Faith over fear in cancer

My brother-in-law has cancer. He's only about 30 years old. Actually, he first discovered that he had melanoma (skin cancer) in 1998. But the doctors caught it early and he was able to have surgery done to get it removed. He recently noticed a couple of lumps, went to the doctor, and found out that the cancer had metastasized.

My brother-in-law is not a Christian. Often God puts us through very difficult times to help us surrender to Him. That may be the case with my brother-in-law. Hopefully he will find Christ -- please pray for him. . .

God's role in a college choice

Many factors go into choosing which college to attend. . .location, distance from home, excellence in one's area of study, opportunities for fun. . . For Lamarr Houston, his decision about going to Texas for college was heavily based on God:

'I talked and prayed with my family,' said Houston, 'and God spoke to me and told me that I should go there.'

Houston has been very successful at Texas. He plays on the football team, and has started every game at defensive end. (Colorado Springs Gazette)

Growing weary of my warrior journey. . .

In September I wrote about a journey that I'm currently on called "The Heart of a Warrior." When I started "The Heart of the Warrior" curriculum, I knew that it wouldn't be a walk in the park. But I'm growing weary. I really don't like analyzing myself -- especially my shortcomings. I know that this type of analysis is what's needed for me to change, to be more like God, and to get rid of my old self.

I feel like Satan has really stepped up his attacks since I started "The Heart of the Warrior." It's not surprising. Instead of living my life on autopilot and floating along with the wind where Satan has influence, I'm changing to be a firm Christian. And he's putting up resistance.

But I'm not going to give up.

Our real father

As we get together with our families of origin for Christmas, many of us go to those gatherings with too high of expectations. We expect that this time our siblings will finally respect us, people will be rid of their old habits, and that our family will be as harmonious as the Cleavers.

For me, I always seem to go into holiday gatherings with the expectation that my stepdad will finally accept me and love me. I'm always let down. I'm asking too much of him.

Most of us are expecting too much from our earthly fathers and our families of origin. The only perfect father is God. He loves us completely. He is our real father -- the one we have been looking for all along.

The "Merry Christmas" movement

It's almost Christmas. . .and there seems to be a movement underway to get back to "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays".

Wal-Mart is using the word Christmas in advertising and stores again after substituting the word "holiday" for Christmas two years ago.

And a YouTube video of the Go Fish song "Christmas with a Capital C" is getting millions of views. It's great to see people back to understanding (and promoting) the reason for this season.

Using our gifts to further God's kingdom

We are called to use the unique gifts that God gave us to further His kingdom -- whether it's writing about God, playing bass on the church worship team, or constructing powerful radio transmitters. I guess that last gift was pretty specific to John Lin, a civil engineer who, along with his wife Florence, helped the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) broadcast God's Word to China.

According to France's Journal Chretien, even John Lin put up resistance to God's calling:

At the same time, they also met Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) workers on the island constructing a powerful radio transmitter to reach China.

As they got acquainted with their new friends, they learned the FEBC workers had been praying to find a civil engineer. John and Florence started praying as well, until one day God spoke to John’s heart.

'Why are you praying ?' John felt the Lord say. 'Aren’t you a civil engineer ?'

Like Jonah and countless other leaders called by God, John had many excuses to avoid the Lord’s prompting. First, he had the mistaken notion that only Caucasians could be missionaries. He also knew he would face opposition from his family, and he was deterred by the prospect of raising financial support.

As he and Florence began to pray, God answered every one of his objections. And Bob Pierce, the founder of World Vision, heard about the talented young civil engineer and his wife and arranged for their financial support.

God is persistent. He will find a way for us to continue His path and His will, and we have a responsibility to use our gifts to further His kingdom.

An Oprah-Mother Teresa-Energizer Bunny woman helps the Dallas homeless

The Dallas Morning News describes Susie Jennings, a nurse at Baylor University Medical Center, as "Oprah, Mother Teresa and the Energizer Bunny all fused into one."

And that's what she is to the Dallas-area homeless. Four years ago, Jennings started an event called Operation Care Dallas. The event, held at the Dallas Convention Center, attracts thousands of the city's poorest. At Operation Care Dallas, the homeless receive a hot meal plus much, much more -- they also get haircuts, makeovers, medical and dental checkups, legal help and job assistance.

According to The Dallas Morning News, her devotion to helping the homeless stems from God:

Last month, Ms. Jennings elevated her connection with the homeless by disguising herself and spending an entire night in a shelter at the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas.

She was driven to do so, she said, because God spoke to her. Her calling revealed hardships foreign to most: sleeping on cold concrete, scrounging for cardboard, being propositioned for sex, relying on the church for every meal.

It takes 2,000 volunteers, an estimated $100,000, and a very dedicated Susie Jennings to ensure that Operation Care Dallas takes place.

Is that a miniature Jesus speaking to me?

Apparently one of the hot gifts this Christmas season is a talking Jesus! The 12-inch Jesus Messenger of Faith talking action figure is selling like crazy at retailers across the country.

The doll, manufactured by Valencia, Calif.-based One2believe, is part of the Messengers of Faith series. Other figures in the series include talking Moses, Mary, David, Esther and Noah. The company has sold more than 20,000 dolls in the series. (Jesus is the most popular -- go Jesus!)

According to the Star Tribune, the Jesus Messenger of Faith figure tells stories about David and Goliath or feeding the 5,000 with loaves and fishes in addition to speaking Bible verses such as John 3:16 and Mark 12:30-31.

Combining faith and commerce

There's a movement underway among businesspeople to combine commerce and faith. Their companies are called Kingdom Companies, and approximately 800 of them exist in the U.S. now.


One such enterprise is The Yeager Kenya Group Inc., which works with Kenyan farmers to provide organic onions to the U.S. The Denver Post recently covered the story of Bill Yeager and his organization:

Bill Yeager was hearing a voice inside his head — and not just anybody's.

'One night I was lying in bed and God spoke to me that I would do business in Africa,' the 28-year-old Montrose computer programmer said. 'At first it seemed like an awfully silly idea.'

Yet it kept coming back.

'Charities have been doing amazing things in Africa for a very long time, but the conditions are getting worse,' Yeager said.

'I believe if we can connect normal, everyday Africans to the global economy, it will finally change their lives,' he said.

Rather than converting people by preaching, the owners of these companies spread God's word by helping the poor and oppressed. A book even has been written about this movement, Great Commission Companies: The Emerging Role of Business in Missions.

Saints and sinners

I find it interesting that so many of us are quick to admit that we're sinners, but reluctant to admit that we're saints. I just overheard a conversation in the elevator at work this week in which two women were talking about how they definitely are sinners.

Could it be that, as Christians (and on top of that, Midwesterners), we consider it inappropriate to say good things about ourselves?

