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This will really make you think!

No doubt our world in 2008 is different from 2007.  What will it be like in 2009?

The stats quoted here are a couple of years old.  What they are saying about the numbers of non-US English speakers on the internet is amazing:

Here’s another quote regarding prayer and money from George Mueller:

“The greatness of the sum required affords me a kind of secret joy; for the greater the difficulty to be overcome, the more will it be seen to the glory of God how much can be done by faith and prayer.”

The context was the need to build an additional, huge orphanage for 700 more orphans.  The cost was estimated to be 35,000 British Pounds.  This was just a few years after he had built another orphanage for 10,000 pounds.  This was in the 1850s.  This was a huge some of money in those times.  And it all came from donations from individuals.  Reportedly, the money came in exactly on time and to the penny of what George prayed for.

George died at the age of 92.  He spoke in churches hundreds of times up until his death.  He outlived two wives and his only daughter.  George preached at a Sunday service about a month before he died.

In the biography, it says . . .

As he spoke, his face shone.  He said, “I am a happy old man!  I walk about my room and say, ‘Lord, I am not alone, for You are with me.  I have buried my wives and my children, but You are left.  I am never lonely or desolate with You and Your smile, which is better than life!”

As we begin 2009, we’re looking to the Lord to cover some significant financial needs.  Overall donations from our ministry partners are down by about 9%.  Basically, we will need an additional $13,000 just to cover our minimum goals and expenses for the year ahead.

Perhaps you know that we are completely funded by individuals who have a heart for what we are doing in ministry.  Campus Crusade has no central funding to pay our salaries.  The Lord has provided for us – entirely through people like you – for over 16 years.

Raising our financial support has been one of the most challenging yet also rewarding things we have ever done.

Recently we gained some deep encouragement gleaned from a financial lesson in history in the life of George Mueller.  Also, there is an amazing story in Scripture (1 Kings 17) about the Lord taking care of Elijah by two different methods.  One method seemed totally irrational – he asked an extremely poor widow to supply him a meal.  She responded that she was just about to eat the last small bit of bread she had and then die.  Yet, God miraculously provided not only a meal for Elijah but many more meals for the widow’s family.

It’s funny how, sometimes, we have trouble believing what God can and can not provide.  I even think, “well, God could give us ____ but He would never provide it by ______.”  As I review the Elijah story, I’m prompted to realize that God is not limited by resource nor the method in which He provides.  He brings His money in His ways.

With that in mind . . .

If the Lord puts it on your heart to give a special one time gift of any amount, we’d greatly appreciate it!  Here’s how you can give:

Give safely and quickly online on our personal donations page:  www.give.ccci.org/give/0438803

* Year end gifts are tax deductible in tax year 2008 if your gift is postmarked by December 31, 2008.  Gifts in 2008 AND 2009 are needed and appreciated!!

Would you prayerfully consider this?  Thanks.

George Mueller.  1805 – 1898.

Here’s a man who faced great financial uncertainty almost every day of his life.  Yet, he has become known as one of the most generous missionaries ever to have lived.

Earlier this year I enjoyed reading George Mueller: Guardian of Bristol’s Orphans.  It’s a children’s book and we got it for Avery but the lessons in it really apply to adults!

George was most famous for caring for impoverished orphans in England.  He built massive orphanages during a time when the government offered very little assistance and the attitude of the day was harsh.

Here are a few things that really impressed us about Mueller:

• He prayed about everything!
• He saw huge obstacles as opportunites for God to work.
• Life was lived in the context of absolute surrender.  George was born to a wealthy family in Germany.  He met the Lord and walked away from a lucrative career.  Early on he thought he was supposed to be a missionary reaching out to European Jews.  But the Lord directed him, through consistent prayer, to move to England and serve orphans.

There were days at the orphanages when not even a few schillings were available to buy breakfast.  Every time, George prayed and waited.  Never did they go hungry.

