Rev. Martin Luther King- My Brother, Our Brother!

"We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools'- MLK

Today our nation marks the holiday that honors and highlights the life and contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King. Slavery and segregation mark low points of US history. Not very long ago and in my childhood I saw the horrible signs that marked division of races over bathrooms, theaters, hotels and restaurants.

The Civil Rights movement to end racial discrimination was a struggle that marks one of the high moments of US history.

Christ is the greatest liberator of all, His mission, His passion was to restore man to God and to teach man that all of us are created in the image of God, all of us are equal and all of us are treasured.

Brother King and many others marched and preached and taught about these principals- and many paid a horrible price for what should be a standard right. And some like Rev. King paid the ultimate price.

God bless America. God bless freedom for all of us. We stand together as brothers or this nation will fall. Thank you for your dedication and your commitment to the principals of your faith and for belief in the goodness of this nation.

A KERN-al Full of Service!

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace...in order that in everything God may be gloried through Jesus Christ" 1Peter 4:10 and 11

In Bakersfield, California there resides a loyal band of VRM servants that serve in the Kern County Chapter. They have a very unique program that has developed under VRM Chapter Director Chaplain Steve Truitt and Dr. H Norman Wright. They serve in the Emergency Room at Kern County Medical Center (KMC) and deal with trauma victims, many as a result of crime.

You can imagine the emotional pain and suffering, agony and anguish that arise in the waiting room and ER areas as the victim and arriving family members and friend greet the VRM Chaplains and Responders as they serve in this dynamic and fluid situation.

I have visited the KMC several times with Chaplain Steve Truitt and the respect from the KMC staff is there for the work that VRM provides. In addition to the training they receive from VRM they also under go a tough background check and additional training from KMC. They commit to serve on shifts and give of their personal time to minister to those in trauma.

This will be the first Christmas that VRM will serve in KMC. It has already been hectic and demanding. On top of that VRM serves provides "backup" chaplain services for Kern County Fire Department. Included in their vision is to one day serve in support of law enforcement to reach crime victims.

For now, please keep the VRM Kern County Chapter and servants lifted up in your prayers as they tirelessly serve trauma victims and families in the Emergency Room and out with the Kern County Fire Department- as well as in the Kern County VOAD chapter.

We are so grateful to all who serve in places like Emergency Rooms, Fire Departments, along side law enforcement agencies, serving in outreaches to crime victims, feeding people during Thanksgiving and Christmas and being prayed up and mission to deploy to disasters!

Blessings and Merry CHRISTmas and thank you all for Glorifying God through servant hood in Jesus Christ!

Pearl Harbor Remembered- From Enemies to Brothers

"Consquently, you are NO LONGER FOREIGNERS AND ALIENS, but FELLOW CITIZENS with God's people and members of God's household. Ephesians 2:19 (NIV)

Today marks the 70th Anniversary of the Dec 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, the day that launched the US into WWII and as President Roosevelt proclaimed- "A Day that would live in Infamy".

The violence of that day cannot be over emphasized. In addition to the US Pacific Fleet being shattered and hundreds of planes destroyed the US military lost thousands of sailors, marines, army troops as well as civilians.

Hatred arose between the US and Japan on scale of modern warfare technology and bombing campaigns that saw millions of Japanese lives lost in the military and as civilians. Entire cities were destroyed by fire bombing air campaigns, every port and bay found US subs lurking, food was scarce and it all culminated by the two atomic bobms that vaporized the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It finally led to the end of the war with Japan in August of 1945.

All this history and animosity is well known. There was a real hatred between the people of Japan and America. So it is amazing to know that what arose from Pearl Harbor was how Christ transformed the lives of two men, on Japanese the other American. And both were fanatical enemies of each others countries.

Few people know of this story. I have shared it at VRM trainings as we close and pray over the graduating new VRM volunteers. I shared it in detail at the 10th Anniversary of VRM and some in the Christian Community know of the history of Captain Fuchida who led the air attack on Pearl Harbor and Jacob DeShazer who was part of the Doolittle raid that bombed Japan in retaliation.

Briefly as the story is incredible- DeShazer was captured in China (where the Doolittle Raiders were trying to reach after the attack) and spent the rest of the war in horrible prison camp conditions complete with near starvation, torture and beatings- reaching a point where he wanted to kill at least one guard before they killed him. Instead he studied and memorized the Bible and came to ask the Lord into his heart and to forgive him of his hatred. So great was the transformation in his life through Christ he returned to Japan to launch mission work and plant churches in the land of his former enemies.

