You know, I have come to the decision that life is what you make of it. Period, end of story. Of course, there are a dozen corny illustrations I could use here, so, pick out your favorite one and insert it anytime you want. But, I am grateful that it is left up to us to decide what we are going to do with what we have to work with in this life. Because I am here to tell you, I am SO VERY GLAD that what I get out of life is not left to someone else! As you might expect, I am going to take this thought and run with it for a while. So, sit back and enjoy the ride, hope you gain something from it.
Case number 1. Today, was a typical “run like mad trying to get everything done” kind of day, and found me slowing down at 2:00 at McDonald’s to grab something for lunch. Sorry, this is not a lesson on eating healthy, just a fact needed to complete the story. Anyway, I am getting out of my car to walk inside and I notice a fancy dancy Cadillac pull into the parking area near me, taking up two spaces (one of my buttons that can be pushed to get me going). An older man, dressed in casual wear (shorts, polo shirt) hustles into the restaurant carrying a bag. I think to myself, “Well, there is a carry out order that wasn’t correct.” He beat me to the door and marched himself right up to the counter, ignoring the three people that were standing in line. His complaint? They filled his hot fudge sundae up too high so he couldn’t take the lid off without ice cream dripping over the sides. He blistered the poor teenage girl at the register demanding a new one. She politely (I was impressed, I am not so sure I would have handled this situation as well as she did) made him a new one and apologized for the mistake (that someone else made). Without a thank you or any other response, the man whirled and stomped out. Wow, what a scene.
I bit my lip to keep my mouth shut. I wanted to say something so badly but I chose to stay quiet. Inside, though, it burned me up to see what had just happened. You see, life is what you make of it. This guy was ticked off because there was too much ice cream to open up the lid, and demanded a new sundae with less ice cream. Me? I would have rejoiced in the fact that I got more for my money! Who wouldn’t want to get more ice cream and hot fudge on their sundae??? For goodness sakes, it is a 99 cent sundae! What’s this guy like on something really important? Life is what you make it. I am glad that guy isn’t making the decisions in my life, I think I would be miserable.
Case number 2. Yesterday (Monday) I had to go to the Moffitt Cancer, in Tampa, for my 3 month CT scan. Oh, yes, it is one of my favorites (make sure to read this statement with sarcasm). You get to drink these delicious barium milk shakes (they come in 4 flavors: Very berry; Orchard apple; Tropical Banana; and Tangy orange. Take your pick, they all taste the same…. gross) 2 hours before the scan. Of course, you have to fast the day of the scan, so I haven’t had anything to eat for 14 hours. Anyway, most of that was useless information (unless you were just dying to know the prep work leading up to a CT scan) to lead into the point of the story. During the 2 hours prior to the scan, I was sitting in the waiting room with dozens of others who were there for various tests, treatments, etc., for their cancer. We are all in this boat together, but it is very interesting to sit in the waiting room and just watch and listen. You can learn a lot about life (and death) here, in places like this.
Most of us there were by ourselves (although one of my favorite girls from youth group that goes to school now in Tampa came by in between classes and visited with me for a while which was wonderful), although there were a few in there with mates or relatives. It is like most any waiting room, several groupings of chairs (you know, the kind that are connected together) with a TV in the corner. Now, this is what I noticed, while sitting there in deep observation. Almost all, no matter what stage of illness they were in at the time, sat quietly, staring straight ahead, going to great lengths not to make eye contact with anyone. Then, there were a few that went to great lengths to create a conversation with anyone that would talk to them (very friendly, very outgoing). And then there were those watching the TV. I was in that group (I know, what a shocker).
We were watching an episode of the TV series, “Coach.” If you have ever seen Coach, you know it is a comedy, and it really is funny. (Jerry Van Dyke is absolutely one of the funniest guys I have ever watched on TV. I don’t know how they filmed this stuff with straight faces!) And I have come to realize, in the past 3 years of fighting cancer, that one of the greatest truths comes from Reader’s Digest. You know, the section called, “Humor, the best medicine.” I have found that watching comedies, and laughing IS REALLY the best medicine! Laughing just makes you feel good!
So, anyway, there were only 4 of us really watching the show, all the others were doing what I just described. And the episode was really funny and there we were, 4 of us (3 men and 1 woman) laughing. Now, at first, we just sort of chuckled (we didn’t want to draw attention to ourselves I guess). But then, one of the men started to laugh out loud. The next thing you know the 4 of us are laughing out loud to the point that we were all but making a disturbance in the waiting room (for those who know me this is really not a surprise).
But you know what? Life is what you make it. And on Monday, January 30th, I saw 3 people that made the best of the situation. All of my anxiety, stress, and worry was taken away, for a few moments, in that waiting room. For just a little while, everything was OK, not just for me, but for the others as well. Life is what you make it. I went in for the scan with a smile on my face. I joked with the nurses and had good conversations with all of them. Even the tech guy behind the lead lined wall came out to visit. Why? Maybe it was because they deal with dreadful situations hour after hour, day after day. And finally a few people came through the door with a smile on their faces. Maybe it made their jobs a little bit better that day.
My favorite line was with the nurse that had to insert the needle for the contrast dye they give you during the scan. She asked how I was doing, and I replied, “pretty good considering you just stuck a really sharp piece of metal into my arm!” She laughed out so hard I thought she was going to mess up the shot! (for the record, be careful when you make wise cracks). After the scan was over I talked for a couple more minutes with the staff (might as well get my money’s worth while I am there, right?). They asked me what I did for a living, which, in return, gave me a chance to witness my faith with them. 2 of the 3 were faithful church goers who believed in faith based medicine. Cool, huh? I left the radiology department with a smile on my face and headed to the main lobby to rest a few minutes before driving the hour drive back home.
Life is what you make it. Did the barium make me sick? Yes. Did the shot hurt? You bet. Am I still fighting cancer? Of course. But, the moral of the story is, we all get to decide what we are going to get out of life. Only we can decide whether or not we are going to wear a frown or a smile each day. Whether we are going to get all upset over something (big or small) or let it run off our backs like water on a duck. Thank goodness we don’t have to let someone else make that decision for us. Job’s wife, during his affliction, told him to curse God and die. Sorry, she is not the one I would want to make my choices!!! Psalms 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made, I WILL rejoice and be glad in it.” I like that one much better. Make each day the best that you can make it. AFTER ALL, IT IS YOUR CHOICE. And, it may make someone else’s day be better too. Two for the price of one, now that is a deal! That might even be better than too much ice cream and hot fudge on your sundae!
TR
Tuesday, January 31
Wednesday, January 25
climbing for higher ground
One must sit down, from time to time, to evaluate what life means to them. Of course, this is an ever changing answer, when you really think about it. Life is a constantly changing arena in which so many things come into play as you pass within its boundaries. And of course the value you place on life comes from the things around you that you find value in themselves. The things that you view as important yesterday most likely are different in what you value today, and will probably change yet again as you grow older.
As a youth minister, it is interesting to watch and listen to what teenagers say and classify as valuable and important. From my vantage point I try to get them to rethink, re-evaluate, what they are placing in the “valuable and important” categories of their lives. What they see as truly important, such as friendships, relationships, sports, etc., are blurred by the moment. They get so wrapped up, tied up, and tuned to the immediate, that nothing else matters at that point of time. And I am there, looking and watching, trying to guide them past the immediate to look more toward the future and what it has to offer. Because when they do that, they realize that what they deem important and valuable now is not, in the long run. But it is amazing how difficult it is to get them to see beyond the immediate, the “now.”
Of course, it humors me a little bit too, since I am looking back, with all of my wisdom, to where they are now and compare it to where I am now. I see so much drama, so much emotion, within the teens, and I know how silly it really is and how little it is all going to effect them as they get older. But they don’t see it, and can’t understand it because of where they are and their vantage point. You have to gain the higher ground in order to see it. Once you see it, and understand it, it changes the way you think and how you classify the important and valuable things of life.
Now, what is truly amusing, in a twisted sort of way, is the fact that there are others, older than I, who look at me in the same way. Through their experiences they watch and consider what I classify as important and they shake their heads and wonder why I spend so much time in this or that, knowing that I am living in the moment, allowing emotions to convince me of my decisions. They too, try to guide me to get me to see the bigger picture, to help me gain the higher ground, so that I can see more clearly. And just like the teens I work with, I bet I am just a stubborn headed. The things I am so intense on today may affect me little as I get older. But it is hard to see it at the time. Are you following all of this so far? Is this making any sense to anyone out there?
Life is short. James says it is like a vapor, that appears for a short time, and then vanishes. However, it is hard to consider life short as you go through it. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. Experiences start to build up and our opinions and attitudes on things change with the blowing of the wind. What we thought was so important yesterday is of little consequence today. The thing that we would go to battle over yesterday is not even in our top 10 most important things today. It is all very fascinating if you really sit down and think about it. But life goes on, almost like a ride at an amusement park, and you are on the ride until the end.
So, where am I going with all of this. I have decided, after much thought and consideration, that we do not take life very seriously. We really don’t. We want to, we even try too, but we really don’t take life very seriously. For what is life, really? Think about it for a moment. What is life REALLY? Now, the good Christian answer is to fear God, and keep His commandments, for that is the whole duty of man. Right? RIGHT? Say it with me, Yes, that is the meaning of life. We are suppose to live our lives in such a way that we bring honor and glory to God in everything we do, and to live in a relationship with God that assures us of eternal life when it is all said and done. There ya go, that is what life is SUPPOSE to be.
However, that is not what I see out there. Now, I am not setting myself up as judge and a know it all, but I am here to tell you that is not what I see out there. And I am talking about the religious world. I am not even trying to address the rest of the world. I am talking about the church people out there. The ones we all see at our congregations. We are not taking life seriously. Our value system is all out of whack. Our vision is blurred, our goals are out of line, and we are adrift today living lives that are totally void of what we really need. The things of the world have distracted us and has redefined our value system. The things that we think that are so important, so valuable, could be, in fact, nothing more than silly distractions that keep us from ever getting focused on the real meaning of life.
That is why we fill a church building up on a Sunday morning, only to see a small fraction to come back again on a Sunday night or Wednesday night. That is why someone is there one Sunday and then misses the next three. That is why we see more in the worship assembly than Bible class. That is why our contributions average only 3%-5% of our income. That is why we aren’t reaching the lost, the ones that we KNOW that are not in a saved relationship with Jesus.
We don’t take life seriously enough. Because if we did, we would be filling our church buildings up to overflowing every Sunday, and NOT complain about being crowded. We wouldn’t reach those growth “ceilings” in which we reach 80% of our auditorium capacity and then watch the attendance begin to falter. We wouldn’t debate expansion plans, or what kind of carpet we plan to put down, or what color the walls will be. Those things wouldn’t be important because we would be taking life seriously.
We wouldn’t worry about the kind of songbook we use, or whether or not we use a projector, or overheads. We wouldn’t be concerned if we were using power point or singing the old traditionals or the new contemporaries. Those things wouldn’t be important because we would be taking life seriously. We would be more concerned about worshipping God, lifting Him in praise, fearing Him and doing His commandments.
We wouldn’t worry about what we wear, or what we drive, or the house we live in. We wouldn’t worry so much about our furniture, our shoes, or our hair styles. We wouldn’t worry about who is in the super bowl or how many points Colby Bryant scored last night. That just wouldn’t be very important because we would know what was really valuable, what was really important. Those things wouldn’t be important because we would be taking life seriously. We would be more concerned about worshipping God, lifting Him in praise, fearing Him and doing His commandments.
And you know what? We wouldn’t be organizing short term mission trips and trying to convince people to go on the trip. It would be happening all of the time, day after day, week after week, month after month. Everyone would be involved because we would be taking life seriously. We would be more concerned about worshipping God, lifting Him in praise, fearing Him and doing His commandments. But, until we can reach that higher ground to get the better view, we are not going to see what we need to see. We are not going to understand what we need to understand. We are not going to get where we need to get to. But, maybe someday, we will. And we will take life seriously, we would be more concerned about worshipping God, lifting Him in praise, fearing Him and doing His commandments. Until that time, sit down for a moment and evaluate what life means to you. And think of how you can climb up to the higher ground. When we were children we thought as children, but when we become adults, we put away the childish things. Higher ground, that is where I want to be. How about you?
TR
As a youth minister, it is interesting to watch and listen to what teenagers say and classify as valuable and important. From my vantage point I try to get them to rethink, re-evaluate, what they are placing in the “valuable and important” categories of their lives. What they see as truly important, such as friendships, relationships, sports, etc., are blurred by the moment. They get so wrapped up, tied up, and tuned to the immediate, that nothing else matters at that point of time. And I am there, looking and watching, trying to guide them past the immediate to look more toward the future and what it has to offer. Because when they do that, they realize that what they deem important and valuable now is not, in the long run. But it is amazing how difficult it is to get them to see beyond the immediate, the “now.”
Of course, it humors me a little bit too, since I am looking back, with all of my wisdom, to where they are now and compare it to where I am now. I see so much drama, so much emotion, within the teens, and I know how silly it really is and how little it is all going to effect them as they get older. But they don’t see it, and can’t understand it because of where they are and their vantage point. You have to gain the higher ground in order to see it. Once you see it, and understand it, it changes the way you think and how you classify the important and valuable things of life.
Now, what is truly amusing, in a twisted sort of way, is the fact that there are others, older than I, who look at me in the same way. Through their experiences they watch and consider what I classify as important and they shake their heads and wonder why I spend so much time in this or that, knowing that I am living in the moment, allowing emotions to convince me of my decisions. They too, try to guide me to get me to see the bigger picture, to help me gain the higher ground, so that I can see more clearly. And just like the teens I work with, I bet I am just a stubborn headed. The things I am so intense on today may affect me little as I get older. But it is hard to see it at the time. Are you following all of this so far? Is this making any sense to anyone out there?
Life is short. James says it is like a vapor, that appears for a short time, and then vanishes. However, it is hard to consider life short as you go through it. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. Experiences start to build up and our opinions and attitudes on things change with the blowing of the wind. What we thought was so important yesterday is of little consequence today. The thing that we would go to battle over yesterday is not even in our top 10 most important things today. It is all very fascinating if you really sit down and think about it. But life goes on, almost like a ride at an amusement park, and you are on the ride until the end.
So, where am I going with all of this. I have decided, after much thought and consideration, that we do not take life very seriously. We really don’t. We want to, we even try too, but we really don’t take life very seriously. For what is life, really? Think about it for a moment. What is life REALLY? Now, the good Christian answer is to fear God, and keep His commandments, for that is the whole duty of man. Right? RIGHT? Say it with me, Yes, that is the meaning of life. We are suppose to live our lives in such a way that we bring honor and glory to God in everything we do, and to live in a relationship with God that assures us of eternal life when it is all said and done. There ya go, that is what life is SUPPOSE to be.
However, that is not what I see out there. Now, I am not setting myself up as judge and a know it all, but I am here to tell you that is not what I see out there. And I am talking about the religious world. I am not even trying to address the rest of the world. I am talking about the church people out there. The ones we all see at our congregations. We are not taking life seriously. Our value system is all out of whack. Our vision is blurred, our goals are out of line, and we are adrift today living lives that are totally void of what we really need. The things of the world have distracted us and has redefined our value system. The things that we think that are so important, so valuable, could be, in fact, nothing more than silly distractions that keep us from ever getting focused on the real meaning of life.
That is why we fill a church building up on a Sunday morning, only to see a small fraction to come back again on a Sunday night or Wednesday night. That is why someone is there one Sunday and then misses the next three. That is why we see more in the worship assembly than Bible class. That is why our contributions average only 3%-5% of our income. That is why we aren’t reaching the lost, the ones that we KNOW that are not in a saved relationship with Jesus.
We don’t take life seriously enough. Because if we did, we would be filling our church buildings up to overflowing every Sunday, and NOT complain about being crowded. We wouldn’t reach those growth “ceilings” in which we reach 80% of our auditorium capacity and then watch the attendance begin to falter. We wouldn’t debate expansion plans, or what kind of carpet we plan to put down, or what color the walls will be. Those things wouldn’t be important because we would be taking life seriously.
We wouldn’t worry about the kind of songbook we use, or whether or not we use a projector, or overheads. We wouldn’t be concerned if we were using power point or singing the old traditionals or the new contemporaries. Those things wouldn’t be important because we would be taking life seriously. We would be more concerned about worshipping God, lifting Him in praise, fearing Him and doing His commandments.
We wouldn’t worry about what we wear, or what we drive, or the house we live in. We wouldn’t worry so much about our furniture, our shoes, or our hair styles. We wouldn’t worry about who is in the super bowl or how many points Colby Bryant scored last night. That just wouldn’t be very important because we would know what was really valuable, what was really important. Those things wouldn’t be important because we would be taking life seriously. We would be more concerned about worshipping God, lifting Him in praise, fearing Him and doing His commandments.
And you know what? We wouldn’t be organizing short term mission trips and trying to convince people to go on the trip. It would be happening all of the time, day after day, week after week, month after month. Everyone would be involved because we would be taking life seriously. We would be more concerned about worshipping God, lifting Him in praise, fearing Him and doing His commandments. But, until we can reach that higher ground to get the better view, we are not going to see what we need to see. We are not going to understand what we need to understand. We are not going to get where we need to get to. But, maybe someday, we will. And we will take life seriously, we would be more concerned about worshipping God, lifting Him in praise, fearing Him and doing His commandments. Until that time, sit down for a moment and evaluate what life means to you. And think of how you can climb up to the higher ground. When we were children we thought as children, but when we become adults, we put away the childish things. Higher ground, that is where I want to be. How about you?
TR
Friday, January 20
news updates
The 2006 teams are filling up fast, faster than ever. It amazes me to see so many people wanting to go to Honduras to do short term mission work. It amazes me even more to see people who give up hard earned vacation time to go. And it amazes me the most to see how many go, year after year, to do ministry, when there are so many other things they could do with their time and money.
For those who are going, and especially those who are still thinking about going, please read the following information carefully. We have so many that go with me on my trips from so many different places that it is very difficult to communicate to all of you out there! I hope that everyone is reading the blogspot and that information like this gets to the people that need to know it! Time is marching on and deadlines and other important dates are quickly approaching.
