Last night we had dinner at the house of some new friends. We talked about what their role might be as TBI volunteers. As we looked over some awesome material they have developed as next steps for couples who complete Intimate Encounters under their leadership, we talked about the need for mentor couples (to walk with pastor/leader couples into marriage health), for ministry couples (to help begin marriage ministries), conference couples (to go with us and lead small groups at conferences or retreats), and encourager couples( to help participants take next steps for continued progress after attending a conference).
They asked great questions and offered helpful insights, we got to know their stories and how God brought them together, and they showed us more material she had developed. Carol and I were excited to see their passion and the excellence of the work they had done. I knew that this couple may, by God's direction, be instrumental in several capacities, but one for sure will be to help TBI develop great follow up plans, evaluations, and materials helping couples and churches keep the process of marriage growth alive and well. We've needed this aspect of marriage material to be developed and implemented strategically for a long time.
Alongside our mentoring and ministry-development model, a simple follow-up plan will be a welcome addition. We actually launched our first attempt at follow-up this very day!
Jeanne and I worked hard to email our first installment of the 52-Week Plan. We hope to help couples review the Top Ten Relationship Needs and practice effective communication skills on the road to an even more intimate, God-honoring relationship. By the grace of God these small steps will one day result in 1000's of couples building new legacies and handing a more Christ-honoring, loving heritage to future generations. The Church needs revival one person at a time, one couple and family at a time, one church and community at a time until The Church is prepared for the return of King Jesus.
Another God-story happened yesterday when a friend gifted our ministry with a check for $500. (I think some folks do this just to watch a grown man cry. :) He did not know how critical this money was and how timely the gift, since just a few hours before I had paid over $1400 to get major repairs done to one of our cars. He did not know, but my Father did!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
You Just Gotta Love Him!
I know how tough it is to see, feel, hear, and know God's goodness at times. He is always with us, but at times we may not see Him or experience His closeness. When we are sick, broke, hurt, or feel unloved by others, we may begin to believe that Jesus has left us too. Not true! One of those bugs that bit and bites is the "if I feel it, then it must be real". Lately, after a big victory or a "win" for us personally or as a ministry, there may follow a few days when I "feel" lonely or stuck. What is that?
Sounds like Elijah after whipping 400 prophets of Baal atop Mt. Carmel, then getting scared out of his mind by Jezebel, doesn't it? 1 Kings 18:16 - 19:3
Facing new challenges of the magnitude we currently face is daily, humbling, faith-building, and sometimes just really hard. When you can, and will, and have time...., would you pray the following prayer or similar for me as I try to rest in God's hands and lead my family and ministry wisely? I don't want my heart to get "numb" as a defense against feeling the pain of those to whom and with whom we minister. The only way my heart will stay healthy to "give and receive love freely .... starting at home" is if I do what I am praying others will do.....run to Jesus first rather than wait until I am moving down the tracks away from Him to try to find a quick fix for the poisonous emotion I am feeling. Lately, I find myself in greater battles than before and losing more often. So, would you pray for me, for us to be faithful and loving and reflect the love of Jesus Christ. We know His power and have seen the "power of His resurrection" as well as some of the "fellowship of His suffering".
Here is how I have stated the prayer I am asking you to pray for me:
Sounds like Elijah after whipping 400 prophets of Baal atop Mt. Carmel, then getting scared out of his mind by Jezebel, doesn't it? 1 Kings 18:16 - 19:3
Facing new challenges of the magnitude we currently face is daily, humbling, faith-building, and sometimes just really hard. When you can, and will, and have time...., would you pray the following prayer or similar for me as I try to rest in God's hands and lead my family and ministry wisely? I don't want my heart to get "numb" as a defense against feeling the pain of those to whom and with whom we minister. The only way my heart will stay healthy to "give and receive love freely .... starting at home" is if I do what I am praying others will do.....run to Jesus first rather than wait until I am moving down the tracks away from Him to try to find a quick fix for the poisonous emotion I am feeling. Lately, I find myself in greater battles than before and losing more often. So, would you pray for me, for us to be faithful and loving and reflect the love of Jesus Christ. We know His power and have seen the "power of His resurrection" as well as some of the "fellowship of His suffering".
Here is how I have stated the prayer I am asking you to pray for me:
Dear Abba,
Isaiah 43:19
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
You are doing a new thing in me and in us. Trusting you for more of the "everything you already provide" is new. Deeper gratitude for more of the "everything you already provide" is new. Asking you for more specific things as daily needs is new. Talking more often and more deeply about real faith with the family, our friends, and co-laborers I love so much is new. Specifically praying that pastors/leaders couples will experience revival in love for you and for one another then pass it along to the church and community is new.