Captain Fuchida survived the war and plane crashes and bomb attacks and just missed the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Stripped of rank and pensions he was substained life on a small farm plot. In miraculous steps directed by God Fuchida came across a pamphlet written by DeShazer and began to study the bible.

One day he went to meet DeShazer and shared all that was in his heart about Christ and Grace and Forgiveness. And then they knelt together in prayer and the one who bombed Pearl Harbor and the one who bombed Japan called each other Brothers in Christ, united as citizens in the United Kingdom of Heaven!

DeShazer went on to work as a missionary in Japan for over 30 years and as one of the last surviving Doolittle Raiders he passed away in 2008. Fuchida went on to work as an evangelist in Japan and then the US and then across the world. Together these former enemies help lead hundreds of thousands of people to the Lord that had personally liberated them from sin and put them in reconcilation first with men and then with God! (Fuchida died in 1976)

At this time of remembering that day of infamy 70 years ago, let us also remember that Christmas marks the birth of Christ. The present of Grace and Forgiveness presented personaly by God through the His son Christ- the salvation plan that when accepted makes us no longer Strangers or Foreigners or even enemies- but Citizens in God's House with His people!

Thanksgiving- Admist Defeat, Retreat and Despair

"The reason they endured--the reason they believed in God's deliverance--was simple: they could believe, because their General DID believe!"- from the book "Light and Glory" by Peter Marshall and David Manuel

The first thanksgiving held in the new country of the United States of America occured on a cold winter day on a open field covered in snow in November of 1777 as General Washington led the Continental Army to its winter quarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

It was a army of 12,000 men that had seen many defeats against the armies of the British Empire. Their uniforms were tattered, threadbear and worn to pieces, 1/3 had no shoes, they were starving, they had little food and Washington himself was fearful that the army would soon dissolve away with the snow come spring.

So in the darkest period of our nation and in the lives of our revolutionary soldiers they turned to give THANKSGIVING to Almighty God. General Washington went privately to the woods and as he knelt in the snow he poured his heart and soul out to God- crying out from the wilderness. He prayed for his men and his new nation and God soon blessed our General and our Continental Armies with stunning victories though the road ahead was long and still gloomy.

In the depths of despair, remember to give Thanks to God and thank Him for all He has done for you and will do for you even if you don't see it. Like the exhausted men of the Continental Army- keep Hope alive and trust in God. Winter is just a season and the cold gives way to the warmth and rebirth of Spring!

Blessings over you during the Thanksgiving and CHRISTmas season.

Screwtape Letters- Nephews or Sons?

I recently posted on Facebook that Adella and I would be attending the theater version of C.S. Lewis novel- "The Screw Tape Letters" at the Majestic Theater in Dallas. It was a phenomenal performance and one that clearly presents the reality of spiritual warfare and that you are in combat whether you believe in it or not. (And beware to those who don't believe that Heaven or Hell exists- let alone God or satan)

For those of you familiar with the book, Screw Tape is a Chief Demon, and his name is fitting after that of a worm, a parasite that lives off others. And it is written from the view point of Evil and how they perceive the "Enemy" to be followers of the Light, those who believe in Christ. And it follows the course of letters between Screw Tape and his demonic follower and charge who lives and works "up above on earth" to keep the "patients" as they call humans- from finding the truth that God is Love and wants all to go to Heaven through His grace and mercy.

Screw Tape would always sign his demonic letter with "Your loving Uncle- Screw Tape". Being a deceiver he never means love in the sense you might and he waits for his nephew to stumble as he also is on alert his nephew is also trying to get his Uncle's position in hell.

There are many points I could make from the novel and the play (and probably will bring up in the future again) but it struck me that those who follow the "Father of lies, the Great Deceiver" can strive to be called no higher than "a nephew".

The contrast is that Christ calls those who accept and follow Him as- "Sons and Daughters of God!" What an incredible difference between light and dark, love and hate, evil and good. Despite our sins, our vices, our horrible actions and shortcomings we can be called "Sons and Daughters of God!" Thank you Lord for you mercy and grace and unending love!

Galatians 3:26- "For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ"

"Occupy Heart" Movement- First!

There has been a lot of protests and political rallies and movements across this country that we have seen demonstrated by masses of people in attending Tea Parties or camping out in the "Occupy Wall Street" movement that has seen several US city squares filled with people calling themselves the "99%".

Victim Relief Ministries maintained a low key mission presence on request of the Dallas Police and worked in support of the Dallas Crisis Intervention Department.
We walked the tent areas in the "Occupy Dallas" and talked to people. Many shared a passion on several ideas, many expressed frustration and anger over "the system", many want to affect change for the people, fight for social injustice and many other reasons articulated good, bad or vague- but they wanted to "Occupy the Streets to make a statement".