First, the final deadline for anyone wanting to go on ANY of my summer trips (May 14-24; July 1-10; and July 14-24), is February 7th. After this date applications will not be accepted unless there are openings on one of the trips that we are trying to fill. So, any last minute thinkers out there need to be making up your minds in the next week or two.
Second, Gena Hines is once again handling our airline tickets for this year. Because of the fuel crisis (?), and more importantly, the reality of supply and demand, ticket prices have gone up and have stayed up. Gena is trying her best to get us the cheapest prices that she can get, but the best way to do it is to secure tickets now and work on the prices along the way. Anyone who has not turned in applications and deposits do not have an airline ticket reserved in your name as of right now. Flights are going to sell out so if you want to go on the trip we MUST have your application and deposit in ASAP.
Third, those going this year should have $400 in your accounts by January 31st ($100 deposit and your first payment of $300). If you have not done this, you are behind the recommended payment schedule. Regardless, it is mandatory that everyone have $700 in their accounts by March 7th. We have to pay off the airline tickets at that time. If you do not have your money in, your ticket will be released and will have to be rebooked when you do have the money (at at the market value of the ticket at the time we rebook). It only makes sense to get your money in on time to avoid higher costs.
Fourth, if you have to withdraw from the trip, the withdrawal date is March 1st. Withdrawing by this date allows you to get a complete refund of all of the money you have paid in at that point. After April 1st, you will receive your refund minus the $50 application/administration fee. Once airline tickets are paid for, anyone who withdraws at that point is obligated to pay the cancellation penalty for the ticket (usually $150). If the ticket cannot be cancelled, you will be obligated to buy the ticket and you should receive a travel voucher to use the ticket on another date.
I know this all sounds pretty stiff and cold, but we just want to make sure we have our teams set up and ready to go as soon as possible so that we can avoid the dreaded power of the airlines and all of their wily fees that they have for the unknowing traveler. I can only wish that the airlines would become more compassionate about the missionaries who are going to foreign lands to do good deeds instead of seeing us as a cash cow during the summer months of their flight calendar. Oh well, capitalism is alive and well.
I am once again taking applications for “The Crew.” The Crew is a special group of Torch members that are selected to stay and work on both the July 1-10 and the July 1-14 trips. Crew members stay the entire 24 days and work with the Torch teams and also have special assignments and responsibilities given to them. If you are interested in applying for The Crew, consider the following requirements:
* A Crew member must be a high school graduate (current seniors qualify) unless special considerations are made by myself and my team leaders.
* A Crew member must have been on at least 2 Torch trips prior to this year (unless special considerations are made).
* Crew applicants must contact me and write an essay expressing why you would like to be a member of the Crew. The essay must be one page long and can be mailed or e-mailed directly to me.
* Crew applicants must have 2 letters of recommendation from either an elder; deacon; minister; school teacher; principal; etc.
* The cost of the trip for a Crew member is $1,500. This pays for the add ional lodging at the mission house and the special project(s) that the Crew members will do. Each year the Crew participates in a special project that involves only them during the time in between the two July teams.
I will be selecting a maximum of 15 Crew members this year, announcements will be made by the end of April. If you are interested, get with me soon. There is not a special application for Crew members, everyone uses the same application form.
As always, continue to pray for the trip. Hopefully everyone has begun collecting supplies for the trip. All supplies need to be sent to Florida (Sarasota) by April so that we can get the container loaded and shipped so that it will be there waiting for us when we get down there this summer. In particular be collecting medical supplies, toys, NEW children’s shoes and socks, stuffed animals, school supplies, and children’s clothes. I will give specific information about packing up and inventorying the supplies later on in another blog.
Thanks for all the hard work that you are doing to get ready for the trip, for the first timers, I know that your excitement is overflowing, because there is a lot of stuff going on that you really don’t even understand fully yet. Just know that God is overseeing our trip and I know that He has big plans for us and that we will not be disappointed or let down. It will be a great summer and He will be glorified and He will receive all of the praise and glory of what we do. It is not about us, it is all about Him and His kingdom. He is preparing our work, even now, before we ever get there. Isn’t that awesome? Can’t wait, how about you?
TR
For those who are going, and especially those who are still thinking about going, please read the following information carefully. We have so many that go with me on my trips from so many different places that it is very difficult to communicate to all of you out there! I hope that everyone is reading the blogspot and that information like this gets to the people that need to know it! Time is marching on and deadlines and other important dates are quickly approaching.
First, the final deadline for anyone wanting to go on ANY of my summer trips (May 14-24; July 1-10; and July 14-24), is February 7th. After this date applications will not be accepted unless there are openings on one of the trips that we are trying to fill. So, any last minute thinkers out there need to be making up your minds in the next week or two.
Second, Gena Hines is once again handling our airline tickets for this year. Because of the fuel crisis (?), and more importantly, the reality of supply and demand, ticket prices have gone up and have stayed up. Gena is trying her best to get us the cheapest prices that she can get, but the best way to do it is to secure tickets now and work on the prices along the way. Anyone who has not turned in applications and deposits do not have an airline ticket reserved in your name as of right now. Flights are going to sell out so if you want to go on the trip we MUST have your application and deposit in ASAP.
Third, those going this year should have $400 in your accounts by January 31st ($100 deposit and your first payment of $300). If you have not done this, you are behind the recommended payment schedule. Regardless, it is mandatory that everyone have $700 in their accounts by March 7th. We have to pay off the airline tickets at that time. If you do not have your money in, your ticket will be released and will have to be rebooked when you do have the money (at at the market value of the ticket at the time we rebook). It only makes sense to get your money in on time to avoid higher costs.
Fourth, if you have to withdraw from the trip, the withdrawal date is March 1st. Withdrawing by this date allows you to get a complete refund of all of the money you have paid in at that point. After April 1st, you will receive your refund minus the $50 application/administration fee. Once airline tickets are paid for, anyone who withdraws at that point is obligated to pay the cancellation penalty for the ticket (usually $150). If the ticket cannot be cancelled, you will be obligated to buy the ticket and you should receive a travel voucher to use the ticket on another date.
I know this all sounds pretty stiff and cold, but we just want to make sure we have our teams set up and ready to go as soon as possible so that we can avoid the dreaded power of the airlines and all of their wily fees that they have for the unknowing traveler. I can only wish that the airlines would become more compassionate about the missionaries who are going to foreign lands to do good deeds instead of seeing us as a cash cow during the summer months of their flight calendar. Oh well, capitalism is alive and well.
I am once again taking applications for “The Crew.” The Crew is a special group of Torch members that are selected to stay and work on both the July 1-10 and the July 1-14 trips. Crew members stay the entire 24 days and work with the Torch teams and also have special assignments and responsibilities given to them. If you are interested in applying for The Crew, consider the following requirements:
* A Crew member must be a high school graduate (current seniors qualify) unless special considerations are made by myself and my team leaders.
* A Crew member must have been on at least 2 Torch trips prior to this year (unless special considerations are made).
* Crew applicants must contact me and write an essay expressing why you would like to be a member of the Crew. The essay must be one page long and can be mailed or e-mailed directly to me.
* Crew applicants must have 2 letters of recommendation from either an elder; deacon; minister; school teacher; principal; etc.
* The cost of the trip for a Crew member is $1,500. This pays for the add ional lodging at the mission house and the special project(s) that the Crew members will do. Each year the Crew participates in a special project that involves only them during the time in between the two July teams.
I will be selecting a maximum of 15 Crew members this year, announcements will be made by the end of April. If you are interested, get with me soon. There is not a special application for Crew members, everyone uses the same application form.
As always, continue to pray for the trip. Hopefully everyone has begun collecting supplies for the trip. All supplies need to be sent to Florida (Sarasota) by April so that we can get the container loaded and shipped so that it will be there waiting for us when we get down there this summer. In particular be collecting medical supplies, toys, NEW children’s shoes and socks, stuffed animals, school supplies, and children’s clothes. I will give specific information about packing up and inventorying the supplies later on in another blog.
Thanks for all the hard work that you are doing to get ready for the trip, for the first timers, I know that your excitement is overflowing, because there is a lot of stuff going on that you really don’t even understand fully yet. Just know that God is overseeing our trip and I know that He has big plans for us and that we will not be disappointed or let down. It will be a great summer and He will be glorified and He will receive all of the praise and glory of what we do. It is not about us, it is all about Him and His kingdom. He is preparing our work, even now, before we ever get there. Isn’t that awesome? Can’t wait, how about you?
TR
Wednesday, January 18
falling to get up again
Falling off of a cliff. There are not many people in this world that can say that, right? But I did. Just a few weeks after graduating from high school. Amazing how quickly things can change. Now, you know how they say your life can flash before your eyes right before you are about to die? Yep, its true. But the fall happened so fast that I didn’t see much of it. When if slid off of the path the last thing I did was to try to grab a thorn bush on the way down. That didn’t help the situation at all. To say the least. I didn’t even have time to scream. The fall happened so fast and when I hit I just crumpled to the ground. 3 hours later I was in the hospital for X-Rays and a cast on my leg.
I was in the cast all summer. Actually, I was in 5 casts. I kept breaking them. Everything from playing back yard football (yes, in a cast… I was all time quarterback!) to being in a car wreck (I wasn’t driving), I went through 5 casts. The 5th one was my last one because the doctor said he wasn’t going to put another one on me! So I behaved and allowed my leg to heal. Getting out of the cast was actually the hardest part since I had been in a walking cast. Rehab was painful as I got all the ligaments and muscles working again. Bone spurs in my foot and ankle are constant reminders of that fateful day so long ago.
But, now to the applications. My whole life revolved around sports. I played them all, basketball, football, baseball. I even played tennis, golf, and volleyball growing up. Basketball was my love but baseball was my best sport and my ticket to college. I made good grades and did well on the ACT to get some academic scholarship, but I was intent on playing college baseball and to see what it would bring. Breaking my leg robbed my of my speed and agility, and now I had bigger decisions to make. This is tough on a jock who’s ego was pretty big.
College was always a given, even though my parents never attended. Everyone I knew at Madison Academy was going to college and I followed the crowd as well as anyone. All of a sudden going to a Christian college started making a lot of sense. Things were beginning to take shape and new ideas were forming. But, Christian colleges were expensive and my parents were not prepared to send me off and pay those kinds of bills. I was going to have to prove myself at a local school if I wanted any hopes of going off to a Christian school.
So I went to the University of Alabama, Huntsville campus, and took some classes there and also at a junior college near town. I guess the one thing I learned from both schools was that I was not meant to be at a state school. I hated just about every minute of it. Except for a few close friends I was as miserable as could be. Spending 4 years at a Christian high school had opened my eyes to what the world was offering and I didn’t fall for it one bit. I laid low, went to class (when I had to) and put in my time with undergrad requirements.
My sophomore year I finally got to transfer to Freed-Hardeman, the place I had dreamed of attending. I had a lot of friends there and had my sights on being a Bible major. I had gone from ball jock to Bible banger in just a year. How about that? What a change around. To get there I had to sell my car and work all summer just to get enough money to pay for the first semester. My parents helped out the same as when I was going to state school and I picked up the rest of the bill. School loans, work study, you name it. HOWEVER, the Bible major thing was short lived. Bible turned out to be a LOT harder than I thought it was going to be (man, they take that stuff really seriously at schools like this). After dropping Greek after one week, I had decided to go different ways.
I played around with several majors, weeding them out one by one with my grades! Finally I settled into education my junior year. Becoming a teacher was not even on the radar screen when I was graduating from high school, I don’t think that would have even ranked in the top 20 things I wanted to do with my life. But, there I was. A 5 year senior, about to graduate with a degree in education. What a crazy ride it was, to say the very least.
I met some of the greatest people in the world while I was at Freed-Hardeman. MANY of my closest friends all attended there and we stay in close touch, even today. And it was a combination of all of the experiences that I had there that molded me to who I am today. It was an interesting journey, and there were so many that played a part. But, through God’s plans, He placed the right people in my life at just the right time. I went though many heart breaks and trials along the way, but it made me tougher, and stronger. I also had other experiences that made me softer and a little bit more caring. But it all worked together to be… me.
Because going to a Christian high school meant so much to me I knew I had to go and work in Christian education, to try to pay back, in some way, all that it had done for me. 5 years in Miami at Tropical Christian School, 3 years in Huntsville at Madison Academy (sitting in faculty meetings with teachers that TAUGHT me! Was that weird or what! You really have no idea…) and 10 years at Ezell-Harding Christian School, Nashville. And I coached. I had a passion for coaching. I coached everything I could during those years. 3 years of soccer, 5 years of baseball, 7 years of basketball, 10 years of football, 3 years of track. Loved it all, loved working with teens. And it was during this time I began working part time in youth ministry.
Now, in the early days of teaching, bills stretched way farther that pay checks. Coaching was a way to make extra money, and summer jobs was a given. Working camps and life guarding brought in just about as much as I made while teaching, not to mention selling mangos on the street corners in Miami with Tim Hines. But later, when I had climbed the ladder a little, working youth ministry and going on mission trips became a huge part of my life. I started mission trips in high school with the youth group from the Lincoln and Maysville churches of Christ. Loved it. Went to Freed-Hardeman and went on summer campaigns. Loved it. Then, when I was teaching and doing youth work, continued going on mission trips. Loved it.
I did stateside and foreign missions. Anything from 1 week to 8 weeks. It was awesome. I learned so much about what church work was all about. Everything from Indian reservations to former eastern block communist countries, I stretched my vision of what the church was all about. But it wasn’t until we had moved to Nashville that my life truly changed in a very dramatic way. This is where the “putting your passion into action” began to develop.
My brother-in-law, Scott McDowell, was, at the time, the pulpit preacher at the Vultee Church of Christ. We moved to Nashville on Friday, attended church with he and his wife on Sunday, where he announced that we were placing membership! I guess that decision was a shocker! But it turned out great, for many reasons, but in particular, I met Steve Davidson, who was the full time youth minister and Vice-President at Lipscomb University. He quickly got me involved with the youth program there and invited me to go to Honduras for a summer mission trip. Even with all of my passion for mission work I hesitated and rejected the offer, time after time. Thank goodness Steve would not take no for an answer.
I agreed, 15 years, ago, and the rest is history. I will be going to Honduras for my 16th summer this year by the grace of God. What started as a mission trip filled with fear and dread has turned out to be my greatest passion of all. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love to teach, I love to coach, and I certainly love doing youth work. Can’t imagine not working with teens! But as far as passion, as far as putting your life on the line for what you do and what you believe in, Honduras has become my passion. And anyone who know me knows that about me. When I find something truly worth while I am going to share it with everyone I know. How can you keep something that great a secret, right?
Moral of this incredibly long story? Allow God to lead you through your life. Allow him to guide you though the ups and downs (even 40 foot downs), your highs and lows. Through good and bad, thick and thin. Keep him first and foremost in your life. Keep your focus on him no matter what. And listen to what He has to say and be willing to go through the doors He opens. I’m here to tell you, it can be quite the adventure. But, no matter what, seek out your passion in life. Find it and put your heart into it. And dedicate it to God and His glory, and watch what happens. Just think of the story (s) you will be able to tell some day. “PUT YOUR PASSION INTO ACTION!!!”
TR
I was in the cast all summer. Actually, I was in 5 casts. I kept breaking them. Everything from playing back yard football (yes, in a cast… I was all time quarterback!) to being in a car wreck (I wasn’t driving), I went through 5 casts. The 5th one was my last one because the doctor said he wasn’t going to put another one on me! So I behaved and allowed my leg to heal. Getting out of the cast was actually the hardest part since I had been in a walking cast. Rehab was painful as I got all the ligaments and muscles working again. Bone spurs in my foot and ankle are constant reminders of that fateful day so long ago.
But, now to the applications. My whole life revolved around sports. I played them all, basketball, football, baseball. I even played tennis, golf, and volleyball growing up. Basketball was my love but baseball was my best sport and my ticket to college. I made good grades and did well on the ACT to get some academic scholarship, but I was intent on playing college baseball and to see what it would bring. Breaking my leg robbed my of my speed and agility, and now I had bigger decisions to make. This is tough on a jock who’s ego was pretty big.
College was always a given, even though my parents never attended. Everyone I knew at Madison Academy was going to college and I followed the crowd as well as anyone. All of a sudden going to a Christian college started making a lot of sense. Things were beginning to take shape and new ideas were forming. But, Christian colleges were expensive and my parents were not prepared to send me off and pay those kinds of bills. I was going to have to prove myself at a local school if I wanted any hopes of going off to a Christian school.
So I went to the University of Alabama, Huntsville campus, and took some classes there and also at a junior college near town. I guess the one thing I learned from both schools was that I was not meant to be at a state school. I hated just about every minute of it. Except for a few close friends I was as miserable as could be. Spending 4 years at a Christian high school had opened my eyes to what the world was offering and I didn’t fall for it one bit. I laid low, went to class (when I had to) and put in my time with undergrad requirements.
My sophomore year I finally got to transfer to Freed-Hardeman, the place I had dreamed of attending. I had a lot of friends there and had my sights on being a Bible major. I had gone from ball jock to Bible banger in just a year. How about that? What a change around. To get there I had to sell my car and work all summer just to get enough money to pay for the first semester. My parents helped out the same as when I was going to state school and I picked up the rest of the bill. School loans, work study, you name it. HOWEVER, the Bible major thing was short lived. Bible turned out to be a LOT harder than I thought it was going to be (man, they take that stuff really seriously at schools like this). After dropping Greek after one week, I had decided to go different ways.
I played around with several majors, weeding them out one by one with my grades! Finally I settled into education my junior year. Becoming a teacher was not even on the radar screen when I was graduating from high school, I don’t think that would have even ranked in the top 20 things I wanted to do with my life. But, there I was. A 5 year senior, about to graduate with a degree in education. What a crazy ride it was, to say the very least.
I met some of the greatest people in the world while I was at Freed-Hardeman. MANY of my closest friends all attended there and we stay in close touch, even today. And it was a combination of all of the experiences that I had there that molded me to who I am today. It was an interesting journey, and there were so many that played a part. But, through God’s plans, He placed the right people in my life at just the right time. I went though many heart breaks and trials along the way, but it made me tougher, and stronger. I also had other experiences that made me softer and a little bit more caring. But it all worked together to be… me.
Because going to a Christian high school meant so much to me I knew I had to go and work in Christian education, to try to pay back, in some way, all that it had done for me. 5 years in Miami at Tropical Christian School, 3 years in Huntsville at Madison Academy (sitting in faculty meetings with teachers that TAUGHT me! Was that weird or what! You really have no idea…) and 10 years at Ezell-Harding Christian School, Nashville. And I coached. I had a passion for coaching. I coached everything I could during those years. 3 years of soccer, 5 years of baseball, 7 years of basketball, 10 years of football, 3 years of track. Loved it all, loved working with teens. And it was during this time I began working part time in youth ministry.
Now, in the early days of teaching, bills stretched way farther that pay checks. Coaching was a way to make extra money, and summer jobs was a given. Working camps and life guarding brought in just about as much as I made while teaching, not to mention selling mangos on the street corners in Miami with Tim Hines. But later, when I had climbed the ladder a little, working youth ministry and going on mission trips became a huge part of my life. I started mission trips in high school with the youth group from the Lincoln and Maysville churches of Christ. Loved it. Went to Freed-Hardeman and went on summer campaigns. Loved it. Then, when I was teaching and doing youth work, continued going on mission trips. Loved it.
I did stateside and foreign missions. Anything from 1 week to 8 weeks. It was awesome. I learned so much about what church work was all about. Everything from Indian reservations to former eastern block communist countries, I stretched my vision of what the church was all about. But it wasn’t until we had moved to Nashville that my life truly changed in a very dramatic way. This is where the “putting your passion into action” began to develop.
My brother-in-law, Scott McDowell, was, at the time, the pulpit preacher at the Vultee Church of Christ. We moved to Nashville on Friday, attended church with he and his wife on Sunday, where he announced that we were placing membership! I guess that decision was a shocker! But it turned out great, for many reasons, but in particular, I met Steve Davidson, who was the full time youth minister and Vice-President at Lipscomb University. He quickly got me involved with the youth program there and invited me to go to Honduras for a summer mission trip. Even with all of my passion for mission work I hesitated and rejected the offer, time after time. Thank goodness Steve would not take no for an answer.
I agreed, 15 years, ago, and the rest is history. I will be going to Honduras for my 16th summer this year by the grace of God. What started as a mission trip filled with fear and dread has turned out to be my greatest passion of all. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love to teach, I love to coach, and I certainly love doing youth work. Can’t imagine not working with teens! But as far as passion, as far as putting your life on the line for what you do and what you believe in, Honduras has become my passion. And anyone who know me knows that about me. When I find something truly worth while I am going to share it with everyone I know. How can you keep something that great a secret, right?
Moral of this incredibly long story? Allow God to lead you through your life. Allow him to guide you though the ups and downs (even 40 foot downs), your highs and lows. Through good and bad, thick and thin. Keep him first and foremost in your life. Keep your focus on him no matter what. And listen to what He has to say and be willing to go through the doors He opens. I’m here to tell you, it can be quite the adventure. But, no matter what, seek out your passion in life. Find it and put your heart into it. And dedicate it to God and His glory, and watch what happens. Just think of the story (s) you will be able to tell some day. “PUT YOUR PASSION INTO ACTION!!!”
TR
Monday, January 9
To be continued!
Most people who know me know that I am a story teller. I love to use stories as a way to reinforce a point in a lesson or to emphasize an application to a particular scripture. Hey, if it worked for Jesus! Anyway, I have lived a normal life as far as I can see. Pretty typical kid growing up with a lot of stuff that happened along the way. But, for some strange reason, I have this unique ability to remember things that happened to me with such clarity that it seems like it happened yesterday. Now, those who know me will also find that humorous since I can’t seem to remember phone numbers, names, or even where I placed my keys!
Those who have heard one of my stories, especially for the very first time, usually make a statement something like, “No way!” Or, “ There is NO way!” Or, “He surly made that up!” Now, the reason for it is because what I consider normal events to me seem to be completely not normal for a lot of others, like most of the rest of the world. I don’t understand it, but I guess I have had a lot of weird things happen to me. Things that do seem to be unbelievable. My roommate from college has for YEARS begged me to write a book about my life because he thinks it would be a runaway best seller. I think he is on serious drugs and is need of a more active social life.
Never the less, I thought I would share a story with you that happened to me literally just a few days after I had graduated from high school. This one event truly changed my life in a very profound way. I have no idea where I would be today if this particular event had not happened, but I am pretty sure I would not be where I am today. I hope I have your attention and your curiosity at this point.
Sunday afternoon, like EVERY Sunday afternoon, in Huntsville, Alabama, in our youth group at church, was football time. We played every Sunday afternoon, rain or shine. Snow, ice, you name it, it did not stop us from playing. Not only was it fun, we were good, too. Tackle football, no pads, no helmets, you know, none of the sissy stuff. This was man ball. Smash mouth, bone busting, over the top football. Oh, it was good. It was so much fun. And this Sunday we were going to go up and play on top of Monte Sano Mountain at the park that was up there. And there was going to be a good turn out too, this was going to be a good day.
Church services let out, we jumped in our cars, raced home, grabbed something to eat and changed clothes. Then we drove up the winding road that led up to the top of the mountain. We got up there and were puzzled to see a lot of cars in the parking lot. A LOT of cars. Too many cars. I remember thinking, “Oh no, this can’t be good.” And sure enough, it wasn’t. There was a big firm having its annual picnic up there and the fields were full of “amateurs” playing 2 hand touch football and softball. Oh, it killed us to watch it. And we waited, hoping that by some stroke of luck that they would pack up and go home. But they didn’t.
Most of our group shrugged their shoulders and decided to go home. Find something else to do. The game of the year evaporated right before my eyes. I couldn’t believe it. But a few of us stayed, depressed. There is nothing like having company when you are depressed, right? So we tossed the football around just off the edge of the parking lot, near the hiking paths. Then we began seeing who could throw the longest pass, then the longest kicks (everything was a contest to us back then). Then, IT happened.
I actually can’t remember for sure who it was, I think it was Barry, who punted the ball that soared into the air like a Patriot missile. It went right over our heads, over some short trees, and down into the hiking path area that led down the backside of Monte Sano Mountain. Now, I grew up in Huntsville, and I had hiked these paths dozens of times, all the way down to the bottom of the mountain. I knew that there was a stream at the bottom, cool, refreshing, and deep enough in some spots to swim. So, when we went looking for the football I was thinking to myself that maybe we could at least hike the trial today.
As we walked into the tree line to look for the ball, we noticed that it was really muddy on the trail. I guess it had rained there Saturday night or something, but never the less, wet. We found the ball right away but someone in the group kicked it while it was still laying on the ground and sent it off the edge of the hiking path, farther down the pathway. I guess they had the same idea as me. So, off we went, hiking the slippery path, laughing and kidding at each other down the path.
The path became more and more steep as we went winding down the mountain. The path had switch backs leading us down the side of the of the mountain. Every time we approached the football someone would just kick it down the slope. Down we went, just like we had done time after time. I could almost literally walk this path with my eyes closed. I wouldn’t do it though, because many times I had encountered snakes along the path. I am petrified of snakes so keeping eyes open was a full time job going down this trail. We were well over half way down the trail when we first began discussing openly what our plans were going to be. I quickly suggested heading on down to the stream to cool off, which a couple agreed, while a couple of others were indicating they were bored and were thinking about heading back up to the cars and going home. Then IT happened.
The football, being held by a guy named Steve, actually and accidentally fell out of his hands and bounced down the muddy pathway and dropped off of the side of the pathway. This area of the path was called the bluffs because there was a 40’ drop off from the edge of the path straight down to some large boulders below. We heard the football hit the bottom and bounce. We actually debated whether or not to go find it, because the path took a long switchback loop downward to get to the area that the ball had fallen.
I headed to the edge of the pathway to see if I could see where the football had gone. Now, we are talking about a $12.00 football here, nothing fancy, nothing about it that it made it any more valuable. Nothing sentimental about it, nothing. Just a $12.00 ball that could easily be replaced. But I had to go see where it went. I just had to go. I just had to see. I just had to be the one. For some reason, it was fate that took me down that path that day.
I had several offers in high school to go to different colleges my senior year. Because of my grades, and mainly because of my athletic talents, I had received scholarship offers to play ball at about a half dozen schools. One to play basketball and 5 to play baseball. The best offer was the University of Montevallo, in central Alabama. It was pretty much a full ride to go there. And I was really leaning towards going there. Other schools, like Calhoun Community College, University of the South, Freed-Hardeman, etc. were still in consideration, but I had just about made up my mind.
When I took my first couple of steps down the steep slope of the trail I knew something was wrong. I could FEEL it as I tried to slow my progress towards the edge of the trail as I neared the edge of the cliff. Not only could I not stop, I was gaining momentum and the mud caused my feet to slip out from under me. In a blink of an eye, before I could even open my mouth to yell, I slipped and went over the edge of the cliff and fell 40 feet straight down to the large boulders at the bottom. The last thing I saw before I slipped off was a shrub growing on the side if the trail. I desperately grasped for it, in vain. It had thorns growing in it and they cut into my arms and chest like tiny razors as I went over. The fall going down happened so fast that before I could even suck in a breath of air I hit the giant bounder below and crumpled to the ground. I passed out, only for a moment, and came back with shooting pain running up and down my legs and spine. I could hear my friends above me yelling to see if I was ok..... if I was even alive. I was so stunned that I could not reply for a moment or two. Once I knew I was not dead, I called back to my friends to come down to get me because I couldn’t move my legs.
My friends scrambled down the pathway to get to me, as fast as they could SAFELY get to me. One of my best friends, Paul, literally slipped about 10 feet above me and fell too! And landed right on top of me!!! Now that is what I say is adding insult to injury! Linked arm in arm, they literally carried me back to the top of the mountain to get me to a car to get me to the hospital. An air flight helicopter was dispatched but was unable to get to me from where we were. About 4 hours later (20 minutes down the trail, 3 hours to get back up, and a 20-30 minute drive to the hospital) I was admitted to the emergency room at The Medical Center. X-Rays revealed a broken leg, broken bones in my right foot, dislocated ankle, torn ligaments in my right knee, and a compressed spine, and several cuts on my arms and chest. All in all, I was in pretty bad shape but at least I was still alive! I just survived a 40’ fall off of a cliff!
The doctors were not very optimistic. They told me that the injuries were pretty severe and that I would not be playing any ball again. They said I would walk, but my competitive ball playing days were over. And they said I would probably live with some pain and side effects from the injury for the rest of my life. That was only the beginning. I was in a cast for over 3 months, recovering from the injuries. 3 months of pain and agony, and 3 months to face reality and to think about what was happening to me and my future.
Stay tuned for part two of the story. The application of the moral of the story. As I mentioned before, I think I grew up a normal kid with normal events. Maybe not. And now maybe you can see why many would say that a story like this is made up. But I can assure you, I can contact the 5 that were with me that day to verify this story. We are all still close friends, even to this day. This is just one of dozens of stories that have happened to me over the years that I use to bring out “the moral of the story.”
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed the story and are anxious about hearing the conclusion to the story!
Terry
Those who have heard one of my stories, especially for the very first time, usually make a statement something like, “No way!” Or, “ There is NO way!” Or, “He surly made that up!” Now, the reason for it is because what I consider normal events to me seem to be completely not normal for a lot of others, like most of the rest of the world. I don’t understand it, but I guess I have had a lot of weird things happen to me. Things that do seem to be unbelievable. My roommate from college has for YEARS begged me to write a book about my life because he thinks it would be a runaway best seller. I think he is on serious drugs and is need of a more active social life.
Never the less, I thought I would share a story with you that happened to me literally just a few days after I had graduated from high school. This one event truly changed my life in a very profound way. I have no idea where I would be today if this particular event had not happened, but I am pretty sure I would not be where I am today. I hope I have your attention and your curiosity at this point.
Sunday afternoon, like EVERY Sunday afternoon, in Huntsville, Alabama, in our youth group at church, was football time. We played every Sunday afternoon, rain or shine. Snow, ice, you name it, it did not stop us from playing. Not only was it fun, we were good, too. Tackle football, no pads, no helmets, you know, none of the sissy stuff. This was man ball. Smash mouth, bone busting, over the top football. Oh, it was good. It was so much fun. And this Sunday we were going to go up and play on top of Monte Sano Mountain at the park that was up there. And there was going to be a good turn out too, this was going to be a good day.
Church services let out, we jumped in our cars, raced home, grabbed something to eat and changed clothes. Then we drove up the winding road that led up to the top of the mountain. We got up there and were puzzled to see a lot of cars in the parking lot. A LOT of cars. Too many cars. I remember thinking, “Oh no, this can’t be good.” And sure enough, it wasn’t. There was a big firm having its annual picnic up there and the fields were full of “amateurs” playing 2 hand touch football and softball. Oh, it killed us to watch it. And we waited, hoping that by some stroke of luck that they would pack up and go home. But they didn’t.
Most of our group shrugged their shoulders and decided to go home. Find something else to do. The game of the year evaporated right before my eyes. I couldn’t believe it. But a few of us stayed, depressed. There is nothing like having company when you are depressed, right? So we tossed the football around just off the edge of the parking lot, near the hiking paths. Then we began seeing who could throw the longest pass, then the longest kicks (everything was a contest to us back then). Then, IT happened.
I actually can’t remember for sure who it was, I think it was Barry, who punted the ball that soared into the air like a Patriot missile. It went right over our heads, over some short trees, and down into the hiking path area that led down the backside of Monte Sano Mountain. Now, I grew up in Huntsville, and I had hiked these paths dozens of times, all the way down to the bottom of the mountain. I knew that there was a stream at the bottom, cool, refreshing, and deep enough in some spots to swim. So, when we went looking for the football I was thinking to myself that maybe we could at least hike the trial today.
As we walked into the tree line to look for the ball, we noticed that it was really muddy on the trail. I guess it had rained there Saturday night or something, but never the less, wet. We found the ball right away but someone in the group kicked it while it was still laying on the ground and sent it off the edge of the hiking path, farther down the pathway. I guess they had the same idea as me. So, off we went, hiking the slippery path, laughing and kidding at each other down the path.
The path became more and more steep as we went winding down the mountain. The path had switch backs leading us down the side of the of the mountain. Every time we approached the football someone would just kick it down the slope. Down we went, just like we had done time after time. I could almost literally walk this path with my eyes closed. I wouldn’t do it though, because many times I had encountered snakes along the path. I am petrified of snakes so keeping eyes open was a full time job going down this trail. We were well over half way down the trail when we first began discussing openly what our plans were going to be. I quickly suggested heading on down to the stream to cool off, which a couple agreed, while a couple of others were indicating they were bored and were thinking about heading back up to the cars and going home. Then IT happened.
The football, being held by a guy named Steve, actually and accidentally fell out of his hands and bounced down the muddy pathway and dropped off of the side of the pathway. This area of the path was called the bluffs because there was a 40’ drop off from the edge of the path straight down to some large boulders below. We heard the football hit the bottom and bounce. We actually debated whether or not to go find it, because the path took a long switchback loop downward to get to the area that the ball had fallen.
I headed to the edge of the pathway to see if I could see where the football had gone. Now, we are talking about a $12.00 football here, nothing fancy, nothing about it that it made it any more valuable. Nothing sentimental about it, nothing. Just a $12.00 ball that could easily be replaced. But I had to go see where it went. I just had to go. I just had to see. I just had to be the one. For some reason, it was fate that took me down that path that day.
I had several offers in high school to go to different colleges my senior year. Because of my grades, and mainly because of my athletic talents, I had received scholarship offers to play ball at about a half dozen schools. One to play basketball and 5 to play baseball. The best offer was the University of Montevallo, in central Alabama. It was pretty much a full ride to go there. And I was really leaning towards going there. Other schools, like Calhoun Community College, University of the South, Freed-Hardeman, etc. were still in consideration, but I had just about made up my mind.
When I took my first couple of steps down the steep slope of the trail I knew something was wrong. I could FEEL it as I tried to slow my progress towards the edge of the trail as I neared the edge of the cliff. Not only could I not stop, I was gaining momentum and the mud caused my feet to slip out from under me. In a blink of an eye, before I could even open my mouth to yell, I slipped and went over the edge of the cliff and fell 40 feet straight down to the large boulders at the bottom. The last thing I saw before I slipped off was a shrub growing on the side if the trail. I desperately grasped for it, in vain. It had thorns growing in it and they cut into my arms and chest like tiny razors as I went over. The fall going down happened so fast that before I could even suck in a breath of air I hit the giant bounder below and crumpled to the ground. I passed out, only for a moment, and came back with shooting pain running up and down my legs and spine. I could hear my friends above me yelling to see if I was ok..... if I was even alive. I was so stunned that I could not reply for a moment or two. Once I knew I was not dead, I called back to my friends to come down to get me because I couldn’t move my legs.
My friends scrambled down the pathway to get to me, as fast as they could SAFELY get to me. One of my best friends, Paul, literally slipped about 10 feet above me and fell too! And landed right on top of me!!! Now that is what I say is adding insult to injury! Linked arm in arm, they literally carried me back to the top of the mountain to get me to a car to get me to the hospital. An air flight helicopter was dispatched but was unable to get to me from where we were. About 4 hours later (20 minutes down the trail, 3 hours to get back up, and a 20-30 minute drive to the hospital) I was admitted to the emergency room at The Medical Center. X-Rays revealed a broken leg, broken bones in my right foot, dislocated ankle, torn ligaments in my right knee, and a compressed spine, and several cuts on my arms and chest. All in all, I was in pretty bad shape but at least I was still alive! I just survived a 40’ fall off of a cliff!
