Me ....

Being me comes with a price. Everyone can say thats true. Allow me to explain what I mean.

Its been about a year and a half since I moved back to Oklahoma. I can remember when I first moved back some of the intense times that God talked to me. I needed to hear from him in such a big way. One of the things I remember distinctly hearing was - "I made you the way you are, to say what other people won't say, so don't be afraid to say what I tell you to say".
Well that comes with a price. To say the things most people won't say, its usually the things people don't want to hear. But, it generally produces results people don't expect. So its something of a gift, but it comes with a price.

I'm a strong woman, with much to say, and I won't stop saying what needs to be said. It's who I am, who God made me to be. Its necessary, its on purpose, and although it comes in an unlikely package, its me!!

There is so much to be done right now. There is a world of hurting people that need us all to do our part. We all need people around us that will tell the truth, encourage us to keep going, remind us why were doing what we are doing, help us see where we are missing it, make us accountable, love us unconditionally, cry with us, laugh with us, be excited with us, and listen to us. I am greatful for those people in my life, and I will never stop being that for those who will let me in their life!

In all of this thought process, which might be boarderline rambling, I know this, that we are in this life with a purpose. It has always been my hearts desire to live by purpose, not just live. I believe that if your going to do something, do it with 2 things - purpose and passion. Without those 2 things it all seems pointless. I never want to be pointless. I want to be like Paul in the Bible. That guy was a total stud!! He pulled no punches, said what needed to be said, and made a difference everywhere he went. He never waisted time, listened to God, and did whatever it took to get the job done. He's my hero!!

Listen to what he said: 2 Corinthians 11:
5For I consider myself not a whit lower than the very chiefest apostles. 6Though I am rude in speech, yet I am not in knowledge; for we have been made thoroughly manifest among you in all things. 7Have I committed an offense in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the Gospel of God without charge? 8I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to do you service. 9And when I was present with you and was in want, I was burdensome to no man, for that which I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied; and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so will I keep myself. 10As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11Why so? Because I love you not? God knoweth! 12But what I do, that I will continue to do, that I may cut off occasion from those who desire occasion, that wherein they glory they may be found even as we. 13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. 16I say again, let no man think me a fool. But if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast of myself a little. 17(That which I now speak, I speak it not from the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence as boasting. 18Since many glory in the flesh, I will glory also.) 19For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise! 20For ye suffer if a man bring you into bondage, or if a man devour you, if a man take from you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. 21I speak as reproached, as though we had been weak. However it be, whereinsoever anyone is bold (I speak foolishly), I am bold also. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more -- in labors more abundant, in stripes beyond measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. 24From the Jews five times I received forty stripes less one. 25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned; thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day adrift in the deep; 26in journeyings often, in perils from waters, in perils from robbers, in perils from mine own countrymen, in perils from the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27in weariness and painfulness, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28Besides those things which are external, there is that which cometh upon me daily: the care for all the churches! 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not? 30If I must glory, I will glory in the things which concern mine infirmities. 31The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

I love that guy!! He saw things other people would never see, He saw God move in ways people couldn't inagine, but he was willing to do things other people were not.

Thats my food for thought today.
Peace!!!

I just felt like writing this today.......

I guess thats what I have been thinking about.

"Affect" : to act on; produce an effect or change in , to impress the mind or move the feelings of.
"Effect" : power to produce results; efficacy; force; validity; influence

Okay, so if you know me, then you know that I love God, I love to tell people about God, I love evangelism, and I love knowing that someones life has been changed because of the Gospel. So heres the thing, I recognise that when I take an opportunity to share Gods love with someone it causes an effect in their life, but it causes me to be affected. I'm affected every time I see God move. It does something to me. It does something to my heart.

When you see God move, your heart is moved whether its on your behalf or someone elses. Its amazing that you are given the opportunity to experiance someone elses journey with God. Even if your just there to hear about it, becomes a piece of your journey with God too. Something you can look back on as another example of God to you.

For over a year I have been voulenteering at a small Methodist church on the north side of town. This church was established as a prison ministry church. Every Thursday night men and women from local halfway house/work release status inmates are brought to this church for a service, coffee and doughnuts, and a class. Here is the amazing thing, It basically voulenteer run. I'm the youngest voulenteer, most are 60+ years old. These men and women come faithfully, Sundays and Thursdays. They drive buses and vans to each facility and bring the men and women to the church. They run the service, they teach the classes, they spend time and build relationships with the men and women that come, they spend their time, their energy, their emotions on these people. This is week after week. The pastor of this church gets paid very little, but he has a real heart for the people. He exudes the love of God like noone I have met in a long time. this man is humble, and loving, he is a real example of Jesus.

