Conference yukon::christian_v7

    RE:0

    Thanks for sharing that Nancy !


    Jim

    Each of us have tragedies in our lives that at one point may have
    brought about the thought, "Why not just quit? What good is it doing me
    to serve God anyway?"
    
    Can you share your testimony here?  If you feel God tugging on your
    heart to share, please do so.
    
    I'm thinking of Bob right now.  Why shouldn't he just give up, despair,
    depression are consuming him.  See prayer request topic #6.
    
    In His Love,
    Nancy
    

    Just a few random thoughts from a random thinker....
    
    Why should we change what we are doing.  Suppose someone told you there
    was no God and all was for naught.  Would you believe that all was for
    naught?  Would you drastically change your lifestyle?  My uncle asked
    me this question once...I said when we are both dead in the ground and
    Christ comes to take me home, I will look you up and give you that
    "family-resembling I told you so" glance.  If not, then who will really 
    care.  I lived my life according to my beliefs, and you yours.  If the end
    doesn't turn out to be what either of us expects, I'd much rather be in
    my "shoes" receiving what I didn't expect than in yours receiving what
    you didn't expect.
    
    I, too, had a Christian friend die from cancer.  I had grown up with
    this man in the church and it was a difficult thing to watch.  We had
    24 hour prayer vigils over him.  We fasted, prayed, cried, hoped, and
    prayed some more.  Yet, still he died.  He left a wife, 3 children and
    a great career, and Christian walk.  He was the teacher of the junior
    high aged kids in our church.  Why?  Two years later, it still hurts
    and some still wonder what God's plan is.
    
    Let's just say I'd rather be on His side in the end than not.  If I am
    and I lived a christian life and there is no God, then the only thing
    I've done is lived a good life.  If I live "like hell and pray there
    isn't one" but find there is....well, you get the picture.
    
    I'd rather err on the side of right in this case.
    
    Enough rambling...
    
    -s
    
    

    Sandy,
    
    You haven't rambled, you've touched on a very important part of our
    Christianity... "motivation".  What motivates Ed to continue serving
    God is II John 1:8.  
    
    The motivation for salvation is different than the motivation for
    service as I see it.  Although I know that for many the motivation is 
    one and the same.  
    
    Why would you continue to serve God in the face of what appears to be
    His lack of positive involvement in your life?
    
    Anyone care to answer?
    

    If you *love* me, you will keep my commandments.
    
    

Re:  .3 

Similar to the ideas in .3 is the following chart.


Feel like gambling for some very high stakes? Try these on:

===============================================================================
     IF:     		There is a God			There is no God
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     AND:

I follow Him:		I get eternal joy		I have 70 years of life
     							on earth of relative 
     							joy -- though some
     							would say of "missing
     							out" on worldly "fun"*
     							-- followed by nothing
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't follow Him:	I suffer eternal loss		I have 70 years of life
     							on earth of some quality
     							-- followed by nothing
===============================================================================

*  like heartbreak, broken relationships, no direction, no hope, pursuit of 
   un-fulfilling goals......



I once drew this chart up to show someone the results of the choices -- and
to show which was a better choice, with no other facts to look at.....

    Hi Bob,
    
    Thanks for redrawing your chart... I imagine we could use the same
    chart to help analyze many of our choices. :-)
    
    

    	.3
    
>    Suppose someone told you there
>    was no God and all was for naught.  
    
    	What do you mean "suppose"?  I read SOAPBOX every day.

    Thanks Joe.  That was a good one.
    
    -s
    

I think the "if then else" statement is for non-Christian because we *know*
there is God, we just do not know Him enough and sometimes mad at Him, like
I am now(but it is a far less significant story).

The other thought is that if we really want to be a living sacrifice to God, 
it is not really what the things that we want to do for God that is on the
altar.  It is the blood-washed clean character which we are becoming that God 
wants.  

