Happy Birthday Lauren - a day late. I guess she won't know for a little while that I forgot! Lauren did get to call and visit with my Mother (her Grandma) yesterday for a short while, saying that the people in North Africa are warm and generous and that they have been spending time learning their customs.

Since I know that there are new readers out there I thought I would re-share a journal entry of BJ's that his family used on the folder handed out at the celebration of his life. It touches on some things that have been on my heart and says them in a better way than I could. Since his family is actively participating in his charge, as are many of your loved ones, I thought this appropriate.

"God Loves."

"Obedience. Faith. Glory."

"When Christ calls us to follow Him, He calls us to come and lay down our lives and obey Him and share His name with the peoples of the world, no matter what the cost. It's time that we as the Christ-followers of this country respond to this call and realize that the cross IS worth it, and forget the cost. Its time to open our eyes and see the people the Christ died for. To see that God has been robbed of His glory and that people have been robbed of God's love because of Satan's lies all around us. It's time that we show them the love that Christ has for them, and stop being lukewarm and mediocre.

"God has called each of us somewhere to be a missionary for Him, will you follow? In the US, in your hometown, some other state, or some other country...will you go? Will you answer the call, and stop wasting your life in the selfish comfort and "success" that our society teaches us to seek? Will you follow Christ, the greater purpose and satisfaction in life? Will you answer the call and get uncomfortable for Christ?

"Scared? Weak? Unable? Don't worry, God who created everything and who has authority and power over everything will give you the strength and courage. All He asks is that you TRULY turn to him and give Him everything, and He will bless you beyond your imagination.

"Will you go?"


P.S. As Beth requested let's keep the Hopper family (and church) in our prayers; and Linda - we are praying for you and Hollie and the situation at hand, thank you for sharing. Pete, thank you for sharing PJ's updates with us and for your wise words.

Brad