Our culture is a wilderness and our world is a wasteland/desert; we need for you to do a "new thing" in us, starting in me. You are the "way in the wilderness" and the "stream in our desert". Oh, God, please use us in new ways to do this new thing. I already see it springing up.
Isaiah 43:19
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
I think this verse was written just for me sometimes. (I know it wasn't but it fits so well.) Help me, Father, to run to you quickly when I begin to doubt, worry, fear, or outright panic. When there are challenges in difficult, sensitive, personal areas, help me to get close to you, not argue with my enemy, not wonder what I am going to do about it, but first or quickly ask you what “you are going to do about it” and rest. No matter what it is. When I am "1/2 afraid and 1/2 excited" about today, help me rest knowing you hold the rope on my saucer-sled.
You have always been faithful to me in really great times and really hard times, help me not to doubt you or grasp for confidence in other people or things that can’t supply the need and don’t love me as you do. In the process, help me as a yielded man to release the calm, passionate, powerful love of Jesus even when people don’t love me back, the need seems bigger than the supply, the sorrow seems overwhelming, and when it seems that few others really care about the things that consume my soul. From that peaceful place near your heart let me still love, still give, still care, and still obey from the power of your Holy Spirit, when my own resources are all gone or are inaccessible. You are my source; my own abilities or aptitudes are powerless unless you empower me by the Holy Spirit. Thank you for loving me so much that I have You to be all that I need at any and all times and to let me live loved and give love freely ... starting at home.
Your loved son, Dave
Isaiah 43:19
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
You are doing a new thing in me and in us. Trusting you for more of the "everything you already provide" is new. Deeper gratitude for more of the "everything you already provide" is new. Asking you for more specific things as daily needs is new. Talking more often and more deeply about real faith with the family, our friends, and co-laborers I love so much is new. Specifically praying that pastors/leaders couples will experience revival in love for you and for one another then pass it along to the church and community is new.
Our culture is a wilderness and our world is a wasteland/desert; we need for you to do a "new thing" in us, starting in me. You are the "way in the wilderness" and the "stream in our desert". Oh, God, please use us in new ways to do this new thing. I already see it springing up.
Isaiah 43:19
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
I think this verse was written just for me sometimes. (I know it wasn't but it fits so well.) Help me, Father, to run to you quickly when I begin to doubt, worry, fear, or outright panic. When there are challenges in difficult, sensitive, personal areas, help me to get close to you, not argue with my enemy, not wonder what I am going to do about it, but first or quickly ask you what “you are going to do about it” and rest. No matter what it is. When I am "1/2 afraid and 1/2 excited" about today, help me rest knowing you hold the rope on my saucer-sled.
You have always been faithful to me in really great times and really hard times, help me not to doubt you or grasp for confidence in other people or things that can’t supply the need and don’t love me as you do. In the process, help me as a yielded man to release the calm, passionate, powerful love of Jesus even when people don’t love me back, the need seems bigger than the supply, the sorrow seems overwhelming, and when it seems that few others really care about the things that consume my soul. From that peaceful place near your heart let me still love, still give, still care, and still obey from the power of your Holy Spirit, when my own resources are all gone or are inaccessible. You are my source; my own abilities or aptitudes are powerless unless you empower me by the Holy Spirit. Thank you for loving me so much that I have You to be all that I need at any and all times and to let me live loved and give love freely ... starting at home.
Your loved son, Dave
(Side note: This phrase: "1/2 afraid and 1/2 excited" is how a friend of mine described the look on his son's face as he/dad pulled his son on the saucer sled during one of our snow events in Atlanta the past winter. He observed his son's wide-eyed look and tight grip on the sled and described him/5 year old son as being "1/2 afraid and 1/2 excited.)
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Write this stuff down!
This seems to be a theme lately. People are telling me to "write down" the specifics about what God is doing, so I have decided to tell you most of it via the blog. I get to record the history of God's faithfulness to us, reread it when I doubt or fear, praise Him over and over for caring for us and those for whom we seek to do ministry, and preserve for those who want to know how God's care is individual, strategic, lavish, and love-driven.
When we started The Basic Idea Ministries, Inc., the main reason I called it "the basic idea" is that God's love for me is the basic idea that started all of this. He loves me and sent Jesus, He loves me and knows me; He loves me and wants what is best for me all the time. His love for me does not always show up in making life a piece of cake, but just as a perfect, loving parent He cares about my life even when I don't and cares about me without hesitation or condition. My response is to lovingly obey, remain honest with Him even when I have difficult things to tell Him, and run to Him as my primary care giver and friend. Wild, isn't it, to think that the God of the universe is my friend, father, provider, and comforter. That's personal!
