Argentina

I just returned from Argentina. It was a fantastic trip, full of great moments and some very funny moments. One lady on the team brushed her teeth with neosporin. That had to taste bad. One guy decided to unclog a stopped up toilet by putting a plastic shopping bag over his hand and arm and reaching in and... well you get the idea. The only problem he ran into was the bag had a hole it. He spent the next 30 minutes washing his hand and arm.

We did accomplish much for the Kingdom of God. We helped renovate a building and start a church. We ministered in 10 church services, prayed over hundreds, saw a number of people come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and witnessed others getting healed. It was a great trip. Here are a few pictures to help you visualize what we did and what it looked like.


Here is the building we renovated and started a church in.



Ok, you are wondering what Al is doing here? He is attempting to help dig post holes to put a fence up around the building to keep the horses from coming onto the property and fertilize the ground, if you get my drift.
(By the way, when this pictures was taken it was around 100 degrees. Very hot but dry.)


This is Terry working with his interpreter, Picki, at an evening crusade. This was his first evangelistic crusade but he did an outstanding job.


Children of Argentina - waiting for the evening service to begin in their new church building.



Here is a team picture. Pastor Pablo is in the middle of the picture. His wife is on his left our right and the young lady on the far right, dressed in a yellow top and white shorts, is a member of Pablo's church who helped us every day at the job site.

Watkins Stress Formula

I read a number of ministry magazines each month. This month in my 'Rev!' magazine (rev.org) James Watkins wrote an article on "The Watkins Stress Formula." He has a web site if you would like to read more of his stuff, www.jameswatkins.com. Here is his formula:

YZ (Your Zeal) > (greater than) AR (Areas of responsibility) = C (composure.)

YZ > AR = C

In other words if your zeal or enthusiasm is greater than the areas that you are responsible for then you will have or experience composure. Of course if your zeal or enthusiasm is not greater than your areas of responsibility then you have STRESS..

I really liked this formula, probably because I totally agree with it. You know a good book is usually one you agree with. Of course keeping this formula balanced in your favor is the challenge.

Our zeal depends on many factors. Personality can determine our zeal - some people are more positive and enthusiastic than others by nature. Health, relationships, finances just to name a few. I know we are not to be moved by circumstances but these are things we must battle each day. Some days I do better than others. God says to think on those things that will build us up or another way to say this is to build up our ZEAL.

Philippians 4:8 NASB Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

We can also keep the formula balanced by reducing those things that we are responsible for. Get rid of things on our to-do-list. Sometimes this is not an easy task since some things are forced on us by life, jobs, family. When I say forced on I mean we have no choice. Of course this too can be a very gray area. What one person says is a must another would say is an option.

So here is where our dependency on God becomes critical. Without His guidance we will never find balance with this formula, never find balance in life. We will ALWAYS be swinging from one end to the other. Up one moment and down the next.

Psalms 32:8 NLT The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

My prayer for you today is that you're on the balanced side of this formula. That you have composure not stress. But if you are stressed remember that God is a deliverer. He is there to bring you back to the favored, balance side of this equation.

Psalms 144:1-2 NASB Blessed be the LORD, my rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle; 2 My lovingkindness and my fortress, My stronghold and my deliverer, My shield and He in whom I take refuge, . . .

Health-O-Meter

My Health-O-Meter was reading pretty low this week. Sunday I felt great, Monday not so great, Tuesday - if I said poor I would be optimistic. I came home early from work. I was shaking and could not get warm. So I prayed, read some healing scriptures, had some HOT chicken soup and took a nap. God's recipe for healing, if I must say so myself.

Wednesday, I was maybe 50% and today, Thursday, I would call the reading at 70%. I hate colds. Eyes water, nose runs, body aches. I am on the up turn and that is good.

1Pe 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

A promise of health and a promise of healing. Spiritual, physical, mental - God always covers all bases. I have needed to stand on this verse for all three areas in my life. This week it has been physical healing. I know I will need this verse in the future. It so good to know that it's power never runs out or falls short or weakens. Not God's Word.

Hebrews 4:12 NASB For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.