This blog is for AFN and missions and stuff in our life that relates to it. I try to keep it just to that, too.
But I have found that this whole blogging thing can be quite theraputic. I'd like to start doing it for more personal stuff. I don't expect some great audience to read my stuff. Either here or on the new one, but I will write anyway.
Check it out: http://wannabe-worldchanger.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Condending for this generation
Our church, which has a new name, Truelife Church, is 9 days in to a 21 day fast. Each Sunday for the next 8 weeks we are condending and praying for diffrent areas. This last week we Contended for this Generation.
Pastor Brian preached. It was an awesome service and message. It was heart breaking and eye opening to see the pain and brokeness that this whole generation is expereincing.
I know my heart was changed about how I see this generation and how I really need to pray!!
Take a listen or download the prayer sheets. Click here.
Pastor Brian preached. It was an awesome service and message. It was heart breaking and eye opening to see the pain and brokeness that this whole generation is expereincing.
I know my heart was changed about how I see this generation and how I really need to pray!!
Take a listen or download the prayer sheets. Click here.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Operation World
One of my favorite tools for learning about the nations as it pertains to missions and the spread of the Gospel is the book Operation World by Patrick Johnstone and Jason Mandryk.
It assigns a country to each day of the year for prayer. It gives you prayer targets, facts about the country, its progress and position in regards to the gospel being spread.
Obviously, God had given us a heart for the nations of West Africa. That is where he has called us to serve, at least for right now. But we also desire to see the gospel spread to all the nations, especially the nations in the 10/40 window. (Click here to learn more about what that is.)
The Word says "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." Mt 24:14
I encourage you to check out their website daily, or to purchase a copy of their book, and begin to pray for the nations, specifically, on a regular basis.
It assigns a country to each day of the year for prayer. It gives you prayer targets, facts about the country, its progress and position in regards to the gospel being spread.
Obviously, God had given us a heart for the nations of West Africa. That is where he has called us to serve, at least for right now. But we also desire to see the gospel spread to all the nations, especially the nations in the 10/40 window. (Click here to learn more about what that is.)
The Word says "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." Mt 24:14
I encourage you to check out their website daily, or to purchase a copy of their book, and begin to pray for the nations, specifically, on a regular basis.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Sodom and Gomorrah in Ghana
Let me preface this post by saying clearly that it has nothing to do with homosexuality---as is usually the assumption when these two Biblical cities are mentioned.
I just posted a video about Joy beyond circumstances. I am now moving to the complete opposite realm and am going to show you some really not so great circumstances that people are living in.
I check http://www.ghanaweb.com/ to see what is happening in Ghana. The headline today read "Sodom & Gomorrah To Be Destroyed." Like most, who know the reference, my mind went to homosexuality. It has nothing to do with that at all.
When I clicked on the article, my heart sank at the images I saw, and the news I was reading. It was a slum near main business district of Accra, with a population of over 23,000 people. The article goes on to talk about how terrible this place is. It did get it's name from the Biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah, but not because of homosexuality, but because of the pure sin--sexual and otherwise---that is prevalent in this place.
Here are some excerpts from the article. Click here to read the whole thing.
"ON A SULTRY mid-Thursday afternoon of Thursday stands a lady, almost nude, throwing water on her body. A group of young men sit idle meters away from her, chatting and puffing marijuana. Not far from her and just by a ramshackle that passes as a place of convenience besides a huge pile of refuse dump, two young men stick their knives into the carcass of a slaughtered sheep. Bloodstained cotton pads lie not far from the slaughter slab."
“Sex is nothing here; rape is normal. Few things surprise few people. Sleeping outside in the night is an invitation for a predator to strike. Most of us sleep with tight protective underwear – especially tight worn-out jeans on because you could wake up in the middle of the night to find somebody crawling on you to do his own thing.”
"Life here is the survival of the fittest. It’s unlike anywhere else."
The point of the article is the slum is going to be destroyed, because the settlers are there illegally, and the city has other plans for the land. The settlers are not happy about this, and are protesting to keep their homes; to be able to stay in their slum. They already had no where to go and now they will really have no where to go.
23,000 counted (which means there is probably alot more) people live in this one slum in Ghana. 23,000 that do not know or understand the love and grace of a Savior. This one slum represents thousands like it around the world.
“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Matt 9:37-38
I just posted a video about Joy beyond circumstances. I am now moving to the complete opposite realm and am going to show you some really not so great circumstances that people are living in.