Lest you get the idea I am saying not to go to others and just rely on God, let me be quick to say......balogna. We need each other, we are to love each other, we are to meet needs for others from a heart of love for them, but when we go to others we should have already been with the Father or be ready to go there soon. These relationships we are in with each other and with Him are related...I know, I should have used something other than a word like "related" which is so closely related to relationships. I digress.
Another example of God's faithful provision: As God has supplied the money, venue, and couples for the Honduras Marriage Retreat May 22-28, 2011, He is now supplying the need for the bills to be paid while we are preparing and going. I was in need of a little over $1200 to be current with expenses, and last week I decided to pray instead of freak out. What a concept!
Weeks ago I was contacted by a friend from a former youth group. He now lives in GA and wanted to talk about some personal stuff he faces. We met for a meal last week and talked a couple of hours. He is facing some tough challenges so we discussed resources and God's power in our lives as it concerns loving others over the bridge of friendship. We talked deeply about our role as parents in knowing our children and loving them in ways they can feel.
At the end of the conversation, he asked how he could help me.
My response was both predictable and limited. It was predictable in that I am struggling with being gone from North Point, working alone much of the time, and trying to handle the details of a business/ministry as well as trying not to be angry at churches who don't seem to place much priority on marriage ministry. I want to be passionate about it but not judgmental or mad. After I told him he could pray for me about that, he asked, "What can I do?" I finally caught his meaning and answered that we always seem to have financial issues in paying for family needs and ministry projects. I didn't give him an amount so I limited what he wanted to do. He finally asked the question again with emphasis on my being specific enough to give him an amount. I told him we needed about $1000 currently to help prepare for Honduras and pay bills for TBI. He pulled a check from his billfold (he said he never carries a check in his billfold except for that day) and wrote a $1000 check to help TBI keep moving forward. How about that!!!!
A few days later an email came in from a counselor-friend. Carol, Jeanne, and I have had a great time getting to know this couple over the last few months. In her email she stated that they were thinking about our ministry, believed in what we are doing, and were led to send in a check for $300 to Helping Hands Ministries for us. (Helping Hands is still our umbrella while we continue to wait for our tax-exempt application to be processed by the IRS.)
You don't have to be great in math to see that we needed approximately $1300 and God supplied it through these 2 friends.
Certainly we need continued financial provision for not only our family budget but also for the work God sends us to do for other people, groups, churches, missionaries, pastors, leaders.....
When I think of it as being needy continually and not having a company or church over us to pay for insurance, food, house note, travel expenses, accommodations for conferences in other countries, etc, etc, etc, I can get a bit "freaked out", but we are now 7 months into this ministry and our Father continues to supply the resources to meet our needs. He has even done things I didn't ask for specifically. This trip to Honduras to get to work with 6 or 7 missionary couples wasn't on my radar until He put it there. Getting to lead the last day of the Galatians 6:6 retreat for Dr. Ferguson at WinShape, and working with the Central Texas marriage leaders, or helping with the Orlando Conference were all opportunities I had no idea would come to us. Now there is a chance to go back to Kenya for a marriage conference this fall.
Not once have we received a check on the "Bank of Heaven", but He just as surely is behind the supply for our needs as if the money had come directly to us from His pocket. He has given to others and they have freely given to us, and the sources have for the most part been unpredictable. As my friend Shad Williams (wegotothem.com) told me recently, "I know God will send what we need from His warehouse of resources, but I don't know which truck line He will use or exactly when that truck will arrive." I couldn't have said it better myself.
So, please keep praying for us that we'll wait patiently, trust fully, seek prayerfully, love unconditionally, and move quickly on the paths God opens for us to serve His body, the Church, wherever He wants us to go.
OK, all you advisers out there....I wrote it down again. :)
When we started The Basic Idea Ministries, Inc., the main reason I called it "the basic idea" is that God's love for me is the basic idea that started all of this. He loves me and sent Jesus, He loves me and knows me; He loves me and wants what is best for me all the time. His love for me does not always show up in making life a piece of cake, but just as a perfect, loving parent He cares about my life even when I don't and cares about me without hesitation or condition. My response is to lovingly obey, remain honest with Him even when I have difficult things to tell Him, and run to Him as my primary care giver and friend. Wild, isn't it, to think that the God of the universe is my friend, father, provider, and comforter. That's personal!