Neil T. Anderson explains what it means to be a saint on page 73 of Victory Over the Darkness:

Being a saint who is alive and free in Christ does not mean spiritual maturity or sinlessness, but it does provide the basis for hope and future growth. Despite God's provision for us in Christ, we are still far less than perfect. We are saints who sin.

Satan wants us to think of ourselves as sinners. He wants us to feel bad about ourselves. We cannot listen to Satan. God has given us spiritual life! It's time to live as the saints that we are!

Could God be responsible for the crime rate decrease in Orlando?

This fall, the Orlando, Fla., police department organized 40 days of praying to end the violence in the city's Parramore district.

Did it work? Well, Orlando police said that the crime rate dropped drastically last month, and Central Florida News 13 reported that many religious leaders credit God.

Coincidence? I think not. It's great that Orlando police recognize the power of prayer.

12-year-old gives -- instead of gets -- toys at Christmas

We know that God wants us to have a giving spirit. Tyler Strasser, age 12, has been giving in a unique way since he was three.

When Tyler was two, God spoke to him. Tyler couldn't speak, but his mom thought that it was interesting that Tyler started stashing away unopened toys that he had bought with his allowance. When Tyler was three, he was able to tell his mom, "They are for the children." He then explained how God spoke to him.

He has given away gifts since then. He has a charity called Tyler's Mission, and he does special things for Easter, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day in addition to Christmas. He has given toys to "kids" from birth to age 105.

The Charlotte Observer reported on his story and obtained comments from Tyler and his mom, Trish:

Trish Strasser says she feels blessed that her son took the time to listen to God at an early age.

'What I am blessed about is that he stood still long enough to listen to God's plan for his life,' she says. She says that while Tyler is welcome to quit his mission any time he chooses, he refuses to even think about it.

'I plan to do this throughout life,' insists Tyler. In addition to providing toys, food, clothing and toiletries to those in need, Tyler's long-range goals include building a safe place for his kids to come and play, which he says he will call 'Ever Ever Land.'

To donate or volunteer, or for more information contact Tyler or his mom at

P.O. Box 958

Paw Creek, NC 28130

Phone: 704-604-8917

San Francisco Chronicle columnist mocks Richard Roberts

Mark Morford, a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, wrote a column today mocking Richard Roberts, the former president and chief executive officer of Oral Roberts University. In the column, Morford talks about God visiting him while he was enjoying some Thanksgiving leftovers.

Enjoy his column with a grain of salt. . .

Joining the Army instead of listening to God

When Shante Roseboro was 22, God told her to open a home for women in need. She ignored His words and decided to go into the U.S. Army.

She wasn't happy in the Army.

But God is persistent. Six years later, Roseboro started the New Beginnings Maternity/Transitional Home for Women outside of Morganton, N.C.

According to the Charlotte Observer, the home is a long-term facility for women and children in need of emergency or transitional housing due to substance abuse, unplanned pregnancy or other circumstances.

Roseboro has worked for the past two years as New Beginnings' executive director without a salary in order to ensure the home's success.

Actor cuts off drinking partners to return to God

A Q&A with actor Larry Koldsweat recently ran in Modern Ghana. In the interview, he talks about how he was a Christian, but ran away from God when his sister died.

Koldsweat described his behavior after that point as "really bad, terrible."

Then his mother died. He hit a low point and decided to return to God:

As we were praying, I prophesied to myself and said God was giving me another chance. After that prayer, Alex [a friend] said that God spoke through me. I then decided to return to God.

The first thing the Holy spirit did for me was to cut off all my drinking partners. A pastor-friend one day phoned me and said people should stop praying for me. Instead, I should be praying for people.

God's hand always is in our lives, even if we distance ourselves from Him.

Evel Knievel finds God

All his life, daredevil Evel Knievel told people that he didn't believe in God. Fortunately, Knievel was saved a few months before his Nov. 30 death, according to his final interview, which was published in Maxim magazine. Ontario Now ran an excerpt:

During the interview Evel opens about how he found God a few months ago, in a hotel room in Daytona Beach. 'All my life I was an atheist,' he says. 'I’d tell people I didn’t believe Jesus could walk on water. Then something happened in Daytona. God spoke to me. He said, ‘Robert, you got to stop tellin’ people you don’t believe in me. I been takin’ care of you for years, watchin’ over you. I done everything for you. And you go tell people you don’t believe in me. You gotta stop it.' Evel puts his hands over his face, then sobs, 'I told God I’d never insult him again.'

There's a daredevil in heaven now.

GOD ROX

On my way to church yesterday, I saw a car with the license plate "GOD ROX". I thought about how great it is that someone would proclaim their faith out loud to the world in this way.

I also thought about how shy I am when it comes to proclaiming my faith and talking to non-believers about God. Could my attitude stem from my dad putting Minnesota Twins player Gary Gaetti down for becoming a born-again Christian, with Gaetti's hitting production decreasing around that time? Or the fact that my mom talks negatively about our relatives who are Christians?

Nonetheless, it is a privilege that God has called us to share His word. And Romans 10:13-14 tells us that it's really difficult for people to get saved unless they have heard about Jesus Christ in the first place. That's where we come in -- it's up to us to spread the word.

Virgins until marriage

The Times of South Africa recently wrote about a virgins' ball, in which young Christian girls promise their fathers that they will stay virgins until their wedding day. One event in Tucson, Ariz., featured former Miss Arizona 2006, Hilary Griffith, who talked about remaining a virgin until marriage:

'Alas, it is not usual to focus on purity in our society. I’ve always refused to compromise and have stayed firm in my resolve to stay pure until the day I marry. My belief in God is so important to me. I am convinced that He wants me to wait. But it is very difficult and there are many obstacles on the way.'

The beauty queen had a relationship with a boy who pushed her into having sex, while she wanted to wait. After God spoke to her, she knew what to do — break up with him.

'The world says that staying a virgin till marriage isn’t a big deal, but the world is wrong. It is a big deal!'

Approximately 1,300 virgin balls are organized by Christian groups across the country annually.

At least he's listening to God. . .

Richard Roberts, the former president and chief executive officer of Oral Roberts University, spoke to students at the school's chapel service today.

According to Tulsa World, God had something to do with his resignation:

Roberts told the students that God spoke to him [last] Thursday and told him to step down. Roberts said he initially resisted the instructions, but God told him that if he would resign, the school would be blessed 'supernaturally.'

Yesterday businessman Mart Green promised the school up to $70 million.

God helps boy rescue injured farm worker

Jonathan Pounder, a 12-year-old boy from Sampson County, N.C., recently had a day that went from disappointment to heroism.

Pounder was sent home from school on Nov. 5 for acting up in class. While at home, he heard screaming from a nearby field. Pounder, along with his mother and grandmother, went to find the source of the screams.

What they found was farm worker Lalo Rodriguez dangling from a combine.

