January 24, 2007

Dear Friends and Loved Ones,

            What is the word of the Lord for this day? It is the same as Jesus preached, John proclaimed, and the Apostles taught: “Repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Or, as Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, “Renounce your sins by doing what is right.” Daniel 4:27. We need to get on with our lives of Christian service as His Body by loving one another - loving people enough to tell them the truth about Jesus, and not continuing on in our debilitating sins.

            These self-destructive sins for me are bone-rotting ENVY, spirit-numbing JUDGMENTS, and soul-infecting BITTERNESS (very, very contagious.)  The cure for these is the gracious love of God flowing into me, and then out of me in forgiveness and mercy.  Time is too short to allow these sins to limit my ministry (your too.)

Coming Events:

            House Church Seminar and Training Session with Robert Fitts, Saturday February 3, 2007 at the Dana Point Community House, 24542 San Juan St., Dana Point, CA 92629. The cost is $30.00 per person which includes lunch. We will begin at 9:00 A.M. and wind up around 3:00 P.M. There is still room. Please pray and ask if you should come and then let me know if God says to go.

            God-willing, I will be in Baltimore, MD with Mike and Alicia Gootie and the remnant fellowship called Crushed Grapes Ministries for February 13^th through the 22^nd.  I have not been there for several years, and am looking forward to Romans 1:11,12 working in the visit: “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”

            April 21-22 is another intriguing conference in Salem Oregon. Last year’s was so well received and effective that Nate Krupp and the other leaders decided to go for it again with the theme, “Wholeness and Outreach – A House Church Conference.” God-willing I will again be one of the presenters focusing on the wholeness of the Body of Christ.  For information and registration, go to:   http://www.newchristianparadigms.org    

            The Tuesday morning church meeting at Green Oak Ranch has been a real highlight of the week personally. It now seems that I will add to the Tuesday schedule in North San Diego County a 4:30 PM gathering at Brother Benno’s Good Samaritan House in Oceanside. The three meetings there have been awesome in the moving of God’s Spirit among these beautiful men.

            Thank you, all of you whom God has led to support Crushed Grapes Ministry with your tithes and offerings. Thank you, and may God bless you for your obedience. We are very appreciative of the confidence you have in us and for the opportunities to continue serving among the poor, homeless, and disenfranchised. This would not be possible without your contributions. We are also hoping that Betty can cut back on her work with the Hospice this year. It is a wonderful ministry, but very difficult and demanding.

            Sarah and Eric are planning possible wedding dates around another up-coming surgery that holds out some hope for pain relief. It will remove the bursa on her left hip, detach some tendons and then re-attach them elsewhere. Please pray that if God approves the surgery, it will remove much of the chronic pain and allow her to get on with life without the extreme use of opiates.

            God bless you, keep you, and cause His favor and grace to remain on you. May He use you mightily in these dramatic days of the fulfillment of His purposes. May we all be ready and willing for Him to give us to the world just as He gave our Leader.

Love in Christ,

Love,