College Plans for Gene
College is one of those things with mixed emotions for a parent. You are excited about the new chapter in your son or daughter’s life, but you are saddened by the thought of them leaving. You look forward with them for the new experiences and joys around the corner, but for many of us, the financial impact looms large.
We ask you to rejoice with us for God’s provision and direction in the life of our oldest son, Gene, as he has decided to begin his college career here locally at Pulaski Tech. As the fastest growing two-year college in Arkansas, Pulaski Tech offers a clear path into virtually any Arkansas 4-year university. It is here in Little Rock, which means that Gene can save the cost of room and board and remain here at home. But most exiting, we have just learned that they offer free tuition and fees for up to 4 semesters to Eagle Scouts!
As you may remember, earlier this year we celebrated the fact that Gene had attained the highest rank in Scouting, but at the time we had no idea that it would translate into a full scholarship for his first two years of education. That has turned out to be a miraculous gift from God, as the financial picture right now would have been a signficant hurdle. Gene will be enrolling there beginning in the Fall of ’08 after his graduation this May. So join us in praising God for his provision and for praying for guidance as Gene seeks God’s plans for his life.
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Newsletter: My Proudest Moment as a Parent
Greetings from the Campus Crusade US Staff Conference in Ft. Collins, CO! As I write I’m sitting in a dorm room at Colorado State Univ. having just finished our 2nd full day of teaching. It’s already been amazing! These seven days every two years are designed to equip and encourage missionary staff of Crusade. I was all set to share with you about a powerful message from Chip Ingram, but the Lord just redirected my plans. I think I’ve just experienced my proudest moment ever as a parent. We’ve always been proud of our kids. God has graciously given us five wonderful children who are all walking on a road following him. We’ve been proud of their achievements like Gene becoming an Eagle Scout. But nothing can compare to what I just heard.
I’ve just spend 45 minutes listening to my two oldest, Gene (almost 17) and Christine (“Chris†– 15), share about their afternoon sharing Christ in communities of Colorado. This outreach is a part of their program here with Campus Crusade. After a morning spent in prayer and training in evangelism, they were loaded up onto buses for unknown destinations and sent out two by two to share the gospel with strangers. Chris and her friend were taken to a high-end shopping center in Boulder, CO. Chris shared with me about how they were both a little scared as they began, each saying that the other would have to go first. Not surprisingly, though, my little girl finally said, “What are we doing? We need to be telling everyone instead of worrying about it.†So they started sharing with people, first engaging them in a conversation about their beliefs and looking for ways to share their own.
They looked for people who were sitting or waiting as they would have more time to talk. As they did, they came across a young artist who was drawing pictures of people for $5 each. They asked him if he’d be willing to answer questions and he said he would if they’d let him draw one of them. Chris’ friend agreed and they began what turned out to be a 45 minute conversation. As I sat on our dorm-room bed and listened to her recount what she had shared with this young man, I nearly burst with joy. As parents you often aren’t sure if your kids are really embracing the truth or just going along. But to hear Chris share her beliefs with such conviction was a reassurance of the highest magnitude. As we prayed together for this young man and the others that they shared with to come to faith, I got to reassure her that regardless of his decision, her treasure in heaven was secure. Her response to me was priceless. She said, “That’s nice and all, but right now I just really feel so good.†She said she’d really felt God use her and give her the words to say and that was so cool. What an incredible gift of grace from the Lord!
So, as I sit here typing at nearly midnight, I have to say this is probably the high point of my parenting life right now. Parenting can be really hard some times. Guiding teens through turbulent years tests your convictions to the max. But seeing a young man and a young woman stand up and acknowledge Christ before men makes it all worthwhile. So get in there and don’t become weary in doing good. God just might be taking your flawed efforts and doing more than you know.
Glory to our good, holy and sovereign God!
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We’re Live!
Well, gang. After two years of work to get to this point, FamilyLife went live on our new software platform on Monday, June 18 and full production began on Wednesday, June 20th. Ironically, I was in Vancouver BC when it happened visiting with the leadership of Campus Crusade for Christ, Canada about some possible joint ventures. It was an important milestone, but much more work is left to be accomplished. Please continue to pray for us as we learn how to serve our constituents well with this new tool.
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Another Great Story of a Changed Life
This past weekend was just one of many remarkable weekends during this Spring season for Weekend to Remember. We saw 266 more people make first time decisions for Christ (there have been over 2000 since September) and we saw lots more changed lives. Let me share with you this store we received on Monday. What you are doing is making a difference for time and eternity!
