At a cocktail party, one woman said to another, "Aren't you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?" "Yes, I am. I married the wrong man."
A lady inserted an 'ad' in the classifieds: "Husband Wanted". Next day she received a hundred letters. They all said the same thing: "You can have mine."
When a woman steals your husband, there is no better revenge than to let her keep him. A woman is incomplete until she is married. Then she is finished.
A little boy asked his father, "Daddy, how much does it cost to get married?" Father replied, "I don't know son, I'm still paying."
Young son: "Is it true Dad, that in some parts of Africa a man doesn't know his wife until he marries her?" Dad: "That happens in every country, son."
Then there was a woman who said, "I never knew what real happiness was until I got married, and by then, it was too late."
Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence. If you want your spouse to listen and pay strict attention to every word you say, talk in your sleep.
Just think, if it weren't for marriage, men would go through life thinking they had no faults at all.
First guy: "My wife's an angel!" Second guy: "You're lucky, mine's still alive."
Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are attractive to the opposite sex.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Warning About a New Virus !
This virus is called Worm-Overload-Recreational-Killer (WORK). If you receive WORK from any of your colleagues, your boss or anyone else via any means DO NOT TOUCH IT. This virus will wipe out your private life completely.
If you should come into contact with WORK put your jacket on and take 2 good friends to the nearest pub. Purchase the antidote known as Work-Isolator-Neutralizer-Extractor (WINE). The quickest acting WINE type is called Swift-Hitting-Infiltrator-Remover-All-Zones (SHIRAZ) but this is only available for those who can afford it. The next best equivalent is Cheapest-Available-System-Killer (CASK). Take the antidote repeatedly until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system.
Forward this warning to 4 friends. If you do not have 4 friends, you have already been infected and WORK is controlling your life. This virus is DEADLY(Destroys-Every-Available-Decent-Living-Youngster).
After extensive testing it has been concluded that Best-Equivalent-Extractor-Remedy (BEER) may be substituted for WINE but may require a more generous application.
(Ironically, this was sent to me by my customer who sends me lots of work!)
source: here
If you should come into contact with WORK put your jacket on and take 2 good friends to the nearest pub. Purchase the antidote known as Work-Isolator-Neutralizer-Extractor (WINE). The quickest acting WINE type is called Swift-Hitting-Infiltrator-Remover-All-Zones (SHIRAZ) but this is only available for those who can afford it. The next best equivalent is Cheapest-Available-System-Killer (CASK). Take the antidote repeatedly until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system.
Forward this warning to 4 friends. If you do not have 4 friends, you have already been infected and WORK is controlling your life. This virus is DEADLY(Destroys-Every-Available-Decent-Living-Youngster).
After extensive testing it has been concluded that Best-Equivalent-Extractor-Remedy (BEER) may be substituted for WINE but may require a more generous application.
(Ironically, this was sent to me by my customer who sends me lots of work!)
source: here
Monday, June 13, 2005
Festival Cubano 2005
A set of some 50 photos by Aizuddin Danian taken at the Festival Cubano 2005:
Festival Cubano 2005 Pics
Festival Cubano 2005 Pics
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Henry's Praise & Prayer Letter June 2005
Prayer and Praise – June 2005 SIM Bolivia
June 1 Ann Christian, Cochabamba Arriving back in Bolivia from HA today.
June 1 Country of Bolivia
Please pray for the country of Bolivia. Social unrest and agitation by the different political groups is increasing again. Please pray that God would restrain the forces of evil and bring peace to the country so that the work of the Gospel can go forward. Pray for our mission leaders to have insight and discernment about the situation so they can make timely and wise decisions.
June 2 Daniel Hawthorne, Happy Birthday, Daniel!
June 2 Paul & Christy Knudson, Abigail & Caleb; Quechua Study Arrive in Bolivia from HA on June 2.
June 2 Kathy Maenner; HA, USA
1) I will be attending the Women of the Harvest Conference in Asheville, NC, June 2 - 5. Please pray that this would be a time of spiritual encouragement and refreshment.
2) Pray for safety while traveling this month to visit friends and supports, and that this time would be used for mutual encouragement and celebration of the work the Lord is doing in Bolivia.
June 3 Denise Lockhart; Cochabamba
Please pray for the 18 students that are graduating tonight from CCS. Many of them will be leaving for different parts of the world within the next week. This will be bittersweet as many of them have been together since PreKinder. Pray that they will remember the things that they have learned and that God will be very real to them in the next few days, weeks, months and years. Pray also for those who have yet to make Jesus Christ Lord of their lives.
June 3 Jamie & Elizabeth Kabernick, Jadon & Elisa, Cochabamba
June 3 Ian & Annette Granville ; HA, USA
June 4 Becky Dudenhofer; Sucre, Going on HA today
I'll be heading back to the States on June 4 for HA. Soon after going to a family wedding I'll be entering university classes. I'd appreciate prayer as I make the adjustments to life in the States.
June 4 Scotty Miser; La Paz, Going on HA today.
June 4 Lesley Kayser;HA, Canada
Happy Birthday, Lesley!
June 5 Marilyn & Allen Andrews, Kirk & Seth; Cochabamba, Going on HA today.
We transition to the USA this month for Home Assignment. Pray that the Lord will give us a ministry of encouragement and challenge as we begin visiting our supporters and supporting churches. Pray that we would be built up as we spend time with family, friends and church.
June 5 Geoff & Michelle Beech, Aemon & Eloise; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 5 CCS
It is nearing the end of the school year and there are still a couple of key teaching positions that need to be filled before we can begin school again in August. We are in desperate need of a Gr. 9-12 Social Studies teacher. It would also be good to have teachers for Art, Special Education, Industrial Arts, HS PE and a second teacher for Science so that Ann (principal) doesn't have to teach. Please pray and also put out the word to people back home. Not having teachers directly affects our children. Thanks for all your help in helping us to recruit teachers.
June 6 Steve & Mary Hawthorne; Yawisla
June 6 is the dedication of the new hospital in Yawisla. I hate to leave just as it opens, but the following week we will be in Charlotte and June17 we will celebrate with my parents their 50th wedding anniversary!
June 6 Melody Work; Cochabamba
June 7 Kimi & Meafou Aukino; Santa Cruz
June 7 Curt & Dawn Young, Samuel, Amber & Ruby; Medical leave
It has been discovered that Curt's brain tumor has regrown in the same place. Also, that Curt has 2 cataracts, and not just 1. So we have now cancelled our Alberta trip, as the doctor says this needs to be taken care of right away. Do pray that all will go well, with the surgery and recovery. Our kids have been very supportive, even though it has been a shock to them as well.
Praise: The Lord for a "miracle deal" on a car in excellent condition, just in time for all the medical things we need to go through.
June 7 John & Anita Cook, Joshua, Bethany, Benjamin & Lydia; HA, USA
June 8 Bill & Linda Dakin, Mikayla; Cochabamba Leaving CCS and Bolivia today
June 8 David & Kerry Fuller, Rachel, Cameron, David Zac & Rianna; Cochabamba Going on HA today
Please pray as we finish up the CCS year well and pack up our things for a brief home assignment (June 8 - end of July). Pray as we travel to Florida to visit supporters and then to Toronto, that we will have a great time of reconnecting. Pray for the right opportunities with Churches and people and for the additional support we need. Also Pray for the 18 Graduates this year as they move on from CCS into the "University stage" of life and for their transitions away from home for many of them.
June 8 Micah Adamson; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 9 Sarah Hood; Happy Birthday, Sarah!
June 9 Andrew James; Happy Birthday, Drew!
June 9 Andrew Hawthorne; Happy Birthday, Andrew!
June 9 Megan Hubbell; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 9 Support Staff
Praise the Lord for all our Bolivian National staff who help us with administration of the misssion office, radio, school and other ministies. Pray that Christ, would be centre of their lives, would provide for all their needs, would protect their Christian witness and help them maintain their integrity.
