WILL YOU JOIN...




...Children's Cup in their 40 days of prayer on behalf of the "least of these"?

http://www.childrenscup.org/v2/fortydays/

HAPPINESS IS...

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...taking your family and some church youth to minister at a loving, Christian home for families and singles in need of shelter and when its time to go, your kids don't want to leave. In fact, one daughter says she wants to live there and the baby keeps asking when she can go back.

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I know, I know...it could sound like our home is so awful that my kids don't want to live here anymore. But I know its not that at all. Its that they are learning that wonderful yet paradoxical truism that the more we live for others, the more abundant life we have!

LOOKING FORWARD TO A SUMMER OF SIGNIFICANCE...

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...through the eyes of my 12 year old:

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"This Summer isn't exactly going to be a 'normal' Summer for my family and my Youth Group. This year instead of laying out on a beach desperately trying to get a tan, no, this year we're going to be helping in the intercity with the homeless. You can't believe how much I'm looking forward to it.

I've always wanted to help people, especially children people (that's kinda obvious isn't it becuase I went to Swaziland to help children). I guess I just have a connection with children that some other members of my family do not have. I connect with kids, I understand them, maybe that's becuase I'm still a kid myself.

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When I see children I see beautiful, special, and capable of anything kids that are unfortunately growing and growing older. I just can't understand why some people can reject or just not want children around. Children are our next generation. Who knows, maybe that little boy who picked up the avocado you dropped in the grocery store will someday be a president.

So I personally can not wait for this Summer and Summer of Signifigance to start. God has a lot of wonderful things instored for my Youth Group this Summer, I just know it."

PEOPLE AND DOGS

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Seth Barnes, of Adventures in Missions, has introduced me to his dog Whimsy. And I in turn want to introduce you to this delightfully furry individual, for believe or not, we can learn a lot from Whimsy.

Here's what Seth had to say back on February 1, 2006:

People are a lot like dogs. You always think about that in terms of dogs and their masters – the saggy jowled guy who looks like Winston Churchill owns a bulldog and so on. But recently I discovered another similarity by watching my own dog, Whimsy.

Whimsy has always been a lap dog. Just 15 pounds of fluff, he knows his spot in the world, and it’s on my lap. When I stay home to work, he comes and stares at me with a baleful shaggy face until I give him the OK sign and then he parks himself there for the day.

Whimsy is a bundle of love, but he’s got one bad habit; when we let him out and turn our backs, he’s off like a shot into the forest behind our house. In four years at the Barnes house, we’ve never been able to discipline him out of it. It can be disconcerting to have one so small and relatively defenseless at large in the deep woods. We just attributed it to a character flaw in our little lap dog.

This past week, I had a revelation about this problem. Desperate for running partners, I decided to try ol’ Whimsy out. He loves to go on walks and danced all around the leash as I got it out. Hooked up, we went outside and I began to trot. Much to my consternation, Whimsy shot ahead the full length of the retractable leash and strained like a hound after a fox. I picked up the pace, wondering where this would lead.

Whimsy just kept galloping ahead, running headlong up our driveway and down the street. One mile went by and he was still flying. Two miles and he was still a blur. Other dogs looked on in wonder as this mass of fur sped along, tugging me behind him. We ran three miles and on the last quarter mile, I unfastened the leash and we raced down the driveway.

My revelation is that Whimsy may be a good lap dog, but down deep he’s a running dog. That’s why he runs away – he may not be built for speed, but he loves to run. And here’s my point: A lot of us are living the lives of lap dogs. But down deep, we’re sprinters, built to run. We just never discovered that about ourselves. We got in the habit of being underchallenged and never discovered our true identity.

It’s not too late for you. Do something crazy. Start running somewhere.

*** For an ongoing account of 25 people throwing off their lap dog identity and running around the world, log on to http://www.theworldrace.org/

ALMOST WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Manzini, Swaziland

I'VE BEEN DISPLACED

For the longest time, my 4 year old son T always said, that next to God, he loved me more than anybody. Alas, it is no longer true. After Jeff Goins of Adventures in Missions visited us last week, T has decided that he likes Mr. Jeff only second to the Creator of the Universe. My husband assures me that this too shall pass and that shortly I will return to top billing in his affections. I am not so convinced. After all, T says that Mr. Jeff rates that high because Mr. Jeff can play Monkey Ball on the Wii.

And that is certainly reason enough for a young boy to choose someone else over his dear old mother.

Sniff-sniff.

I'm not bitter... even a tad. Truly.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT WOULD MAKE...

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...in our world if we could just manage to follow these ten simple ways of living and loving.

Photo taken at a Children's Cup carepoint in Manzini, Swaziland.

SIMPLY SURF'S UP MEATBALLS

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Last year, our church had a Hawaiian themed covered dish luncheon. I wanted to take something that went along with that theme so I made up a recipe. It turned out really scrumptious if I do say so myself.

I've posted the recipe here before, but since its summer and lots of folks are going to cookouts or are participating in Vacation Bible Schools using the Lifeway "Outrigger Island" curriculum, I thought I'd repost it.

Throw that wildly printed shirt on, grab a lei or two, and enjoy!