The doctors were not very optimistic. They told me that the injuries were pretty severe and that I would not be playing any ball again. They said I would walk, but my competitive ball playing days were over. And they said I would probably live with some pain and side effects from the injury for the rest of my life. That was only the beginning. I was in a cast for over 3 months, recovering from the injuries. 3 months of pain and agony, and 3 months to face reality and to think about what was happening to me and my future.
Stay tuned for part two of the story. The application of the moral of the story. As I mentioned before, I think I grew up a normal kid with normal events. Maybe not. And now maybe you can see why many would say that a story like this is made up. But I can assure you, I can contact the 5 that were with me that day to verify this story. We are all still close friends, even to this day. This is just one of dozens of stories that have happened to me over the years that I use to bring out “the moral of the story.”
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed the story and are anxious about hearing the conclusion to the story!
Terry
Thursday, January 5
Putting your passion into action
2006 is here. For some reason, that number is just intimidating me. I don’t know why, can’t explain it, but it is. 2006. Nothing different about the numbers, it doesn’t represent anything special or unusual as far as I can tell. But there it is. 2006. Amazing. It really is. Another year is upon us.
What are we going to do this year? What are we going to do with the time? Are you like everyone else that makes a new year’s resolution? Have you set your mind and heart to doing something this year? Loose weight? Read the bible from cover to cover? Eat healthier? Exercise more? Repair a relationship? Get in touch with a long lost friend? There is a lot of things you can set your mind to, isn’t there? And most of us do. With make a resolution (whatever that really is) and we start out the new year trying to do whatever it is that we talked ourselves into doing.
And it lasts….. How long? How long is it before we break the resolution? How long is it before we can’t handle it any more? How long is it before we give up and go back to the good old ways of doing things? It is sad, isn’t it? Nearly 90% of Americans make new year’s resolutions. 65% of the resolutions are broken before February ever gets here. And 95% of the resolutions are broken before the end of July. So there ya go, proof that we shouldn’t even bother with the whole thing in the first place, right?
Well, it really depends on how you look at it. A resolution is a challenge, to yourself, to improve on something in your life. To get better. To climb the ladder. To reach the next level. To be better than you are now. Whatever it is, it is a challenge that you make to yourself. It is a good idea, as a matter of fact, it is an excellent concept. So, why doesn’t it work? Why do we break the resolutions? Why do we falter? Why do we give up?
To be perfectly honest, it is probably because we are just plain lazy. It is hard to climb the ladder, reach the next level. It takes work, discipline, sacrifice. It hurts. It stretches. It forces us to leave our comfort zones. Maybe sometimes we make resolutions that are really not realistic. We challenge ourselves far beyond what we are truly are able to do in the amount of time we give ourselves. I am not making excuses, I am just thinking out loud about this whole thing. I think the concept of challenging ourselves is good, I think the way we try to do it is bad. Maybe there is a better way to do it.
Sometimes we just want too much too quickly. We want to grow in giant leaps and bounds when what we should be doing is growing in baby steps. Little by little, day by day. You know, sort of like the tortoise and the hare. Look at it this way. Let’s say that you run into someone that hasn’t seen you in a couple of weeks. You have made the resolution of being a better, more responsible person this year. You have decided to really take your Christian walk seriously. You are going to really walk the walk and talk the talk like you have never done it before. Your friend makes the comment that you look great and that you haven’t changed a bit from the last time they say you. Would that really surprise you? Of course not, how much can you really change in just a few weeks. You have been on the walk, sort of, but you have just recently really put the pedal to the metal, so to speak. It is going to take a while for people to really start taking notice of your new passion, walk, and dedication.
But, let’s say you run into a friend that has not seen you in years. They make the comment that you look great and that you haven’t changed a bit. How do you take that comment? Now it is quite a bit different, isn’t it? They see you the SAME exact way they remember you from a long time ago. No real changes. Now that carries a lot of implications, doesn’t it? If a Christian doesn’t show significant changes over the course of a long period of time, no real growth has occurred. And no real growth could be observed as decay, even death. And that is not good.
But, if your friend makes the comment that you look great and they can’t even believe their eyes in what they see, as in how much you have changed for the good, for the evidence of your dedication to Christ as your savior, what a compliment! And that is a resolution that we all should be working towards. Not giant leaps and bounds, but slow, and steady, baby steps, improving and growing everyday to become more and more like Jesus. And not giving up the first time we slip up and “break” our resolution. We fall down, then get up, dust ourselves off, and keep on going. Sometimes we fall harder, and it takes more effort to get up, takes more effort to clean up the bumps and bruises, the nicks and cuts. And sometimes we fall so hard that we need help to get up, someone to help bandage us up and even tend after us. But we keep going. That is resolution, a real resolution, that will really make a difference.
Every year I challenge my youth group to make a new year’s resolution as a group. It is usually something cleaver, something catchy. This year is no exception, except for the fact that I think this year our youth group resolution has the potential to really make a difference on the group and the people we will come in contact with this year. The challenge is this, “PUT YOUR PASSION INTO ACTION!” Man, that is something to think about. Putting your passion into action. It involves several things and makes a lot of implications. First, you have to find your passion. Passion. Passion is something that you believe in, STRONGLY. That is one of the greatest weaknesses of the church today if you ask me. We are not passionate enough about what we really believe to be important.
But I am talking about bring it down to the individual level. There are so many things we can believe in, have feelings about, opinions, thoughts, etc. But rarely do we really get passionate about something. Especially something that is going to make a difference, a REAL difference. For me, it is pretty easy to figure out what I am truly passionate about, right? Doing mission work in Honduras for the past 15 years has been one of my greatest passions, and the more I do it the more passionate I get about it.
And that brings me to the second part of the challenge, “PUTTING IT INTO ACTION!” Doing something about it. Working, sacrificing, moving forward, dreaming, applying, recruiting, organizing, all for one thing: TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF HONDURAS AND BRING THEM THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS AND HIS SAVING GRACE. And not just to Honduras, but to all men everywhere. Putting my faith into action. That is what it is rally about. It has become so real, so important to me, that climbing up the ladder and getting to the next level is all I can think about. I would be sadly disappointed if I met a long lost friend who saw me now and did not see a real change in me. I am a different person than I was a year ago. Especially a couple, or a few, or several years ago.
What about you? How much have you changed since you began your walk? How many baby steps have you taken? How many steps up the ladder have you gone? How many levels have you reached? Believe me, if you ever get truly passionate about your faith and your relationship with Jesus, and put your passion into action, you will be a different person. You will be radically different. You will be a person that the Bible refers to as a person “IN the world but not OF the world.”
I hope this article has challenged you to think a little, maybe a lot, about your relationship with Jesus today. I hope it has “rattled your cage.” I hope it has yanked your chains. I hope it has done a lot of things. But mostly, I hope that it has challenged you to crank it up a notch, to rise up and move forward, and upward, with a new zeal, a new purpose, a new resolve. May 2006 be the year that will be the year that everyone that knows you will look back and say, “Wow, you look great and I can’t believe how much you have changed!!!” God bless and happy new year! Its great to be able to say that to you all.
With much love,
Terry
What are we going to do this year? What are we going to do with the time? Are you like everyone else that makes a new year’s resolution? Have you set your mind and heart to doing something this year? Loose weight? Read the bible from cover to cover? Eat healthier? Exercise more? Repair a relationship? Get in touch with a long lost friend? There is a lot of things you can set your mind to, isn’t there? And most of us do. With make a resolution (whatever that really is) and we start out the new year trying to do whatever it is that we talked ourselves into doing.
And it lasts….. How long? How long is it before we break the resolution? How long is it before we can’t handle it any more? How long is it before we give up and go back to the good old ways of doing things? It is sad, isn’t it? Nearly 90% of Americans make new year’s resolutions. 65% of the resolutions are broken before February ever gets here. And 95% of the resolutions are broken before the end of July. So there ya go, proof that we shouldn’t even bother with the whole thing in the first place, right?
Well, it really depends on how you look at it. A resolution is a challenge, to yourself, to improve on something in your life. To get better. To climb the ladder. To reach the next level. To be better than you are now. Whatever it is, it is a challenge that you make to yourself. It is a good idea, as a matter of fact, it is an excellent concept. So, why doesn’t it work? Why do we break the resolutions? Why do we falter? Why do we give up?
To be perfectly honest, it is probably because we are just plain lazy. It is hard to climb the ladder, reach the next level. It takes work, discipline, sacrifice. It hurts. It stretches. It forces us to leave our comfort zones. Maybe sometimes we make resolutions that are really not realistic. We challenge ourselves far beyond what we are truly are able to do in the amount of time we give ourselves. I am not making excuses, I am just thinking out loud about this whole thing. I think the concept of challenging ourselves is good, I think the way we try to do it is bad. Maybe there is a better way to do it.
Sometimes we just want too much too quickly. We want to grow in giant leaps and bounds when what we should be doing is growing in baby steps. Little by little, day by day. You know, sort of like the tortoise and the hare. Look at it this way. Let’s say that you run into someone that hasn’t seen you in a couple of weeks. You have made the resolution of being a better, more responsible person this year. You have decided to really take your Christian walk seriously. You are going to really walk the walk and talk the talk like you have never done it before. Your friend makes the comment that you look great and that you haven’t changed a bit from the last time they say you. Would that really surprise you? Of course not, how much can you really change in just a few weeks. You have been on the walk, sort of, but you have just recently really put the pedal to the metal, so to speak. It is going to take a while for people to really start taking notice of your new passion, walk, and dedication.
But, let’s say you run into a friend that has not seen you in years. They make the comment that you look great and that you haven’t changed a bit. How do you take that comment? Now it is quite a bit different, isn’t it? They see you the SAME exact way they remember you from a long time ago. No real changes. Now that carries a lot of implications, doesn’t it? If a Christian doesn’t show significant changes over the course of a long period of time, no real growth has occurred. And no real growth could be observed as decay, even death. And that is not good.
But, if your friend makes the comment that you look great and they can’t even believe their eyes in what they see, as in how much you have changed for the good, for the evidence of your dedication to Christ as your savior, what a compliment! And that is a resolution that we all should be working towards. Not giant leaps and bounds, but slow, and steady, baby steps, improving and growing everyday to become more and more like Jesus. And not giving up the first time we slip up and “break” our resolution. We fall down, then get up, dust ourselves off, and keep on going. Sometimes we fall harder, and it takes more effort to get up, takes more effort to clean up the bumps and bruises, the nicks and cuts. And sometimes we fall so hard that we need help to get up, someone to help bandage us up and even tend after us. But we keep going. That is resolution, a real resolution, that will really make a difference.
Every year I challenge my youth group to make a new year’s resolution as a group. It is usually something cleaver, something catchy. This year is no exception, except for the fact that I think this year our youth group resolution has the potential to really make a difference on the group and the people we will come in contact with this year. The challenge is this, “PUT YOUR PASSION INTO ACTION!” Man, that is something to think about. Putting your passion into action. It involves several things and makes a lot of implications. First, you have to find your passion. Passion. Passion is something that you believe in, STRONGLY. That is one of the greatest weaknesses of the church today if you ask me. We are not passionate enough about what we really believe to be important.
But I am talking about bring it down to the individual level. There are so many things we can believe in, have feelings about, opinions, thoughts, etc. But rarely do we really get passionate about something. Especially something that is going to make a difference, a REAL difference. For me, it is pretty easy to figure out what I am truly passionate about, right? Doing mission work in Honduras for the past 15 years has been one of my greatest passions, and the more I do it the more passionate I get about it.
And that brings me to the second part of the challenge, “PUTTING IT INTO ACTION!” Doing something about it. Working, sacrificing, moving forward, dreaming, applying, recruiting, organizing, all for one thing: TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF HONDURAS AND BRING THEM THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT JESUS AND HIS SAVING GRACE. And not just to Honduras, but to all men everywhere. Putting my faith into action. That is what it is rally about. It has become so real, so important to me, that climbing up the ladder and getting to the next level is all I can think about. I would be sadly disappointed if I met a long lost friend who saw me now and did not see a real change in me. I am a different person than I was a year ago. Especially a couple, or a few, or several years ago.
What about you? How much have you changed since you began your walk? How many baby steps have you taken? How many steps up the ladder have you gone? How many levels have you reached? Believe me, if you ever get truly passionate about your faith and your relationship with Jesus, and put your passion into action, you will be a different person. You will be radically different. You will be a person that the Bible refers to as a person “IN the world but not OF the world.”
I hope this article has challenged you to think a little, maybe a lot, about your relationship with Jesus today. I hope it has “rattled your cage.” I hope it has yanked your chains. I hope it has done a lot of things. But mostly, I hope that it has challenged you to crank it up a notch, to rise up and move forward, and upward, with a new zeal, a new purpose, a new resolve. May 2006 be the year that will be the year that everyone that knows you will look back and say, “Wow, you look great and I can’t believe how much you have changed!!!” God bless and happy new year! Its great to be able to say that to you all.
With much love,
Terry
Saturday, December 17
2005 was a great year
2005 is about to come to a close and what a year it has been. In some ways it seems like the year flew by like those stars do in Star Wars when they jump into hyperspace, and in some ways this year has seemed one of the longest I can ever remember. Weird, if you ask me, how it can be both. But it was to me, and maybe for some of you out there, too. But, no matter how you look at it, 2005 is about to go into the history books and 2006 is about to open up a brand new year.
Its been a hard year for me, in a lot of ways. I am pretty sure, without even exaggerating, that I spent more time in the hospital and in doctor’s offices this year than my entire life combined. Fighting cancer has proven to be the toughest thing I have ever had to do, and the fight seems to just keep on coming from all sides. But every time I turn, I see rays of light, rays of hope, in the procedures, surgeries, and treatments that I am going through right now. I know I am not the only one out there battling this, or other challenges, but each step I take forward makes it all worth while. It reminds me of the Lord of the Rings, the guys that made up the fellowship of the ring. They knew the odds were against them, but they fought on, knowing they would either win the battle or fall on the battlefield knowing they gave it their absolute best. I’m no Aragorn, Legolis, Gimli, or Pippin, but I am a soldier of God fighting in a war with victory in the end, and that is comforting and exciting.
It is hard to sum up what Torch, IRC, and Mi Esperanza, was able to accomplish this year. So much was done that I am not sure that even Tim could tell us all that happened in Honduras in 2005. All I can say is that it was A LOT! Several 40 foot containers (at least a dozen), HUNDREDS of houses, literally TONS of food, hundreds of thousands of pieces of clothing and shoes, was distributed. Thousands attended VBS and Bible classes, at least 2 church buildings were built and congregations were planted. Over 700 participated in Torch Missions teams, from over 20 states and a half dozen foreign counties. Thousands of Bibles were given away. Thousands received medical attention from one of our medical clinics.
And all of this does not include DOZENS of other mission trips conducted by other groups and congregations of the churches of Christ in Honduras. All of this in a tiny country in Central America. Mission work is alive and on the move within our fellowship. All across the world mission teams are going and doing their thing. Knocking doors. Conducting Bible studies. Baptizing new believers. Making new contacts. Spreading the good news about Jesus. It is so amazing, so exciting. So REWARDING.
There is a lot of junk and garbage out there; it seems every time we take time to look up and take a deep breath we see fightings, disagreements, and fracturing going on. You would thing we are in a great religious civil war, and I guess in a way, we are. But don’t mistake the fact that God wants unity, and that we all need to be working towards it. And in places like Honduras, where dozens and dozens of congregations are working together for the common good of the people of Honduras, I know that unity can exist. And it is exciting.
Honduras just demonstrated their democracy in free elections a few weeks ago. A new president, and a new administration, will soon be in place. I am sure there will be changes that will take place, and that Honduras will feel the effects of the new government right away. I am hopeful that the new president will work hard to help the people of Honduras to continue to have progress, for Honduras has come a long way in the past 15 years. I am hopeful that the new president will be receptive of groups like Torch, IRC, and Mi Esperanza, along with the churches of Christ, who want to continue coming into the country to help the people who live there.
2006 will certainly be a challenge for us. It is going to be an exciting year, and I hope and pray that we will all be up to the challenges we will face. As 2005 comes to an end, I wish you a very merry Christmas, may your holiday be bright and blessed. I also wish you a very happy new year. May 2006 bring you new challenges, new opportunities to grow in the Lord that you never dreamed of before. May the days to come challenge us to grow and to do what is right, to do what God has called us to do. God has seen fit to give us yet another year, month, week, day, and hour to live in His Kingdom to be light and salt to a dying world. Use your time wisely, dedicate yourself to things that are really important. Rise up to the challenge and be victorious and claim your reward at the end! To God be the glory!
TR
Its been a hard year for me, in a lot of ways. I am pretty sure, without even exaggerating, that I spent more time in the hospital and in doctor’s offices this year than my entire life combined. Fighting cancer has proven to be the toughest thing I have ever had to do, and the fight seems to just keep on coming from all sides. But every time I turn, I see rays of light, rays of hope, in the procedures, surgeries, and treatments that I am going through right now. I know I am not the only one out there battling this, or other challenges, but each step I take forward makes it all worth while. It reminds me of the Lord of the Rings, the guys that made up the fellowship of the ring. They knew the odds were against them, but they fought on, knowing they would either win the battle or fall on the battlefield knowing they gave it their absolute best. I’m no Aragorn, Legolis, Gimli, or Pippin, but I am a soldier of God fighting in a war with victory in the end, and that is comforting and exciting.
It is hard to sum up what Torch, IRC, and Mi Esperanza, was able to accomplish this year. So much was done that I am not sure that even Tim could tell us all that happened in Honduras in 2005. All I can say is that it was A LOT! Several 40 foot containers (at least a dozen), HUNDREDS of houses, literally TONS of food, hundreds of thousands of pieces of clothing and shoes, was distributed. Thousands attended VBS and Bible classes, at least 2 church buildings were built and congregations were planted. Over 700 participated in Torch Missions teams, from over 20 states and a half dozen foreign counties. Thousands of Bibles were given away. Thousands received medical attention from one of our medical clinics.
And all of this does not include DOZENS of other mission trips conducted by other groups and congregations of the churches of Christ in Honduras. All of this in a tiny country in Central America. Mission work is alive and on the move within our fellowship. All across the world mission teams are going and doing their thing. Knocking doors. Conducting Bible studies. Baptizing new believers. Making new contacts. Spreading the good news about Jesus. It is so amazing, so exciting. So REWARDING.
There is a lot of junk and garbage out there; it seems every time we take time to look up and take a deep breath we see fightings, disagreements, and fracturing going on. You would thing we are in a great religious civil war, and I guess in a way, we are. But don’t mistake the fact that God wants unity, and that we all need to be working towards it. And in places like Honduras, where dozens and dozens of congregations are working together for the common good of the people of Honduras, I know that unity can exist. And it is exciting.
Honduras just demonstrated their democracy in free elections a few weeks ago. A new president, and a new administration, will soon be in place. I am sure there will be changes that will take place, and that Honduras will feel the effects of the new government right away. I am hopeful that the new president will work hard to help the people of Honduras to continue to have progress, for Honduras has come a long way in the past 15 years. I am hopeful that the new president will be receptive of groups like Torch, IRC, and Mi Esperanza, along with the churches of Christ, who want to continue coming into the country to help the people who live there.
2006 will certainly be a challenge for us. It is going to be an exciting year, and I hope and pray that we will all be up to the challenges we will face. As 2005 comes to an end, I wish you a very merry Christmas, may your holiday be bright and blessed. I also wish you a very happy new year. May 2006 bring you new challenges, new opportunities to grow in the Lord that you never dreamed of before. May the days to come challenge us to grow and to do what is right, to do what God has called us to do. God has seen fit to give us yet another year, month, week, day, and hour to live in His Kingdom to be light and salt to a dying world. Use your time wisely, dedicate yourself to things that are really important. Rise up to the challenge and be victorious and claim your reward at the end! To God be the glory!
TR
Tuesday, November 29
you are here to get there
It is so hard to believe that 2005 is about to come to an end. One month and counting. And a very busy month at that. During 2005 so many things have happened and it just seems that life is going by faster and faster. I know that sounds a bit clique, but I am here to tell you that it is true. There just isn’t enough hours in a day to get all the things done that are needed. Of course, I am not an “up at the crack of dawn” type person, as many of you out there are, but I also do not turn into a pumpkin at 10:00 at night either. I do most of my best work after the midnight hour. So I figure the same amount of working hours are evenly distributed between us all. All that brings me back to the fact that there are not enough hours in a day to get everything done.
Right now the pressing matters are getting all of my group leaders to get their applications and deposits in for the 2006 trips, which, by the way, seem to be going pretty well. I have not heard from all but several have told me that “the checks are in the mail,” which could mean a lot of things. I am also working on lessons for a youth rally I am speaking at up in Pennsylvania in January. And of course, getting weekly lessons ready for my Bible classes here are a daily task. I am planning out the details about the scouting trip in March and trying to get a big picture of our goals for the summer mission trips.
But other things are mixed in there too, from yard work to staying in touch with family and friends. I am blessed with so many good friends and it is such a joy to talk with them on a regular basis. We are spread out all over the place, literally. And many of my friends live so far away that we rarely see each other. But, thanks to telephones and e-mails, we stay in touch and keep up with each other. Which is really nice. We can instantly share photos, stories, memories, and the newest news with a click of a button.
Where would be without friends and relationships? How boring would life be without them? My world would be small, so contained. But, because of friends, my world is as big as can be, and it makes life so much more fun and interesting. And it keep s things fresh and fun too. Not a week goes by that someone recounts an event that has slipped my mind. My roommate from college brings up “activities” we were involved in during our college days that brings a smile to my face and generates a lot more memories in the process. When I read blogspots from Jennifer Arnold, Jen Wright, Tim Hines, and others, living in Honduras, it floods my mind with memories because I can almost feel and smell the story as well as reading the details! And it makes me realize that we are all in this great big production together.
God in His infinite wisdom, has brought us all together for a blockbuster production. We all have our parts, we all have our scripts. God is the director and He puts it all together. And the final cut is amazing because we all get to see different versions of the production, from our own perspectives. God has put some incredible people in my life. All along the way He put the right people in the right place at the right time to influence me to be who I am today. The list is endless. All kinds of people too. Some were quiet and unassuming. Some were loud and commanding. Some lead by example, others led by following. Some were smart and scholarly, others had simple wisdom and common sense. Some were popular, others shy. But make no mistake, they all played a role and they played that role to perfection.
During the past few years I have written some of these people to tell them what an influence they had on my life. Coaches, teachers, preachers, professors. Team mates. Class mates. High school and college friends. But there are so many I have not written too or spoken with. For some, I will never get the chance, for they have now passed on from this world. Others I have lost contact with and have no idea where they are now. And still others simply because I haven not gotten around to it yet. And that is the sad part, because I am taking time for granted. Somehow I have convinced myself that I have plenty of time to get around to it someday.
Isn’t that ironic? I am taking advantage of the one thing that I just talked about earlier. Time. We don’t have enough hours in a day to get everything done and yet I am taking time for granted. How crazy is that? But I do it, and I bet you do too. We get so involved in our own little worlds that we forget about the bigger one out there and the ones that played their parts to get you to where you are today. Maybe it is time for all of us to slow down for a while, even if it is just a few moments each week, and start making a phone call here and there, dropping an e-mail more often, and sending one of those sappy Hallmark cards. You know the ones, like on the commercials. And you know what, we DO react that way when we get them!!!!! I am the same guy who laughs at the commercials and pokes fun at them that tears up when the card comes in the mail!
To all of you out there that reads this blogspot, thanks. I don’t know who reads these thoughts of mine from week to week, but I want you to know that I love and appreciate you. My journey has been a fantastic trip. I have been able to experience life at its fullest, and have seen a lot of things and been to a lot of places. I have met some important people during my life, which is kind of cool, shaken hands of presidents and dignitaries. I have friends that would drop everything and would be at my side in a blink. I have hundreds of prayer warriors in my behalf. And the best family I could ever have dreamed for. I have been a small part of God’s work in His kingdom and have been humbled to know how fragile life is.
But, as 2005 comes to an end, I am so excited about what the future has in store for us. 2006 will be here soon and the work goes on. The circle keeps getting bigger and the work becomes more and more important. The boarders of the Kingdom are growing, and being stretched. The lost are being saved through the blood of Jesus Christ. The enemy is on the loose, the battle is at land. Winner takes all. And we are going to win. it’s a guarantee. But it is a fight to the finish, our foe will not give up. We must keep fighting, climbing, marching to the top. There is too much at stake to let up, ease up, or give up. God has led you to where you are right now, but make no mistake about it, where you are now is not where He wants you to be tomorrow. You are either moving forward or falling back. Come on, get up, its time to get moving…. Are you with me?
TR
Right now the pressing matters are getting all of my group leaders to get their applications and deposits in for the 2006 trips, which, by the way, seem to be going pretty well. I have not heard from all but several have told me that “the checks are in the mail,” which could mean a lot of things. I am also working on lessons for a youth rally I am speaking at up in Pennsylvania in January. And of course, getting weekly lessons ready for my Bible classes here are a daily task. I am planning out the details about the scouting trip in March and trying to get a big picture of our goals for the summer mission trips.
But other things are mixed in there too, from yard work to staying in touch with family and friends. I am blessed with so many good friends and it is such a joy to talk with them on a regular basis. We are spread out all over the place, literally. And many of my friends live so far away that we rarely see each other. But, thanks to telephones and e-mails, we stay in touch and keep up with each other. Which is really nice. We can instantly share photos, stories, memories, and the newest news with a click of a button.
Where would be without friends and relationships? How boring would life be without them? My world would be small, so contained. But, because of friends, my world is as big as can be, and it makes life so much more fun and interesting. And it keep s things fresh and fun too. Not a week goes by that someone recounts an event that has slipped my mind. My roommate from college brings up “activities” we were involved in during our college days that brings a smile to my face and generates a lot more memories in the process. When I read blogspots from Jennifer Arnold, Jen Wright, Tim Hines, and others, living in Honduras, it floods my mind with memories because I can almost feel and smell the story as well as reading the details! And it makes me realize that we are all in this great big production together.
God in His infinite wisdom, has brought us all together for a blockbuster production. We all have our parts, we all have our scripts. God is the director and He puts it all together. And the final cut is amazing because we all get to see different versions of the production, from our own perspectives. God has put some incredible people in my life. All along the way He put the right people in the right place at the right time to influence me to be who I am today. The list is endless. All kinds of people too. Some were quiet and unassuming. Some were loud and commanding. Some lead by example, others led by following. Some were smart and scholarly, others had simple wisdom and common sense. Some were popular, others shy. But make no mistake, they all played a role and they played that role to perfection.
During the past few years I have written some of these people to tell them what an influence they had on my life. Coaches, teachers, preachers, professors. Team mates. Class mates. High school and college friends. But there are so many I have not written too or spoken with. For some, I will never get the chance, for they have now passed on from this world. Others I have lost contact with and have no idea where they are now. And still others simply because I haven not gotten around to it yet. And that is the sad part, because I am taking time for granted. Somehow I have convinced myself that I have plenty of time to get around to it someday.
Isn’t that ironic? I am taking advantage of the one thing that I just talked about earlier. Time. We don’t have enough hours in a day to get everything done and yet I am taking time for granted. How crazy is that? But I do it, and I bet you do too. We get so involved in our own little worlds that we forget about the bigger one out there and the ones that played their parts to get you to where you are today. Maybe it is time for all of us to slow down for a while, even if it is just a few moments each week, and start making a phone call here and there, dropping an e-mail more often, and sending one of those sappy Hallmark cards. You know the ones, like on the commercials. And you know what, we DO react that way when we get them!!!!! I am the same guy who laughs at the commercials and pokes fun at them that tears up when the card comes in the mail!
To all of you out there that reads this blogspot, thanks. I don’t know who reads these thoughts of mine from week to week, but I want you to know that I love and appreciate you. My journey has been a fantastic trip. I have been able to experience life at its fullest, and have seen a lot of things and been to a lot of places. I have met some important people during my life, which is kind of cool, shaken hands of presidents and dignitaries. I have friends that would drop everything and would be at my side in a blink. I have hundreds of prayer warriors in my behalf. And the best family I could ever have dreamed for. I have been a small part of God’s work in His kingdom and have been humbled to know how fragile life is.
But, as 2005 comes to an end, I am so excited about what the future has in store for us. 2006 will be here soon and the work goes on. The circle keeps getting bigger and the work becomes more and more important. The boarders of the Kingdom are growing, and being stretched. The lost are being saved through the blood of Jesus Christ. The enemy is on the loose, the battle is at land. Winner takes all. And we are going to win. it’s a guarantee. But it is a fight to the finish, our foe will not give up. We must keep fighting, climbing, marching to the top. There is too much at stake to let up, ease up, or give up. God has led you to where you are right now, but make no mistake about it, where you are now is not where He wants you to be tomorrow. You are either moving forward or falling back. Come on, get up, its time to get moving…. Are you with me?
TR
Monday, November 21
WOW!
Dear Family and Friends:
Casa de Esperanza
The fruits of ministry have been a blessing to us this year. Being a part of the unfolding of God’s plans is a privilege and an honor. The work in Honduras has been growing and changing on almost a daily basis. Land was purchased in Santa Ana in May. Already, 14 houses have been built for the poor. All complete with electricity and water. A church building was completed in August, a minister hired, and currently there are 70 members with 30 baptisms since it’s opening. The medical clinic is near completion
and the children’s home construction was begun on Nov. 1st and will be completed by Dec. 10th. A 4,800sf building with four large children’s rooms a large kitchen with a dining room capacity of 36 people, there is a large 25’ by 25’ living room with 10 ft ceilings. A laundry room a big 18’ by 14’ storage area with a 14’ roof and an independent apartment for the two American girls that have been called to this ministry. It has a large office, two bedrooms with their own bathrooms, living room and dining room,
kitchen with hot water. WOW! Oh did I mention the big porch on the back with an endless view of the majestic mountains that seem to go on for ever. All the appliances have been donated and the Beds for the first 20 children have been donated by the First Lady of Honduras, who will be there for the inauguration of the project on the 10th of Dec. We hope to have 20 children in the home by January. I know that many ministries have children’s homes
but this one will be different, You’ll see. Mark my words, this will be a home like no other.
Mi Esperanza
Our plans also include the expansion of our Mi Esperanza program (women’s loan program), established to create a way for the countless women to become educated in ways to support themselves and their families. The training centre in Tegucigalpa, “The City Center” will continue with it’s already established programs of sewing, cosmetology, computer training, English classes and our famous Inter-Personal skills class. Our next move is going
to be bigger than you can imagine. We are purchasing another tract of land that is right across the street, that has been newly paved I might add, where we intend to build a 10,000 sf. building to realize the dream of the Mi Esperanza Artisan Center. We already have the artisans lined up to help us train these women how to make some really incredible stuff that we will export to states for sale at high end stores. This is really exciting because it will totally change a town that has been struggling to have a healthy economic base to build on and this program will involve no less than 100 Families from this town. It will change their lives because they will receive the profits realized by their efforts. And we believe that these profits will be significant.
TORCH Missions
Approximately 750 adults and teens came down this summer to work on the various projects through Torch Missions. This program continues to grow and bless the poor of Honduras. I have been so amazed at the amount of lives that are touched spiritually by the teams that come here to serve. To set up clinics in any community and stay there for days until their need is met, seeing some 400 patients a day, giving them free medicines and on at least six occasions through out the summer saving the lives of those patients. Way to go Docs. They build over 150 homes a year, deliver countless bags of food, pray for and visit thousands of hospitalized children; Honduran Children’s Homes are so excited to see these groups. Vacation Bible Schools and evangelism teams that are preaching, teaching and delivering God’s Word to all they encounter, baptizing them into the Kingdom and changing their spiritual lives forever. They plant Churches and build buildings, and schools in communities that have none. They build playgrounds for children. They play tournaments and even put on carnivals in communities that have no idea what cotton candy and popcorn is. These groups have ministered to a vast amount of people. But of course the most amazing thing is how theythemselves are transformed. Many Torchers leave Honduras having found the
Jesus they were looking for. A Savior that they can walk with on a daily basis, a Savior that cares enough to use them for His Glory. They leave Honduras with a renewed sense of purpose and longing to serve the Lord, and this is the greatest gift they encounter. Many of these Torcher’s are changed forever. Several of them have returned to be missionaries and school teachers. Some have gotten married in Honduras and still some have proposed and the girls said “yes” to the question. All in all this adventure into
ministry has changed many lives; it has certainly changed mine and my families. God has continued to bless and lead us where he wants us to go.
Clinic in Santa Ana
Which brings me to the Clinic that is almost ready in Santa Ana that will give continuous free medical care to those in need to seven surrounding communities that total some 15,000 people. Gayle Davidson’s dream of having a clinic that will reach many people as the preacher from the Santa Ana Church of Christ will be evangelizing all that come there for help. Good plan Huh? The clinic will be staffed by Some Honduran Docs that will donate
pro bono consultations. We will also be working with various Doctor groups from the States that will come and help with running the clinic.
Just this last week a group of Docs came to evaluate the possibility of doing free surgeries in the country. We met with the Minister of Health and he approved this program and recommended us to the newest hospital in the country in a town called Danli. The facility was just completed by a Foundation in Spain at a cost of $19,000,000. It is a one hundred and fifty
bed hospital with three, state of the art, operating rooms, and two, state of the art, ICU units. When we met with the Doctors that run the hospital they were so excited to be getting this kind of cooperation and we intend to bring our first surgical team in March if all goes as planned. How exciting is that. Being that there are very few groups that are approved for surgeries from outside nations.
Tattoo Removal
And today, 30 minutes before boarding the plane we signed a special agreement with the First Lady, The Director of Anti-Gang and Rehabilitative and Reintegration services and IRC to purchase, manage and administer a Tattoo Removal Yag-Q Laser. This program is designed to give rehabilitated ex-gang members the ability to return to a normal life. Under the current Honduran Law, if you are caught with any gang related tattoo you are automatically incarcerated for a minimum of four years. This has drastically
reduced the gang population and more and more are looking to get out of gangs and get back to a normal life. This will be a great ministry because all the rehab centers are run by Christian organizations and must go through a two year rehabilitative process before they can be considered for Tattoo removal.
Other Ministries
God continues to open doors of opportunity and we are doing all we can to meet the many needs that are revealed to us. We have always tried to listen to the Spirit when it comes to the ministries we are involved in. These times are no different. We are praying that the current political party will win the elections that are to happen on Nov. 27th. The future of TORCH and our other Honduran ministries are securely in place. Our ability to receive
containers without them being taxed has saved ministries over $45,000 in taxes. Our free warehouse that we are able to have through the ministry of health has been invaluable. We have received over 20 containers a year that are full of help for the poor. God has provided us with huge resources that many of you have been involved in making happen and for that we are eternally grateful. These ministries could never be realized without your
prayers, time and finances. Many of you have sacrificed beyond the call of duty. I am asking you to continue your support of the Hines family so that we may continue to be involved in the works of God whether we are in Honduras or in the States.
Future Plans
As you all are aware, I was called to assist with disaster relief effort in New Orleans. I have been going back and forth from Honduras since September. We have been working with the Tammany Oaks Church of Christ and there is an ongoing need there to continue the outreach. After much prayerful consideration, Gena and I have decided to base our family out of New Orleans
until these needs are met. We don’t like for our family to be apart for such long periods of time and I feel more secure having them watched over here in the states while I go back and forth. Dalton and Dylan will be enrolled in a Christian School in Mandeville and I will be traveling back and forth to
Honduras, being there at least a week a month. The work in Honduras will continue, we are just expanding our missions to include disaster relief and ministering to people in need here in our own country.
In being involved in the Katrina effort, many of us Volunteers realized that there are resources that are lacking in our fellowship concerning the disaster response effort. We intend to create, through the coordination of over 1,800 volunteers, numerous regional response teams that will assist Churches for indefinite period of times in the management of volunteer groups and resources to bring the affected area help while assisting those churches to bear the burden of helping out their community and the people they serve. These response teams would come complete with Counselors, Evangelist, workers, young and old excited to sacrifice some time and energy for those in need. These teams will come totally self sufficient with cooks and mobile kitchens, equipment and trucks and a continued line of resources to help all those affected by the tragedy. We believe that with our logistical and coordination skills that have been developed in Honduras that we are can bring a lot of experience to this endeavor.
It is our desire to be a part of a new ministry that has been revealed to us and many others. This ministry is a response and management team that will coordinate all resources available at any given time. Please pray that God will continue to use us as He wills to bring glory and honor to His name.
None of the work would have been possible without your prayers and financial support. We hope that you will continue to be a part of the work that has been set out for us. Should you have any other questions concerning this new direction of our ministry feel free to write me at Waywalker@msn.com and I will attempt to answer any questions you might have.
Running with you to win the prize,
Tim, Gena, Dalton and Dylan Hines
Additional notes from me:
Tim was in Sarasota this weekend to team up with me to do Jaimi Horn's wedding. We had a great deal of time to talk and to go over the decision and what it means for future Torch Mission teams, especially those going this summer. As mentioned, Tim plans on spending at least one week a month to oversee current works that are being done in Honduras and to research new areas of work for summer projects.
Tim plans on being in Honduras for most of the summer when Torch teams are in full swing in Honduras. He will still help in locating building sites and making sure lumber is ordered. Plans for our trips will continue to go as planned and team leaders will continue to do what they do. This is a time to watch Torch Ministries stretch and grow in ways we have never seen before.
I am excited for Tim and His family as they move back to the states. The sacrifice they have made over the past 4 years is beyond what anyone knows. In time, money, possessions, you name it, the Hines' have given beyond the means that they had to keep the ministry going. They have had to endure problems that would drive us all crazy. They have had personal items stolen from time to time, had things broken by groups that have borrowed them, and have used up materials that have never been replaced. Yet, thrugh it all, they always have a smile on their face and a willing heart to make sure the work continues. You can't help but admire them.
I personally wish the Hines' a smooth transition to Louisiana, from finding a house to shipping their belongs back home. I wish Dalton and Dylan good luck going to a new school, I am sure it will be a big change for them. Good luck to Gena, as she learns to drive like an American again!!!! (those of you that have been with her in Honduras know exactly what I mean!) And especially to my best friend, Tim, I wish him the very best as he continues to work in Honduras and take on the new work in Louisiana. His plate obviously is bigger than mine and it was not considered full! FULL SPEED AHEAD!
Casa de Esperanza
The fruits of ministry have been a blessing to us this year. Being a part of the unfolding of God’s plans is a privilege and an honor. The work in Honduras has been growing and changing on almost a daily basis. Land was purchased in Santa Ana in May. Already, 14 houses have been built for the poor. All complete with electricity and water. A church building was completed in August, a minister hired, and currently there are 70 members with 30 baptisms since it’s opening. The medical clinic is near completion
and the children’s home construction was begun on Nov. 1st and will be completed by Dec. 10th. A 4,800sf building with four large children’s rooms a large kitchen with a dining room capacity of 36 people, there is a large 25’ by 25’ living room with 10 ft ceilings. A laundry room a big 18’ by 14’ storage area with a 14’ roof and an independent apartment for the two American girls that have been called to this ministry. It has a large office, two bedrooms with their own bathrooms, living room and dining room,
kitchen with hot water. WOW! Oh did I mention the big porch on the back with an endless view of the majestic mountains that seem to go on for ever. All the appliances have been donated and the Beds for the first 20 children have been donated by the First Lady of Honduras, who will be there for the inauguration of the project on the 10th of Dec. We hope to have 20 children in the home by January. I know that many ministries have children’s homes
but this one will be different, You’ll see. Mark my words, this will be a home like no other.
Mi Esperanza
Our plans also include the expansion of our Mi Esperanza program (women’s loan program), established to create a way for the countless women to become educated in ways to support themselves and their families. The training centre in Tegucigalpa, “The City Center” will continue with it’s already established programs of sewing, cosmetology, computer training, English classes and our famous Inter-Personal skills class. Our next move is going
to be bigger than you can imagine. We are purchasing another tract of land that is right across the street, that has been newly paved I might add, where we intend to build a 10,000 sf. building to realize the dream of the Mi Esperanza Artisan Center. We already have the artisans lined up to help us train these women how to make some really incredible stuff that we will export to states for sale at high end stores. This is really exciting because it will totally change a town that has been struggling to have a healthy economic base to build on and this program will involve no less than 100 Families from this town. It will change their lives because they will receive the profits realized by their efforts. And we believe that these profits will be significant.
TORCH Missions
Approximately 750 adults and teens came down this summer to work on the various projects through Torch Missions. This program continues to grow and bless the poor of Honduras. I have been so amazed at the amount of lives that are touched spiritually by the teams that come here to serve. To set up clinics in any community and stay there for days until their need is met, seeing some 400 patients a day, giving them free medicines and on at least six occasions through out the summer saving the lives of those patients. Way to go Docs. They build over 150 homes a year, deliver countless bags of food, pray for and visit thousands of hospitalized children; Honduran Children’s Homes are so excited to see these groups. Vacation Bible Schools and evangelism teams that are preaching, teaching and delivering God’s Word to all they encounter, baptizing them into the Kingdom and changing their spiritual lives forever. They plant Churches and build buildings, and schools in communities that have none. They build playgrounds for children. They play tournaments and even put on carnivals in communities that have no idea what cotton candy and popcorn is. These groups have ministered to a vast amount of people. But of course the most amazing thing is how theythemselves are transformed. Many Torchers leave Honduras having found the
Jesus they were looking for. A Savior that they can walk with on a daily basis, a Savior that cares enough to use them for His Glory. They leave Honduras with a renewed sense of purpose and longing to serve the Lord, and this is the greatest gift they encounter. Many of these Torcher’s are changed forever. Several of them have returned to be missionaries and school teachers. Some have gotten married in Honduras and still some have proposed and the girls said “yes” to the question. All in all this adventure into
ministry has changed many lives; it has certainly changed mine and my families. God has continued to bless and lead us where he wants us to go.
Clinic in Santa Ana
Which brings me to the Clinic that is almost ready in Santa Ana that will give continuous free medical care to those in need to seven surrounding communities that total some 15,000 people. Gayle Davidson’s dream of having a clinic that will reach many people as the preacher from the Santa Ana Church of Christ will be evangelizing all that come there for help. Good plan Huh? The clinic will be staffed by Some Honduran Docs that will donate
pro bono consultations. We will also be working with various Doctor groups from the States that will come and help with running the clinic.
Just this last week a group of Docs came to evaluate the possibility of doing free surgeries in the country. We met with the Minister of Health and he approved this program and recommended us to the newest hospital in the country in a town called Danli. The facility was just completed by a Foundation in Spain at a cost of $19,000,000. It is a one hundred and fifty
bed hospital with three, state of the art, operating rooms, and two, state of the art, ICU units. When we met with the Doctors that run the hospital they were so excited to be getting this kind of cooperation and we intend to bring our first surgical team in March if all goes as planned. How exciting is that. Being that there are very few groups that are approved for surgeries from outside nations.
Tattoo Removal
And today, 30 minutes before boarding the plane we signed a special agreement with the First Lady, The Director of Anti-Gang and Rehabilitative and Reintegration services and IRC to purchase, manage and administer a Tattoo Removal Yag-Q Laser. This program is designed to give rehabilitated ex-gang members the ability to return to a normal life. Under the current Honduran Law, if you are caught with any gang related tattoo you are automatically incarcerated for a minimum of four years. This has drastically
reduced the gang population and more and more are looking to get out of gangs and get back to a normal life. This will be a great ministry because all the rehab centers are run by Christian organizations and must go through a two year rehabilitative process before they can be considered for Tattoo removal.
Other Ministries
God continues to open doors of opportunity and we are doing all we can to meet the many needs that are revealed to us. We have always tried to listen to the Spirit when it comes to the ministries we are involved in. These times are no different. We are praying that the current political party will win the elections that are to happen on Nov. 27th. The future of TORCH and our other Honduran ministries are securely in place. Our ability to receive
containers without them being taxed has saved ministries over $45,000 in taxes. Our free warehouse that we are able to have through the ministry of health has been invaluable. We have received over 20 containers a year that are full of help for the poor. God has provided us with huge resources that many of you have been involved in making happen and for that we are eternally grateful. These ministries could never be realized without your
prayers, time and finances. Many of you have sacrificed beyond the call of duty. I am asking you to continue your support of the Hines family so that we may continue to be involved in the works of God whether we are in Honduras or in the States.
Future Plans
As you all are aware, I was called to assist with disaster relief effort in New Orleans. I have been going back and forth from Honduras since September. We have been working with the Tammany Oaks Church of Christ and there is an ongoing need there to continue the outreach. After much prayerful consideration, Gena and I have decided to base our family out of New Orleans
until these needs are met. We don’t like for our family to be apart for such long periods of time and I feel more secure having them watched over here in the states while I go back and forth. Dalton and Dylan will be enrolled in a Christian School in Mandeville and I will be traveling back and forth to
Honduras, being there at least a week a month. The work in Honduras will continue, we are just expanding our missions to include disaster relief and ministering to people in need here in our own country.
In being involved in the Katrina effort, many of us Volunteers realized that there are resources that are lacking in our fellowship concerning the disaster response effort. We intend to create, through the coordination of over 1,800 volunteers, numerous regional response teams that will assist Churches for indefinite period of times in the management of volunteer groups and resources to bring the affected area help while assisting those churches to bear the burden of helping out their community and the people they serve. These response teams would come complete with Counselors, Evangelist, workers, young and old excited to sacrifice some time and energy for those in need. These teams will come totally self sufficient with cooks and mobile kitchens, equipment and trucks and a continued line of resources to help all those affected by the tragedy. We believe that with our logistical and coordination skills that have been developed in Honduras that we are can bring a lot of experience to this endeavor.
It is our desire to be a part of a new ministry that has been revealed to us and many others. This ministry is a response and management team that will coordinate all resources available at any given time. Please pray that God will continue to use us as He wills to bring glory and honor to His name.
None of the work would have been possible without your prayers and financial support. We hope that you will continue to be a part of the work that has been set out for us. Should you have any other questions concerning this new direction of our ministry feel free to write me at Waywalker@msn.com and I will attempt to answer any questions you might have.
Running with you to win the prize,
Tim, Gena, Dalton and Dylan Hines
Additional notes from me:
Tim was in Sarasota this weekend to team up with me to do Jaimi Horn's wedding. We had a great deal of time to talk and to go over the decision and what it means for future Torch Mission teams, especially those going this summer. As mentioned, Tim plans on spending at least one week a month to oversee current works that are being done in Honduras and to research new areas of work for summer projects.
Tim plans on being in Honduras for most of the summer when Torch teams are in full swing in Honduras. He will still help in locating building sites and making sure lumber is ordered. Plans for our trips will continue to go as planned and team leaders will continue to do what they do. This is a time to watch Torch Ministries stretch and grow in ways we have never seen before.
I am excited for Tim and His family as they move back to the states. The sacrifice they have made over the past 4 years is beyond what anyone knows. In time, money, possessions, you name it, the Hines' have given beyond the means that they had to keep the ministry going. They have had to endure problems that would drive us all crazy. They have had personal items stolen from time to time, had things broken by groups that have borrowed them, and have used up materials that have never been replaced. Yet, thrugh it all, they always have a smile on their face and a willing heart to make sure the work continues. You can't help but admire them.
I personally wish the Hines' a smooth transition to Louisiana, from finding a house to shipping their belongs back home. I wish Dalton and Dylan good luck going to a new school, I am sure it will be a big change for them. Good luck to Gena, as she learns to drive like an American again!!!! (those of you that have been with her in Honduras know exactly what I mean!) And especially to my best friend, Tim, I wish him the very best as he continues to work in Honduras and take on the new work in Louisiana. His plate obviously is bigger than mine and it was not considered full! FULL SPEED AHEAD!
Tuesday, November 8
Thankful for Thanksgiving
Here we are in early November, 2005. Around the country signs of winter are being seen. Leaves have changed color in most of the country and have begun their annual foliage. It won’t be long before they will be on the ground and cold weather settles in. For some, this is their favorite time of the year (although personally I think they are just trying to rationalize the fact that they have to endure several months of winter weather). Here in Sarasota, we are entering our winter months as well. The temperatures have dropped down to the low 80’s during the day and 60’s at night. Soon we will be facing temperatures in the 70’s. Flowers are blooming, the sun is shinning, and the sweet ocean breeze comes in from the west. Yeah, its rough down here.
But, along with the weather, winter brings on a lot of other things. Holidays, shopping, wonderful dinners of turkey and dressing with all of the trimmings. Thinking of family and friends, getting together with loved ones. College students coming home for semester break. Lights and decorations. This is definitely a wonderful time of the year. Not just here, but everywhere.
Of course, the holiday season doesn’t always bring good cheer and happiness. There is sadness attached to this time of the year as well. Some have lost loved ones during this time of the year and every time it rolls around it brings back precious memories of those who have gone on. For others, it brings on the stress and strain of providing for their families beyond their means. It is painful to stare at the monthly bills, see the income coming in, and payments going out and what is left over to pay for all of the things they want and need for the holidays. When outflow exceeds income it brings in a lot of stress and feelings of sadness, resentment, and depression that is felt from those who are in this boat.
And there are those, by no fault of their own, who are so poor and lacking, that the holiday season means little more to them than any other time of the year. They wake up in the morning, put in a hard day’s work, and buy, hopefully, enough food to feed their family for the day. They don’t have to worry about paying the utility bill, or the water bill, or the cable bill, none of that even exists where they live. They pray for a rainless night, a night where the inside of their “house” will stay dry, and hope the cold wind doesn’t blow too hard. Then it is up at dawn, starting from scratch all over again.
It is when I stop to think about the people we see and work with in Honduras, stop to REALLY think about it, do I realize just how good I really have it here in Florida. We live in the greatest country in the world, in the lap of luxury. A Place of abundance, a place of comfort and fulfillment. Man, do we have it great. And we need to be THANKFUL for it, too.
The book of Job says that God knew him before he was ever born and implies that He knows all of us the same way. If this is true, God knew before we were born who we are, and more specifically, who are parents were going to be and where we were going to be born. It is by the grace of God that most of us were born right here in the good ole’ U.S. of A. Oh how THANKFUL we should be!!!!! So, before the Christmas holiday completely sweeps over our land, please take time to observe a holiday that is almost forgotten in our society today, THANKSGIVING. A time to recognize the blessings we have to enjoy. To be THANKFUL to God for the blessings He has given us. To be THANKFUL for our friends, our families, our congregations. We need to be THANKFUL for our educations, our wonderful paved roads (even the ones under construction), our means of transportation. I could go on and on, but I am sure you are getting the picture.
With all of that being said, I am pumped and THANKFUL for the 2006 trips that are coming. And it is not just me, people from all around are saying the same thing. Building houses with wood floors and painted walls! Water barrels and water purifiers! Food boxes! Care packages! Hygiene packets! Clothes and shoes to give away! I could go on and on, but the point is the machine is in motion and things are starting to happen. It is time to begin collecting donated supplies and raising money. Our theme, “NO JUNK FOR JESUS” is going to go out far and wide. And again, we need to be THANKFUL that we live in a place of such abundance that we can collect stuff to take with us to give away. We need to be THANKFUL for the opportunity to be able to give, to collect, to sort, inventory, and box.
Each month we are going to post certain items that we want to collect for our supplies drive. I want to encourage all of us to work hard to obtain these items and inventory them and get them ready for shipment. The collection months will be November, December, January, February, and March.
The following items are on the collection list for November (medical month):
* Large bottles of Tylenol
* Large bottles of Advil
* Large bottles of aspirin
* Antibiotic creams
* Large bottles of Pepto Bismol
* Plastic Bandages (all sizes)
* Cotton balls
* Q-tips
* Latex gloves
* Empty pill bottles (labels removed!)
Good luck with your collections. This will be a banner year for Torch and I am confident that we will achieve our goals for all of the supplies that we will need to accomplish the projects that we have planned for 2006. Please contact me if you have any questions. On your mark…… get set…… GO!
Serving with a THANKFUL heart,
TR
But, along with the weather, winter brings on a lot of other things. Holidays, shopping, wonderful dinners of turkey and dressing with all of the trimmings. Thinking of family and friends, getting together with loved ones. College students coming home for semester break. Lights and decorations. This is definitely a wonderful time of the year. Not just here, but everywhere.
Of course, the holiday season doesn’t always bring good cheer and happiness. There is sadness attached to this time of the year as well. Some have lost loved ones during this time of the year and every time it rolls around it brings back precious memories of those who have gone on. For others, it brings on the stress and strain of providing for their families beyond their means. It is painful to stare at the monthly bills, see the income coming in, and payments going out and what is left over to pay for all of the things they want and need for the holidays. When outflow exceeds income it brings in a lot of stress and feelings of sadness, resentment, and depression that is felt from those who are in this boat.
And there are those, by no fault of their own, who are so poor and lacking, that the holiday season means little more to them than any other time of the year. They wake up in the morning, put in a hard day’s work, and buy, hopefully, enough food to feed their family for the day. They don’t have to worry about paying the utility bill, or the water bill, or the cable bill, none of that even exists where they live. They pray for a rainless night, a night where the inside of their “house” will stay dry, and hope the cold wind doesn’t blow too hard. Then it is up at dawn, starting from scratch all over again.
It is when I stop to think about the people we see and work with in Honduras, stop to REALLY think about it, do I realize just how good I really have it here in Florida. We live in the greatest country in the world, in the lap of luxury. A Place of abundance, a place of comfort and fulfillment. Man, do we have it great. And we need to be THANKFUL for it, too.
The book of Job says that God knew him before he was ever born and implies that He knows all of us the same way. If this is true, God knew before we were born who we are, and more specifically, who are parents were going to be and where we were going to be born. It is by the grace of God that most of us were born right here in the good ole’ U.S. of A. Oh how THANKFUL we should be!!!!! So, before the Christmas holiday completely sweeps over our land, please take time to observe a holiday that is almost forgotten in our society today, THANKSGIVING. A time to recognize the blessings we have to enjoy. To be THANKFUL to God for the blessings He has given us. To be THANKFUL for our friends, our families, our congregations. We need to be THANKFUL for our educations, our wonderful paved roads (even the ones under construction), our means of transportation. I could go on and on, but I am sure you are getting the picture.