So I go, this affects me. I am inspired, I am challenged, I am moved.

I teach a class, a 12 step faith based drug and alcohol class. To most this places me in a box. I do "prison ministry" and I teach a drug and alcohol class. See, heres the thing, this is an opportunity for me to involve myself in peoples lives on a weekly basis. I am opening up myself to be affected. I am causing effect in peoples lives. I have been moved so many times in the last year. I don't have huge inspiring stories, but I do have stories. I do know that people have been changed. I know that I have made a difference. I know that just by me being there, I am effecting people, and I am being afected. This is worth it to me.

This is what its all about. Effecting causes affecting. You wont be affected until you start effecting. Every day you have opportunities at your house, with your neighbors, at the grocery store, at church, whereever you are - opportunity after opportunity, after opportunity to effect people.

My thoughts arent original, many things have led me to think about this today, but I have resolved to think about this all the time. I want this idea to be on the front of my brain. I want to effect people. I want people to know that God is real, He loves them, He does stuff for them, He is not dissapointed in them, He is a giver, a miracle worker, a friend, a provider, a hope giver, a future maker, and whatever they need. And I know that the more I do this the more effected I become.

Its time to start effecting, and being affected. People need us!

God Must Be Busy.............

Okay so I been brewing on this for a little while. I know its been forever since I blogged, and maybe noone will read this, but this ones for me to get it out.

Theres this new song I have heard on the radio. Its country, so don't hold it against me heres the words:


That anchor man says the fight began somewhere in the Middle East.
The world prays for peace.
There's a single mom just got laid off when she lost a job
to some foreign hands in some faraway land.

Last night in Oklahoma some twister took thirteen
and they're praying that they find the missing three.
God must be busy.
That highway sign went from slow ahead to traffic's dead.
Thought it couldn't get worse than that Amber Alert.

They say she's 4,Colorado plates, headed out-of-statein a Chevy van.
It's hard to understand. You can see it in the faces
of all those highway strangers,they're praying that God
keeps that girl from danger.
God must be busy.

And I know in the big picture I'm just a speck of sand and
God's got better things to do than look out for one man.
I know he's heard my prayers cause he hears everything,
he just ain't answered back or he'd bring you back to me. God must be busy.


Okay so here it is - this is how people feel about God. Its very sad because this means that the representations of God have allowed people to buy into this. We as Christians are allowing God to take the bum rap for our lazyness!

I'm not great with words, but I have this deep sadness right now realizing that this is true. This is what people think. People think God is too busy to help them, too busy to hear them, too busy to care for them. The real problem, is Gods people are too busy to help them, too busy to hear them, and too busy to care for them.

I might take a little flack for saying this, but sometimes I don't want to be called a "Christian". It has such a negative meaning to most people. I just want to be Melissa - that girl thats not like most people. Shes normal, but when I need something, she always seems to care, to be touchable, and things seem to change. This seems like a good representation of God to me. Jesus didn't walk around having to preface His title, He just was who He was supposed to be. He acted like His father, He WAS a represenation of God to the world......and I guarantee noone walked away saying - Jesus must be busy

Think about it

Please Enjoy Laughter is the Best Medicine

This is really Cute!!!

What can one man do for God?

Check this out!!

Project Africa

We at Chapter Twentynine have recently become acquainted with an incredible ministry called Project Africa. Justin and Debbie Yoder are a young couple that have dedicated their time to the people of South Africa. They bring teams of young people on short term mission’s trips.

I wanted to share this blog entry from Justin that will not only move your heart, but give you a glimpse of the heart of this ministry and I believe the heart of God:


It was July 2003 and we were in the middle of 5 day youth rally and crusade in Drikesdorp, South Africa. The cool breeze was refreshing as it blew across my face. To the south I could see a large mountain that seemed to be a focal point in the area and mud huts dotted the dry plains. The Shimba religion was prevalent in the area and you could feel the darkness that had set in on the people. We had just got done ministering to the youth and we were resting until the evening crusade with the whole community. As I laid on our stage, which was nothing more that a trailer that converted in to a stage with sound and lighting ran of a generator, a small child caught my attention. I rolled over onto my side and looked closer. He was sitting on the front row by himself as some of his friends played nearby with other team members. "Nah, I am having a dream. This can be real," I thought to myself as I sat up watching more carefully. The 4 year old boy was holding a plastic bag just like you would store leftovers in. As I sat there I watched him stick his small frail figure into the plastic, stretching it out until a piece tore off and then hesitate before placing it in his mouth. I watched again as he repeated the process, chewed and swallowed with a painful look on his face.

Without thinking twice I jumped off the stage and grabbed the little boy in my arms and called for our translator to come with me. I took him to our bus and held him in my arms as I feed him a sandwich and gave him a cup of water. As he ate tears weld up in my eyes and started running down my checks. They say real men don't cry, but I say if they have a heart they do. After getting his fill he jumped off my lap and joined his friends playing. I sat there stunned for a moment before getting up and walking into the abandoned little church. I sat down on the edge of an old dusty bench and started processing what just happened. As I did the tears flowed more. While I had seen the hunger of African children before it had not impacted me as much as this encounter did. Where was this little boy going to get his next meal? His next plastic bag? If you don't eat you die and if you eat plastic bags you die. This child was on his death bed.

But there is hope. While we can't save every child from starvation or sickness we want to give it our best shot with what we have. That is love and that is what makes our heart beat. As Project Africa we want to reach out to the starving, the hurting and the dying with the love of Jesus Christ. And when a young person goes with us to Africa and has an experience like this their life will be radically changed. All it takes to change a life is a touch from the Master.



Answering the Call,

Justin Yoder

Relationship

"ARE YOU TIRED? WORN OUT? BURNED OUT ON RELIGION? COME TO ME. GET AWAY WITH ME AND YOU'LL RECOVER YOUR LIFE. I’ll SHOW YOU HOW TO TAKE A REAL REST. WALK WITH ME AND WORK WITH ME - WATCH HOW I DO IT. LEARN THE UNFORCED RHYTHMS OF GRACE. I WON'T LAY ANYTHING HEAVY OR ILL FILLING ON YOU. KEEP MY COMPANY AND YOU'LL LEARN TO LIVE FREELY AND LIGHTLY." MATTHEW.28.30


It's apparant that there are many people who are tired of Church as it is, or "as usual". I have come to discover that the problem is not in the Church itself - that is the structure of Church - but rather the people that make up the church. It has become acceptable for people to just come and go and let the Pastor tell you what you are supposed to believe.

I don't believe that a true belief is something you know about, but rather it is a conviction that you live your life by. Something that you stand up for, something that becomes who you are. This thing - a belief - should be part of the foundation for which you live your life. So then a belief is not something that you buy into because someone presented it really good once, with a catchy title, and a good story.
Belief in God can't be taught, it must be experianced. It must be lived.

So whats my point - here it is:
Religion sucks, it allows people to become logistical, rules based, rude people, who have nothing better to do than argue about things that don't really matter. The problem as I see it, is there is a sincere lack of relationship with God - our Creator. And I don't mean your prayer time, or Bible reading time - but I mean actually spending Time with God, talking to him, and listening to him, like you do with other people.

God is loving, and people would know that if they really knew Him.
God is compassionate, and people would know that if they really knew Him.
God cares for every person, and every need, and people would know that if they really knew Him.
God doesn't want people sick, and people would know that if they really knew Him.

Sometimes I feel that people get all caught up in the how to's and the what for's that religion provides, and they forget that God is a real person. God hurts when we hurt, and He cries when we cry, and He cares for us in such a deep way. The idea is that we as people can live this to a lost and hurting world of people, who are tired of being candy whitnessed to. When you understand the degree of Gods love towards people, you will understand that its not about making people perfect for God - but its about meeting the needs of people for God. We can't make a difference by offering people logistics about God, but we can make a difference by being an expression of God and His love for people.

Jesus left, but when He did, He left with an expectation that we would follow in His footsteps. This means we are to act as He did. We are here to meet the needs of people, be an expression of Jesus Christ on this earth. This can only be done if you honestly know Him, talk to him, open yourself up to feeling what He feels, see the world through Jesus's eyes. If only more people would project sincerity over the "do it my way or go to hell" stuff many people project.

