World Renewal International
Friday, October 31, 2008
Delays! Who Needs Them? We Do!
Delays! Delays! Delays! We all hate delays, right? The last week of July we sent the Birthday Party for Jesus gifts to Haiti so they would have them in time for Christmas. The staff at Wayne Phelps's Bulaforge Industry in Cleveland, Ohio helped us send 16 crates to Florida where they were loaded on a ship and sent on to Haiti. We were disappointed with the length of time it took We have so many more supplies that need to be shipped to a very needy group of people, especially children. Some of the shipment was much needed supplies to be used right away. Max Wright, our director for World Renewal-Haiti had visited a few months ago but back problems prevented him from taking much because he could not carry much without hurting his back. We had wanted to send much with him. Delays, I hate delays don't you?
I have been teaching at Brandywine Community Church on Abraham and Jacob in a Wednesday night Bible study. Abraham and Sarah had so many delays in their lives. As one of my favorite lyrics of Maury Macy song says about Sarah, "Old lady, going to have a baby, long past her time, old lady going to sing her lullaby." I am sure they thought that 70-80 years was a little long to wait for their first child. Talk about delay! But our Lord had a reason for the delay. He waited until it was so obvious that these two had dead bodies in the sense of reproduction abilities. Isaac would be an absolute miracle that all would have to admit. Of course, along the way the Lord used the delay to teach these two and us the ends and outs of trusting the Lord and his promises. Delay equaled grace building. Sometimes it still does.
If the crates had arrived in Haiti on time we would have lost it all when the floods from the 4 hurricanes destroyed all of our property there. Instead when the children and adults had survived by Pastor Luc relying on the guidance of the Lord, the crates were delivered when they had gone days without anything! I am sure from the pictures I am including that it at least brought some joy and supplies to adults and our orphan children after going through terrible displacement and suffering. Oh ,Yes! If Max had been able to carry more supplies several months ago we would have lost it all in the flood. After he got to Haiti his back quite hurting and he was able to visit some of our most remote villages. We humans have a lot to learn about trusting and walking with an all knowing and all loving God. Amen?
Thanks for stopping by.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Jonathan's First - On A Difficult Day
Our youngest son, Jonathan, preached his first sermon today. One of his closest friends in high school was Brandon Wickliff who is stationed in Afghanistan in our military. Brandon had to fly home this week because his 18 year old brother, Kyle, was killed in an auto accident. Kyle's mom asked Jonathan to do the funeral since he knew them and Kyle. Jon felt it to be a great honor that they asked him and his mom and I felt the same.Jonathan, was a close friend of this family. It has only been in the last few months that Jon settled the ministry issue of his being called by God to preach and pastor. He has done the radio show for me several times as has Micah when I was unavailable. Carol and I had never talked to him about going into ministry although it seemed that most people who really knew Jon, knew he would someday go in that direction. He seemed to be the only one who did not know.
Carol and I could not help but be a little overwhelmed by God's faithfulness and grace as we set with a grieving congregation of over 700+ people and listened to this young man share from his heart his first sermon. He said to the crowd, "I do not know why God allowed this to happen... but this is what I do know....Heaven is real, Heaven is there and heaven is waiting." Those exact words come from one of my dad's favorite sermons. Mark and I seldom preach a funeral without using those promises. I did not know Jon knew them. Now to set an hear Jon, the third generation, repeat them was very moving. It is what we believe to be true. Carol and I feel so blessed by the Lord. Jon asked if he could practice his sermon on us last night. It was the same room where we have often prayed with Jon and for him through some difficult days the last four or five years. "His love endures forever." God is so faithful. We are thanking Him for answered prayer in our family.
Our hearts go out to Kyle's family, his mom is Anna and dad is Jeff. Please pray for them. They are a part of my brother's congregation at Brandywine Community Church. Kyle was a fun person and full of charisma.
Thanks for stopping by.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Gary & Frank Penna in Kiowa Kansas
Frank Penna and I will be holding services at the Kiowa United Methodist Church, Kiowa, Kansas this weekend. If you are near I encourage you to join us. Frank will sing his Bible story songs and lead worship. We would love to see some of our Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas friends. The services are as follows:
Saturday October 18 @ 7pm Worship Service
Sunday October 19 @ 10:30am Worship Service
Sunday October 19 @ 5:30pm Youth Session Grades 6-12
Sunday October 19 @ 7pm Worship Service
Monday October 20 @ 7pm Worship Service
