Here it Goes...

As you can clearly see we have let our blog slip slowly behind the scenes since we went to Africa.  I would watch other people blogging away and really wasn't sure how they found the time to fit it in on top of sending out updates and keeping all the other "balls" in the air. What an amazing gift!

Truthfully, I think part of my problem is that my husband takes care of all things technological. Unless I feel comfortable with what I am doing, I push these type of projects off to him. Well, these past few months I have felt a nudging to take up the art of blogging. I guess this proves to be an exercise of stepping into the unknown and trusting that God will give me what I need.

Our first update comes as links to our past newsletters that we have written and sent via MailChimp.  You can find these in our links portion.  Hopefully this helps those of you who have missed an update or simply are not on our list to receive them.  Enjoy!

Sorry, it's been a while!

Hi, how has it been? I know, I know, it's been a long time!
So for those who don't follow us on Facebook or get our emails, we have been in Kenya for almost 4 months. We are dorm parents for 8, 5th and 6th grade boys and Amy and I are both teaching some classes. We are truly dependent on God's provision and we fully trust that God enables us to do that which He has called us to. Everyday we awake to God's beautiful country, with a gorgeous Africa sky and a vivacious valley below. We are often visited by baboons and other primates, making our stay a little more adventurous.
But what brings the most joy is being planted here by God to bear his fruit. Everyday, we get a chance to pour God's truth into the lives of boys and girls who desire to know Truth. We have also had the pleasure of making friends with some of the local Kenyans.
It is evident that we can not do all of this on our own strength, but need to constantly live according to the Spirit. We are thankful to all of our friends and family who pray for us and support us in many different ways. We are thankful to be here and we know it is only by God's grace and provision that we are here and we pray that God's will be done and not our own.

Running Ahead

When do we go to God the most? Isn't usually when we are in trouble and have no where to turn? That is usually when we cling to God the tightest...The dark, looming, tumultuous, clouds of life threaten to bring a storm or indeed brings a tornado that rips our "home" from its foundation but sooner or later the storm dissipates and eventually the sun comes out and in front of us we see green grass, rolling hills, and maybe a some beautiful sunflowers. Life couldn't be better, no worries, and we often get the urge to run free and do what we want to do! We don't even glance back to notice we have just left God in our dust. Instead of remaining next to him, we have left him. Maybe we just want God to get us out of jams, but God wants to give us a Life we have never even imagined! A life where He is our whole Portion. A life of Peace, Joy, a River of Life flowing through us to touch the dead among us so that they may be alive for the first time.

God wants us to trust and rely in Him during the good and the bad. The hard and the easy.

As June grows closer and the funds continue to come in and we grow closer to meeting our financial goals, there is a temptation to get over excited, to get spiritually careless, to forget how we got here in the first place. Thankfully the Lord is good and the Spirit gently reminds us to "heel."

Dog owners know what can happen if our dogs don't heel and they run...

Everyday, every hour, every minute, every second, let us submit ourselves to Christ and remain in Him.

Why Can't I lose Weight?

Around this time of year, especially this time of year, we look in the mirror and are often disappointed in what we see. “I could really lose 10, 20, 50 pounds or so, then I would be happy!” So we hit the gym, buy some running shoes, or order that awesome workout video that will change your life in 30 days! What we really want is quick results. We want to see the results, we want to wear the results. “Wow I dropped 3 dress sizes!” or “Wow,  I can fit into my old slacks!” In addition we eat bland tasting food or little food at all and fight the beast known as hunger. After a week or two we get frustrated, we missed some work outs, over ate one day, and the scale seems to be stuck. So what do we do? Most of the time we give up. We want change now! And anybody who has tried and failed and tried and failed realize that change can happen but it happens over time, discipline, and a lot of grace. 

