Star Thrower
***originally posted in 2012 but worth reading again.
One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.
He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"
The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.
To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."
Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley
I'm sure you have heard that story a million times. I know I have. And each time it makes me think. So...
re-read that story again. But this time think of our Apache brothers and sisters and their need for Christ.
In Him,
Robert
One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"
The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.
To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."
Star Thrower by Loren C. Eiseley
I'm sure you have heard that story a million times. I know I have. And each time it makes me think. So...
re-read that story again. But this time think of our Apache brothers and sisters and their need for Christ.
In Him,
Robert
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas...
Merry Christmas...
I have been struggling with that phrase.
Merry Christmas.
Buying gifts.
Merry Christmas.
Spending money we could be giving to others.
Merry Christmas.
Looking at all the people who aren't going to be able to give their kids any gifts.
Merry Christmas.
I'm not trying to make you feel guilty. This is my thing. I just want to let you know how I'm feeling.
Merry Christmas.
The whole controversy of "Happy Holidays" vs "Merry Christmas."
Merry Christmas.
If we are celebrating the birth of Christ?
Merry Christmas.
If it's about presents, spending money and watching others have nothing? Happy Holidays.
Merry Christmas.
Well, something happened to me.
Merry Christmas.
A church in Southern California donated presents to three families on the Reservation. I'm not telling you which one because that isn't why they did it.
Merry Christmas.
Liz and I delivered the presents to one of the families.
Merry Christmas.
Lets just say there were tears of appreciation and tears of joy all around.
Merry Christmas.
God broke my heart.
Merry Christmas.
It isn't about the gifts. It isn't about the money and it isn't about the haves and have nots.
Merry Christmas.
It's about God's love for each and every one of us. God sending his Son. It's our need for a savior.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Robert
Merry Christmas...
Merry Christmas...
I have been struggling with that phrase.
Merry Christmas.
Buying gifts.
Merry Christmas.
Spending money we could be giving to others.
Merry Christmas.
Looking at all the people who aren't going to be able to give their kids any gifts.
Merry Christmas.
I'm not trying to make you feel guilty. This is my thing. I just want to let you know how I'm feeling.
Merry Christmas.
The whole controversy of "Happy Holidays" vs "Merry Christmas."
Merry Christmas.
If we are celebrating the birth of Christ?
Merry Christmas.
If it's about presents, spending money and watching others have nothing? Happy Holidays.
Merry Christmas.
Well, something happened to me.
Merry Christmas.
A church in Southern California donated presents to three families on the Reservation. I'm not telling you which one because that isn't why they did it.
Merry Christmas.
Liz and I delivered the presents to one of the families.
Merry Christmas.
Lets just say there were tears of appreciation and tears of joy all around.
Merry Christmas.
God broke my heart.
Merry Christmas.
It isn't about the gifts. It isn't about the money and it isn't about the haves and have nots.
Merry Christmas.
It's about God's love for each and every one of us. God sending his Son. It's our need for a savior.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Robert
December 2013
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| book donation |
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| FBCS helpers @ the book table |
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| Santa dropped in |
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| Salt River Canyon |
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| Besh Ba Gowah Festival of Lights |
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| Suzy Q and Santa |
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| Merry Christmas |
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| Happy New Year |
Christmas Time
We will be doing our 2nd Annual Book Drive, as well as planning a Christmas Family Fun day for the San Carlos community, providing gifts for the children at the San Carlos Apache Youth Home, and blessing the young men and their families who work construction with us.
How can you help? There are THREE ways! First, you can send new books that are appropriate for children and teens. We will be passing them out to families at our Family Fun Day. Second, you can send Wal-Mart, Target or Kohl's gift cards to help purchase gifts for the children at the Youth Home and the families of our construction teammates. The last way you can help is by sending money to help with the supplies we will need for the Family Fun Day.
We love being able to share with our Apache brothers and sisters that people from all over the United States send gifts to share the love of Jesus with them. Your gifts make a difference!
