SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #27 ---- 7/19/98
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
Standing Shoulder To Shoulder in the Trenches,
Encouraging One Another as we "Fight the Good Fight"
TITLE: Open Doors and Belly Laughs
Greetings, my friend.
I trust you are doing well. Undoubtedly you often may feel my
expressions of concern and personal interest in you, your family, and
your ministry are just a bunch of meaningless words. I would probably
think that way, especially if that comment was perhaps made by someone I
didn't even know ---- or Did know!
Let me assure you, however, that God has truly put a personal interest in
my heart for you ---- some of the "you's" I know quite well; most of them
I don't know at all. Yet there is something inside (maybe the Holy
Spirit?) that links us.
Romans 1:11-12 really says it for me ---- "For I long to see you in order
that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be
established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while
among you, each of us by the other's faith, both yours and mine."
Don't ask me to tell you why ---- it just is. That's why I've added that
scripture to my signature beginning with this letter.. Every time you
see it there, remember that it is genuine ---- I really Would love to see
you. I really am personally interested in you.
Over these past seven months since I started sending the "Shoulder To
Shoulder" letters, hardly a week goes by but what I hear from a new
person. Almost immediately I find myself usually thinking, "I would love
to sit down and have a coke or a cup of coffee with that guy and learn
all about him." So ----I nearly always respond in some way; sometimes
I'll even ask for a response about family, ministry, etc.
Incidentally, many of you have sent me various articles. Nearly 100% of
them I have kept; some of them are in a file called "Shoulders Articles".
Others are in the "Saved Draft" file actually being prepared for use.
In fact, this particular letter has several things near the end that were
sent to me by someone receiving the letter.
It would be wonderful to know I could personally get acquainted with
every single one of the several hundred recipients of this letter. Since
that is doubtful, it is another reason I really look forward to heaven
---- to be able to see face to face the one who wrote that touching
testimony ---- to see for the first time the one who encouraged Me during
my own time of battle. To laugh together over the joke another send me
that made me laugh so hard. To rejoice together over the answered prayer
I just found out about that I had prayed about several years earlier.
What a homecoming! "When we all get to heaven ---- what a day of
rejoicing that will be!"
But ---- "When we all see Jesus ---- we'll Sing! ---- and Shout! ----
'the VICTORY!'"
In the meantime . . .
This letter is a little different ---- almost a collage' of subjects.
However, it seems the Lord has been speaking to my heart about two or
three things that, at least in my own over-fertilized mind, seem to link
together ---- Open Doors, Humor, and Joy. (Surely you must see the
connection! Please?)
I don't know ---- maybe it's this hot weather we've been having. On the
other hand, it could be a carry over from "The Edge" Pizza I hate the
other night (which I wouldn't waste my money on in the future). Or, it
could possibly be that someone is struggling over open doors and being
able to laugh about it, knowing their real joy is going to be found in
the Lord. In fact, they may be discovering that it is again the joy of
the Lord that is giving them strength at this very moment ---- to lead
them through an open door ---- or to just give them courage to have a
good belly laugh in the face of adversity.
Hopefully, it is the prompting of the Holy Spirit to share the following
with you.
Whatever it is, here is the goulash!
OPEN DOORS:
I keep telling myself that someday I'll bore you with unending talk about
our various areas of ministry ---- particularly our ministry in the
former Yugoslavia. However, I really keep resisting that temptation
because, frankly, nothing is sometimes more boring that to listen to
someone drone on and on about his own ministry ---- especially if my own
isn't going so well.
Besides, ---- it sometimes sounds like bragging or egotism.
However, . . . . (you knew that was coming, didn't you!)
I do want to encourage you about Open Doors ---- not just mine, but
yours.
As a means of doing that, I want to ask you to consider that, for this
particular opportunity, yours and mine might be the very same door.
Revelation 3:7-13 are special verses to me ---- especially verses seven
and eight: "'He who is holy,' who is true, who has the key of David, who
opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: 'I
know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one
can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and
have not denied My name.'"
While I'm tempted to go into some depth on that wonderful passage, I'll
save that for a later time. Let me simply summarize by saying that God
has opened a door for us in the former Yugoslavia that is beyond
comprehension. Every time we make a trip there, the door opens wider.