SIMPLY SURF'S UP MEATBALLS

2 32 oz bags of frozen meatballs (original flavor...not "Italian")
1 20 oz can of crushed pineapple
1 cup of salsa
2 tsps of Ginger (powder form)

Cook the meatballs in a skillet with just a bit of oil and occasionally turning them til they are browned. While they are cooking, mix together the pineapple, salsa, and ginger. Put half of it in the bottom of a crockpot. Put the meatballs in the crockpot. Pour the rest of the pineapple/salsa mixture over the meatballs and stir GENTLY til all the balls have some sauce on them. Cook the meatballs on low or high heat til they are hot and bubbly then turn to warm until ready to serve.

Eat them by themselves or they can be served over rice. If going the rice route, double the "sauce" so that you'll have plenty of it to flavor and moisten the rice.

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BTW, don't you just love teens and pre-teens? Looking at the picture, I just can't help but smile and shake my head!
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IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU DO IT RIGHT

"Someone has said that it's hard to steal second base if you don't leave first. One of the great problems with most Christians is that we're still hanging on to first base. martin Luther said, 'If you sin...sin boldly!' He was not encouraging sin. He was encouraging risk. If you knew that God loved you without condition and without reservation, what would you do? If would dance and laugh and live a little. If I knew that He loved me no matter what, I would lighten up. That's hard to do when you're clinging to first base. It doesn't matter if you do it right...just run for second and let the devil take the hindmost. Besides, the game is already over and you side won. So your failure, if it happens, is irrelevant. In the end, God wins and you do too. You think about that."

Steve Brown

http://www.keylife.org/

LIFE CHANGING OPPORTUNITIES

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"There is an unnatural resilience, a strength the Swazis find in their faith... Joy leaps out of them, in spite of all the adversity they face, and it comes directly from God. They are my inspiration."

-Excerpt from a recent interview of AIM staff member Dennis Brock by Phil White for Relevant Magazine

You could spend two months in Swaziland this fall (Sep - Oct), serving God through caring for widows and orphans and helping start up the Nsoko Project. Swaziland is an African country that has been devastated by the AIDS virus and desperately needs people who will go and be the hands and feet of Jesus, bringing a message of love, hope, and salvation.Will you go?Is God calling you to step out in faith? Are you willing to abandon your personal comfort to see what he has for you in Africa?

To read more about this trip, click here:

http://www.adventures.org/a/trips/level3.asp?id=2727

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. Once we receive your application, we'll send more details and contact you to discuss the program. If you have questions, contact our Admissions Department at admissions@adventures.org.

*** Open Spots for Kenya and India Trips: September 8 - December 8

Also, there are still openings for our three-month trips to Kenya and India this fall, starting in September! In India, your days will be spent ministering in the leper colonies, doing VBS's for churches, and bringing hope to the slums of Delhi.

To read more about this trip, click here: http://www.adventures.org/a/trips/level3.asp?id=2324

In Kenya, you will minister in the slums of Kibera, serving the poorest of the poor through sports ministry, door-to-door evangelism, and open-air meetings to share Christ.

To read more about this trip, click here: http://www.adventures.org/a/trips/level3.asp?id=2336

Adventures in Missions

800-881-2461

http://www.adventures.org/

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LIVE IN MY LOVE
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Yesterday, I introduced you to Larry Bergeron, one of my fellow Swaziland trippers. Today, I'd like to feature the writings of another fellow tripper. I've introduced Christi Bowman on my blog before, but I'll give a quick reintroduction for new readers. Christi and her husband Kevin are incredibly alive and authentic people. Kevin and Christi have been involved in youth ministry through their church for many years. Their trip to Swaziland turned their lives completely upside down...in fact, it had SUCH a huge impact on them, that they are making plans to move to Swaziland and minister to orphans at Nsoko with Adventures in Missions.
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Another result of the trip is that Christi has entered into a passionate, personal relationship with God such as she has never experienced before in her life. She is learning about freedom, joy, and love in ways that she could never, ever have imagined. What God has been showing her is pretty amazing. She's been sharing her spiritual journey on her blog, Addicted Mindset. Recently, she posted about love. I just had to share it here at Graceland:
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A few verses in John 15 have grabbed my attention lately. As I grow in my relationship with the Lord, I get to know Him better...I get to know the tactics He uses on me when there is a concept He needs me to grasp. He shows it to me in the Bible, and He blows my mind with it. By that I mean I read it, and KNOW that it is saying something HUGE, but I can't quite wrap my head around it. After that moment, He keeps bringing me back to that concept, and I mull it over, and pray for a better understanding of it. I usually go back and read it several times, and it is during one of those times that I get it...so here it goes...I am going to try and get it out.

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In John 15 He says the same phrase 3 different times.

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Verse 4 says :

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Remain in me and I will remain in you...
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Verse 5 says:

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If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

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Verse 9 says:

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As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.It sounds so nice to remain in Jesus' love doesn't it, but how?

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Verse 10 answers how:

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If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done, kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.What are His commands?

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Verse 12:
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

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I was immediately pulled towards I Corinthians 13, since that chapter in the Bible is the very definition of love, and John 4:8 says:

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"God is love." Here is what I found in I Corinthians 13:

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Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first,

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies.
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This is how Jesus loves us...we are familiar with this kind of love...or are we? I have been listening to a lot of sermons delivered by Pastor Andrew Wommack, and one of my favorite points is "you can't give away what you don't have." We have first got to recognize and accept that this is exactly how Jesus loves us, before we can love others. If you do not feel this loved by God, than you do not have a right view of God...and you will do damage to your spiritual life, and waste precious time...like I did. Go back up, and read I Corinthians 13 again. Write down an example, next to each definition, of how God has made that type of love available to you. If that doesn't work for you...if you don't have examples, than pray and ask Him to reveal Himself to you, and how much He loves you. He wants to reveal Himself to you more than you want Him to reveal Himself, but God won't force Himself on you. The good news is God knows you better than you know yourself, and He knows when you are ready. If He has not revealed Himself to you yet, pray for your own readiness. Tell Him you want to be ready. Trust Him.