Lest you get the idea I am saying not to go to others and just rely on God, let me be quick to say......balogna. We need each other, we are to love each other, we are to meet needs for others from a heart of love for them, but when we go to others we should have already been with the Father or be ready to go there soon. These relationships we are in with each other and with Him are related...I know, I should have used something other than a word like "related" which is so closely related to relationships. I digress.
Another example of God's faithful provision: As God has supplied the money, venue, and couples for the Honduras Marriage Retreat May 22-28, 2011, He is now supplying the need for the bills to be paid while we are preparing and going. I was in need of a little over $1200 to be current with expenses, and last week I decided to pray instead of freak out. What a concept!
Weeks ago I was contacted by a friend from a former youth group. He now lives in GA and wanted to talk about some personal stuff he faces. We met for a meal last week and talked a couple of hours. He is facing some tough challenges so we discussed resources and God's power in our lives as it concerns loving others over the bridge of friendship. We talked deeply about our role as parents in knowing our children and loving them in ways they can feel.
At the end of the conversation, he asked how he could help me.
My response was both predictable and limited. It was predictable in that I am struggling with being gone from North Point, working alone much of the time, and trying to handle the details of a business/ministry as well as trying not to be angry at churches who don't seem to place much priority on marriage ministry. I want to be passionate about it but not judgmental or mad. After I told him he could pray for me about that, he asked, "What can I do?" I finally caught his meaning and answered that we always seem to have financial issues in paying for family needs and ministry projects. I didn't give him an amount so I limited what he wanted to do. He finally asked the question again with emphasis on my being specific enough to give him an amount. I told him we needed about $1000 currently to help prepare for Honduras and pay bills for TBI. He pulled a check from his billfold (he said he never carries a check in his billfold except for that day) and wrote a $1000 check to help TBI keep moving forward. How about that!!!!
A few days later an email came in from a counselor-friend. Carol, Jeanne, and I have had a great time getting to know this couple over the last few months. In her email she stated that they were thinking about our ministry, believed in what we are doing, and were led to send in a check for $300 to Helping Hands Ministries for us. (Helping Hands is still our umbrella while we continue to wait for our tax-exempt application to be processed by the IRS.)
You don't have to be great in math to see that we needed approximately $1300 and God supplied it through these 2 friends.
Certainly we need continued financial provision for not only our family budget but also for the work God sends us to do for other people, groups, churches, missionaries, pastors, leaders.....
When I think of it as being needy continually and not having a company or church over us to pay for insurance, food, house note, travel expenses, accommodations for conferences in other countries, etc, etc, etc, I can get a bit "freaked out", but we are now 7 months into this ministry and our Father continues to supply the resources to meet our needs. He has even done things I didn't ask for specifically. This trip to Honduras to get to work with 6 or 7 missionary couples wasn't on my radar until He put it there. Getting to lead the last day of the Galatians 6:6 retreat for Dr. Ferguson at WinShape, and working with the Central Texas marriage leaders, or helping with the Orlando Conference were all opportunities I had no idea would come to us. Now there is a chance to go back to Kenya for a marriage conference this fall.
Not once have we received a check on the "Bank of Heaven", but He just as surely is behind the supply for our needs as if the money had come directly to us from His pocket. He has given to others and they have freely given to us, and the sources have for the most part been unpredictable. As my friend Shad Williams (wegotothem.com) told me recently, "I know God will send what we need from His warehouse of resources, but I don't know which truck line He will use or exactly when that truck will arrive." I couldn't have said it better myself.
So, please keep praying for us that we'll wait patiently, trust fully, seek prayerfully, love unconditionally, and move quickly on the paths God opens for us to serve His body, the Church, wherever He wants us to go.
OK, all you advisers out there....I wrote it down again. :)
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Even Shorter than Yesterday
Just a quick note to give glory to God for His faithfulness. Today I give Him praise for two specific ways He "saved" me yesterday!
No, I didn't lose my salvation then get it back.... :)
What I did do was lose His perspective on Sunday morning and took up my own. In the middle of ministry yesterday (Monday), God spoke to my heart to let me know that what I was hearing come from my mouth was what I needed to hear in my own heart. I received His truth and He gave me hope in Him again.
Then I got word that the Honduras conference is set. Our friends the Becks have a venue, couples are signing up faster than they thought, and plans are now set in motion. We are by God's continued faithfulness going to be able to meet with 6 or 7 missionary couples the end of May to serve them and encourage/train them in biblical relationship principles for their own health, their ministry to others starting at home, and for the advancement of God's kingdom. Would you continue to pray for us?