With all of that being said, I am pumped and THANKFUL for the 2006 trips that are coming. And it is not just me, people from all around are saying the same thing. Building houses with wood floors and painted walls! Water barrels and water purifiers! Food boxes! Care packages! Hygiene packets! Clothes and shoes to give away! I could go on and on, but the point is the machine is in motion and things are starting to happen. It is time to begin collecting donated supplies and raising money. Our theme, “NO JUNK FOR JESUS” is going to go out far and wide. And again, we need to be THANKFUL that we live in a place of such abundance that we can collect stuff to take with us to give away. We need to be THANKFUL for the opportunity to be able to give, to collect, to sort, inventory, and box.
Each month we are going to post certain items that we want to collect for our supplies drive. I want to encourage all of us to work hard to obtain these items and inventory them and get them ready for shipment. The collection months will be November, December, January, February, and March.
The following items are on the collection list for November (medical month):
* Large bottles of Tylenol
* Large bottles of Advil
* Large bottles of aspirin
* Antibiotic creams
* Large bottles of Pepto Bismol
* Plastic Bandages (all sizes)
* Cotton balls
* Q-tips
* Latex gloves
* Empty pill bottles (labels removed!)
Good luck with your collections. This will be a banner year for Torch and I am confident that we will achieve our goals for all of the supplies that we will need to accomplish the projects that we have planned for 2006. Please contact me if you have any questions. On your mark…… get set…… GO!
Serving with a THANKFUL heart,
TR
Wednesday, November 2
LET GO!!!!
Its Wednesday night and I am back home from Bible study. Tonight we discussed the idea of selling out to something you really believe in with all of your heart. I love my Wednesday night class, the teens always have something to say and our discussions are always good. Random at times, but good. Tonight we read a story about a guy named Daniel, a 38 year old man who sold out to God at the age of 24. He had lived a rough life, made some bad decisions and had to reap the consequences of them. Then , in Daytona Beach, Florida, he attended a revival and became a Christian.
His incredible journey took him all across the United States, on foot, with all of his earthy possessions in a back pack. He wasn’t homeless, he was on a mission. The mission? To pass out bibles to people that he met along his way. He sold out to God and that is what he got, a life of loneliness, void of earthy possessions, and empty of life’s luxuries that it has to offer.
He had a sign that he carried with him that read, “Will work for food.” He meant it. He used the money to buy food and Bibles. Occasionally a new pair of shoes or a shirt. Just the basic essentials. He met a lot of people along the way during his journey. Many were rude and opinionated. Others were cynical or uncaring. Still others that simply ignored him and tried to pretend that he didn’t exist. And a few that stopped to help. Some of them gave a token offering, a dollar here and a couple of coins there. And a very small number stopped to help, really help. They took time to talk to him, to take him out for a hot meal. To pray with him.
Some life, huh? But it brings up a very interesting thought. What would happen to you, or me, if we decided to “sell out” to God. What would happen? Where would we go? What would we do? And more importantly, would WE DO IT? I have come to the decision that selling out would be hard to do. Really hard. And what is sad is the fact that many of us actually think that we have. But when I read this story I ask myself the question, “Have I sold out to God?” I look at the story of Daniel and I say to myself, “No way, I could not do that.” And I couldn’t. I wish I could say I could, but deep down I know I couldn’t. But thankfully, God hasn’t asked me to give up everything that I own, and hit the road for Him. He has asked me to do some other things instead. Other crosses to bear.
Some of you might be thinking, “I am glad I don’t have to walk the path that Terry has been asked to walk, to endure the fight against cancer, the surgeries, the radiation, the chemo. I just couldn‘t do it.” But that is the point, God hasn’t asked you to do it. He asked me to do it. When I sold out to God I took the path that God set before me. What has God asked you to do? Where has He sent you? Where is your path leading? And more importantly, have you sold out to God yet? For until you sell out to God, you will never be the person that God wants you to be. And, in case you didn’t know it, God is a great judge of character. Why settle for less than what God can allow you to be?
Our churches are filled with half hearted believers, hanging onto what the world has to offer with a death grip. They are too scared to let go and to let God take control. And because they can’t let go, they are being held back. And our churches are being held back. LET GO!!! WHAT DO WE REALLY HAVE TO LOOSE? And, more importantly, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO GAIN? Something to think about. If you dare.
TR
His incredible journey took him all across the United States, on foot, with all of his earthy possessions in a back pack. He wasn’t homeless, he was on a mission. The mission? To pass out bibles to people that he met along his way. He sold out to God and that is what he got, a life of loneliness, void of earthy possessions, and empty of life’s luxuries that it has to offer.
He had a sign that he carried with him that read, “Will work for food.” He meant it. He used the money to buy food and Bibles. Occasionally a new pair of shoes or a shirt. Just the basic essentials. He met a lot of people along the way during his journey. Many were rude and opinionated. Others were cynical or uncaring. Still others that simply ignored him and tried to pretend that he didn’t exist. And a few that stopped to help. Some of them gave a token offering, a dollar here and a couple of coins there. And a very small number stopped to help, really help. They took time to talk to him, to take him out for a hot meal. To pray with him.
Some life, huh? But it brings up a very interesting thought. What would happen to you, or me, if we decided to “sell out” to God. What would happen? Where would we go? What would we do? And more importantly, would WE DO IT? I have come to the decision that selling out would be hard to do. Really hard. And what is sad is the fact that many of us actually think that we have. But when I read this story I ask myself the question, “Have I sold out to God?” I look at the story of Daniel and I say to myself, “No way, I could not do that.” And I couldn’t. I wish I could say I could, but deep down I know I couldn’t. But thankfully, God hasn’t asked me to give up everything that I own, and hit the road for Him. He has asked me to do some other things instead. Other crosses to bear.
Some of you might be thinking, “I am glad I don’t have to walk the path that Terry has been asked to walk, to endure the fight against cancer, the surgeries, the radiation, the chemo. I just couldn‘t do it.” But that is the point, God hasn’t asked you to do it. He asked me to do it. When I sold out to God I took the path that God set before me. What has God asked you to do? Where has He sent you? Where is your path leading? And more importantly, have you sold out to God yet? For until you sell out to God, you will never be the person that God wants you to be. And, in case you didn’t know it, God is a great judge of character. Why settle for less than what God can allow you to be?
Our churches are filled with half hearted believers, hanging onto what the world has to offer with a death grip. They are too scared to let go and to let God take control. And because they can’t let go, they are being held back. And our churches are being held back. LET GO!!! WHAT DO WE REALLY HAVE TO LOOSE? And, more importantly, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO GAIN? Something to think about. If you dare.
TR
Thursday, October 27
2006 trip dates posted
Greetings from the sunshine (hurricane) coast!
8 hurricanes in 15 months, unbelievable, isn't it? God's power through nature has been shown time and time again this year and the answer to prayer and divine protection is evident as well. The Lord is being glorified through all of this and the Lord's church has been set to task in the great recovery efforts that are going on right now. Let us keep those in need in our constant prayers and seek to help in the ways that we can.
Honduras 2006 is off and running, even though it has taken a back seat to all that is going on right now. For many, a mission trip to Honduras is no where close to being at the top of the priority list, but never the less, the time has come to begin our preparations for the trip. I hope that all of you are excited about the possibilities and opportunities that God is going to put before us for 2006.
The dates for the 2006 trips are as follows:
May 14-24 (10 day trip, primarily college age)
July 1-10 ( 10 day trip, all ages, 9th grade and up)
July 8-16 (9 day trip, Palmetto Church, Columbia, SC)
July 14-24 (11 day trip, all ages, 9th grade and up)
The cost of the trip this year is $595.00 per person PLUS the cost of the airline ticket. Depending on market value of the ticket and the departure hub, costs will vary from group to group. The $595.00 pays for the following:
* Lodging at the Mission House
* 2 meals per day at the Mission House
* Use of buses
* Salaries for bus drivers
* Bus fuel
* Supplemental travel insurance
* Truck rental
* Delivery truck usage
* Truck fuel
* Work fund (for new hammers, chain saws, levels, etc.)
* Torch t-shirt
* Torch journal
* End of the trip retreat
* Airport taxes
* Airport luggage tips
* Exit fees
* Container shipment fees
* Port/customs paperwork fees
* Contingency fund
Departure hubs this year are the following:
Atlanta, GA
Nashville, TN
Miami, FL
Charlotte, SC
Pittsburgh, PA
As usual, applications are required to be filled out by each person going on the trip. Any new team members need to have 2 letters of recommendation, anyone who has been at least once does not have to do this. We are not requiring essays this year (although group leaders can still require this for their own files). Applications and the $100 deposit need to be turned in by November 30th for a guaranteed spot for the trip. The trips are going to fill up fast so I want to encourage you to get this done as quickly as possible.
The May trip has a maximum capacity of 60; the July 1-10 trip has 100, and the July 14-24 has 100. I am expecting to completely fill all 3 trips. The July 8-16 trip is headed up by the Palmetto Church of Christ, Columbia, SC, and openings for those dates are dependent on their team leader. As of now the capacity for that trip is 75 unless otherwise notified.
All group leaders need to be aware of the fact that we all need to contribute to the work fund again this year. The formula is simple, we need to raise $150 per person going on your team. If you have 10 people, you need to raise $1,500 for the work fund. If you have 20, you need to raise $3,000. This money is used to buy the wood, tin, nails, hinges, water purifiers, water barrels, bulk foods, zip lock bags, boxes, tape, markers, labels, toys, water, paper, crayons, photocopying, etc., that we use for our work projects. I am not opposed if you raise more than your target amount!!!!
Applications are ready. I am mailing out trip packets to all of the group leaders who have gone with me in the past. So, if you are part of a team that has been before, contact your leader for an application. If you are part of my team, or do not have a group leader, contact me and I will send you an application ASAP. You may also go directly to the TORCH web page to download the correct forms. http://www.irccorp.org/projects/teach/trip_information.htm Don’t delay, the teams will fill up fast.
We are planning on some wonderful projects this summer, some of which none of our team members, no matter how many years they have been going, have done. We will be working in and around Tegucigalpa, and will also be traveling and working throughout Honduras this summer. Many will get to see new areas of the country where remarkable things are going on. It will indeed be a great trip with a lot of challenges.
Good luck, may God bless our efforts this year as we prepare to go to Honduras to minister to people who have been praying to God to send help. We are those people and God is already preparing the hearts, minds, and souls of the people that we are going to meet. Isn't it great to be at work in the kingdom!!!! God is good all of the time and all of the time God is good!
Hasta luego, Dios te bendiga!
Terry Reeves
8 hurricanes in 15 months, unbelievable, isn't it? God's power through nature has been shown time and time again this year and the answer to prayer and divine protection is evident as well. The Lord is being glorified through all of this and the Lord's church has been set to task in the great recovery efforts that are going on right now. Let us keep those in need in our constant prayers and seek to help in the ways that we can.
Honduras 2006 is off and running, even though it has taken a back seat to all that is going on right now. For many, a mission trip to Honduras is no where close to being at the top of the priority list, but never the less, the time has come to begin our preparations for the trip. I hope that all of you are excited about the possibilities and opportunities that God is going to put before us for 2006.
The dates for the 2006 trips are as follows:
May 14-24 (10 day trip, primarily college age)
July 1-10 ( 10 day trip, all ages, 9th grade and up)
July 8-16 (9 day trip, Palmetto Church, Columbia, SC)
July 14-24 (11 day trip, all ages, 9th grade and up)
The cost of the trip this year is $595.00 per person PLUS the cost of the airline ticket. Depending on market value of the ticket and the departure hub, costs will vary from group to group. The $595.00 pays for the following:
* Lodging at the Mission House
* 2 meals per day at the Mission House
* Use of buses
* Salaries for bus drivers
* Bus fuel
* Supplemental travel insurance
* Truck rental
* Delivery truck usage
* Truck fuel
* Work fund (for new hammers, chain saws, levels, etc.)
* Torch t-shirt
* Torch journal
* End of the trip retreat
* Airport taxes
* Airport luggage tips
* Exit fees
* Container shipment fees
* Port/customs paperwork fees
* Contingency fund
Departure hubs this year are the following:
Atlanta, GA
Nashville, TN
Miami, FL
Charlotte, SC
Pittsburgh, PA
As usual, applications are required to be filled out by each person going on the trip. Any new team members need to have 2 letters of recommendation, anyone who has been at least once does not have to do this. We are not requiring essays this year (although group leaders can still require this for their own files). Applications and the $100 deposit need to be turned in by November 30th for a guaranteed spot for the trip. The trips are going to fill up fast so I want to encourage you to get this done as quickly as possible.
The May trip has a maximum capacity of 60; the July 1-10 trip has 100, and the July 14-24 has 100. I am expecting to completely fill all 3 trips. The July 8-16 trip is headed up by the Palmetto Church of Christ, Columbia, SC, and openings for those dates are dependent on their team leader. As of now the capacity for that trip is 75 unless otherwise notified.
All group leaders need to be aware of the fact that we all need to contribute to the work fund again this year. The formula is simple, we need to raise $150 per person going on your team. If you have 10 people, you need to raise $1,500 for the work fund. If you have 20, you need to raise $3,000. This money is used to buy the wood, tin, nails, hinges, water purifiers, water barrels, bulk foods, zip lock bags, boxes, tape, markers, labels, toys, water, paper, crayons, photocopying, etc., that we use for our work projects. I am not opposed if you raise more than your target amount!!!!
Applications are ready. I am mailing out trip packets to all of the group leaders who have gone with me in the past. So, if you are part of a team that has been before, contact your leader for an application. If you are part of my team, or do not have a group leader, contact me and I will send you an application ASAP. You may also go directly to the TORCH web page to download the correct forms. http://www.irccorp.org/projects/teach/trip_information.htm Don’t delay, the teams will fill up fast.
We are planning on some wonderful projects this summer, some of which none of our team members, no matter how many years they have been going, have done. We will be working in and around Tegucigalpa, and will also be traveling and working throughout Honduras this summer. Many will get to see new areas of the country where remarkable things are going on. It will indeed be a great trip with a lot of challenges.
Good luck, may God bless our efforts this year as we prepare to go to Honduras to minister to people who have been praying to God to send help. We are those people and God is already preparing the hearts, minds, and souls of the people that we are going to meet. Isn't it great to be at work in the kingdom!!!! God is good all of the time and all of the time God is good!
Hasta luego, Dios te bendiga!
Terry Reeves
Thursday, October 6
thinking time
The past couple of weeks have been different for me. As many of you know, I had surgery 3 weeks ago to remove some more melanoma. It was a typical surgery, nothing about it that was tougher than the others I have had. But, for whatever reason, the recovery pains have been tougher. I have had to really back off my regular routines so that my body could have some time to heal. Needless to say I am not the best patient in the world and tried to do too much and now have extended my recovery time a bit longer. Not being able to get out and do my thing is tough, and staying home and behaving myself is even tougher.
However, having time at home has given me time to study my Bible a little bit more and it certainly has given me time to think and reflect. Sometimes I guess I don’t realize the fast pace I usually run from day to day and how little I get to think. It has been nice in a way. And one of the best parts of the rest has been the time to think and dream and plan on the 2006 mission trips to Honduras. I have had some time to really think outside the box and to explore new ideas that might be put into action this coming summer. I love having time to do this and I think I could get used to it but I don’t think this will last much longer, as soon as I am on the mend a little bit more I know I will be back in the fast lane once again.
One of the things I have been thinking about a lot is the recent events in and around the gulf coast. The tragedy and destruction that we have witnessed has been more than our country has ever seen. I have read with great interest Tim Hines’s blog about the ways different Torch members have come to Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi to volunteer to work. I have been so proud of all of you that found time to go (or planning to go) and put the training we have experienced in Honduras to work right here in the United States. I have also been jealous of you all as well, wishing more than I can express to be there in the work. I hate that my physical body has kept me from doing something that I wanted to do so badly.
Anyway, I have thought a lot about the incredible stories of heroism and acts of good will that have been told. Forget all of the negative stuff the news media wants us to hear, there has been some awesome stuff going on in the relief efforts. All across the country thousands upon thousands have donated money and supplies to the people who are in such need. People have donated personal items, bought new stuff, donated time, all for people they do not know. Sure, there is still a lot to do, but it is amazing to watch it all happen. Even though people love to point fingers at our government, and especially at our president, I find it amazing that we live in a country with such unbelievable resources. And the private sector, where huge companies and organizations are able to contribute so much, so quickly. And to see the church respond in such as mighty way. Leading the way, many times, into areas that make impressions and impacts that will be seen for weeks, months, or even years to come.
Then, my thoughts shifted to Honduras. To the people who live there. To a nation that struggles in ways only those of us who have been there could possibly know and understand. A country where the government has no resources to come to the aid of thousands of people who are hurting and in desperate need. To a country where citizens do not have insurance to protect their things. To a nation who does not have huge companies and organizations that can donate needed goods and services. To a country where its own people have not got the money to come to rescue in the time of need.
In Honduras the time of need is everyday. The crisis does not come in a horrible storm, sweeping away the riches of the people. It comes with the rising of the sun. People wake up searching for their next meal. Looking for a way to make enough money to feed their kids. Looking for a better scrap of tin along the side of the road to reinforce their roof. Seeking water to wash their clothes. Knowing that the Calvary is not coming. Knowing that they are on their own. And I think about how terribly sad that is. But, that is life in Honduras. Every day, every week, every month. Except, that there are those who do come. They come in small groups called mission teams. They bring supplies and buy food and lumber. They come to help. They come to minister, to bring the good news, they come to make a difference. That is what Torch Missions is all about.