It comes down to this, we will not make a difference in the Church we don't like, until we choose to do it individually. Individuals make up the Church as a whole. Lets stop playing this blame game of who's fault it is that we don't like the current state of the Church or Christianity, and start taking responsibility for our role in it. I can talk about it all day long, you can talk about it all day long, but WE ARE THE CHURCH! Lets do what it takes, so people don't go to Hell.

What's Love Got To Do With It??

Well another Valentines Day has come and gone for me. Being single its always a fun day. A commercial holiday to remind single people their still single....or is it??? This Valentines Day was the same as every other year. Just a day, but we call it the day of Love. I wanted to share what love is to me -

Friends that are friends forever, just cause they love ya!!!!

Love is a good friend states away sending me flowers, just cause she misses me - LOVE YOU ANG!!!!

Love is my nephew telling me he loves me more than a penguin

Love is my neice curling up in my lap to watch T.V with me

Love is good friends racing me to the fastest go-kart, and racing them like 10 year olds, even though we are all almost 30, and I got the biggest bruises of my adult life!!!

Love is my church sending my neice and nephew Valentines Day cards on Valentines Day

Love is Beth cooking me soup in every style cause she knows I love it!!

Love is a phone call to say I miss you, an email to say hi, a text message to make me laugh

Love is listening to a song that makes you think of someone you love - Natasha Bettingfield will never know how much her song is loved by me and my Gabrielle!!! Martha Manuzzi CD track 3 - memoriesss of my Sean!!! Nickelback - An-G you know it!!!! Goodbye Earl - Carolyn, it will always remind me of the apartment days!!! Goodmorning Beautiful - My Morgan's song from before she was born!!! You are my sonshine - Carter's song!! The list goes on...you get the idea...

I have so much love in my life - yayy Valentines Day!!

Fun around the house

Heres a little glimps of beth and the kids playing....a day in the life of us at home :O) Click on the link, I promise it is worth it!!!

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1769006924

So I was thinking.....

A thought occured to me, its actually something thats comes up alot. What does it take to be a person who makes a difference? It seems like everyone asks this questions at some point or another. It also seems like when it comes up, generally you get alot of blank stares.

People don't seem to know how to start, or it seems that way. But the truth is, its really not that hard. Find a need and fill a need. If your not looking, your not going to find. If you really take the time to look around you, you will find real people who really need help. Not just a hand out, but honest, sincere, help. In every city across this nation, and every nation, people have needs. So what does it take to make a difference?

Looking for the need around you, and opting to fill it. If each of us would take the time to find the needs around us, and fill the needs around us, it wouldn't be such a gigantic task.

I have been approached recently a few times by people who say, I just want to minister to people. I know I should, but I don't know what to do, or how to start. The question is, where are you looking? Are people really looking for ministry.....or are they looking for a title, position, pulpit etc.? Real ministry is never seen by a large group of people. Real ministry is finding someone who needs help, and helping them. Real ministry has no glory, applauds, or cheers except for the ones coming from heaven.

Its time to start being honest with ourselves, and realize it is not a special gifting in the body of Christ for people to evangelize, voulenteer, help, or whatever you want to call it. We are all called the same as ambassidors of Christ. We all were given the same great comission. We are all equipt to make a difference.

So what is the difference between someone who does make a difference and someone who does not make a difference? CHOICE.

Iced in and Bored

This is what happens when your iced in. Heres a few pictures of the house and the ice outside. It looks like snow, but it is a 3 to 4 inch layer of ice pellets. Soo what do you do when your iced in??????


You dig out the playdough and dig into your creative side. I made a pink playdough man. So heres a few pic's of me and the kids playing.

Inspiration

I have recently been reading a book by Mike Francen. This is a man who has a passion for the unreached souls of the world. He has been in over 50 nations of the world doing crusades and has started a program called "Wells of Life" - a program where he funds the building of a well in a community that has no water and builds a church so people may hear about the love of God.


The book is called "A Passion for Souls", and it has inspired me so much, I wanted to share an exerpt with you all:

"About 1 million people in the world die each week without Christ. Does this mean anything to you? Have we a pain in our heart for perishing men and women? Are you haunted day and night with the thought that millions are perishing on every side, that multitudes are going down to the regions of despair, without one ray of hope?

When a man has been endued with power from on high, he will have a passion for souls. Boast no more of your annointing if you love not souls.

The burden for souls- how it has charectorized God's annointed ones throughout the centuries! We must be persuaded that apart from the salvation of souls, the church has no grounds for her existence.

