My Prayer

That you have been given:

I. The eyes that God sees with.

II. The hands that Jesus heals with.

III. The heart that moves the love of Jesus.

IV. The obedience to act in love and truth.

Amen.

My Connection to the Show: "Vanished" Kyle Fleischmann

Episode found here


It was November 9, 2007 that Kyle Fleischmann

went missing. It would be only days later that some of his friends from Raleigh wanted a "pastor" to pray and hold a prayer vigil for their friend at the Buckhead Saloon at the same time they held one in Charlotte. They had called several churches in the area - with no response. Finally they called Cary. I responded and said that would be fine. It wasn't very long. One news crew, a handful of friends, and myself and some candles and we prayer ... and prayed ... and prayed. Finally it was time to depart. One of the leaders talked with the news crew and I was on my way to our Teen Service (Called Access). I thought that they would either find him soon or find his body within days. Now it is years later and people are still wondering what happened?

Every now and then I watch America's Most Wanted - goto the Fleischmann facebook page in hopes of closure for the family. If you would this day - pray for this family. They need it. Thanks.

21 Days Prayer Guide for Vacation Bible School 2010

21 Days Prayer Guide.

Our VBS is coming up fast. June 20 -25th. 6 - 8:30pm. Here are some things you can pray for. Thanks.


 Pray for:


Day 1 – May 31 Those doing Publicity

2 – June 1 For supplies provided

3 – June 2 Those doing decorations

4 – June 3 Registration

5 – June 4 Crafts

6 – June 5 Our greeters

7 – June 6 Providing transportation

8 – June 7 Teachers

9 – June 8 Song leaders

10 – June 9 Photographers

11 – June 10 Missions $$$

12 – June 11 Directors

13 – June 12 Game leaders

14 – June 13 Follow-up

15 – June 14 Discipleship

16 – June 15 Children/Teens

17 – June 16 Adults

18 – June 17 Organizers

19 – June 18 Snacks.

20 – June 19 Behind the scene workers

21 – June 21 –Kickoff today.

An Open Letter to some Thieves.

Jan. 16, 2010.


(Back story our church was broken into Sunday Jan. 10th early Monday morning sometime. Also found out a former attender to our church was arrested Thursday, January 7 for robbing a local bank the day before)

Dear Thieves,

I want to applaud you for breaking into our church building this past Sunday night. As you can see we don’t keep much cash around. Fact is you did more damage than the loose change you got. We, (The Church) purposely don’t know keep lots of funds in our building for a reason. Why? Because we believe that the operating expenses of the church isn’t to be sitting around but to be used for the Kingdom of God. As you can tell we’re a simple, poor congregation that wants to serve Jesus. Yet we are rich. (But that’s a sermon in and of itself if you attend I might explain more)

If you needed food, clothes or even money – odds are you could ask.(And probably would of gotten something for your troubles) Your breaking in our congregation did remind us that we are in a Spiritual battle. Thanks for that reminder. You did break an older lady’s heart though by taking some loose change from the Holy Land. It might not mean anything to you or be worth anything … but to her it was one of the last times she went over to the Holy Land with her husband. (Who happens to be one of the first preachers of the church and is now present with the Lord.) Anyways, know we are praying for you. We’re not upset. We had really hoped you took a Bible, but if you need one – let us know …we’ll be glad to give you one.

Thanks.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Bank Robber,

I don’t even know what to say. It was shocking but not surprising to see your name in the paper. Since I’ve been here at this congregation, you only showed up when you needed something. We helped you out. We had food, clothes, and even in the past helped with your bills. You move. I, even was there in the last moments of when your father-in-law was on his death bed, was at the funeral home. Prayed you come more often, be more faithful. But in over a year, you were gone. I always wondered whatever happened. Now I know. You were so desperate, so addicted, so wanting to be valued, loved and accepted.
You attended our services. Our people loved you, prayed for you, hurt for you, and still do. We tried to call, yet you disconnected your number.We tried to visit but you left no address. And now I know where to find you: IN JAIL. My prayer is that this is a wake-up call, that this might be the beginning of you saying “what was I think?” (Because apparently you were not). Know this: Our church still loves you. We’re praying for you. We hurt for you. We want to be Jesus’ hands and feet. My prayer is in the next few days as I visit you … you might know this and Repent and come to know the love of Jesus as I have.

I, too, once was a robber. Maybe didn’t rob a bank but did sin. Robbed sometimes people of their joy. I looked out only for my own interests rather than the interests of others. I’m willing to help you find the Grace that was given for you and to me.
Your Brother,

Gman

(In another note: this is only the second time I've been robbed in almost 15yrs of ministry - the last time was at Cary though there were some amusing moments when I was at Liberty and Corner House)

Haitian Earthquake Response

Haitian Earthquake Response From Christian Standard Email I got.

Sketchy reports are available from Christian church mission works in Haiti in the wake of the severe earthquake whose epicenter was southwest of Port-au-Prince yesterday at 4:53 p.m.

Larry Sims, field services manager with International Disaster Emergency Services (IDES) in Kempton, Indiana, reported on contacts already made with Lifeline Christian Mission
in Grand Goave, Living Water Christian Mission in Gonaives, and Christian Mission of South Haiti.

The Lifeline mission's Web site includes updates from a team of 58 women who were on a mission trip there when the quake happened. The report includes news of medical emergencies, a sleepless night, and unstable food and water supplies. "We don't have supplies to treat all the people here. They are coming in large numbers with broken limbs and severe wounds. The Grand Goave Hospital collapsed."

IDES had previously shipped two food containers to Lifeline (each container loaded with 260,000 meals). Although these were designated for general hunger relief, now they will provide emergency food for those suffering from the disaster.

According to Sims, reports from the Living Water mission indicate that many houses have been destroyed, but the situation is not as dire as at Lifeline. The same is true with the Christian Mission of South Haiti, although they have not been able to reach anyone from a satellite church in Port-au-Prince.

Gary Finley, IDES director of development, said, "We anticipate we'll be working with multiple partners in Haiti."

Gifts designated "Haiti" will be used 100 percent to bring relief wherever possible in this crisis.

BTW Here is IDES'site

When Prayer Requests Get into Gossip Sessions

So Recently
a prayer request (Email @ that) had made itself into the media field. (Sure the preacher is famous and such and has a big church, but does it make it right that someone possibly in their concern ... and in praying leaked this to the media?)

I'm just wondering where we as God's people draw the line?

We are to be truthful. We are to pray for one another. But the main thing Prayer is private. There are certain issues "We" just don't need to know. (Fact I'm already sick of hearing about Madonna's divorce and how the media spin it)

I think we need to be careful how we tell others about prayer requests and how we present them. (There are just some people that want to be prayed for all the time and the attention on them and not on that the Holy Spirit is groaning on our behalf)

I think it is good to ask yourself several questions when passing on a prayer requests or adding it to some prayer list.

Here are some questions I need to ask:

1. Do others need to be praying for this?
2. Will I break some confidentiality if I tell others?
3. Would it be easier to be brief and not state everything about the request?
4. How is my own prayer life, and have I, myself prayed for this situation?
5. Is this gossip, or is it sincere concern?
6. Am I being above reproach in presenting this?
7. Would it be easier to be "General" rather than specific in my request?
8. Should this be in another media form to prayer for? Email, prayer chain, etc. Or was was this just an individual requests?
9. Am I making this to be a "show" or am I praying as Jesus gave an example of in his sermon on the Mt?
10. If this "request" was someone I loved, would I want the whole world to know or keep it private?

Other questions?

How do you keep your prayer sessions with students and adults from being gossip sessions? where is the line?