Its a lot like our relationship with Christ. We look in the mirror and notice we aren’t the man or woman we wish we were. We have some of the same bad habits, same faults, same baggage we have been carrying around for a while. We often get frustrated because we try a little of prayer, a little bit of giving, or maybe even volunteer a little bit, and yet sometimes we see very little if any change. And sometimes we feel like quitting. “Forget this religion stuff!” We are so used to instant results that we forget that God is not on our schedule. Oswald Chambers said,

“...He explains things to us as we are able to understand them. The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work— so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. (Jan. 12)”

So let us also remember what the writer of Hebrews said (10:22-25, 32-37), “22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,

   “In just a little while,
   he who is coming will come
   and will not delay.”

Eating Humble Pie

One of the best parts of Thanksgiving is all the desserts. Chocolate covered Oreos, apple pie, pumpkin pie, you name it, I'll eat it. But recently I have been learning to eat more humble pie. I read 1 Peter 5:6 where Peter suggests that we should humble our selves before the Hand of God that in His due time, He will lift us up. I have also been contemplating the Advent season that's now upon us. It was through humility that Christ came down from the Glories of Heaven to be born in a dirty stable, a place any of us would be abhorred to deliver a child, especially with all the modern medical marvels we have today. It was in humility that Jesus grew up in Nazareth, for even his own people said, "Nothing good comes from Nazareth!" It was in humility that Christ lived as a homeless man. "Foxes have dens but I don't have a home to call my own." It was in humility that Christ hung out with "sinners." It was in humility that he asked 12 blue collars to be his closest friends. It was in humility that He rode into Jeruselum on a donkey. It was in humility that he was betrayed by one of his closest friends by a kiss. It was in humility that Christ remained silent as he was beat and whipped. He did not try to save face or defend himself. How quickly do we try to venerate our self at the slightest hint of personal offense?
In humility, Christ was executed as a criminal who was innocent. Imagine the police coming to your door and dragging your husband out in cuffs, being accused of a crime he didn't commit. How would that fly?
Isn't it through humility that we realize our need for Christ's forgiveness? Isn't it through humility that we are able to consider forgiveness and love towards those who don't deserve it?
Then there's the rub. Truly we do not deserve the grace forwarded to us by God through Christ. Isn't that humbling? And isn't it humbling that in reality we are weak. All our attempts to be the best fill in the blank by our own efforts come up very short, very short. Christ said that we can not do any good thing our own. What is impossible to man is possible for God.
It is humbling when we are reminded we were saved for God's purposes and not our own.
It is Humility that allows us to deny our selves, to put others first, to love our neighbors. And what makes humility possible in our lives? It is Christ in us. We are dead to ourselves and alive to Christ!
This advent, let us keep our eyes looking forward the 2nd advent that is soon upon us. Let us continue to submit ourselves to Christ so that He can live in us and through us. We are lamps, lamps of love, lamps of humility, the Love of Christ, the Humilty of Christ.

Ode to Thee

Oh Lord how tired you know that I am! But you fill me up with you! The true bread and the true wine! Temptation to embrace self knocks at the door, but Christ remains to remind me that which is impossible to man is possible for Him. How quickly and easily we forget the kindness and grace that is bestowed upon us hour by hour. How is it that I forget to bestow the same that dwelleth in me to the ones who I say I love so much. Fatigue clouds the memory and one quickly falls back to survivor mode. Eyes narrow and the mind cinches. The serpent tongue begins to fork and flames begin to flicker. Bite thy tongue and cling to the cross with all your might. Don't not look back and do not give up but allow your self to fall into the great deep, the deep, deep love of Jesus that no one can fathom but yet when one has only waded in the shallowest part, one can not deny. A pearl of great price that one would sell or spend anything to swim in that deep. Often we think that God will suffocate us but when we let go, if we take the step of faith, when we step out into the raging sea, we find that God is in absolute control and even though we may feel like we are free falling, we also know that God is Solid, Rock solid and His great love dispels any hint of fear.  I land on solid ground. Enemies surround me yet I do not fear because I am not alone, God as already gone before me and the war is won. What is the worst that can happen? Take my life? Take my family? Take my health? All that I need is in Christ. None but thee, oh Lord, there is none but thee!

Breaking Point...