I thought about all I experienced personally and all that I read about the "Occupy Movement" and all that I watched or heard on the media, and I reflected on in it in Spiritual ways.

I want to call attention to the founding parable of Victim Relief, and the statement Christ said in regards to the Great Commandment- "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind- and you shall love your neighbor as yourself."

As a follower of Christ I think the best place for me to fight for change is to surrender my heart to God, let God and His Spirit and His Love "Occupy" my heart.

In doing so I will follow the commandments of the parable, and as I have seen demonstrated by VRM volunteers and other Christians- I will love my neighbor, I will feed my neighbor, I will protect and serve my neigbor I will do the things that God wants me to do in reflecting His love.

Lets start by letting "God Occupy" us first and then "Occupy" our homes and families and then our schools and churches and work and then we will "Occupy" main street and then our neighborhoods, cities our capital and then the world! Peace and love!

Japan- Half A Year Later! Continue to Pray

Gene Grounds and I recently returned from what is the third trip into Japan. As the photo attests to, the debries and shattered remains of cars and boats and foundations of homes and buildings have been scrapped up, collected and put in organized piles and categories.
The people for the most part have been placed in small but comfortable housing units stacked side by side.
Highways are open, people are traveling to and from. Life looks "normal" on the outside, but there is a "new normal" on the inside.
Nuclear Radiation continues to show up in water tables and in agricultural fields, there are few fishing boats in the devastated ports as nearly 97% of the fleets were destroyed or sunk, the area relies on fishing and tourism, and very few tourists are coming in to areas without hotels- the outlook for the economy is rather bleak.
VRM continues to work in partnership through the local churches and pastors in the northen prefecture of Iwate and with Somebody Cares Japan and other ministries, bringing in donated funds and focusing on teaching on grief and trauma and encouraging the local church community.
But as I wrote on the 6th month anniversary of the 2010 Haiti Earthquake- Giants are roaming all over Japan bringing a sense of hopelessness, despair and bleakness. Suicides are a cultural norm and the rate is on the increase. So as debries are cleared, and people are housed- please continue to remember the people of Japan through your prayers on their behalf and as Doug Stringer of Somebody Cares often says- "That the Land of the Rising Sun will know the Risen Son!"

Haiti- 6 Months later-And Giants Are On The Mountains!

A while back I asked for prayer for the people of Haiti, prayers for the people to have the strength to face the Giants that threaten them and to overcome a mountain of obstacles and challenges.
Today, July 12 is the sixth month mark of the beast of a earthquake that vibrated, rocked, shook, and moved the ground for 45 seconds, before leaving debris, broken lives and shattered dreams in its horrifying wake. Along with hundreds of thousands of dead and injured- not to mention the grief and trauma that would be unleashed on survivors.
I would like to tell you six months later that some major progress was underway, maybe even some little but important steps were happening.
I really wish I could tell you that.
If progress is marked by the fact that 6 months have moved by- then that is progress.
If progress is that hard nosed survival instinct has kicked in- then that is progress.
If progress is found in renewed faith and a will to live- then that progress is happily found.
But if progress is to be measured by the release of vast amounts of food, water, building supplies, resources, clothing, toys, tools that have been donated to the people- then that progress for the most ever whelming part, has not occurred!
If hope is a commodity, it is one fast fading from the shelves!
Six long months and yet a blink in real time, the Giants of despair, hopelessness, anxiety, fear, hunger, anger, madness, confusion, loneliness and grief and trauma are sitting on the high hills and mountains of Haiti.
I have faith in God, and I see many people sending aid and coming to the aid of the wonderful people of Haiti. I know God is sovereign and I am trusting that like the biblical Goliath, the Giants of Haiti will be brought down and overcome.
Until then, let us continue to pray for the people and nation of Haiti. Pray for the breakthrough, pray that David's will be sent into the field to battle and overcome the giants in the name of God.
Peace and blessings on and over Haiti!

The Politics of Disaster and The New Normal!

There is a famous political quote- "Never Let A Disaster Go to Waste-Grab for everything you can!" Translated into action- is that when a disaster strikes use that moment to get all in the way of funds and resources you can, even if it means over reaching and grabbing for funds to be used in other projects.

This seems to be a way of life in America and for that matter already exists in all parts of the world. It may be a system but in my opinion it is not a good system, in fact it is a broken system. It puts too much reliance on the government to fund everything, it takes the decision making process out of local hands and it stifles or kills the volunteer organizations who are poised and ready to come out and serve.