I said it would be quick! :)
No, I didn't lose my salvation then get it back.... :)
What I did do was lose His perspective on Sunday morning and took up my own. In the middle of ministry yesterday (Monday), God spoke to my heart to let me know that what I was hearing come from my mouth was what I needed to hear in my own heart. I received His truth and He gave me hope in Him again.
Then I got word that the Honduras conference is set. Our friends the Becks have a venue, couples are signing up faster than they thought, and plans are now set in motion. We are by God's continued faithfulness going to be able to meet with 6 or 7 missionary couples the end of May to serve them and encourage/train them in biblical relationship principles for their own health, their ministry to others starting at home, and for the advancement of God's kingdom. Would you continue to pray for us?
I said it would be quick! :)
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Twelve Pastors and Next Steps
This post will be brief:
We, Carol and I, were honored last week, April 12 -13, to be part of Galatians 6:6 retreat in Rome, GA., at WinShape Conference Center. Besides being a beautiful place this center hosts many marriage retreats, intensives, and conferences. God has used the Chic fil a corporation to build and host marriage investment environments at this once-upon-a-time dairy farm associated with Berry College.
Three other friends joined us there to help. Jim and Jean Price and Donna Taylor helped by leading small groups of pastor couples. The small groups offered conversation around the idea of what to do as next steps after experiencing breakthroughs in their marriages. God worked mightily in them on Monday and Tuesday through Dr. John Vining's teaching of intimacy principles.
We had such a great time getting to know the couples and hearing their stories. On Wednesday morning, I presented options for couples to help them continue to grow as a couple and to help them pass these principles to others through a variety of marriage ministries. Our prayer is that God will use us to help them through mentoring, ministry start-up, conferences, or any other resources TBI can help supply.
Our desire is to see couples across this country and around the world access the power Christ offers to love and be loved...starting at home.
Today, I got to worship with the fine folks at Harmony Grove Baptist Church and get reacquainted with several of the couples we met at the marriage retreat in Brasstown back in March. What a thrill to see them again and worship our Savior there.
We continue to make progress toward Honduras and should be able to finalize the details this week. Praise the Lord for opportunities to serve those who serve others. We trust He will bring several missionary couples to the marriage retreat the end of May. Would you pray for God's powerful Spirit to do in each of us all He desires to accomplish?
We, Carol and I, were honored last week, April 12 -13, to be part of Galatians 6:6 retreat in Rome, GA., at WinShape Conference Center. Besides being a beautiful place this center hosts many marriage retreats, intensives, and conferences. God has used the Chic fil a corporation to build and host marriage investment environments at this once-upon-a-time dairy farm associated with Berry College.
Three other friends joined us there to help. Jim and Jean Price and Donna Taylor helped by leading small groups of pastor couples. The small groups offered conversation around the idea of what to do as next steps after experiencing breakthroughs in their marriages. God worked mightily in them on Monday and Tuesday through Dr. John Vining's teaching of intimacy principles.
We had such a great time getting to know the couples and hearing their stories. On Wednesday morning, I presented options for couples to help them continue to grow as a couple and to help them pass these principles to others through a variety of marriage ministries. Our prayer is that God will use us to help them through mentoring, ministry start-up, conferences, or any other resources TBI can help supply.
Our desire is to see couples across this country and around the world access the power Christ offers to love and be loved...starting at home.
Today, I got to worship with the fine folks at Harmony Grove Baptist Church and get reacquainted with several of the couples we met at the marriage retreat in Brasstown back in March. What a thrill to see them again and worship our Savior there.
We continue to make progress toward Honduras and should be able to finalize the details this week. Praise the Lord for opportunities to serve those who serve others. We trust He will bring several missionary couples to the marriage retreat the end of May. Would you pray for God's powerful Spirit to do in each of us all He desires to accomplish?
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Man, that was fast!!!
In some ways the latest conference (potential) came about quickly; however Rick, Kim, Carol, and I have wanted to do this for years.
Rick and Kim Beck were in our youth group in Memphis over 25 years ago. They were then and are now wonderful, passionate people who love Jesus, each other, and share a burden for those without a relationship with Christ. For years they've served with Youth for Christ and are now missionaries to Honduras. We have had great talks about a potential marriage conference for the missionaries there, but until now things never seemed to fit. Now they do.
