Have you ever thought about what happened to those that were accompanying Saul of Tarsis when they reached Annanais? They heard the voice that Saul heard. Evidently they saw the great light that shined so brightly. I can't believe they just took him and left him so they must have seen his sight being recovered. In eternity it will be interesting to know the answers to these questions. This man baptized the greatest of all the Apostles and yet this is the only time we read about him in Scriptures. Look how important Juan, the Baptist was and what a small part of Scripture Like the woman at the well, and many others. I just need to remember that, although I am but a blip on the radar of time I can do important things also.
This is just some more examples of how extensive the Word of God really is. I think it is good when we think a little deeper in these Bible accounts. Bro Don
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Amazing how God works!
Although I have always claimed to be an Okie, I was actually born in Erie, KS, a town of 1,012 people. Some 2 or 3 years ago I visited Erie with two of my grandchildren. Every July the town has what they call the Erie Reunion when former residents return for the special events of the week. Alana and Jr had a great time participating in some of the activities, one of which was a turtle race. Alana's turtle won first place and was awarded a silver dollar.
About a year later an American lady in Rosarito,MX shouted out, "Hey, I remember you!" Alana turned around and saw it was the lady that had awarded her the silver dollar in Erie, KS.! Small world in God's eyes.
About a year later an American lady in Rosarito,MX shouted out, "Hey, I remember you!" Alana turned around and saw it was the lady that had awarded her the silver dollar in Erie, KS.! Small world in God's eyes.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Another Personal Mission story!
This has been a very busy and blest weekend for me. Friday I drove up to Delano CA to be in a Missions Conference in Immanuel Baptist Church, one of our fine supporting church for over THREE DECADES. I came rushing back so Alana could attend a youth activity Sat. afternoon.
Then today we had a WONDERFUL service at out new mission in El Chicote! In fact, we had the largest attendance today we have had with 53 present!
For the first time we broke up into THREE groups. The children were on the bus with two workers from the Bible College. Pastor Daniel from the Rosarito church had the youth for the first time they had had a class and Edna, Jonathan Bell and I had the adults. I am AMAZED at how quickly these adults have become SO faithful as well as the youth and children. They are SO proud of their "little church"!
There was something very special that happened during and after the service. I was telling the people how fortunate we are in the Baja to have a lot more freedom with the Gospel than many of the tribes in the south. I related how some villages of the Indians have been wiped out. I saw a lady tear up. After the service she told us that her father had experienced that very thing. His first wife, children, father, mother, brothers and sisters had all been killed and he was the only one that escaped. Later, he had married her mother and had a new family. Because of all he had been thru he saw a "Christian Church", went in and was saved. He hardly spoke Spanish. He only spoke their dialect. Being in the city, he had to learn Spanish. He had no education but learned to read the Bible and soon became a great preacher. He is now with the Lord.
We rejoiced with her over the great heritage in the Lord she has had and is now carrying forward what she had been taught.
Friends, when we all stand before the Lord, I think a lot of the BIG preachers will have to step back and let humble men like her father step forward for their reward. I know I will. We have it SO easy. And I am SOOO blest to still be able to serve on the mission field. I THOROUGHLY enjoy preaching in the little wooden building to such hungry people for the Word. Thanks once again for making it possible. Bro Don
Then today we had a WONDERFUL service at out new mission in El Chicote! In fact, we had the largest attendance today we have had with 53 present!
For the first time we broke up into THREE groups. The children were on the bus with two workers from the Bible College. Pastor Daniel from the Rosarito church had the youth for the first time they had had a class and Edna, Jonathan Bell and I had the adults. I am AMAZED at how quickly these adults have become SO faithful as well as the youth and children. They are SO proud of their "little church"!