Pounder's mother told WRAL-TV her thoughts on her son's heroism: "I think God spoke to him to get him down there."

Rodriguez's right arm had to be amputated at the elbow; he's still recovering in the hospital.

Giant Israeli flag sets world record

A Filipino evangelical Christian now holds the record for the world's largest flag. According to the Associated Press, entrepreneur Grace Galindez-Gupana decided in 2005 to produce a giant Israeli flag after God spoke to her:

'God spoke to me in thunder and lightning,' Galindez-Gupana said. 'The Lord said, 'Make the flag of Israel, the standard of my people.''

'This is a tall order,' she said, breaking down in tears.

The huge blue and white flag measures 2,165 feet long, 330 feet wide, and weighs 5.7 tons.

Oral Roberts president resigns

On Oct. 6 I wrote about the lawsuit filed against Richard Roberts, president and chief executive officer of Oral Roberts University. He was accused of misspending university funds.

According to the Associated Press, Richard Roberts was accused of using university funds for a $39,000 shopping tab at one store for his wife, Lindsay, a $29,411 Bahamas senior trip on the university jet for one of his daughters, and a stable of horses for his children.

Richard Roberts now has resigned from his post, effective immediately. He had been on temporary leave.

Roberts had said that God spoke to him and told him to say that the suit was about "blackmail and extortion."

Footprints in the sand

I love Mary Stevenson's poem "Footprints in the Sand." She wrote it when she was only a teenager, after having already endured many hardships.

It's reassuring to know that God carries us through our lives. Even in the most difficult of times, He takes care of us.

A writer for The Christian Science Monitor recently reflected that the church can be evidence of God's footprints in the sand. The writer particularly noticed that after God spoke to him through sermons and songs after a difficult relocation.

Let's give thanks to God for carrying us through life. Be in tune for His presence in our churches.

A free Thanksgiving feast in New Orleans

As our nation celebrates Thanksgiving tomorrow, families across the country will be eating heartily. But for many others, tomorrow is just another day in which they scrounge for food. Russell Smith, a contractor from Detroit who now lives in New Orleans, is looking to change that for New Orleans residents. He is partnering with a restaurant called Dixie Gyro to serve a day full of free Thanksgiving feasts, according to The Times-Picayune:

'God spoke to me and said, 'Sow a seed,'' Smith said. 'He told him to feed his people, and he directed me to the restaurant. He said, 'I'm going to take you where you need to go.' I had never seen this woman [Fortuna Assouline, the cafe's owner] in this kitchen in this building before.'

When he met Assouline and told her why he had come to Dixie Gyro, 'she looked at me like I was crazy,' Smith said. 'But when I explained, she said she wanted to do the same thing.'

Dixie Gyro is located at 110 Carondelet St. They will be serving free Thanksgiving meals to anyone tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Adopting a "glue boy" from Kenya

In Kenya, a generation of children have had their parents wiped out by the AIDS epidemic. These kids live on the streets, look for food in the local dump, and sniff glue to ease the pain of their daily lives.

Phil Hamer, a filmmaker, went to Kenya to document the story of these kids. He came back with a film, "Glue Boys" -- but his family came back with something more. While in Africa, Phil's family, including his parents Kathleen and Dan, volunteered at a mission that helps street children. The Orange County Register recently carried their special story:

About 400 kids showed up. When they asked which child wanted to be first, one 5-year-old boy stepped forward. He had been abandoned and living on the streets. He had sniffed glue a few times, but had not yet become addicted.

Since they didn't have running water, Dan Hamer used bottled water and poured it on the boy's head. He soaped him down, rinsed him off and passed him to Kathleen.

Since she didn't have a towel, she had to improvise.

So she hugged the boy to dry him off.

'He was shivering,' said Kathleen, who remembers that she was crying.

She heard that his name was Eric.

That night at dinner, the boy crawled under the table and into Dan's lap. Dan Hamer fed him dinner.

'That moment I felt so clearly that God spoke to me,' Kathleen said. 'He said, ‘This is your son. Bring him home.''

The Hamers had a family meeting in Africa (Kathleen, Dan, Phil and brother Patrick — their daughter Erica was at home). They decided to adopt the 5-year-old.

The next morning, Kathleen received a call from Erica, who didn't know about the adoption decision. Before Kathleen could tell her, Erica said she'd had the strangest dream.

In the dream, the Hamers had adopted a boy named Derek.

Kathleen thought it was amazing how close Erica's dream was to reality. The only difference was that the real boy was named Eric.

The Hamers found out later that day that they had misheard the boy's name.

His name is Derek.

The Hamers found out that Derek had a little brother. They adopted him too, and the boys now are living in California, rooting for the Angels.

A duet with Jon Bon Jovi

"Mighty" Sam McClain has duetted with Jon Bon Jovi. He's shared the stage at the Apollo Theater with Gladys Knight and Jackie Wilson. But McClain's life hasn't always been so glamorous: he was homeless off and on for years, he told The Boston Globe:

At one point, living on Nashville's streets and driven to despair, he considered killing himself.

'Nobody cared about me, and I didn't see one face that I could call, not one person who wanted to hear me say, 'I'm hungry, I need some help,'' McClain recalls. 'That was one of the loneliest times I've ever felt. I was ready to walk into the river and say, 'I don't want to live like this,' and God spoke up and said, 'No, you got me' . . . It didn't make no sense to me, but God said, 'I died for you, so what you're going through ain't nothing. So get up and let's go.''

McClain's duet with Jon Bon Jovi, "Show Me the Way," appears on a new album called "Give US Your Poor." Benefits from the sale of the album go to UMass-Boston's Give US Your Poor Campaign to End Homelessness organization.

Seattle's Central District to Edmonds

Yolanda Parker had a very tough life growing up in Seattle's Central District. Her parents died when she was young, she had a baby while in high school, and her older brother was shot and killed when she was 14.

She fell into the traps of marijuana, pills and cocaine. Parker was in a deep hole until God came into the picture, according to The Seattle Times:

God spoke to her and told her to leave the Central District.

'Your blessing is to the north,' He told her.

Parker, who had lived her entire life in the Central District, thought north meant Montlake, Greenlake or Northgate.

'He spoke into my spirit and said, 'Edmonds',' she said. 'Edmonds? That's like sending me to Mongolia!'

God has blessed Parker and her son, Antoinne Wafer, in Edmonds. She works at a school and her son is a star on the Edmonds-Woodway football team.

Others are children of God, too

It's so easy to put each other down, to think negative thoughts about others. That's what Satan wants. He wants us all to be divided. Christ, on the other hand, wants us to be united.

Neil T. Anderson, on page 68 of Victory Over the Darkness, writes about believing the truth about others:

...there are no losers in the kingdom of God -- none whatsoever. How can children of God be losers when they have already gained eternal life? As important as it is for you to believe in your true identity as a child of God, it is equally important that you perceive other Christians for who they are in Christ and treat them accordingly. I believe that the greatest determinant for how we treat people is how we perceive them.

