(Act 17:28) For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Jesus Christ did not come to earth, endure pain and punishment beyond comprehension, die a brutal death on a cross, rise from the dead, ascend to heaven, empower His followers with the Holy Spirit and assure us that He is always with us so that we could offer Him our half-hearted, watered down and passionless efforts! – Perry Noble
My wife and I have the wonderful opportunity of traveling from church to church sharing the mission of God, which is the redemption of lost humanity. Our involvement in this great mission is centered in Liberia, Africa, but God’s involvement is worldwide. Out of the 7 billion people in the world today, 1.5 billion are Muslims, 1 billion are Hindu, 600 million are Buddhists, and there are untold numbers of animists and secularists. We are told that there are more than 7,000 language groups in the world today that do not have an indigenous proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These people need to hear the life-changing message of love - God’s love. And they must understand how that love will not only transform their lives, but their nations as well.
Liberia is a country devastated by civil war. From December of 1980 until 2005, the people of Liberia have suffered tremendously, and the country continues to reel from the effects of those wars. One-quarter of a million people have been killed, and at least one million have become refugees in other countries.
The Liberian Assemblies of God has suffered as well. Over 350 churches and two Bible Schools have been destroyed in the wars. Today, the Liberian Assembly of God leadership has committed to build 800 new churches over the next 10 years. Fredna and I have the privilege of working together with our Liberian brothers and sisters to see this effort materialize. We will be involved with construction, training, teaching, and preaching in Liberia.
We need your help to make this happen. Please consider making a donation today towards our ministry and these efforts. If you click on the “Donate” button below, you will be taken to a secure website where you will be able to give a one-time gift or make an ongoing monthly commitment to help us. Please do not wait; make your donation today. The time is short, and the needs are great. Thank you for your gift today!
Yep, I am excited! I received my voter registration card in the mail yesterday. I remember voting in my first presidential election. It was the 47th quadrennial United States presidential election. I also remember the last time I voted in a presidential election. We all discovered that most overseas ballots did not arrive in time to be counted.
I count it more than a privilege to get to vote, it is both an honor and an obligation. I am a citizen of this country, and I have a say in it’s governance.
On November 6, 2012 I will once again cast my vote for the President of the United States of America. I will exercise my constitutional right and privilege. My voice will be heard in the 57th quadrennial United States presidential election. WHAT ABOUT YOURS?
Today, I believe that I will talk about something that no one wants to hear about, something that is taboo – a colonoscopy. I want to do this because I believe it is something that people in my age bracket (over 50) need to hear about.
The first thing you should know is that I am not a medical practitioner, nor am I a specialist of any kind. I am just a normal, average 59-year-old male. I can only share with you what I have read and what I have experienced. The reason I am doing this is so that maybe some of you will stop looking at this as a taboo subject and take the plunge (no pun intended). If you are over 50, you should be screened!
The National Cancer Institute tells us that this year (2012) there will be an estimated 103,170 cases of colon cancer and 40,290 cases of rectal cancer, and there will be an estimated 51,690 deaths from colon and rectal cancer combined in the United States.
Colorectal cancer affects men and women of all racial and ethnic groups, and is most often found in people aged 50 years or older. In the United States, it is the third most common cancer for men and women.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the United States, but it doesn't have to be. If everybody aged 50 or older had regular screening tests,screening tests, as many as 60% of deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented. Now that is a significant number to say the least!
In January of this year, I experienced a colonoscopy first hand. A colonoscopy is the standard screening test for colorectal cancer. It was not nearly as bad as what I had anticipated. In fact, it was sort of like taking medicine when you are a child – not nearly as bad after you swallow it.
The whole procedure started the day before with a limited diet – all liquid. Then came the “cleanse” about 6PM the evening before the procedure. To me, this was actually the worst part of the entire event. You have to drink about one half to three quarters gallon of a liquid laxative within a certain time period. It has a taste that reminded me of alka-seltzer without the fizz. Everything was going very well for the first three of four glasses. I was just getting more and more full of the liquid. About the fifth glass it hit me – literally! I had to go to the bathroom immediately (actually I ran). From this point on I would drink the glass full, run for the bathroom, then get back just in time to drink another glass. You have to keep this up until you are passing clear liquid. At first you don’t think there is any way that it will ever be clear, but believe me it will make you squeaky clean!
The next morning I was at the hospital bright and early, ready for the big test. Now here is the best part of it all – they gave me a drug that put me in la,la land within 5 minutes. Really, it was great. The last thing I remember was the nurse telling me to roll over on my left side, and draw my knees up. The next thing I remember was waking up in my room. It was not painful, although it seemed like there was some pressure that I felt. The most embarrassing part was passing air. You see, they “inflate” your bowels with air so the doctor can see every part of the colon, and what goes in must come out. Everybody does it, you will neither be the first, nor will you be the last.
After I was fully awake, the doctor came into my room and told me that he had removed two polyps. He said I would get the report within a couple of days, but he did not believe there was anything to worry about. When the report came back it showed that one polyp did have some pre-cancerous cells, but it had been totally removed. The other polyp was okay. Now instead of ten years until my next colonoscopy, I will need to have one in five years.
I am glad that I had this procedure. It might just have saved my life. Now, what about you? Remember, it is not taboo if it can save your life! Just do it!
Winston Churchill once said, “There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction”. Well, we are changing directions, and we know it is the right one!
Fredna and I will be returning to Africa at the end of our furlough – but it will not be to Malawi. We have been asked by our leadership to change to another country: Liberia. So, we will be going to Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. 