We have made six trips in three and one-half years, the most recent of
which was this past June.
I cannot allow myself to go into detail about what is happening over
there ---- it would take at least four times the space of my longest
letter. Suffice it to say that, from the depths of my heart, I believe
the greatest opportunity to literally help change the course of history
of the Balkans in the past 1800 years is before us. Things are
happening, especially in Bosnia, Croatia, and Slovenia, on virtually
every level of social order.
If you have ever studied the history of the Balkan area, known as the
"powder keg of Europe", you know that these people have been invaded and
run over by nearly every empire and power of Europe and western Asia that
has existed since the time of Christ ---- Roman, Greek, Persian,
Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Byzantine, German, PLUS most of the major
Crusades, and the battles and divisions of the Catholic Church.
And, now ---- because of another war ---- western countries and believers
from around the world stepped in and provided aid and compassion. And
these people are prime candidates for a new approach to government,
economics, education, and religion.
God has supernaturally placed believers in positions of influence and
policy in many eastern European countries. While there are fewer than
5,000 believers in Croatia and Bosnia combined, and fewer than 700
believers in all of Slovenia, (Serbia figures are unknown), God has
granted favor to a former Baptist pastor ---- favor not only with the
Bosnian and Croatian national governments, but also with local
governments such as in Mostar, Tuzla, Banja Luka, and other places, in
addition to varies areas of government in the United States. U.S.
congressmen who are committed believers are involved in strategic
planning to help restore the financial, educational, and spiritual
foundations of these countries.
As part of that process, God has allowed us to be significantly involved,
and it appears the future is even more awesome. God has allowed us to
become very close friends with this former pastor and others in places of
influence, and it appears we are also in the process of being involved in
the formation of a support organization in the United States.
As to this specific open door, I invite you to consider the following:
If I were to tell you that there is a major opportunity, beginning this
Fall, to help change the course of 1800 years of history in that region
of the world, would it interest you?
Well, here's what is happening. And we invite you to participate!
1) Our ministry, Life Unlimited Ministries, is being joined by Jeff
Floyd and his Jubilee Ministry to host a series of extraordinary
conferences across Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia. This conference,
originally scheduled for last March but postponed, (now we see why!) will
be conducted in between four and seven strategic locations in those three
countries.
The conference is called "Restoring the Nations" and consists of two
parallel topics ---- "Healing and Rebuilding Through Forgiveness", to be
taught by Jeff Floyd, and "Restoring Through Nation-wide Prayer", to be
taught by me. Pastors, church leaders, missionaries, government
officials, civic leaders, and educators will be invited to participate.
We need some ministers from the U.S. to go with us and participate in
these conferences. Could you possibly be one of those?
2. In Addition, we also want to take some preachers who would be
interested in preaching in some of the churches of those countries,
encouraging the pastors, helping to equip and encourage the believers,
and sharing the Gospel with the unbelievers. Would you consider being
one of those?
3. Finally, we are in great need to take a construction crew to work on
LCI Ministries Hope Center building currently under renovation in the
mountain village of Fuzine about 20 miles from the Life Center on the
Adriatic Coast. Would you be interested in sending some men on that
crew? Or going yourself?
Is it possible that, in this particular case, my open door is the same as
yours? If you would like information and more details, please contact me
right away. We make all the arrangements for you.
Doors are a dime a dozen. Open doors are frequent. Special open doors
are rare. Some come along only once in a lifetime. This one for Jo Ann
and me is a "once in a lifetime" door that is so wide open that we can
take hundreds with us. If you feel you are to be included, drop me a
note ---- soon.
BELLY LAUGHS:
Humor is common ---- people find it in many forms and from many sources.
There is a kind of humor, however, that seems to link itself to spiritual
things. And, that shouldn't really surprise us, because the Bible itself
tells us that humor and laughter have their place in the human sphere.
Ecclesiastes 3:4 tells us there is a "time to laugh" along with all
other human responses to life's contents. Even good old Bildad, Job's
friend, declared that "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and
your lips with shouting." (Job 8:21).
Proverbs 15:13 says, "A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the
heart is sad, the spirit is broken." Verse 15 says, "All the days of the
afflicted are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast."