Dear God,
I want to just thank you and praise you for all the grace and goodness that you poured out onto me and my husband this week-end. Of course we did not deserve it any more than we deserved Jesus to nail himself to the cross for us, but you did it
anyway!When I told James about this Week-End to Remember and that I wanted to go he just grunted an assent with out really hearing the details. I booked the hotel and paid for the conference and prayed like crazy. When the week-end came and I packed the kids off to a friends he was unhappy about having to go and began asking alot of questions that could have lead to much fighting. But I stuck to my guns in a nice way and just kept insisting that we keep on schedule and go. So we left and as soon as we were out of the driveway he relaxed and seemed to accept the week-end as break from work if nothing else. Our first night there we argued quite a bit when we were supposed to be filling out the interactive session. It got so bad that in the morning I got in the truck and just told him to drive me home. “That’s it!†I yelled, “just take me home I am not going to argue allweek-end long!†But he, surprisingly, calmed me down and said †You know what Honey? They’ve thrown alot of information at us and stirred up the pot and I think that today they’ll give us
the information we need to do something about it.†So I shut up and we drove back to the Hotel where the conference was taking place and we walked through the doors into the next four sessions.James was so right. While it was still difficult to see a happy ending it was beginning to be clear that we had to stay until the end to see the whole picture. We argued and yelled at each other during lunch and marched back into the hall angry and hurt. Something happened between 2:00 and 4:00 that changed our hearts. The speakers were so gifted and open as they shared their own lives with us. Story after story poured out from Pam and Barry and Terri and Bill and like a hammer swinging at a wall it all came tumbling down. By 4:00 when people were exiting James and I were standing in amazement at the cloud of dust from the rubble of the wall that had been in between us and many other couples seemed to be in the same position of dazed awe. It isn’t easy to say what exactly happened except that each of us found that we needed to apologize for some things and forgive each other of other things. We spoke with Bill for a long time after everyone had left. I was feeling very badly that we were holding him up from his dinner or relaxation but he never seemed put out in the least. To him it seemedlike a joy to be right where he was speaking and ministering to the two of us. He put his hand on my sholder and gently told me to stop mothering my husband. You stop trying to make things change and to start letting go and letting GOD make the change happen. He was so right. I do try to make things happen and manipulate God and events.
Then he put his hand on James’s shoulder and told him that he had to receive God’s gift and that was the only way to know God! He explained so clearly the gift that God has for us but that we accept it freely was the biggest part of the gift. He didn’t actually ask James to receive Christ but he laid it all out for him. He prayed with us and then told James to come and see him the next day after the sessions. We ended up having one of the most romantic nights of my whole life. We went to Tratorria Delia and he told me how much he loved me and cherished me…CHERISHED ME!! Yikes. I almost fainted. The next day we went to our separate sessions and God really did his work in James and in me. I could see all the negative behaviors that I exhibited as Terri spoke at the podium and I was feeling pretty badly about them. Then I realized that Today is a new day! A clean day! God has created in me a clean
heart.When the men and women got back together I could see the love pouring out all around me. Whereas on Friday there were mostly folded arms and total silence, now there were soft murmurs, the rustling movements as men put their arms around their wives and women laid their heads on their shoulders. The couple in front of me just sat the whole time for the last session like it was a drive in movie! James whispered in my ear at least four or five times..â€I love you†and I was just pink with
pleasure.After the session James waited for a chance to speak with Bill. When Bill was free he turned to James and with a big smile on his face he asked “Well, hey man, did you do it?†James smiled and said †Yeah, I asked Jesus into my heart!†I almost fainted with Joy and since then my feet haven’t touched the ground once!
Now I know that Satan does not give up easily and there will be battles but I am going to ask God’s strength everyday and praise God every day! I really want to thank you guys at Family life for the chance to save and not only save but create a wonderful marriage!
Blessing to all of you in your ministry!
Mary
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Finally hired a new assistant
The Lord was gracious to answer one of my prayers late last week. After almost 3 months of searching for a new Executive Assistant, Debbie Ramsey accepted the position and will start on Monday, March 5. This is a huge blessing to me as my new responsibilities involve keeping more plates spinning, something which Debbie will be very helpful in doing. Join with me in giving thanks for this answered prayer and continue to pray for me as I learn to work well with my new team.
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