Right now as oil sweeps across the beaches and marshlands of the gulf, finger pointing is a very active component of the blame game. A claim has been made that the federal government has sent out the biggest response to the gulf disaster in our history. We are told that hundreds of ships have been deployed, armies of experts have been sent in, millions and millions of dollars have been spent. Yet---the American people over all feel that there is little to show for the effort and the oil keeps pouring out.

While the Blame Game is being played in the political arena, I want to ask if we as a nation are prepared for the "New Normal?" Can we picture the new normal of a Louisiana with its fishing industry gone- for a long time if not forever? An entire gulf coast culture that may be wiped out? Do we want to accept a "New Normal" that the once vibrant UNITED STATES of AMERICA may become one without direction, firm leadership, decisiveness, and a united front that pulls together the incredible talent and resources the people of this nation has?

That "New Normal" may be at hand. Many people may think the "New Normal" is already here. I want to believe in the people of this nation. I want to fall back on the history of this country that rose up as a "runt" to defeat a powerful kingdom to gain its freedom, a nation that has risen up against surprise attacks, daunting obstacles, and won races in the cold war, in space, and to the moon.

For now, let us pray for the end to the blame game. Pray and uplift leaders of this nation, pray that the answers and actions will come together and be put in place to end the oil gusher under the sea and begin the clean up of our coastlines, and the preservation of our gulf coast culture. And pray hard for answers as another "New Normal" may be a summer filled with hurricanes and storms.

Are You Living Ready To Respond and Live for Beyond?

In the time it takes you to blink your eyes, the space you occupy could be changed or affected forever.
The January 12th Earthquake in Haiti affected the lives of millions and killed hundreds of thousands of people in about 45 seconds. The tornados that just roared through Yazoo City in Mississippi did their deadly damage in seconds, a VRM trained Chaplain who was a denominational leader was killed alongside her driver just minutes after leaving the airport on their way to speak. (More to follow on that tragic story shortly) Those events happened so fast and so unexpectantly.

A Case in Point-

Gene Grounds and myself arrived in Colorado Springs a few weeks ago to attend a conference being hosted by military chaplains. We arrived in the late afternoon and were met by my brother Col. Andy Smith.

We were discussing if we wanted to go to the hotel first or go to dinner. We decided to give Gene a little tour of the area before going to dinner. We took him into the famous and beautiful Garden of the Gods park.

It was a gorgeous afternoon as the setting sun created beautiful colors and shadows on the whimsical and unique rock formations. Gene was having a great time getting out at various scenic points and taking pictures.

We had gotten to the end of the park and were about to drive out where the roadway lanes are narrowed by massive rock towers that squeeze the lanes together, the most famous and photographed feature is the "Balancing Rock" formation.

We got out to take a personal look and Andy and I scrambled up the rocks. We set on the foot of the formation and Gene took photos of us. Then Gene (against all advice!) decided he wanted to have his picture taken at the base of the Rock. He handed the camera to my brother and was soon sitting next to me.

My brother took the picture and just seconds later on the way down, Gene slipped and plunged into the ground, striking his body on the ground and his head on the raised concrete curb.

I thought I was going to be dealing with a concussion or massive head injury, but to my relief Gene was sitting up as we got to him with no apparent head wound. But we soon discovered his right leg was in pain and to make a long story short, in the blink of an eye his life as he knew it had changed.

His hip was fractured and it would require surgery and he is still recovering in Colorado Springs and we are hoping they will release him to fly back to DFW three weeks after the accident to continue painful rehab near home. (Please keep him lifted up in prayer)

In the blink of an eye or the matter of a few seconds or minutes lives were changed from the stories told above.

And as the heading of the blog asks- "Are you living ready to respond and live beyond?"

When Gene was hurt we were trained to jump in a do basic first aid and critical incident assessment. We got him in the car and headed to the hospital. We prayed with him and for him, we gave Verbal and Psychological First Aid, we let him know we were there for him and gave him the hope we were headed to a place where they could relieve his pain.

Living Ready to Respond is what we teach and live at VRM.

The bible tells us to "Be dressed in readiness and keep your lamp alight" Luke 12:35

(As Gene says all the time- "When the lights go out the one with a flashlight is the leader!")

BUT- what if you were gone in the blink of an eye? Are you living ready for the beyond? Do you know where you will be spending eternity?

You are not assured of tomorrow, the end of this day or even 5 seconds from now.

You may be living with blessed assurance that you are in Christ, and that is an awesome assurance and frees us up to face life and whatever comes our way, we are safe indeed!

If however you think you can make that decision to "get right with the man upstairs" in some vague future date, just remember it can all change in the blink of an eye and you may not have the time to make that decision.

Let me encourage you in a world filled with crime, violence, earthquakes, tornados, floods, fires and terrorism that you be living ready to respond here on earth and beyond!

