The Foray

A Mission Worthy of Our Prayers

As I mentioned in Sunday's morning message, our beloved brother in Christ, Ed Lacy, is bound for Uganda to teach "Christ-Centered Evangelism" to 600 pastors from all over the country.

Ed reports that Islam is enjoying great influence in Uganda and that the (pseudo-Christian) "health and wealth movement has contaminated much of the church." He says that "the message and methods which surround the gospel are in great need of reformation."

Specifically, here is Ed's request:

"Please pray for the mighty presence and power of the living God to empower the Word of God and illuminate, renovate, liberate, and transform for HIS GLORY!!!"

Will you print Ed's request and place it somewhere you'll see it so that you can be reminded to pray? This is a mission that is worthy of our prayers.

Though he doesn't mention it, you might also wish to pray for Ed's physical condition. He continues to struggle mightily, and the African heat is no friend. Ask God to supply him supernatural stamina and refreshment. And we would be remiss if we failed to pray for Ed's wife, Dianne, as well. In your prayers, try to think of some concerns she might have while he is away.

Thank you for loving our brother and sister, and the glorious gospel of our Savior that he is traveling a long distance to proclaim. 

To God be the glory!

Greg

Prayer for James Ghaffari and Celinda Hartman

In a previous post, we celebrated James' significant health improvement. Unfortunately, having been released from the hospital, James fell at home and broke his hip. He underwent surgery this past Saturday, and has since been moved to a nursing home for rehab.

Would you please continue to pray for James?

Understandably, a facility of this kind is not the most comfortable setting for him. Pray that, in the strength of the Lord, he will not lose heart. Using a boxing analogy, it seems that his original 7-round fight keeps being extended in the middle of the fight -- to 10 rounds, 12 rounds, now 15. You can understand how discouraging this can be.

Also, keep praying for Celinda (for whom the same boxing analogy applies). I visited with her yesterday, and she is really looking forward to being released from rehab soon. Her spirits were good and, physically, she's getting stronger. Look up the word "amazing" in the dictionary, and you'll see Celinda's picture!

Let's do our best, Church, to help love James and Celinda through to victory.

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Phil 2:4

Greg

Way to Go, James!

Denise and I spent part of this beautiful afternoon out visiting. We dropped by Northpark to check on James Ghaffari. So many of you have asked about him.

Well (and I've secured permission from Janie to share this), as we got out of our car and headed for the hospital entrance, I noticed some kids playing in a grassy area to our left. I thought, "Hey! I know them!" Sure enough: It was Cade, Summer, and Parker! And there, watching their kids together, were James and Janie!

James had WALKED almost the entire way from his room to the outside door, before taking a seat in his wheelchair!

Wow! What an accomplishment!

Having been privileged to visit James while he was many days in the ICU, I can tell you without exaggeration that he has battled back a very, very long way, supported every step by his loving wife and family, and by the prayers of our church (and by those of countless others). To see him today -- not just out of intensive care, but OUT OF DOORS! -- enjoying a sunny afternoon was cause for real praise to God! So was the news that he may actually be headed home soon!

James still has a long road ahead, but to see him making this kind of progress is truly wonderful! Don't be fooled by his mild-manneredness; James is a fighter!

Everyone, please be sure to keep praying for James. Ask God to continue the healing process, to give James strength and determination to fight through the pain of rehab, and to flood his heart with a joy in Christ that no ill health can take away. 

And from all of us at MVB, James, a great big -- and we mean, a GREAT BIG -- "Way to go!"

We love you, brother!

Greg

Prayer for a Friend's Family Member

I just got off the phone with a dear and special friend (he has a learning disability) who lives in Alabama. Through tears, he shared with me about his nephew who is in jail and, as I understood him to say, will be there until June. The young man's name is Josh.

He asked if I would ask my friends to pray for Josh, and so I am turning to you.

Josh has a Bible that he is reading in his cell, so we are hoping for a work of God in his life. Will you pray to this end?

If you have ever visited someone in jail or spent time in a jail, you know how difficult seeing a loved one there can be; if not, you can imagine. Seeing his nephew "through a window" inside a jail tore deeply into my special friend's heart. He called tonight asking for prayer.