Where is your heart man or woman of God? Preachers who should be fishing for men are to often fishing for compliments from men. Where is your heart?

According to Christ, we have one mission: to save souls. Yet they perish! Think of them- hundreds of millions, one thousand million eternal souls that need Christ!

It is the passion of Paul,"Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel." It is the anguished cry of Jesus as He weeps over a doomed city," O Jerusalem, how oft would I have gathered thee." Evangelism is the cry of Knox,"Give me Scotland or I die", and of Wesley," The world is my parish." Evangelism is Henry Martyn landing on the shores of India and crying," Here let me burn out for God!" It is David Brainerd coughing up the blood of his tubercular lungs as he prays in the snow for the Indians. It is George Whitefield crossing the Atlantic thirteen times in a small boat to preach in the American Colonies.

Our goal is nothing less than the penetration of the whole world with the Gospel message. Gods will is summed up in one powerful scripture: " The Lord is not willing that any should perish" (2 Peter 3:9)"

This is the heart of a passionate soul winner. I can aspire to nothing less! It is in my heart to do my part. I have to be Melissa to this world, and give the message of the Gospel. I have heard it said - we are responsible for our generation, and I believe that to be true. I am responsible for the ones God places in front of me. We are all responsible as ambassidors of Jesus Christ to tell His message to all. This is the purpose of the Church. Without this purpose the Church has no reason to exist. This is what makes our message so different than other religions. Salvation and eternal life, hope and peace, no need to big, and a God that backs up his message EVERY time!!

Aimee Semple Mcpherson

Aimee Semple Mcphereson is an inspiration to me. I have read about her life many times. I am particularly fond of her passion to her calling. She paved the way for many women evangelists,
and for that I thank her. She has been a personal inspiration to me.

A great quote I love from her:
"You don't need to be an orator. What God wants is plain people with the Good News in their hearts who are willing to go and tell it to others. The love of winning souls for Jesus Christ sets a fire burning in one's bones. Soul winning is the most important thing in the world. All I have is on the altar for the Lord, and while I have my life and strength, I will put my whole being into the carrying out of this Great Commission."


This information was taken from the Foresquare Churches website: http://www.foursquare.org/landing_pages/8,3.html


The early 20th century evangelist, Aimee Semple McPherson, was a pioneer of women in religion. Having experienced a profound religious conversion at age 17, Aimee began preaching across the United States and later, the world. In 1918, she established her base in Los Angeles, Calif., where in 1923, the 5,300 seat Angelus Temple was dedicated and became the center of her revival, healing and benevolent ministries. She was the first woman to own and operate a Christian radio station. Her sermons were the first to incorporate the contemporary communications of that day into her preaching of the Gospel. From Angelus Temple she performed an extensive social ministry, providing hot meals for more than 1.5 million people during the Great Depression. She summarized her message into four major points known as "The Foursquare Gospel," and founded a denomination called The Foursquare Church.

Aimee's charismatic personality was a God-given gift used to draw people to hear her message. Her sermons were not the usual "fire and brimestone" messages given by contemporary evangelists, but ones which showed the face of a loving God, with continual outstretched arms. It was a message about heaven, as a place you wanted to be, and serving Jesus, as the only life that offered true fulfilment.

With Aimee, all were called and all were welcomed. God was no respecter of persons and neither was Aimee. She evangelized when segregation was rampant in the South. Although she invited all to come to her meetings, often times she would go to the "black" parts of town and hold meetings after the main meeting was over. She broke down racial barriers such that one time at Angelus Temple, some Klu Klux Klan members were in attendance, but after the service, many of their hoods and robes were found thrown on the ground in nearby Echo Park. She is also credited with helping many of the Hispanic ministries in Los Angeles get started, and there was even a great Gypsy following, after the wife of a Gypsy chief and the chief himself had been healed in a Denver revival meeting. With Aimee Semple McPherson there was no color, ethnic, or status separation line.

While holding a revival meeting in San Francisco in April 1922, Aimee became the first woman to preach a sermon over the radio. Being intrigued with the possibilities of this medium, Aimee purchased a radio station herself, thus making her the first woman to possess a radio license and operate a station.