Just a few days ago, Kim and I were on Facebooking about the need there and our new ministry TBI. We sorta' wondered out loud if God would allow us to go there for the missionary couples to have time to invest in each other and have others invest in them. That led to our talking about when that would be possible, what time of year, etc. Kim said, "Well, April and May are really great months in the schedules of most missionaries. I inquired, "You mean this year?" Her answer sticks in my brain, "Well, next year may be too late for some!" That was it for me. We determined to discuss the possibility with Rick and Carol.
Since that time we've seen the following fall into place:
1. Rick put together a budget to approximate the cost of a conference in Honduras for May, 2011.
2. I sent a message to our board and prayer team to ask for prayer.
3. I spoke to one of the couples we are currently mentoring - affectionately known as Couple #3 for confidentiality purposes. I asked him to pray about this possibility with me.
4. Since he is already a contributor to TBI, he asked a follow-up question: "What do you want me to pray?" I said, "...for wisdom about going to Honduras so soon." His response also sticks in my mind: "Well is it a need there?" To which I replied, "Yes a critical one." Then he said, "Well there is no question; you have to do it!!"
5. My mind was spinning because I did feel compelled to go, led to go; but I knew that money was an "issue".
6. He said he'd match what came in. I asked for clarification because I know some people mean well but can't follow through for various reasons. His clarification....clarified...."I will match what comes in."
7. The next day Carol, Jeanne, and I attended a training conference in Roswell, where we learned alongside our dear friends - a TBI board member and his wife.
9. When we got home that night after the conference, Carol handed me a check that this couple had given to us after being led of God to contribute toward Honduras or "whatever we needed it for". I was blown away.
10. I texted Couple #3 to let him know what had come in and he doubled the amount right there and then. So, we are almost fully funded for the Honduras trip as God continues to open doors.
Honduras looks like a "Go" for sure. Would you now join us praying about the couples who need to be there since the space is limited?
I have no doubt that God will supply the rest to make it possible for us to help keep expenses low and affordable for the missionary couples as well as pay our transportation costs.
The blessings of God have once again poured into our circle of experience from places I had no idea He'd bring them, in order to advance His work and His kingdom.
So many things are going on, it is hard to keep up with them all but this list will give you some idea:
a. Conference in North Georgia with Harmony Grove Baptist Church couples was awesome.
b. Conference in Pennsylvania with couples from PA, NJ, CT, NY was awesome too.
c. Marriage Ministry groups are launching in the area as a result of the marriage conference in PA.
d. Presenting the need for greater focus on marriage ministry at a conference in Austin, TX with Dr. Ferguson.
e. Dr. Ferguson, author of Intimate Encounters Workbook, has been kind to us and included us in many opportunities to network TBI with other marriage ministry opportunities, including giving us the last day of the upcoming Galatians 6:6 retreat, April 11-13, at WinShape/Rome, GA to offer pastor/leader couples assistance with marriage mentoring (ongoing) and helping to begin or expand marriage ministries.
f. Carol and I will travel to Kentucky next weekend where I have the privilege of preaching at my home church in Princeton, KY.
g. Mentoring 4 or 5 couples via Skype, face to face visits, and phone/email/text conversations.
Heavenly Father, I praise you for these opportunities, but even more I praise you for your life-changing love extended to me in Jesus Christ and gifted to me in the presence of the Holy Spirit within my life. What an honor it is to be called your child and to get to meet the incredible people you allow my path to cross, not the least of which are those of my own family. Carol, our kids, and our grandkids, extended families are all blessings. May you powerfully redeem this world and bring about revival in all those open to your Son. May the Church live loved and give love freely starting at home. May we as leaders and pastors called to serve, do so from a pure heart and love at home as the platform for demonstrating your love everywhere we go.
For Jesus and the Kingdom of God in the power of the Holy Spirit,
Amen
Rick and Kim Beck were in our youth group in Memphis over 25 years ago. They were then and are now wonderful, passionate people who love Jesus, each other, and share a burden for those without a relationship with Christ. For years they've served with Youth for Christ and are now missionaries to Honduras. We have had great talks about a potential marriage conference for the missionaries there, but until now things never seemed to fit. Now they do.
Just a few days ago, Kim and I were on Facebooking about the need there and our new ministry TBI. We sorta' wondered out loud if God would allow us to go there for the missionary couples to have time to invest in each other and have others invest in them. That led to our talking about when that would be possible, what time of year, etc. Kim said, "Well, April and May are really great months in the schedules of most missionaries. I inquired, "You mean this year?" Her answer sticks in my brain, "Well, next year may be too late for some!" That was it for me. We determined to discuss the possibility with Rick and Carol.