The most powerful verses of the evening, to me, were verses 16 & 17:

"You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you."

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But remember the root command:
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Love one another.

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There is NO way, that we can love other people in this super natural way on our own. To try would be futile, and works based...it would frustrate you on the first attempt. You would burn out...and say "see God this isn't for me." I know because I have been there. I think this concept is cyclical. He takes up residence in us, so that we might live in Him...and He in us. We are a team...our body His Spirit...and He loves through us. Through this partnership we become so like Christ that we can approach the Father, and with Christ's Spirit, ask for anything in love, and God will give it to you.

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WOW...we have the potential to have the power of Almighty God at our finger tips...and as I have just recently heard Andrew Shearman say..."the first requirement is to show up, and the second requirement is to give up." God will show you what real love is, and then He will love others through you. All you have to do is show up, and continue to give up. It is through our weakness that His power is made obvious.

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http://www.christibowman.com/

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THE FORGOTTEN WAYS

One of the many blessings that came about as a result of our recent trip to Swaziland was the people who traveled with us. Larry Bergeron was one of those folks. At the time, Larry was serving as pastor of a good-sized church. He was already passionate about orphans and caring for them in both spiritual and practical ways. His church was involved in a ministry that provided highly nutritious food at a low cost to orphans and other malnourished children in places such as Swaziland. In fact, while we were there, Larry and others were able to actually cook up some of their prepackaged food packets and serve them to some very precious children at one of the carepoints.

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Since returning from Swaziland, God has brought about many changes for Larry and his family. One of the biggest changes is that Larry stepped down from his pastorate and started a ministry that is allowing him to pursue his desire to provide for "the least of these" in a much bigger way. In future blog posts, I will be sharing more about Larry and A CHILD'S HOPE. Today I wanted to share with you something that Larry wrote and sent to me. May it stir you up as you seek to live out the Father's passion in the world today.

In a recent article in the Leading Edge from the EFCA, Jim Fann comments on an article by Alan Hirsch. Hirsch found himself intrigued by a report of the early church’s incredible expansion. From 100 to 300 AD, Hirsch noted that the church grew “from being a small movement to being the most significant force in the Roman empire”. This was in spite of the fact that Christianity...

*was an “illegal” religion
*didn't have church buildings,
*didn't have the scriptures as we know them or “professional” leadership
*didn't have seeker-sensitive services, youth groups, worship bands, seminaries, etc.

*was very hard for people to join

How did this fledgling movement manage not just to survive but to thrive, the speaker wondered? And can we do it again? Based on his research and experience, Hirsch is convinced that we can. But this won’t come by following contemporary advice...

*to expand your building
*ensure accessible parking
*provide good preaching
*an inspiring worship service with a first-rate band
*offer quality programs and small groups rooted in a Christian education model
*make sure that next week is better than last week

Why are so many churches shrinking, dying and fraught with conflict, tension and minimal world impact? Hirsch believes that far too many churches have destroyed its most attractive and dynamic aspects, turning a high-intensity, grassroots movement into an arrogant institution controlled by an elite who often managed to be both brutal and not involved in the world.

His solution to what is seen in so many churches today?

Presence. In Jesus, God was fully present to us. As Christ’s followers, this means that “to relate to and influence” our world, we “need to do it from within its cultural forms and expressions”.

Proximity. Like Jesus, we’re sent to befriend outcast people and live life in proximity with the broken and the lost. Our ministries must reflect this more fully.

Powerlessness. Jesus took the form of a servant and not of someone who rules. So should we. Sadly, too many churches have this equation all wrong and power does corrupt.

Proclamation. Jesus was sent to herald the reign of God and call people to respond in repentance and faith

Something to ponder today – Presence, Proximity, Powerlessness and Proclamation. You can join us as partners with A Child's Hope International in each of these areas individually and as a church body committed to seeing Christ lifted higher.

A Child's Hope International exists because the children are waiting.

Blessings,
Larry Bergeron
A Child's Hope International
Liberty Township, OH

http://www.achildshopeintl.org/

"SUMMER OF SIGNIFICANCE"

OFF TO A GREAT START

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Some of you wanted to know how the past weekend went so here's an edited version of the email I just sent out:

Dear church family---

WOW! What an incredible weekend the youth of our church (and the grown-ups involved) just had this past weekend. It was so good, I wanted to tell the rest of you about it and give you a chance to participate as well.

On Saturday, Jeff Goins with Adventures in Missions led us in a day filled with prayer, worship, and teaching/sharing all related to loving "the least of these" as Jesus told us to. Along with Jeff, Roy Wingard with Wingard House and Amy Lancaster with WE WILL GO ministry shared a little of their testimonies and then told about the work that God has them doing and how our youth and church can be involved. Let me tell you, it was all good and each of us left there impacted in some way.