I check http://www.ghanaweb.com/ to see what is happening in Ghana. The headline today read "Sodom & Gomorrah To Be Destroyed." Like most, who know the reference, my mind went to homosexuality. It has nothing to do with that at all.
When I clicked on the article, my heart sank at the images I saw, and the news I was reading. It was a slum near main business district of Accra, with a population of over 23,000 people. The article goes on to talk about how terrible this place is. It did get it's name from the Biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah, but not because of homosexuality, but because of the pure sin--sexual and otherwise---that is prevalent in this place.
Here are some excerpts from the article. Click here to read the whole thing.
"ON A SULTRY mid-Thursday afternoon of Thursday stands a lady, almost nude, throwing water on her body. A group of young men sit idle meters away from her, chatting and puffing marijuana. Not far from her and just by a ramshackle that passes as a place of convenience besides a huge pile of refuse dump, two young men stick their knives into the carcass of a slaughtered sheep. Bloodstained cotton pads lie not far from the slaughter slab."
“Sex is nothing here; rape is normal. Few things surprise few people. Sleeping outside in the night is an invitation for a predator to strike. Most of us sleep with tight protective underwear – especially tight worn-out jeans on because you could wake up in the middle of the night to find somebody crawling on you to do his own thing.”
"Life here is the survival of the fittest. It’s unlike anywhere else."
The point of the article is the slum is going to be destroyed, because the settlers are there illegally, and the city has other plans for the land. The settlers are not happy about this, and are protesting to keep their homes; to be able to stay in their slum. They already had no where to go and now they will really have no where to go.
23,000 counted (which means there is probably alot more) people live in this one slum in Ghana. 23,000 that do not know or understand the love and grace of a Savior. This one slum represents thousands like it around the world.
“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Matt 9:37-38
Click here to see these photos with their captions online
True Joy
My Pastor/Brother in Law posted a video about Africa on his FB this week. It was about true Joy not being defined by circumstances. The theme: "I need Africa more than Africa needs me."
I have experienced what this video talks about first hand. In parts of Africa where dispair should be prevelent, you will find joy. They are not sad be cause of what they do not have or because of thier circusmances, instead, they are happy, and understand that things and circumstances are not the source of true joy.
The point is that we can learn from this--we need to learn from this. We base our joy and happiness too much on stuff and circumstance rather than the true source of Joy.
The only true source of pure joy is the Lord. The Joy of the Lord is our strength. That Joy comes from knowing that I have Jesus, no matter what comes my way, I know that He is my strength, my peace, my portion, my deliverer. Knowing that, I move forward. I press on towards the goal.
Click here to see the video.
I have experienced what this video talks about first hand. In parts of Africa where dispair should be prevelent, you will find joy. They are not sad be cause of what they do not have or because of thier circusmances, instead, they are happy, and understand that things and circumstances are not the source of true joy.
The point is that we can learn from this--we need to learn from this. We base our joy and happiness too much on stuff and circumstance rather than the true source of Joy.
The only true source of pure joy is the Lord. The Joy of the Lord is our strength. That Joy comes from knowing that I have Jesus, no matter what comes my way, I know that He is my strength, my peace, my portion, my deliverer. Knowing that, I move forward. I press on towards the goal.
Click here to see the video.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Please pray for this very special family.
http://rebekahspage.blogspot.com/2009/08/rebekahs-scans-are-stable-mommy-not-so.html
This link is to a blog that I read regularly. It is a family that I know, in fact, the Dad is our adoption attorney that handled both our adoptions.
Several years ago, his daughter (who is Maudilee's age) was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsey, six months later, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. She has gone through treatment, and is currently cancer free.
Two years ago, their house burned down, on Rebekah's birthday (that's the daughter).
A few weeks ago the Mom was diagnosed with ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease. The prognosis is not good.
My heart breaks for this family. They have been through a lot. They are believers, and are praying for a miracle. I am praying with with them, and ask you to pray, too.
This link is to a blog that I read regularly. It is a family that I know, in fact, the Dad is our adoption attorney that handled both our adoptions.
Several years ago, his daughter (who is Maudilee's age) was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsey, six months later, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. She has gone through treatment, and is currently cancer free.
Two years ago, their house burned down, on Rebekah's birthday (that's the daughter).
A few weeks ago the Mom was diagnosed with ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease. The prognosis is not good.
My heart breaks for this family. They have been through a lot. They are believers, and are praying for a miracle. I am praying with with them, and ask you to pray, too.
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