Let's start treating each other the way God sees us. God sees Christians as saints, and we all deserve to treat each other that way.

Getting right with each other by getting right with God

It's been said that to truly love another person, you need to love yourself first. I have struggled with self-esteem, therefore making it challenging for me to love another person. But I'm getting better at discovering who I am in Christ through Neil T. Anderson's book Victory Over the Darkness.

In his book, Anderson relates the story on p. 63 of a husband and wife who were on the verge of divorce -- until they realized who they were in Christ:

This couple discovered that getting right with each other began with getting right with God. Getting right with God always begins with settling once and for all the fact that God is your loving Father and you are His accepted child. That is the foundational truth from which you live.

We are children of God. We need to accept that He loves us, and we need to love and accept ourselves. Then it will be easier for us to love others.

From divorce to dolls

Linda Norris of Bossier City, La., was hit by ovarian cancer and divorce in 2005, leaving her with close to nothing. Then God spoke to her after much prayer, according to The Shreveport Times:

'My story started out from despair,' Norris said. 'I lost everything. It was me and my Chihuahuas against the world and it was going to be hard to start over again. One night in a dream, I saw this doll and I felt that God spoke to my spirit and told me to make one.'

Norris had not sewn for 25 years, but followed God's guidance. She created the Savannah Doll, named after her granddaughter. The dolls are more than 3 feet tall, feature embroidered clothing, and have been popular with sororities.

God spoke to end World War I

In 1918 the entire planet fell silent. In the 11th minute of the 11th day of the 11th month, there was a moment of silence to commemorate the end of World War I -- the war to end all wars. Kurt Vonnegut is quoted about that moment in a Macon Telegraph article:

'It was during that minute in nineteen hundred and eighteen, that millions upon millions of human beings stopped butchering one and another,' author and World War II soldier Kurt Vonnegut once wrote about that moment. 'I have talked to old men who were on battlefields during that minute. They have told me in one way or another that the sudden silence was the voice of God. So we still have among us some men who can remember when God spoke clearly to mankind.'

World War I didn't end all wars, so after World War II, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day.

Guided by the Lord in battle

Imagine fighting overseas during World War II as a young man. One probably would be scared and very dependent on God. Wendell King was, and his story appeared in the Baptist Press on how God saved him during battle:

Alone and on an errand for his commander, Wendell remembered nearing the edge of a town one evening. As he drew closer, Wendell said it seemed like God spoke to him in a small voice telling him not to go down the middle of the path. So, he carefully trudged along the side to meet his fellow soldiers. When it became light the next morning, he saw chickens walking down the path. Suddenly, the chickens blew up, victims of shoe mines, Wendell said.

Wendell also told another story about how the Lord protected him in battle: his company was under fire from Germans -- the soldiers in front and back of him were killed, but Wendell emerged unscathed.

Convicted

I recently had an out-of-body experience that convicted me of my wrongs and showed me the path that I should take. I was sitting at my kitchen table with my wife and my son, started not feeling too well, and zoned out.

I then saw an image of the three of us sitting at the kitchen table, and I could see the impact that my temper has had on my family over the years. In my wife I saw extreme sadness. In my son, I could see that he had a mix of emotions and couldn't identify his feelings except for the anger that he felt.

I realized then and there that I need to fully love and accept myself and my family. I was convicted that if I do not change my behavior, I would be throwing away the greatest gift that God ever gave to me. It all starts with self-love. I deserve love, because God is love. And my family deserves my love.

Fallen angel

I just recently watched this year's Transformers movie for the first time. I loved it! It's an exciting sci-fi adventure story with some excellent humor.

It's also a fallen angel story -- Megatron was once on the good side, but he defected to the side of the evil Decepticons. Therefore, Optimus Prime and the Autobots have to defeat them.

"Fallen angel" stories are very exciting; the whole Star Wars series was based on Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader turning to the dark side.

While it's fun to watch these movies, we are living in a real "fallen angel" universe. The devil is out there. When we're just coasting along in life, we might not notice the devil's presence. But try getting closer to God -- the devil will make his presence known. We are in the middle of a spiritual battle, but we can fight Satan with Jesus Christ on our side.

I will not let Satan come between us

My marriage has hit a rough patch, as I'm sure all marriages do. I had a vision last weekend while trimming trees that essentially was a call to arms.

Last weekend, my wife and I were trimming trees in our yard -- I was up high on a ladder while she was on the ground below. As I was trimming, all of a sudden I had a vision of Satan coming between us right there. It wasn't the traditional devil-with-horns image; it was more of a vision of darkness.

Right away, I knew what I had to do: I prayed. "In the name of Jesus, I command Satan to leave my marriage alone."

My wife said that I probably hadn't noticed Satan before so clearly because I was so used to him being around. Well, no longer -- Satan is persona non grata in my home.

How we help each other grow

I love it when a church sermon meets me exactly where I'm at. That happened yesterday with the message that I heard at SouthMetro Vineyard Church. It was called "How We Help Each Other Grow".

God wants us to take care of each other -- 1 Th. 5:11 says, "Encourage each other and build each other up."

Here are the key ways from yesterday's message that we can help each other grow:

1. By affirming each other's worth

• With acceptance
• With attention
• With affection
• With appreciation

2. By praying for each other's growth

3. By admitting our own mistakes; the benefits of honesty are:

• Emotional healing
• A fresh start
• God's power to change
• Deeper fellowship

4. By encouraging each other's commitment

• Commit to love Jesus Christ
• Commit to love other believers
• Commit to grow in God's Word
• Commit to serving in ministry
• Commit to sharing the Good News

It's so easy to fall in the trap of putting each other down. I know that's not what God wants; He wants us to lift each other up and bring people closer to Him.

God saves a woman by speaking to her husband

Donald and Priscilla Bennett have known each other most of their lives, having dated since high school and married since 1959. They recently had a scare when Priscilla almost lost her life due to massive blood clots in her legs and lungs. The Cleburne (Texas) Times-Review has a story about how God saved Priscilla's life by talking to Donald:

'The doctor said that in his 20 years of medical practice that he had never seen blood clots that severe,' he said emotionally. 'He said that most patients didn’t make it to that point.

'God spoke to me while I was making a decision regarding surgery to place metal screens in veins to keep the clots from moving up. Some doctors told us they gave her a 50-50 chance; one physician considered those odds too optimistic.

'But I told them, ‘She is going to make it. God told me.’

Thanks to Donald listening to God, Priscilla is alive today.