On Sunday afternoon, 13 of us crammed into my van and we went to the Lancaster's home for ministry and worship. There was some nervousness and even downright fears involved as for many of us, it was our first time to do this sort of thing. For most of us, a homeless person or prostitute is just someone we read about, hear about on the news or in movies, or pass by in our car while we make sure our doors are locked. But after worshipping alongside them and spending time talking, serving them a meal, playing with one woman's puppy, and loving on their children, these people became more than just a label, they became real to us and they became people we cared about and look forward to seeing AGAIN!

That's right...AGAIN! I don't know how often I'll get to go this summer. But I do know that yesterday won't be the last day for me and my family and all the youth yesterday told me that they wanted to go back.

I know that many of you couldn't participate this past weekend due to conflicts in schedule or plans with your fathers.

But its NOT TOO LATE!!!!

Next Sunday we'll be going again.

And listen...its not JUST for the youth or just for the youth and their parents. This is for ANYONE and EVERYONE! And yes, you can bring your little kids. They've got a trampoline that the kids can play on. The kids are free to move around and fidget as needed during the worship time. Yesterday, the Lancaster's daughters, Sara and Olivia, were giving out free popsicles and my kids LOVED that! You're free to bring some toys for your kids or whatever! Just bring 'em! It really is a lot of fun and a wonderful ministry that the whole family can do together.

If you want to go and can help with transporation, PLEASE let me know! Yesterday I had to double buckle my kids so that we'd have room for all the youth that wanted to go. Next week, I'll have my husband and oldest son added to the number as they weren't there yesterday. There's just no way I'll have room for all that will want to go. But I don't want ANYONE to not be able to participate in this important ministry due to lack of transportation.

Also, if you can't come but would like to contribute anyway, there are things that the Lancasters can ALWAYS use such as new socks, men and women's underwear, nonperishable food items (especially the kind that doesn't require any cooking for the street people), bottled water, toilet paper, paper products, clothes for adults and children, and Bibles. I watched some of those folks yesterday eagerly getting one new pair of underpants and acting like it was Christmas! I also watched as Amy ran out and didn't have enough for everyone and the disappointment on their faces.

Church, these are "the least of these" that Jesus talked about. These are the people that the majority of our culture either doesn't even think about or when they do, its usually in a completely negative way. But these are all people who God loves. And the majority of them are there because they were raised in families that didn't love them the way a child should be loved and raise them with the knowledge of a God who cares. Most of them were abused and fatherless. Most of them truly don't know how to live differently or they're so trapped in their sins and addictions, that they are prisoners to their lifestyles. Some of them already know the Lord and love Him deeply. Some of them still are empty and trying to fill it with drugs, alcohol, etc.

In many ways they are very different than us. But in some very important ways they are just like us. They want to be loved. They want to know that someone cares about them...that they are worth something.

Let me know if I can answer any questions for you.

Looking forward to learning to love better during this SUMMER OF SIGNIFICANCE,
Elysa

WE WILL GO

As part of our youth outreach summer, we're taking our youth group to an inner city ministry, WE WILL GO, that holds an outdoor church service primarily for homeless folks but also pimps, prostitutes, addicts, etc. I'm very excited. The homeschool family that has started this ministry is amazing! The mom, Amy, spoke to our group yesterday during our kick-off day and we are all pretty stoked about letting God change our hearts and living fearless lives of love for Him.

I'm not scared, but still ask for your prayers. For most of our youth, this will be their very first time to do anything like this. Pray for them. Pray they won't be fearful but will be transformed by the awesome power of the Holy Spirit and will be annointed agents of grace and mercy. AND, that they will be ministered to by the "congregation"...many of them who are deeply in love with Jesus despite, or perhaps BECAUSE of, their circumstances.

Secondly, pray for the members of the congregation. For most of them, Father's Day is a very tough day. The majority of the men there who are fathers are struggling with guilt over how they raised or didn't raise their kids. The majority of them, men and women, are struggling with hurts from their childhood where THEIR father's are concerned.

Thirdly, another prayer request for our youth. Most won't be going today because it IS Father's Day, but some will be with me primarily because they don't have dads to celebrate with. Pray that I'll be able to minister to them and pray that they will be ministered to while they are there.

And lastly, just pray for me as I juggle leading the group AND watching all my kids...especially my 2 littlest ones. Though I'm not scared for my kids going into this situation, I'm a bit nervous about trying to keep an eye on them amidst a crowd in an outdoor setting on a street corner.

Pray that over it all, God's grace, power, and love will reign!

Thanks in advance,

Elysa

Visit http://www.wewillgo.org/Site/Welcome.html to learn more about Amy and her family's ministry. Their story is amazing!

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TEENAGE BOYS

Its late and I've only got about 2 minutes on the pc. I spent the majority of the day with our church youth group of which about half are teenage boys. In honor of them, I post this:



http://youtube.com:80/watch?v=CazV-Yfy9Ns

...because sometimes you gotta take a break and just laugh!

FACE THE FACTS

"Christianity simply does not make sense until you face the sort of facts I have been describing. Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness. It therefore has nothing (as far as I know) to say to people who do not know that they have anything to repent of and who do not feel that they need any forgiveness. It is after you have realized that there is a real moral law and a power behind the law and that you have broken that law and put yourself wrong with that power - It is after all this, and not a moment sooner, that Christianity begins to talk...(Christianity) tells you how the demands of this law, which you and I cannot meet, have been met on our behalf. How God himself becomes a man to save man from the disapproval of God. It is an old story...All I am doing is to ask people to face the facts - to understand the questions which Christianity claims to answer. And they are very terrifying facts. I wish it was possible to say something more agreeable. But I must say what I think true. Of course, I quite agree that the Christian religion is, in the long run a thing of unspeakable comfort. But it does not begin in comfort; it begins in the dismay I am describing and it is no use at all to go on to that comfort without first going through that dismay. In religion, as in war and everything else comfort is the one thing you cannot get by looking for it. If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end: If you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth. - only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end despair."