Remember as a kid when you found a rubber band and you would slowly pull it to see how far you can stretch it before it breaks? Well thats how it is at times as followers of Christ. God takes us beyond our physical limitations at times to show us our weaknesses and our need to trust wholly in Christ. I believe our preparation to go to Kenya is just the beginning to something much bigger and God is molding us for His purposes. He puts us to the fire to burn off the dross, to burn off the stuff we think may be important or even consider as a strength, to burn off ideas and assumptions we hold that are not of Christ. To determine what we really do believe and if we will act according to the words Christ has spoken. To burn away areas of pride or contempt so that we may wholly offer our selves to our Lord for His purposes. "Deny thy self and pick up your cross and follow me." All of us who consider Christ our Lord are called for His purposes no matter where we are or where we may go. Whether at home or over the big blue, do we truly recognize Christ as Lord? Will I take him at His word? Will I allow Christ to infiltrate every square inch of my soul or will I hold back? Oswald Chambers put it beautifully, "But when His life as been created in me by His redemption, I instantly recognize His right to absolute authority over me." When we have "experienced" Christ, we would/will sell everything to follow Him.
God is not in a hurry, He has a totally different time frame than we do, but if we submit to His will we will find an awesome life filled with mystery and awe as we witness the redeeming power of God in the lives of those around us! "Seek and you shall find, Ask and it shall be given, if anybody lacks anything, ask..."
To God be the glory and Honor, who is Worthy of all praise!

Bigger than we know!

Praise the Lord! We will be staying in Rochester this summer! We are very humbled and thankful for Browncroft Community Church! Our hearts have been extremely warmed by the encouraging notes, prayers, and continuous financial support! The months before us are full of mystery as we know not exactly what God has in store for us. Yet, we are excited to walk in the Power of His Blood as we continue to follow where He leads and bear witness to His work in the lives around us! We are blessed to spend more time in Rochester so we can spend more time with our friends and families here as we continue to pray for God’s  Atoning power to be made known in the lives of all we come into contact! Anika, Titus and Elise are also very excited to stick around and enjoy their friends and family! 

With our departure delay, we will be able to slow down a little and regain some strength and sanity as we shortly resume preparations to pack, finishing up left over orientation work, and other numerous loose ends that need tying. In addition, we will also have some time to possibly make some road trips to see family and friends as they get married or make over due reunions. In the mean time, Kevin has applied for local jobs since he won’t be teaching summer school and we wait to see what the Lord has on store for us. 

Amy and I are continuing to grow and learn how to totally trust our Lord and Savior for all things! And to “seek His Kingdom First” and not our own. We completely trust we will get to Kenya when God wants us to get out there and in the meanwhile we continue to faithfully serve Him where ever we are, for God’s work is everywhere and we take great joy in being poured out for our Lord!

I had mentioned before that this journey looks a lot like trying to climb Mt. Everest, but my friends, we may have only seen the tip of the iceberg!

We continue to pray for all of you and that you would continuously grow in the knowledge and understanding of the Grace and Power of our Lord and Savior!

In Christ, 

 The Wells Family

Waiting...

So how do you know if a restaurant is a good one? Easy, you look at how many people are waiting in line to get in. Why do people wait hours in an emergency room or a hospital? Why do we wait in line at McDonalds or Chik -Fil-a? Why do people wait 3hours for a 30 second ride at Universal Studios? Because they know they will be somewhat rewarded at the end of their wait. Waiting though is not always fun. Often it can be discouraging, annoying, and frustrating. But yet we learn that somethings we can't control and we can choose to get frustrated and ugly or we can learn to wait on God, knowing He has all things in His hand, no matter what line we are in.
Looking ahead, we have close to one month before we have to be cleared financially to go to RVA in July. Right now we still have a ways to go. We have money to raise, a house to sell, shots to get, books to read, reports to write, meeting to attend and some of the things we can easily take care of. But some of theses others we will have to wait. Wait on God to bring the right buyer, wait on God to provide the funds we need. At times we are tempted to panic and ask ourselves what in the world we are doing. But we are not confident in the call to RVA but confident in our Lord who has called us.
It can be hard to wait on the Lord, but we are encouraged by Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.