June 10 Sonya Bargen; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 10 Julie Burley; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 10 Deb Matiko; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 10 Bethany Cook; Happy Birthday, Bethany!
June 10 Graham Shipster; Happy Birthday, Graham!
June 11 Arnell & Terri Motz, Jonathan; Cochabamba
We will be going home to put Jonathon in college and spend time with our new grandbaby. Also, Arnell has an intense schedule of traveling and speaking, fundraising for the CIC. In the past year we have seen our attendance double, pray that the church will continue to flourish in our absence.
June 11 John & Bronwyn Bain, Alison & Kathleen; Cochabamba
June 12 Steve & Mary Hawthorne, Daniel, Anne Marie & Andrew; Yawisla Going on HA today
June 12 John Dearman; La Paz Happy Birthday, John!
June 12 Andrew & Helen Kim, Debbie & Eugene; HA, USA/Korea
June 13 Austin Thorsen; Happy Birthday, Austin!
June 13 Henry Cheah; Cochabamba
Praise God for a good Missions Seminar that I presented in La Paz. Participants came from different sectors and denominations. A number commented that it was their first time hearing about missions. I even had an opportunity to witness to a number of non christians there - both in La Paz as well as in Achumani area. The final day saw many responding as I gave the invitation to dedicate their lives anew to the Lord.
June 13 Ingo & Christel Manhold; Santa Ana
June 14 Sarah Hood; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 14 Dave & Kim Durham, Grace, Emma, Jeffrey & Abigail; Cochabamba
Praise for another successful school year where we had opportunities to minister to and be a part of the discipling of various students.
Please pray for our MK seniors who are taking off to go to university or to work back at their home countries, and those staying here for a time. Pray that they will allow God to be the focus of their future.
June 15 Dave & Sue Shipster, Timothy, Graham & Benjamin; Cochabamba
Praise the Lord for a positive trip to the Santa Cruz area during May. Please pray that the Lord would guide us as to how to strategically meet the needs in this area.
We will be relocating our possessions from Sucre to Cochabamba during this month. Please pray for our friends and ministry that we must say goodbye to in Sucre. Pray that the Lord will provide missionaries to take our place to work amongst the rural Quechuas in Chuquisaca.
June 15 Ron & Joan Wiebe; Medical Leave
June 16 Melanie Zasiedko; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 16 Kep & Debbie James, Heather, Katie & Drew; La Paz
1. Pray for the continuing growth of the 60 pastors and church leaders involved in the 4 ESI (Equipping Servants Internship) groups in La Paz.
2. Pray for Debbie as she continues working with women's Bible Study leaders. The women's evangelistic Bible study has about 50 women attending each week, and many professions of faith in recent weeks. Pray for Debbie, also, as she works with the friends "Maria" (new believer we wrote about a few weeks ago) is inviting to her house to share Christ with them.
3. Keep praying for Pepe as he continues with his theological training through FLET seminary.
4. Pray for Heather and Katie in their summer travels and activities, and for Andrew as he works hard to explain the gospel with many of his 11th grade classmates.
June 17 Dara Richards; Cochabamba
I would appreciate prayer for winding down my time here, keeping in touch with the friends I've made and settling in again back home. I'll be staying with my family over the summer and would appreciate prayer for a job during that time as I wait to see what God has planned for me next.
June 17 Jamine Feliciano; HA, Phillipines
June 18 Lorna Bailey; Cochabamba Spanish Language study
June 18 Eldon & Becky Porter, Anna, Nathan, Jacob & Eva; Cochabamba
We appreciate your prayers for us as we seek the Lord’s leading in transitioning both APOYO and VIDA, as well as selling our home, saying goodbyes in Bolivia and making the move to serve in the International Office. We hope to leave for the US the beginning of July. Pray also for Anna who is in Mozambique for six months as part of her University studies, for Nathan as he makes the transition into life in the US and especially as he begins his University studies, and for Jacob and Eva as they begin at a new school and make friendships in the Charlotte area.
June 19 Greg & Faith Hurst, Kayla, Hannah & Mariah; La Paz
June 19 Charlie & Tami Thorsen, Austin & Caris; Cochabamba
Thank you for praying for our ability to learn the language. Before we start teaching at CCS, we have to be proficient in Spanish, so please continue to pray!
Please pray for Don Willy, our taxi driver, as he seeks God's word! He wants to look at the Bible and read more. Praise God!!
Our neighborhood kids haven't come in the last 2 weeks. Each time we see them during the week they are excited to come, but when Saturday roles around, they don't. Pray for this opportunity.
June 20 Bill & Betty Work; Cochabamba
A new semester begins at the Carachipampa Bible Institute on June 20th. Praise the Lord for the way that He used the students during their semester break to reach others with the Gospel. Pray that the Lord will direct and mold each student as they study His Word.
June 20 Fidelia Beckford, Samuel & Jonathan; Cochabamba
June 21 Ann Mattews; Cochabamba
Please pray for me as I do a literacy course in Pocoata on the 21st and 22nd of June. It is going to take two days to get to where the course will be held and two days to return to Coch. Pray for safety in travel, that I wont feel the cold too much and that the course will go well.
June 21 Dick & Sara Hart, Daniel & David; Cochabamba
June 22 Jim & Cheryl Bratt, Peter, Cristina & Jonathan; Cochabamba
June 22 Camp Yungas
Pray for legal problems with Camp Yungas. The local Campesinos are trying again to take over some of the camp land.
June 23 Jane Daniels; La Paz
June 23 Don & Doreen Nelson, Justin; San Ramon
PRAISE: I (Doreen) finally got Don to take a vacation!! We will be in Florida visiting family, especially Damien (our 6 yr old grandson).
PRAY: Some interest has been shown in TEE classes by former students who have not finished the first level of study, but there are still not enough students to make up a workable class. Please pray that more students will sign up for an early August start to classes........ and for the existing study center at nucleus 15.
June 24 Joy Choi; HA, Korea
June 24 Arden & Helen Steele; Cochabamba
Praise the Lord with us for a new grandson, Samuel John, born to Tim and Michelle O'Brien on May 10th. Pray for Arden as he teaches the Pentateuch to the first year students at the Bible Seminary, counsels two couples, and helps Jonathan and Monica out at Coachaca. During the CCS break, Helen will be helping teach English to the primary neighborhood children at Coachaca. Pray for our outreach to the children and others in the Coachaca community.
June 25 Benjamin Shipster; Happy Birthday, Benji!
June 25 Apoyo
Please pray for this ministry as it goes through the transition phase due Eldon Poter leaving Bolivia to take up responsibilities in SIM International.
June 26 Graham & Lori Porter, Kristen, Megan & Chase; Cochabamba Happy Birthday, Graham!
June 26 Mike Wheeler, Amanda; Cochabamba
Continue to pray for the Seminary. The second semester has begun and the students are in the middle of their studies. Pray that they will be diligent in their work and effective in their ministry assignments.
June 26 Jonathan & Karin Schoenhals; Cochabamba
June 26 Hans & Isolde Seith; Santa Cruz
June 27 Jake & Sarah Wetzel, Caris; Cochabamba
June 27 Lawrence & Liling Tan, Alex, Maddi & Anneka; HA, Australia
June 27 Greg & Karin Visser; Cochabamba
June 28 Claudia Moore, Christian; Medical Leave
June 28 Vida
Please pray for the transition phase of this ministry as Becky Porter is relocating to Fort Mill SC due to a change in ministry allocation.
June 28 Jim & Cathy Hansen, Nicole & Matthew; Cochabamba
June 29 Dianne Guta; Cochabamba
June 29 Graham & Debbie Frith, Sami & Zac; Sucre
June 29 Jennifer McNeill; Cochabamba
June 30 Steve & Mary Hawthorne, Daniel, Anne Marie & Andrew; Yawisla
I ask for prayer June 30 when I start a series of messages for a family camp in Montana.
June 30 Paul & Linda Erickson, Jonathan & Tim; HA, USA
June 30 Joanne Langford; Sucre
June 30 Sarah Snapp; HA, USA Returning to Bolivia on 3 July.
