What Is Your Purpose?

 

I led a teen boy’s Bible study tonight. I have been talking about Jonah the past couple of weeks. Our pastor preached a fantastic sermon on Jonah and compared him to us. Tonight I talked about why God does things and how God wants to use us. I remembered the following video, looked it up, and played if for them.

I thought I would post it for you all to see as well. What is your purpose in life? Why has God created you? What goals has God given you? As you watch this, think about those things. Think about how you are conducting yourself everyday. If you are like me you often think only of yourself and not of others. I desire to show Christ in everything I do.

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Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. I Corinthians 13:4-8

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I don’t know if the man in the commercial is a Christian. It is a Thai commercial so chances are he may not be. However, he is demonstrating the actions and love of Christ more than many people that call themselves followers of Christ demonstrate.

My goal is to be more Christ like. to demonstrate God’s love like this man is doing. I want to bring God’s joy, happiness, love to people.

What about you? What is your goal in life?

God Doesn’t Require Paperwork!

 

This just hit me like a ton of bricks tonight - or maybe I should say God laid it on my heart tonight – as I was thinking about what to write.

Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t require paperwork?

I have spent hours upon hours the past two or three weeks getting together statements, signing documents, downloading, faxing, filling out, copying, calling on the phone, you name it – all to get paperwork done for our home purchase and for the foster care of our three fantastic foster sons.

I have had super full days the past two days and half of the time it was ministry and half of the time it was getting paperwork done.

As I was preparing to blog this evening I thought to myself that I am so glad that God doesn’t require paperwork.

He accepts us just as we are - with all of our faults, flaws and baggage. He loves us even though we aren’t lovable and we don’t deserve it.

He doesn’t require us to get our behavior score (credit score) up to a certain level.

He doesn’t require gifts as a down payment.

He doesn’t require proof of sacrifice as paperwork to show that we have everything together for this great thing that we are purchasing. In fact, we can’t purchase it at all!

We can’t act good enough. We can’t do enough or give enough. We can’t sacrifice enough. There is no way that we can get it all together enough.

God has never once sent out a letter or an email say “Congratulations! You qualify for Heaven!”.

Because, we don’t qualify. Only Jesus qualifies. He’s the only one that has it all together. He’s the only one that deserves it. He’s the only one that has earned it by living a perfect, sinless, life.

We can do nothing – nothing at all – to get to Heaven. We are doomed.

Doomed, that is, if we try to do it ourselves because we can’t.

There is no way we can get one of those perfect houses in that perfect place called “Heaven”. We are doomed to live in hell.

Jesus, however, didn’t want us to live on that side of the tracks. He wanted us to live on His side of the tracks. So, He paid the price so that we could get that house in Heaven.

He has the perfect behavior (credit) score.

He paid the ultimate down payment.

He made the sacrifice and filled out all of the paperwork for us.

And He did it so that we could have eternal life and live in that perfect house in that perfect place called Heaven.

He did it all for us as a gift and all we have to do is accept that free gift.

We can do nothing but accept it.

Have you accepted that free gift or are you still trying to get all of the paperwork together and get your behavior score up to par? You can’t do it if you are! There is no way you can get everything together. Jesus is the only one that has it all together.

A few months ago I posted a great video done by a friend of mine explaining how you can accept that free gift. If you haven’t accepted that free gift or aren’t sure if you have please watch this short video carefully. I pray that after watching the video you will accept the free gift of eternal life from Jesus. If you do, leave a comment or send me an email at tink38570@gmail.com.

For by Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8, 9

It’s Back! It’s Back! Florida Bible College is Back!

I was very blessed to have been able to go to one of the best Bible colleges in the world. I don’t have time to tell you all of the story, but God does work in miraculous ways. Instead of me having to go to Florida Bible College, God moved Florida Bible College (FBC) to me! In the early 80s FBC found itself needing to move its campus from the location that they had been in for many years. They ended up buying a hotel, office complex, and a five model homes that were located less than two miles from my home. In the fall of 1982 I found myself enrolled and the rest is history. In 1986 I graduated with a degree in Bible and in Education with a minor in Christian Education.

Florida Bible College changed my life in so many ways it is unbelievable. I can honestly say that if it weren’t for all of the miraculous things that God has done through FBC I wouldn’t be where I am today.

In the late 1990’s FBC had to close it’s doors but through it’s graduates its ministry has never ended. Recently FBC reorganized and reopened its doors. I have been following all of the details closely and am so excited by what I am seeing.



If you are looking for a great College to earn a Certificate, Associates Degree or Bachelors Degree in Biblical Studies or degree in one of their seven majors then I would encourage you to look into Florida Bible College. If you want to get your feet wet they are offering three online classes beginning next month. If you are interested in attending or would like more information on what the college is like you could go to their upcoming college for a day.

