Praying With the Church

As an elder of Tulip Street Christian Church, I have the privilege of praying for God’s people who gather there, as well as for needs in our community as they arise. I want to begin posting these concerns weekly, and ask that as you read them, you would join with the great cloud of witnesses that comprise the Kingdom, and make these prayers your own. Simply mouthing the words “Lord, hear our prayers” will be our collective offering of unity under the name of Jesus. May we pray boldly . . .

Eddie Arnold – My 14 yr old grandson who is in a juvenile facility in Logansport, IN. He needs lots of prayers to get his life on the right track. Please pray for him & his family. Lord, hear our prayers.

Ronda Taflinger - Jared (co-worker hurt in an accident) had surgery & has a long recovery. He can’t start therapy until February. Lord, hear our prayers.

George Miner - A dear family friend – diagnosed with throat cancer – 20% chance of survival. He is a Christian man who works for me – Praise God! Lord, hear our prayers.

Susie Hamilton – Connie Mathews (cancer). Lord, hear our prayers.

Georgia Slaughter – Richard Reed. Lord, hear our prayers.

Angie Williams – My sister and her kids in Missouri. They are in a terrible situation. Please pray for deliverance and divine protection. Lord, hear our prayers.

Blaize Edwards – My Mom goes to get her lung x-ray on Dec. 5th. Lord, hear our prayers.

John Ferrel – My mother-in-law, Kathy Bush. Lord, hear our prayers.

Alleen Recker – Ernest Pridemore. Lord, hear our prayers.

Tears

"Whenever you find tears in your eyes, especially unexpected tears, it is well to pay the closest attention. They are not only telling you something about the secret of who you are, but more often than not God is speaking to you through them of the mystery of where you have come from and is summoning you to where, if your soul is to be saved, you should go to next."

~ Frederick Buechner

Living Water

80% of the illnesses and deaths that plague most areas of Africa are related to unclean water. 8 out of 10. Bono, of the band U2, would call this “stupid poverty.” Reading that statistic can make us go, “Hmmm” after which we simply move on to thinking about what’s on ESPN later. But sometimes, in the right place, hearing about 8 out of 10 people being ill or even dying because of unclean water can sink in and take root. I heard this statistic because of a ministry called fermiproject, and for me, and my church, it did sink in.

Fermiproject was given national attention during the 2005 Catalyst Conference. There, an African woman shared the truth of the water situation in Rwanda, and then a solution was proposed. For $3000, a fresh-water well could be drilled and put into operation, and that well could provide clean, safe water for 750 people. A challenge was issued to those attending that conference, and they responded with a collection of $138,000.

This year, I was able to attend Catalyst, and fermiproject provided an update on their ongoing efforts to end the water crisis in Africa. They provided everyone with a DVD, asked us to share it with our churches, and continue to help. During an 8 hour drive from Atlanta to Mitchell, our group decided that not only could Tulip Street help, but we must.

On November 26, God’s people at Tulip Street Church heard the cries of God’s people in Africa. Jesus talked of simply giving a cup of water in His name. And so we did. $5338.47 was raised to provide clean water to do what water has always been divinely intended to do: Give life.

I want to say “Thank you!” to my church. Thank you for responding to this chance to help. Thank you for seeking to become fully engaged in the difference that Jesus is making in the world. And I also want to say this: We’re just getting started. May the Kingdom come.

Praying With the Church

As an elder of Tulip Street Christian Church, I have the privilege of praying for God’s people who gather there, as well as for needs in our community as they arise. I want to begin posting these concerns weekly, and ask that as you read them, you would join with the great cloud of witnesses that comprise the Kingdom, and make these prayers your own. Simply mouthing the words “Lord, hear our prayers” will be our collective offering of unity under the name of Jesus. May we pray boldly . . .

Samantha Johnson – our family in general. Lord, hear our prayers.

Tonda Fletcher – my family. Lord, hear our prayers.

Ronda Taflinger – Jared, a cashier at Paoli Wal-Mart, is a high schooler hurt in an accident. His leg was crushed; he was flown by helicopter to Louisville. Lord, hear our prayers.

Nina McBride – Bailey having surgery Monday (11/20). Lord, hear our prayers.

Kelly Tyree – Roy and Kim McFarland; Dason Neff’s surgery. Lord, hear our prayers.

Luke Kimmel – wedding in one month; mission class ends in a few weeks; School semester closure; Stewardship of life (time, etc.); Life vision – missions discernment. Lord, hear our prayers.

Kim Fults - Her grandmother, Marie Chisham, is ill. Lord, hear our prayers.

Adrienne Phelps - Her grandmother, Irene Stackhouse, is ill and at Floyd Memorial Hospital. Lord, hear our prayers.

Brian Fults – Roy McFarland is the Orleans, IN Chief of Police. Lord, hear our prayers.

Saving Daylight

Just a quick rant. Really just a couple of thoughts as I sat this afternoon/evening in early darkness.

When is it that we are impressed with the idea to save something? Usually, it's when there is little of something, right? Kind of the whole precious moments deal. A kid won't really start saving money or bubble gum till it's almost gone. Why should time/daylight be any different?

Well, due to a state law that was put into effect this year, the part of Indiana that I call home now sets it clocks to reflect "Daylight Savings Time." And that, dear readers, is a huge misnomer. My wife and I had to put towels over my kids' windows last spring, since they have a bed time of 8:30 - 9:00 -ish, and it was day light until 9:30 or 10 (as the summer went on). Crazy. So now, winter is approaching, and it is getting dark by 5 or 5:30. Pitch black by 6. And that will only get worse as December 21 approaches.

So I guess my question is this -- why hasn't someone introduced a law that SWITCHES daylight savings time to keep the day longer in the winter, and not the summer? Imagine what that would do for the winter blues? I promise I wouldn't care to drive to work in the dark, if I was sure to be driving home in daylight. It just seems to me like we've got the whole deal flip-flopped.

I realize this is a pretty insignificant post in the grand scheme of things, but hey, I just had a thought or two, and thought I'd share.

On Mission

“Mission is putting love where love is not.”

~ St. John of the Cross

Praying With the Church

As an elder of Tulip Street Christian Church, I have the privilege of praying for God’s people who gather there, as well as for needs in our community as they arise. I want to begin posting these concerns weekly, and ask that as you read them, you would join with the great cloud of witnesses that comprise the Kingdom, and make these prayers your own. Simply mouthing the words “Lord, hear our prayers” will be our collective offering of unity under the name of Jesus. May we pray boldly . . .

Janie Hill - I will be having skin cancer surgery on Wednesday 11-15-06. Please pray. Lord, hear our prayers.

Theresa Banks – Keep my grandchildren in prayer. My granddaughter was married yesterday. Lord, hear our prayers.

Kathy Bolton – Don McNeely tests Tues. Lord, hear our prayers.

Pat Brajnikoff – Richard Reed. Lord, hear our prayers.

Ashlee Bush – My mom. She has some problems and addictions. Lord, hear our prayers.

Ken Delaney – For our church, that the Holy Spirit will ignite revival in our people. Please, Do It Jesus. Lord, hear our prayers.

John Ferrell – my family and friends. Lord, hear our prayers.

Susie Hamilton – unsaved family members. Lord, hear our prayers.

Cheri Joslin – Jill Morse & Alix Richey – death of Jill’s mom. Lord, hear our prayers.

Georgia Slaughter – Richard Reed. Lord, hear our prayers.

Angie Williams – We are within days of finishing a 6 yr long journey. A new wonderful journey is about to begin. Pray that our faith in God’s word will hold steady & strong. Thank you, Angie and James. Lord, hear our prayers.

Bob Zile – wife in Chicago 11/12 – 11/17. Lord, hear our prayers.

Kim Chastain – Mike Wyatt and Millie Swayer. Lord, hear our prayers.

Kim Fults - Her grandmother, Marie Chisham, is ill. Lord, hear our prayers.

Adrienne Phelps - Her grandmother, Irene Stackhouse, is ill and at Floyd Memorial Hospital. Lord, hear our prayers.

Roy McFarland - Roy is the Orleans, IN Chief of Police. Lord, hear our prayers.

Praying With the Church

As an elder of Tulip Street Christian Church, I have the privilege of praying for God’s people who gather there, as well as for needs in our community as they arise. I want to begin posting these concerns weekly, and ask that as you read them, you would join with the great cloud of witnesses that comprise the Kingdom, and make these prayers your own. Simply mouthing the words “Lord hear our prayers” will be our collective offering of unity under the name of Jesus. May we pray boldly . . .


Meredith Thacker – Her husband Jason’s ankle to heal. Lord, hear our prayers.


Theresa Banks – Pray for Sylvia Jewell. Lord, hear our prayers.


Susie Hamilton – Her friend Connie Matthews has breast and bone cancer. Lord, hear our prayers.


Jeanna Hopkins - Deaf ministry. Lord, hear our prayers.


Luke Kimmel – speaking engagement @ Salem United Methodist next Sunday (11/12). Lord, hear our prayers.

Samantha Johnson – Her mother passed away Saturday, 11/4, and the funeral is Wednesday, 11/8. Lord, hear our prayers.


Mark Hardman – Pray for Mary Lou Harris; she is undergoing chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer. Lord, hear our prayers.


Jeanna Hill - Pray for the physical and spiritual well-being of my family. Lord, hear our prayers.