For the past week or so that I have been reading verses that are saying
if you do this and that, I(God) will prolong your life.  What was(is) in my
heart is that I do not want long-life.  Although I want to do something "for
God" I probably do not want people pray to heal me were I have cancer.
Well, apparently God think that I have a long way to go in this bootcamp
before I can see Him.  May be God is saying the opposite to Ed.


Wally

      Hi,
    
        Thanks so much Nancy for your poignant story.
    
        Just a thought about motivation...
    
        I'm not saying the following would ever happen, but consider
        it hypothetically...
    
        If you were about to enter heaven and someone was there to welcome
        you in and he said, "Welcome!  Isn't it beautiful?!!  There's the
        mansions!  There's the river of life!  I'll bet its better than
        you could have fathomed!  etc. etc."
    
        And then he says, "Oh, by the way...Jesus isn't here.  He's still
        hanging on the cross..."
    
        Where would you prefer to be?  In heaven, or on the cross to be
        with Jesus?
    
        What is it that REALLY motivates you?  Is it the gift?  Or is it
        the Giver?  Is it the real estate?  Or is it your Savior?
    
        Things can get a little fuzzy when we talk about how nice certain
        things will be and speak of that as our motivation.  For appeals
        to self can also appeal to a perfect heathen.  But, the motivation
        of being constrained by a Savior hung for you...apart from the 
        life and real estate He promises...just to be drawn by that love 
        for you...now that is something whose attraction ought to be there 
        even when some of the gifts (hypothetically) might be lacking.
    
                                                     God Bless,
    
                                                     Tony

    Wow!

    re .11
    
    Thanks Tony
    
    
    Bing

    .11
    
    Tony very poignant indeed.
    
    Thanks,
    Nancy

    re: .12 to .14
    
    Thanks you guys.
    
                                                God Bless,
    
                                                Tony

      re: -1
    
      Hi Greg,
    
        There's one big disconnect that I am sorry isn't getting
        through.  You repeatedly speak of people shunning the
        gifts (benefits) or not wanting them or whatever.
    
        The problem that I have is I am honestly skeptical that
        these things you keep bringing up ARE the gifts.  Please
        understand that.  It means nothing (to me) for you to explain
        things from the posture of not wanting the gifts.  For that
        posture has as an underlying assumption, the person not wanting
        the gifts believing they in fact are gifts!!
    
        If you would, read 501.29 and 501.30.  In those two replies, I
        have stated why I do not believe they are gifts in the first
        place.
    
        We all know that people will perform even miracles in God's
        name.  And we all know that to some Jesus will say, "I don't
        know you" which I take to mean they really didn't know Him.
    
        As 501.29, 501.30 explicitly state, I need _tangibility_.  I need
        for the charismatic movement to have the characteristic of 
        sanctification unlike what I have seen.  I also need to see the
        characteristic of a settling into truth - of the Spirit leading
        to truth.  Within the charismatic movement, I see every wind of
        doctrine.  I cannot in any way reconcile this with any signifi-
        cant moving of the Spirit for the Spirit convicts of truth as
        well as of sin, righteoussness and judgment.
    
        For me, it simply lacks the most summary characteristics that I
        am looking for.  That being a clear demonstration of living more
        as Christ lives as well of all those that manifest these things
        of coming to a oneness of truth.
    
        So, again, I do not believe I am rejecting gifts on the basis
        that I do not believe they are gifts on the basis that the
        characteristics of living more as Christ and of coming to a unity
        of truth I do not see as standing out.
    
        By the way moderators, please move this reply wherever you find
        adequate.  I wanted to reply as Greg was speaking to me, but I
        don't want to draw from this topic so I'm not sure I entered it
        in the right place.
                                                    
                                                     Tony

RE:                      <<< Note 540.17 by YIELD::GRIFFIS >>>

    
       
   > 				Well, Jesus did something MORE than just
   > 	pay for salvation.  He also provided _benefits_.  If people want
  
        This statement bothers me..Jesus said "I came to seek and save that
       which was lost"..seems to me that paying the price for our sin was 
       rather significant (to Him anyway).  My mission as a Christian is
       to see souls saved.  Do you share that mission?  I ask as it seems
       that more emphasis is placed on the gifts in you enter.  I see little
       mention on soul winning, and it seems most topics in which you partici-
       pate become a sounding board for spiritual gift monologues.



      Jim, posing a serious question.

 
 

    Went to church in Santa Cruz today and heard Bro. Ed Guinan [.0] preach
    both in sunday a.m. and p.m. services at Liberty Baptist Church.  What
    a blessing.  
    
    

      re: -1
    
      PRAISE THE LORD!
    
      Good to hear this news Nance.
    
                                            Tony

    His sermons are poignant, well built and filled with the Spirit.  I am
    very blessed to know this man and to have shared an all too small part
    of it. :-(
    
    The morning message was about "Are you serving God?" The evening
    message was about being "called, chosen and faithful". :-)
    
    Anybody know where that verse is in the Bible? :-)

      re: -1
    
      Hi Greg,
    
        With so much of what you said in that last reply, I said
        "Amen!" in my heart.  Maybe we differ a bit on what the
        standard of Christ is, but if our motivations are pure,
        I am sure that our differences will lessen as we each 
        allow Christ to mold us more and more into His likeness.
    
        Thanks Greg.
    
                                          God Bless,
    
                                          Tony

btw - I just wanted to say how very much I appreciate .0 and .11 particularly.
Tony - OK for us to take that thought to use with others o/s Digital? ;-)

Sandy, .3 made me think of 1 Corinthians 15:19 :
  "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more 
   than all men"
This is highlighting that Christianity is focused on eternity, and the
return of the LORD Jesus.  That is the fulfillment of all our desire.  To
live expectant to the end, and then fall into an empty void would be
desperately sad.  Our faith is based upon a reality, not a theory.  On a
relationship of trust, not merely a logical choice of options. 

The argument that 'It is better to live as a Christian, even if there is 
no Christ' breaks down when we hit reality - the essence of 'being a 
Christian' is that He is in our hearts; this is what makes the Christian 
way of life an expression of our new personality.  

To try to live the life without the New Lifegiver within, motivating us is 
like swimming against a great current.  It is a wearisome, impossible drag, 
as opposed to going with the flow, where our personal contribution to the 
effort and direction is but an expression of joyful acquiescence.  It is 
portrayed and typified in 1 Corinthians 2:12-15, where we are travellers 
who can see where we are going, by His light; while those who are 
spiritually blind stub their toes at every variation in the road...

Now, we know all that, but we still tend to argue principally from logic,
when it's the Holy Spirit shining through the life that convicts.  We can 
afford to lose an argument.  No-one can afford to lose their soul...

Sorry if I seem to be nit-picking, Sandy! - while I can agree with you in
principle, I need to remember a deeper reality, of greater significance....

One thing which occurred to me as I re-read yours was, If the devil 
actually won, I would still rather be on the side of the God of love.  The 
idea is an absolute anomaly, of course (doomed to the punishment of 
sharing the devil's preparation of hell - with the Prince of Life?!?!?!;-)
Praise God, He's WON!

					God bless
							Andrew

>WHY NOT JUST QUIT AND GIVE UP ON GOD?

John 6 
 67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
 68  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the
words of eternal life.
 69  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the
living God.

  When the Bible is interpreted through circumstances of life or lifestyle,
  it becomes a work of man, changeable, fallable, and as valuable as a
  compass without a needle; any direction is possible but most are dead
  wrong.

  When circumstances are interpreted through the unchanging authority of
  the Bible, it becomes a tested and verified work of God.  Cirsumstances
  are better understood in the scheme of things.