For more information on the college itself, the online classes, or the college for a day click here to go to their webpage!

Ephesians 2:8-10 New International Version (NIV)

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

It’s Time To Let it All Out!

 

Dear faithful financial and prayer supporters,

I know that I have been quite vague about some things on Facebook the past few months and I have promised to fill you about what was going on when the time came. A few people that need to know already are aware, but many are not. I feel that since it is the end of the year and many of you are making your financial giving decisions for the next year that this is the time to reveal the exciting things that are happening!

First off let me tell you that we are not leaving BCM International nor our ministry here in Livingston, TN. Our ministry, as you are about to read, is going strong and we feel strongly that God is going to continue to bless our efforts in this next year.

  

The bus that was generously given to us has had its ups and downs, but is working once again. We had a wonderful summer doing 5-day Bible Clubs on the bus where we saw three children trust the Lord. We also began using it for adult Bible studies where two were saved. Late in the summer the bus once again broke down but is fixed again. We continued doing the one established adult Bible study in a home, but we were unable to start the planned Bible clubs. Now that the bus is fixed we hope to begin the Bible clubs after the Christmas break and also use it for other adult Bible studies.

We have continued to serve the low income folks with much visitation and help with needs. I (Tim) have a vibrant ministry of taking folks several times a month to local food banks. I also visit, encourage and pray with many adults in the low income areas where we minister. The adult Bible study held in a home in a trailer park has been very successful and the folks are growing in number and spiritually.

The one ministry that has been overwhelmingly successful this year has been my ministry to teen boys. It began about a year and a half ago with three boys attending a Bible study but has grown to many more that are being ministered to. I say “ministered” to because this past spring and summer four of the boys have been picked up by DCS and put into foster care for various reasons. I have been able to visit them all since they were taken. Three of them were put into boy’s group homes because they needed more help and guidance than a regular foster home could provide. One of them has been able to go home but the other two, brothers, are still in the group home. The fourth boy is a third brother and was in a regular foster home but was moved to a group home because of some problems he was having. So, all three brothers are in two different group homes. I have been able to visit them almost every week since they were taken and have been able to continue to minister to them as well as other boys in the home. If you read my blog regularly – www.familiesagain.blogspot.com – you know that I periodically will write blog posts about my ministry with these boys and will be writing another post in the next couple of days about our ministry at one of the homes this past Christmas. Be on the lookout because it is a story of how God laid a special burden on Sarah for one of the boys she has never met.

This brings me to one of the exciting announcements. God began speaking to me last summer about possibly taking the three brothers that are presently in foster care into our home. I didn’t really say much to Sarah about it because I thought that there was really no way we could do it. However, God had other plans. Unknown to me, God was also speaking to Sarah’s heart about the same thing. A couple of months ago Sarah came to me and said that she felt that God wanted us to take “the boys”. When I told her that God had been speaking to me as well, we knew that it was of the Lord.

However, there was no way that we could do this in our present small apartment. We knew that we were getting an inheritance from Sarah’s mom and I had a retirement fund from my teaching days that I could cash in, so we began looking for a house. After a few months of looking and many ups and downs and twists and turns, we finally, last week, signed a contract for a house and barring any slight mishap, we should close by the end of January. Pray for this new, much larger home. We are excited that there will be plenty of room for our present family and future foster children and we are excited about the ministry potential.

DCS knows that we would like to be foster parents to the three brothers as well and the process for that has begun. Trust me, it was not a decision that we have taken lightly. Even after it was revealed that God was speaking to both of our hearts, we prayed continuously for God’s guidance and still are praying. We have had numerous discussions with John Allen, Joshua and Jacob about it, and have sought counsel with other Christian friends and mentors. Through all of that, God has made it clearer than ever that this is what we should do. I wish I could tell you every sign that God has given us, but it would take much more space than I think I could give in this letter. Needless to say, our boy’s are excited and so are we. So, soon after we move into the house our family will prayerfully increase by two as David (16) and Skiler (15) will be added. Robert (14) will be able to come after he has completed his time in the boys home where he is currently living. Call us crazy for taking in three more teen boys, but we are certain that God is in this and are looking forward to how He is going to bless. The three brothers have a lot of baggage that they are dealing with so prayer will be greatly appreciated for them and for us. Pray also for us because their family is one of the families that we minister to quite regularly. Their grandmother is the one who hosts the weekly Bible study in her home. Their family is aware of what is going on and is supportive, but I know there are going to be some bumpy times. I can’t go into all of the details why they will be coming to us and not going home but please be in prayer.

