Hands Headlines

Many of you have asked how you can get your hands on a copy of the new DVD from the Jesus Film: Magdalena - Released from Shame.

1. Take a look at our previous posts with all of the details on ordering a copy.

2. Need more info or want to order by phone? Call 1-800-432-1997

Want to use the Magdalena DVD as an outreach? Get a copy and give it to a friend for her birthday or on any occasion.

See some cool stories about how the Lord is using the Magdalena movie.

This dog’s a runnin ragged. . . are we?

Life sometimes seems like a blur. Much of this blur is normal life - especially with kids - and we enjoy normal. Yet, there are days we just need a break!

Pray for Shannon and I to be refreshed and get some rest from the previous few months. This current season has been quite busy - almost overwhelming - with family and ministry going full speed ahead. Part of it is just the phase of life we are in with three young kids and home school. Children and life bring surprises - like trips to the ER with a broken arm. Also, we’ve done some extended traveling the past six months with family and ministry.

Another side is just finding balance to all of the great opportunities around us to serve the Lord - parts of our ministry are exploding in growth and we literally can’t keep up. Pray that Shannon and I would spend adequate time together and that the Lord would supply down time as well.

We continue to need your prayers for the Lord to deeply sustain and guide us.

Usually it’s a bad sign when law enforcement has to be called in to physically remove one of your neighbors. But in this case, it was a very good thing. In fact, I have no problem that they even used deadly force to take him down. I hope you’d say the same thing if your neighbor was an 11 foot gator!

About 9 months ago I had a near collision with another neighborhood gator. (Read here) But this fellow had reportedly been reclusive but entrenched in our neighborhood ponds for over two years. He was finally spotted again on Monday in plain view in the parking lot at CCCI Headquarters where we work. Shannon and the kids had even walked through this parking lot an hour or so before he was sighted.

As you can see from the photos below, this gator was big enough to consume my family for breakfast. Emphasize was. He’s no longer with us:

Click and follow the link below to view the photos taken of the eliminated neighbor.

http://picasaweb.google.com/tom.yohe/LakeHartAlligator

A purple cast hasn’t slowed her down too much!

Addison, who is now six, broke her arm while playing at the playground. Shannon was there when it happened but did not see her fall. Addison reportedly was sliding down a handrail and fell backwards - landing on her hand. It cleanly broke one of the bones in her right forearm just below the wrist - confirmed a few hours later at the doctors office by this x-ray:

Getting the bone reset was no fun but Addison has handled it like a trooper. Thankfully she is left handed so her schoolwork and other activities were minimally impacted.

Her cast is off now and she has full use of her arm. We’re grateful she’s experienced little pain since the first couple of days after the break.

Praise the Lord for her follow up appointment with the orthopedic pediatric doctor last week. There was a hairline fracture in the bone adjacent to the one she broke cleanly. This small “crack” needed to heal properly since it was very close to a growth plate at the base of her wrist. The doctor said it could sometimes cause problems for growing children. As the doctor looked over the x-rays this time, the hairline crack clearly was not there. He had forgotten about it and when I pointed out where it was last time he said, “well there’s no sign of it now!” He said he does not need to see Addison again. Thank the Good Physician.

Magdalena - Released from Shame

Learn more about “Magdalena - Released from Shame.” This is a new version of the Jesus Film.

Great Report from the Field See video footage from a film team in South America who captured women’s responses after watching Magdalena.

Stories of how the Lord is using the Magdalena Movie:

• Nearly 350 inmates gathered to watch the movie in a women’s prison in Central Asia. After watching the film, nearly 60 percent of these female inmates raised their hands, indicating decisions to accept Christ! One Central Asian ministry worker shared the story of a prisoner: “There was a woman who killed 42 people. And then she watched the film and she cried. God opened her heart. There are a thousand like her, millions like her, waiting for Jesus.”

• The Magdalena movie made its U.S. debut at the United Nations! It was an invitation only event for UN Ambassadors and their immediate family. Among those in attendance (actually they were the first couple to arrive at the UN Theater) were the Iraqi Ambassador and his wife! Many ambassadors were deeply moved.

• After watching the movie premiere for the in his country, one well known Muslim journalist commented, “I know now that Jesus is my Savior. He set me free. Thank you that you saved me from suicide.”

• The Lord has opened doors to allow the movie to be shown in public theaters in several Islamic dominant countries. The movie is shown in Arabic. During almost every showing, tickets are sold out and ever theater is packed!

• Read how one woman was touched when she watched Magdalena in our neighborhood. (see Hands Headlines print edition for April ‘08)

** To read many more incredible stories from the field, download this story sheet. It gives brief praise updates from 12 different countries where the movie has premeried. Each one tells of an incredible work of God and will deeply encourage you!

