Learn About Compassion and Change the Story

Most of you know that our family is a big fan of Compassion International. We have supported our dear Marcelo from Bolivia for nearly four years now. It's been a little while since I have blogged about Compassion International however, today I noticed that Compassion had put out a brand new video about their new Change the Story tour that is now going on and coming to a city near you. The Change the Story tour brings poverty to you so that you can experience what living in a third world country as a child is like. Watch the video, check out the website by clicking here, find a place near you where the tour is coming, then visit and Change the Story!



Gun Control - My View

 

This was a response that I wrote to a friend on Facebook when we were discussing gun control. I thought I would repost it on my blog with only a few slight changes.

I've given gun laws a little thought. At first I thought, “Well, what's wrong with banning these assault rifles or other automatic guns that fire multiple rounds in seconds? After all, they aren't used for hunting or anything like that." Then I thought about another controversial ruling from 40 years ago or so - Abortion.

At first abortions were made legal to "keep them out of the back alley" or to be used as the last resort and for the safety of women. Most advocates didn’t intend for them to be used for birth control or because the pregnancy just wasn’t convenient. Today, in some places, abortions can happen almost up until birth. For that matter, look at partial birth abortions.  All that is left in the  mother's womb is the head. The rest is out of the womb before the baby is “aborted”. Today some doctors will determine the sex of the baby and, if the parent doesn’t like the sex, abort the baby! There are even some “doctors” in other countries that advocate for “aborting” babies that are BORN with severe birth defects. After all, let’s put them out of their misery! What’s going to be next? “Aborting” children that mental challenges, like Downs babies or maybe even kids with autism like mine?  I’m not saying that all who agree that abortion should be legal agree with all of that, but, like it or not, that’s what abortion has become.

That’s what I feel will happen with guns. First it will be the assault rifles and such, then, after time, it will start to trickle down to hand guns, rifles and shotguns. In fact, that is exactly what some folks are hoping will happen. I know, some folks reading this are rolling their eyes and thinking how dumb I am, but am I really? Could that really happen? In 20, 30, 40 years down the road could it truly just be the criminals that have guns?

Positive Thinking!

 

 

The thought occurred to me that some of you might be wondering what all of these positive posts that I've been posting are all about and what Sarah and I are doing. Let me reassure any of you who may have any questions that we are still, without a doubt, full time BCM International missionaries and we still are the directors of our ministry here in Livingston to the low income folks. We love our ministry and the people we minister to and have no plans of doing anything different.

A few months ago, however, a very part-time opportunity basically fell into our laps for us to save money and earn money. Like most missionaries, we are very under supported so saving money and earning some extra money on a part time basis sounded like it was a God send (and it really was!).

Through learning about this great company and how it works, I realized how many negative thoughts and ideas that Satan (and myself) had poured into my mind over the past years (decades). I realized what a negative person I had become. God has no use for negativity. He has such great plans for us. Remember what Jeremiah 29:11 says:

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God has great plans for us. He has great plans for Sarah and I and our family. He has great plans for you. He has wondrous plans for us. I think that part of the reason that we never see all of the fantastic things that He has for us is because of belief. We don’t believe that God could ever do great things with us and we don’t believe in ourselves.

I am through with being negative. I have had enough of negative thoughts. That’s why you are seeing a lot of positive posts on my timeline lately. I am allowing God to change those negative thoughts and allowing Him to work in my life. He is bringing some of the “dead” areas back to life again. This year is going to be a positive year.

Many folks are asking God to give them a word for the year that He wants them to live out. I asked God to give me a word and He actually gave me two words – expanse and immense. I don’t know what that totally means, but I think God is getting ready to immensely expand my territory. It is going to be a great 2013!

 

Goals2Go - My New Year's Resolution

 

 

I have never thought much about motivational speakers, programs, books, etc. because my mindset was that I only needed God and the Bible. Really, that is all that we need. However, I've been realizing that a lot of my struggles in life and ministry have to do with plain old me and that I needed to work on myself more. So, I prayerfully began to search for books, tapes, programs, etc. that would work on my problems and what is keeping me back from reaching my goals. I promised, though, that if anything that I found was not compatible with God’s Word then it wasn’t going to be used and I feel like I’m spiritually grounded enough to follow through on that promise.

 

I found a program called Goals2Go - http://www.goals2go.com/home/ and absolutely love it! It has really been eye opening. I somehow signed up for the free basic version which I can’t seem to find on the link that I am providing, but even the basic version has been fantastic. I have had tears in my eyes many times thinking about all that God wants me to be and wants for my life and how I can still accomplish and achieve those things. I really encourage you all to look into it.

 

This program, along with a lot of prayer, Bible reading and soul searching has really started to make a difference. You all really need to look into it. Remember what Jeremiah 29:11 says - For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. God doesn’t want us to live in the doldrums all of our lives. If we keep our eyes on Him, we can live a happy, prosperous life.