Blessings- The Chaplain

Haiti-Land of Giants

In the tongue of the Taino Indians who once inhabited Haiti, they called their beautiful island "Ayiti" the land of mountains. A visit there will reveal the name is fitting and the island is now pronounced Haiti.
The people of modern Haiti have an incredible history and legacy that more people need to know about. Once called Santo Dominque the French turned this once lush, green island into the richest colony in the world. Renowned for its sugar and coffee and some of the best tasting fruit in the world.
But, it was built on the backs of slaves from Africa. Almost unimaginable horrors where inflicted upon the people captured, stolen, and shipped from Africa. Countless numbers of them died in horrible conditions while being shipped across the Atlantic, some hurled themselves into the harbor when they arrived, rather than live one second longer in chains. And many perished from their mistreatment in a matter of just a few years, only to be quickly replaced by another African who was just looked upon as a soul less commodity.
Finally and with great cause, the slaves revolted. Paying a huge price they defeated all comers, plantation militas, British invaders, Polish mercenaries, and the French themselves. Burning cities and plantations, clinging to the mountains, enduring all hardships and losing hundreds of thousands of people. But as the incredible General Toussiant said- "Come people let us fight those who would put us back in chains, better to die so that our brethern live free!" and despite stunning victories he was deceived and captured and shipped off to France to die a slow and miserable death in a cold stone tower.
But the Haitians faced the giants and clung to the hope of freedom and won their independence to break the Giant called slavery!
Haitians fought not just for their freedom but served with Washington agains the British at Savannah in our revolution and they fought with Bolivar in the wars of independence in South America.
They have faced sanctions and hardships imposed on them for 200 years. They have chaffed under dictators and struggled against poverty.
They have faced many giants and they are facing the Giant of destruction caused by the Jan. 12th Earthquake and they face long recovery.
Don't forget our brothers and sisters in Haiti just over an hour away by air from Miami. Don't write them off as they face their giants. Come and face the giants with them. They have a history of clinging in hope against all odds and many Giants.
God bless the Haitians and God give them the power to break all the Giants they face.

Moving in Compassion and Action in Haiti

Greetings-
It is Thursday night (Feb 18th) and I am sitting in a hotel in Conroe just north of Houston. It has been a busy week, well a busy time since the earthquake struck Haiti on January 12, over a month ago.
In VRM emails that followed that tragic event we called for a time of prayer at VRM to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to reveal how God wanted to use VRM to serve in Haiti. In fact we called for prayer at VRM HQ as we converted the conference room to the Chapel of Compassion and Prayer for Haiti.
Amazingly, if you look back at those emails, the steps that God revealed then, is occurring now.
We felt that VRM would first have chaplains embedded in some of our responding partners- that occurred with Texas Baptist Men. We then felt that VRM would be called in to serve as counselors to assist those in trauma and grief with a start with debriefing responder teams- that is and has occurred. And eventually work with the people of Haiti and especially the children of Haiti.
That is all unfolding!
The Lord is guiding our path!
The first trip goes in tomorrow, Friday morning at 1000am through the partnership we have with Doug Stringer and his amazing organization Somebody Cares. On board that flight are directors of several other responding ministries that serve in Haiti.
In March I will be leading a VRM team of trauma and grief counselors to work with a partner who operates an orphanage and school in Haiti and has asked that we come and work with the children and staff that are in trauma.
There will be details to follow and stories to tell. But in the meantime please keep VRM teams in prayer, our responding partners in prayer and the people and children of Haiti in prayer!
Blessings to all as we move the chapel from Dallas-Ft. Worth to action on the ground in Haiti starting Feb 19th!

Update #2 Living Ready To Respond to Haiti!

The horror and suffering of the people of Haiti continues to unfold daily and the death count continues to rise. Aid is arriving in Haiti though frustration and anger continues to rise as circumstances hamper effectice delivery of that aid.

At this point Victim Relief Ministries continues to plan and prepare to response through our network of VRM volunteers and churches and partner responding agencies, organizations and ministries.

Because of this network of partnerships VRM is a conduit to get resources, materials and volunteers to a variety of channels that will get to operations on the ground in Haiti.

VRM will respond with trained and certified disaster response counselors and ministers to give spiritual and emotional care to both responders and Haitian victims. This includes Crisis and Trauma counseling, Crisis Intervention Stress Intervention training and debriefings and difussing among other chaplaincy and counselor services.

As we ramp up and things become more established in the ground we will send in more VRM Crisis Responders to serve the local communities and to help the children as we do children who are victims of crime and disasters in America.

The reminder of the best thing people can be doing is to pray. The best donation is in cash as deployment expenses need to be met and cash allows us to find the best materials or resources that need to be sent down. Be careful who you donate to.