Early in February, we made an exploratory trip to Monrovia. We visited with the National Executive Committee of the Liberia Assemblies of God, as well as travelling to two of the Bible schools and preached in one church. We were detained three days due to the Harmatten Winds, enjoyed fellowship with the missionaries on the ground, and saw first-hand some of the desolation and destruction caused by the civil wars.
In 1980 a military coup overthrew the Americo-Liberian leadership, marking the beginning of political and economic instability and two successive civil wars that left approximately 250,000 people dead and devastated the country's economy. A 2003 peace deal led to democratic elections in 2005. Today, Liberia is recovering from the lingering effects of the civil war and related economic dislocation, with about 85% of the population living below the international poverty line.
During the 20 years of civil war, the Liberian Assemblies of God lost over 350 churches and two Bible schools at the hands of the rebels. Thousands of Liberians fled the country during this time period, as entire villages were massacred.
The UN maintains some 15,000 soldiers in Liberia. It is one of the organization's most expensive peacekeeping operations. The country is now trying to rebuild the infrastructure, economy, and lives that have been broken or destroyed. The Liberian Assemblies of God is doing the same – trying to rebuild, not only the broken or destroyed buildings but, the broken lives of countless numbers that have lived through some of the most horrific times. Young boys were forced to join rebel factions and forced to do things so horrible that they have left scars that may never heal. The church has a wonderful opportunity to rise above the desolation with a beacon of hope and to offer a healing balm that has the power to resurrect the spirit of every man, woman, and child.
We will join AGWM missionaries DeVane & Mary McGee as we walk by the side of the national church reaching into the darkest corners of the country and lives. The Liberian A/G has committed themselves to build 800 churches in the next 10 years. 
Construction has already begun in the process of rebuilding the Owensgrove Bible School – a place of training for future pastors who will step into the calling of God in each of their lives.
There is much to do – more than we alone can accomplish. We invite you to join us in this change and to become involved in the eternal work of building the kingdom of God. In the days ahead I will share with you many stories and pictures, along with ways that you and your church can be part of something truly magnificent.
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?
Then said I, Here am I; send me. (Isa 6:8)
In 1969 Elvis Presley recorded a Mac Davis song that was, for him, a major comeback hit. The song titled, “In The Ghetto”, has a line that I experienced for myself this weekend - “On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'…” Everyone that lives in Chicago knows exactly what this means. Now, I do as well.
We flew to Chicago for a missions service. All week, prior to departure, I was somewhat apprehensive about the weather. At least twice a day I would go on-line to see what was being forecast. Each report was about the same. Mild, mid 40’s, and no precipitation. Sitting in DFW Airport on Saturday morning just before flying out I received a text message from our daughter. “Did you know it snowed 8” in Chicago last night?” I couldn’t believe it! The thing that I greatly feared the most had come upon me - snow! And not just a light North Texas-type snow. No, it was 8 inches of snow!
We arrived, rented a car, and, to my surprise, were able to drive to our hotel without any trouble. Even with 8 inches of snow the roads were clear. I guess when you live in these conditions, you are prepared to deal with them. But it was certainly a cold and gray Chicago morning!
We couldn’t possibly visit Chicago without testing the famous Chicago-style pizza. We paid a visit to
It has to be the best pizza I have ever eaten in my life!
We ministered in a great church on Sunday, Church On The Rock. Bryan and Carmen Garfield are the pastors, and they are great people! We enjoyed our time very much and know that much was accomplished for the Kingdom of God! COTR is a missions-minded church that is launching out in an even greater effort than ever before to take the gospel of Christ to all the world!
I learned to drive in a car that had a standard transmission. I know, it was a long time ago, and some of the younger generation may not know what a standard transmission is. A standard transmission requires a clutch in order to change gears. One of the first things you learn when driving a standard transmission is that you sometimes have to change gears in order to continue at a steady pace. Drive up a hill, you have to down-shift. Drive in heavy traffic, you have to change gears. It is as simple as depressing the clutch with your left foot and then shifting the gearshift to the desired position. Interestingly enough, the same is true in life. Sometimes you have to change gears in order to continue the chosen path.
Fredna and I have changed gears. No, we have not changed jobs or positions, just changed gears. This month we begin our year of furlough. We arrived in Texas a few weeks ago and have finished setting up our home-base for 2012. We will be living in the Dallas metroplex while we travel visiting our sponsoring churches and making new friends.
We have not been home for an extended period of time for the past seven years. We are happy to be able to reconnect, and our children are happy to have a mother and father that are closer than a long-distance phone call! Our entire family was able to be together for a few days just before Christmas. Caleb, our last-born, had to leave before Christmas day, but we thank God for the time we did have. Speaking of Caleb, he is engaged to be married! His fiancé is a lovely young lady from California. I know, it hurts to admit that she is not a full-blood Texan, but at least her mother was born in Texas. We were able to meet and get to know Jaclyn before Caleb left, and we look forward to welcoming her into our family. We will do our best to make her a real Texan!
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For an itinerating missionary, there is a lot of gear-changing, so to speak. We leave next week on a trip to Springfield, Missouri, and then on to Chicago, Illinois. The trip to Springfield will accomplish almost all of our medical tests, and the trip to Chicago will be for our first missions convention while home, We are looking forward to both.
If you pastor a church and would like to have us for a service, please call. If you attend a church and would like for us to visit your church, please tell your pastor about us and our ministry. He or she can then call. My cell number is 214.686.6001.
Now I have shifted to overdrive (5th gear), and we are picking up speed. Be sure to “ride along” during this special time. We will meet a lot of interesting folks, and visit a lot of interesting places. Please keep us in your prayers, and we hope to see YOU soon!