From Word-UP to the Word

LeRoy Page was committed to the Fort Wayne, Ind., youth and hip-hop community as an entrepreneur and writer. He created a line of clothing called Creative Circles as well as the "Word-UP" Fresh Rap Dictionary.
About 12 years ago, his commitment took a deeper meaning, he told Frost Illustrated:

'The greatest influences in my life were my father, who constantly encouraged me to use my talents for the glory of the Lord and many would be blessed—and my mother, who was everything good to everybody,' said Page.

He said his father's words continued to resonate within him until one fateful evening when he was sitting in a local, popular hot spot—ironically on Thanksgiving— listening to saxophonist Greg Bacon.

'God spoke to me and said, 'What are you doing here? What are you doing with your life?' He spoke to me and said, 'It's time to quit straddling the fence.'

Page said he turned to his friend, attorney Robert Love and said, 'Brother, I'm gone.' He asked me, 'Are you coming back later?' and I said, 'No, I'm gone for good.' From then on, all my focus was on God's glory.'

Page eventually became a minister, and -- in honor of God speaking to him on that day -- hosts an annual Dinner of Thanksgiving for needy families and the elderly in Fort Wayne.

Notice the pennies

A column recently ran in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin about the metaphor of pennies. Many of us, when we see pennies on the ground, ignore them -- after all, doesn't it cost more to make a penny than it's worth?

The author of the column related a story about how his mentor heard from God while waiting at a Taco Bell drive-through window:

'Steve,' it said. 'Open your door. I have a present for you.' Feeling a little silly, he stopped the car and opened his door. Ground into the pavement below was a scarred and tarnished penny. 'Gee . . . thanks .' was the sarcastic thought that went through his head as he dug the practically worthless coin from the soft asphalt. But then God's quiet voice spoke again.

'In the world's eyes, a lot of people in the community you're trying to reach are like this penny. They're flawed, imperfect, and forgotten. Even churches don't see much value in wasting time on them. Through some eyes, they may look shabby and worthless, but to me, they are just like you. They're precious beyond measure!'

This story reminds us how everyone has worth in God's eyes. . .think of that the next time you find a penny on the ground.

We are loved and accepted

Today's society continually is telling us that we're not good enough.

Advertisements compare us to some idealized look, or tell us that we're not complete without the latest gadget. Well, I'm tired of trying to measure up. And I believe that a majority of society feels that way -- look at the popularity of the award-winning Dove Campaign for Real Beauty.

What it all comes down to is that we cannot feel good about ourselves if we constantly are comparing ourselves to others. Our self-esteem comes from God, who loves and accepts us unconditionally -- just look at Romans 8:38-39.

God wants us to need Him

Sometimes I feel so needy in my prayers, and I feel guilty for telling God about all of my desires. But as I think about it, I am His son -- and I of course would want my own son to tell me his wants.

A friend was telling me this weekend that God designed us with faults, and that God wants us to need Him. After all, if we did not have faults, needs and things in our lives that we wanted to change, we would not be as reliant on God. And that's what He wants -- us to need Him and rely on Him.

It's time to open our ears

Many people wonder where God is and why they only hear silence when they try to search for him. The Rev. Gary Bonebrake of Main Street Baptist Church in Oneonta, N.Y., offered an excellent suggestion in The Daily Star -- read the Bible.

God is not gone; he is not unconcerned; he is not silent. He has never been silent. God is speaking in the book he inspired and gave to us. As you read the Bible, you are not reading dead words on a page. Listen. If you listen with an open heart, you hear the voice of God -- the voice of God seeking you, calling you. God is not silent; he has never been silent. We have just not been listening.

Let's take time today to focus on the words of the Bible. The Bible points us to the best way to live -- the way of Jesus.

Understanding the California wildfires and other natural disasters

The California wildfires already have caused more than $1 billion in damage and consumed 1,500 homes. An editorial ran in The Christian Science Monitor yesterday from a resident's perspective on how to deal with the wildfires and other natural disasters: prayer.

Perhaps the best answer any of us can come up with is: We can pray! I don't pretend that my prayers alone are going to stop the fires in their tracks. As the brave firefighters and rescue teams work to contain the blazes, many individuals are praying in their churches, mosques, and synagogues – or, like me, at home – affirming the presence and wisdom of one universal God. And I've learned through a long study of the Bible and of 'Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,' written by Mary Baker Eddy, the woman who founded this newspaper, that prayer is truly 'doing something.' Prayer can lead to practical solutions.

I hope that God helps the affected residents through this time and that they hear his "still small voice".

I'm glad that I'm not super rich!

It's so easy in our American society to get wrapped up in having the most expensive this and the most expensive that. Madison Avenue would have us believe that our self-worth is based upon the number and quality of toys that we have. Jonathan Clements of The Wall Street Journal wrote an excellent column on why "great wealth is overrated":

We all tend to sit up and take notice when we come across people with fancy titles, hefty incomes and immense riches. Yet these aren't signs of genius or virtue. Want proof? All it takes is two words: Paris Hilton.

As I get older, I'm getting less impressed with material goods. Clements also notes that all is not as it seems when it comes to wealth:

Displays of wealth can also be misleading. Folks can appear wealthy -- but the mansion may be fully mortgaged, the cars might be leased and the landscaper may still be awaiting payment. Even if you come across somebody who can easily afford the trappings of wealth, the trappings themselves are not a sign of wealth, but of wealth that has been spent. The money lavished on the cars, homes and jewelry is now gone.

I know that my self-worth does not come from earthly possessions, but from the treasures of God and heaven, and that God loves me just the way that I am. I just need to continually focus on that in the face of all the advertising.

Slow down and focus, part II

Tom Henderson shared an interesting tip on how to study scripture in response to yesterday's post:

I listened to a two-part series last week from the program Grace to You about how to study scripture. One recommendation that John MacArthur had was to find a short book of the Bible (he suggested 1 John) and read it in one sitting. The next day, read it again. Read it every day for a month. Feel free to make notes or marks in the margin. As your eyes see it again and again on a consistent basis, especially if you read it in the same Bible, your recall and absorption will improve.

He then suggested following it up with a longer book, broken up in to parts of a few chapters each month. Then, alternate longer books with shorter books.

I think as soon as I get my primary Bible back (I left it at my mother's church over vacation), I'm going to try this.

Thanks, Tom. It's really exciting when the words of the Bible come alive in our hearts, and tips on getting there are very appreciated!

Slow down and focus

In today's hurried world, we often become hurried Christians. To know God's word, it's important to slow down and not get constantly caught up in the world's quest for ever-increasing speed.

Keri Wyatt Kent addressed three ways to "breathe life into your conversations with God" in Today's Christian Woman:

• Deep Listening
• Breath Prayer
• Being There

Reading the Bible shouldn't be a daily task to check off of our to do list; it should have meaning and importance. And the best way to get that is to slow down and focus.

Take it to God

It's interesting that often the most painful situations occur in our close relationships. People are human, and people always let us down.

