If you haven't already heard, this Tuesday afternoon, we are having a memorial service for Karen Stone at 5:00 in the Auditorium. Karen was the wife of one of our elders, Bob Stone and the mother of one of our student ministry volunteers, Adelle Gabrielson. I do hope you can make it. Here are a few reasons why it is important to have student minsitry folk at this memorial:
It is important to have youth at a memorial. Young people, children and babies reminds others of the hope of life and the continuation of life in our young people.
It is important to show your support for Bob Stone our elder through your presence. It lets the family know that they are not alone and they are loved and cared for. Even if you did not have the chance to know Karen personally, this is a great way to suppport that family.
It is a way to be family for your church. Memorials are important times for family and this is one way you can be family for others in our church.
I hope you can make it. Be there early if you can for the seat will probably fill up fast.
The ragged old man looked up as the young woman entered his cell. He had to admire her faithfulness. Even though she was totally blind, Joan Waste made her way through the streets of Derby, rain or shine. “Hello, John Hurt,” she called cheerfully. Holding out a small book, she asked, “Please, can you read to me today?”
“What chapter would you like to hear?” the old man answered, smiling. Locked indebtor’s prison, with never a visitor besides Joan, he had little else to do.
Although Joan Waste was born blind, she was never idle. When she was little, she helped her father make rope. Later, when she was twelve, she learned to knit socks and sleeves. She kept practicing and practicing until she knitted very well.
During the reign of King Edward, churches began to offer readings from the Bible inEnglish instead of only in Latin. Joan went to church daily to hear the Word of God, and it dramatically changed her life. She had a tremendous desire to understand Scripture and have it printed in her memory. Even though she was blind and could not read, and New Testaments were expensive, she decided to get one of her own. Since she was from a poor family, it took her a long time to save enough money to buy one.
Then Joan had to find someone who would read to her. That’s when she met John Hurt,who agreed to read her a chapter a day. On days when he was too sick to read,she would pay others to read to her. Joan had an unusually good memory, and she became very familiar with the Bible. By the time she was twenty-two, she could repeat many entire chapters by heart.
When Queen Mary took the throne, laws were passed making it illegal to own a Bible in English. Joan was brought before the bishop because of her beliefs, charged with heresy, and put in prison. She was questioned again and again. Finally,she said, “I cannot forsake the truth. I beg you, please stop troubling me.”After that, she wouldn’t say anything else.
The death sentence was finally pronounced and she was handed over to the sheriff. On August 1, 1556, she was led to the stake. There, she knelt down and prayed.Then she stood up. “Please pray for me,” she urged everyone watching. The executioner fastened her to the stake and the flames were lit.
Joan treasured the Word of God, going to great trouble to store it in her heart. The truths she found in its pages brought her great strength.Many people today have access to Scripture, but never take the time to memorize it and meditate on it. Do you?
I bless God for my imprisonment, for I then began to relish the life and sweetness of God’s Holy Word.
Nicholas Caren •Martyred in England, 1539
Taken from "Jesus Freaks" by DC Talk and Voice of the Martyrs, Bethany House Publishers, 1999.
My name is Petrus Kristian. I am the oldest son of Pastor Ishak Kristian, who was burned to death a few months ago. It happened on October 10, 19 96. At 11:30 a.m., about twenty people came and surrounded thechurch.My father, the pastor, tried calming those angry people, but they did not move away from the church.My father went into the house and prayed with six other people, including the rest of my family.
Thirty minutes later, about 200 people came on foot bringing many kinds of tools. They started smashing the church building and parsonage. Six of the people in the house, including my father, ran and hid in a room at the back of the house. The other person hid upstairs where he was safe. Some of those angry people saw them and told them to get out of the room. Since they did not leave, the people started burning the building.
One of those seven people, Didit (a church worker) ran through the fire and escaped. My father, mother, sister, cousin, and a church worker were trapped in the house and burned to death.
During the fire, the local police did not take any action, probablybecause they were afraid of the mob. I hurried to the church at 1:30 p.m. but by that time, all were gone.The army, whose military was four kilometers from town, were at military training elsewhere and were not available.