Please have all donations to us by Friday, December 6th. Gifts can be sent to: 3:18 Ministries 1210 E Crestwood Dr. Globe, AZ 85501
Thank you in advance for blessing the Apache families God has put in our path!
lemons
Yes as the title implies, we have a lot of lemons, far too many lemons for my taste. You see, I understand lemons are a part of our life. I understand that the more we step out and take chances, the bigger the lemons get. And while I continue to pray for less lemons, they just seem to show up in larger sizes. My bigger problem is that the lemons are now affecting others...as we knew would happen. It hurts to see those you love and care about take a giant step toward Christ, to be smacked down by a huge, smelly, rotten lemon. You aren't making lemonade out of these, you are cleaning up the mess.
So instead of ducking and avoiding and sweeping under the rug, we have decided to face the lemons, yep we are suiting up! Our fight is not with the lemons - Ephesians says "12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
I'm not looking to avoid the lemons, I know that is impossible. I want to stand firm, take the hits and remain standing firm. As I said, we have a lot of lemons right now. We also know we are taking some huge steps in faith, starting new things that will increase the lemons. Exciting times, and fearful times. We are armoring up, please join us!
Liz
So instead of ducking and avoiding and sweeping under the rug, we have decided to face the lemons, yep we are suiting up! Our fight is not with the lemons - Ephesians says "12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."
I'm not looking to avoid the lemons, I know that is impossible. I want to stand firm, take the hits and remain standing firm. As I said, we have a lot of lemons right now. We also know we are taking some huge steps in faith, starting new things that will increase the lemons. Exciting times, and fearful times. We are armoring up, please join us!
Liz
Sometimes
Sometimes I wonder if we are making a difference.
Sometimes I think we aren't.
Sometimes I wonder if we should have stayed in So. Cal.
Sometimes I wish we had.
Sometimes I see God working in our lives.
It's then I know we are where we belong!
The other day we were in a neighborhood on the reservation. You see we had a team in and we were loving the kids. It was a great time.
I was showing a kid my rubber band trick. He stopped me and asked if I had been there a long time ago. I told him yes. He then told me where I bought some of my magic. He remembered me and my rubber band trick.
Sometimes God uses the smallest things to make a difference.
He used rubber bands. He used me.
Robert
Sometimes I think we aren't.
Sometimes I wonder if we should have stayed in So. Cal.
Sometimes I wish we had.
Sometimes I see God working in our lives.
It's then I know we are where we belong!
The other day we were in a neighborhood on the reservation. You see we had a team in and we were loving the kids. It was a great time.
I was showing a kid my rubber band trick. He stopped me and asked if I had been there a long time ago. I told him yes. He then told me where I bought some of my magic. He remembered me and my rubber band trick.
Sometimes God uses the smallest things to make a difference.
He used rubber bands. He used me.
Robert
Summer
This summer has been hot (I know, it's a DRY heat) and very busy. We are coming up on the end of July and still have so much more to do.
A good friend of ours came out in June for a visit and then we started our busy ministry team season. So far we have had 3 teams in, and have 3 more scheduled through mid September. We have friends and family coming for a visit as well! Then Robert and I are taking a small break/running away.
Of course in the middle of all this I am still teaching parenting class weekly, Robert continues meeting with the guys and working on the homes in progress. We visit the youth home regularly and are working on getting the T Shirt business up and running. A friend of ours here is a teacher at the alternative school on the reservation and has asked us to be involved with the kids there. Robert did magic at an event they had prior to graduation and has met with a young Apache man from there. I am hoping to help her start a bible study for girls once a week after school starts.
The teams we have had have been fun and hard workers. We have been so encouraged by the new friends we have made and some dear friends who brought teams to join us. Here are some pics:
A good friend of ours came out in June for a visit and then we started our busy ministry team season. So far we have had 3 teams in, and have 3 more scheduled through mid September. We have friends and family coming for a visit as well! Then Robert and I are taking a small break/running away.
Of course in the middle of all this I am still teaching parenting class weekly, Robert continues meeting with the guys and working on the homes in progress. We visit the youth home regularly and are working on getting the T Shirt business up and running. A friend of ours here is a teacher at the alternative school on the reservation and has asked us to be involved with the kids there. Robert did magic at an event they had prior to graduation and has met with a young Apache man from there. I am hoping to help her start a bible study for girls once a week after school starts.
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| Josh and Boyo |
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| Church in our backyard |
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| Add caption |
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| Amanda and Isaiah made frybread for the team |
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