Then, one of the most well known ---- Proverbs 17:22; "A joyful heart is
a good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones."
There's nothing like a good laugh. Laughter certainly won't change
things ---- it was not designed to do so; but, it can change the way we
look at things. We tend to take ourselves far too seriously, and we need
those times to laugh ---- and, yes, even be laughed at ---- or at least
laughed with. We also take things too seriously, as well as people and
circumstances sometimes.
So ---- let the rest of this letter be one of encouragement ---- to laugh
awhile!
SO ---- LAUGH ALREADY!
1. The Parrot (Thanks, Pam!)
>Dick received a parrot for his birthday. This parrot was fully grown
>with a bad attitude and a worse vocabulary. Every other word was an
>expletive...those that weren't expletives were, to say the least, rude.
>
>Dick tried hard to change the bird's attitude and was constantly saying
>polite words, playing soft music, anything he could think of to try and
>set a good example...nothing worked. He yelled at the bird and the bird
>got worse. He shook the bird and the bird got angrier and ruder.
>Finally, in a moment of desperation, Dick put the parrot into the
>freezer. For a few moments Dick heard the bird squawking and kicking
and
>screaming -- then suddenly there was Quiet.
>
>Dick was frightened that he might have actually hurt the bird and
quickly
>opened the freezer door.
>
>The parrot calmly stepped out onto Dick's extended arm and said: "I'm
>sorry that I might have offended you with my language and actions, and
>therefore, I ask for your forgiveness. I will endeavor to correct my
>behavior."
>
>Dick was astounded at the bird's change in attitude, and was
>just about to ask the parrot what had made such a drastic change in his
>attitude, when the parrot spoke again and said: "If you don't mind, may
>I ask what the chicken did?"
>
>
2. The Blondes (Thanks again, Pam. No offense to blondes!)
>So there's this blonde out for a walk. She comes to a river and sees
>another blonde on the opposite bank. "Yoohoo" she shouts, "how can I
>get to the other side?"
>The second blonde looks up the river then
>down the river then shouts back, "You Are on the other side."
>
3. The Pastor's Visit
The pastor was visiting one of his favorite widows in the church. He
delighted in their long conversations about her life rich filled with
such interesting experiences.
As they sat and talked, the pastor nibbled on the dish of peanuts
sitting beside him on the lamp table.
Soon their conversation was interrupted by a phone call. When the widow
returned, the pastor apologized: "I'm so very sorry, Mrs. Jones, for
eating
all your peanuts! I promise that next visit I'll bring a big bag of
peanuts
to replace them."
To which Mrs. Jones replied, "Oh, don't bother, pastor. I already licked
the
chocolate off earlier this morning."
(Groan!)
4. Be Cheerful!
Dr. Edwards was out on one of his daily jogs when he noticed one of his
older heart patients running toward him, accompanied by a beautiful,
buxom young lady.
"Hello, doc", the old gentleman yelled, as they ran by.
After running a few paces further, the doctor, overcoming his shock,
turned around and caught up with the octogenarian and his running mate.
"Mr. Smith! What in the world are you doing, running like this?"
"Just what you told me to do, doc," the old man said. You said for me
to get a hot mama and be cheerful.
Dr. Edwards was stunned.
"Mr. Smith, what I said was, "You've got a heart murmur. Be careful!"
5. A Mother's Dictionary (Thanks, Ray Harrison!)
AMNESIA: A condition that enables a woman who has gone
through labor to have sex again.
BOTTLE FEEDING: An opportunity for Daddy to also get up at 2am.
DEFENSE: What you'd better have around de yard if you're going to
let de children play outside.
DROOLING: How teething babies wash their chins.
DUMBWAITER: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.
FAMILY PLANNING: The art of spacing your children the proper
distance apart to keep you on the edge of financial disaster.
FEEDBACK: The inevitable result when the baby doesn't
appreciate the strained carrots.
FULL NAME: What you call your child when you're mad at him.
GRANDPARENTS: The people who think your children are wonderful
even though they're sure you're not raising them right.
HEARSAY: What toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.
INDEPENDENT: How we want our children to be as long as they
do everything we say.
LOOK OUT!: What it's too late for your child to do by the time you
scream it.