Mark (with thanks to Steve McConnell)

    Ed is in the hospital after having had a stroke on Monday.  He has not
    been able to communicate well, but yesterday his speech was slowly
    getting better.
    
    Ed is going to die unless God intervenes.  We don't know if he has
    another day, week or month.. but his condition is very serious.
    
    I ask that you would pray as God leads you... remember him at meal
    times and if you are led, fast a meal for him.  His biggest concern is
    his family... his sisters, brother and mother are saved, but his father
    is not.  I ask that you would remember his father in your prayers
    specifically for salvation.  Also comfort for family and friends.
    
    I realize that this should be in 6, but since .0 really explains who Ed
    is, I thought it good to have the update/request here.
    
    Thanks,
    Nancy

	You know, I woke up Sunday morning at 5:30, the tv was on, and it was
on one of those Sunday morning shows about God. The ones where famous actors
would appear in different stories about God. This one happened to have God on
trial. The prosecution had 3 witnesses who talked against God.


1)	This guy and his family bought a house in an area where people were
	dumping chemicals. It was in the 70's, so no one really knew it was
	bad. The guys wife got sick, and ended up dying. The guy blamed God
	for this because He did not stop it from happening.

	The defense came up and asked the guy about his daughter. If she had
	ever run with the wrong crowd. The father said yes. The defense asked
	if he stopped her instantly from seeing this guy. The father said no,
	that he told her how he felt, but still gave her space. In the end she
	saw what he was saying, and made the choice to not hang out with this
	guy anymore. The defense said something to the effect that the father
	still allowed for his daughter to make the decision, as he couldn't
	force it on her, and this allowed her to grow. He went on to say, don't
	you think God was doing the same thing with your wifes situation? That
	out of this bad, something good became of it? That the family is now
	even closer to each other? The guy lashed out and said, "No! It comes
	down to that God could have prevented it, but He didn't!"

2)	The 2nd person was a woman who gave her life to help those who are in
	other countries that are starving. She had been taken out of there
	because she was being burned out. She blamed God for the suffering, as
	there is enough food in the world to feed everyone, yet it is not
	happening. God could change all of this, but He does not. It is His
	fault.

	The defense came up and asked her questions about how there are people
	out there trying to change how things are. People like herself. It came
	out that she did not believe in God. She mentioned that a nun told her
	she has not yet received the gift of belief. This woman said she did
	not think she ever would.

3)	Lastly, there was a guy who blamed God for breaking up his family, 
	making his daughter become a prostitute, driving his wife to a 
	breakdown. God could have prevented it, but did nothing.

	The defense came out and brought up some really good points. He went
	into the reasons why the guys daughter ran away in the first place.
	It ended up that she got pregnant, and the father talked her into 
	having an abortion. 2 weeks later she booted. When she left, it took
	it's toll on the mother, who had a breakdown. The father went to get 
	the daughter back, but her pimp would not allow it. He blamed God for
	all this, but felt no guilt for anything.

	Then God took the stand. Once He started talking, everything really
fell into place. He said that He would love to intervene in all of these
things, and make them right. But to do so would take away our free will, which
would take away our ability to grow, and to love. Love can not be forced upon
anyone, it has to grow on it's own. We have the ability to do right, or to do
wrong. It really is up to us. If He steps in, then free will is gone. So while
He said He was guilty as charged, because He would not intervene, He also said
He was not guilty, as in order for us to grow, to love, He had to let us make
the decisions.

	The jury came back and found Him not guilty. The three people who were
witnesses went over to Him and started beating on Him. After a few seconds they
were pulled off of Him, He was asked if He wanted to press charges. He said no,
as He knows what they are going through, and He feels for them. It was at this
point that the woman and the guy who's daughter had become a prostitute,
realized what He really was saying, opened their hearts to Him, hugged Him, and
said they were sorry. The other guy asked what was going on....

	It was like that episode was made for this topic. I guess I don't need
to wonder who woke me up at 5:30 yesterday morning..... :-)


Glen

 I wonder how many people who blame God when bad things happen to them,
 give credit to Him when good things happen?





