - but it didn’t matter - she had her sights on me. I started taking steps to avoid her as best as I could. If she was at one end of the cafeteria - I was at the other. If she was on the playground - I was out in the baseball field behind the backstop. I never went into the bathroom without knowing where she was. I peeked around corners to make sure she wasn’t about to ambush me. When I heard her voice I would freeze in fear. When I saw her looking at me, my knees would start shaking. When she came in my direction I ran away. I had nightmares about her pounding me to a bloody pulp. She was a threat to me and her threat colored and controlled my existence at school.
I want to be a threat like that. I want to be a threat to satan. I want him to be threatened by me so much that he avoids me as best he can, freezes in fear, trembles, and runs away. I want him to have nightmares about me (if he ever sleeps). I want to be a threat to him and I want my threat to color his existence.
But how in the world can an insignificant, 50-something, working, single mother of two be a threat to evil-incarnate, the prince of darkness, the great deceiver, the snake satan?
If I want satan to know where I am - even in the bathroom - because he is afraid that I am about to ambush him, if I want him to know where I am because he is afraid of me then I need to be the same on Monday as I am on Sonday. satan is threatened by a believer who lives out their faith every day.
If I want to threaten satan so much that he avoids me the best that he can - then the best place for me to be is in Father’s presence and in the center of His will for my life. satan is threatened by a believer who seeks God and seeks His will.
If I want satan to freeze in fear at the sound of my voice - then my voice needs to be raised in prayer to Father. My voice needs to sing His praise. My words need to be telling others about the joy of having a personal relationship with God. satan is threatened by a believer who prays, who praises God, and who tells others the good news of Jesus Christ.
If I want satan to tremble because of me then I need to look directly at him and see him for what he is - even when he is hiding behind something. I need to see him behind the world’s whitewashing of sin. satan is threatened by a believer who is not afraid to stand up for what is right and stands against what is wrong. satan is threatened by a believer who can hate the sin while still loving the sinner.
If I want satan to run when he sees me coming then I need to remember that Jesus said that He would build the Church and not even the gates of hell would prevail against her (Matthew 16:18), then I must be involved in a local congregation that is working as part of the Church to beat down the gates of hell. satan is threatened by a believer who is involved in ministry.
When I was asked by a friend why I was so jumpy I told her about Joanie. She immediately took me to her older brother. He asked me who Joanie had beaten up. The only name I could give him was that kid in kindergarten. The truth was - I didn’t have any first hand knowledge of any body else who had gotten beat up and neither could my friend. All we had was a reputation and big talk. The brother very wisely came to the conclusion that Joanie was all talk and no action (he was an older man - in the sixth grade). He told me to call her out for after school the next day, to sound just as mean as I possibly could. And if Joanie showed up to fight, he would be there and put a stop to it before anybody got hurt. Then he showed me a couple of moves - just in case. So the next day I walked up to Joanie, “I heard you want to beat me up.” I pointed to an area outside of the school grounds, “Meet me over there after school and we will see just who beats who up! By the time I am done with your face your mother won’t recognize you.” With my head held high, I stalked off, right into the bathroom where I promptly vomited. That afternoon I showed up - but Joanie never did. The truth is that Joanie was never really a threat to me - I simply perceived her to be a threat. When I called her bluff Joanie folded.
I want to be a threat to satan - not a perceived threat. If he comes against me and calls me out - I want to show up and beat him to a bloody pulp. I do not want satan to call my bluff so that I fold and slink off.
If I want to be a real threat and not a perceived threat - then I need to remember that under my power I can do nothing. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. .... Apart from Me you can to nothing.” (John 15:5) A branch is only as strong as the vine that nurtures and grows it, without the vine it is just firewood. Jesus is my vine and I am His branch. I cannot do anything on my own power - except become firewood. I am dependent on His life and His strength. But His promise in His Word to me is this, “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” (Phillipians 4:13) If I want to be a threat to satan then I have to depend on Jesus’ strength not mine. In His strength I can do all things - including being a real threat to satan. I can be a threat to satan through my actions, through my words, through my thoughts, and through my Jesus.
I hope that satan is trembling in fear right now with just the thought of us.
LORD Jesus, Everything that I was, everything that I am, everything that I ever will be is because of You. Everything that I have accomplished is because of Your strength - not mine. Fill me up with Your strength so that I am a threat to satan.
Hey Flipside friends,
Can you believe it is almost time to “launch” Flipside Christian Church! I remember talking with both Pastor Willie and Pastor Tim about this new church plant about one year ago. It is hard to imagine that it’s “birth time” is almost here!
This Sunday is the beginning of our “ramping up” process before our launch in September! Please be in prayer for God’s HUGE blessings on Flipside as we get ready to launch. Now is the time to make history with this new church. Invite all those you know who don’t already worship regularly at a church, and those whom you think might be blessed by our style. Think about it:
there are only 3 months until we launch!
there is only 11 weeks until we launch!
there is only 81 days until we launch!
there are only 4 more “preview” services until we launch! WOW!!!
I want to encourage you come worship with us at Valley Oak Elementary this Sunday at 10am and bring a friend with you. I am excited about the message and worship!
We are going to look at “Releasing God’s Dreams in Your Life”. This is the first part of a 6 part series in the discovery of what God can do through ordinary people like us.
I am both excited and overwhelmed that God has chosen us to do this incredible task! Let’s make it all we can for God’s glory. May He get the glory and bless us according to His goodness and grace! Thank you for your prayers, support, and faithfulness. God is going to “blow our minds” with what He will accomplish through “ordinary people like us”. Please mark September 11th on your calendar – not just for the memory of what happened in our nation in 2001 – but also because it is the next great day in history as that is the day God launches Flipside Christian Church into weekly ministry! Please make a point to be with us on that Sunday and celebrate what God is doing through Fresno First Baptist, Clovis First Baptist, and the many people who are making this “birth” possible.
I love you, I’m proud of you, and I can’t wait for this Sunday!
Love and Blessings, Karl
“Let nothing upset you, let nothing frighten you. Everything is changing; God alone is changeless.
Patience attains the goal. Who has God lacks nothing; God alone fills all their needs.” Theresa of Avila
Last week we sent 11 of our Care Fresno kids up to Camp Sugarpine. Some of them had never been to a camp. They had a great time - but the most important thing is that 8 of them accepted Jesus as Savior. Is that not just the most awesome thing! This “Kingdom Harvest” makes all the long hours of prayers and work by the volunteers in the Kids Klub worth every second! Please pray for our kids and that Care Fresno Kids Klub can continue to influence them in Jesus’ name.
Speaking of Kids Klub - the Marine World trip is FINALLY here! We will be going this Saturday - and we are so excited! We will be leaving at 5:30 in the morning (okay - we are not so excited about that part!)and should be back at midnight! Please pray for traveling mercies, for patience by the adults as we chaperon these very excited kids, and for our kids - that they have a great time and that Father uses this experience to draw them closer to Him.
This Sonday was truly a day of blessing & praise! Not only did we have the opportunity to rejoice at the results of several of our ministries - VBS, Jr High Day Camp and Kids Klub - but we were able to celebrate Willie’s 10 year anniversary as our senior pastor. God is so good to us. I have a good feeling that his next ten years as our senior pastor are going to be as exciting and life changing as the past ten. Let us pray that Willie retires from ministry at the same age as Billy Graham. (Willie’s eyes just bugged out as he read that! Rev Graham is 86 & still crusading!)