I know in my case I often expect only the ultimate in kindness in my close relationships -- which is very unrealistic. Too often I have hinged my self-esteem on what others think of me. This is totally wrong; my self-esteem comes from God. And I know that, but I keep falling into the traps of this world.

Jane Johnson Struck recently posted on Today's Christian Woman Editors' Blog about people hurting her in close relationships. The solution, instead of responding in anger, is to take it to God and respond in truth with love.

God as a public relations firm?

God has given each of us special abilities, and He wants us to use those abilities for His good. But in the battle between good and evil, the devil always will try to keep us from moving forward. Joyce Meyer recently wrote in The Christian Post about a time early on in her ministry when she was leading small groups in California. She wanted the word of her ministry to spread by hiring a public relations firm, but in the end it was not for her:

This wasn’t the right way. This was only a cheap imitation of what God wanted to do in my life and in my ministry. I wanted to take the firm’s offer but I turned them down.

I still remember lying on my bed in that California hotel room crying. I was desperate to move ahead in my ministry, but it seemed like I was bogged down, unable to move at all. God spoke to me in that weak moment and told me that if I would wait on Him, He would be my public relations firm; He would be the One who would make sure His name was known through the growth of the ministry He had called me to. God is faithful! He has done what He promised He would do.

I'm not sure if He's a member of Public Relations Society of America, but I would be happy to have God handling my public relations.

From Crip to Christ

Drew Cotton of Cincinnati used to be a Los Angeles gang member with the Crips -- until a bullet changed his direction.

Cotton was watching a boxing match on TV with people who he thought were his friends. When Cotton went closer to the TV, one of the men shot him in the back of the head with a .22.

The bullet went through his neck, grazed his spine and finally stopped below his right eye. Cotton told the Cincinnati Enquirer what happened after that:

Cotton knows how lucky he is - how close he came to being killed or disabled. While he lay in a hospital bed, 'I wept like a baby for two days, repenting and thanking the Lord for saving my life,' he said.

And God spoke to his spirit, he said. 'He said very clearly, 'Surrender your life back to me and I'll show you who your true friends are. I will make your body better than it was before.'

All that happened. Cotton found friends and recovery at the Lord's Gym in Over-the-Rhine. He's gone from gangbanger to working man, from homeless to his own apartment, from thug to anti-crime counselor, from Crip to Christ.

'I could have had hate for the guy who shot me, but God imparted his love to me. That's not of my doing.'

Cotton now approaches young thugs on the streets to tell them about the alternatives to being killed or in prison forever.

How to beat the economic slump

Americans are having a difficult time financially these days. You wouldn't know it by the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which keeps hitting new highs. But we know it by the sagging retail sales, by foreclosures on homes, by the subprime problem, by people who took out adjustable rate mortgages that they couldn't afford.

Edwin Louis Cole wrote a column in 2001 about what he thought was necessary to beating an economic slump: God. Cole encourages us to slow down, listen to God, and "only fight the battles God has given you to win."

Cole also recommends that we reach out to others who have been in difficult situations before for help. I think Cole's plan pretty much sums up God's plan for successful lives -- depend on God, and depend on each other.

Inviting Christ into our hearts

I just finished reading My Heart--Christ's Home by Robert Boyd Munger. This is a touching book in which the author, who served as professor of evangelism and church strategy at Fuller Theological Seminary, recounts his story of inviting Christ into his heart. He writes about how Christ explored the various rooms of his home, mind and heart, including:

• The Study
• The Dining Room
• The Living Room
• The Workroom
• The Rec Room
• The Bedroom
• The Hall Closet

It's a touching story that makes the reader feel vulnerable and think about the areas of our lives that we should bring out into the open with Christ. In the end of My Heart--Christ's Home, Munger writes about "transferring the title" of our life to Christ and the joy that it ultimately brings. As humans, we often feel that we can be independent. What we really need is Christ to be in charge of our lives.

God keeps His word

Grant Swank recently wrote an interesting column on the Renew America Web site about how he was searching very hard for God in the tenth grade, but couldn't seem to hear from Him:

I wondered why I had to try so hard to know God in His fullness.

Then I thought back to some of those saints' testimonies. They were glorious. They related how God was especially close — there in front of them, behind them, inside them.

Why was it so difficult for me to come upon that same real awareness?

Then it was that God spoke to me within my heart. It was without doubt that God said to me: 'I was with you the first night you sought me. Do you not remember? I was there in that family room. You knew my peace and power in a very special way.'

It was true. Immediately, I recalled how the room that first night seemed to fill with His holiness. There was a splendor in that space which had come from without. It had to have been the Lord Himself.

It then dawned upon me that I had been seeking others' experiences rather than allowing God to be personal with me.

That relates to the focal point of this blog: we can have a personal relationship with Christ. He meets us where we are, in the manner that is most appropriate and unique to us. I'm sure that many readers of this blog have had personal experiences with Christ. How does God relate to you? Share your story with others by clicking on the comments link under this post!

P.S. I have decided to start selling a lot of my stuff. There is a link on the left-hand side of the page to my current eBay auctions.

From a broken neck to recovery in California

We take for granted our ability to walk. Imagine having to learn your first steps again because of a broken neck, back or spinal cord injury. For some with spinal cord injuries, Project Walk in Carlsbad, Calif., has provided the alternative healing necessary to walk again. That was the case for John Pou, who told his story to the North County Times:

'I don't walk -- not yet,' said John Pou, 38, who broke his neck diving over a wave off the coast of North Carolina in August 2005 and relocated with his family to North County last year to receive treatment at Project Walk.

'I definitely have made progress. When I first got here, I could barely balance in a wheelchair,' Pou said, motioning toward his legs and adding, 'I'm working on the lower half now.'

Pou's wife, Marci, said that she found Project Walk while researching recovery options for those who have suffered spinal cord injuries.

'I was reading an article in a magazine on alternative methods for healing' that mentioned the project, she said. 'I felt like God spoke to me -- this was the place.'

Project Walk also has centers in Portland, Ore., and Boston. The unique method of recovery taught at Project Walk has found success because of its focus on how to overcome rather than on how to cope.

God sobers up a rocker through his son

From the Toledo Blade: Toledo-based rocker Johnny Cappelletty was in a band (Damien) that had videos on MTV and two albums that sold worldwide, but he didn't have God. Until his son said something when Cappelletty ran a red light:

Mr. Cappelletty said his wife had left him and he was driving through Toledo with J.P. [his 8-year-old son] when he ran a red light at Lewis Avenue and Alexis Road.

His son looked up and said, 'Dad, what would ever happen if you went away like Mom?'

'I knew what he was saying — what if I got locked up?' Mr. Cappelletty said. 'God spoke to me through my son. An 8-year-old kid could see the way I was living and I couldn’t see it. That was Oct. 6, 2002, and I’ve been sober ever since.'