Jim

    
    This note was started because of my friend, Ed Guinan and his terminal
    illness and how he has struggled with purpose of life.  
    
    On Monday morning 9/25, Ed had a stroke while home alone and drove 
    himself to fellow church member, Bro. Daniel's house.  Bro. Daniels is also 
    someone with whom Ed has become very close, as Bro. Daniels is a cancer 
    survivor, though still battles it.

    The stroke created paralysis on his right side and he is  right handed. 
    As most of you know, it has effected his speech as well.  At midnight on 
    Monday, he scribbled my name and phone number on a sheet of paper for 
    them to call me.  I was able to keep the paper on which he scribbled my 
    name.  And I will have this to keep to remember our bond.

    On Tuesday, I spent the entire day with Ed.  He has a brother 
    who lives here who spent the night at the hospital on Monday and needed to 
    go home for a rest.  His parents and two sisters were scheduled to
    arrive at 4:00 P.M. and therefore, I could leave him to his family for
    care.

    On Wednesday, I went both on my lunch hour and after work to the
    hospital.  Ed's progress was noticeable, whereas he couldn't speak 
    much at all and had no use of his right hand before, he was now moving 
    around, sitting up, walking and speaking more intelligibly.  Yet, he
    tired so easily.

    On Thursday, I went to the hospital and again he was exhausted, but
    improving in his physical abilities.  I also began to make a list of
    all the people who had shown up at the hospital or were praying for Ed.  
    Ed had received for two days running near 60+ people.  No wonder he was
    exhausted.  It took all his energy to speak [at that time] one
    sentence.

    On Friday, they had removed all of his intravenous lines and was
    sitting, walking, talking easier, feeding himself, going to the
    restroom and ordering people around!  They told him he could go home
    the next day, as long as he wasn't alone.  

    On Saturday, he went home. 

    On Sunday, he went to church both morning and evening services... 

    God answers prayers... He really does!!  Ed by no means is healed and 
    continues to need prayer!!!  Please pray, God can use Ed to glorify His
    name and show His infinite mercy to those that love Him.

    The Bible says if God's people would humble themselves and pray that he
    would heal their land!  People of God, I ask that you humble yourself
    and pray for healing for Ed Guinan.  He's a young man with a spiritual
    future if God willed it so.  Does God have a plan for Ed?  I believe
    so, whether it be in heaven or here... God's plan for Ed is special.

    Remember Ed in your mealtime prayers... Remember Ed when you're in the
    shower.  My dreams now have me asking God for his healing.  I woke up
    this morning in prayer from my dream... I  just continued praying as my
    conciousness surfaced.

    Lovingly requested,
    Nancy



 

    

Amazing Nancy.  We have a wonderful God.  Prayer raised - to the God Who 
answers prayer...

							Andrew

    Nancy
    
    Your words ring familiar with me:
    
    <<He's a young man with a spiritual future if God willed it so.  
      Does God have a plan for Ed?  I believe so, whether it be in heaven 
      or here... God's plan for Ed is special.
    
    My fellowship have recently been praying for a relative of my pastor
    who has been diagnosed as having cancer. The incredible thing is that
    just before this was diagnosed God said to him that He was about to
    take him into a new ministry, a time of great blessing. 
    
    In Acts 7:17+ Stephen talks about the time drawing near for God to
    fulfill His promise to Abraham. He then says that things got a lot
    worse before they finally got better!!! I have seen this in other
    situations too, I don't fully understand why but I know God has allowed
    it for a purpose. I believe your dream will be fulfilled in a most
    wonderful way and I pray God will give you the gift of faith to believe
    this.
    
    Ben 

    Praise God Nancy, He is an awesome *healing* God!!!!
    
    Please keep me updated.
    
