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Thoughts from Sunday...
As Sandy and I were leaving Atlanta God said to me: "It's all about souls."
The word "souls" is a broad word; in Christian-speak "souls" seems to speak of salvation but I believe God is reminding us that His most precious possession are souls and He is reviewing how we are caring for the salvation, care and equipping of His people. This is not a new message by any means; it has always been about souls. What I hear is a purposeful focus on everything we're all doing and making sure that it is about "souls" and nothing else.
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 The message yesterday was about the three "things" that God has given us so that we can both live and thrive here, care for one another, and be with Him for eternity:
- Himself (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
- His Word (spoken in us, written on our hearts, preserved in the Scriptures, and the fact that He cannot lie)
- His people
We are being reminded every day that our only hope is God. We also see how much we need His Word (our daily bread) and each other for daily encouragement.
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Special Needs
Teens on the streets
 I mentioned yesterday about the need for post-orphanage care for teens in Mongolia. Hetee in Melanie, pastors in Darkhan, Mongolia, have a plan and they're asking for help.
Orphans are released from an orphanage when they are past eighth grade. Many times these kids wind up on the streets. Hetee and Mel want to rent an apartment for four girls and a leader who will watch over them. They will need to feed and cloth them, take care of their education and medical needs and help them prepare for their futures, including college. Total cost per month is about $750US. If you can help with this please click here to donate (Mongolia missions, note for "teens".
* * * Injured Missionary in China
Melanie needs help for their missionary to China. She was hit by a motorcycle and received injuries to her face and teeth. She needs to return to Mongolia but they won't release her passport until her medical bills are paid.
Mel said they had their very first "garage sale" in Darkhan and raised about $220US but they need another $400US to get her home. If you can help please click here to donate (Mongolia missions, note for "missionary".
* * * Jim Hurlbutt
 Jim and his wife Teresa arrived in Gig Harbor a few months ago. They came from Montana with some serious needs and many of you have helped them. Jim has secured employment and is set to start welding training but needs some items in order to begin. Jim already has many of the items but he still needs $200 to purchase rest of the equipment needed to take the training. Please click here to donate (General Fund, not for "Jim").
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Have you seen this?
I stumbled across this video by Andrea Bocelli. Amazing story... click the image to view the video:
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The Oil Spill
 A number of people have asked me about the oil spill and its possible Biblical implications. From the beginning I said this was going to be a massive and long term problem but regarding Biblical implications I'll just say this: stay tuned.
Having said that, if you add the oil spill to the other looming disasters you have a toxic brew that may indeed have Biblical implications. At the very least we're in the middle of a very unstable global economic scenario that can implode at any moment. This will have serious short term and long term consequences that affect all of us.
As I write this North Korea is threatening war with South Korea, Iran says it will wipe Israel off the map, Russia has made alliances with Iran, Turkey is working with Hamas, our Administration is blackmailing Israel and treating many of our allies with contempt, volcanoes are disrupting millions and costing billions, nations are either bankrupt or on the verge of bankruptcy, etc. etc. etc. To say the least the nations of the world are being shaken, literally and figuratively.
Very appropriately, we need to look to God for wisdom and comfort. The Lord Jesus encouraged all of us with these words:
Consider the ravens:
They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds
them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can
add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing,
why do you worry about the rest? - Luke 12:24-26
We have to live each day with faith in God, prepare as best we can, hope for the best, and trust God for the rest. He has promised to care for His people and He will.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Chris and Sandy
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