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

DETAILED UPDATE ABOUT PAT

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A couple of days ago I blogged about Pat. A former homeless woman, she was facing possible eviction from her present home. Jeff Goins, of Adventures in Missions and The Eugene Project, sent out a plea on her behalf. Yesterday, I received an update from him:

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The Church amazes me... seriously. Yesterday (see: Save Pat from Homelessness ), I put a need out there for a friend named Pat who has cancer and was about to be evicted from her apartment. I didn't do much but send a few emails, contacted a group via facebook, and posted a blog. But those people told their friends, and within 24 hours of communicating the need, we've already met and exceeded the necessary amount to save Pat from homelessness!

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At first, I was afraid to ask for money, but then I realized that many people are looking for worthy causes to give towards. As an example of this, one person responded within minutes of my sending an email:

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"We have some leftover tithe money that we haven't gotten around to giving and we've been looking for opportunities to bless an individual, rather than an organization - this looks like the perfect opportunity. "

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It just goes to show you that most people in the Church really do want to help. They just need to be made aware of a need or find someone to help. A blog reader asked me if they should give money to me or donate it to AIM, the nonprofit ministry that I work for. I responded, "No, that's not necessary. This isn't anything institutional. It's just people being the church."

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One of my friends told me how hard it is to find legitimate cases of true need like this one. I agreed that there are some people out there looking for handouts or free rides, but I've also learned this past year that we all need to be more sensitive to the needs that exist in our communities. There are so many opportunities to give more, love more, and share more. I count these opportunities as blessings, because they challenge me to incarnate the compassion of Christ and step out of my personal comfort.

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I called Pat last night to give her the good news, and she cried. She wants to eventually pay back the money, and I said, "No, we don't want that. This is called 'grace,' and it's just a shadow of the love God lavishes on his children." I am humbled by those of you who have so generously responded to Pat's need. One person shared this:

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"I think you're right... most people do want to help if they know where to help. I'd like to think that I was generous before, but I did a short trip to Swaziland in January... It pretty much turned my life upside down. I'm just now learning what it is to life a life with open hands, seeing Jesus in the faces around me (or on the other side of an email). I went to the bank on my lunch and picked up a money order, so I'll be popping it in the mail this afternoon... It's for $100 USD."

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I stand amazed. Thank you all. You're welcome to continue sending money that will be put into a checking account that Pat can access in cases of emergency. All of her medical bills are being covered, but as of right now, it appears that her living expenses for this next year will be a big challenge. I'm currently researching ways to help her get back onto her feet, so please keep that in prayer and email me at jeff.goins@gmail.com with any suggestions you have.

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ALMOST WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

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Look very closely at the white sign on the far righthand side.

Update on Pat

Just heard from Jeff Goins. Praise God! Thanks to so many generous folks out there, Pat will not lose her home come July 1. Jeff promises to send more details soon so I'll keep y'all posted. Please continue to pray for her as she fights cancer.

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Click here for the previous post detailing Pat's situation: HELP SAVE PAT FROM HOMELESSNESS

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Compelling Communities to End Child Abuse
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UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
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NEWS
10 June 2008
Posted to the web 10 June 2008
Mbabane
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"New statistics revealing the alarming number of female children that are victims of abuse is seeing child welfare and anti-abuse groups turning to Swazi tradition in the hope of reviving a sense of community responsibility towards the wellbeing of Swaziland's children.

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The findings from a demographic survey on violence against women and children, conducted by the government's Central Statistics Office, found that two-thirds of 13-24 year-old females reported feeling depressed, and 18 percent said they had contemplated taking their own lives, while four percent had attempted suicide.

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More than half of teenage girls, aged 13-17-years-old, reported depression, and 10 percent of the age group had thought of suicide as an option to their problems. The high rates of depression were attributed to the extreme levels of domestic abuse and violence experienced by them.

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"Why are our girls so troubled? The evidence shows they feel powerless, helpless in the face of abuse, faceless when it comes to being seen and voiceless when it comes to being heard," Alexandra Simelane, a social worker at a health clinic on the outskirts of Manzini, Swaziland's second city, told IRIN.

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About 38 percent of girls and young women aged between 13 and 24-years-old reported difficulty sleeping and 29 percent had experienced unwanted pregnancies. The figures were even more dramatic for young female adults [aged 18-24 years-old]. About half had problems sleeping and had also gone through unwanted pregnancy.

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The findings echo the results of a study released by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in April 2008. According to the UNICEF survey, every third woman in Swaziland had been sexually abused as a child and one in four had experienced physical violence.

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Neighbourhood watch

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"This portrait of troubled girls is at odds with the traditional supportive family and community environment Swazis are famous for," Simelane said.

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According to Nonhlanhla Dlamini, director of the Manzini-based nongovernmental organization (NGO) Swaziland Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) communities needed to restore their sense of responsibility towards the health and happiness of children.