George Martin & his wife, Margie, were in services on Sonday. In spite of being in a wheelchair, George looked great. Please continue to pray for George & Margie as they battle George’s cancer.
I have a friend at work whose 28 year old sister has been diagnosed with a tumor in her brain. She is undergoing chemo to shrink the tumor so that it can be operated on. My friend is taking care of her sister’s 3 children. Please pray that the tumor shrinks, that it is benign and that it can be safely removed.
Kristen Nolte should be home on Friday (I think) It will be so good to have her home with us!.
Judi Wright’s shoulder surgery is scheduled for July 21st. If all goes well, she should be back at work six weeks later. Please pray for a quick recovery - and that she is able to get help with her mother.
We continue to pray for the following: Merle Rush, Matt & Dan Johnson, Michael Ferris, Candance & Nick Brown, Meredith Nunn, Erica Hensen, Bob Melchor, Emmy Lou Graves, Anna Gossen, Doug & Diane Clapp, The Care Fresno family, Laura in Ohio, John Rogers & cancer, Bryan Hitch & his blood pressure, Lillian Seward & shingles, Chris Vercoe & family, Chuck Beal & his heart, new employment opportunities for Dan Hansen, Michelle Kammer to find a church home, Angel in Mississippi to find a church home, Tim & Lorna’s adoption of Drew, Bobbie Ronsley & lupus, Brandon & leukemia, Stan Reed & cancer, Kassel Coon in Afghanistan, Ray Rahn & his wife. Please send me any updates you might have!
Pray for our missionaries - Gospel For Asia, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw as they work at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Dr. George Pe Myat & the hospital in the Congo, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Please keep our two church plants in prayer. Please pray for Karl & Shellie Roth with Flipside. Please pray for Horacio & Cheryl Aleman at the LIFEhouse in Reedley. Flipside’s next preview service is this Sonday at 10:00. Karl is starting a series entitled “Releasing God’s dreams in your life.” Sounds interesting........... Please pray for continued growth in both of these churches.
Pray for our pastors, our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others.
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military. I read an interesting quote a few days ago - it said something like this, “Last week the average American garbage disposal ate better than 30% of the world’s population.” We are a country that continues to be blessed by God. Let us pray that our country will turn back to God and be a blessing to Him.
Great & Glorious God,
Thank You for the loving care that You give to us, In this world that is more crazy than not we take comfort and relief in knowing that You are our Father. We have nothing to fear because You go before us. You fight our battles, You provide for us, You are our refuge when we are weary. You are everything to us. We lift our hearts, hands and voices in worship of You.
We thank You and praise You for the great reports that have come out of our ministries this past week. We thank You for the children who accepted You as Savior and Lord of their lives. Help us to support them and teach them to walk in Your ways.
LORD Jesus, We thank You for bringing Willie and his family to us. I know that I join many others in looking back at these past ten years and remembering those defining moments when Willie has been preaching and a light bulb has gone off in our heads and our walk with You has gotten that much closer. We ask that You abundantly bless him as he has so abundantly blessed us. Oh, and LORD? About that Billy Graham thing - I wasn’t joking.
Great Comforter, having George and Margie in services again was great! Continue to bless them, comfort them and work through them for Your glory.
Holy Spirit, we lift up my friend’s sister and ask that the tumor be benign and that it can be removed safely. Return this young mother to her family.
LORD God, You alone are holy and worthy of our praise. We surrender ourselves to You.
Judi is scheduled for surgery soon, Father. We ask that You comfort this gentle servant of Yours as she prepares for it. We ask that Your Hand does the surgery and that she will be quickly restored to full health.
Triune God, You are the provider of our needs, the healer of our bodies, the solution to our problems. Because You are our all-in-all we release to Your will all of the people and situations that we continue to pray for.
We lift before you all of the missionaries who serve You around the world in places great and small. Protect them, LORD God. Provide for their needs. Comfort them when they are weary, give them a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit so that they fly like the eagles.
We pray for LIFEHouse and Flipside churches, Father God. We ask that You bless them with continued growth in attenders and continued growth in each person’s walk with You. Bless the pastors and their families as they continue in this great adventure with You.
Uncreated One, we ask for Your joy to be poured out on our pastors. Strengthen them as they serve You. We pray for the leadership of our churches and for the many ministries through which we serve and love You. Bless our efforts. We pray that You give us a spirit of unity among the individual congregations and among the worldwide Church as we follow You.
Help us to live our lives as a reflection of You. Give us the opportunities to share You with others both by the words we speak and by our actions.
We thank You, Father for America, and for the abundance of blessings that You have given her. We thank You that we have the freedom to worship You openly - that we do not fear being drug out of our homes for the crime of being Christian. But in our abundance, we have gotten arrogant and have turned away from You. LORD God, help us to humble our hearts and turn back to the Giver of Life. Heal our land, heal our leaders, set our country on fire for You. Bless and protect our military as they serve our country.
From the thief on the cross, to the woman accused of adultery, to the demon possessed, to all the outcasts throughout time, and for those who look like they have everything but were empty inside, You have reached out to all of us in love and have given us a home and a place to belong. You have made us complete. We love You so much - help us to bring joy to You as You do to us.
From Gospel for Asia: Attack by Night
Hearts pounded. Bodies hit the ground. First one round of shots was fired, then another. Then another ... In all, 40 bullets were fired at the site of the partially constructed GFA Believers Church in Manipur (India) that night.
God tenderly watched over His children, and none of the missionaries staying on the site were injured by the bullets. One believer did hurt his arm while trying to fall flat on the ground during the shooting.
"Even after this incident, we kept on constructing the church," Pastor Prim states.
This pastor does not make this statement lightly-this is not the first time his church was attacked and likely won't be the last. Angry mobs had dismantled the construction four times in the previous six months. Once, they set ablaze the missionaries' temporary living quarters and burned their belongings to ashes.
The most recent attack, May 29, had been forewarned: Around noon that day, sympathetic villagers warned the believers of a possible attack that evening and told them to be watching. When Pastor Prim heard the news, he called and requested police protection. The police chief said he would send some officers, but none came.
They did come by the next day-to pick up empty shells from the bullets fired the night before. Local Christian organizations have appealed to the governor for protection from such attacks.
When completed, this church building will be a haven-a place where people who have been set free from spiritual bondage through Pastor Prim's ministry can come and joyfully sing praise to God. With every stroke of the hammer, these workers who labor at such peril to their lives are building His Church in Asia. In view of these recent attacks, they have battled some discouragement and would be grateful for your prayers as they continue their labor of love.
"As for me," Pastor Prim writes, "I am happy that God has counted me worthy to face such hardships and shameful incidents in His name."
Valerie Rae Hanneman
Psalm 149:4 a “For the LORD takes delight in His people;”NIV
My six year old son’s eyes were brimming with laughter and mischief as he looked up at me. “Knock, knock,” he said. “Who’s there?” I dutifully answered. “Banana!” “Banana who?” “Knock, knock!” he said again. Again I said, “Who’s there?” “Banana!” he giggled. With a smile I said, “Banana who?” We went through this cycle about 4 more times when finally he answered “Orange!” “Orange who?” I asked. “Orange you glad I didn’t say banana again?” He and I started laughing. I was not laughing because I had not heard that joke before. I had. His older sister had told it to me, his older cousins had told it to me. When I was younger, my brothers and sisters told it to me - and I doubt that it was new when I told it to my mother. I laughed because my son was being playful with me. I laughed because he was comfortable enough to tell me a silly joke. I laughed because he is my son and I positively adore him.