30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;


31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

So we will wait and we will continue to hold on to the promises of God, for it is not the ministry we seek but it is God who we truly seek!

A New thought for the day.

A pastor at the church we go to posted blogged about how he had two buckets: 1. God Bucket and 2. Everything else Bucket. Basically, he was saying His quiet times with God, his praying, his meditating, studying, etc. was all done in separation to his family and home. This got me thinking as well because I can read and pray and help other people and minister to those who need it, but when I am with my wife and kids, I find my self doing things and saying things that aren't always loving. I can get very impatient, very selfish, and sometimes a bit grumpy. I am thinking to myself, something is not right! I should not be acting this way. So this week, one of my prayers was, God show me anything else I need to give up. Well, I felt He definitely answered after a decent night sleep. We can read scripture, pray all day, help our neighbor, but if we don't love, then what? I do need to grow in the different spiritual disciplines, but I also need to take on the Character of Christ. He was humble, patient, kind, gentle, not easily angered or impatient, sounds a lot like the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians. I need to give up my character, because it is not good enough. Christ's character is enough and I can take on His character through the Holy Spirit! Does not Christ dwell in me? So should His character, not mine. Our families are the ultimate test of character. It is also the ultimate window into the people we really are. Isn't that what they say about character, its what we do when no one is looking? Well, what happens between the walls of my house are only witnessed by a small hand full. So should I not put on Christ there too? God kept reminding me, deny your self and pick up your cross and follow me! Be slow to anger, be kind, gentle, long suffering, keeper of no wrongs. Its not that 1 Corithians is just a great wedding verse, but it is a picture of the character of Christ.  Let us submit our character to God so that He may give us the Character of Christ!

Bumming Around

Imagine yourself as a homeless, crack addict, full of shame and sin. For years, living on the streets doing whatever it took to get your next fix. Then one day, out of no where a man takes you to his mansion and says to you, “For now on, you will live with me, anything you need, just ask.” The first day is great, but after the honeymoon wears off, you find your self still falling into your bad habits. You start to steal from your benefactor, you start to distrust him, you say to yourself, “I don’t deserve this!” And ultimately you begin to fall back into all the shameful things you did when you were out on the streets. It is the same way with you and I. Before Christ, our actions, thoughts, and deeds led us to death, but now that we know Christ, our actions, thoughts, and deeds lead us to life. But, and I mean a BIG BUT, we have to learn how to live this new life in Christ. Paul says in verses 13-14 (NIV), “...but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Say no to the things that separate you from God. Say no to the things that separate you from our spouse, children, families or friends.  We have to make the choice to live by the Spirit and deny ourselves the sin we once loved. I will encourage you with this:

 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NIV)

12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Miss D. Meanor

We are always down for a road trip! When I drive, I love to get there as fast as I can, or at least I used to drive that way. I always thought my chances of getting pulled over was low. But one day while driving in VA, I got pulled over for reckless driving, which is punishable by up to a year in jail. My heart felt like it got hit with a sledge hammer. I tried to picture what it would be like if I had to go to jail. I would be crushed to be away from my family. Oh, my poor wife would have to move in with my mom and probably get a job because I wouldn’t be able to support my wife and kids. Of course my wife was freaking out, “I don’t want you to go to jail!!!” “Dear, neither do I !!!” 

Thankfully, a couple months later, I had the ticket reduced to a speeding ticket and just had to pay a fine. I felt free! 

Now, since I got off of the misdemeanor and know how to get it reduced, do I go out and speed even faster? Do I drive reckless everywhere I go because I got out of it once? No way, first I never drive in VA again, but second I learned from my mistake and slowed down. My family and future is not worth the need for speed. 

