Saturday, November 29, 2008

Things Missionaries Miss The Most



I visited Community Baptist Church of Bradenton, Florida for a missions conference this last week. Pastor Wayne Golson and people were just great! I found I miss some things in the USA. One is just hearing the Star-Spangled Banner sung, like the "Cactus Cuties" did so well at this basketball game.

I left Florida and returned to the work of missions here in Puerto Rico. I love the work and the people here, but it did cost me something to leave the USA.

The bumper stickers say, "Love it or Leave it" But what if you DO love it but MUST leave it? It is hard to do! But the Lord left a better place than the USA when he came at Christmas to do his Fathers perfect will. I guess you can't have a better example to follow than that!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

How to Be Happy and Support a Missionary at the Same Time


People stay home from church and watch TV, but I just found this article in the NY TIMES that states being in church will make you happier!

"Happy People Watch Less TV, Study Shows

By RONI CARYN RABIN
Published: November 19, 2008

"Researchers at the University of Maryland found the one activity unhappy people do more than happy people is watch TV. The New York Times reports:

"We looked at 8 to 10 activities that happy people engage in, and for each one, the people who did the activities more — visiting others, going to church, all those things — were more happy,” Dr. [John] Robinson said. “TV was the one activity that showed a negative relationship. Unhappy people did it more, and happy people did it less.”
---------------------------------------------------------

I think a good application of this would be to: Cancel your Cable TV, Go to church and Use the money you save to support a missionary!

Too hard? How about...Your missionary giving should be at LEAST as much as much as you spend on cable TV and video rentals. Still too hard? Well, nobody said being happy was going to be easy!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Obituary: Mr. Common Sense

A friend sent this to me today about the death of an important person. I suspected he was going downhill for a long time. I hope you will keep his memory alive in our churches and we hope to follow his teachings to improve our missionary service here in Puerto Rico.
---
Obituary: Mr. Common Sense


Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, why life isn't always fair, and how, on occasion, maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student; but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when people became afraid to defend themselves from burglars in their own homes because the burglar could sue them for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and Ima Victim.


Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.