PRENATAL: When your life was still somewhat your own.
PREPARED CHILDBIRTH: A contradiction in terms.
PUDDLE: A small body of water that draws other small bodies
wearing dry shoes into it.
SHOW OFF: A child who is more talented than yours.
STERILIZE: What you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it
and to
your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it.
STOREROOM: The distance required between the supermarket
aisles so that children in shopping carts can't quite reach
anything.
TEMPER TANTRUMS: What you should keep to a minimum so as to
not upset the children.
TOP BUNK: Where you should never put a child wearing Superman
jammies.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING: When the baby's face turns red and she
begins to make those familiar grunting noises.
VERBAL: Able to whine in words.
WHODUNIT: None of the kids that live in your house.
WHOOPS: An exclamation that translates roughly into "get a
sponge."
6. A Letter From Camp
George Burke is a good friend ---- a music evangelist from Oklahoma.
Last May he passed the following on to me. I'm sure it's been around the
track several laps by now, but I wanted to send it one more time in case
you missed it.
Sometimes, we just need a good laugh. Maybe this will help give you one.
Dear Mom & Dad:
We are having a great time here at Lake Typhoid.
Scoutmaster Webb is making us all write to our parents in case you saw
the flood on TV and worried. We are OK. Only 1 of our tents and 2
sleeping bags got washed away. Luckily, none of us got drowned because
we were
all up on the mountain looking for Chad when it happened.
Oh yes, please call Chad's mother and tell her he is OK. He can't write
because of the cast. I got to ride in one of the search & rescue jeeps.
It was neat. We never would have found him in the dark if it hadn't been
for the lightning. Scoutmaster Webb got mad at Chad for going on a hike
alone without telling anyone. Chad said he did tell him, but it was
during the fire so he probably didn't hear him.
Did you know that if you put gas on a fire, the gas can will blow up?
The wet wood still didn't burn, but one of our tents did. Also some of
our clothes. John is going to look weird until his hair grows back.
We will be home on Saturday if Scoutmaster Webb gets the car fixed. It
wasn't his fault about the wreck. The brakes worked OK when we left.
Scoutmaster Webb said that a car that old you have to expect something to
break down; that's probably why he can't get insurance on it. We think
it's a neat car. He doesn't care if we get it dirty, and if its hot,
sometimes he lets us ride on the tailgate. It gets pretty hot with 10
people in a car. He let us take turns riding in the trailer until
highway patrolman stopped and talked to us.
Scoutmaster Webb is a neat guy. Don't worry, he is a good driver. In
fact, he is teaching Terry how to drive. But he only lets him drive on
the mountain roads where there isn't any traffic. All we ever see up
there are logging trucks.
This morning all of the guys were diving off the rocks and swimming out
in the lake. Scoutmaster Webb wouldn't let me because I can't swim and
Chad was afraid he would sink because of his cast, so he let us take the
canoe across the lake. It was great. You can still see some of the
trees under the water from the flood.
Scoutmaster Webb isn't crabby like some scoutmasters. He didn't even get
mad about the life jackets. He has to spend lot of time working on the
car so we are trying not to cause him any trouble.
Guess what? We have all passed our first aid merit badges. When Dave
dove in the lake and cut his arm, we got to see how a tourniquet works.
Also Wade and I threw up. Scoutmaster Webb said it probably was just food
poisoning from the leftover chicken.
I have to go now. We are going into town to mail our letters and buy
bullets. Don't worry about anything. We are fine.
Love, Cole
P.S. How long has it been since I had a tetanus shot?
IN CONCLUSION:
Well, I hope you found at least one good belly laugh.
Hang in there!
In Christ's Bond,
Bob Tolliver -- (Rom 1:11-12)
Copyright July, 1998. All rights reserved.
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Hang in there!
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Life Unlimited Ministries
E-Mail: lifeunlimited@juno.com
Ph: 417-275-4854
Fax: 417-275-4855
P.S. The above illustration came to me from my friend Antony Miles in
Eastbourne, England, and attributed to Paul Clevett of Clevett
Communications Ltd. I doctored it up a little, and hope it gets to you
intact. If not, do a little deleting and adding of spaces until it all
lines up.