Close your eyes and picture Jesus in your mind. Hold onto that picture for a moment.
How do you think Jesus reacted when John said, “Knock, knock!” Do you think He said, “John, ‘orange you glad I didn’t say banana’ was old when Noah’s sons told it to him in the ark!” Or when Peter snuck up behind Him, covered His eyes with his hands and said, in a falsetto voice, “Guess who!” did Jesus say, “Peter, I knew it was you before time began! You can’t fool Me!” I don’t think He did. I think that His eyes lit up and He said to John, “Who’s there?” I think He laughed at Peter’s game and said, “Mom, is that you? We need to talk about hand lotion!”
Are you still holding onto the picture of Jesus in your head? Is it one of the traditional looks for Him? Maybe the one where He is looking into heaven, or the one where He is holding a little lamb, or the one where He is knocking on the door? I love those pictures of Him. He looks so serene, so very much like God within man. My favorite picture of Jesus shows Him walking in front of His disciples, with His arms spread wide, His head thrown back, and He is laughing. From the position of His feet and the dust - you can tell that He has been twirling around. For me this picture shows the joy that Jesus took in just being with His creation. It is a picture of the Man within God. I have a number of pictures that are like that - pictures that show the very human side of Jesus.
When the disciples told Jesus silly jokes or played silly games with Him, Jesus took joy in them for the same reason that I take joy in my son. He was thrilled that His creation - His disciples were being playful with Him. He loved it that His disciples were comfortable enough with Him to play games with Him. He laughed because they were His and He positively adored them.
As He positively adores us.
There is no doubt that Jesus came to this earth to die for our sins. That was His purpose. And He spent the last three years of His mortal life proving that He is the Messiah that had been promised from before time. That was His work. His purpose here was serious, His work here was serious but that doesn’t mean that He was serious all the time. Jesus also came to be in joyful relationship with us and He had fun while He was physically with us. He told jokes (He knew the best ones!), He played kick-the-can with His disciples. He chased them. He played that game I ALWAYS fall for - where you touch somebody on the chest saying, “What’s that?” then chuck them in the nose when they look down. He hugged them, He laughed with them, He listened to them talk. He came to be their Savior and He came to be their friend.
Jesus is your savior - is He your friend? Are you comfortable with Him? Can you tell Him anything and everything? When you pray are you talking to your friend who loves you above all else - or are you talking to a distant God. I have a good friend who went through a bad spell of time. She was very angry about it - she figured that because she was a Christian God should be doing a better job of taking care of her. Bottom line is that she was mad at God. She would tell me how mad she was, but when I asked her if she had told God how mad she was at Him, her eyes got round. “You don’t talk to God like that! You don’t complain to Him - and you wouldn’t dare tell Him that you are mad at Him? He is GOD!” “Listen, little sister,” I said to her, “do you think He doesn’t know that you are mad? You said it yourself - He is God! Did you ever think that if you just told Him how mad you were - yelled at Him like you have yelled here - that you would feel better about this - and maybe give Him a chance to show you what is going on?” She couldn’t do it though. She could not tell the One Who loved her enough to die for her, whose only desire was to be in a love relationship with her - that she was mad about what she was going through. I guess that she was afraid to offend Him.
I have another friend who prays in a set pattern. I think he called it the A.C.T.S. pattern. Each one of the letters stands for a certain section of prayer. Every time he prays he prays in that pattern. I wonder if he has a mental checklist and he checks off every letter. I wonder if he thinks God has that same checklist that He is checking off to make sure the prayer covered all the letters. As far as I know, my friend doesn’t have a checklist of points when he talks to me - it would be a kind of weird friendship if he did. I wonder how much more my friend would have if he chucked the checklist and just talked to his Friend, Jesus.
Jesus is my God and LORD. His death to pay my sin-price, His resurrection to defeat death on my behalf, His promise that I will be with Him forever are the foundation upon which I have built my life. I love, worship, praise and honor the God within man. Jesus is my friend. I go to Him and am always welcomed. I tell Him about my day - my victories and my defeats. I tell Him about the funny thing that my kids did - and how my kids are driving me crazy. I tell Him about how I reached out to others - and how others hurt me. I tell Him about what I think He thinks is important and I tell Him about what I think is important. I love, worship, praise and honor the Man within God.
I know that you treat Jesus as your God. Do you treat Him as your friend? He wants you too.
Knock, Knock, LORD! (Who’s there?) Orange! (Orange who?) Orange You glad that I skipped most of that joke so I could get to what is important? I love You, Jesus. You are my God and You are my best Friend. There is no aspect of God or friend that I have needed that I have not found completed in You.
In the e-Praise & Prayers we have been praying for Les Johnson and his two sons after the tragic car accident that left Dan and Matt injured and thier mother dead. Below is a message from Donna Sullivan about a loving hand being extended to this family as they recover from both the physical and spiritual trauma of the accident. Please call Donna to help if you can - because this is what family does.
"Les Johnson is relatively new to the First Baptist family and many may not know him personally. Even so, we are providing meals for his family Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the next few weeks. If you would like to prepare a meal for them, please contact Donna Sullivan, 435-0684, to schedule a day. He lives in Clovis near Bullard and Sunnyside. He and the boys are looking forward to meeting new friends and are blessed by our prayers and support."
No man ever loved like Jesus. He taught the blind to see and the dumb to speak. He died on the cross to save us. He bore our sins. And now God says, "Because He did, I can forgive you." Billy Graham
I have a praise to share with you that is so exciting that it is a miracle to me that my heart hasn’t burst out of my chest with joy. On Monday night 4 of our 11 Care Fresno kids accepted Christ as Savior up at camp. It just doesn’t get much better than this! Thursday the message of salvation will be presented again. Please pray for our neighborhood children - that Jesus will become more than just a song they sing or a story they hear. Father God, hear our plea.
Vacation Bible School has started with a bang! Please pray for this vital outreach to the children of our church and of the neighborhood.
Judi Wright is facing surgery on her shoulder for bone spurs and a possible rotator cuff tear. Please pray for a successful surgery and a quick recovery. Please pray that Judi will be able to find help to care for her mother as she recovers.
Merle Rush is not doing well after suffering from a stroke last week. Please pray for a complete recovery.
Dan Johnson has been released from the hospital and was in services this past Sonday. He had several parts of his body bandaged and/or braced. But he is alive and out of the hospital - praise Father for His great mercy. Matt has had the surgery on his hand and is also recovering. Please continue to keep Matt & Dan in prayer as they recover physically from their injuries - and spiritually recover from the loss of their mother.
Please pray for the family and friends of Nick & Candace Brown. Their son, Andy, passed away on June 4th from a drug overdose. Andy was a believer - but just couldn’t shake the drugs. Candace is Lill Wilson’s daughter.
Please pray for Michael Farris, Jean Farris’ son. He is going through depression - but his real need is to be in relationship with Jesus.
Please pray for Erica Hensen who is going through some difficult times.
Please pray for complete recovery from leg surgery for Meredith Nunn.