In the next few weeks team leaders across the country will begin recruiting for the 2006 teams. Applications will go out and deposits will be turned in. And the task to start raising money for the trip will begin. I look at the generosity of our country and our people and our church during this difficult time and I wonder how it will be this year for our mission. After all, every year we start from square one raising money for our work funds to build houses, buy food, water purifiers, and collect clothes and supplies. I pray that we will have good success this year, that we will not be turned away from those who give to the cause. After all, there are people right now in Honduras that are dreaming of the day that help will come. They are praying right now that God will send relief, to send hope.
They say it will take months, possibly even a couple of years, to rebuild the gulf coast. To bring it back to where it was, or even to make it better. In Honduras, it has taken years of help and aid to get them to where they are, and it will take a long time to get them to where they COULD be. Mission work is a global effort. It really does take place in our own back yards, our own towns and parishes. In our own country. And it continues to take place around the world, including a small country in Central America called Honduras. And the church will lead the way, rolling up its sleeves, and getting down and dirty, working for the Lord in His kingdom.
Get ready, the 2006 campaigns are about to launch forth! It is going to be exciting!!! Blessings to you all, may your walk take you to where you really want to go. Working with you in the cause.
TR
However, having time at home has given me time to study my Bible a little bit more and it certainly has given me time to think and reflect. Sometimes I guess I don’t realize the fast pace I usually run from day to day and how little I get to think. It has been nice in a way. And one of the best parts of the rest has been the time to think and dream and plan on the 2006 mission trips to Honduras. I have had some time to really think outside the box and to explore new ideas that might be put into action this coming summer. I love having time to do this and I think I could get used to it but I don’t think this will last much longer, as soon as I am on the mend a little bit more I know I will be back in the fast lane once again.
One of the things I have been thinking about a lot is the recent events in and around the gulf coast. The tragedy and destruction that we have witnessed has been more than our country has ever seen. I have read with great interest Tim Hines’s blog about the ways different Torch members have come to Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi to volunteer to work. I have been so proud of all of you that found time to go (or planning to go) and put the training we have experienced in Honduras to work right here in the United States. I have also been jealous of you all as well, wishing more than I can express to be there in the work. I hate that my physical body has kept me from doing something that I wanted to do so badly.
Anyway, I have thought a lot about the incredible stories of heroism and acts of good will that have been told. Forget all of the negative stuff the news media wants us to hear, there has been some awesome stuff going on in the relief efforts. All across the country thousands upon thousands have donated money and supplies to the people who are in such need. People have donated personal items, bought new stuff, donated time, all for people they do not know. Sure, there is still a lot to do, but it is amazing to watch it all happen. Even though people love to point fingers at our government, and especially at our president, I find it amazing that we live in a country with such unbelievable resources. And the private sector, where huge companies and organizations are able to contribute so much, so quickly. And to see the church respond in such as mighty way. Leading the way, many times, into areas that make impressions and impacts that will be seen for weeks, months, or even years to come.
Then, my thoughts shifted to Honduras. To the people who live there. To a nation that struggles in ways only those of us who have been there could possibly know and understand. A country where the government has no resources to come to the aid of thousands of people who are hurting and in desperate need. To a country where citizens do not have insurance to protect their things. To a nation who does not have huge companies and organizations that can donate needed goods and services. To a country where its own people have not got the money to come to rescue in the time of need.
In Honduras the time of need is everyday. The crisis does not come in a horrible storm, sweeping away the riches of the people. It comes with the rising of the sun. People wake up searching for their next meal. Looking for a way to make enough money to feed their kids. Looking for a better scrap of tin along the side of the road to reinforce their roof. Seeking water to wash their clothes. Knowing that the Calvary is not coming. Knowing that they are on their own. And I think about how terribly sad that is. But, that is life in Honduras. Every day, every week, every month. Except, that there are those who do come. They come in small groups called mission teams. They bring supplies and buy food and lumber. They come to help. They come to minister, to bring the good news, they come to make a difference. That is what Torch Missions is all about.
In the next few weeks team leaders across the country will begin recruiting for the 2006 teams. Applications will go out and deposits will be turned in. And the task to start raising money for the trip will begin. I look at the generosity of our country and our people and our church during this difficult time and I wonder how it will be this year for our mission. After all, every year we start from square one raising money for our work funds to build houses, buy food, water purifiers, and collect clothes and supplies. I pray that we will have good success this year, that we will not be turned away from those who give to the cause. After all, there are people right now in Honduras that are dreaming of the day that help will come. They are praying right now that God will send relief, to send hope.
They say it will take months, possibly even a couple of years, to rebuild the gulf coast. To bring it back to where it was, or even to make it better. In Honduras, it has taken years of help and aid to get them to where they are, and it will take a long time to get them to where they COULD be. Mission work is a global effort. It really does take place in our own back yards, our own towns and parishes. In our own country. And it continues to take place around the world, including a small country in Central America called Honduras. And the church will lead the way, rolling up its sleeves, and getting down and dirty, working for the Lord in His kingdom.
Get ready, the 2006 campaigns are about to launch forth! It is going to be exciting!!! Blessings to you all, may your walk take you to where you really want to go. Working with you in the cause.
TR
Wednesday, September 14
Wanted: Experienced workers
I know lots of people are still checking and reading our blog, many everyday. I appreciate the opportunity that I have to write my thoughts and feelings to you and I appreciate the e-mails and responses to the articles. Of course, Children of the King is but one of several blogs that are logged from many different groups and people involved in Torch, Mi Esperanza, and IRC. They offer good reading and insight and I highly encourage those of you that faithfully read this one check out the others as well.
In the mist of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Torch has become a key relief group in the area. Tim Hines is on the ground and is helping in coordinating relief work that is coming in from all over the United States right now. Gayle Davidson is heading up medical relief work and is doing a fantastic job. There are so many people involved in helping right now that it would be impossible to list them all. I would like to encourage all of you to go to www.waywalkers.blogspot.com to keep up with the relief efforts going on through Torch.
As Torch team members, we have all worked in harsh 3rd world conditions. Working without power, running water, clean water, etc., is nothing new to us, we do it day in and day out in Honduras. Because of that, and because of the kind of work we do in Honduras, we are quite qualified for the relief work that is going on in Mississippi and Louisiana right now. I want to encourage you to try to find time to go down to work in the relief efforts. Your skills and work experience is very valuable right now. And they need help! Take a few vacation days off and go. Take a long weekend and go. Get a team of volunteers together and go. This is important stuff and we are trained and experienced at this stuff.
Tim’s blog will offer lots of news and information about the relief effort. It lists supplies that are needed and contact information. Every person matters and every dollar counts. And we don’t have to worry about where the money is going and who is doing what. We don’t have to worry about finger pointing or playing the blame game. We are on the ground and we are doing what we do best, helping those who desperately need help. And sharing the good news about Jesus.
As a side note, please keep me in your prayers. I am scheduled to go to Moffitt Cancer Center Thursday, September 15th for surgery. I have to have more melanoma removed from my side. I am still in the battle and I do not know what lies in store for me. God is the great healer and prayer is powerful. It is in His hands and I will rest in that fact. I am hopeful that all will turn out well. Thank you for your prayers and e-mails, I love you all! Take care and I will talk to you again soon. Keep working in the Kingdom!
TR
In the mist of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Torch has become a key relief group in the area. Tim Hines is on the ground and is helping in coordinating relief work that is coming in from all over the United States right now. Gayle Davidson is heading up medical relief work and is doing a fantastic job. There are so many people involved in helping right now that it would be impossible to list them all. I would like to encourage all of you to go to www.waywalkers.blogspot.com to keep up with the relief efforts going on through Torch.
As Torch team members, we have all worked in harsh 3rd world conditions. Working without power, running water, clean water, etc., is nothing new to us, we do it day in and day out in Honduras. Because of that, and because of the kind of work we do in Honduras, we are quite qualified for the relief work that is going on in Mississippi and Louisiana right now. I want to encourage you to try to find time to go down to work in the relief efforts. Your skills and work experience is very valuable right now. And they need help! Take a few vacation days off and go. Take a long weekend and go. Get a team of volunteers together and go. This is important stuff and we are trained and experienced at this stuff.
Tim’s blog will offer lots of news and information about the relief effort. It lists supplies that are needed and contact information. Every person matters and every dollar counts. And we don’t have to worry about where the money is going and who is doing what. We don’t have to worry about finger pointing or playing the blame game. We are on the ground and we are doing what we do best, helping those who desperately need help. And sharing the good news about Jesus.
As a side note, please keep me in your prayers. I am scheduled to go to Moffitt Cancer Center Thursday, September 15th for surgery. I have to have more melanoma removed from my side. I am still in the battle and I do not know what lies in store for me. God is the great healer and prayer is powerful. It is in His hands and I will rest in that fact. I am hopeful that all will turn out well. Thank you for your prayers and e-mails, I love you all! Take care and I will talk to you again soon. Keep working in the Kingdom!
TR
Tuesday, September 6
the time is now
I have been glued to the TV for days now, watching in disbelief the events that have unfolded in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. The loss of life, the loss of property, the loss of possessions. In the matter of hours a mighty city, along with several other gulf coast towns, were literally wiped off the face of the earth. Billions of dollars in damage and thousands of lives lost. It is heart wrenching to watch the scenes on the news and yet we cannot stop watching it. Thinking about it. Praying about it.
The forces of nature, as we have seen first hand, is more powerful than we can ever imagine. The power of the storms that develop in the oceans are bigger and more powerful than anything we can fathom. Even though our technology is the best we have ever had and monitoring and forecasting storms is more accurate than ever, it fails to show us the true nature of the power of nature. AND IT SHOWS HOW INCREDIBLY WEAK AND HELPLESS WE ARE. We build to hurricane codes with steel and wood and concrete. We take great pride in our technology and architecture. We boast of our engineering skills. And with wind and water it is all taken away.
Storms, like Katrina, hit all over the world. We hear about storms like Hurricane Mitch, which struck Central America, back in 1999, killing thousands. Or Andrew, or Charley. We hear about Typhoons that strike Asia, killing thousands. We hear about monsoons, tornados, earthquakes, drought, volcano eruptions, tidal waves, killing thousands. And we witness the destruction over and over. We are asked to give. We are asked to help. We are asked to pray. We are asked to send and to go. Over and over and over. And we do. We do it out of concern. We do it out of love. We do it out of obligation. We do it because it is the right thing to do. We do it for a lot of reasons.
We do it because it is on the front page of the newspaper, the lead story on the 6:00 news. We do it because it is right there in front of us, to remind us, to keep us informed and in touch. And we respond. Many times we respond with such power and resources that it boggles our minds. It is amazing to see it in action. To watch as man responds to the call. Disasters and horrific events can bring out the best in man, and sometimes the worst.
But in almost every case bad things brings back the fact that we need God and we need Him in the worst way. Sometimes events forces people, and even an nation, to bow down and cry out to God for help in time of crisis and trouble. It is through events like this that we see how small and weak we really are and how much we need a God that is more powerful than nature itself. It is times like this that we must recognize that God is in control and that He is the provider for all that we have here on this earth. There are many stories in the Bible where nature falls into submission to Jesus and God. All of our strength, resources, wealth, and power comes from above. It is He that oversees it all. It is He that hears our cries for help and answers our prayers.
But soon it is second page news, and finally we don’t even hear about it anymore. We hear about hundreds dying in this place or that, and then in the next sentence we hear the final score of the baseball game or the player that is holding out for more money. What we do not hear or see is the weeks, months, or years of struggle that occur after a major disaster. The pain of rebuilding. The pain of trying to replace what has been taken away. We do not see the heartaches of people who lost everything only to realize that they will never get it back. The loss of family and friends, those things that can never be replaced.
And it happens year after year. Decade after decade. Century after century. Throughout history we have witnessed disasters strike over and over. Soon Katrina will become a part of history. It will become a record of a horrible storm that struck the United states in 2005. And sometime, down the road, people will read or hear about the event and it will mean as much to them as the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius does to us today. Just a story with some facts and figures with no feelings or emotions. But right now, this means a lot to us. It means everything to us. We are driven right now by feelings and emotions. And right now we will be judged by what we do and how we do it. We will be remembered for our actions and deeds. We will be forever remembered and JUDGED for what we do and do not do.
The world is watching, waiting to see how the country that prides itself as
being a leader in humanitarian causes, responds to our own needs. The world is watching to see what we do and how we do it. The world is watching to see if we really do walk the walk and talk the talk. An ungodly world is watching to see what a nation, founded on Christian principles, does when it is staring face to face with calamity and misfortune. And we will be judged. Christian organizations have been called to action, Christians have been summoned to answer the call. The church is being summoned to step up to the plate and carry out the instructions that were given by our Master and Commander, Jesus Christ. We MUST answer the call. We MUST do our part. We MUST be willing to do whatever needs to be done. Do not take this lightly, we are being called to do what we are obligated to do. Matthew 25 applies now, as much as ever. We must feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty. We must provide clothes and housing to those who need it. We must provide medical attention. We cannot fail. We cannot compromise. We cannot commit half way. It is all or nothing now. Wherever you are, mobilize your troops for action. Wherever you are, dig down deep and sacrifice for the good of those in need, for they are “the least of these my brethren” that Jesus refers to in Matthew 25.
Every congregation of the Lord’s church needs to respond, needs to help. Every Christian needs to do his or her part. There is no time to take sides, evaluate programs. We cannot be divided on issues or theologies now. For goodness sakes politics pale in importance here. Right now we need to be about saving lives and rebuilding homes. We need to be reuniting families and restoring a broken society. We need to be sharing the love of Jesus now, more than ever, to those who desperately need to hear it. God can be glorified in all things. Even bad things. Good can come out of bad. Good can triumph over evil. The world is watching, what are we going to show them? What are they going to remember?
TR
The forces of nature, as we have seen first hand, is more powerful than we can ever imagine. The power of the storms that develop in the oceans are bigger and more powerful than anything we can fathom. Even though our technology is the best we have ever had and monitoring and forecasting storms is more accurate than ever, it fails to show us the true nature of the power of nature. AND IT SHOWS HOW INCREDIBLY WEAK AND HELPLESS WE ARE. We build to hurricane codes with steel and wood and concrete. We take great pride in our technology and architecture. We boast of our engineering skills. And with wind and water it is all taken away.
Storms, like Katrina, hit all over the world. We hear about storms like Hurricane Mitch, which struck Central America, back in 1999, killing thousands. Or Andrew, or Charley. We hear about Typhoons that strike Asia, killing thousands. We hear about monsoons, tornados, earthquakes, drought, volcano eruptions, tidal waves, killing thousands. And we witness the destruction over and over. We are asked to give. We are asked to help. We are asked to pray. We are asked to send and to go. Over and over and over. And we do. We do it out of concern. We do it out of love. We do it out of obligation. We do it because it is the right thing to do. We do it for a lot of reasons.
We do it because it is on the front page of the newspaper, the lead story on the 6:00 news. We do it because it is right there in front of us, to remind us, to keep us informed and in touch. And we respond. Many times we respond with such power and resources that it boggles our minds. It is amazing to see it in action. To watch as man responds to the call. Disasters and horrific events can bring out the best in man, and sometimes the worst.
But in almost every case bad things brings back the fact that we need God and we need Him in the worst way. Sometimes events forces people, and even an nation, to bow down and cry out to God for help in time of crisis and trouble. It is through events like this that we see how small and weak we really are and how much we need a God that is more powerful than nature itself. It is times like this that we must recognize that God is in control and that He is the provider for all that we have here on this earth. There are many stories in the Bible where nature falls into submission to Jesus and God. All of our strength, resources, wealth, and power comes from above. It is He that oversees it all. It is He that hears our cries for help and answers our prayers.
But soon it is second page news, and finally we don’t even hear about it anymore. We hear about hundreds dying in this place or that, and then in the next sentence we hear the final score of the baseball game or the player that is holding out for more money. What we do not hear or see is the weeks, months, or years of struggle that occur after a major disaster. The pain of rebuilding. The pain of trying to replace what has been taken away. We do not see the heartaches of people who lost everything only to realize that they will never get it back. The loss of family and friends, those things that can never be replaced.
And it happens year after year. Decade after decade. Century after century. Throughout history we have witnessed disasters strike over and over. Soon Katrina will become a part of history. It will become a record of a horrible storm that struck the United states in 2005. And sometime, down the road, people will read or hear about the event and it will mean as much to them as the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius does to us today. Just a story with some facts and figures with no feelings or emotions. But right now, this means a lot to us. It means everything to us. We are driven right now by feelings and emotions. And right now we will be judged by what we do and how we do it. We will be remembered for our actions and deeds. We will be forever remembered and JUDGED for what we do and do not do.
The world is watching, waiting to see how the country that prides itself as
being a leader in humanitarian causes, responds to our own needs. The world is watching to see what we do and how we do it. The world is watching to see if we really do walk the walk and talk the talk. An ungodly world is watching to see what a nation, founded on Christian principles, does when it is staring face to face with calamity and misfortune. And we will be judged. Christian organizations have been called to action, Christians have been summoned to answer the call. The church is being summoned to step up to the plate and carry out the instructions that were given by our Master and Commander, Jesus Christ. We MUST answer the call. We MUST do our part. We MUST be willing to do whatever needs to be done. Do not take this lightly, we are being called to do what we are obligated to do. Matthew 25 applies now, as much as ever. We must feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty. We must provide clothes and housing to those who need it. We must provide medical attention. We cannot fail. We cannot compromise. We cannot commit half way. It is all or nothing now. Wherever you are, mobilize your troops for action. Wherever you are, dig down deep and sacrifice for the good of those in need, for they are “the least of these my brethren” that Jesus refers to in Matthew 25.
Every congregation of the Lord’s church needs to respond, needs to help. Every Christian needs to do his or her part. There is no time to take sides, evaluate programs. We cannot be divided on issues or theologies now. For goodness sakes politics pale in importance here. Right now we need to be about saving lives and rebuilding homes. We need to be reuniting families and restoring a broken society. We need to be sharing the love of Jesus now, more than ever, to those who desperately need to hear it. God can be glorified in all things. Even bad things. Good can come out of bad. Good can triumph over evil. The world is watching, what are we going to show them? What are they going to remember?
TR
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