June 30 Crystal Strasburg; HA, USA Returning to Bolivia on 4 July.
June 1 Ann Christian, Cochabamba Arriving back in Bolivia from HA today.
June 1 Country of Bolivia
Please pray for the country of Bolivia. Social unrest and agitation by the different political groups is increasing again. Please pray that God would restrain the forces of evil and bring peace to the country so that the work of the Gospel can go forward. Pray for our mission leaders to have insight and discernment about the situation so they can make timely and wise decisions.
June 2 Daniel Hawthorne, Happy Birthday, Daniel!
June 2 Paul & Christy Knudson, Abigail & Caleb; Quechua Study Arrive in Bolivia from HA on June 2.
June 2 Kathy Maenner; HA, USA
1) I will be attending the Women of the Harvest Conference in Asheville, NC, June 2 - 5. Please pray that this would be a time of spiritual encouragement and refreshment.
2) Pray for safety while traveling this month to visit friends and supports, and that this time would be used for mutual encouragement and celebration of the work the Lord is doing in Bolivia.
June 3 Denise Lockhart; Cochabamba
Please pray for the 18 students that are graduating tonight from CCS. Many of them will be leaving for different parts of the world within the next week. This will be bittersweet as many of them have been together since PreKinder. Pray that they will remember the things that they have learned and that God will be very real to them in the next few days, weeks, months and years. Pray also for those who have yet to make Jesus Christ Lord of their lives.
June 3 Jamie & Elizabeth Kabernick, Jadon & Elisa, Cochabamba
June 3 Ian & Annette Granville ; HA, USA
June 4 Becky Dudenhofer; Sucre, Going on HA today
I'll be heading back to the States on June 4 for HA. Soon after going to a family wedding I'll be entering university classes. I'd appreciate prayer as I make the adjustments to life in the States.
June 4 Scotty Miser; La Paz, Going on HA today.
June 4 Lesley Kayser;HA, Canada
Happy Birthday, Lesley!
June 5 Marilyn & Allen Andrews, Kirk & Seth; Cochabamba, Going on HA today.
We transition to the USA this month for Home Assignment. Pray that the Lord will give us a ministry of encouragement and challenge as we begin visiting our supporters and supporting churches. Pray that we would be built up as we spend time with family, friends and church.
June 5 Geoff & Michelle Beech, Aemon & Eloise; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 5 CCS
It is nearing the end of the school year and there are still a couple of key teaching positions that need to be filled before we can begin school again in August. We are in desperate need of a Gr. 9-12 Social Studies teacher. It would also be good to have teachers for Art, Special Education, Industrial Arts, HS PE and a second teacher for Science so that Ann (principal) doesn't have to teach. Please pray and also put out the word to people back home. Not having teachers directly affects our children. Thanks for all your help in helping us to recruit teachers.
June 6 Steve & Mary Hawthorne; Yawisla
June 6 is the dedication of the new hospital in Yawisla. I hate to leave just as it opens, but the following week we will be in Charlotte and June17 we will celebrate with my parents their 50th wedding anniversary!
June 6 Melody Work; Cochabamba
June 7 Kimi & Meafou Aukino; Santa Cruz
June 7 Curt & Dawn Young, Samuel, Amber & Ruby; Medical leave
It has been discovered that Curt's brain tumor has regrown in the same place. Also, that Curt has 2 cataracts, and not just 1. So we have now cancelled our Alberta trip, as the doctor says this needs to be taken care of right away. Do pray that all will go well, with the surgery and recovery. Our kids have been very supportive, even though it has been a shock to them as well.
Praise: The Lord for a "miracle deal" on a car in excellent condition, just in time for all the medical things we need to go through.
June 7 John & Anita Cook, Joshua, Bethany, Benjamin & Lydia; HA, USA
June 8 Bill & Linda Dakin, Mikayla; Cochabamba Leaving CCS and Bolivia today
June 8 David & Kerry Fuller, Rachel, Cameron, David Zac & Rianna; Cochabamba Going on HA today
Please pray as we finish up the CCS year well and pack up our things for a brief home assignment (June 8 - end of July). Pray as we travel to Florida to visit supporters and then to Toronto, that we will have a great time of reconnecting. Pray for the right opportunities with Churches and people and for the additional support we need. Also Pray for the 18 Graduates this year as they move on from CCS into the "University stage" of life and for their transitions away from home for many of them.
June 8 Micah Adamson; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 9 Sarah Hood; Happy Birthday, Sarah!
June 9 Andrew James; Happy Birthday, Drew!
June 9 Andrew Hawthorne; Happy Birthday, Andrew!
June 9 Megan Hubbell; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 9 Support Staff
Praise the Lord for all our Bolivian National staff who help us with administration of the misssion office, radio, school and other ministies. Pray that Christ, would be centre of their lives, would provide for all their needs, would protect their Christian witness and help them maintain their integrity.
June 10 Sonya Bargen; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 10 Julie Burley; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 10 Deb Matiko; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 10 Bethany Cook; Happy Birthday, Bethany!
June 10 Graham Shipster; Happy Birthday, Graham!
June 11 Arnell & Terri Motz, Jonathan; Cochabamba
We will be going home to put Jonathon in college and spend time with our new grandbaby. Also, Arnell has an intense schedule of traveling and speaking, fundraising for the CIC. In the past year we have seen our attendance double, pray that the church will continue to flourish in our absence.
June 11 John & Bronwyn Bain, Alison & Kathleen; Cochabamba
June 12 Steve & Mary Hawthorne, Daniel, Anne Marie & Andrew; Yawisla Going on HA today
June 12 John Dearman; La Paz Happy Birthday, John!
June 12 Andrew & Helen Kim, Debbie & Eugene; HA, USA/Korea
June 13 Austin Thorsen; Happy Birthday, Austin!
June 13 Henry Cheah; Cochabamba
Praise God for a good Missions Seminar that I presented in La Paz. Participants came from different sectors and denominations. A number commented that it was their first time hearing about missions. I even had an opportunity to witness to a number of non christians there - both in La Paz as well as in Achumani area. The final day saw many responding as I gave the invitation to dedicate their lives anew to the Lord.
June 13 Ingo & Christel Manhold; Santa Ana
June 14 Sarah Hood; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 14 Dave & Kim Durham, Grace, Emma, Jeffrey & Abigail; Cochabamba
Praise for another successful school year where we had opportunities to minister to and be a part of the discipling of various students.
Please pray for our MK seniors who are taking off to go to university or to work back at their home countries, and those staying here for a time. Pray that they will allow God to be the focus of their future.
June 15 Dave & Sue Shipster, Timothy, Graham & Benjamin; Cochabamba
Praise the Lord for a positive trip to the Santa Cruz area during May. Please pray that the Lord would guide us as to how to strategically meet the needs in this area.
We will be relocating our possessions from Sucre to Cochabamba during this month. Please pray for our friends and ministry that we must say goodbye to in Sucre. Pray that the Lord will provide missionaries to take our place to work amongst the rural Quechuas in Chuquisaca.
June 15 Ron & Joan Wiebe; Medical Leave
June 16 Melanie Zasiedko; Cochabamba Leaving Bolivia today.
June 16 Kep & Debbie James, Heather, Katie & Drew; La Paz
1. Pray for the continuing growth of the 60 pastors and church leaders involved in the 4 ESI (Equipping Servants Internship) groups in La Paz.
2. Pray for Debbie as she continues working with women's Bible Study leaders. The women's evangelistic Bible study has about 50 women attending each week, and many professions of faith in recent weeks. Pray for Debbie, also, as she works with the friends "Maria" (new believer we wrote about a few weeks ago) is inviting to her house to share Christ with them.
3. Keep praying for Pepe as he continues with his theological training through FLET seminary.
4. Pray for Heather and Katie in their summer travels and activities, and for Andrew as he works hard to explain the gospel with many of his 11th grade classmates.