Please pray for Josh as the Lord brings him to mind.

Thanks.

Greg

Pray for Sufferers of Disease

News this week of actor, Patrick Swayze's, battle against pancreatic cancer reminds us to pray for all who are stricken with disease. I have to admit that I've never seen any of his movies, but I do know who he is. I also know, based on what I've read, that he's going to have to fight this battle "up hill" the entire way.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/119805

Here are 7 reasons we should pray for Mr. Swayze, and for the many others who will receive a cancer diagnosis this year. (According to the the American Cancer Society, more than 37,000 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.)

1. He is a human being, who bears the imago dei (image of God) and, as such, is an object of God's great love.
2. Our Savior had compassion on the sick. "And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and HEALING EVERY DISEASE AND AFFLICTION among the people" (Mt 4:23).
3. Sickness and death, common to us all, are a painful product of humanity's fall into sin.
4. His public battle as a "famous person" brings a level of attention and stress that one would not wish to have when sick.
5. His public battle as a "famous person" has the potential to focus more attention on the need to find a cure for pancreatic and other forms of cancer.
6. If he is not a believer in Christ, he may become aware of his love and mercy through the prayers and kindnesses of Christians around him; if he is a believer, he may be reminded of the blessed presence of God and of his strength, and of the precious promises in Scripture of final victory for all who believe.
7. We would want others to pray for us, were his diagnosis our own.

"Heavenly Father, through Christ our Lord, we ask for mercy upon this man, and upon all who suffer. Amen."

Greg

What If Someone Bombed Your Home?

By visiting www.persecution.com you can connect with the Persecuted Church in a meaningful and helpful way. Voice of the Martyrs is a ministry that I've trusted for many years now. They are dedicated to assisting the persecuted church worldwide.

In this week's "VOM News and Prayer Update," this one caught my attention: "ETHIOPIA -- Christian Family's House Bombed."

The report describes the bombing of a home where a Christian family of four resided. The roof was destroyed by the blast. Thankfully, the husband and wife, and their two children were not seriously injured. Muslims in this region have recently mounted attacks against Christians in an attempt to drive them out. Sadly, it is a familiar story.

This report caught my attention because I'll be traveling to Ethiopia next month to meet Tilahun Eshetu, the child that my family and I sponsor through Compassion International (www.compassion.com). I'll also be getting an up close look at the needs there, along with the work of Christians to minister to the poor and hurting. I'm particularly excited about getting to visit in the homes of families in Ethiopia -- homes like the one that was bombed on January 12.

What if someone bombed your home? How would you pray? Voice of the Martyrs suggests this:

"Pray believers in this area will remain faithful and demonstrate Christ's love to their persecutors."

I love this response because it is faithful to the teachings of our Lord Jesus.

Greg

Thanks for Your Prayers (On Several Fronts)

Thank you, everyone, for praying for my preparation for the Mission Conference that begins this Sunday morning at Mile Straight. I just wrapped up the last of 5 new sermons. For any good that may come next week, to God be the glory!

Thanks also for your prayers about my eye situation. I went today for a follow-up on Monday's eye surgery and got the lowest pressure reading (14) I've ever recorded. For those of you who know about that stuff, that's a lot better than 25. Evidently, eye pressure is like a golf score -- the lower, the better!

My eye is still quite red, but the doctor gave me a "steroid drop" that he said would "kick start" the healing process to get the red out. (Again I ask: What is it with people and their bias against red eyes? I say, "Red eyes, unite!")

Thanks everyone for praying!

Greg

A Prayer Request

I've been invited to preach 5 sermons at a mission conference being hosted by our brothers and sisters at Mile Straight Baptist, Jan 20-23. Your prayers would be an enormous help! My initial reaction (on the inside) was to decline the invitation, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that God was giving me an opportunity outside my normal arena. So I prayerfully said yes.

I refuse to scratch around in past sermons of mine to pick out some stuff to talk about. That would be easy, but I don't think it would be right. Instead, I've asked the Lord to help me with all new sermons that will speak directly to mission and to the Mile Straight context. I'm now working on Sermon Three, while also working on sermons for our beloved church (about which I'm truly excited).

I would deeply appreciate having your partnership in prayer, any time you think of this request.

Greg