                       David                  Skiler                   Robert

So, there you have all of our little secrets. We have finally spilled the beans and, personally, I am glad we have because I know that all of you will be praying and we value that very much. Please continue to pray for our finances. Sarah is working at the hospital to supplement our income and we will be getting some assistance as foster parents, but we are still under supported as missionaries and having three extra hungry teens to feed will definitely increase our food bill. Thankfully, the inheritance and cashed in retirement will allow us to put a large down payment on the house and to also pay off most, if not all of our bills, so we will be debt free other than the mortgage.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and financial support. They are much appreciated. We could not do all that we do without you.

The Tinkels

Tim Tinkel – 904 Lee Drive – Livingston, TN 38570

Mission Address – BCM International - 201 Granite Run Drive, Suite 260 - Lancaster, PA, 17601  USA

To donate to our ministry or to our support please send a check or money order to our Mission Address and say that it is for the Tinkels - missionary number 642

Forget Mary Did you know! Do You Know?

 

I had a “Mary Did You Know” moment the other day. You’ve heard of “Mary Did You Know” haven’t you? It’s the famous Christmas song written by Mark Lowery, the Christian singer. The song wonders if Mary, the mother of Jesus, actually knew who the baby was that she was held. Did she realize that He was the Lamb of God? The Great I Am? The Savior? The complete song is posted below for you to listen to.

Well, I had one of those moments a few days ago when I was doing my devotions. It was talking about the sons of Jacob. As it listed the different sons I couldn’t help to think if they had any inkling in their heads about their lineage.

Did Levi have any idea that his descendants were going to be the Priests of the Old Testament? You know, the priests that were to sacrifice the peoples offerings to God; take care of the temple; enter into God’s presence once a year when the go into the Holy of Holies. They were chosen by God for this awesome task. They were special. They were the servants of the Almighty!

Did Judah have any idea that from his line of children Jesus Christ was to be born? The One who was to die for all of our sins? The Savior of the world?

Of course, because of the Bible, we have the gift of hindsight. We know what happened. And, of course, Levi and Judah had no idea what was going to happen to their children’s children and their children’s children’s children and their . . . well, you know what I mean.

You know something, though? That is exactly the point. They didn’t know. And neither do we. We have no idea what is going to happen on down the line in our families. We have no idea what our grandchildren are going to become, or our great children or on down.

All God has called us to do is to be faithful. Faithful to do what He has called us to do. Faithful to how He wants us to raise our families. Faithful to how He wants us to treat others. Faithful to the ministries that He has given us. He just wants us to be faithful. If we are faithful then He will do the rest.

I often get discouraged in the ministry that God has given. I wonder if I am making any difference in the lives of others. I wonder if I am making any difference in my family. I need to be reminded that all I have to do is be faithful. I need to be faithful to what God has called ME to do.

Why? Because I don’t know.

I don’t know what is going to happen to my kids. I don’t know what they are going to do. I don’t know what they are going to become. I don’t know any of those things about my grandkids either. Nor my great grandkids.

I don’t know any of those things about my spiritual kids either – the kids and adults that I have ministered to and/or am ministering to.

I don’t know what any of them are going to be. Perhaps, because Sarah and I were faithful, a great missionary is going to come from our line. Or maybe a great pastor or evangelist. Or maybe a Christian businessman. Or may be a great Christian leader.

We just don’t know. All we know is that God has called us to be faithful. Just like He called Mary and Joseph to be faithful even though they had no idea what that little baby was going to become. They were to just. be. faithful.

So, my friend. We need to just. be. faithful. too.

JUST BE FAITHFUL!

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

 

Another Child is Gone!

 

No, it’s not one of my biological children. Nor is it one of the kids from my Bible clubs or teen boy’s Bible study. It’s one of my Compassion kids. Really it’s not just one of my Compassion kids, it’s MY Compassion kid. His name is Marcelo and he is the first Compassion child that we got. We’ve had him for well over seven years now. He was a pre-teen when we began to sponsor him. Now he is a young man. He graduated from the Compassion program recently and we have been assigned another Compassion child from Bolivia, the same country that Marcelo was from. It is bittersweet. We loved Marcelo. We wrote to him regularly although, in recent years, not regularly enough. He has grown to by a Godly young man and, in the last letter we got from him, he told me he is now working with children and youth in his church. I now have the task of writing our last letter to him. – our “Goodbye Letter”. I am not looking forward to it. We have grown to love Marcelo like he is one of our own. We are permitted to give him our contact information but it isn’t encouraged. Sometimes contact information can be stolen and used for wrong purposes in third world countries. I am going to send it to him anyway. I would love to keep in contact with him. My one regret is that I never got to go and meet him. I had planned to for a long time but we never had the money. Maybe someday. Until that “Someday” - either on earth or in heaven – Goodbye Marcelo. We love you!

 

 

The pictures above that say “original” were the first pictures that we received of Marcelo. The picture at the top was one of the last ones we received.

Have you ever thought about sponsoring child with Compassion International? Check out the video below. If you are really interested click on the highlighted link above. You won’t regret it. It is an awesome experience!