Its the same way as Christians. Do we continue to live the life that leads to death? Or do we live in the power of Christ? Salvation is freely given to those who ask, but our lives are no longer ours, but Christ’s. Paul says we were once slaves to sin, now let us be slaves to Righteousness. (Rom 6:18)

Freedom?

One word that we cherish as Americans that is not mentioned, but implied in these verses is the word Freedom. The word “Freedom” gets thrown around like a frisbee on a college campus when Christians talk about their faith in Christ and has just as many different shapes and colors as frisbees. Does it mean we are free to sin as we please? Does being a Christian give me Carte Blanche, so I can do anything because Jesus will forgive me? It says that nothing can separate me from the Love of God? Right?

Paul spells out very clearly, what we are “free” from. He reminds us of how we were slaves to sin. Our thoughts, our actions had one end in mind, death. We were bound to death by our own selfishness and lusts for the material world. We sought for joy where joy could not be found. We tried to erase our loneliness with people who just reminded us of how lonely we are. We tried to buy joy and wear happiness, but deep inside we knew it was all a mirage. Oh how we just wanted to be accepted, loved, cherished! We were nothing but God loved us still and sent His son to die, so we can live. Yet Paul remind us that as we identify with Christ’s death through our baptism, that our old self dies and we are raised to a new life in Jesus Christ. The power that resurrected Jesus from the grave now resides in me, you, all of those who have declared Jesus as Lord of their Life.  We are now free to be transformed by God. We are free from all the world’s expectations. We are free to not sin. We are free to experience true Joy and Peace only found in our Lord Christ Jesus. We are free from death. 

Pretty Ugly

I was blog surfing the other day and found a blog that had a lot of photos. Scanning the pages, there were a lot of photos of clothes, different rooms of a house, accessories including Rolex watches and designer hand bags and finally people who you might see in fashion magazine. You got a sense that the photographer had an idea of what they thought was beautiful. I mean, why else take photos but to try and capture something beautiful. As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, such that each soul finds beauty in different things. Maybe a sun set. White sands, palm trees, and bright yellow sun. Mountain Valleys. Hot Red Farrari. Movie stars. Women. Men. Coach bag, Rolex watch. Ballet. Filet Mignon. Cup Cakes. Something beautiful? 

Why are we drawn to certain things? Why do some women obsessed with fashion? Why are some men obsessed with cars? Why are others obsessed with working out or dieting? Why are some obsessed with this hobby or that? Why do they spend so much time chasing this or seeking that? It is because each of us, you and me, seek out things that are beautiful. We want to some how obtain a part of the beauty that one thing might possess. We want to consume the beauty, we want to experience the beauty. We recognize a lack of beauty in our selves. Yet, what we find is, that like eating a McDonald’s, not such a value meal, it looks so great but after consuming we are still left unsatisfied. Is there true beauty?  

So what is beauty? Something beautiful is valuable. It is something that is good. Something worth working for. Something worth sacrificing for. You would abandon all others to get a grasp. Something bigger and greater than our selves. What would you do to obtain that which you think is beautiful? Unfortunately, we have a false sense of what beauty is. First deception is that beauty in its self is the goal or end, in what ever form. Second, often what we think is beautiful has no intrinsic value or any lasting satisfaction. Beauty is constantly fleeing. We can never catch up because this beauty we chase is really a mirage.  

True Beauty exists but we may not be able to see it. God created the universe, the Earth, the water, land, plants, animals, and humans. We learn if we read Genesis, that they were all good, they were all beautiful. They were beautiful not because of how they shined but because they were reflections of God’s awesomeness and Beauty. Everything God made is good. All good things from God are good, are beautiful. 

Even Lucifer was the most beautiful angel and he thought because of his greatness, he could be better than God. Now Satan has introduced a false beauty. In Genesis, when Satan tempts Eve, it refers to Eve seeing the fruit as pleasing to the eye and good to eat. Satan had promised them they would be wise and like God. But they would soon find out how empty that promises would be. From then on, humanity’s sense of beauty has been skewed. 