Kristen Nolte is on a mission trip to Vietnam. Please pray for safety for her - and peace of mind for her parents.
Patty Tapney will be going to Ohio to help her niece, Laura. Laura’s body is rejecting the bone marrow transplant and to further complicate matters, Laura has a staph infection.
We continue to pray for the following: Bob Melchor, Emmy Lou Graves, Samee Myers, Anna Gossen, Doug & Diane Clapp, The Care Fresno family, Laura in Ohio, John Rogers & cancer, Bryan Hitch & his blood pressure, Lillian Seward & shingles, Chris Vercoe & family, for Judi Wright & her mom, Nola, Chuck Beal & his heart, new employment opportunities for Dan Hansen, Michelle Kammer to find a church home, Angel in Mississippi to find a church home, Tim & Lorna’s adoption of Drew, Bobbie Ronsley & lupus, Brandon & leukemia, Stan Reed & cancer, Kassel Coon in Afghanistan, Ray Rahn & his wife, George & Margie Martin.
Pray for our missionaries - Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw as they work at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Dr. George Pe Myat & the hospital in the Congo, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Please keep our two church plants in prayer. Please pray for Karl & Shellie Roth with Flipside. Please pray for Horacio & Cheryl Aleman at the LIFEhouse in Reedley.
Pray for our pastors, our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others.
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
Awesome God,
I am so glad that You are all those omni-religious-words. Because You are You can look into my heart and know all the joy, awe, thanksgiving and love that I am feeling - but simply cannot fully express. Abba, we lift up our 4 new believers and we thank You for the life change that they made on Monday night. Our rejoicing on earth is equal to the rejoicing in heaven over these new names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. We pray for all of the children who are at camp this week that You will be real to them and that they will choose to follow You. LORD God, help us to surround these new believers with our love and support when they come back into our neighborhood. Help us to teach them Your ways and to follow in Your steps.
We pray for the kids that are at Vacation Bible School this week, LORD-of-All. Open their hearts to Your message of salvation. Tug at their hearts until they come home to You.
Healer of bodies and souls, we pray for Judi and her upcoming operation.. Help her to recover quickly. Send her the help that she is going to need with her mom.
Bread of Life, we call out for Merle Rush and ask that You touch him with healing. Be with Ruth and strengthen her during this time.
We thank You, Lord, that Dan was in services this past Sonday, and we ask that You continue to be with Dan and Matt as they recover from this unexpected loss.
We pray for Nick & Candace Brown and for those who surround them as they grieve the loss of Andy. We thank You that Andy is with You, and that he is free from the demon of drugs that possessed him.
We join Jean Farris in her prayers for her son, Michael. We pray in agreement for our desire that mirror’s Your desire - that he come into relationship with You. We ask that You free him from his depression.
We pray that You guide Erica Hensen as she goes through these troubled times.
We pray for Meredith as she recovers from leg surgery. Heal her body quickly, LORD Jesus.
Abba, please be with Willie & Joy as Kristen is in Vietnam. Help them to not worry. Show Kristen Your glory as she serves You.
We pay for traveling mercies as Patty goes to help out her niece, Laura. We pray that You be with Laura and help her body to recover from the staph infection and for her body to accept the bone marrow transplant.
Holy Spirit, we thank You for Your presence in our lives and in the lives and situations of those we continue to pray for. In each situation may Your will be made manifest.
You are so good to us, Holy God. Thank You. You reign in majesty.
We pray for our missionaries around the world, LORD Jesus, and we ask that You bless them as they are about Your business of reaching those who do not know You. Provide for their needs, renew their spirits and keep them safe.
We pray for the LIFEHouse church and for those who serve You through it. We ask Your blessings on them as they grow. We pray for those who do Your Kingdom work through Flipside church. We ask that You bless their day at the lake this upcoming Sonday.
You are God alone and we thank You for our pastors and their hearts to serve You and love us. Help us to support them. We ask that You provide for our leadership - pour Your abundance upon them. Bless our ministries as they take Your good news to the world.
Father, I have a problem - and it is me. I’m in the same boat as Paul when he said that he does the things he doesn’t want to do and doesn’t do what he wants to do. Help me to resist the temptation to do what is not good for me, help me to choose to do what is right in Your eyes. Help me to live in Your light. Give me opportunities to engage my world in Your name. Give me eyes to see those opportunities. Give me the words to say and the courage to speak them.
God bless America, her leadership and those who serve her in the military.
We pour our lives before You, God. We serve You with willing hearts. We love You so much.
Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. And lo, there were many fish in the waters all around. In fact, the whole area was surrounded by streams and lakes filled with fish. And the fish were hungry.
Week after week, month after month, and year after year, these who called themselves fishermen met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and how they might go about fishing. Year after year they carefully defined what fishing means, defended fishing as an occupation, and declared that fishing is always to be a primary task of fishermen.
Continually, they searched for new and better methods of fishing and for new and better definitions of fishing. Further they said, “The fishing industry exists by fishing as fire exists by burning.” They loved slogans such as “Fishing is the task of every fisherman.” They sponsored special meetings called “Fishermen’s Campaigns” and “The Month for Fishermen to Fish.” They sponsored costly nationwide and world-wide congresses to discuss fishing and to promote fishing and hear about all the ways of fishing such as the new fishing equipment, fish calls, and whether any new bait had been discovered.
These fishermen built large, beautiful buildings called “Fishing Headquarters.” The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and every fisherman should fish. One thing they didn’t do, however: They didn’t fish.
In addition to meeting regularly, they organized a board to send out fishermen to other places where there were many fish. The board hired staffs and appointed committees and held many meetings to define fishing, to defend fishing, and to decide what new streams should be thought about. But the staff and committee members did not fish.
Large, elaborate, and expensive training centers were built whose original and primary purpose was to teach fishermen how to fish. Over the years courses were offered on the needs of fish, the nature of fish, where to find fish, the psychological reactions of fish, and how to approach and feed fish. Those who taught had doctorates in fishology, but the teachers did not fish. They only taught fishing. Year after year, after tedious training, many were graduated and were given fishing licenses. They were sent to do full-time fishing, some to distant waters which were filled with fish.
Many who felt the call to be fishermen responded. They were commissioned and sent to fish. But like the fishermen back home, they never fished. Like the fishermen back home, they engaged in all kinds of other occupations. They built power plants to pump water for fish and tractors to plow new waterways. They made all kinds of equipment to travel here and there to look at fish hatcheries. Some also said that they wanted to be part of the fishing party, but they felt called to furnish fishing equipment. Others felt their job was to relate to the fish in a good way so the fish would know the difference between good and bad fishermen. Others felt that simply letting the fish know they were nice, land-loving neighbors and how loving and kind they were was enough.
After one stirring meeting on “The Necessity for Fishing,” one young fellow left the meeting and went fishing. The next day he reported that he had caught two outstanding fish. He was honored for his excellent catch and scheduled to visit all the big meetings possible to tell how he did it. So he quit his fishing in order to have time to tell about the experience to the other fishermen. He was also placed on the Fishermen’s General Board as a person having considerable experience.
Now it’s true that many of the fishermen sacrificed and put up with all kinds of difficulties. Some lived near the water and bore the smell of dead fish every day. They received the ridicule of some who made fun of their fishermen’s clubs and the fact that they claimed to be fishermen yet never fished. They wondered about those who felt it was of little use to attend the weekly meetings to talk about fishing. After all, were they not following the Master who said, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men?
Imagine how hurt some were when one day a person suggested that those who don’t catch fish were really not fishermen, no matter how much they claimed to be. Yet it did sound correct. Is a person a fisherman if, year after year, he never catches a fish? Is one following if he isn’t fishing?
Hey Flipside Family,
I pray your week has gone well. I am currently at a conference about “Doing Church as a Team”. We certainly have a great team of people of which you are a part. By the way, the conference I am at is on Oahu in Hawaii. It was all paid for by an individual who believes in what we are doing and wanted to bless us through the learning I am receiving. It is really good. We get up at 5:00am, do an exercise program, devotions, and breakfast. It is regimented but very beneficial.
I pray you realize what a blessing you are to so many others who are looking for Jesus.
I pray you realize how significant Flipside is already and what a great start God is doing through you.
I pray you realize what a significant part you are in the Flipside team.
I am excited to be with you all again at our next Preview Service on June 26th! It is coming up very quickly.
Next Sunday is Father’s Day and I want to remind you that you are all invited to Millerton Lake with Flipside. We are just going to be relaxing and fellowshipping together. Here is some info about our lake trip that Amy got for us.
*For a map go to: http://www.parks.ca.gov/lat_long_map/
*A day pass per car is: $7.00
*Meet on the Fresno side... just take Friant all the way up staying right until you see the Millerton Lake Recreational Park sign. Enter the park... you'll pass a guard booth... pay the lovely fee... then follow the road around until you see the Flipside signs.
*Regarding toys for the lake, CMS Toys (559-255-6592) is the jet ski rental that is right at the Fresno side boat launch.
*We are thinking about a time frame of 10:00am - 4:00pm (or however long you want to stay)
*Bring your own lunch, drink, sun screen, etc and toys to play with (unless you want to rent some there)
Let’s take a Sunday to play together before we work and worship together the following Sunday. Thank you to those of you on the set up/tear down team. I look forward to seeing you Sunday the 26th at 8:00am. My kids are excited about going back to Flipside for Sunday School. Thank you to those of you who are doing such a great job teaching our children about Jesus. So many of you are giving and working so much for the sake of others. I am proud of you for continuing to invite people and help others get connected to Flipside. I am so proud of you! Please continue praying for God’s blessing on our church, our preview services coming up, and our launch on September 11th and 18th. Be inviting all those you know to our Preview Service on Sunday, June 26th at Valley Oak Elementary at 10:00am. Let’s set a goal of 250 people for that service. I know we are all connected to people who need a church and I believe in you all!
I am bringing back some things for all of you that will be great for turning our world upside down. I’m excited for what God is doing. Thank you for being a part of it. You are a blessing.
Love and blessings, Karl
Dear Partner in Christ,
Greetings in Jesus' Name.
The month of May was a month of many uncertainties for us. May---- Jesus transformed "May Be" to a month of "Yes - It Will Be" by Jesus. Thank you for all your faithful prayer support.
God enabled me to share at the mission Sunday of RTMC. Many came and shared with me what they had learnt form my husband and me in the early days, 2 decades ago. How Quickly time flies? God's leading me all these years brought back His assurance that He is the one leading RHS and it will be "Yes" from Jesus to many of the dreams of RHS.
Thank you praying for the medical van, which got burnt last year and which has been under repair for last 6 months, as money inflow has been slow for the repair. Finally by mid June we plan to get this going again.
Thank you for those who pray for the persecuted Christians in Malkangiri area. God has kept us alive and progressing, for RHS staff could screen Jesus film in interior Koya and Halbi villages. Please pray for those who were moved to tears as they watched the film in the Koya villages of Kapanpalli, Metaguda and Rhabaguda. In the Halbi village of Rangaguda and Pujariguda. These villages do not have a road or electricity, so the village people carried the generator, the lights, TV etc to screen the film, late in the night, walking through jungle paths, which hare infested with snakes and bears. I stand in awe to see the boldness and the enthusiasm of these people as they help us in the programmes. This is because YOU are all praying daily for all of us and for God's protection on the life of these dear people. Thanks a ton for standing with us in prayer.
Somesh's children have been affected with Chicken pox. Please pray that the disease will soon come under control. The pox is of the virulent type.
Room temperature is 42 now, so please pray for people and for our staff for protection from sunstroke during this coming month.
God enabled me to give a medical check up for the children and some staff of the student center at Sawyerpuram, which brought in some revenue for RHS. They have requested that I come every year in April for the check up. I am not sure whether this will be possible, but I thank God for using me.
Finance as usual continues to be a major huddle, please pray that God will send more regular donors for us.
God has been the source of encouraging us and I want to encourage each one of you that God's promises are "Yes" in Him and He is with you as you read this newsletter.
He will see you through and there are No "May, or Maybe" in Him - It is all a Big Yes, so Praise be to His Name.
Closing with prayers
Yours in Christ
Dr. Iris. G. R Paul
Valerie Rae Hanneman
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6 KJV).
When my daughter, Fawn, announced her intention to move to Tennessee in a few years my heart stopped. My first impulse were to say, “Oh no you are not, Missie!” Luckily I kept those words behind my teeth before they could damage my relationship with my daughter. But the thought of her being so far away from me....whoa.
Why am I so concerned about Fawn being so far from me? There is nothing about Fawn that causes the fear. She is intelligent, competent and trustworthy. She is truly everything I have hoped and dreamed for in a daughter (well except for that smart-alecky mouth).
The fear is mine. Have I as her mother done a good job in getting her ready to face this world on her own? What is going to happen when I am not there to protect her? Now for all of those who are about to e-mail me and remind me that we need to let our children go - spread their wings - to forge ahead on their own paths and all the rest of that blah-blah stuff - I know that! Even without ever watching Dr. Phil - my head knows that! It is my heart - the part of me that has loved, cared for and protected her for her whole life that is freaking out.
And there is an even deeper concern - the concern of a Christian mother. Has my witness as a follower of Christ - has my faith in God - has my lifestyle choices these past 10 years been strong enough to continue to influence and guide my daughter as she faces the temptations of this life?
Although the way we were raised is different (I was not raised in a Christian home) Fawn is at the same age I was when I first started to drift away from God. She is at the age when many young people turn away from their Christian roots and give into the temptations of this world. Now don’t get me wrong - I don’t believe that Fawn is going to become a drug addict or participate in drive-by shootings just because she leaves my home - but the truth is that freedom tastes sweet - and the siren song of the world’s pleasures is alluring. Have I equipped her enough to be able to resist those shallow temptations?
I take great comfort and hope from two stories. One is in the Older Testament and is about Manasseh. Manasseh was the son of Hezekiah, King of Judah. 2 Kings 18:5 says this about Hezekiah - “Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.” Now that is a testimony of faith and Manasseh was raised in that atmosphere of faith. One would think that he would have been a shoo-in to continue in his father’s faith. But he didn’t. 2 Chronicles 33 tells the story of Manasseh’s reign over Judah - and it is brutal. When he assumed the throne at age 12, Manasseh set up altars to false gods in the Temple of the Living God. He wallowed in his witchcraft and idiolatry. He sacrificed his sons by fire to the false god, Molech. He was so evil that verse 9 says, “But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.” God couldn’t get Manasseh to listen to Him, so He allowed Manasseh to be taken captive to Babylon, drug there by a hook through his nose. While he was there, Manasseh remembered the God of his father, Hezekiah. He confessed his sins and was restored to the Living God. Manasseh was released from his captivity, returned to Judah and for the rest of his life he followed his father’s faith.