Victim Relief Ministries has been serving victims of crime and disasters for over 10 years. We are recognized in the state of Texas by Gov. Perry himself, a member of Texas VOAD (volunteer organizations assisting in disasters), we serve with the Texas Baptist Men Disaster Response Organization, State Mass Care, Salvation Army and many more.

Please contribute to our response to Haiti at www.victimrelief.org

For those that can we are holding a time of prayer at our HQ in the "Chapel of Compassion and Prayer for Haiti" at noon central time this Thursday Jan 21,2010. If you cannot join us please join in at noon central and pray for Haiti.

Blessings as we serve as citizens of the United Kingdom of God

Living Ready to Respond and Impact Haiti

The disaster that struck Haiti in the form of a 7.0 earthquake on January 12 has left in its wake a ground zero that appears to have inflicted a human loss of up to or beyond 500,000 souls. The capital city of Port-Au-Prince has been rocked, shattered and broken apart. The National Palace is in collapsed ruins.

Responders already on the ground in Haiti are trying to cope with this massive disaster with few tools while the USA, the UN and nations around the world rush to bring in humanitarian necessities in water, food and medicine just to give injured people a chance to make it just one more day.

At Victim Relief Ministries we are in the process of finding the best and most practical way to respond. We are working with our responding ministry and organizational partners to come together and help reach people.

The first thing that is needed is for people to pray. Prayer warriors from within the VRM volunteer responder family and those in partner organizations and all churches that are reading this.

We have VRM chapters throughout Texas, Arizona and California pooling resources as they prepare to respond. We are working to send in chaplains with assessment teams and to help give support to the responders and those needing assistance and rescue.

As we live ready to respond and impact, keep us in your prayers.

Go to www.victimrelief.org to contribute funds

A Winter Tornado- A Christmas Miracle!

On Dec. 23 cold weather began to move into Texas, dropping temperatures that had been in the 70's rapidly down into the 30's and 20's. It was an explosive mix that produced 30 and 40 mile per hour gusts across North Texas that by Christmas Eve would see snow blowing horizontally.

In Lufkin, Texas on that Wednesday night; many people were relaxing or getting ready to go to bed. They were probably tired from a day of work mixed with last minute Christmas preparations. I could imagine children being pretty excited as another day ended and brought them one day closer to Christmas.

And then a storm came roaring in. And some time after 10pm people began reporting a funnel cloud to the south and north side of downtown around the Loop. Without warning this funnell cloud landed as a tornado rated between a F1-F3 and left a trail three miles long and about 400 yards wide that devastated the sub-division at Englewood, and homes and buildings along Atkinson Drive, Lubbock Street and Kit McCormick Park and destroyed the VFW Post on Ford Chapel Road. The VFW Post looked like a battle scene where the enemy shelled it until its roof caved in and its walls were battered- but the flag was still there. The local elementary school looked like an aerial attack had targeted it and taken it out with missiles and bombs.

As I drove around surveying the damaged areas I looked at homes with giant trees laying on the roofs. Trees and branches had come down on garages and crushed the cars inside. Metal Debris hung high in trees whose branches were torn and bark was stripped. One house would look fine just a few yards up from their neighbors destroyed house or between two destroyed homes. Bare fields lay exposed where pine trees once stood. People were walking with dazed looks on their faces and many were trying to dig their way out of the damaged houses and buildings to begin the road to recovery and the hope of normalcy.

As I continued to write my observation report for the Incident Command Center and to talk to people in the neighborhoods to encourage and pray with them. One thing struck me- no one was killed or seriously injured. If you were seeing the damage I was witnessing you would know how miraculous this was.

It was also a miracle that the terroist on the Northwest Airlines flight was unable to blow up the flight after lighting his weapon.

I know people say if there is a God why do bad things happen. Why are there diseases and why do people die. I know that we can debate matters of faith or no faith. I believe God prevented people from being injured or killed from the winter tornado and I have felt that at countless ground zero's.

I give thanks and praise to God because I believe He protected people in Lufkin from the "Christmas Twister!"

A Day of Infamy- A Date That is Never to be Forgotten!

History is a tricky thing. The reality of history is a strange and intriguing and as devastating or victorious over enemies or challenges as one can imagine or write about in fiction.
I am afraid that many people have little to no knowledge of US History, and many are re-writing history or revising it even as I write this.

As far as history goes it was not very long that an American President stood in front of congress to tell the American people about a devastating attack on the pacific fleet far from Washington D.C. on the island of Oahu.