The following survey will help us know how to better communicate with you. Specifically, we’re trying to learn what does and does not help you stay more connected with us via our weblog here. If you don’t see the survey below or are having problems entering your answer, you can view the poll another way - click here.

Please note your response is anonymous. If you want to send us specific feedback (not anonymously), then please click contact us and let us know whatever you’re thinking.

Just last month, the JESUS Film was translated into its 1,000th language! In fact, according to the Jesus Film Translation Progress Report Web Page, as of August 23, 2007, they have officially translated 1,009 versions of the film. This is a huge milestone, as the film is now available for people groups in their native language covering 90% the world.

Many of you know about the JESUS Film. Created in 1979 by Campus Crusade for Christ, it’s a full length docu-drama used by missionaries and evangelistic teams around the world. Years ago I used the film in Eastern Europe to introduce several people to Christ.

For people who can not read the Scriptures or who just are more attuned to responding to visual media, the film is an excellent tool. Many other mission organizations use it. In fact, it is the most translated film in the history of the world.

Even more amazing is the story behind the translation of the 1,000th language - a language called Ho. Ho is spoken by about 1 million people in Central Asia and India.

Jesus Film translation work for the Ho language began 10 or more years ago in India. Involved in the effort was Australian missionary Graham Staines. One night in 1999 Staines and his two young boys traveled to a small village to meet with believers. Only a small percentage of villagers had come to faith at the time, and it was considerably dangerous to be in opposition to the prevailing religion. During the trip, he and his boys spent the night in their Jeep. While they slept, radical Hindu leaders surrounded the Jeep and set fire to it. Graham and his sons were burned to death.

After receiving news of the murders, Mrs. Staines said, “I’m terribly upset but not angry. My husband loved Jesus Christ, who taught us to forgive our enemies.” She continued to serve as a missionary in India with her daughter. Last month, for the first time through the Jesus Film, people from the Ho language were able to see and hear the complete story of our perfect Forgiver and Redeemer Who lives today.

P.S. Sadly, but for the glory of God, many other Jesus Film workers have been put to death around the world. See more in our post about these amazing men and women here. The photo above is from the memorial plaque honoring Staines at the Jesus Film Master Studio in Orlando. If you’d like to learn more about the Jesus Film and its translation work around the world, come visit us in Orlando and take the Jesus Film Master Studio Tour.

The video only takes 3 minutes to watch in entirety. It was created by CommonCraft. You can view the original on the CommonCraft site or read a transcript of the video.

This is the BEST NON-TECHNICAL EXPLANATION of how to stay updated on your favorite web sites. If you have ever wished, “Boy, I wish there were a simple way that my favorite web site would notify me whenever they post new stuff,” then this video is for you!

It explains how to use RSS (Really Simple Syndication) to stay updated. Almost all new web sites are offering free RSS Feeds (or syndications).

RSS Subscription Feed for HandsHeadlines.com is: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HandsHeadlines

Why not use what you learn in the video above to stay updated on HandsHeadlines.com? It’s one of your favorite sites, I’m sure!

Again, the video is super simple. It’s called “RSS in Plain English.” This is not for geeks. Normal people will like it.

If you are thinking, “I just want to stay updated by email, that’s all.” Then there is a different free service you may want to check out offered by a web site called FeedBlitz.com See our post about it here.

Day #2 on the road to Colorado:

No trip through Alabama would be complete without a stop in CLANTON, ALABAMA. It’s located right on I-65, in between Montgomery and Birmingham.

So, who’s McKinnon and why are we grinnin? Mark McKinnon - best man in our wedding and definitely a great friend. We served together overseas for a year in Slovakia. Mark is one of the funniest men alive. You can’t be around him more than a couple of minutes without a big smile.

Every once in a while you can see Mark in television commercial for his car/truck dealership in Clanton. No joking - if you want a serious good deal, check out McKinnon Toyota. You’ll be grinnin’ when you buy McKinnon!

Our first stop was David’s hometown: the metropolis of Pelham, GA. 4,100 people, 3 traffic lights. The town is not without distinction, however. Once upon a time, Pelham was home to the world’s largest rural department store: The Hand Trading Company. The store was built by David’s great grandfather in 1914. You could buy everything from groceries to tractors to coffins to ice cream sundaes! The store closed in 1982 but the building still remains. Check out more info on Pelham’s web site or this entry on wikipedia.

As the welcome sign below says, Pelham really is a special town. The people really look out for one another. Strangers don’t stay strangers for long. There’s definitely a slower, “I’ve got time for you” feel from the citizens. It is one of those places where the small town atmosphere is authentic and unique.

David’s parents still live there, and had a great time with their grandkids.