CrossTimber - An Absolutely Fantastic Company - A Homeschool Review Crew Review

I'm going to tell you right now that there are times that I dread writing a review. Not necessarily because we didn't like the product that we are reviewing, although that is possible, but usually because I just don't know what to say about it other than the basic stuff. Reviews usually have a minimum number of words that are required and, even though I am long winded, I sometimes have a hard time coming up with enough words.


Well, not for this review! I can't say enough about CrossTimber, their amazing products, and their absolutely fantastic customer service! This is one review where I may have a hard time not writing too much. We were supposed to review the Personalized Framed Plaque with Name Meaning and Bible Verse but read on about how that changed just a bit as time went by.


Have you ever seen those name meaning plaques and items and always wondered where to buy them? You can usually buy them from stores or from many, many, different websites. It can be hard to choose. You never know if a company will send you a product that is worth the money spent or if something is going to shabby and you are stuck with it. Also, some of the name meanings that companies come up with can be a little questionable.


I can tell you right now that CrossTimber is a fantastic company that makes very well made and beautiful products. Other than the fact that they make top of the line products, I like them because they are Christian. Sometime when you can, after you read my review of course, click over to their website and read the story of how this company began through a homeschool project. It is fascinating!


Before you read their story, though, first read mine. My desire to be chosen for this review began when their website first appeared on the Homeschool Review Crew private forum as an upcoming review. We are encouraged to click around the websites to become familiar with companies so that we are ready to fill out the vendor interest forms when the review time approaches. As I was clicking around their website I found the "Names of God" section and an idea began to formulate about a room in our house where one of the Names of God plaques would be perfect.


Okay, I'm about to make a big announcement here. Thankfully, not many of my friends, unless they are homeschool friends, read my reviews, so they probably won't read this and wonder why they had  no idea what we were planning. Anyway, Sarah and I have been praying about being foster parents for years. The opportunity came up recently, but we were unable to take a foster child in because of the size of our small apartment. However, because of some savings and an inheritance that we are about to receive we have put in an offer for a larger home so our dream of becoming foster parents may become a reality. I thought that it would be really neat to hang one of the Names of God plaques in our foster child(ren)'s room and then, whenever it is time for them to reunite with their family, present the picture to them to take home. We want to love them with God's love and also to teach them that God loves them more than they could ever know, and there was one of the Names of God plaques that would be perfect for that.

When I contacted John Denhart, the owner of CrossTimber about receiving a Names of God artwork instead of a personalized name picture, he seemed genuinely touched by our story and what we wanted to do, and graciously allowed us to choose one of their Names of God artwork and even said that he wanted to make personalized name bookmarks for three boys that I mentioned that we had been praying for. After several emails back and forth, usually because I was dragging my feet in choosing, we finally got the order placed and I waited for the final product.


When the package came a few days later I was thrilled with the results. Below is a picture of the High Tower print that we chose. The picture doesn't do it justice. It is beautiful. The three bookmarks, that for privacy sake I am not going to take a picture of at this time, are equally beautiful. However, when I began looking inside the package, there were even more freebies that they sent! Those are pictured below as well! We are absolutely thrilled and can't wait to move into the house, choose a suitable frame (CrossTimber could have framed it for us but we won't be sure of what kind of frame before we actually see the room colors etc.), and hang the print.

CrossTimber has many, many different products to choose from. In addition to the Name of God prints and the personalized name prints, which, by the way, are each, individually researched for accuracy, there are mugs, bookmarks, name cards, music boxes and more. All can be personalized with beautiful background art. The CrossTimber website is very easy and fun to navigate. I have gotten on the site several times just to dream!


I think you can tell that we are thrilled with this company. Not only do they make quality merchandise, but they are super great to work with. This is a company that we already have plans to use again very soon.

To find out more about CrossTimber just click on any one of the highlighted links above. I would really encourage you to click on the banner below to check out the other Homeschool Review Crew members reviews and peak at the items that they received. I have heard nothing but good about this company. If you are a social media person, their social media links are listed below as well. Have fun dreaming!

Hey, and check this out! Click on this banner for a big giveaway that CrossTimber is having right now!

Social Media Links:Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/meaning.name/
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/crosstimber

Life Lessons from Thumper - Loving Your Neighbor

One of the things that my dear wife Sarah frequently prays is "Lord help me to learn the lesson in the classroom and not on the field trip." She learned this in one of the many great Beth Moore studies that she has attended. What it means is that it is a lot better to learn one of God's lessons from reading the Bible or from it being passed down by a wise Christian person than learning it from experience - especially a lesson that can be painful.

I often think about that prayer and how it applies to me personally. I think of something painful that happened in the past and wish that I had learned the lesson in the classroom and not out in life. I wish that someone had told me and warned me about things before it happened. 

Sometimes I'll read things, be talking to someone, or be thinking about my life and God will impress on me that there is a life lesson in what I am reading, hearing or thinking about. God impressed on me recently that maybe it is time for me to be that person that passes down some life experiences to those younger than me. (Ugh! Can I really be getting that old?)

God did that just the other day. There was something that happened on social media that had a life lesson that God told me to tell a specific group of people about. After praying and thinking about it God impressed on me that it should be through this blog. So, I am starting a new series. It won't be weekly but I am praying that it will be regular.

Okay, before I give you the name of this new series I need to tell you the background. For the past few years my family has been blessed to help out at a camp in Canada for one week in the summer. We have grown to love the senior staff, cabin leaders, and support staff. Way back when we first went up we were told that we had to come up with a camp name. It couldn't be our real name, it had to be something else and it usually was something crazy. Some of the camp names other staff had chosen are Mushroom, Samwidge (yes that is spelled correctly) Curly Fry, Cheeko, Squirb, Maximus . . . you get the picture. So, after not much thought, I chose Thumper. I am a very jittery person and never can sit still, so that seemed to fit. So, since this life lesson is for the staff from that camp - a staff that we love dearly - the name of this series is "Life Lessons from Thumper".

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.

Now for the actual life lesson.

A facebook friend of mine posted something the other day. This friend is a strong Christian and I'm sure didn't mean anything by this post. At any other time of life I might have mentioned the same thing. I can be very good at judging people and I'm not talking about judging in a good way. If I don't watch myself and remember to check my spirit, I can be very good at seeing a something and coming to all sorts of conclusions. So, this particular post could have easily something that I wrote. I am going to paraphrase what was said just in case he or someone else that saw the post reads this. So here's the paraphrased post:

• You won't believe what I just saw! Some lady just rode her scooter into the restaurant where I'm eating. She had a carton of cigarettes in her front basket and a case of beer in her back basket. She rolled up to the bar and ordered a margarita! 

I read some of the comments. They (again paraphrased) ranged from "I wonder if they arrest drivers of scooters for driving under the influence" to "I'll bet she's already spent time in jail" to "It's people like that who give a bad name to humanity." And of course the post and many "likes" as did some of the comments.

Like I said, my Facebook friend really isn't a bad person. He was just making a comment on humanity around him. What he didn't know is that lady is my next door neighbor. No, I'm not talking figuratively here. I'm talking literally. I know the exact lady that he is talking about because she actually is my neighbor. Day in and day out as I am sitting on the porch doing devotions. I watch her as she stumbles out of the house and gets on her scooter to run errands. I watch her as she rolls down our street and when she rolls back to her house and I pray for her each time.

Sarah and I have been witnessing to she and her mother since before we even moved into our apartment. We have visited and prayed with them over difficulties, hospital stays, nursing home rehabs and more. We have known what was going on for a long time and they have confided in us. Although we don't agree with how they are handling their life problems, we somewhat know why they do what they do.

We have learned to love our neighbors and the people that we minister to where they are. We learned a long time ago (and still are) that you can never tell on the outside what a person is really going through. 

In Mark 12:31 the Bible tells us that the second greatest commandment is to "Love your neighbor as yourself." Your neighbor isn't just the people that live beside you or across the street, it is all people. The folks you work with, the folks you go to school with, the folks you go to church with, the folks that you see and pass on the street every day - all of them are your neighbors. If we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, we need to look past their problems and frailties. We need to remember that life is hard. It's hard for we Christians as well. The only difference is that we have God to help us and the Holy Spirit to guide us. 

Instead of looking at the mistakes in people, we need to be looking at them like Christ. Christ sees them - he sees even us - as frail, weak, individuals that he wants to redeem, and make strong with His strength. Unfortunately I am guilty many times of looking at people through eyes of rejection and judgement. I probably would have looked at this lady with those eyes if I wouldn't have known her. I am just as guilty.

Lord,

Help me to see people through your eyes. Help me not to judge others that I see on the street or that I come into contact with. Help me to love people with your love and remember that everyone is your creature and everyone needs a chance. Maybe that person that I am judging is the exact person that you want me to be a witness to but because of my prejudices I am rejecting. Please help me to love and not judge. Please shine your light through me every day to everyone.

Amen

The Prayers/Book One Troubles - A Homeschool Review Crew Book Review

I am a book lover. My wife hates it. Not that she hates reading mind you, it's just that she hates that I love to collect books. You can thank my parents for that. My parents loved to read. They instilled that love of reading into my siblings and me. It was passed down from my grandfather who had a massive library. So, I have genes in me for reading and book collecting.