Since that time we've seen the following fall into place:
1. Rick put together a budget to approximate the cost of a conference in Honduras for May, 2011.
2. I sent a message to our board and prayer team to ask for prayer.
3. I spoke to one of the couples we are currently mentoring - affectionately known as Couple #3 for confidentiality purposes. I asked him to pray about this possibility with me.
4. Since he is already a contributor to TBI, he asked a follow-up question: "What do you want me to pray?" I said, "...for wisdom about going to Honduras so soon." His response also sticks in my mind: "Well is it a need there?" To which I replied, "Yes a critical one." Then he said, "Well there is no question; you have to do it!!"
5. My mind was spinning because I did feel compelled to go, led to go; but I knew that money was an "issue".
6. He said he'd match what came in. I asked for clarification because I know some people mean well but can't follow through for various reasons. His clarification....clarified...."I will match what comes in."
7. The next day Carol, Jeanne, and I attended a training conference in Roswell, where we learned alongside our dear friends - a TBI board member and his wife.
9. When we got home that night after the conference, Carol handed me a check that this couple had given to us after being led of God to contribute toward Honduras or "whatever we needed it for". I was blown away.
10. I texted Couple #3 to let him know what had come in and he doubled the amount right there and then. So, we are almost fully funded for the Honduras trip as God continues to open doors.
Honduras looks like a "Go" for sure. Would you now join us praying about the couples who need to be there since the space is limited?
I have no doubt that God will supply the rest to make it possible for us to help keep expenses low and affordable for the missionary couples as well as pay our transportation costs.
The blessings of God have once again poured into our circle of experience from places I had no idea He'd bring them, in order to advance His work and His kingdom.
So many things are going on, it is hard to keep up with them all but this list will give you some idea:
a. Conference in North Georgia with Harmony Grove Baptist Church couples was awesome.
b. Conference in Pennsylvania with couples from PA, NJ, CT, NY was awesome too.
c. Marriage Ministry groups are launching in the area as a result of the marriage conference in PA.
d. Presenting the need for greater focus on marriage ministry at a conference in Austin, TX with Dr. Ferguson.
e. Dr. Ferguson, author of Intimate Encounters Workbook, has been kind to us and included us in many opportunities to network TBI with other marriage ministry opportunities, including giving us the last day of the upcoming Galatians 6:6 retreat, April 11-13, at WinShape/Rome, GA to offer pastor/leader couples assistance with marriage mentoring (ongoing) and helping to begin or expand marriage ministries.
f. Carol and I will travel to Kentucky next weekend where I have the privilege of preaching at my home church in Princeton, KY.
g. Mentoring 4 or 5 couples via Skype, face to face visits, and phone/email/text conversations.
Heavenly Father, I praise you for these opportunities, but even more I praise you for your life-changing love extended to me in Jesus Christ and gifted to me in the presence of the Holy Spirit within my life. What an honor it is to be called your child and to get to meet the incredible people you allow my path to cross, not the least of which are those of my own family. Carol, our kids, and our grandkids, extended families are all blessings. May you powerfully redeem this world and bring about revival in all those open to your Son. May the Church live loved and give love freely starting at home. May we as leaders and pastors called to serve, do so from a pure heart and love at home as the platform for demonstrating your love everywhere we go.
For Jesus and the Kingdom of God in the power of the Holy Spirit,
Amen
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Pennsylvania is Not a Foreign Country
Meeting Chris Priestaff a few years ago during lunch with a mutual friend, Tyler Reagin, was a privilege. We spoke of marriage ministry, how we did it at North Point, and how I would start a marriage ministry. These guys are hilarious to be around and, at the same time, very serious about serving Jesus. After about a year, Chris and I spoke again about doing a marriage conference for some churches at Tuscarora Inn and Conference Center in Mt. Bethel, PA.
Up to this time most of our marriage/relationship conference work had been done in conjunction with either North Point's Missions team (GlobalX) or with Shad Williams Evangelistic Association (www.wegotothem.com) in 9 other countries. So when we agreed to lead the conference in Pennsylvania, we were not sure if the response would be as dramatic, life-changing, and lasting in the States as it has been every time in these other countries.
Last year in March and last weekend at Tuscarora, our Father did dramatic work helping many couples find hope and healing. When our new friend Paul DiQuattro picked us up at Allentown airport on Thursday afternoon, he shared with us the story of a couple who attended last year's conference who had come to faith, joined their church, and were serving faithfully now. He contrasted this dramatic change with where they were a year ago when they came to the conference. We later learned of another couple who'd taken divorce off their agenda and were learning to love each other as God intended.
