Fragile

The body is capable of tremendous feats of strength. It can be pushed to extremes of hot and cold; stress and strain and...through it all, it grows stronger.

Life can be good; full of opportunities, adventure and beauty...and in a moment, it can all change.

People are a paradox; strong like steel and yet fragile as a flower.

My son-in-law lies in a hospital heavily medicated with a badly broken back and a ventilator helping him breathe. The family's feelings range from anxiety to fear to confusion. All of us are thankful. Thankful that Alex is still alive; thankful that we'are not the ones in the hospital. As we move our hands at will, turn our head from side to side and walk across the room, we are grateful to God. It could have been us. Life is so fragile. It can change in a moment.

There's good news in that thought "It can change in a moment." If your situation is not very good, know that with Christ it change in a moment for the better. Talk with Him. Seek His counsel. Listen to His guidance and do what He says and no storm can prevail against you.

If your circumstances are good...you can see and hear and think and feel and have love in your life...be grateful to God for what you have. Use your arms to hug someone you love. Speak a blessing into your child's life. Take a walk with your spouse. Be very grateful... life is fragile ... it can change a moment.

Do What You Do

We were delighted and surprised to find ourselves mentioned in the newsletter of That Christian Parody Band...Apologetix. It seems we have a good friend who is a good friend and fan of theirs.

ApologetiX gets their unusual name from the word "apologetics" which means "the defense of the Christian faith." They are a band that appeals to kids and parents alike and they travel all over the United States sharing Jesus Christ through their music. Besides their on-stage performamces, they stop at schools to talk to kids, answer questions and are a terrific role model for all of us. Make sure you check them out!

It's another wonderful example of how when each of us uses our gifts for God, God uses us. The Body of Christ is intertwined and interdependent. The dream is to get everyone to know, love and serve God and it takes teamwork to make the dream work!

Whether you pour concrete or pour cookie batter, play the cello or play golf, sew or sing...God wants you! He designed you to share your life and we need you. Apologetix educates and entertains. We walk and talk. Just give God what you have....it's enough.

When you use you talents, it makes Him smile and the world shine.

No Debt....for... Nobody!

Got a piece in the mail yesterday from Capital One credit card and it really bothered me.

They wanted Breath of Christ Ministries to design a credit card with our logo and our image and encourage our friends and family to use it. In exchange, the ministry would earn 1% of supporters' purchases. So if you spent $1000.00 using your credit card, we would get $10.00 and you would get in debt!

The big advantages touted were:

1) our cause is displayed every time they use their card
2) gave people a creative way to support us
3) could support us without an extra dime coming out of your pocket.

Lucyah and I want you to stop using credit cards!

We do not want to profit from your use of credit cards in any way! The advertisement and lopsided reasoning may sound good to some...but life happens! You may tell yourself you are going to pay the balance at the end of the month but... when you don't make the entire payment and interest is charged and a liability is created.

If you can't afford to pay cash for an item, don't buy it. Think about whether you need it or not ...If you aren't able to donate to us at this time, don't send us anything! Get your family's finances in order first.... Need help with getting keeping your money in your pocket check here.


Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another....Romans 13:8

Giving + Receiving = Life

God gave us good weather and Arnold was able to put the finishing touches on the inside of the door. Captain Arnold also spotted a small leak in a line attached to the water tank and he’s using his fix-it skills to get that mended.

This man is blessed with knowledge plus the ability to apply his knowledge plus a servant’s heart. We’ve worn ourselves out saying “thank you” for all the work he has done and all the work he has overseen. Sometimes words just aren’t enough. We trust God will pay our debt…He’s done it before, you know.

Someone emailed me asking how we were doing and if the waiting to leave starting to get us down. We have our moments but how can we get upset over people looking out for our comfort and safety. What are we suppose to say? “Stop! We can’t handle another second of this! Stop loving us right now!”

Solomon tells us “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” This is our season not just to wait; it is our season to receive love and so we will sit and receive this blessing from God. We will enjoy it knowing that those who are giving are enjoying it as well.

Don't Lose Your Joy!

No matter what words come out from the pulpit, everyone hears something different. What I heard this morning from Elder Bill Russell was don't let expectations and circumstances steal your joy.

As many know, our plans have gone awry and our timetable has been overturned. Every once in awhile I feel the joy leaking out of my spirit but then God sends someone like Bill along to remind me of God's goodness to Lucyah and I. Yesterday was a prime example.

"Captain" Arnold has been working his buns off trying to get the water pump to empty our tank. The hours he has put in the on the RV has saved us thousands of dollars! In the afternoon, Bob & Ginger Leavitt drove about fifty miles to see if they could help. After emptying the water tank through some "Marine" ingenuity, Bob was able to locate the problem (a clogged filter...looks like a cigar in the photo below)) and together he and Arnold put the tank back in. Water is flowing freely from the faucets and shower. Next on Arnold's "fix-it" agenda is our door. The lower inside section is rotted out and needs to be replaced.


The effort, teamwork and love of so many people is like caulking to my spirit. It prevents joy from leaking out. I look at these people and I see the Hands of God at work and I am filled with joy once again!

Lord, we speak blessing into every life that has helped us, supported us or prayed for us. We speak increase and favor on every hand that has reached out to us. Please help them to understand, Lord, that they are important, that You are using them and that their life is pleasing to You....and, Lord, don't let anything steal their joy!

Sometimes

Although our friends are doing their best, we're still in Kansas City, still have a water pump situation and still don't know when we're leaving to resume our walk for Christ.

Sometimes it's hard to wait.

My mind equates speaking, writing and walking with movement. It associates movement with being productive. The world says that being productive is a good thing.

My mind also links waiting with being still and doing nothing. Doing nothing paints a picture of sitting around and not contributing. When I am waiting, I get fidgety and sometimes that leads to a case of the "shoulds"..."I should be doing this" or "I should have done that." Should often leads to self-depreciation, a place God does not want us to live

God's Word (Ps. 46:10) tells us to...

"Be still and know that I am God"
Be still and know that I AM
Be still and know
Be still
Be

The world tells us to go, move, get busy but two thousand years ago Jesus knocked the "L" out of the world and left us with God's Word.

Sometimes it's hard to wait but... just for today...I'll stand on God's Word... and Be.

Out of the Church...Into the RV!

Southwest Community Church in Olathe, KS is finally back to normal!

Today we got the last remnants of our stuff out of their facility. My friend Don and I acted as the burros and carried things out while Lucy, Cherril and Pat worked the last two days finding a place for everything. There is more room in this unit than the last one so some of the items could be placed in outside storage.


Captain Arnold was busy as usual. He was replacing batteries and windshield wipers and fixing the trim of the roof. He said he figured we'd be ready to ship out by noon Friday. Woo-HOO!

Had a little rain off and on today. The weather is suppose to be getting a little chillier in the next few days. Glad we're headed south. On the upside, the colors of the trees are magnificent! How anyone can live though the colors of autumn and doubt there is a God amazes me.