    I will remember Ed in my prayers.
    
    
    remember 3 John v.2
    
    Sylvain

November 16, 1994
7:00 P.M.
North Valley Baptist Church
Ed Guinan

600 in attendance


Pastor Jack Trieber Introduction
[paraphrased]

It is my privilege and honor to bring before my church family tonight Ed 
Guinan.  Ed is 34 years old and is terminally ill.  He's been a blessing and 
an encouragement to this pastor.  I'm not bringing Ed up here for your pity, 
we don't want your pity.  Ed preached probably the most powerful messages in 
our High School Chapel in the history of this church.  He's memorized over 
1700 Bible verses and is man of God.  I'm asking you as your Pastor, to pay 
close attention to what Ed says tonight.  I believe God has something for 
special for us through this man.  He can't speak like he used to, he's a 
little slow, but he's present and of sound mind.  Give him your full 
attention.

[Standing Ovation for at least 3 full minutes or more]

Ed stood there speechless with tears in his eyes.  He opened his Bible to 
Genesis 1:1 and said with power, "God created the Heavens and the Earth and 
this is probably the most important verse in the Bible."  

He glanced onto the pulpit and saw the prayer page with over 300 prayer 
requests on it.  He picked it up and began speaking about how important the 
prayer requests were and began to read off many that were on there. 

He paused for a moment and said, "I'm dying, I don't know if I have 
tomorrow, I don't remember things.  I'll be honest folks, I can't remember 
the 1700 verses I memorized.  I can only remember 2-300. [entire audience 
roared in laughter].

I thought, "I can't remember all of the Romans Road half the time!" :-)

He chuckled with us at himself for a moment.  Then with power of the Spirit 
began to talk about his life and how only the last 5 years have mattered.  
He raced cars.  He loved race cars and lived for them.  They were his life.

One Sunday night after he'd been saved, instead of going to church he went 
to the race track.  As he was leaving the race track there was an accident 
with the trailer that did some real damage to some cars, and could have 
gotten him suspended off the track.  

This to a young race car driver who was not financially ready to take care 
of the damage was devastating.  And he said, if he'd been in church this 
wouldn't happen.

He was silent again for a moment with tears in his eyes and he cried out,

                     "I   W A S T E D   M Y   L I F E!"

He began to speak about when he came to North Valley 5 years ago and how 
that God got a hold of him.  He began working on the Bus Ministry and soon 
had his own route and was a Bus Captain.  He felt the call to preach and 
began preaching every chance he had.  And then being able this past summer 
to travel across this country into churches and preach the Gospel.  He said 
3 years of his life is all that matters.  

He plead from his heart to everyone to "Seek God first".  Not to waste their 
time.  That although he knows he's dying, none of us have a guarantee of 
tomorrow.  Would God find you faithful?

An invitation was given and the altar was flooded with people praying and 
crying, getting their hearts right with God.


    

Praise the LORD, Nancy!  That's wonderful.

							Andrew

    When I got home from church last night, I spoke with Ed.  He couldn't
    wait to talk to me. :-) :-)
    
    I told him how much his message meant to me and that a girl he had
    brought in on the bus 4 years ago was there last night.  Her name is
    Yubany, many of you have heard of her before.  She's the girl who I led
    to the Lord 3 years ago in my Sunday School Class.
    
    She's the one who had never been to a restaurant and cause me to enter
    the "perspectives note" last version of this conference.  
    
    She's the one who's been out of church this last year.
    
    She's the one that God brought before last week in front of the church
    as I was picking up my boys [on Friday].  
    
    She's the one who rededicated her heart and got right with God last
    night!
    
    God loves each of us so much... She'll remember all of her days that
    God used Ed Guinan to bring her to church and to keep her in church.
    
    I love Yubany so much and had the privilege of praying with her once
    again and inviting her to spend the weekend with me in my home.
    
    She's 15 years old now, in 9th grade.  Her road will not be smooth, but
    bumpy [just like ours :-)], but she's on the road!  Amen!
    