Aimee was famous inside and outside the church. Every city where services were held usually had in attendance civic leaders, as well as pastors representing the local churches of every denomination. She made sure that Angelus Temple was represented in local parades and entered floats into the famous Rose Parade in Pasadena. Her illustrated sermons attracted even those from the entertainment industry, looking to see a "show" that rivaled what Hollywood had to offer. These famous stage productions drew people who would never have thought to enter a church, and then presented them with the message of salvation. Aimee believed that the Gospel was to be presented at every opportunity and used worldly means at her disposal to present the Gospel to as many people as possible.

She was a woman in a man's world, and single at a time when women her age were suppose to be married. But she was willing to go, when God called, and was not limited by what she saw, but believed in the God who called her to fulfill the greatest call of all--the winning of souls.

Our Trip to the pumpkin patch....

Corrinne and Carter striking a pose!!!

Heres Carter Striking a pumpkin pose

A Little brother and sisterly love

Ummmm is that a GHHOSSTTTT!!!! nope thats just Beth whewww

Happy Halloween!!!

Ode to Anonymous...

To all of the anonymous supporters of my blog, I would like to say thank you!! You anonymous readers are the reason I blog, and I love you!!!

This poem is for you:

Anonymous, anonymous you make my day,
Anonymous, anonymous hip hip hoorayy

Seattle is nice, Seattle is grand,
I love art school hippy's that play in a band

Busy creating with wood and pegs,
That doesn't give reason to not shave your legs

Snarky, warky, parky, and fliss,
All are words that do not exist

Anonymous, anonymous bless you when you sneeze,
Anonymous, anonymous I think you like cheese?????

Anonymous, anonymous you make my day,
Anonymous, anonymous hip hip hoorayy

I hope that you enjoy this post as much as I have. Remember to show love to your fellow brother or sister today, because you can never show to much love.

John Alexander Dowie (1847-1907)

John Alexander Dowie shook the world at the turn of the century with his passion for truth and zeal for the work of the Spirit. He brought to the forefront divine healing and repentance by shaking up a complacent Church and slaking the thirst of a parched society. He is known as the Healing Apostle of the late 19th century. Untold millions came to a revelation of Christ and the living power of the Holy Spirit through his deep conviction, unwavering faith and expansive vision. Against hypocritical, opposing clergy, fierce slanderous tabloids, murderous mobs, and relentless city officials, Dr. Dowie wore his apostolic calling as a crown from God, and his persecution as a badge of honor. Dowie was a force to be reckoned with.

In 1875, Dowie began pastoring a much larger group of believers in a suburb of Sydney called Newton. While in Newton, a disastrous plague ravaged the area and filled the inhabitants with terror. Within weeks of his arrival, Dowie presided over forty funerals within his congregation alone. As Dowie agonized over his inability to help his congregation, God began to reveal to him the meaning of Acts 10:38 - "...how God annointed Jesus of Nazareth with His Holy Spirit and power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him...."

It was on one such night that he heard a loud knock at his door. Two messengers had come bidding him to pray for a girl named Mary who was dying. Dowie rushed to her house and when he arrived he found her lying there, grinding her teeth and groaning in agony. Something in him at that moment snapped and he began to cry out to God. Suddenly she lay still. When asked if she was dead, he replied, “No…she will live. The fever is gone.” From that point the plague in Newton had lost its power. Not one member of his congregation died from the epidemic from that point forward and Dowie’s healing ministry began.

In 1888, Dowie felt led to travel through America and Europe and in June of that year he did. Upon the news of his arrival to the States, people came in droves from all parts of California for healing. Soon healing crusades ran up and down the California coast. Dowie started a chain of “Healing Homes”. These houses were not advertised as hospitals, hotels, or meeting places. They were simply a place where the sick and hopeless could come and lodge and be taught on healing.

The results were astounding: the lame walked, blind eyes were opened, deaf ears were opened, and cancer disappeared. Despite the results, the newspapers described them as: private lunatic asylums and accused of only wanting monetary gain. He was portrayed as a fraud, but to their disappointment this only served to draw more people to Dowie’s ministry. In 1895, he was arrested one hundred times for practicing medicine without a license, but each time the sentence was reversed.

In January of 1900, Dowie unveiled his plans to build a city called Zion outside of Chicago. It would be a “moral utopia” and it consumed him until his final days. Within two years ten thousand people inhabited this “paradise”. While Dowie’s dream of a Chriatian “Utopia” eventually failed, out of its gates came great spiritual leaders such as F.F. Bosworth, John G. Lake, Raymond T. Richey, and Gorgon Lindsay.