The second story is well known. It is the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15). In this parable the son rejects the father’s lifestyle and leaves the home. Like Manasseh, after squandering every gift and opportunity he had, this son was in a far country, a captive to the people there. In the end, the son goes back and not only embraces his father, but also embraces his father’s lifestyle.
Although there are great differences in these stories, there is much that is similar - much to give Christian parents hope as their children leave their home. Both Manasseh and the son rejected the faith and the teachings of their parents. As they made their own way in this world they succumbed to the temptations that were around them. They were both captive to their sins and went through a dark time of their lives. God used this dark time to bring them back to the faith and the teachings of their parents.
As the parents of these “potential prodigals” we worry about what is going to happen to our children move away from us. We may even have to deal with a child who goes far from our faith, far from the values we have tried to teach them. What can we do? We can’t spank them anymore. We can’t ground them until they are living how we want them to live.
First of all - and most important - NEVER GIVE UP! The father of the prodigal son was outside every day, searching the horizon, looking for his son to come back to him. Our children may turn away from God, but we should never give up believing that they will return to Him. We need to be our prodigal children’s advocates in the Throne room of God by praying constantly for them. We prayed for them while they were in our homes - they need our prayers even more now. We need to love them without condemnation. If they ask, we need to be honest in our disapproval of their choices, but we can’t “harp” at them constantly or disown them. When and if they go through that dark time we need to support them. Most of all, through it all, we must continue to live our lives as an example of Christ. And when things are on the edge of despair we must remember God’s promise - “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Fawn may go to Tennessee, she may not. For all I know, she might end up in Timbuktu. She may hold close to God, she may go far from Him. Wherever her choices take her, Fawn will be surrounded by my love, support and my prayers. I will do it for her as my Father does it for me.
Abba, I try so hard to trust You in everything - but I will admit that it is hard for me to release my daughter to You. This is the biggest step of faith I have to take. Help me to surrender her completely to You and to have the faith that no matter where her choices may lead her - they will never take her away from You.
Contact Valerie or subscribe to the e-Ministry of Fresno First Baptist at valerie@fresnofirst.org
If God sees that my spiritual life will be furthered by giving me the things for which I ask, then He will give them, but that is not the end of prayer. The end of prayer is that I come to know God Himself. O. Chambers
Camp Sugarpine’s Outreach camp starts this Sonday. I am so excited to report that we have 13 of our Care Fresno kids going up there. This is a great opportunity for them to be in an environment that is focused on Jesus - please pray that eternal life-saving decisions will be made. These outreach camps are the toughest ones of the year for the staff of Sugarpine because these camps are traditionally for the “unchurched” children of our neighborhoods. Please pray for the staff - that their words and deeds will reflect Jesus to these precious children.
Great praise of anticipation is that Anna Gossen will be back to Fresno on July 29th. She will complete her test for marriage & family counseling and then hopefully be able to find a job here.
Samee Myers is recuperating well from her knee replacement surgery. It is so good to see her moving around without pain!
Merle Rush has suffered a stroke. He is in Fresno Community hospital. He is still able to talk but has lost use of his left arm and left leg. Please pray for a complete recovery.
Please keep Les Johnson and his two sons in prayer following a tragic car accident last week. The two boys, Dan & Matt, were traveling to San Jose with their mother (Les’ ex-wife) when the accident occurred. Sadly, the mother died from the accident. At last word Dan, the younger son, is still in the hospital. Matt was in church this past Sonday and was able to participate in all of his high school graduation activities, however the damage to his hand is going to require surgery. The mother was in relationship with Jesus so that is a great comfort. Please pray for this family as they grieve their loss.
Emmy Lou Graves is having health problems - please keep this dear woman in prayer.
Bob Melchor is suffering from arthritis and sciatic nerve damage.
We continue to pray for the following: Doug & Diane Clapp, The Care Fresno family, Laura in Ohio, Geri Kinnish & her heart, John Rogers & cancer, Bryan Hitch & his blood pressure, Lillian Seward & shingles, Chris Vercoe & family, for Judi Wright & her mom, Nola, Chuck Beal & his heart, new employment opportunities for Dan Hansen, Michelle Kammer to find a church home, Angel in Mississippi to find a church home, Tim & Lorna’s adoption of Drew, Bobbie Ronsley & lupus, Brandon & leukemia, Stan Reed & cancer, Kassel Coon in Afghanistan, Ray Rahn & his wife, George & Margie Martin.
Pray for our missionaries - Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw as they work at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Dr. George Pe Myat & the hospital in the Congo, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Please keep our two church plants in prayer. Please pray for Karl & Shellie Roth with Flipside. Please pray for Horacio & Cheryl Aleman at the LIFEhouse in Reedley.
Pray for our pastors, our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others.
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
Great I Am that I Am,
You are God Who Is, Who Was and Who Will Always Be. Your power and majesty fill all of eternity. With awed hearts, we humble ourselves before You. Have mercy on us, LORD God, for we are Your children and we are nothing apart from You.
Abba, on bended knees we pray in agreement for our 13 children that are going up to Camp Sugarpine, and for all the children that will be there. Soften their hearts, LORD. Make them receptive to hearing the Good News of Jesus. We include in our prayers all of those staff persons who will be working with these children during the week. Grant them patience, LORD God. Help all of their words to be gentle, help their actions reflect Your glory.
King of Kings, we lift Merle before Your throne and ask that Your mercy and care be extended to him. We ask that You bring Your comfort to him and to Ruth, his wife. Father, we ask that his recovery be complete.
We pray for Les, Dan and Matt as they grieve the loss of the boys’ mother. We ask that You touch Dan and Matt with Your healing hand so that they will fully recover from their injuries.
Healer of Body & Soul, we call out on behalf of Emmy Lou and Bob, that their health problems will cease.
We praise You, Spirit of the Living God, for how You continue to work in the lives and in the situations of those who continue to be on our prayer chain. Even though we do not say their names aloud each week we know that You hear us when we pray for them.
Who are we, LORD of Everything, that You should bend Your attention to us and love us as much as You do. Who are we that we even enter Your mind? And yet, You say that You think of us constantly and that You are mindful of us. Will eternity be long enough for us to praise You?
Holy Jesus, we pray for the missionaries who are scattered around this world that You created. We pray for those we know and hold close to our hearts and we pray for those we will meet for the first time around Your great Throne. Take care of them LORD. Provide for their needs.
With joy we lift up our pastors and we thank You for them. They are proof, LORD, of how very much You love us. Help us to support them with our love, our words and our actions. Give us opportunities to honor them. We pray for the leadership and the ministries of our congregation, Jesus, and we ask that You guide them in the way that You would have them to go.
Continue to bless the LIFEHouse church and the Flipside church with Your power. We praise You for the kingdom work that they have already accomplished and for the kingdom work yet to come.
Father, show us opportunities to share You with the world that does not know You. Help us to reflect Your glory in all that we do.