So what is true beauty? I watched a TV show last year called True Beauty where they explore the inner beauty of attractive people. I think they were getting a glimpse of what true beauty is. When David was being anointed as future king, Samuel scoffed, but God said, “Man looks on the outside, but I look at the heart.” Paul also said, “How beautiful are the feet of those that bring the gospel.” So here we get a different picture of what is truly beautiful. God is true beauty. Life in Christ is truly beautiful! People who share the Life giving Good news are beautiful! The only way to experience True Beauty is to look to Christ.

Only Six more months...

We got an email the other day from AIM saying that they have flight reservations for us on July 14th, 2011! Wow, what an email! That was very encouraging! As the new year begins, we are excited with anticipation to see God's mighty hand at work! Everyday is a step closer until we leave our world as we know it and venture to new ones.  We are continually reminded and encouraged that God is good and that He is in charge! We are encouraged by you as you pray for us and as you so generously give as God leads! We are humbled by your gracious giving and give thanks to God for you and that He would continue to bless and be glorified by you! We are very, very close to reaching our outgoing funds goal and our monthly support also continues to grow!

This month, we have also started an online course that we have been working on diligently. This is part of the required spiritual development before we go, but have been extremely blessed by the discussions and articles.
Also, big news, our house is finally on the market and we know God will work out the details! We are working with an agent who goes to our church and we are thankful to be partnered with a sister in Christ!

I must say, God is at work, the Harvest is ripe but the workers are few, and we pray that God will continue to send out workers!

We pray for you and appreciate your prayers as well.

Love the Wells Family!

PS, We have been asked by Browncroft to write some devotional for their Route 365 Bible Reading Plan, you can reads Kevin's article's this week and Amy's come up later. All the devotionals are thought provoking and provide a nice spiritual snack.
http://www.browncroft.org/Resources/Route365.aspx

Task Master

"Stay on task, stay on task!" This is often heard in educational circles. We want the kids to stay on task. At home, I often have a "To Do List" and I like to plow through each task so I can check it off. It feels good to get stuff done! In order to get stuff done though, I feel like I need a good pair of blinders and good momentum.
Even as a follower of Christ, when God has laid something out before me, I start creating a list of how I am going to accomplish it. I start doing this and that, I at times I feel like I am spinning my wheels and it is easy to get frustrated. And then the Holy Spirit whispers to me, "Don't stay on task, stay on Jesus!"

O Lord,
This day I submit to you my time, my thoughts, my strength, and all that is me to you!

Amen

Walking On Water

Have you ever tried to walk on water? I don't mean when its 20 degrees outside, I mean real water. it doesn't work. You put your foot on the water and it goes right through. Depending on your balance, your foot gets a little wet. It is impossible to humanly walk on water (in liquid form). Yet in Matthew 14:29, we read about Peter walking on the water! So it was only a couple of seconds, but he still walked on water when he had his eyes on Jesus! It wasn't only until he looked at the rolling waves and heard the whistling wind that he began to sink!
As our family continues to move forward in our Journey, we are going to have to walk on some water! We just recently moved into the Browncroft Community Church's missions house so that we can prep our other house for sale. There are a lot of winds and waves rising before us! The real estate market isn't great! This time of year isn't really the hot time for buying a house. We only have so much saved money to pay rent and a mortgage. But we are not going to look at the waves nor fear the winds, but look directly at Jesus so that when our house does sell and when all our support is raised, then all glory be to God our Father! Many will question and doubt, but we fix our eyes on Jesus who is our author and finisher of our faith!
Has not God already provided in so many ways before? Did not God help David kill a bear and a lion before he killed Goliath? Great is our God! Holy is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world!

Oh Deer, oh Deer!