Although he lost his passion and purpose later in his ministry, Dowie was the first major ministry to bring a widespread consciousness of healing to America. He was the forerunner of many more to come!!

Remember Your Leaders.....

Hebrews 13:7
"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their life"

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever"

It is important to remember those that have gone before us. Many men and women have paid the price and learned hard lessons. It is a priceless thing to be able to learn from others victories and defeats. As I have been looking into the lives of past evangelists and missionaries one thing rings true, the comission of Jesus has not changed. Each person took us as far as they could with their shortcomings, but each took us a step further.

It is my hope that as I begin posting about these past ministers, you will learn from their success and failures. Each of them had a dream and a passion, we to have a dream and a passion. They were not perfect people, but they made a difference that has shaped our lives.

Stay Tuned!!!

Hey all you readers of my blog!!! Stay tuned for the next few weeks!! I will be doing some profiles of some of the old time evangelists and ministers that have inspired me. I hope you enjoy the next few entries. They will be intended to remind and stir us up in all the things we can accomplish through God!!!

End of the Spear

Mincayani (Louie Leonardo) is born into the most violent society ever documented by anthropologists, the Waodani in the eastern rainforest of Ecuador. As he grows he learns what every Waodani understands, he must spear and live or be speared and die. Mincayani's world changes when he and his family kill five missionaries, Nate Saint (Chad Allen), Jim Elliot (Sean McGowan), Ed McCully (Stephen Caudill), Pete Fleming (Matt Lutz) and Roger Youderian (Patrick Zeller). This incident propels Mincayani's family group down an extraordinary path that culminates in them not only departing from violence, but also caring for the enemy tribe they had once violently raided.

I had the honor of seeing this film last night. I wanted to share this with you all. If you have not watched this film - you must see it. It depicts missionarys paving the way of the gospel through their death so that many would come to God.

There are many things that are specifically done in this movie to make a point. These men cared about this tribe of people who were killing each other. Not just because of the endless deaths, but deaths with out knowing about a Savior.

In one part Nate Saints son asks him - " Dad if they try to kill you will you shoot them?" he responds something like " Son I can't kill them, they don't know about heaven". This was a man who really lived by a passion for the Gospel. I know we can all learn from a passion like that. The movie showes that in their death the Waodani saw more than just men dyeing that day. They were given a chance to see God. This changed the whole future of the Waodani.

If you have not seen this movie, this is a must see.

Dedication:

This next entry is dedicated to my friend who is a missionary to Haiti - Grace and her husband Troy. This was an entry of a letter she wrote to me recently. Her eloquent writing could not express the true heart of a missionary any better:


"I spent yesterday floating on a gorgeous tropical beach on the Caribbean Ocean. The water was warm, the sky was a crazy shade of blue, the clouds were white and puffy. When I got hungry a table was brought out for me to sit at right on the beach and for $50.00 Haitian dollars which is only around $7.00 U.S. a fabulous meal of Lobster and fried bananas was served. Not one large dry lobster, but three or four smaller, juicy, succulent lobsters a piece. It was paradise.

That is what you remind yourself you were just doing when you are bathing in a bucket of less than perfect water or going to the bathroom on top of someone else’s stuff. Then you tell yourself that it is all meaningless, good and bad, compared to being there just after the bus full of people crashes and you are able to speed people to the hospital because you were at the right place at the right time and you have enough money to pay for the doctoring!

The hand reached out in prayer, the heart reaching out to God. The good, the bad and the ugly can’t compare in severity or worth, because eternity is what really matters and all this other stuff is just experience on the way to really living. God always makes up for the dead rat parts the cat brings in and leaves for you to find on the kitchen floor with your morning coffee (if there is electricity for the coffee to be made) with a fabulous day at the beach or the waterfall.
He knows how to take care of you. Trust him, and don’t allow yourself to major on the minors because there is so much to miss if you do that. That is what I have learned since I’ve been here. I hope you find it useful. It is universal information, and seems to be easily translated right out of this world and back into that one.

This all boils down to everyday living. This Zoe life isn’t something we put on because it’s time to minister as if its something we don at certain times. Its all day every day in the least of these my moments of living. All the principles apply, all translate. The fruit of the spirit are for every moment grand and mundane alike. We should be exercising them at all times with all people no exceptions for familiarity or anything else. Put on your armor and battle like you must, but realize that it is for every day living as much as it is for ministry and nothing will be able to stop you. "