We lift our country before You, LORD, and ask that you bless her. We pray in particular for the Supreme Court Justices as they rule on the display of the 10 commandments on public property. Grant them wisdom. We pray for our military and for the families that they are far from. Grant them peace and comfort.
LORD Jesus, You are our all-in-all. We desire to lose ourselves in You until all that is within us that hurts You is gone and only our praise and worship of our King remains. We love You, LORD. Help us to love You more.
Larry and Jan Martin
International Ministries, Ban Luang Thailand.
June 2005
Dear Partners In Ministry
Seasons change and with the new seasons bring new challenges. Right now we are moving out of the hot dry season into the hot sticky season the prospect of rain is heightened as clouds, storms and showers tease us but, as of now no real soaking rain. Our neighbors are planting corn and then they'l start preparing the paddies for the rice. We indulged in a little corn planting with some friends and finished our time by determining to invent a tool that dispenses 2 corn seeds at a time.
Rat and more rats. Rats seem to be seasonal and usually a few traps and a few burials and it is all over - but not this year we have disposed of a fair few but there are more! They dance on our ceiling at night, saunter around the rafters in plain view and birth ratlets in drawers ( none of which is popular). This morning the village headman was distributing rat poison to the masses, so hopefully well be rat free again soon.
Schools back and our lives have taken on more of a formal routine again with regular teaching appointments at various schools and at our home. In one school Larry has been promoted from teaching years 4, 5 & 6 to teaching 7, 8 & 9. It is fun to see the kids progressing, getting both bigger and more skilled. (It can be frustrating too, as some kids just don't seem to be getting much.) We spent some time at the end of the school vacation time getting new teaching materials ready to face the challenge of being fun and relevant as we teach.
A further challenge in that department was getting the computers up and running again. A storm took out the one we use and various problems have plagued the 2 old ones we have for students use to do their assignments for school on. We are now all up and running ready for the onslaught.
We had a farewell party for our senior students the other night as they are all going off to various universities and colleges around the country. They will be back to visit of course but some of them may never return here to live. Saying goodbye to them reminded us of the challenge we have to present the gospel through both our words and lives, to those God brings into our lives for a season. We pray that as their worlds are opened to new experiences that they will remember some of the things we've shared with them and be challenged by the claims of Jesus on their lives.
Earlier in May our team met and had some really good discussion on the subject of reaching out to the Thai people. The challenge we as a team have accepted is to find ways to share the gospel to the Thai people in a way that is easy to understand. Church growth here is still very slow.
Recently another team member shared about the challenge of being Jesus in his community. This of course is a challenge to each of us. May we all touch lives for Jesus.
Yours in His Kingdom
Larry and Jan
Prayer and Praise Points
Give Thanks for safe travel, and continue to pray for us in this area. We have recently been assigned a car and can now do trips much quicker and more comfortably.
Give thanks for the successful renewal of our visas
Pray for our oldstudents pray that God will speak to and challenge them on a spiritual level in their new situation ( Kat< Jane Pray for Gold, he still calls in and wants to chat Pray that God would give Gold a hunger for spiritual things not just knowledge. Pray for a team visiting from Melbourne this month. Pray that they will be blessed, challenged and used by God. Pray for us as a team as we look to writing simple tracts / catechisms that will be used of God to touch the hearts of the readers. Pray that the relationships we build through teaching English will bear fruit for the Kingdom.
Valerie Rae Hanneman
Revelation 19:7 (NIV) “Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.” (NIV)
A few weeks ago I was privileged to attend the wedding of Debbie Dornier and Stan Jenks. Both of them were already friends of mine before they noticed each other in Joe Varian’s Sonday morning class. When they started attending the same small group as I do I was able to watch their relationship continue to grow. I will admit that there were a few times that they were so “lovey-dovey” that I rolled my eyes in “mock” disgust. But really it is a joy to be around them.
Pastor Willie, Stan Jenks and his best man, Joe Varian, came into the sanctuary. Willie looked as happy and composed as always. Joe Varian - in his brand new suit - was positively beaming. And Stan Jenks looked like he was about to puke. He kept shifting from foot to foot and tugging at his collar as if he were choking. His hands looked like they were shaking and he had this pale expression on his face. I hid my smile behind my hand because Stan was just the epitome of a nervous groom. The bridesmaids came in and took their places. There was a pause in the music, then the Wedding March began and Debbie entered the sanctuary. She was breathtaking. As she walked down the aisle, I looked back at Stan. The nervous bridegroom was gone. He was standing straight, no shifting feet or tugged collar. His entire focus was on his bride coming to him. The look of pride and love that shone from his face was so profound that tears filled my eyes. I glanced again at Debbie and she was looking at him with just as much focus. To see them at that moment is a picture my mind will always carry.
There’s another wedding coming and I am going to be part of it. In fact, I am going to be the bride. It is not going to take place here on earth - instead it is going to take place in the most glorious place in eternity. The Temple of the Living God in the New Jerusalem. This is the wedding of the Lamb (Jesus) to His bride (the Church). Now I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of questions about this wedding. For instance, are the Older Testament saints included in this? After all the Church was born on the day of Pentecost after Jesus ascended back to His Father. Maybe they will get to take part because their faith looked forward to the Messiah. Who knows? I don’t. And how about the ceremony itself? How is that going to happen? Will it be a mass ceremony between Jesus and the millions of millions who make up His Church? Or will it be more of an individual encounter between each of us and Jesus? If it is an individual encounter - that may take quite awhile. But then again - it’s not like we don’t have all of eternity and no better place to be! Who knows how it’s going to happen? I don’t. Here is what I do know. No matter who it encompasses or how the ceremony is done it is going to be absolutely perfect because Jesus has always had this ceremony planned. The other thing that I know is that when Jesus looks at us - His bride - His Church - His face is going to be radiant with love and pride just as Stan’s was. (only maybe multiplied a few thousand times) I ache to see Jesus look at me like that. And when I look back at Him, my face will be radiant as well.
Debbie was so beautiful as she walked down the aisle. Although Debbie has always been as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside - on this day, she was stunning. Her dress was perfect, her hair was perfect, her makeup was perfect, the flowers were perfect. I wonder - if Debbie had been dressed in shorts, T-shirt and sandals - would Stan have been just as radiant when he looked at her coming to him? Yes, he would have. His radiance and joy was not based on how Debbie looked - but rather on the foundation of love they share.
But that was not what Debbie wanted for this special day. She wanted to be as beautiful as she possibly could. She did everything that she could to be ready on her wedding day. And it wasn’t for me or anybody else in the audience. It wasn’t for the bridesmaids, or the preacher or Joe. It was all for Stan - because that is how much she loves him.
I also want to look beautiful for my Bridegroom in Heaven. I want to make myself ready for that day. But I am not going to make myself ready by buying a dress, fixing my hair or buying flowers. Revelation 19:8 says that the bride is dressed in fine linen which represents the righteous acts of the saints. That is how I make myself ready for Jesus. With righteous acts. Now just to be perfectly clear - just as Debbie’s clothing did not earn her place in the sanctuary, my righteous acts will not earn me my place in Heaven. Jesus already did that. And just as Debbie’s dress did not affect how much Stan love’s her, my righteous acts will not affect how much Jesus loves me. He has already promised that He loves me with an everlasting love. Just as Debbie did everything she could to make herself ready because she loves Stan, I am going to spend my life making myself ready for Jesus. Because I love Him. Because I want to be clothed in the finest, whitest linen when I finally see Him.