A air attack by the forces of Imperial Japan had left behind battered and sunken ships, mainly battleships, hundreds of air planes were destroyed and over 3,000 military personnel and civilians were killed.

A nation could be shattered from all recovery by such a stunning victory, hope could be lost and defeat could almost be a certainty.

Almost!

President Roosevelt stood boldly, delivered the hard core truth and reality and then stirred the nation by telling them to never forget Dec. 7, 1941 a day that would live in infamy in American history and told the American people no matter how long it would take and at whatever cost- Pearl Harbor would be avenged and the American nation would rise from the bottom of Pearl Harbor to ultimate and complete victory.

So, I echo and repeat the command that our President gave in December of 1941 that this day not be forgotten. Two great symbols of World War II can be visited today in Pearl Harbor.

The memorial that is erected over the USS Arizona in which sailors are still entombed that lead us into WWII and the Battleship Missouri that carried the war to the door step of the enemy and on whose decks the enemy surrendered and ended WW II.

The Missouri fulfilled the promise that President Roosevelt gave to a shocked nation that waited in hope to hear him give the direction and guidance and course of action. Let us remember today and let us remember our troops who are fighting in lands for from our shores who brought the war to our lands on 9/11. And let us stay the course, lift up our nation, our leaders and our military as we seek to end a new type of warfare and enemy.

Let's be Merry Out There People and Put Christ in Christmas!

Greetings to the Victim Relief Ministries Volunteers, Network, Partners and Yellow Shirt Nation!

A quick shout out as Christmas day draws near. We have been challenging people via the social networks to reach out and touch a stranger and in some way brighten up their Christmas and let them know that God loves them.

While there is a battle over Christmas tradition- over saying Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas. Not allowing nativity scenes to be displayed, Christmas trees to be put up, candy canes to be distributed or the fact that some people feel "offended" by Christmas etc.

And as I acknowledge that let me say that Christmas, true Christmas "tradition" does not need an "official" title on it. Christmas is a fact based on a true event and nothing can change or distract from that historic and world changing epic!

Christ was a gift presented to mankind by God!

"Tradition" is like "Religion". An institute by which we forget many times to put in action what the event was for. What good is it for our neighbors if we fight to put up the biggest Christmas tree with 10,000 watts of light, so we can stuff a million gifts under the tree with Santa on the roof and three wise men inflatables standing out in the snow- if we fail to deliver the goods at Christmas ourselves?

World News speaks of unemployment, failing banks and companies, depression, suicide, divorce, medical issues, terrorism, murder, abuse, crime, a lack of confidence in our nation, the world and ourselves. Many of us have a loss of hope and the will to move forward.

Well we have the Good News and now in the darkness we need to reflect the light of that truth on the world. Be Merry people, push back with acts of kindness, acts of caring and acts of love. Let us put our fears aside and let us not judge Christmas by the gifts we brought for ourselves but by putting CHRIST in Christmas and helping someone in need ahead of one of our needs.

Merry Christmas and spread Christ beyond your living rooms to those living and needing Christmas in action and to restore hope!

The Chapel of Hope-The Power of Prayer

I had seven minutes to share my stories and thoughts of encourgement and hope at a recent chapel service at Houston Memorial Hermann Hospital. Gathered together were patients, care-givers, medical staff and fellow belivers and encouragers.

I built my talk around Romans 12:12-13. "Be joyful in hope, be patient in affliction, and stay faithful in prayer. When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality."

I want to bring these powerful verses to life through some of my own life experiences. Sometimes miracles are done by divine intervention. In the case of my father. I grew up in Hawaii where my father was the pastor of a church. In 1969 he boarded an small, private, aircraft for a flight from Honolulu to the nearby island of Molokai. As they neared the island all instruments were reading normal. There was no turbulence or storms to rock the small aircraft.

Sometimes that is how our lives are just before a major disaster or challenge strikes our life. Everything looks fine and then....

Well THE THEN part that struck was that the prop flew off the plane as the coastline of Molokai drew near. The pilot struggled to glide the plane but it struck the water so hard that it knocked him out of the plane. My father was temporarily knocked out from the impact and the plane took on water and sank quickly beneath the sea. My father came too and struggled to get out of his seat belts and to breath as water filled the small cockpit. Gulping air from the shrinking air pockets he felt as if this battle would be lost. As his strength ebbed he felt himself being released from the seatbelts, the door came open and he began to lift from the bottom of the sea channel toward the light at the top of the ocean. Tired and dazed he popped to the choppy surface where a fisherman jumped into the water upon spotting him and pulled him to shore- a true act of providence from God!

Other times God shows His power through the skills and talents of people-such as the medical staff that are sitting in chapel today.