June 17 Dara Richards; Cochabamba
I would appreciate prayer for winding down my time here, keeping in touch with the friends I've made and settling in again back home. I'll be staying with my family over the summer and would appreciate prayer for a job during that time as I wait to see what God has planned for me next.
June 17 Jamine Feliciano; HA, Phillipines
June 18 Lorna Bailey; Cochabamba Spanish Language study
June 18 Eldon & Becky Porter, Anna, Nathan, Jacob & Eva; Cochabamba
We appreciate your prayers for us as we seek the Lord’s leading in transitioning both APOYO and VIDA, as well as selling our home, saying goodbyes in Bolivia and making the move to serve in the International Office. We hope to leave for the US the beginning of July. Pray also for Anna who is in Mozambique for six months as part of her University studies, for Nathan as he makes the transition into life in the US and especially as he begins his University studies, and for Jacob and Eva as they begin at a new school and make friendships in the Charlotte area.
June 19 Greg & Faith Hurst, Kayla, Hannah & Mariah; La Paz
June 19 Charlie & Tami Thorsen, Austin & Caris; Cochabamba
Thank you for praying for our ability to learn the language. Before we start teaching at CCS, we have to be proficient in Spanish, so please continue to pray!
Please pray for Don Willy, our taxi driver, as he seeks God's word! He wants to look at the Bible and read more. Praise God!!
Our neighborhood kids haven't come in the last 2 weeks. Each time we see them during the week they are excited to come, but when Saturday roles around, they don't. Pray for this opportunity.
June 20 Bill & Betty Work; Cochabamba
A new semester begins at the Carachipampa Bible Institute on June 20th. Praise the Lord for the way that He used the students during their semester break to reach others with the Gospel. Pray that the Lord will direct and mold each student as they study His Word.
June 20 Fidelia Beckford, Samuel & Jonathan; Cochabamba
June 21 Ann Mattews; Cochabamba
Please pray for me as I do a literacy course in Pocoata on the 21st and 22nd of June. It is going to take two days to get to where the course will be held and two days to return to Coch. Pray for safety in travel, that I wont feel the cold too much and that the course will go well.
June 21 Dick & Sara Hart, Daniel & David; Cochabamba
June 22 Jim & Cheryl Bratt, Peter, Cristina & Jonathan; Cochabamba
June 22 Camp Yungas
Pray for legal problems with Camp Yungas. The local Campesinos are trying again to take over some of the camp land.
June 23 Jane Daniels; La Paz
June 23 Don & Doreen Nelson, Justin; San Ramon
PRAISE: I (Doreen) finally got Don to take a vacation!! We will be in Florida visiting family, especially Damien (our 6 yr old grandson).
PRAY: Some interest has been shown in TEE classes by former students who have not finished the first level of study, but there are still not enough students to make up a workable class. Please pray that more students will sign up for an early August start to classes........ and for the existing study center at nucleus 15.
June 24 Joy Choi; HA, Korea
June 24 Arden & Helen Steele; Cochabamba
Praise the Lord with us for a new grandson, Samuel John, born to Tim and Michelle O'Brien on May 10th. Pray for Arden as he teaches the Pentateuch to the first year students at the Bible Seminary, counsels two couples, and helps Jonathan and Monica out at Coachaca. During the CCS break, Helen will be helping teach English to the primary neighborhood children at Coachaca. Pray for our outreach to the children and others in the Coachaca community.
June 25 Benjamin Shipster; Happy Birthday, Benji!
June 25 Apoyo
Please pray for this ministry as it goes through the transition phase due Eldon Poter leaving Bolivia to take up responsibilities in SIM International.
June 26 Graham & Lori Porter, Kristen, Megan & Chase; Cochabamba Happy Birthday, Graham!
June 26 Mike Wheeler, Amanda; Cochabamba
Continue to pray for the Seminary. The second semester has begun and the students are in the middle of their studies. Pray that they will be diligent in their work and effective in their ministry assignments.
June 26 Jonathan & Karin Schoenhals; Cochabamba
June 26 Hans & Isolde Seith; Santa Cruz
June 27 Jake & Sarah Wetzel, Caris; Cochabamba
June 27 Lawrence & Liling Tan, Alex, Maddi & Anneka; HA, Australia
June 27 Greg & Karin Visser; Cochabamba
June 28 Claudia Moore, Christian; Medical Leave
June 28 Vida
Please pray for the transition phase of this ministry as Becky Porter is relocating to Fort Mill SC due to a change in ministry allocation.
June 28 Jim & Cathy Hansen, Nicole & Matthew; Cochabamba
June 29 Dianne Guta; Cochabamba
June 29 Graham & Debbie Frith, Sami & Zac; Sucre
June 29 Jennifer McNeill; Cochabamba
June 30 Steve & Mary Hawthorne, Daniel, Anne Marie & Andrew; Yawisla
I ask for prayer June 30 when I start a series of messages for a family camp in Montana.
June 30 Paul & Linda Erickson, Jonathan & Tim; HA, USA
June 30 Joanne Langford; Sucre
June 30 Sarah Snapp; HA, USA Returning to Bolivia on 3 July.
June 30 Crystal Strasburg; HA, USA Returning to Bolivia on 4 July.
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Millionaires' business tips
Millionaires' seven tips for getting started in business
By Emma-Lou Montgomery, MSN Money special correspondent
Last updated April 26 2005
Anyone who’s hooked on the BBC 2 series, The Apprentice, will have seen that becoming a successful entrepreneur is not a walk in the park. But if you think you’ve got what it takes, read on for tips on how to get started from some people who have already cracked it.
You have only to tune in to The Apprentice on BBC2, to see that it takes serious drive and determination to hit the big time. The weekly cull of Alan Sugar ‘Mini-Me wannabes’, who have spent the past few months trying to convince the multi-millionaire entrepreneur that they’ve got what it takes to hit the big time, are proof that getting to the top is not a job for the faint hearted.
When one of the ‘contestants’ Saira Khan vowed: “I’m going to win this now, even if it kills me”, she really wasn’t exaggerating about the commitment required.Here are seven essentials that Alan Sugar will be looking for in his protégé, and what you will need if you too want to get to the top. All seven are based on what millionaire businessmen and women have done to become so successful.
1. Be prepared to take risks
When it comes to being an entrepreneur, taking a few risks here and there is obligatory, as long as they are calculated risks.
First you have to ask yourself: Will your idea work? Will people pay for it? Will it prove to be a flash in the pan, or a long-term success? How positively you answer these questions should give you some idea of your expected success rate. But there is always some risk involved in any new venture– and you have to be prepared to assess these risks as they present themselves and more often than not, just bite the bullet and go for it.
Business is a risky thing and the figures speak for themselves. There are 3.95 million small businesses in the UK, according to the Federation of Small Businesses, but an estimated 315 of them go bust every week. So whether you plan to fill a market niche, recycle your expertise, or turn your hobby into a career, you had better realise there are always risks involved. And knowing exactly what they are from the outset (as much as you can) will help to make sure you don’t end up being number 316 on that list.
2. Learn to spot an opportunity
Opportunities have to be taken, but they rarely come along without some of that dreaded risk attached, no matter how savvy you are. When Sir Clive Sinclair spotted a gap in the market for a family computer, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum was the end result – which ended up being the most successful invention of its time. But then again, he was way off the mark with his Sinclair C5. The idea was sound – an electric vehicle that almost anyone could drive, unlicensed, untaxed and uninsured. And all for an affordable £399. But heavy, unreliable batteries, coupled with serious safety concerns (and the fact that users looked rather silly on the road alongside cars), meant this was one opportunity Sir Clive would have been better passing up on.
3. Don’t be afraid to reinvent the wheel
Originality doesn’t have to be the only winning ticket. James Dyson, of the eponymous vacuum cleaner range, proved just that. He took the humble hoover and after a bit of tinkering, came up with a new way of ‘cleaning up’. Now as well as being a multi-millionaire, James Dyson, along with Richard Branson and Bill Gates, is one of the most admired entrepreneurs around.
4. Exploit your market
When you find you’re on to a good thing, stick with it. When Alan Sugar first successfully tapped into the market for mid-range, mass-produced electronics, he didn’t rest on his laurels. He went on to give his public more of what they wanted, from stereos to computers to email phones.
5. Diversify and conquer
Knowing your market and then exploiting your ‘brand name’ is key here. And this is something that easyGroup’s Stelios knows all about. After winning his customers over with knockdown airline seats, he broadened his range and carried the ‘no frills’ concept over to car hire, internet access, credit cards and now mobile phone calls. His exploitation of the ‘pile ‘em high, sell ‘em cheap’ school of business (which goes back to time immemorial, or at least to when Jack Cohen founded Tesco’s) has helped make him a billionaire, which is ultimately what every entrepreneur probably strives to become.
6. Be prepared to work harder than you’ve ever done before
Flexing your entrepreneurial muscle means giving it not 100%, but 110% commitment, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. Few, if any, self-made millionaires would tell you different.
When you start working for yourself you can forget holidays, or sitting back and watching your empire grow. Hands-on dedication is required. Nothing less will suffice.
7. Do something you love
If you’re going to dedicate your life working all the hours God sends, giving up weekends and holidays, and living and breathing every last detail of your business, it is essential that you’re passionate about what you’re doing. So that means doing something you love.
“If you do what you love, you're going to be better at it,” says millionaire entrepreneur Ken Wills. He started his businesses from scratch and now heads an empire with an annual turnover of £20 million which ranges from a jet engine maintenance shop and helicopter firm, to a fire prevention company, to a restaurant, to a jewellery business, and even a radio station.
And once you get to the top, don’t think you’re going to be able to sit back and relax and let someone else do all the hard work either, or even want to. If Stelios, James Dyson, Richard Branson, and Alan Sugar are anything to go by, that means you’ll have to remain in control if you want to be on top of your game right to the end. This isn’t something that worries Sir Alan. As he has said: "I'll never retire. I'll still be arguing, trying to get a better deal, when they nail me into my coffin."
By Emma-Lou Montgomery, MSN Money special correspondent
Last updated April 26 2005
Anyone who’s hooked on the BBC 2 series, The Apprentice, will have seen that becoming a successful entrepreneur is not a walk in the park. But if you think you’ve got what it takes, read on for tips on how to get started from some people who have already cracked it.
You have only to tune in to The Apprentice on BBC2, to see that it takes serious drive and determination to hit the big time. The weekly cull of Alan Sugar ‘Mini-Me wannabes’, who have spent the past few months trying to convince the multi-millionaire entrepreneur that they’ve got what it takes to hit the big time, are proof that getting to the top is not a job for the faint hearted.
When one of the ‘contestants’ Saira Khan vowed: “I’m going to win this now, even if it kills me”, she really wasn’t exaggerating about the commitment required.Here are seven essentials that Alan Sugar will be looking for in his protégé, and what you will need if you too want to get to the top. All seven are based on what millionaire businessmen and women have done to become so successful.
1. Be prepared to take risks
When it comes to being an entrepreneur, taking a few risks here and there is obligatory, as long as they are calculated risks.
First you have to ask yourself: Will your idea work? Will people pay for it? Will it prove to be a flash in the pan, or a long-term success? How positively you answer these questions should give you some idea of your expected success rate. But there is always some risk involved in any new venture– and you have to be prepared to assess these risks as they present themselves and more often than not, just bite the bullet and go for it.
Business is a risky thing and the figures speak for themselves. There are 3.95 million small businesses in the UK, according to the Federation of Small Businesses, but an estimated 315 of them go bust every week. So whether you plan to fill a market niche, recycle your expertise, or turn your hobby into a career, you had better realise there are always risks involved. And knowing exactly what they are from the outset (as much as you can) will help to make sure you don’t end up being number 316 on that list.
2. Learn to spot an opportunity
Opportunities have to be taken, but they rarely come along without some of that dreaded risk attached, no matter how savvy you are. When Sir Clive Sinclair spotted a gap in the market for a family computer, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum was the end result – which ended up being the most successful invention of its time. But then again, he was way off the mark with his Sinclair C5. The idea was sound – an electric vehicle that almost anyone could drive, unlicensed, untaxed and uninsured. And all for an affordable £399. But heavy, unreliable batteries, coupled with serious safety concerns (and the fact that users looked rather silly on the road alongside cars), meant this was one opportunity Sir Clive would have been better passing up on.
3. Don’t be afraid to reinvent the wheel
Originality doesn’t have to be the only winning ticket. James Dyson, of the eponymous vacuum cleaner range, proved just that. He took the humble hoover and after a bit of tinkering, came up with a new way of ‘cleaning up’. Now as well as being a multi-millionaire, James Dyson, along with Richard Branson and Bill Gates, is one of the most admired entrepreneurs around.
4. Exploit your market
When you find you’re on to a good thing, stick with it. When Alan Sugar first successfully tapped into the market for mid-range, mass-produced electronics, he didn’t rest on his laurels. He went on to give his public more of what they wanted, from stereos to computers to email phones.
5. Diversify and conquer
Knowing your market and then exploiting your ‘brand name’ is key here. And this is something that easyGroup’s Stelios knows all about. After winning his customers over with knockdown airline seats, he broadened his range and carried the ‘no frills’ concept over to car hire, internet access, credit cards and now mobile phone calls. His exploitation of the ‘pile ‘em high, sell ‘em cheap’ school of business (which goes back to time immemorial, or at least to when Jack Cohen founded Tesco’s) has helped make him a billionaire, which is ultimately what every entrepreneur probably strives to become.
6. Be prepared to work harder than you’ve ever done before
Flexing your entrepreneurial muscle means giving it not 100%, but 110% commitment, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. Few, if any, self-made millionaires would tell you different.
When you start working for yourself you can forget holidays, or sitting back and watching your empire grow. Hands-on dedication is required. Nothing less will suffice.
7. Do something you love
If you’re going to dedicate your life working all the hours God sends, giving up weekends and holidays, and living and breathing every last detail of your business, it is essential that you’re passionate about what you’re doing. So that means doing something you love.
“If you do what you love, you're going to be better at it,” says millionaire entrepreneur Ken Wills. He started his businesses from scratch and now heads an empire with an annual turnover of £20 million which ranges from a jet engine maintenance shop and helicopter firm, to a fire prevention company, to a restaurant, to a jewellery business, and even a radio station.
And once you get to the top, don’t think you’re going to be able to sit back and relax and let someone else do all the hard work either, or even want to. If Stelios, James Dyson, Richard Branson, and Alan Sugar are anything to go by, that means you’ll have to remain in control if you want to be on top of your game right to the end. This isn’t something that worries Sir Alan. As he has said: "I'll never retire. I'll still be arguing, trying to get a better deal, when they nail me into my coffin."
Thursday, April 21, 2005
A Forgiving Heart
Loving the People You Are Stuck With
By Max Lucado
A Forgiving Heart
My first pet came in the form of a childhood Christmas Eve gift. Somewhere I have a snapshot of a brown-and-white Chinese pug, small enough to fit in my father’s hand, cute enough to steal my eight-year-old heart. We named her Liz.
I carried her all day. Her floppy ears fascinated me, and her flat nose intrigued me. I even took her to bed. So what if she smelled like a dog? I thought the odor was cute. So what if she whined and whimpered? I thought the noise was cute. So what if she did her business on my pillow Can’t say I thought that was cute, but I didn’t mind.
Mom and Dad had made it clear in our prenuptial agreement that I was to be Liz’s caretaker, and I was happy to oblige. I cleaned her little eating dish and opened her can of puppy food. The minute she lapped up some water, I replenished it. I kept her hair combed and her tail wagging.
Within a few days, however, my feelings changed a bit. Liz was still my dog, and I was still her friend, but I grew weary with her barking, and she seemed hungry an awful lot. More than once my folks had to remind me, “Take care of her. She is your dog.”
I didn’t like hearing those words—your dog. I wouldn’t have minded the phrase “your dog to play with” or “your dog when you want her” or even “your dog when she is behaving.” But those weren’t my parents’ words. They said, “Liz is your dog.” Period. In sickness and in health. For richer, for poorer. In dryness and in wetness.
That’s when it occurred to me. I am stuck with Liz. The courtship was over, and the honeymoon had ended. We were mutually leashed. Liz went from an option to an obligation, from a pet to a chore, from someone to play with to someone to care for.
Perhaps you can relate. Chances are you know the claustrophobia that comes with commitment. Only instead of being reminded, “She is your dog,” you’re told, “He is your husband.” Or, “She is your wife.” Or, “He is your child, parent, employee or boss or roommate” or any other relationship that requires loyalty for survival.
Such permanence can lead to panic—at least it did in me. I had to answer some tough questions. Can I tolerate the same flat-nosed, hairy, hungry face every morning? (You wives know the feeling?) Am I going to be barked at until the day I die? (Any kids connecting here?) Will she ever learn to clean up her own mess? (Did I hear an “amen” from some parents?)
STUCKITITIS
SUCH ARE THE QUESTIONS WE ASK WHEN WE FEEL STUCK WITH SOMEONE. THERE IS A WORD FOR THIS CONDITION. UPON CONSULTING THE ONE-WORD MEDICAL DICTIONARY (WHICH I WROTE THE DAY BEFORE I CRAFTED THIS CHAPTER), I DISCOVERED THAT THIS CONDITION IS A COMMON MALADY KNOWN AS STUCKITITIS. (STUCK MEANING “TRAPPED.” ITITIS BEING THE SIX LETTERS YOU TAG ON TO ANY WORD YOU WANT TO SOUND IMPRESSIVE. READ IT OUT LOUD: STUCKITITIS.) MAX’S MANUAL OF MEDICAL TERMS HAS THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE CONDITION:
Attacks of stuckititis are limited to people who breathe and typically occur somewhere between birth and death. Stuckititis manifests itself in irritability, short fuses, and a mountain range of molehills. The common symptom of stuckititis victims is the repetition of questions beginning with who, what, and why. Who is this person? What was I thinking? Why didn’t I listen to my mother?
This prestigious manual identifies three ways to cope with stuckititis: flee, fight, or forgive. Some opt to flee: to get out of the relationship and start again elsewhere, though they are often surprised when the condition surfaces on the other side of the fence as well. Others fight. Houses become combat zones, and offices become boxing rings, and tension becomes a way of life. A few, however, discover another treatment: forgiveness. My manual has no model for how forgiveness occurs, but the Bible does.
Jesus himself knew the feeling of being stuck with someone. For three years he ran with the same crew. By and large, he saw the same dozen or so faces around the table, around the campfire, around the clock. They rode in the same boats and walked the same roads and visited the same houses, and I wonder, how did Jesus stay so devoted to his men? Not only did he have to put up with their visible oddities, he had to endure their invisible foibles. Think about it. He could hear their unspoken thoughts. He knew their private doubts. Not only that, he knew their future doubts. What if you knew every mistake your loved ones had ever made and every mistake they would ever make? What if you knew every thought they would have about you, every irritation, every dislike, every betrayal?
Was it hard for Jesus to love Peter, knowing Peter would someday curse him? Was it tough to trust Thomas, knowing Thomas would one day question Jesus’ resurrection? How did Jesus resist the urge to recruit a new batch of followers? John wanted to destroy one enemy. Peter sliced off the ear of another. Just days before Jesus’ death, his disciples were arguing about which of them was the best! How was he able to love people who were hard to like?
Few situations stir panic like being trapped in a relationship. It’s one thing to be stuck with a puppy but something else entirely to be stuck in a marriage. We may chuckle over goofy terms like stuckititis, but for many, this is no laughing matter. For that reason I think it wise that we begin our study of what it means to be just like Jesus by pondering his heart of forgiveness. How was Jesus able to love his disciples? The answer is found in the thirteenth chapter of John.
WITH TOWEL AND BASIN
OF ALL THE TIMES WE SEE THE BOWING KNEES OF JESUS, NONE IS SO PRECIOUS AS WHEN HE KNEELS BEFORE HIS DISCIPLES AND WASHES THEIR FEET.
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, … and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (vv. 1–5 NIV)
It has been a long day. Jerusalem is packed with Passover guests, most of whom clamor for a glimpse of the Teacher. The spring sun is warm. The streets are dry. And the disciples are a long way from home. A splash of cool water would be refreshing.
The disciples enter, one by one, and take their places around the table. On the wall hangs a towel, and on the floor sits a pitcher and a basin. Any one of the disciples could volunteer for the job, but not one does.
After a few moments, Jesus stands and removes his outer garment. He wraps a servant’s girdle around his waist, takes up the basin, and kneels before one of the disciples. He unlaces a sandal and gently lifts the foot and places it in the basin, covers it with water, and begins to bathe it. One by one, one grimy foot after another, Jesus works his way down the row.
In Jesus’ day the washing of feet was a task reserved not just for servants but for the lowest of servants. Every circle has its pecking order, and the circle of household workers was no exception. The servant at the bottom of the totem pole was expected to be the one on his knees with the towel and basin.
In this case the one with the towel and basin is the king of the universe. Hands that shaped the stars now wash away filth. Fingers that formed mountains now massage toes. And the one before whom all nations will one day kneel now kneels before his disciples. Hours before his own death, Jesus’ concern is singular. He wants his disciples to know how much he loves them. More than removing dirt, Jesus is removing doubt.
Jesus knows what will happen to his hands at the crucifixion. Within twenty-four hours they will be pierced and lifeless. Of all the times we’d expect him to ask for the disciples’ attention, this would be one. But he doesn’t.
You can be sure Jesus knows the future of these feet he is washing. These twenty-four feet will not spend the next day following their master, defending his cause. These feet will dash for cover at the flash of a Roman sword. Only one pair of feet won’t abandon him in the garden. One disciple won’t desert him at Gethsemane—Judas won’t even make it that far! He will abandon Jesus that very night at the table.
I looked for a Bible translation that reads, “Jesus washed all the disciples’ feet except the feet of Judas,” but I couldn’t find one. What a passionate moment when Jesus silently lifts the feet of his betrayer and washes them in the basin! Within hours the feet of Judas, cleansed by the kindness of the one he will betray, will stand in Caiaphas’s court.
Behold the gift Jesus gives his followers! He knows what these men are about to do. He knows they are about to perform the vilest act of their lives. By morning they will bury their heads in shame and look down at their feet in disgust. And when they do, he wants them to remember how his knees knelt before them and he washed their feet. He wants them to realize those feet are still clean. “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later” (John 13:7).
Remarkable. He forgave their sin before they even committed it. He offered mercy before they even sought it.
FROM THE BASIN OF HIS GRACE
OH, I COULD NEVER DO THAT, YOU OBJECT. THE HURT IS SO DEEP. THE WOUNDS ARE SO NUMEROUS. JUST SEEING THE PERSON CAUSES ME TO CRINGE. PERHAPS THAT IS YOUR PROBLEM. PERHAPS YOU ARE SEEING THE WRONG PERSON OR AT LEAST TOO MUCH OF THE WRONG PERSON. REMEMBER, THE SECRET OF BEING JUST LIKE JESUS IS “FIXING OUR EYES” ON HIM. TRY SHIFTING YOUR GLANCE AWAY FROM THE ONE WHO HURT YOU AND SETTING YOUR EYES ON THE ONE WHO HAS SAVED YOU.
Note the promise of John, “But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin” (1 John 1:7).
Aside from geography and chronology, our story is the same as the disciples’. We weren’t in Jerusalem, and we weren’t alive that night. But what Jesus did for them he has done for us. He has cleansed us. He has cleansed our hearts from sin.