Because of my love for reading I am always on the lookout for good books. These days I usually only read Christian fiction and non-fiction unless it's a good historical novel or biography of course. One of the main things that I look for is if it will help me in my Christian walk or in my ministry. When I the opportunity came up to possibly review The Pray-ers/Book One Troubles from CTM Publishing Atlanta, I researched the book a little and thought it would be an interesting read. I love spending time in prayer but often feel inadequate in my prayers. This book looked like it might help.

Little did I know that this book is just what I needed! I absolutely love the way the author, Mark S Mirza, blends Biblical Truths, history, and great story lines to teach about prayer and how satan and his demons are always trying to discourage God's followers and keep others from following God. And if there is anyone that knows about prayer it is Mark S Mirza.

Mark S Mirza used to lead Charles Stanley's Men's Prayer Ministry called "Sons of Thunder" before starting his own ministry - Common Thread Ministries to help churches and individuals with their prayer lives. Before that he was in the corporate world. I don't know what happened in his life before working in the ministry, but God always uses things for His glory and he has turned the author into a masterful storyteller and teacher.

There are quite a few things that I love about this book.

I love the way the way different folks throughout history are used to teach about prayer. (Yes, I even got the historical novel with this book!). From the Epaphras in the first century to Brother Alexander Rich in the 19th century to the present day world track coach from Georgia named Dale Riley. All of these men have fantastic prayer lives that God has developed in them throughout their years but all of them have troubles (hence the name of the book) of their own that they have to deal with. It's amazing how the author is able to mix troubles that are past and present and troubles that are created by the central figures and troubles that come from outside forces. Isn't that the way we are? We have troubles all around us. Troubles that we have created in the past that keep haunting us. Troubles that we are going through now that either happened because of our inadequacies or come from the outside. However, as I learned from reading this book, it doesn't matter how the troubles came, God is bigger than the troubles.

I love the way that everything is backed up by scripture. All the way through the book, the characters are praying scripture. That is something that I absolutely agree with but fail to do so often. I can see myself in so many of the situations that are happening in the novel and so many of the scriptures that they pray are perfect for things that I am going through. I am so glad that the author referenced the scriptures at the bottom of the pages where they occur.

Although I can't say that I love this, I appreciate that the author tries to give us a glimpse of what the demon world might be like. The author states in the introduction that this book is not about demons, but just to show us that demons are very real and are trying to influence us.

The Pray-ers/Book One Troubles is an awesome book that I would encourage anyone who is striving to improve his prayer life to read. I am definitely going to continue perusing this book and using the scriptures provided to pray over. It has and still is teaching me so much about prayer. I am looking forward to the second book in this series that is due out in December of this year.

To find out more The Pray-ers/Book One Troubles just click on any one of the highlighted links above. To find what other members of the Homeschool Review Crew thought of this book just click on the banner below. Happy reading and blessed praying!

Dad Bought Me a Phone - A Mill Stream Prayer Request

For the past several years God has graciously allowed us to go to a fantastic camp in Canada that we have grown to love very much. Not only have we grown to love the directors, leadership and staff, but we have also grown to love the kids that go to the camp. Mill Stream Bible Camp holds a very special place in our hearts. 

Of course our main ministry is with the folks in Livingston, TN, and I write about them a lot. However, this post is about a couple of boys that I met this summer at Mill Stream. Due to the nature of this story, I am not going to use their full names. 

V and L are both 12 years old and best friends. V's mom was looking online for an over night camp that he could go to when she found Mill Stream Bible Camp and thought it would be a great place for V to go. Soon L's mom was called and he was registered for camp as well. V and L do a lot of things together. They go to the same school, they go to the same church, they play on the same hockey team, and now they were at camp together.

Although many people would call it a coincidence that V's mom found Mill Stream online, it wasn't a coincidence at all. God knew exactly what he was doing. They both come from broken homes and even though their parents seem to be very loving, both of the boys are searching. They are searching for something that activities and the church and school that they go to aren't giving them. They are searching for Jesus. You see, the church and school that they go to are both catholic and they weren't being taught that God loves them and sent His son Jesus Christ to die on the cross and save them from their sins.

From the first Bible class V and L listened intently to the lesson and they became frequent visitors to the Bible table during their free time. The Bible table is where kids can come and say their verses, get help with their camp Bible book, or to just talk with the Bible teacher about the Bible and life. Since I was the Bible teacher that week, I had the great pleasure of listening, helping and talking.

During one of our discussions we talked about their home life and their relationship with their parents. V was telling me what the rest of his summer looked like. After camp he was going to his dad's for a few days and then it was back to his mom's house. When I asked him who makes the decisions about when he goes back and forth he immediately said that he does. He went on to explain that his dad and mom don't speak to each other and that's why Dad had bought him a phone. 

I was taken aback! V had to make all of the arrangements himself! He, a 12 year old boy, was the one who had to call back and forth and be the intermediary between his parents because they didn't speak to one another. Although V looks happy, I know it has to take a toll on him. 

