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Looking Back

This morning I am sitting in my favorite little coffee house in Wisconsin -- the Cracked Shoe. Two summers ago we moved in with my in-laws, here in the great city of Cedar Grove, Wi.We were in transition --  leaving one church and looking for another. I would come to the Crack Shoe every morning to drink coffee and think about what God in store for my family as we pursue our next step in ministry. A lot of coffee was consumed and a lot of conversations with God were had.

After a couple of months of praying and searching we received a phone call from the search committee of Harvest Chapel, and decided that this could be really be God. Two years ago this coming Sunday, we were elected as the new Pastors -- we were so pumped about the opportunity to serve and to be a part of what God was going to do.

Two year into this journey, we are still pumped! God is doing great things, and we are even more determined now to stay in step with Him to see what is going to happen next. I am grateful that I serve a God who can see further down the road than I can. I am grateful that He cares enough about me and my family that He would intervene and make the crooked paths strength.

I appreciate where I have been, and am I anticipating the future!

Prov. 3.5   Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
6  Listen for GOD’S voice in everything you do, everywhere you go he’s the one who will keep you on track.

The Benefits of Being Refueled

2Pet. 1.3-8    As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness!  4 And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.5   So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better.  6 Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness.  7 Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone.  8 The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

From Mongolia

Dear Friends,
 
Troy and I wanted to update you on some recent events in Mongolia. About a week ago, there was a rain like we've never seen! At first it was thirilling, but withing an hour it became tragic for many of our neighbors. There was a flash flood that ran right down our street. The water came from the mountains and flowed like a river. We were driving up the hill at the time, and thankfully we were all just fine. However, the damage left by the flood was heart breaking. People that already have nothing, and yet they are suffering again. This weighs heavy on our hearts and we ask for your prayers to strengthen and encourage us.
 
We have had teams from Hong Kong here working along side of us this past week and its been a great honor and joy to get to know them. Its truly amazing what the body  can do when we set aside all differences and just serve.
 
On August 4th a team from USA arrives to work beside us. We, of course, could not be more excited about this!
 
Recently there has been some trouble with different organizations who are serving here in Mongolia. I just spoke with a friend who is serving in a little city north of here. He tells me that all 7 churches in his area have been closed down, with secret police waiting on Sunday morning to make sure pastors send people home. We have personally not been affected by any of this, however our hearts again, are heavy for what is happening here.
 
There is so much going on. We feel joy, aniticipation, sorrow and grief, and all this can happen in just one hour! Our family could sure use your strong prayers as we learn how to walk through all of this with JOY and thanksgiving and most importantly, the peace that passes ALL understanding.
 
Love,
Troy and Shari

Have You Been With Jesus?

Acts 4:13 "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."

Ordinary. Unschooled. Could we add that they were like us? Normal everyday people who were doing their best to allow their lives to make a big impact for the cause of Christ. Their ministry was creating quite a stir, from people being healed to coming into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. What was the key? Simple. They had been with Jesus. I love that description -- they had been with Jesus.

Can people tell that you have been with Jesus, or maybe the question should be when was the last time you spent some time with Jesus?  I pray that this can be said of us with much frequency -- they had been with Jesus!