So Saturday was a very interesting day. First of all, we had a baby shower for my sister. While the ladies had fun with the baby shower, the boys, Kevin and Josh (Bro-in-law) had their own shower while they watched Gabe's football game as he played Alfred University in the pouring rain. It finally dried up around half time and in the end, St. John Fisher got rolled over like fresh sod. Later that evening, Gabe, Josh, and Kevin enjoyed some wings. Around 7:30pm Kevin got a call from his bro Joe. Joe, his wife Karen, and their son Devon were stranded due to their car breaking down. They were 1 hour from Rochester and 2 hours from home. Kevin drove down "deer" alley to go pick up his bro and his family to drive them home. The roads were pretty quiet and Kevin was nursing a "Rockstar" energy drink he got earlier from the football game. Any way all of a sudden, a big buck runs across the highway! Kevin swerved quickly and carefully, and thankfully missed the deer! Phew! Many prayers of thanks went up to God! Let me tell you, energy drinks  has nothing on a shot of adrenaline after narrowly missing a disaster! So thankfully the rest of the trip went with out incident.
After getting home on Sunday, I talked to my sister in law, and was telling her about my trip. She told me that she was so afraid that I would hit a deer and that she was praying for me all night! Wow, I was amazed!
If the Spirit would compel a sister in Christ to pray over a deer and that we avoided hitting a deer, what more should we be praying for! Was that deer a dart from the devil? We should keep our families and friends in continual prayer for, Satan is a prowling lion looking to devour. Thankfully, our God has conquered death! Thankfully, we have nothing to fear! "Do not let your hearts be troubled, for I have overcome the world!"

Queens for a day.

I am so honored to write this post. The Wells family was honored by the opportunity to visit and share at the Chinese Envangel Mission Church in Queens, NY. We were welcomed with open arms and a bunch of flowers! They were very patient and gracious with our children who had a blast and didn't want to go! If you are in the NYC area and need a Church to check out, check out the CEMC Q church! Highly recommended! It is an honor to share with fellow believers God word. It is easy to try and think, "was the sermon good enough? Was I entertaining? Was I useful?" But the truth is, it is not about me, but about God speaking to his people! God always has something He wants us to know and it is through his people that his messages flow. God takes  care of his own. Yesterday, a very distant relative mentioned 2 Timothy 2:13 When we are faithless, he remains faithful. It is encouraging to know.

Breakfast part Deux

So I spent some time thinking about fasting a little bit after I had an interesting conversation with a colleague today. I asked her, "If you could do whatever, what would you be doing?" The cliff note version is that she would travel all over the world and eat at all the best restaurants in the world, not the "touristy" ones, but the real good ones, the treasures hidden away, maybe pay over $100 a plate. It got me thinking why we don't talk about fasting much. Here in America, most of us have access to food, lots and lots of food. Cheap food, healthy food, unhealthy food, food food food. We get hungry, we eat, we are full, we still eat because we can. For some its a hobby. For other's its a crutch. For some it means family for others it means the Devil. We often don't go with out, and once we feel a little rumble in the tummy, we go running around the kitchen or stop at a drive through. So the idea of fasting can be very scary, especially if you are afraid to be a little hungry. I think its interesting how influenced and manipulated we are by food.
Obviously we have to eat and God provides for his people. I am not saying food is bad or evil or that we should all be anorexic. What I want to say is that as Christ followers, we should strive to live more by the Spirit, the food Jesus talks about when the Disciples offer him food when he talks with the woman at the well, than by our natural hungers and cravings. Can I with hold my own satisfaction for the sake of another? Can I live a life where I trust more on living by God's spirit than by hugging my self with a twinkie?
I look around and see people's lives consumed with consumption and honestly its killing them.  On the other hand, I have students that go a whole day with out eating much. They don't eat breakfast and lunch is meager at best. Everyday they deal with hunger and have lived to deal with it. It affects their ability to learn and pay attention. So starving isn't the answer either. But can we learn to deny or delay self satisfaction in order to empty ourselves, so that Christ can flow out of us?
Fasting is mentioned quite a bit in the old testament and some in the new testament. When Christ talks about casting out demons, to pray and fast. I think we should talk about it more and practice it more as Christians, even though it is counter culture.
Christ is our model, who demonstrated complete submission to God, even through beatings and ultimately death. Can we not submit our bodies, hungers, and cravings to our Lord and Savior?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject.