+ 8 - 8 | § ¶July Newsletter 2008
Happy 4th of July—Independence Day!!!
HOTR (House on the Rock), that is where the famous, “Infinity Room” is located. We all build houses for different reasons. Some of us build because it is interesting, like Alex Jordon, who built the HOTR, and people from all over come to see it. Most of us build our houses to live in, create a family atmosphere and to help others. However, some houses are built for God’s use, as a testimony of His Goodness and a reminder to worship Him alone (like St. Andrews above).
The USA and much of the world is in what economists call a “housing crisis”. Basically, prices have dropped, often well below what people owe on their homes...so some simply walk away, others struggle to keep what looks like a “bad investment” and others...aren’t affected and can wait out the “housing crisis”….
The Thing about Life is…
We are not meant for EARTH to be our HOME!!! Of course, it is sad when I hear about the suffering people feel in any crisis...especially the recent victims of the floods, heat waves, earthquakes, and typhoons, but I am reminded again how fragile this earthly existence is. Oddly enough, no one can promise anyone; tomorrow!
So I’ve been thinking, what have I been doing lately to build my home (or place) in heaven? What has the American church been doing? What are the churches in Grant County, WI doing? I have to admit, I am not doing all I could be doing...I don’t always have God and His Kingdom’s business on my mind...I don’t always remember the #1 relationship I need to maintain through prayer, silence, study, and time.
When I glance around me, often I am saddened by the spiritual atmosphere here...as I am about Ukraine, Cameroon, and other places of spiritual importance to me. It seems there are so few Spiritual Generals, leaders, and even fundamentally-sound lay leadership putting in the time to build the Kingdom. It’s a sad state of affairs when the Church is often the last “institution” to react to CHANGE and CRISIS. Sometimes, we are decades behind in reaching out to the “felt needs” of the lost and hurting (even in our own congregations).
Recently a man asked me, “How would you “run” [or set up] a church then?” Well, I don’t have all the details hammered out, but it certainly would be different than 95% of the churches out there. Why? Because what we are doing now is (most often) decreasing in numbers, effectiveness, and relatablity to the lost. What must we do? How then shall we live???
Oh that we would take a look again at WHAT HOUSE/KINDGOM we are building! So often we have not sacrificed enough when kids in Pastor Charles’ village still drink dirty water, or when missionaries don’t have enough to live on, or we don’t speak up any more about Christ. So prices are on the RISE...so our STOCK in the KINDGOM of GOD should be on the rise all the more!
Current prayers!
Ukraine...pray for all the people to see the TRUE JESUS and turn to HIM! The English Club Members that I speak to on my Russian website which is kind of like “MySpace”. Pray for Victims of the recent FLOODS and HEAT WAVES! Do what you can to help, Amen!!! Pray for AMERICA—and our elected officials that need Christ and wisdom to lead us in the right path, and for all the upcoming elections. Keep praying for our military and Pastor Mark who is serving in Iraq. THANKS for your prayers, God has provided me with some “divine appointments” - pray that more will happen and that wisdom will be used in all circumstances! Pray for the preaching and reaching out to people in Wisconsin! Pray for the Weddings in July! Tara and Chad, July 19, 2008 and Cara and Paul, July 26, 2008THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!!!