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"There still are caring people, but as a whole we seem to have lost that concern for one another. We need to bring back that time when every child had a parent in every adult Swazi. Then we may stop the abuse, HIV-infection and trauma inflicted on girls that we are finding so much of in our research," Dlamini said.

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With HIV/AIDS prevalence at 33.4 percent among people aged between 15 and 49, Swaziland has the world's highest infection rate. As a result, life expectancy has halved from nearly 60 years-old in the 1990s to just over 30 years-old in 2008. And according to UNICEF, in two years time, 200,000 Swazi children would have been orphaned by the AIDS pandemic - about one-fifth of the current population.

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"Particularly with so many child-headed households - our survey found that almost one out of 10 of all girls have lost both parents and are living as orphans. Neighbours can no longer just sit back and fold their arms and mind their own business," Dlamini said.

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One out of 10 households in Swaziland is run by children and anecdotal evidence collected by the survey suggested a fear of reprisal from abusers kept neighbours from helping a child thought to be in distress.

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"Perpetrators of violence know they can get away with it now. We are creating a mechanism to give support to girls, to give them voices," Dlamini said.

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In an attempt to involve community members, SWAGAA, with UNICEF support, launched a community volunteer programme in 2004, which is informally known as the "shoulders to cry on" programme, and is now up and running in the country's 350 chiefdoms.

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Some 8,000 volunteers have been trained to provide support and council victims of abuse Dlamini said. "Girls can go to report their problems in confidence and safety, we are telling girls they have someone to seek out."

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But, according to the survey, Swaziland's deepening poverty meant that families felt they were already overstretched and had little to offer. "People who used to share what little they have no longer have anything to share - this leads to alienation amongst once close neighbours," Jabu Dlamini, Coordinator of Community Action for Child's Rights Programme in the Deputy Prime Minister's Office, told IRIN.

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The survey also found that 60 percent of Swazi men felt it was acceptable to beat their wives. "Men have to learn that this is not only unacceptable but they cannot fall back on Swazi tradition, saying this is customary... it has never been Swazi custom to beat a woman," Simelane said."

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Please pray for the nation of Swaziland. And if you feel compelled to do something to help, consider going on a vision trip with Children's HopeChest or giving financially to the Nsoko Project, a village being built to raise orphaned children who will one day not only be able to provide for themselves and their own families, but lead the nation itself.

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Children's HopeChest: http://www.hopechest.org/
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Nsoko Project: http://swaziland.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=the-nsoko-project
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HELP SAVE PAT FROM HOMELESSNESS

I received this from Adventures in Missions staffer Jeff Goins yesterday:
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My friend Pat is about to become homeless. She's been there before and doesn't want to go back. She's been working for awhile now at the local La Quinta to provide for herself and her two beloved dogs.

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I met her about a month ago, while I was delivering groceries to different people in need. She told me her story, and it broke my heart.

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Pat has cancer. When she was diagnosed with cancer, she was bummer, but still thanked God for her many blessings: job, apartment, dogs, etc.

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Then, for no apparent reason, her job fired her. In anticipation of the chemotherapy keeping her from any kind of intense activity, she paid her next two months' rent (May and June). That's why we brought the groceries - she had spent all her money on rent and didn't have enough for food. When we found her, she was barely scraping by, but believing God would take care of her.

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I told her to call me if she ever needed anything. I say that a lot and don't usually get a response. Sometimes, I'm not sure that I mean it. This time, Pat is holding me to it, and I'm grateful.

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She asked if it were at all possible to help her with her rent and utilities, which should be about $525. If she can make her deadline of July 1, she'll be fine after that, because her disability and food stamps will have kicked in. She even offered to pay me back $10 a month if I can get her the money. I don’t entertain ideas like this usually, but it appears that Pat is genuinely in need and has fallen through the cracks of the “system.” I’m looking into ways that we can get some local organizations to help, but I think it would be beautiful if individuals just surrounded her and met the need. I’ve seen this done before, and it’s amazing.

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I told her that I'd ask you, the Church, if it can be done. What do you say? Can it?

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If you're interested in helping Pat, send me a message before this Friday (June 13), which is when I told Pat I'd let her know.

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Jeff Goins

jeff.goins@gmail.com

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http://www.theworldrace.org/

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Blog: http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/

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http://www.wreckedfortheordinary.com/
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GREAT NEWS ON BABY MICAH

I received this news from Baby Micah's dad and wanted to pass it on:

Dear Prayer Partners,

We are so thankful for your prayers for Micah. We asked everyone on Saturday to pray for a miracle and God answered your prayers. Micah was discharged on Sunday afternoon. Vicki and Micah are finally home and are doing very well. We appreciate your prayers and concern for him over the last few days.

Lots of love,
Kyle Quarterson
IMB Missionary to Southern Africa
http://swazis.webs.com

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JUST A BABY

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When we were in Swaziland, one of the most memorable things we did was to visit and interact with the children who attended some of the Children's HopeChest and Adventures in Missions carepoints. Many of these children receive their only food at these carepoints. But not only do they receive food, they also receive love from concerned adults...something that too many of them aren't getting anywhere else. In a country with the world's highest HIV/AIDS rate, many households have older children raising younger children. Or if they do have a loving parent involved in their lives, that parent might very well be dying from HIV/AIDS and too sick and weak to do much or its a poor, overworked grandmother trying to raise a score of grandchildren and greatchildren left behind when their parents died or left for cities in search of work.

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The situation is truly heartbreaking. Yet despite the horrific conditions, the children are still beautiful. One of the precious ones that stands out is a little girl named Cebisile. We met her at Enaleni, a carepoint started by Swazi pastor Peter Langa. There was just something about her that reached out and grabbed our hearts...and didn't let go.

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Months later we still remember her. And in her honor, my 12 year old daughter has written this poem.

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Cebisile
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You were so little, just a baby
And yet so much was expected of you.
You had to take care of yourself, you had to survive.
When I saw your face I fell completely in love;
You were so innocent,
young
naive
beautiful.
I held you and you laughed and smiled.
Will you ever laugh again?
Will you remember me when you are older?
Will you remember the girl that came all the way from another land to hold your hand?
Will you remember me?
I will not and cannot forget you.
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---BJM

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If you would like to be involved in ministering to Cebisile and other children through the ministry of Children's HopeChest, visit their website. Every little bit helps. Even $5 will feed an orphan like Cebisile for a month.

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http://www.hopechest.org/

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PLEASE KEEP PRAYING
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Yesterday I posted about the need to pray for a little baby in Africa. I rec'd this today:
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"Please continue to pray for Micah. His health is improving. They are assisting him with oxygen and feeding him through a feeding tube. Vicki is trying to breastfeed him but he is struggling to nurse right now. The doctors are still a little concerned about his breathing and jaundice. Please pray for a miracle tonight! They are finishing up the last dose of ampicillin tonight and will assess him in the morning. Vicki is hoping to take him home soon."

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PLEASE PRAY FOR BABY MICAH!

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Little Micah is a newborn who needs our prayers as he fights off a viral infection, possibly pneumonia, in his lungs. His parents are missionaries in South Africa. I've known Vicki a few years via the internet and had the blessing of spending an evening with her in real life when I was in Africa back in January.

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Baby Micah is in a good medical facility, but unfortunately the neo-natal unit is full so he is in the adult ICU. Please pray for a space to come open in the appropriate unit. Pray for his full and speedy healing. Pray that his family will be a witness to those around them of the goodness and power of God while they are at the hospital. Pray that Vicki will be able to nurse him as hoped and planned. And pray for peace to encompass the whole family...Micah, his parents, and his siblings...during this unexpected and difficult time.

Thank you so much!
Elysa

A CONTEST for a GOOD CAUSE
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In honor of National Dystonia Awareness Week, my friend Kelly is having a little contest at her blog! The prize is a $20 Starbucks card (for you international people, if you don't have a Starbucks, Kelly and you can figure something else out). All you need to do is leave her a comment! However, if you link back to her blog on your blog and then let her know, you will be entered in the drawing twice. AND if someone comes from your blog to her blog to enter and says that they were directed to Kelly's blog through your blog... you will be entered a third time!

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So, make sure that if they link from your blog that they know to mention your blog when they enter!

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Let's see how far we can spread the word!

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If you'd like to learn more about Dystonia or Spasmodic Dysphonia... just click on those words! There is a very short clip of Kelly speaking at her blog and links to other SD'ers in the post below that one. People with Dystonia can find it very difficult to verbally communicate and for this reason it can be not only a very frustrating disease, but also one that can lead to loneliness, isolation, and depression.

Dystonia Awareness week runs from June 1 through June 7. Kelly will close the contest at 6 pm on Saturday, June 7th.

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Contest Link at RIGHTEOUS BUZZ.

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WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

CHRIST'S FINISHED WORK

The work on Calvary is finished. No more payment for sin is necessary. He did it all by Himself on the cross. We can't earn it. We can't add to it. It is finished. Yet, sometimes we try to add our good works to His salvation. However, the work He is doing on everyone who has accepted Christ as Savior is not finished. Salvation is finished. Sanctification is not. Completion is not. Philippians 1:6 promises that "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Yet, we think we need to do more. Give this some consideration: sometimes more effect is required to keep rolling the stone back over the tomb than simply to cooperate with the work He seeks to finish in us. He really does know what He's doing. Let's don't miss out on the great adventure He has planned for us. Let's cooperate!

Beth Moore, To Live Is Christ

HE BLEW ME AWAY

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Wow. What a Sunday.

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Many of you read my blog post requesting prayer concerning the solo I was singing yesterday. Some of you have commented or emailed asking how it went.

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Here's the blow-by-blow.

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I practiced some on Saturday night and got a bit of practicing in on Sunday a.m., but by the time we left for church, I definitely did NOT feel prepared. I was starting to stress and throw M&Ms in my mouth by the handful...and I'm someone who almost ALWAYS eats them one at a time very slowly. But I was needing copious amounts of chocolate in a BAD way!

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We get there early so I can sing through it once using the sound system before church starts and I can't even sing the first note. As soon as I had stepped on the stage, my throat immediately filled up with sinus drainage and felt plugged! Up til that moment my voice and sinuses had been PERFECT! So I stumble through the song and whine and complain to all the women I meet on the way to the church kitchen about hormones and brain cells dying and how much more difficult it is to sing solos now that I'm middle-aged .

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I get to the kitchen to make a cup of hot tea to try to get the gunk out of my throat and all the tea bags are gone and I lose it. I start crying...boo-hooing BIG time!

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Did I mention I was hormonal?

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So I'm crying and my husband Jim is asking me if I just need to let the lady in charge of special music coordination know that I can't sing but then that makes me feel like a wimp. After all, shouldn't I trust God enough to get me through this? Aren't I supposed to be singing to worship him and minister to others? And should I let something like a clogged throat, raging hormones, and not knowing the song very well stop me from singing?!?!?

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Jim asked me if maybe my pride wouldn't let me just admit I wasn't up to it? I told him I didn't know. Maybe it was part pride, but it felt more like if I didn't do it I was just really being a wimpy, non-trusting Christian. And how could I expect God to trust me with big challenges if I couldn't even trust Him with something as simple as a solo at my church? After all, did I have to be perfect? Did it have to be professional quality? Couldn't I offer Him up an imperfect song and trust Him to use it? Maybe people needed to see me mess up royally to give themselves permission to be brave and do beautiful things for God even if they did them imperfectly?

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Well, Miss Louise came to the kitchen and prayed briefly for me and told me that whatever I decided was fine with her. She'd come up with a backup plan. I told her that I was going to go to a back room and go through it a couple of times and talk to God about it and let her know.

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So on my way to the back room, I meet another woman. I told her what was going on. It was obvious something was wrong as I was pretty distraught. Well, right then and there she started praying for me. She prayed for my sinuses, she prayed for my hormones, she prayed for peace, she prayed for God to use me. She prayed on and on and on. And it was strong and faith-filled prayer. And part of me was so grateful. And the very fleshly, foolish side of me was thinking..."hurry up! I gotta go practice. I don't have time for all this praying". And then the side of me that was listening to God's spirit would say "you are awful! The very thing you need IS prayer!"

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After about 10 minutes or so of prayer, she finished and I went back to the Sunday School room and started going over the song. I did start calming down and the song was going okay but I felt very strongly in my spirit that even if I got up there and could barely sing and messed up all over the place, that I was supposed to do it anyway. I was supposed to trust God with whatever the results. Jim came back there and I sent him to tell Miss Louise that I'd sing.

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And sing I did!

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But first, I shared with the congregation a quick synopsis of what had gone on. I told them that I had just about decided that I was going to tell Miss Louise that I wasn't going to sing any more solos. They were just too hard. My voice was no longer good enough, my brain couldn't learn the words and notes, and I didn't have time as a busy mom of seven to prepare. But then I shared with them what God reminded me....that its not about our perfection or goodness, its about Him. He knows we'll mess up but He wants to use us anyway. I even shared a summary of the Scotty Smith quote I've posted here at my blog about how God using us humans in His plan for the world is like the hobbits being given primary roles in the epic adventure of Tolkien's Middle Earth. It seems crazy. But He loves us and He chooses to use us despite our failings.

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Y'all, I gotta tell you, it was incredible. I started singing and the sinus drainage was gone. My emotions and hormones evened out. My voice quality was superb. I had to really concentrate but it all went so smoothly that I didn't even realize that I'd sung a large chunk of the song til I was almost to the end. I can't say that I actually enjoyed it because the whole thing felt like a monumental effort of trusting God despite how scared I was. But I did it! I got to the end and not only did I not mess up royally, but it actually was good!

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In fact, when I finished singing, our pastor said "well I'm not a musician, but that's the best job I've ever heard you do". After the service, friends and the family also confirmed that it was one of my best solo efforts.

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Let me say it loud and clear, it was God! There was no way I sang that song and to that degree of quality on my merits yesterday. Between hormones, sinus drainage (which I'm convinced was a trick of the nasty one, himself), fear, & lack of serious practice time, that song should have been a very flawed performance.

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Now hear me when I say this. God could definitely have used a messed up performance. He could have used it to help others feel more confident that its okay to mess up. He could have used it to humble my pride. He could have used it for whatever purpose He wanted. But this time that's not what was on His agenda.

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This time His plan was to let me learn to trust Him just a little bit more and be willing to die to self a whole lot more. To be willing to very likely mess up in public (which is hard for me since I'm both a people pleaser and someone who likes to sing well) is a huge step for me where singing is concerned. Its one thing when I goof up leading worship time with the kids back in children's church. But to willingly get up on a stage and have all these grown ups and teenagers staring at me and know that I'm very likely to completely blow it is a hard thing for me.

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But I decided to trust...and He was so sweet. This time it wasn't a lesson in humility (though crying outrageously in front of folks was pretty mortifying) that He wanted, this time it was a lesson in faith....trusting Him that where He leads, He'll take care of things. And no matter how it unfolds, if I'm doing what HE wants me to do, that's all that matters.

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As I grow older and the voice and brains get more limited and so singing is more of a challenge, I'm going to have to trust Him more and more. I can't just do it on my own as I did most of the time in the past. I'm seeing that I need Him more than I ever realized when I was young and cocky.

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I wish I'd learned this lesson a long time ago.

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But I thank God that He was patient with me and never gave up on me...though I so often am quick to give up on Him.

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I'm sorry, Lord. I love you. You are so good...all the time.

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And to you who prayed for my old rotten self, thank you very much.

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I'm more abundantly blessed than I ever could deserve.

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And that's the wonder and beauty of amazing grace.

HE MOVED AND PROVED...yet again!

Thank you for your prayers. This morning started out not so good, climaxed to AWFUL in the middle, but then turned out amazing. Why do I ever doubt Him? I've got to go do something with the kids but I wanted to give you a quick update. I'll give details later.

I thank God for a faithful Father who provides for me and uses me despite my failings.