    
    

>He plead from his heart to everyone to "Seek God first".  Not to waste their 
>time.

Of the many "most important" verses, this one sums up all the
law and the prophets.  Well done.

Mark

    Our friends stopped by last evening with photos of Ed and I, what 
    a blessing!!!!  It really cheered my heart andmy neighbor audio taped 
    the message Ed brought on Wednesday... between hearing his voice again and
     seeing those photos, it really brought me up.
    
   I'm rejoicing for Ed on one hand, and feeling very selfish on the
   other.  God knows it all.
   
    Scott called me last night - he's a special friend to Ed and me.  It
    was good to talk to others who knew Ed as well.  Ed introduced me to
    Scott when Scott was having a VERY hard time.    
    
    We're having Ed's memorial service tonight at 7PM at the church.  It
    will be a difficult time, but a good time.
    
    Anyone who'd like to see the photos and have a copy of the cassette,
    let me know.  I can send one out to each area and let you guys pass it
    around to each other.  That includes England and Australia.
     
    Nancy
    

	Nancy,

	I think Ed's message would be a blessing to Jamie and I,
	if someone in the Massachusetts area hasn't already requested
	a copy...

	Karen

	

    Nancy,
    
    I would appreciate a copy of Ed's message.  Thanks for the offer.
    
    Kent
    ALF1-3/S18
    

    I'll be getting pictures and tapes within the next two weeks.  I pray
    that you'll be blessed.  I just wish that you could have heard Ed
    preach before the strokes and seizures.  He was a wonderful man who got
    a befitting memorial service tonight.
    
    Pastor picked 2 Timothy 3 for Ed - fought a good, stayed and finished
    the course.  What a testimony.  Ed's father stood and spoke and that
    was a blessing!  I could see Ed in his father, it was uncanny.  
    
    There were over 400 people in the service...
    
    More later.
    Nancy

    Today is the one year anniversary of Ed being in the presence of our
    Lord, Jesus Christ.  
    
    Father, I pray that while time is of no consequence to you and now Ed,
    I ask that you would comfort his family as they mourn and remember the
    loss of their son.  Father, I praise you for the hope we have in
    eternity.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

    RE: .44
    
    Thanks for posting this reminder, Nancy.  Your note caused me to read
    this entire topic.  I obviously had no way to know Ed, but I came to
    know his heart through you.  I look forward to meeting Ed as we stand
    together in the presence of our Lord.
    
    In persevering then, Ed now continues as a witness to us and his
    family:
    
    "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
    witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so
    easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set
    before us, looking unto Jesus the beginner and finisher of our faith;
    who FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM endured the cross, despising
    the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For
    consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against
    Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.  Ye have not yet
    resisted unto blood, striving against sin." (Hebrews 12:1-4, KJV)
    
    Ed shares Jesus' joy, now knowing "that the sufferings of this present
    time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
    revealed in us." (Romans 8:18, KJV)
    
    Oh, Father, let us not lose sight of Christ in us, the hope of glory,
    that His and our joy might be full!

>    Today is the one year anniversary of Ed being in the presence of our
>    Lord, Jesus Christ.  

Dear Christ, may Ed grow in your love and service as he beholds you
face-to-face.

Ed, pray to Jesus for us.

/john

    John,
    
    Personally I don't believe in asking Ed to pray to Jesus for me, when I
    have a direct line myself.  But thanks for the sentiment.

I'm sure Ed's following God's Word, too, and praying for you.

/john

    I'm sure that I don't want his memory used as a platform for doctrinal
    debate.  TYVM
    
    :-(
    Nancy

    .47
    Nancy,
    I have a direct line to Jesus too but I know that without the prayers
    from others I would not have known it. I still need all the prayers I
    can get, far in excess of those that I am able to say myself, in order
    to follow the direction God wants me to follow... please pray for me Nancy.
    
    Peter