My daughter was about 7 years old. And she went to attend a birthday party of a neighbor just up the street from our house. She had on her pretty little party dress and was enjoying the celebration. Suddenly a dog, the family pet that my daughter had loved on and hugged many times, sprang up and attacked my daughter. Knocking her violently down on the ground the german shepard tried to reach around to her throat and clamp down. My daughter stayed face down, drawing her little arms up to instictively protect her face and throat as the dog repeatedly bit down on her until the shocked owners pulled their dog off.

We rushed her to the hospital, she was in massive pain and bleeding badly. She was rushed into the emergency room and we waited for the specialist to come and help. I looked outside the door and saw a man praying. It was the doctor, and when he stepped inside he looked at my daughter, took a deep breath and smiled.

It took 150 stitches to close my daughters body up and she took many shots and had to stay conscious throught the entire ordeal. Afterwards I asked the doctor why he smiled.

He told me that he had been born in Vietnam. As a youngster he left on a boat and spent several years floating from place to place, finally ending up in Hong Kong before a missionary couple who sensed his talent, arranged to send him to the states where he eventually ended up in medical school.

He was praying outside the emergency room when I saw him, asking God to prepare him for what he was about to see and to give him the skills needed to save and restore the afflicted patient. He specialized in working with people attacked by animals and he usually deals with people who have terrible face injuries. The reason he smiled was that he was so relieved to see that my daughter did not have facial injuries and he was thanking God.

The point was that God has brought this incredible and dedicated doctor from Vietnam to restore my daughter through the skills and talents he learned and the training he received.

We need to thank God for miracles and we need to lift up medical staff people that God also works through and we need to stay joyful in hope, be patient in affliction and stay faithful in prayer. And when God's people are in need be ready to help them. And always be eager to practice hospitality!

My wife just celebrated her 3rd year of being cancer free from a rare form that grew in her hand. The recommended procedure was to remove most of her hand that would eventually lead to her arm curling up and being useless to her. We prayed and proceeded with the doctor to avoid that and to just try to remove the tumor. The combination of God and the doctors again led to a successful removal of just the tumor (a miracle in itself) that left the hand intact and no major damage.

Keep the faith and keep praying! Blessings to all!
Edward

Disaster Relief and the Growth of the Cuban Church!

I was reading the July 2009 issue of Christianity Today and came across an article called "Cuba for Christ-Ahora!" It was talking about the revival that began 15 years ago and has led to astounding growth in the local church.

Though the church faces regulations and restrictions since the 1959 Revolution the current church body is made up of young and bold pastors, leaders and members who are carrying the gospel of Christ into the neighborhoods and streets. They are bold and unashamed of their faith and simply want their people to know of the liberating truth of Christ.

As one of the members is quoted from the article said- "The Church in Cuba is alive, growing, faithful, and active and persevering through difficulty."

I was interested in some of the main things that have led to the growth of this generation of Christians. In addition of course to the Holy Spirit, two main things that I can point to is that. One- the church realized that they needed a spirit of unity, of non-denominational work and ministry pulling everyone together- "One Christ, One Cuba, In Christ we are one!"

The other was that a devastation hurricane hit the island in 2008. Local churches repaired the destroyed roofs od their non-Christian neighbors first BEFORE repairing the roofs of church members. This won Christians new respect throughout Cuba!

This is what Christ was teaching us when he said to Love our Neighbors as we Love ourselves. To serve others FIRST. To be Good Samaritans and care for those hurting, in grief, in crisis and trauma.

So let us pray for our brothers and sisters in Cuba. Pray that they will continue to be a beacon of hope and that they continue to bring more people to the truth. And let us strive to serve those in despair in a hurtful world!

Let's live ready to respond everybody!

For full article go to-

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/july/22.20.html




Peace- Edward

Justice Revival Coming to Dallas!

I recently attended a planning session for the upcoming Justice Revival (Coming November 10-12 at Dallas Market Hall) and I really want to help get the word out on this needed and exciting project- one designed to "Change Your City!"

Their mission:

Over three days of prayer, preaching and worship, the body of Christ will awake to new life, uniting to answer Jesus' call to biblical justice.

By the end of 2010, our prayer is that at least 200 Dallas area churches will answer this call by:

•Creating 25 partnerships with public schools
•Advocating for 700 new units of permanent supportive housing

Victim Relief Ministries (VRM) will be involved in several key serving roles in this outreach and details will soon be going out to our network of volunteers. BUT everyone reading this that can get to Dallas needs to get involved and get their church involved and start praying for God to move across Dallas!

To get more information and to get registered go to:
www.justicerevival.org

It will change your city!
It will change your life!

Serve others and impact others in the name of Christ!

Living ready!
Edward