Whenthey arrived at 5:00 p.m. to guard the area, everything was in ashes.
The night before the funeral, a local government official apologized. He advised menot to take revenge. He also said that the incident might be my family’s fate.(This is Muslim teaching – the will of Allah.)
At first, I was really disappointed because I lost all of my beloved people. Butthis made me realize that material things around me are not eternal or worth loving. After the fire, most of our congregation became stronger in faith.
Because we have Jesus, it is not difficult to be a Christian, although there are many oppressions.
Whatever we do, it is because Christ’s love controls us…. Those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them.
I was on the phone recently and it was another one of many difficult conversation I have had with this person. They had been through the wrecking machine of life and were still working very, very diligently to put the pieces of their shattered life together. They were in a corner and they were asking me for my advice as to what they should do.
I found myself wrestling with the question, “What would bring redemption to this?” What I was wondering was, how could he act in such a way the God would be glorified AND the others involved would be brought closer to God through that action?
The easier question would have been to ask, “What is the right thing to do here?” However, I think there are many times that the right thing doesn’t necessarily bring redemption. When I was a teenager I got arrested for breaking in to a store late at night and stealing a bunch of stuff with my friends at the time. The judge had a choice as to whether or not to send me to juvenile hall or to give me probation. According to the law, either one of those options were the RIGHT thing to do. But the redeeming thing was to give me probation. Probation allowed me to learn my lesson, pay my debt to society, and rehabilitate my self for my wrongdoing. In the end I was still able to graduate high school, go to college and become a productive member of society. If I was sent to juvenile hall, who knows what might of happened.
Redemption is being able to show someone the love of Jesus, perhaps when they don’t even deserve it. It is giving when you already have given. It is serving when no one else is serving. Redemption is looking after the very best interests of those you hope get smited (or is it smote?) It is wishing others well who you really want to curse. And I don’t mean one of those weenie little wishes. I mean really wishing that their life goes well--really well. Not that they get to keep living but life while hitting every red light from now till death, they can’t find a good parking space ever, or the cashier always checks the expiration date on the coupon and the date was yesterday (Sorry sir), they always get the middle seat on every flight they take. However, redemption has no place for revenge. No you are able to wish them well for their soul. You truly want good for them. That is a much better way of living. This is the way of Jesus. Let us be people of redemption with all the relationships we have. Let us bring redemption to our brothers, sisters, moms, dads, aunts, uncles, friends, coworkers, bosses, coaches, teachers, and neighbors.
What is one relationship God may be calling you to bring redemption to? How might you do that? What kind of load might be lifted from your heart if you did that? How much better would life be if you were a person who brings redemption?
Amy and the girls and I pulled in to home this past Sunday evening. It is GREAT to be HOME! We have missed you guys a LOT! We would love to see you if you don't have anything else to do. Drop by or give us a call. We would love to see you. I oficially have a few more weeks of Sabbatical where I will be doing a lot of writing and getting ready for the Fall. But I would love to hear your stories from the summer. So drop by!
Andrew boldly looked the governor in the eye. “It is good for you, the judge of men, to first know your Judge who dwells in heaven,” he said, his voice ringing with the force of truth. “After you know Him, then worship Him, removing from your mind false gods and blind idols.”
Christians all over the empire were being executed in obedience to a decree from the Roman Senate. Peter had been crucified a year earlier, and before this year would end, six more of the original disciples, including Andrew, would be executed. Of the twelve, only John would remain on earth.
Andrew had voluntarily come to face Aegaeas, the governor, to persuade him not to persecute the many Christians Andrew had brought to the faith in the city of Patras.
Andrew’s words angered the king. “Are you the same Andrew who has overthrown the temple of the gods and persuades men to be of that superstitious sect which Rome has now commanded to be abolished?”
Andrew answered, “The princes of the Romans do not understand the truth. The Son of God, coming from heaven into the world for man’s sake, has taught and declared how those idols, whom you so honor as gods, are not gods, but rather cruel devils, enemies to mankind. They teach the people to do things that are so offensive to God that He turns away. In serving the devil, people fall into all kinds of wickedness, and after they die, nothing remains for them but their evil deeds.”
“Enough!”the governor commanded. “Do not teach such things anymore or you will be fastened to the cross with all speed.”
Andrew answered, “If I were afraid of the death of the cross, I would not have preached about the majesty, honor, and glory of the cross.”
The governor then pronounced sentence, “This man is starting a new sect and taking away the religion of the Roman gods. I hereby sentence him to death by crucifixion.”
As Andrew was brought toward the place of execution, he saw, from afar off, the cross prepared for him. Instead of the fear that might be expected, fervent love for Jesus rose up in his heart. He cried out, “O cross, most welcome andlong looked for! With a willing mind, I joyfully come to you, being the disciple of Him who hung on you.” As he neared the cross he said, “The nearer I come to the cross, the nearer I come to God; and the farther I am from the cross, the farther I remain from God.”
For three days, the apostle hung on the cross. As long as he could move his tongue, he instructed all who stood nearby, encouraging them, “Remain steadfast in the word and doctrine which you have received, instructing one another, that you may dwell with God in eternity, and receive the fruit of His promises.”
After three days, the Christians asked the governor to take Andrew down from the cross and release him to them. But Andrew, hearing their plans, cried out, “OLord Jesus Christ! Don’t let Your servant, who hangs here on the cross for your name’s sake, be released to dwell again among men! Please receive me, O my Lord, my God! You I have known, You I have loved, to You I cling, You I desire to see, and in You I am what I am.”
Having spoken these words, he committed his spirit into the hands of his heavenly Father.
I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting—God’sapplause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.
Paul the Apostle •Martyredin Rome, 65 AD • (2 Timothy 4:7, 8 THE MESSAGE)
Taken from "Jesus Freaks" by DC Talk and Voice of the Martyrs, Bethany House Publishers, 1999.
This fall I am planning to travel to Nairobi to visit with Charles and Darlene Coulston in order to do a survey trip for our church. The plan is to begin to look at the next phase of our relationship with the Made in the Streets Ministry that helps takes boys and girls off the streets of the slums of Nairobi, trains them, and helps them stand on their own two feet. I am also looking forward to really beginning a life-long partnership with this ministry. God has been doing a number on my heart and soul especially in the past two years and has brought me to this point of going overseas. The purpose of the trip is to ask the question, “What’s next?” for the Campbell church but it is also a time for me to work alongside and help train some of the staff that works with the street kids. I have been praying about what I am going to see and experience in such a different culture and if I am being honest, I am terrified and excited all at the same time. Just the whole idea of going to another continent that is riddled with so different a culture is
Exciting and terrifying.
I am terrified and excited of what that level of poverty might do for my heart and theology. I have seen some poverty in Mexico on missions trips, but from what I understand, the slums of Nairobi are a whole new ballgame in my poverty experience. I have no idea what God has in store. How might I view my wealth differently? Will I feel too wealthy? Will I never feel poor again? Might Jesus’ teaching on wealth penetrate my heart at a much deeper level? What might that look like? Might find myself coming back, selling all my possessions and loading my family on an airplane back to Africa? It is possible that God could massage and grip my heart in that way when you put yourself in such a place for such a purpose. That in and of itself is
Exciting and terrifying.
I know some of my time will be going through the slums and meeting with people who have never seen an episode of Seinfeld and wondering to myself “What do I have to offer these people that I am so different from? And knowing I am going to have so many times when I will feel so inadequate and so ill-equipped. I know there will be times when I feel that I am such a burden to a culture that I am such a foreigner to and ask “God why did you bring me here?” That is
Exciting and terrifying.
But I have to trust that God has something good in store for this trip. But I am traveling alone. I will be away from my family for two weeks without any contact. Its not like my cell phone will work there and with the time change and the distance and the cost of telecommunications, and my true purpose for being there, its not likely that I will have my daily phone calls home like I usually do when I am traveling. And that in and of itself is just plain terrifying. Amy, Madeline and Abby are such a part of who I am and their voices nurture my soul, I am really terrified of being away from them for such a long time without any contact. Exciting is not an adjective that easily comes to mind, but I have to have faith that in this too, God has something in mind. A priceless, invaluable lesson that He needs to teach me with such an absence.
Exciting and terrifying.
For more information about the ministry we are partnering with go to: www.made-in-the-streets.org Stay tuned for more ways you and your friends can get involved in helping spread grace to this part of the world.
Mainland China • During the RedGuard Era, 1966-69AD
Ten brothers and sisters in Christ were imprisoned, beaten, and bound. They hadpreached with tears streaming down, causing the passers-by and street-sellers,Christians and non-Christians, to stand still and listen. Even the fortune-tellers were moved by the Holy Spirit and burst out crying. Many people hearing the Word forgot to eat, work, or even return home.
The brothers and sisters preached until they were exhausted, but the crowd wouldnot let them leave. The authorities, however, came and dragged the Christians away one by one, binding them with ropes and beating them with electric-shockpoles, knocking them unconscious. When they revived, they continued to pray, sing, and preach to the bystanders.
When they were bound and beaten, many people noticed a strange expression on their faces, and the crowd saw to their amazement that they were smiling. Their spirit and appearance were so lively and gracious that many were led to believe in Jesus by their example.
When the brothers and sisters in that area saw them bound and forced to kneel on the ground for more than three days without food or water, beaten with sticks untiltheir faces were covered with blood, their hands made black by theropes—but still praying, singing, and praising the Lord—then they too wished to share persecution. In this area recently, the flame of the Gospel has spread everywhere!
Because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.
Paul the Apostle • Martyredin Rome, 65 AD • (2 Timothy 2:9, 10 NLT)
Taken from "Jesus Freaks" by DC Talk and Voice of the Martyrs, Bethany House Publishers, 1999.
Colossians 3:17 is one of my life verses. Its one of those verses that I try to live my life by. It is one of those verses that have camped out in my heart and I can’t seem to let it go. Paul teaches, “And Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col 3:16). As you can see this is one of the “Life is Good” verses. It describes a life that is really dialed in to the fact that Life is Good. I used to think that Col 3:17 was all about the little things. I used to teach that it was about brushing your teeth and taking out the trash. While Paul probably includes those daily mundane tasks in those activities, I think it is a much deeper passage than that. What Paul is really doing here is defining a lifestyle. He is cross-referencing his passage where he describes us as ambassadors of Christ. When one is truly in tune with the fact that God is the Creator and Sustainer of Life, Jesus is the Savior of All, and the Spirit is the Comforter of all our grief, one can do everything in the name of the Lord and do it with thanksgiving. That is an amazing lifestyle that God offers for all of us. It frees us from the tyranny of worry, grief, anger, jealousy, envy, hatred, etc. We no longer are slaves to those forces when we understand God is on control.
Col 3:17 is describing, no Paul is prescribing that we do EVERYTHING in the name of the Lord. Yes it is the teeth brushing and the garbage taking, but it is also facing the plummeting GPA, the girlfriend who just broke up with you, the extra stress that your after school job is giving you, your SAT scores that can’t get you in to the school you want, the checkbook balance that reads red, it is that pinging noise coming from the engine compartment of the ailing mini-van, it’s the recently emptied cubicle next to you wondering if yours is next. It’s the late payment slips, struggling marriage, a torn relationship with your teen. But one living Colossians 3:17 looks at those things not as problems, but as God’s crazy, inexplicable, unintelligible at times, provision. Yes provision.
Colossian 3:17 is all about “Life is Good” living. It is realizing that while not everything is great, or easy, or fun, or without pain or problems, the overarching umbrella that God covers our lives with is GOOD. Yes there are struggles, but god is still GOOD. Yes there is pain, but God is still GOOD. No that may not help you right this very moment, but the more you are able to live out Colossians 3:17, the better life will be. The higher your lows will become. So take today and meditate on Colossians 3:17. Here are a few different translations to help you:
The Message Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
New Living Translation And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Amplified Bible And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.
I doubled my “Life is Good” apparel this summer when I bought a shirt that has a picture of a glass of milk with the phrase “Half Full” under it. I realize that I have been given a critical spirit. I tend to look at a picture perfect day and I am the one that can notice the cloud in the sky. I want to be the person who sees the glass of life as “Half Full.” After all, I live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. I have received a world-class education in theology and have a career that allows me to study about God for a living. I have a wife that loves me much more than the day I met her and the feeling is reciprocal. I have two healthy, beautiful daughters that have brought more joy to my life than I ever have thought possible. And I have my health . . . good health, great health even.
When one really takes stock of their life, it is easy to see the hand of God and not only say, “Half Full,” but “Overflowing.” Yes there are the temptations to buy in to the worries that everything else seems to throw at you. How will I pay for their college? Is that benign or malignant? Am I going to make quota this quarter? Am I pregnant? And these can weigh us down like an anchor from a battleship. And while these are weighty things in life, all one has to do is look in the rear view mirror and see the road of life littered with blessing after blessing after blessing. For me it is 14 years of a great marriage, 14 years of full-time ministry getting to work with the most remarkable kids in the world, getting to travel to four of the seven continents and experience some amazing cultures, being part of amazing faith communities, having faithful and caring friends. That kind of perspective allows one to live those words of Jesus when he says, “Let not your heart be troubled, Trust in God, trust also in me.” (John 14:1)
If you haven't already heard, this Tuesday afternoon, we are having a memorial service for Karen Stone at 5:00 in the Auditorium. Karen was the wife of one of our elders, Bob Stone and the mother of one of our student ministry volunteers, Adelle Gabrielson. I do hope you can make it. Here are a few reasons why it is important to have student minsitry folk at this memorial:
I was on the phone recently and it was another one of many difficult conversation I have had with this person. They had been through the wrecking machine of life and were still working very, very diligently to put the pieces of their shattered life together. They were in a corner and they were asking me for my advice as to what they should do. 
This fall I am planning to travel to Nairobi to visit with Charles and Darlene Coulston in order to do a survey trip for our church. The plan is to begin to look at the next phase of our relationship with the Made in the Streets Ministry that helps takes boys and girls off the streets of the slums of Nairobi, trains them, and helps them stand on their own two feet. I am also looking forward to really beginning a life-long partnership with this ministry. God has been doing a number on my heart and soul especially in the past two years and has brought me to this point of going overseas. The purpose of the trip is to ask the question, “What’s next?” for the Campbell church but it is also a time for me to work alongside and help train some of the staff that works with the street kids. I have been praying about what I am going to see and experience in such a different culture and if I am being honest, I am terrified and excited all at the same time. Just the whole idea of going to another continent that is riddled with so different a culture is 
Colossians 3:17 is one of my life verses. Its one of those verses that I try to live my life by. It is one of those verses that have camped out in my heart and I can’t seem to let it go. Paul teaches, “And Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col 3:16). As you can see this is one of the “Life is Good” verses. It describes a life that is really dialed in to the fact that Life is Good. I used to think that Col 3:17 was all about the little things. I used to teach that it was about brushing your teeth and taking out the trash. While Paul probably includes those daily mundane tasks in those activities, I think it is a much deeper passage than that. What Paul is really doing here is defining a lifestyle. He is cross-referencing his passage where he describes us as ambassadors of Christ. When one is truly in tune with the fact that God is the Creator and Sustainer of Life, Jesus is the Savior of All, and the Spirit is the Comforter of all our grief, one can do everything in the name of the Lord and do it with thanksgiving. That is an amazing lifestyle that God offers for all of us. It frees us from the tyranny of worry, grief, anger, jealousy, envy, hatred, etc. We no longer are slaves to those forces when we understand God is on control. 
I doubled my “Life is Good” apparel this summer when I bought a shirt that has a picture of a glass of milk with the phrase “Half Full” under it. I realize that I have been given a critical spirit. I tend to look at a picture perfect day and I am the one that can notice the cloud in the sky. I want to be the person who sees the glass of life as “Half Full.” After all, I live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. I have received a world-class education in theology and have a career that allows me to study about God for a living. I have a wife that loves me much more than the day I met her and the feeling is reciprocal. I have two healthy, beautiful daughters that have brought more joy to my life than I ever have thought possible. And I have my health . . . good health, great health even. 