About two years into his sobriety, Mr. Cappelletty began looking for a church.

Cappelletty found a church called CedarCreek and in Dec. 2005 formed the Christian rock band Keys2Eden.

A moratorium on personal spending

Thanks to Tom Henderson, who commented on yesterday's post, "An overattachment to the things of this world." Tom wrote:

Amen to that. I've been convicted lately of my collecting ways (video games and music, but primarily games). It's been primarily difficult to stop buying XBox games. The original XBox games are now being marked down drastically to make room for newer titles, so it's easy to walk out of a store with two or three games for $10 or less. As a result, I'm sure that I have 20 titles at home that I've either not played at all, or barely touched.

I've been contemplating imposing a 2- or 3-month moratorium on personal spending. I will draw up a covenant describing what I am allowed to spend money on (food, stuff for work, stuff for ministry, personal care items, etc.) and what will be off-limits (games, books, DVDs, etc. that are just for me).

Anybody else interested in joining me in this?

Tom, I might be interested in joining you. I'll consider it. . .a two-month covenant would take us through the end of the year, which might make a nice end to 2007.

An overattachment to the things of this world

In our culture, it's really difficult not to be a collector. We are bombarded with messages that say we're not good enough unless we have all of everything. Even the catchphrase for Pokemon is "Catch 'em all." Talk about a marketing ploy!

Well, as a child I found security in collecting things ever since my parents got divorced. As a result, I have a lot of things -- way too many things. These things have bogged me down, having to pack them up and transport them every time I moved. And I'm not a child anymore.

Now I'm realizing that God does not really want me to be so attached to the things of this world, but I'm not sure what to do with it all. (And it's kind of scary seeing my security blanket go away, but I know it's the right thing to do.)

I'm looking to God for guidance at to what to do with all of my stuff.

As it is, right now I'm purchasing Jars of Clay albums from iTunes. At least they're not taking up space in my house.

Christ-like empathy

I'm selfish with my emotions. I don't have empathy for people. It's not that I don't want to. It's just that emotions do not come to the surface when relating to other people. The only exception is when I see children in pain.

My theory is that because my parents got divorced when I was 4, my empathetic emotional growth was cut off at that point. But that's no excuse. Matthew 22:36-40 says to "Love your neighbor as yourself."

I need to stop disliking myself first; then my neighbors would benefit too. My 6-year-old son has a lot more empathy that I do. I could take a lesson from him. I'm going to smile in my interactions with people today -- remember to smile -- that, and remembering that everyone is a part of His creation, might get me to Christ-like empathy.

God's answer to depression

Depression can be crippling, making people lose their excitement for life or will to do anything. I was on Prozac for years to help with my depression, but finally my wife (and God) helped me to get off of it. I feel better -- and more myself -- without Prozac.

Some antidepressants can cause people to behave violently or have suicidal thoughts, as was the case with Zyprexa's effect on Kendall Lewis:

'My wife and I had a fight. I got into the car and I started speeding; I remember crying uncontrollably and felt my life was over; I wanted to crash the car and die. But I have always gone to church — if it wasn't for God and if I had continued with Zyprexa, I would have been dead soon after that day. I woke up one morning in prayer, asking God what was wrong with me. I felt that God spoke to me and that I didn't have clinical depression — he told me to throw the pills away and come back to church to serve him. When I opened the bible I read the scripture about oppression: I had spiritual oppression, not clinical depression.'

There can be a lot of pain in life, and evil forces want to cause problems at every turn. The one sure rock that we can rely on to take us through it all is Jesus Christ.

The voice of God in Belarus

Judy Dennis of New Bern, N.C., for the longest time felt a calling to work with special-needs people. But she ended up working in retail -- until 1988, when she became an interim special-needs teacher at a local elementary school. That led to a full-time position, she told the Sun Journal, and she taught special-needs children for seven years until retiring -- or so she thought:

'I experienced burnout like many people do in jobs,' Dennis said. 'The children needing shoes tied, little tables and my arthritis didn’t go well together.'

She went on a mission trip to Belarus this March, where she visited orphanages and schools. She worked with children from 4 to 13 years old. It reminded her of American children with special needs.

'While on the trip, God spoke to me and said I wasn’t through with special-needs kids,' she said. 'He wants me to do something more with children.'

Dennis now is looking at starting a special-needs ministry for children at her church.

It's hard for me to believe Oral Roberts and his son

Televangelists love to talk about how "God spoke to me about this" or "God told me to do that." Frankly, I find it really hard to believe them, even though I firmly believe that God guides us and speaks to us.

In 1987, Oral Roberts said that God told him to raise $8 million for his university, or else he would be "called home."

Now his son, Richard Roberts, president and chief executive officer of Oral Roberts University, has had a lawsuit filed against him and the school for alleged improprieties.

Richard Roberts said that God spoke to him and told him to say that the suit was about "blackmail and extortion." Puh-leeze.

Combining exercise with church

Imagine a workout facility with only positive attitudes, no vulgar language, and no revealing outfits. Such a place now exists in Fairfield Beach, Ohio, where non-denominational church The Gathering has built a public gym on its campus.

The church's pastor, Tom Gill, has spent more than 30 years as a physical fitness expert, training models, athletes and more. Gill told The Buckeye Lake Beacon the story behind the gym:

When Gill initially had the idea for the gym, he knew he was on the right track when another pastor donated some strength training equipment to Gill's cause. 'God spoke to me about this,' he said. The equipment just needed some elbow grease to look like new. With the addition of a few more pieces of equipment, it was only a matter of days before the gym, which officially opens Oct. 8, was fully outfitted.

Talk about making efficient use of one's time! Maybe they have theme days like "Strength Training Sunday". . .

God guides my career

Near the end of my high school years, my dad was laid off from his job in the corporate real estate department of a national bookseller. I knew that he had worked very hard at his job, but he was out due to budget cuts. That really scared me -- it showed me that other people can be in control of your career.

Well, God knows my fears about job cuts and layoffs. As a result, I put my faith in Him, and He has been faithful in guiding my career. Take a look at His faithfulness:

• After working for nine years at a music retailer, I got the feeling that it was time to move on. He provided a job for me at another firm. About nine months later (in late 2000), the music retailer that I worked for was acquired by a Fortune 500 retail company, and many layoffs ensued.
• I worked at the other firm for two years, from 2000-2002. Layoffs hit that firm because of the recession. I survived three rounds of layoffs, and then God provided me with a job at a legal services company.
• My job at the legal services company lasted three years. For most of that time, I had a boss who was a nightmare -- one of those "bully bosses". My former supervisor at the firm that I worked at from 2000-2002 had moved on to a financial services organization. He called to see if I was interested in a position at his workplace. I was -- and I have worked for that financial services organization since 2005.