Many times that week I know that V and L heard a clear plan of salvation. They expressed to me how different it was than what they were taught in church and at school. You could tell they were doing a lot of thinking. When I was talking to L at the Bible table midway through the week he told me that he trusted the Lord during one of the Bible classes while I was giving the plan of salvation a couple of days earlier. Praise God! V, however, never expressed that he had accepted the Lord but did have a lot of questions.

Please pray for these two boys. You can just use their initials if you like. God knows their real names and all about them. Pray that God would send someone into L's life to help him grow as a new Christian. Pray for V as well. Pray that God would send someone to water the seed that was planted. Pray for his home situation also.

As I travel around to different camps to teach Bible, and continue to minister here in Tennessee, I am struck at how much the same kids are. They may live in a different culture and even in a different country. They may do things a little differently but, they are all searching. They all need Jesus and His love. 

Thank you for your prayers for these two boys, your prayers for the work at Mill Stream Bible Camp, and your prayers for our ministry, Good News Ministries, here in Tennessee. Your prayers are greatly appreciated. God bless you all!

It Ain't Over 'Till It's Over!

So, why haven't I been blogging lately? Well, first my computer crashed and hasn't been able to be repaired but I was able to buy another computer. However, I wasn't able to buy it until right before we left for our annual ministry trip to Canada where I teach Bible for one week in the summer and Sarah helps in the kitchen at beautiful Mill Stream Bible Camp and Conference Center. In fact, as I write this we aren't even home yet. We usually visit my sister in New Jersey right after our week in Canada and we that is where we are right now. We are leaving tomorrow and should be home on Wednesday but, until then I wanted to leave you with something that will whet your appetite for the posts to come that I will be writing about our trip. Just check out pictures of the friendly otter below that were taken at the Peterborough Zoo during one of our days off. The second shot perfectly exemplifies all of the things God has been doing in our lives. I can't wait to tell you about everything. Stay tuned! 

For Such A Time As This

 

And who knows

but that you have come to your royal position

for such a time as this?

Esther 4:14

 

I've been thinking about the above verse for a few days now. It began when I was doing my daily Bible reading and praying. I was reading the first chapter of Daniel and God gave me a thought that compared Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to the teen boys that God is using me to work with.

 

So many of the boys have so many things that have happened in their past. Some of them are going through things now that are unimaginable to me. God revealed to me that, yes, many of them are going through things in order for Him to teach them things and for them to get their lives in order. At the same time, however, God may have put them in certain situations for others to see Him through their lives. Just as Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego glorified God even in the terrible situation that they were in, so we need to glorify God in the bad situations that we are in.

 

The three boys that are in foster care are a good example. God gave me a great devotional to use with two of the brothers last weekend when I was able to visit them. He wanted me to tell them that yes, they were to learn something themselves while they were in the group home, but that He also wanted them to be a light for Him while they were there. Those two boys may be the only light of Jesus that some of the other boys ever see. I challenged the two brothers to pray for the other boys there and I also promised to pray for all of the boys in the home.

 

How about you? Are you going through tough situations right now. Have you ever thought that perhaps God has put you in that situation maybe not just for you to learn something and grow but so that His glory could be shown to others through the situation. Perhaps you are there For Such A Time As This!



I Went to Court the Other Day. He Sobbed!

 

 

I went to court the other day. I went to support a family that was having problems with their boys. Well, let me take that back. It's really a combination of problems. The boys, who attend my teen boy's Bible Study, do have some problems, but some of the difficulties are because of the parents as well.

Two of the brothers are already in a group home because of truancy while the other was under the care of a group whose goal was to keep him in the home.

His parents had obligations to fulfill as well. The parents are divorced and both remarried. Three out of the four have problems of one type or another that the court wanted addressed.

Unfortunately the parents weren't handling their problems and addictions as quickly as the judge would have liked so he removed the remaining boy from the home and put him into foster care.

When the young 13 year old brother heard the judge he began to sob.

My heart began to sob as well.

My heart cried for the boys. They are trying so hard to do what is right. A couple of months back I asked for permission to visit the boys. I explained what I did and my relationship to them. The state workers put me on the list to visit and, then, asked if I would be willing to attend all of the court and DCS meetings as "positive support" for the boys and the family. So, as well as doing Bible studies with the boys and the parents, I have also become part of the team of people that meet together and try to resolve things so that the boys can return home.

My heart cried for the parents. They are not perfect by any means and they know it. There are times that I would like to wring their necks! But, at the same time, they are God's children. If God is never going to give up on us or them and if I am to strive to be like God then I need to love them, forgive them, and not give up on them. They live in an area that most people have given up on. They've given up on the people and given up on the trailer park where they live. I choose not to. I choose to love them and continue to seek God's wisdom as to how to help them. God is still in the miracle business!

Change has not come without difficulty, but things are progressing. The parents are finally beginning to do what they should. The boys will hopefully be put together in one home in the near future after the two oldest are dismissed from the group home.

Please continue to pray for these boys, their family, and me as I continue to pray with and for them, lead a Bible study that some of the parents attend, and try to teach them, with God's guidance to do the right things.

Sometimes ministry is really hard. Especially when you see a 13 year old boy sob. But, I know God can work miracles.

Romans 8:28 says:

And we know that for those who love God

all things work together for good,

for those who are called

according to his purpose.

 

I know that these boys love God, so I know all things are going to work together for good. There may be some painful times ahead, but they will make it with God's help.

 

Thank you for your prayers for these boys and our ministry. Your prayers are definitely felt!

 



God Still Works in Children's Hearts!

 

 

Two brothers have been coming faithfully to my 5-day Club this week. They were on the bus the other day when the other little boy trusted Christ as his Savior. When a child shows interest in salvation I usually don't talk to them in front of the other kids but this boy was so eager that I did. All of the kids heard as I explained salvation to the boy, had him repeat it back and they even heard his sweet prayer to the Lord.

Today a new boy came so I made sure to give the plan... of salvation again. I asked if he had ever trusted the Lord. The two brothers immediately spoke up that they had. When I asked them about it they said that they remembered what I had taught and what the other little boy had done and they wanted to accept Christ as well. So, in their bedroom yesterday afternoon the older brother accepted the Lord and then the younger brother did!

Praise the Lord! Thank you all for your prayers for our ministry!

 

Pictures from this weeks 5-day Club in the public housing area.

 

 

Serious Pose

 

Funny Pose

 

Regular Pose



Summer Ministries are in Full Swing!

Sorry I've been so quiet on my blog the past month but our summer ministries are in full swing! Check out these pictures and video from our first week of Five Day Bible Clubs. Week One was in Hidden Valley Trailer Park and, as you can see in the pictures, it was with a bunch of young ones. We had fun none the less and my teen helper, Robert, was a huge help!



The video (soon to be added if it's not here already) is of some of the kids saying one of the verses to me. Even the younger ones were able to say it with the motions.

Please continue to pray for these children. I may be doing another Five Day Club in their area in a couple of weeks since there were some kids that were unable to attend the first week. I would also like to start a weekly Bible Club there in the fall.



Pray, also, for next week as we do another Five Day Bible Club in the middle of The Livingston Housing Authority.

Crazy, Unexplainable, Things Are Happening! A Good News Ministries Update!



I know that at this stage of my Christian life things that God does shouldn't astonish me, but God continues to amaze me in so many ways! I can see Him move in so many wonderful, crazy, ways that He is making my head spin! Everyday I am totally flabbergasted at the way God is working. Great breakthroughs have happened in ministries that have already begun; God is miraculously working in new ministries that are just starting; and brand new ministry opportunities are opening up!

I am going to be totally transparent for a couple of minutes. A year and a half ago we had to move from the location where our ministry with low income folks began 18 years ago. For almost 15 of those 18 years we lived in the house that abutted our ministry building. A year and a half ago we were told that the house and building had sold and we had to move. However, we in no way felt that our ministry with the families in the projects and other low income areas had ended. God still had a plan for us in those areas.

We moved to a smaller 3 bedroom apartment two blocks away from where we lived before. For over a year I struggled with how we were to proceed. I actually went into a depression during that time. Even though God had graciously given us a completely converted mini-bus to use for our ministry I still struggled. I felt that our identity had been taken away from us. We struggled financially, physically, and emotionally. All during this time God kept telling me that the answer was in deep prayer and Bible study. Finally, a few months ago, God finally got through to my thick skull and forced me to my knees and back to serious devotion and Bible reading.

That is when the changes began to happen. We finally got our bus licensed and tagged and fixed for the second time (thankfully not expensive at all). Tonight was the first time I used it for an actual Bible study. Although the bus is called "The Bible Club Place" tonight's study was with adults that live in a very low end trailer park. I know these people and have worked with the kids from this area but I really felt like God was leading me to talk about salvation. I now know why. One dear lady trusted the Lord!

One of the things that I have been praying for is boldness to do God's work. God has certainly been leading me to be bold. I have done things that I thought I would never do! Things are happening that I never dreamed would happen. God is working in unexplainable, miraculous ways. Some of the things that have been happening I have already blogged about, but some of the things I haven't. I can't say a whole lot more right now, but exciting things are happening and I will let you all know when I can.

Until then, please continue to pray for our ministry. Pray for our adult ministries in the trailer park and in the projects. Pray for my weekly teen boy's Bible study. Pray for my visitation ministries. Pray for the five day clubs that I am going to be conducting this summer. Pray for the new, exciting ministries that God may be leading us into.

Thank you all for your prayers. You are a blessing!