There was something very special that happened during and after the service. I was telling the people how fortunate we are in the Baja to have a lot more freedom with the Gospel than many of the tribes in the south. I related how some villages of the Indians have been wiped out. I saw a lady tear up. After the service she told us that her father had experienced that very thing. His first wife, children, father, mother, brothers and sisters had all been killed and he was the only one that escaped. Later, he had married her mother and had a new family. Because of all he had been thru he saw a "Christian Church", went in and was saved. He hardly spoke Spanish. He only spoke their dialect. Being in the city, he had to learn Spanish. He had no education but learned to read the Bible and soon became a great preacher. He is now with the Lord.
We rejoiced with her over the great heritage in the Lord she has had and is now carrying forward what she had been taught.
Friends, when we all stand before the Lord, I think a lot of the BIG preachers will have to step back and let humble men like her father step forward for their reward. I know I will. We have it SO easy. And I am SOOO blest to still be able to serve on the mission field. I THOROUGHLY enjoy preaching in the little wooden building to such hungry people for the Word. Thanks once again for making it possible. Bro Don
A tribute to a special servant of the Lord
Maybe a man isn't supposed to brag on his wife; but, I've never been politically correct anyway. I am talking about the most faithful wife, mother, grandmother, greatgrandmother and FRIEND in the world! When I think of all she has been thru in life and still has that loving face, I am amazed! There are very few women in the world that would give up what she gave up to come to the mission field and live as she has lived for 35 years. And most of all not complain.
She STILL loves Mexico and her people. She is SOOO loved and respected by SO many people. She has never been one to be in the limelight. She never became a great speaker to ladies groups. She has just LOVED PEOPLE and been their friend. Edna does not know what an enemy is. I have seen people that have stabbed us in the back and when she sees them she is as friendly as ever.
Her once beautiful face has changed into a kind one. Her gait is now very slow. Her sight is almost completely gone but her spirit still shines thru.
For SO many years we were so busy raising our family and many others and so busy with our various ministries we had little time until recently for ourselves.
Four weeks ago this Sunday I sat on the high stool I need to sit on to preach now and preached the first service of our 19th mission. She sat in a chair beside me where she has been all those 35 years on the field. When we come before the Lord I already know what God is going to say to Edna -- "You certainly made Don look good." Love you, honey! Your loving husband
She STILL loves Mexico and her people. She is SOOO loved and respected by SO many people. She has never been one to be in the limelight. She never became a great speaker to ladies groups. She has just LOVED PEOPLE and been their friend. Edna does not know what an enemy is. I have seen people that have stabbed us in the back and when she sees them she is as friendly as ever.
Her once beautiful face has changed into a kind one. Her gait is now very slow. Her sight is almost completely gone but her spirit still shines thru.
For SO many years we were so busy raising our family and many others and so busy with our various ministries we had little time until recently for ourselves.
Four weeks ago this Sunday I sat on the high stool I need to sit on to preach now and preached the first service of our 19th mission. She sat in a chair beside me where she has been all those 35 years on the field. When we come before the Lord I already know what God is going to say to Edna -- "You certainly made Don look good." Love you, honey! Your loving husband
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Whixh do ypu do?
Giving is the basis of Christianity. Christ is the greatest gift anyone could ever hope to receive! God willingly and freely CHOSE to give us the wonderful gift of eternal life thru His Son. There was nothing He needed from man except his love in return.
I have found there are two types of givers among us Christians: those who give TO BE blest and those who give because THEY ARE BLEST . Which type are YOU?
I think we need to realize that God OWES us nothing! The very fact He has saved us is much more than we could ever deserve. If He never did another thing besides save us what more could we ask? After all, we are saved by GRACE so everything that follows is certainly by the same.
It would GREATLY please God if we changed our attitudes about giving. How glorified He would be if, the next time we were ready to give we would do it BECAUSE we are blest and not because we want to be blest. Think about it! Bro Don
I have found there are two types of givers among us Christians: those who give TO BE blest and those who give because THEY ARE BLEST . Which type are YOU?
I think we need to realize that God OWES us nothing! The very fact He has saved us is much more than we could ever deserve. If He never did another thing besides save us what more could we ask? After all, we are saved by GRACE so everything that follows is certainly by the same.
It would GREATLY please God if we changed our attitudes about giving. How glorified He would be if, the next time we were ready to give we would do it BECAUSE we are blest and not because we want to be blest. Think about it! Bro Don
Thursday, January 12, 2012
WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WAY -- Special Baptisms
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While pastoring in Colorado several years ago I was invited to preach a revival in the Wyoming State Prison, one of the oldest in the nation. During that time a man in his 50s that had been in and out of jail since he was 14 and was sentenced to life, received Christ as his personal Savior. A year later I returned there to preach another revival and noticed how the old man had grown in grace. He began begging me to baptize him. I did have the authority of our church but, what about permission? It took a while but I finally got the permission of the warden IF I could find a way since we only baptize by immersion. Finally we found a way -- he was baptized in the mechanic shop in the vat where they tested radiators y repaired tires. Where there's a will there's a way.
Some years later in Mexico there was a young man converted to Christ in the mountains. The area had seen a long, dry summer and there was little water to be found. But, where there's a will there's a way. The young man took a shovel and went to a small stream and dug a large hole which finally filled up from the trickle of water. He sat down in the hole, the Mexican pastor knelt beside him and he was baptized. Many of our Mexican churches do not have baptistries.
At another time, one of our new missions had a number of new believers ready for baptism also. Again, how to accomplish this Bible commandment? A man brought a large plastic kiddie pool and filled it with water. Again the converts had to sit down in the water with the pastor kneeling and baptizing them. Where there's a will there's a way.
And just recently there was a special baptism that we could certainly call, making your public profession of faith. There were four ready to be baptized. That particular church usually baptizes in the ocean. However, there was an unusually high surf which made it unwise to use the ocean.
The pastor went to the municipal outdoor swimming pool and got permission for a baptismal service in the pool. It was granted because the man in charge is a BELIEVER and said he had never seen that happen there but was for it. Our climate is such that the pool stays open all year for the brave ones. The congregation and baptismal candidates arrived at the pool. The man asked ALL the swimmers to leave the pool for the moment. While the congregation was singing the two young men, two young ladies and the Mexican pastor entered the pool. There was an applaus when each one was baptized! What a testimony for Christ in a catholic country! REMEMBER, Where there's a will there's a way!
While pastoring in Colorado several years ago I was invited to preach a revival in the Wyoming State Prison, one of the oldest in the nation. During that time a man in his 50s that had been in and out of jail since he was 14 and was sentenced to life, received Christ as his personal Savior. A year later I returned there to preach another revival and noticed how the old man had grown in grace. He began begging me to baptize him. I did have the authority of our church but, what about permission? It took a while but I finally got the permission of the warden IF I could find a way since we only baptize by immersion. Finally we found a way -- he was baptized in the mechanic shop in the vat where they tested radiators y repaired tires. Where there's a will there's a way.
Some years later in Mexico there was a young man converted to Christ in the mountains. The area had seen a long, dry summer and there was little water to be found. But, where there's a will there's a way. The young man took a shovel and went to a small stream and dug a large hole which finally filled up from the trickle of water. He sat down in the hole, the Mexican pastor knelt beside him and he was baptized. Many of our Mexican churches do not have baptistries.
At another time, one of our new missions had a number of new believers ready for baptism also. Again, how to accomplish this Bible commandment? A man brought a large plastic kiddie pool and filled it with water. Again the converts had to sit down in the water with the pastor kneeling and baptizing them. Where there's a will there's a way.
And just recently there was a special baptism that we could certainly call, making your public profession of faith. There were four ready to be baptized. That particular church usually baptizes in the ocean. However, there was an unusually high surf which made it unwise to use the ocean.
The pastor went to the municipal outdoor swimming pool and got permission for a baptismal service in the pool. It was granted because the man in charge is a BELIEVER and said he had never seen that happen there but was for it. Our climate is such that the pool stays open all year for the brave ones. The congregation and baptismal candidates arrived at the pool. The man asked ALL the swimmers to leave the pool for the moment. While the congregation was singing the two young men, two young ladies and the Mexican pastor entered the pool. There was an applaus when each one was baptized! What a testimony for Christ in a catholic country! REMEMBER, Where there's a will there's a way!
Friday, January 6, 2012
First baby's funeral on the mission field.
During my American ministry I had conducted several funerals for babies and it is always difficult for me. But, my first funeral for a baby on the mission field was particularly difficult! This was over 25 years ago so Mexico was really more primitive.
One day a young mother came to our church in Rosarito to inform me that her 6-month-old baby had passed away in the General Hospital in Tijuana and there was a problem. You see, people die evrery day in this large hospital for the poor. So, vans from the funeral homes are parked there and as soon as someone dies they pick the body up and the family is just told where the body is. Then you have a battle if you do not want their services. This had happened in this case.
In Mexico, if you bury the body within 24 hours it does not have to be imbalmed and at that time you could prepare the body and bury it yourself. So, that was our plans. However, the funeral home did not want to release the body and told me, as an American, they were sure I could pay for the funeral. Right!
I knew the officials in Rosarito so I rushed back there to get the paperwork to force them to give me the body. In the meantime I directed the young men of the Bible Institute to make a plywood coffin out of some left-over plywood from a building project while I and the mother went for the body.
When we got back to the funeral home they were SO angry they handed me the body wrapped in the same bloody sheet from the hospital. I cannot describe how I felt at that moment! In the van the mother asked if she could uncover the face, Man! They didn't teach this in Missions in Bible College!
When we got back to Rosarito, Edna and the girls had put a nice pillow in the box and had stapled a white bedsheet around the box. They cleaned the little body and dressed him and laid him in the box. The girls made artificial flowers out of colored cleenex.While this was being down the men students went to the cemetery and dug the grave by hand, We rounded up some members and headed for the church for the service. Time was running out. We had the service and as the sun was setting we shoveled on the last dirt.
BUT, that is not the end of the story. As Americans, we would have felt terrible to need to bury a loved one in such a poor manner. However, at the next service, during the testimony time. the mother stood and expressed how thankful she was to have her Christian family in the church. She said her baby would not have had such a BEAUTIFUL funeral otherwise! I'm SO glad we came and that you sent us. Bro Don
One day a young mother came to our church in Rosarito to inform me that her 6-month-old baby had passed away in the General Hospital in Tijuana and there was a problem. You see, people die evrery day in this large hospital for the poor. So, vans from the funeral homes are parked there and as soon as someone dies they pick the body up and the family is just told where the body is. Then you have a battle if you do not want their services. This had happened in this case.
In Mexico, if you bury the body within 24 hours it does not have to be imbalmed and at that time you could prepare the body and bury it yourself. So, that was our plans. However, the funeral home did not want to release the body and told me, as an American, they were sure I could pay for the funeral. Right!
I knew the officials in Rosarito so I rushed back there to get the paperwork to force them to give me the body. In the meantime I directed the young men of the Bible Institute to make a plywood coffin out of some left-over plywood from a building project while I and the mother went for the body.
When we got back to the funeral home they were SO angry they handed me the body wrapped in the same bloody sheet from the hospital. I cannot describe how I felt at that moment! In the van the mother asked if she could uncover the face, Man! They didn't teach this in Missions in Bible College!
When we got back to Rosarito, Edna and the girls had put a nice pillow in the box and had stapled a white bedsheet around the box. They cleaned the little body and dressed him and laid him in the box. The girls made artificial flowers out of colored cleenex.While this was being down the men students went to the cemetery and dug the grave by hand, We rounded up some members and headed for the church for the service. Time was running out. We had the service and as the sun was setting we shoveled on the last dirt.
BUT, that is not the end of the story. As Americans, we would have felt terrible to need to bury a loved one in such a poor manner. However, at the next service, during the testimony time. the mother stood and expressed how thankful she was to have her Christian family in the church. She said her baby would not have had such a BEAUTIFUL funeral otherwise! I'm SO glad we came and that you sent us. Bro Don
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