At his death in 1898, the Liverpool newspaper wrote concerning the 10,000+ orphans he had rescued and the vast sum of money required to care for them:

“How was this wonder accomplished?  Mr. Mueller has told the world that it was the result of ‘Prayer.’  The rationalism of the day will sneer at this declaration; but the facts remain.”

During Mueller’s lifetime:

• 1.5 million British Pounds (over $2 million dollars in the 1800’s – a TON o cash for those days) flowed through donations to the orphanages and the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, which Mueller launched and which still supports missionaries to this day.
• In 1998 alone, over 100 years after his death, the SKI gave over $500,000 to missionaries.

Thanks for asking.

Most of you know that this has not been a pleasant fall for our family to go through.  Shannon’s mom and grandmother passed away recently.

We are travel weary.  Just plain tired.

The grief?  It’s not a one or two week process to get over it.  There are no shortcuts to dealing with all the emotions and sadness.  Yet, we’re now able to relate with many of you who have lost loved ones.

This has showed us that pain, suffering and loss are very real things.  They are . . . painful.  Nothing can minimize it or give you an “easy out.”

However, there also is another reality that we constantly recognize, yet do not see clearly how it is working out.  It’s like looking for the sunrise on a thick, foggy morning:  You know it’s going to happen.  You will see glorious evidence of it, but for now must wait patiently.

Romans 8 speaks of this reality.  It is described as a hope for eternal glory.  Paul says that our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared to this glory.  It says that we can take it to the bank that God has given us everything imaginable in Christ Jesus.  We aren’t lacking for anything.  Yet, we wait.  And we struggle.  It’s not clear exactly HOW “all things work together for good” but in the glory of Christ they do.

So, do we have hard times?  Yes.  Do we feel broken over loss?  Yes.  Are pain and death the end?  No.

We want to experience Christ in the midst of it all – not ignoring loss and pain nor taking for granted the mysterious ways of the Lord.

Just some thoughts.  Thanks for your prayers.

Our 2008 family Christmas card courtesy of Kristina Wood photographry and Smilebox.com

Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox greeting

During our last trip to Virginia, we were met with winter weather!  An inch or two of snow covered the ground – nothing serious – but it was much to the delight of our Floridian family!

Check out a little slide show with the kids having fun:

Make a Smilebox greeting

Some of you have heard this, but I did want to let you all know:

Shannon’s grandmother went to be with the Lord on December 2. She was 81.

This has been a difficult fall for us all – especially my father in law.  This was his mother who passed away – just less than two months after he lost his wife.

I must say grandmother was a character.  And, it was obvious her heart was prepared to meet Jesus.  We are glad she had done just that.  Literally for the last 12 plus years she was very limited by her poor health.  Shannon’s dad opened his home, took her in and cared for her full time starting about 3 years ago.  She needed care around the clock and I admire him for taking such good care of her.

So, yes, we have been to Virginia again for another funeral.  We returned home on the 6th.  And we shall return there once again for Christmas (as usual) in a few days.  Do you think we could get some frequent driver points for all our miles on the road?  Our minivan could probably drive the route without us now.

Seriously, this will be a difficult Christmas so we appreciate your prayers.  Thanks so much!

“Digital Native” generally refers to people who have grown up entirely surrounded and submerged in the world of internet technology. They have never known life without laptop computers, cell phone, email, instant messaging, etc.

“Digital Immigrant” refers to people who are old enough to have felt the “transition” between the analog and “paper only” age and the digital age. There is a definite learning curve when it comes to internet technology. Some people still have not immigrated!

About 3 to 5 years ago, digital natives began showing up on university campuses. Next year’s 18 year old college freshman class will almost certainly be 100% digital natives. They have never known life without internet technology. Their culture and lives are different.

This begs several tough questions for people like me and my coworkers:

• What will we do differently to reach these digital natives as opposed to traditional methods?
• How will we connect with them as digital natives “on their turf” in the digital world?
• What messages and media are digital natives receiving which are already “gospel-primed” soil?

This video will make you think! I’d love to hear your comments to this: