A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Kenyan weather, good music, silly sayings.

Weather: It is Sunday afternoon here. The weather is mildly warm with high clouds, and enough breeze to soften the bright sunshine. This is the best of the best. I am sitting just inside the front door (wide open) and all I hear are the sounds I want. The breeze blowing, the birds chirping and IPOD shuffling those tunes. Just now, Russ Lee comes on and I am reminded of good friends who give so much to encourage so many. Thanks, Russ, and all of you like him who speak words of prayer and do acts of kindness to help others on their way.

Which leads to Good Music: One of my current favorites is Casting Crowns and their CD �The Altar and The Door.� There is a great song called Slow Fade which states so well how we slip into dire straits. �It�s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray � Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid � When you give yourself away � People never crumble in a day � It�s a slow fade.� We rarely ever embrace evil full face or head on. Usually, it sneaks in through small compromises that we think are meaningless and harmless. In an extreme example I think you could say that most people never intend to be heroin addicts�they only intend to �try� it. In the same way we compromise on our behavior, we slide down the slippery slope with our beliefs. Just ask Eve. �Surely God didn�t say you would die�, tempted the serpent in the garden. And we have been doubting the clarity of God�s word ever since. When we fail to hold firm, we begin to slip. Such is the beginning and the end depends on our further choices and God�s grace.

Finally, Silly Sayings: Things that make you laugh just because. On a DVD with a commercial for some show that I think is called Todd�s World, the main character tells all the wonderful things you can learn to do at Todd�s World. �Foot tracings, eat macaroni and cheese in the bathtub and how to make a squirrel house out of�monkey underpants!� All you have to do is say �monkey underpants� and Joseph giggles uncontrollably to the point he was literally rolling in the floor yesterday. It�s the simple things that make life joyful.

MINISTRY NOTES

God continues to show us where He is working, which keeps us on track for where WE should be working. Charlie spends two of his days working with pastors and another group of young men. The other 3 are spent storying with different groups. The pastors are growing and seeking to make changes in their own lives and the life of their church due to the conviction of God�s word. This is powerful stuff. He taught this week on the 7 churches mentioned in the book of Revelation. One of them follwed Charlie�s recommendation to read the book of Ezekiel. He is now convicted that he has not been doing enough work as pastor of his church and is ready to change. That is God at work. The story of this week was the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Go back and read it for yourself and ask God to reveal something new. Joseph and I went with Charlie to the forest on Saturday and as I watched the people listening, it was clear that several were really paying attention. One older woman was careful to repeat the details of the story along the way, presumably to make sure she was catching it. She shared how she had told others last week�s story of the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well. An extremely relevant story for these people as they continue to have problems with the elephants drinking their water. (see the blogsite for more about resolution) As the story closed and the time for questions began, some asked about the daylight and dark mentioned in the story. (I told you to re-read it.) After all the explanations where given and much was discussed and believed, this woman made a declaration. �I have 2 moran. I am going to find them and tell them about this light.� Pray for others to understand, believe and spread the good news.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

� Praise God for opening our eyes to see where He is working and guiding us in how and where we should be working. Continue to ask for His clear direction in our lives and ministry.

� Sam arrived safely in Texas where he is working at a camp for the summer. Pray that Sam will take advantage of all the opportunities God brings his way as a result of where He has placed him.

� Pray for all our boys to be ones that hunger and thirst after God and follow Him in all obedience.

� Pray for us to stay encouraged as drought and poor conditions affect so many living around us.

Kids Are People, Too

I believe we have much more opportunity in the area of ministry to children than we are taking advantage of. It is (another) area where the workers a few. You�ll find a very convicting (to me) sermon by Charles Spurgeon on the website which tells much of the �why� in children�s evangelism and discipleship. So I asked God what to do about getting more teachers and in response, we are calling a meeting this week to see who God may be calling in this area. Pray for wisdom and time management for me in this area. I don�t have an idea right now of where this will go. I only know that if we want to see more teachers come forward, we must ask them to do so and give them some training. If you have a special burden for children, please join us in praying for these workers and the task at hand.

God�s Promise

�But these things I plan won�t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently for it, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.�

Habakkuk 2:3 New Living Translation

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