I have had tremendous faith in God with my career. He has helped me to survive nasty acquistions, layoffs and a bully boss. I am so thankful for His faithfulness and will enjoy seeing the doors that He opens for me in the future!

Choosing preaching over a pop music career

Reverend Dr. Paul Lewis grew up in Jamaica, with a heart dedicated to God. By the age of six, he was spreading the gospel and had the nickname the "barefoot preacher".

Today he is the founder and president of Messengers for Christ Ministries World Healing Center. But according to the Nation News (Barbados), Lewis had to make a challenging choice about his career:

At age 16 he was offered a contract to earn $2.5 million if he would sing pop music for five years. However, he said he was stopped in his tracks after God spoke to him and told him his life was already contracted out to Him. Today, Lewis is an accomplished gospel singer with 25 albums to his name.

What a choice! Lewis' ministry now has a $2 million, 1,500-seat church open in New York.

A $1.2 million "bling-bling" funeral?

I know that having a funeral can be expensive, but apparently one funeral operator in Jamaica has taken it to the extreme. Tommy Thompson, chief executive officer of Brite Lite Funeral Services, offers funerals that celebrate a person's passing with:

• bumper stickers
• colored T-shirts
• buttons
• helium balloons
• glass coffins
• chariots
• stretch limousines

The last three items are part of his "bling-bling" funeral, which costs $1.2 million. Thompson explained his reasoning to the Jamaica Gleaner:

'I was in Miami thinking about everything in my life, when God spoke to me, saying that death was to be celebrated. As a man of Christian faith, I took the message very seriously,' he claimed.

Thompson is said to have revolutionized the funeral industry in Jamaica.

From depression to ministry

From The Enterprise Ledger in Alabama: Tom Moates spent 40 years doing coaching, teaching and school administrative work. After retiring in August 2004, he spent the next year in a deep depression. . .until God spoke to him:

In 2005, God told me to get off my back-end and that He and I together would form a ministry using me as a speaker. As I drove through Enterprise one beautiful day I received a picture in the mail of a beautiful rainbow. This rainbow reminded me of the beauty in the sunrise I saw when God spoke to me about my seriously-injured son. He gave me peace then as I looked out the emergency room window. My son had just been in a terrible accident and God spoke to me of peace.

Moates' son, Pat, had to learn how to walk and talk again, but recovered and eventually graduated from Auburn University. And Tom Moates exited depression to form the "Beyond the Cross" ministry with God.

We must never give up the fight

I firmly believe that we are in the midst of a spiritual battle, and that spiritual warfare exists. Satan is waiting in the wings, ready to jump into our lives and cause problems. I find that whenever I get closer to God, my wife or my family, Satan makes his presence known.

It happened just yesterday. In the morning and during the day, my wife and I were feeling closer to each other than we had in a long time -- we felt like the best of friends. But when I came home from work, we got in a terrible fight and said some very nasty things to each other. She blamed me, I blamed her, but I know that it was Satan jumping in and trying to break up our family.

In desperation, I said, "OK, Satan -- you win!"

I can't believe that I said that. I have been reading the book of Job lately, and I have tremendous respect for Job. After all that he went through, he never gave up on God. But for me, just one little challenge, and I gave up.

As men, we must never give up the fight in this spiritual battle. It is up to us to defend our families from the forces of darkness. We must keep our families together and use God's force in the battle. We must never let Satan win.

The question of God's voice

Here's an interesting column from Today's Christian Woman in which Lisa Harper, author of What the Bible Is All About for Women, answers the following question from a reader: "I have a friend who always tells me God 'speaks to her.' I've been a Christian a long time and never literally hear God's voice. Is something wrong with me?"

Harper essentially answers that if one seeks God, one will find Him -- although not everyone will necessarily hear an audible "booming bass voice."

Vengeance is not ours

When something violent, tragic or wrong happens to us or one of our loved ones, it is human nature to want to exact revenge. But that is not what God wants. We need to forgive, and God will be the ultimate judge in heaven. Bishop Donald Clay, the founder of Imani Christian Academy in East Hills, Pa., recently told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review how he wanted revenge on his nephew's attacker but founded the school instead:

...one night that summer (1993)...his nephew, Charles Harper, was beaten at a party. At the hospital, Clay found the teen clinging to life. They recognized him by his shoes.

'He was disfigured,' Clay said. 'It was a level of violence I wasn't familiar with.'

Clay reacted instinctually -- he went home, grabbed a baseball bat and went looking for his nephew's attackers, he said. But as he neared the house where his nephew was jumped, Clay's car phone rang. It was Harper's step-dad.

Clay recalled the conversation: 'He said, 'I know what you're doing, and I want to do it also. But God spoke to me. He told me this is our fault. We've been so busy inside our churches that we've neglected our children.''

Clay pulled over, turned off the engine and began crying. Sitting in the car, he prayed, Clay said. And he struck a deal with God that night to never again neglect the people who most need him.

Weeks later, the first Imani class -- 30 kids and three teachers -- met at Clay's house...

Imani Christian Academy graduated two seniors nine months later and still is thriving.

God finds a home for a Chinese orphan girl

Little Rachel was an orphan in the Anhui Province in China -- until she was adopted by Kim and Lyle Ormsby of central Illinois when she was 3. How did Rachel make the journey from China to the United States? God had something to do with it, as mentioned in an article from the Herald & Review newspaper in Illinois:

'We had been married for over 10 years, and we didn't really think we wanted to have children,' Ormsby said. 'Then, I saw a picture of a little Chinese girl in a magazine and I just felt like God spoke to my heart.

'I remember being very emotional and very touched by the whole thing. I just felt like this was what we were supposed to do.

'I told my husband about it a couple of days later and he said, 'Well, I figured if we would ever have children we would adopt, but China? Are you sure?'

'But we prayed about it for a couple of weeks, and it turned out to be a pretty easy decision for us. We didn't have to choose a country. We just knew that it was what we wanted.'

The Ormsbys are part of a group in central Illinois, Forever Families of Asian Children, designed to share insights and provide an opportunity for their adopted kids to interact and learn about their heritage.

Could I-35 be the "Highway of Holiness"?

Interstate 35 is a highway that I travel every day. It never really seemed that special to me, other than the fact that it goes all the way from Minnesota to Texas. Well, WorldNetDaily recently ran a column by Joseph Farah on a group called Light the Highway that has decided Interstate 35 is the "Highway of Holiness" proclaimed in Isaiah 35:8:

'God has given this scripture to us, not as a word of encouragement, but as a commission,' explains Cindy Jacobs, the founder of Light the Highway. 'God spoke to us about a highway we have that goes all the way from the bottom of America in Texas, to the top of America, in Minnesota.'

Starting Oct. 28 and ending Dec. 1, Light the Highway will hold its "35 days of I-35", culminating with "5 Nights of Miracles" in the Dallas area.