Even more, he is still cleansing us! John tells us, “We are being cleansed from every sin by the blood of Jesus.” In other words, we are always being cleansed. The cleansing is not a promise for the future but a reality in the present. Let a speck of dust fall on the soul of a saint, and it is washed away. Let a spot of filth land on the heart of God’s child, and the filth is wiped away. Jesus still cleans his disciples’ feet. Jesus still washes away stains. Jesus still purifies his people.
Our Savior kneels down and gazes upon the darkest acts of our lives. But rather than recoil in horror, he reaches out in kindness and says, “I can clean that if you want.” And from the basin of his grace, he scoops a palm full of mercy and washes away our sin.
But that’s not all he does. Because he lives in us, you and I can do the same. Because he has forgiven us, we can forgive others. Because he has a forgiving heart, we can have a forgiving heart. We can have a heart like his.
“If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet. I did this as an example so that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:14–15).
Jesus washes our feet for two reasons. The first is to give us mercy; the second is to give us a message, and that message is simply this: Jesus offers unconditional grace; we are to offer unconditional grace. The mercy of Christ preceded our mistakes; our mercy must precede the mistakes of others. Those in the circle of Christ had no doubt of his love; those in our circles should have no doubts about ours.
What does it mean to have a heart like his? It means to kneel as Jesus knelt, touching the grimy parts of the people we are stuck with and washing away their unkindnesses with kindness. Or as Paul wrote, “Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ” (Eph. 4:32).
“But, Max,” you are saying, “I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m not the one who cheated. I’m not the one who lied. I’m not the guilty party here.” Perhaps you aren’t. But neither was Jesus. Of all the men in that room, only one was worthy of having his feet washed. And he was the one who washed the feet. The one worthy of being served, served others. The genius of Jesus’ example is that the burden of bridge-building falls on the strong one, not on the weak one. The one who is innocent is the one who makes the gesture.
And you know what happens? More often than not, if the one in the right volunteers to wash the feet of the one in the wrong, both parties get on their knees. Don’t we all think we are right? Hence we wash each other’s feet.
Please understand. Relationships don’t thrive because the guilty are punished but because the innocent are merciful.
THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS
RECENTLY I SHARED A MEAL WITH SOME FRIENDS. A HUSBAND AND WIFE WANTED TO TELL ME ABOUT A STORM THEY WERE WEATHERING. THROUGH A SERIES OF EVENTS, SHE LEARNED OF AN ACT OF INFIDELITY THAT HAD OCCURRED OVER A DECADE AGO. HE HAD MADE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING IT’D BE BETTER NOT TO TELL HER, SO HE DIDN’T. BUT SHE FOUND OUT. AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, SHE WAS DEEPLY HURT.
Through the advice of a counselor, the couple dropped everything and went away for several days. A decision had to be made. Would they flee, fight, or forgive? So they prayed. They talked. They walked. They reflected. In this case the wife was clearly in the right. She could have left. Women have done so for lesser reasons. Or she could have stayed and made his life a living hell. Other women have done that. But she chose a different response.
On the tenth night of their trip, my friend found a card on his pillow. On the card was a printed verse: “I’d rather do nothing with you than something without you.” Beneath the verse she had written these words:
I forgive you. I love you. Let’s move on.
The card might as well have been a basin. And the pen might as well have been a pitcher of water, for out of it poured pure mercy, and with it she washed her husband’s feet.
Certain conflicts can be resolved only with a basin of water. Are any relationships in your world thirsty for mercy? Are there any sitting around your table who need to be assured of your grace? Jesus made sure his disciples had no reason to doubt his love. Why don’t you do the same?
Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others.
COLOSSIANS 3:12 TLB
By Max Lucado
A Forgiving Heart
My first pet came in the form of a childhood Christmas Eve gift. Somewhere I have a snapshot of a brown-and-white Chinese pug, small enough to fit in my father’s hand, cute enough to steal my eight-year-old heart. We named her Liz.
I carried her all day. Her floppy ears fascinated me, and her flat nose intrigued me. I even took her to bed. So what if she smelled like a dog? I thought the odor was cute. So what if she whined and whimpered? I thought the noise was cute. So what if she did her business on my pillow Can’t say I thought that was cute, but I didn’t mind.
Mom and Dad had made it clear in our prenuptial agreement that I was to be Liz’s caretaker, and I was happy to oblige. I cleaned her little eating dish and opened her can of puppy food. The minute she lapped up some water, I replenished it. I kept her hair combed and her tail wagging.
Within a few days, however, my feelings changed a bit. Liz was still my dog, and I was still her friend, but I grew weary with her barking, and she seemed hungry an awful lot. More than once my folks had to remind me, “Take care of her. She is your dog.”
I didn’t like hearing those words—your dog. I wouldn’t have minded the phrase “your dog to play with” or “your dog when you want her” or even “your dog when she is behaving.” But those weren’t my parents’ words. They said, “Liz is your dog.” Period. In sickness and in health. For richer, for poorer. In dryness and in wetness.
That’s when it occurred to me. I am stuck with Liz. The courtship was over, and the honeymoon had ended. We were mutually leashed. Liz went from an option to an obligation, from a pet to a chore, from someone to play with to someone to care for.
Perhaps you can relate. Chances are you know the claustrophobia that comes with commitment. Only instead of being reminded, “She is your dog,” you’re told, “He is your husband.” Or, “She is your wife.” Or, “He is your child, parent, employee or boss or roommate” or any other relationship that requires loyalty for survival.
Such permanence can lead to panic—at least it did in me. I had to answer some tough questions. Can I tolerate the same flat-nosed, hairy, hungry face every morning? (You wives know the feeling?) Am I going to be barked at until the day I die? (Any kids connecting here?) Will she ever learn to clean up her own mess? (Did I hear an “amen” from some parents?)
STUCKITITIS
SUCH ARE THE QUESTIONS WE ASK WHEN WE FEEL STUCK WITH SOMEONE. THERE IS A WORD FOR THIS CONDITION. UPON CONSULTING THE ONE-WORD MEDICAL DICTIONARY (WHICH I WROTE THE DAY BEFORE I CRAFTED THIS CHAPTER), I DISCOVERED THAT THIS CONDITION IS A COMMON MALADY KNOWN AS STUCKITITIS. (STUCK MEANING “TRAPPED.” ITITIS BEING THE SIX LETTERS YOU TAG ON TO ANY WORD YOU WANT TO SOUND IMPRESSIVE. READ IT OUT LOUD: STUCKITITIS.) MAX’S MANUAL OF MEDICAL TERMS HAS THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE CONDITION:
Attacks of stuckititis are limited to people who breathe and typically occur somewhere between birth and death. Stuckititis manifests itself in irritability, short fuses, and a mountain range of molehills. The common symptom of stuckititis victims is the repetition of questions beginning with who, what, and why. Who is this person? What was I thinking? Why didn’t I listen to my mother?
This prestigious manual identifies three ways to cope with stuckititis: flee, fight, or forgive. Some opt to flee: to get out of the relationship and start again elsewhere, though they are often surprised when the condition surfaces on the other side of the fence as well. Others fight. Houses become combat zones, and offices become boxing rings, and tension becomes a way of life. A few, however, discover another treatment: forgiveness. My manual has no model for how forgiveness occurs, but the Bible does.
Jesus himself knew the feeling of being stuck with someone. For three years he ran with the same crew. By and large, he saw the same dozen or so faces around the table, around the campfire, around the clock. They rode in the same boats and walked the same roads and visited the same houses, and I wonder, how did Jesus stay so devoted to his men? Not only did he have to put up with their visible oddities, he had to endure their invisible foibles. Think about it. He could hear their unspoken thoughts. He knew their private doubts. Not only that, he knew their future doubts. What if you knew every mistake your loved ones had ever made and every mistake they would ever make? What if you knew every thought they would have about you, every irritation, every dislike, every betrayal?
Was it hard for Jesus to love Peter, knowing Peter would someday curse him? Was it tough to trust Thomas, knowing Thomas would one day question Jesus’ resurrection? How did Jesus resist the urge to recruit a new batch of followers? John wanted to destroy one enemy. Peter sliced off the ear of another. Just days before Jesus’ death, his disciples were arguing about which of them was the best! How was he able to love people who were hard to like?
Few situations stir panic like being trapped in a relationship. It’s one thing to be stuck with a puppy but something else entirely to be stuck in a marriage. We may chuckle over goofy terms like stuckititis, but for many, this is no laughing matter. For that reason I think it wise that we begin our study of what it means to be just like Jesus by pondering his heart of forgiveness. How was Jesus able to love his disciples? The answer is found in the thirteenth chapter of John.
WITH TOWEL AND BASIN
OF ALL THE TIMES WE SEE THE BOWING KNEES OF JESUS, NONE IS SO PRECIOUS AS WHEN HE KNEELS BEFORE HIS DISCIPLES AND WASHES THEIR FEET.
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, … and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (vv. 1–5 NIV)
It has been a long day. Jerusalem is packed with Passover guests, most of whom clamor for a glimpse of the Teacher. The spring sun is warm. The streets are dry. And the disciples are a long way from home. A splash of cool water would be refreshing.
The disciples enter, one by one, and take their places around the table. On the wall hangs a towel, and on the floor sits a pitcher and a basin. Any one of the disciples could volunteer for the job, but not one does.
After a few moments, Jesus stands and removes his outer garment. He wraps a servant’s girdle around his waist, takes up the basin, and kneels before one of the disciples. He unlaces a sandal and gently lifts the foot and places it in the basin, covers it with water, and begins to bathe it. One by one, one grimy foot after another, Jesus works his way down the row.
In Jesus’ day the washing of feet was a task reserved not just for servants but for the lowest of servants. Every circle has its pecking order, and the circle of household workers was no exception. The servant at the bottom of the totem pole was expected to be the one on his knees with the towel and basin.
In this case the one with the towel and basin is the king of the universe. Hands that shaped the stars now wash away filth. Fingers that formed mountains now massage toes. And the one before whom all nations will one day kneel now kneels before his disciples. Hours before his own death, Jesus’ concern is singular. He wants his disciples to know how much he loves them. More than removing dirt, Jesus is removing doubt.
Jesus knows what will happen to his hands at the crucifixion. Within twenty-four hours they will be pierced and lifeless. Of all the times we’d expect him to ask for the disciples’ attention, this would be one. But he doesn’t.
You can be sure Jesus knows the future of these feet he is washing. These twenty-four feet will not spend the next day following their master, defending his cause. These feet will dash for cover at the flash of a Roman sword. Only one pair of feet won’t abandon him in the garden. One disciple won’t desert him at Gethsemane—Judas won’t even make it that far! He will abandon Jesus that very night at the table.
I looked for a Bible translation that reads, “Jesus washed all the disciples’ feet except the feet of Judas,” but I couldn’t find one. What a passionate moment when Jesus silently lifts the feet of his betrayer and washes them in the basin! Within hours the feet of Judas, cleansed by the kindness of the one he will betray, will stand in Caiaphas’s court.
Behold the gift Jesus gives his followers! He knows what these men are about to do. He knows they are about to perform the vilest act of their lives. By morning they will bury their heads in shame and look down at their feet in disgust. And when they do, he wants them to remember how his knees knelt before them and he washed their feet. He wants them to realize those feet are still clean. “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later” (John 13:7).
Remarkable. He forgave their sin before they even committed it. He offered mercy before they even sought it.
FROM THE BASIN OF HIS GRACE
OH, I COULD NEVER DO THAT, YOU OBJECT. THE HURT IS SO DEEP. THE WOUNDS ARE SO NUMEROUS. JUST SEEING THE PERSON CAUSES ME TO CRINGE. PERHAPS THAT IS YOUR PROBLEM. PERHAPS YOU ARE SEEING THE WRONG PERSON OR AT LEAST TOO MUCH OF THE WRONG PERSON. REMEMBER, THE SECRET OF BEING JUST LIKE JESUS IS “FIXING OUR EYES” ON HIM. TRY SHIFTING YOUR GLANCE AWAY FROM THE ONE WHO HURT YOU AND SETTING YOUR EYES ON THE ONE WHO HAS SAVED YOU.
Note the promise of John, “But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin” (1 John 1:7).
Aside from geography and chronology, our story is the same as the disciples’. We weren’t in Jerusalem, and we weren’t alive that night. But what Jesus did for them he has done for us. He has cleansed us. He has cleansed our hearts from sin.
Even more, he is still cleansing us! John tells us, “We are being cleansed from every sin by the blood of Jesus.” In other words, we are always being cleansed. The cleansing is not a promise for the future but a reality in the present. Let a speck of dust fall on the soul of a saint, and it is washed away. Let a spot of filth land on the heart of God’s child, and the filth is wiped away. Jesus still cleans his disciples’ feet. Jesus still washes away stains. Jesus still purifies his people.
Our Savior kneels down and gazes upon the darkest acts of our lives. But rather than recoil in horror, he reaches out in kindness and says, “I can clean that if you want.” And from the basin of his grace, he scoops a palm full of mercy and washes away our sin.
But that’s not all he does. Because he lives in us, you and I can do the same. Because he has forgiven us, we can forgive others. Because he has a forgiving heart, we can have a forgiving heart. We can have a heart like his.
“If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet. I did this as an example so that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:14–15).
Jesus washes our feet for two reasons. The first is to give us mercy; the second is to give us a message, and that message is simply this: Jesus offers unconditional grace; we are to offer unconditional grace. The mercy of Christ preceded our mistakes; our mercy must precede the mistakes of others. Those in the circle of Christ had no doubt of his love; those in our circles should have no doubts about ours.
What does it mean to have a heart like his? It means to kneel as Jesus knelt, touching the grimy parts of the people we are stuck with and washing away their unkindnesses with kindness. Or as Paul wrote, “Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ” (Eph. 4:32).
“But, Max,” you are saying, “I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m not the one who cheated. I’m not the one who lied. I’m not the guilty party here.” Perhaps you aren’t. But neither was Jesus. Of all the men in that room, only one was worthy of having his feet washed. And he was the one who washed the feet. The one worthy of being served, served others. The genius of Jesus’ example is that the burden of bridge-building falls on the strong one, not on the weak one. The one who is innocent is the one who makes the gesture.
And you know what happens? More often than not, if the one in the right volunteers to wash the feet of the one in the wrong, both parties get on their knees. Don’t we all think we are right? Hence we wash each other’s feet.
Please understand. Relationships don’t thrive because the guilty are punished but because the innocent are merciful.
THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS
RECENTLY I SHARED A MEAL WITH SOME FRIENDS. A HUSBAND AND WIFE WANTED TO TELL ME ABOUT A STORM THEY WERE WEATHERING. THROUGH A SERIES OF EVENTS, SHE LEARNED OF AN ACT OF INFIDELITY THAT HAD OCCURRED OVER A DECADE AGO. HE HAD MADE THE MISTAKE OF THINKING IT’D BE BETTER NOT TO TELL HER, SO HE DIDN’T. BUT SHE FOUND OUT. AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, SHE WAS DEEPLY HURT.
Through the advice of a counselor, the couple dropped everything and went away for several days. A decision had to be made. Would they flee, fight, or forgive? So they prayed. They talked. They walked. They reflected. In this case the wife was clearly in the right. She could have left. Women have done so for lesser reasons. Or she could have stayed and made his life a living hell. Other women have done that. But she chose a different response.
On the tenth night of their trip, my friend found a card on his pillow. On the card was a printed verse: “I’d rather do nothing with you than something without you.” Beneath the verse she had written these words:
I forgive you. I love you. Let’s move on.
The card might as well have been a basin. And the pen might as well have been a pitcher of water, for out of it poured pure mercy, and with it she washed her husband’s feet.
Certain conflicts can be resolved only with a basin of water. Are any relationships in your world thirsty for mercy? Are there any sitting around your table who need to be assured of your grace? Jesus made sure his disciples had no reason to doubt his love. Why don’t you do the same?
Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others.
COLOSSIANS 3:12 TLB
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