From last year's attending couples we were thrilled to have 3 couples leading small group breakouts this year which meant we needed to bring only 2 couples with us for facilitating groups. Two of the three couples were pastor/leader couples and the other a very faithful couple serving in their church as volunteers. The point to all this is that God moved AGAIN in power as He started the healing process for many couples, led 2 couples to take divorce off their list of potential next steps....He loves to set us free to love others, especially those in our own homes and in the "household of faith".
So, God worked in PA even though Pennsylvania is Not a Foreign Country. God will do in the USA what we so desperately need Him to do: He will restore our hearts to love Him and others as we love ourselves. That is the greatest commandment according to Jesus. Actually Jesus says these are the two greatest commandments of all time and everything in life hangs on these two commandments.
He is right, isn't He? What is the solution to rising divorce, increasing disregard for marriage, burgeoning numbers family problems, societal tsunamis that are crippling the culture, and about any other issues you can name from drug abuse to violence? Loving God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength and loving our neighbors as ourselves summarizes the core problem to which Jesus Christ's love - set free to express itself in relationships - is the solution.
On the last day of the conference we spent time allowing people to express publicly what God had done in their marriages and their own heart. What a thrill to hear the specific stories of life-change, the men sharing appreciation for their spouse, their determination to lead, and the hope many felt for the first time in years. Two couples who took divorce off the table for their future discovered that they lived just a few minutes from each other and received an offer from a couple attending the conference to work with them through the Intimate Encounters material over the next several months. The couple offering to help lives near the two needing help. The very idea that 3 couples at this conference, where attendees had come from at least 4 states, could actually live so close together that they could form a small group for continued progress in their marriage is nothing short of a miracle from God.
Thanks to so many of you for praying for this conference to be used of God to see miracles happen in couples and families. Legacies of divorce and pain are being replaced by new ones filled with more of God's love and freedom than ever before. All this is a reflection of the great, great love of God.
Up to this time most of our marriage/relationship conference work had been done in conjunction with either North Point's Missions team (GlobalX) or with Shad Williams Evangelistic Association (www.wegotothem.com) in 9 other countries. So when we agreed to lead the conference in Pennsylvania, we were not sure if the response would be as dramatic, life-changing, and lasting in the States as it has been every time in these other countries.
Last year in March and last weekend at Tuscarora, our Father did dramatic work helping many couples find hope and healing. When our new friend Paul DiQuattro picked us up at Allentown airport on Thursday afternoon, he shared with us the story of a couple who attended last year's conference who had come to faith, joined their church, and were serving faithfully now. He contrasted this dramatic change with where they were a year ago when they came to the conference. We later learned of another couple who'd taken divorce off their agenda and were learning to love each other as God intended.
From last year's attending couples we were thrilled to have 3 couples leading small group breakouts this year which meant we needed to bring only 2 couples with us for facilitating groups. Two of the three couples were pastor/leader couples and the other a very faithful couple serving in their church as volunteers. The point to all this is that God moved AGAIN in power as He started the healing process for many couples, led 2 couples to take divorce off their list of potential next steps....He loves to set us free to love others, especially those in our own homes and in the "household of faith".
So, God worked in PA even though Pennsylvania is Not a Foreign Country. God will do in the USA what we so desperately need Him to do: He will restore our hearts to love Him and others as we love ourselves. That is the greatest commandment according to Jesus. Actually Jesus says these are the two greatest commandments of all time and everything in life hangs on these two commandments.
He is right, isn't He? What is the solution to rising divorce, increasing disregard for marriage, burgeoning numbers family problems, societal tsunamis that are crippling the culture, and about any other issues you can name from drug abuse to violence? Loving God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength and loving our neighbors as ourselves summarizes the core problem to which Jesus Christ's love - set free to express itself in relationships - is the solution.
On the last day of the conference we spent time allowing people to express publicly what God had done in their marriages and their own heart. What a thrill to hear the specific stories of life-change, the men sharing appreciation for their spouse, their determination to lead, and the hope many felt for the first time in years. Two couples who took divorce off the table for their future discovered that they lived just a few minutes from each other and received an offer from a couple attending the conference to work with them through the Intimate Encounters material over the next several months. The couple offering to help lives near the two needing help. The very idea that 3 couples at this conference, where attendees had come from at least 4 states, could actually live so close together that they could form a small group for continued progress in their marriage is nothing short of a miracle from God.
Thanks to so many of you for praying for this conference to be used of God to see miracles happen in couples and families. Legacies of divorce and pain are being replaced by new ones filled with more of God's love and freedom than ever before. All this is a reflection of the great, great love of God.
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