What are my righteous acts? Are they feeding the hungry? You bet. Are they visiting the sick? Absolutely. Are they giving comfort to a hurting friend. Yes. But they are also turning away from a gossipy person. They are stopping that unkind thought before I voice it. They are being honest when I am given too much change. They are staying calm when I am cut off on the freeway. My righteous acts are the big things I do - and the little things I don’t do. They are what I do to set myself apart from this world and make myself ready to be His bride.
Are you ready to be His bride? How will you be dressed?
LORD Jesus, I don’t know a lot about the wedding of the Lamb - or about how it is going to take place. All I know for sure is that I am going to be there based only on what You have done and on nothing that I could ever do. I can’t wait to be there with You. Help me in every day and in every way to make myself ready for You.
Contact Valerie at Valerie@fresnofirst.org
Check out our web-log at www.fresnofirst.org
As Reported in Crosswalk.com - Religion Today News Summaries for June 2, 2005
Liberty Counsel Clears Way for 'Jesus' in Valedictorian's Address
Allie Martin and Jody Brown, Agape Press
A valedictorian at one Wisconsin high school did not have to hide her faith in Christ when it came to her recent graduation speech. When Miriam Cattanach, valedictorian of the Class of 2005 of Spencer High School, submitted her graduation speech to school officials, they said any reference to religion, God, or Jesus must go. Miriam, a committed Christian, said in her speech that Christ is the hope for the future. But when administrators censored her speech, her family contacted Liberty Counsel. After the legal group got involved, the school changed its tune, says Liberty Counsel president Mat Staver. "We wrote a letter to the school authorities and talked to them about what the Constitution says. We simply said that if they insist on censoring this religious message of her graduation speech, that it would be unconstitutional -- and we would have to file suit in court," Staver reports. "After considering this, they changed their mind." That permitted Miriam to share her testimony during her speech on May 21 -- which was presented free of censorship. Staver explains that students and invited guests do not lose their constitutional rights when they step behind a podium -- a fact evidently lost on some school administrators.
Prayer should be free, spontaneous, vital fellowship between the created person and the personal Creator, in which Life should touch life. The more that prayer becomes the untrammeled, free, and natural expression of the desires of our hearts, the more real it becomes. O. Hallesby
Brent Clapp passed into the arms of his God early this past Saturday morning. His services were today at St. Anthony of Padua’s Catholic Church. It was a wonderful service. Although I did not know Brent personally, I know his son, Doug. The type of man that Doug is is a tribute to the type of man his father is. This good man and great Christian father has battled cancer for a long time and was finally granted an ending to the pain. Brent is in the presence of Father, where he knows only joy. He is seeing what we can only imagine, he has done what we long to do. He has touched Jesus and heard Jesus say the words we also want to hear, “Welcome home you good and faithful servant.” We rejoice with you, Brent, and we will see you soon. Please keep Doug and Diane Clapp, and the entire Clapp family in your prayers.
I spoke to Joanne - my friend from work, today. We had been praying for her son, Patrick, for a long time as he had many ups and downs in the treatment of his brain tumor. Joanne says that Patrick is doing GREAT! He is gaining weight back, is very active and smiles all the time. God is so good!
We continue to pray for the following: The Care Fresno family, Laurie Olvera, Laura in Ohio, Geri Kinnish & her heart, Lorna’s mother & recovery from the car accident, John Rogers & cancer, Bryan Hitch & his blood pressure, Lillian Seward & shingles, Chris Vercoe & family, for Judi Wright & her mom, Nola, Chuck Beal & his heart, new employment opportunities for Dan Hansen, Michelle Kammer to find a church home, Angel in Mississippi to find a church home, Tim & Lorna’s adoption of Drew, Bobbie Ronsley & lupus, Brandon & leukemia, Stan Reed & cancer, Kassel Coon in Afghanistan, Ray Rahn & his wife, George & Margie Martin.
Pray for our missionaries - Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw as they work at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Dr. George Pe Myat & the hospital in the Congo, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Please keep our two church plants in prayer. Please pray for Karl & Shellie Roth with Flipside. Please pray for Horacio & Cheryl Aleman at the LIFEhouse in Reedley.
Pray for our pastors, our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others.
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
LORD of Life,
We thank You for the Life. We thank You for Your life freely given in our place. Because of Your sacrifice we are alive in You. Thank You for our everyday life. Thank You for the morning when we rise and we reach for You. Thank You for the busyness of our days and for those times when our minds turn eagerly to You. Thank You for the peacefulness of our nights when we rest secure knowing that nothing can take us from You. Thank You most of all for our eternal life in Your presence. We look forward to taking our place around Your throne and filling eternity with our praises of You.
Great Comforter, we thank You and praise You for the life and witness of Brent Clapp. We thank You that even now he stands before You, his body strong, free from the cancer that filled him, free from the pain that beset him. Free to sing with joy, free to praise, free to dance within You. We pray Your mercy and comfort on Doug, Diane, the Clapp family and friends as they grieve their loss.
We thank You for the great report on little Patrick and for his progress. We pray for his family, LORD God, that this experience will bring them into relationship with You.
Precious Shepherd, we pray for those who continue to be on our hearts and minds. We know that You know each situation intimately and that You know the plans that You have for each situation and that Your plans are good. We release our friends and family into Your care, knowing that You will never leave them nor forsake them.
Holy Spirit, fill us anew with Your vision. Help us to see this world as You see it. Help our hearts to break over what breaks Your heart. And if what you see and if what breaks Your heart is within us - show us that first. Help us to remove anything that stands between You and us.
Jehovah, we pray for the missionaries around the world who willingly labor for You in fields of harvest that are often bleak and dangerous. We pray that You provide for their needs, bless them and protect them in all ways.
We continue to lift up Horacio and Cheryl Aleman at the LIFEHouse Church. Continue to pour Your abundance upon them and this new congregation. We lift up Karl & Shellie Roth over at the Flipside church. We thank You for the great work that You are doing with this new church family.
Abba, with all humility we cry out for our pastors. We ask that You bless them with peace as they serve You. We ask that You bless their families and bless us, their congregations, so that we always surround them with love. We pray that Your wisdom fill the leaders of our church, those who serve on the Board of Mangers and those who serve as ministry leaders. Help us to never let the ministry overshadow the God it serves. It’s all about You, Jesus, it’s all about You.
Enlarge our territories, Father God. Show us people who need to be in relationship with You. Give us the words to say and the courage to say them. Help us to deal gently with all those that You love so much.
We pray for our country, LORD God of the Angel Armies, that she will come back to her knees before You. We pray for our leadership at all levels, LORD God. We pray that You touch their motives and make them pure. Make their desire to be the restoration of our country. We pray for the men and women who serve our country in so many places around the world - but in particular for those who serve in combat areas. Place a stronghold of protection around them, Father. Comfort the families who are still at home. Help us to find peace.
Father God, we don’t have anything that we can give You that is worthy of You. So we offer all that we have to You with joy. Take our hearts, LORD, and break them to be used for Your purpose. Take our minds, LORD, and mold them to be more like Your mind. Take our hands and feet, take our bodies and use them in service of You. Take our dreams and hopes and turn them to You. Take our time on this earth and use it to glorify You. We surrender all, LORD. We hold nothing back from You . We love You, LORD God.