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SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #460 ---- 10/9/06
#1 · October 9, 2006, 7:09 am
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
Standing Shoulder To Shoulder Together As
We Fight the Good Fight of Faith
A personal letter of encouragement to You, written solely to "lift up hands that hang down".
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Get "HOPE4KYIV", a praise report and prayer request letter of the Tolliver's ministry as missionaries to Ukraine,
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Get "PrayKYIV", a new informational prayer strategy letter for people wanting to pray for Kiev, Ukraine.
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Website: http://www.praykiev.org (still in development but accessible)
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SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #460 ---- 10/09/06
Title: "Wisdom From Farmers and Cowboys"
To correspond with Bob, please send to [email protected]. Do NOT simply hit "reply"; Bob will not get your letter.
Dear Friend and Partner in Kingdom Ventures:
Well, this past week was an adventurous one for Jo Ann and me . . . sometimes stressful, sometimes sensational. But, all in all, it was a wonderful week of God's blessings and activities. And, it continued yesterday and even today.
+ We finally got our new sound system for the church, and it is more than we could have ever asked. Not only did the Lord give us good equipment powerful enough (2,000 watt stereo system) to use in "Palatz Ukraina" (the 8,000-seat Palace Ukraine auditorium), but He provided all the funds necessary, and let us do business with some wonderful Ukrainian believers who went out of their way to pick high quality components and then give us a sizeable reduction in cost. And, with some glitches as expected, we used it yesterday in our services. Once we learn to use it properly, it will be awesome, and will serve us well for years to come.
+ We had more new faces in our services Sunday, and God presenced Himself in a deep and meaningful way. I've decided that, even though KIBC is just a year old, if we included those who attend our weekday groups, and if everyone were to show up on the same Sunday, our attendance would be well over 140 people. We are actually about two to three months ahead of what we had projected. God is good.
+ Last Friday Jo Ann and I hosted a "New Moon" or "Full Moon" party for Chinese students involved in our Asian ministry. Jeannie Tabb, with Campus Crusade, has been leading an English language Bible study at Wisconsin International University in Kiev for several years. In that she is an active part of our church, we have embraced that work into our church life. Sixteen students joined Jeannie, Tania (from Cuba), Jo Ann and me for authentic Chinese food, table games, fellowship, and testimonies. Jeannie asked me to present some type of evangelistic talk, which I did. In the middle of cleaning up, washing dishes, and moving tables and chairs back to the room upstairs, one of the girls grabbed me to come and pray with one of the young men. In the end, three young Chinese men accepted Christ that night. One of them had just come to Kiev from China, and was in services yesterday morning with several other Chinese students.
+ Yesterday afternoon, Mohammad shared an experience of how for three straight days he had felt impressed to go talk with a university class mate from his home country who had attended last Thursday's English class and Persian Bible study that meets in our apartment. He kept putting it off. This morning I got a text message from Mohammad telling me that the young man accepted Christ late last night. This young man had told him Thursday night after the Persian Bible study that he couldn't explain it, but when he entered our apartment, he felt peace and love. We have heard such statements time and time again from people who have come to our home. We are so grateful that the Lord is answering our request that people feel safe, loved, and accepted when they come.
Yes, . . . it's been a very good week!
GOOD ADVICE FROM FARMERS AND COWBOYS:
I actually spent a couple of hours writing about something else, but just don't feel it's ready to share yet. So, today, I decided to go back to my Drafts folder and share something else. Even though the day is chilly, very cloudy and overcast, and is being periodically punctuated with light rain showers, I feel great. For some weird reason I find myself wanting to chuckle, or even laugh. So, maybe it's the Lord's way of telling me I ought to try to help you do the same.
I was born in the "south bedroom" of my grandparents' farmhouse on March 19, 1938 in Clay County, Illinois, eight miles from the county seat of Louisville, and almost two miles from the nearest town of 150 people, Sailor Springs. There were eighteen inches of snow on the ground, Doc Sparling was inebriated from alcohol and drugs when he rode horseback to deliver me, I came out breach birth as blue as the sky, and he pronounced me dead. It's nice to know he was wrong at least once.
So, for what it's worth, here are some great thoughts attributed to farmers and cowboys (and a few from me). Maybe you've already heard some of them, but probably not all. And, it's likely that at least one of them will make you do something more than laugh . . . . maybe ponder, meditate, or otherwise think.
Consider this advice from farmers and cowboys . . . and maybe a preacher or two:
+ Yer fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight, and bull-strong.
+ Keep skunks 'n bankers at a distance.
+ Never try to cross over the top of a barbed wire fence if ya' got short legs.
+ Life is simpler when ya plow around the stump.
+ A bumble bee is considerably faster 'n a John Deere tractor.
+ Words that soak into yer ears are whispered...not yelled.
+ Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
+ Forgive yer enemies. It messes up their heads.
+ The las' thing I want people to say about me when I'm lyin' there in the casket is, "Look! He's movin'!"
+ Never walk in a barnyard barefoot at night without a lantern.
+ Don't corner somethin' you know is meaner than you.
+ It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
+ You can't unsay a cruel word.
+ If you're leadin' the herd, look back once in awhile to see if it's still there.
+ Never kick a cow patty on a hot day.
+ Some folk are real kind 'n nice 'til you sit in their pew at church.
+ The human race wouldn't be half bad if it weren't for the people.
+ Ev'ry path has a few puddles.
+ Never spit into the wind.
+ The Lord didn't create anything without purpose, but mosquito's come close.
+ Never squat with yer spurs on.
+ There's two theories about arguin' with a woman, and neither one of 'em works.
+ When ya wallow with pigs, plan on gettin' dirty.
+ A married man has jes' two choices in life . . . . be right, or be happy.
+ Never slap a man who's chewin' tobacco.
+ The best sermons are lived, not preached.
+ Life wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so daily.
+ Maybe the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence 'cause there's more manure there.
+ Never check yer watch while standin' over the seat in the out house.
+ Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
+ Never miss a good chance to shut up.
+ Don't judge folks by their relatives.
+ Some fellers wear their halo's way too tight.
+ Too many people offer God prayers with claw marks all over 'em.
+ Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
+ Whatever hits the fan prob'ly ain't gonna distribute real even.
+ Live a good, honorable life. Then when ya get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
+ If yer wife's having a hard time in the delivery room, maybe the best place for you to be is . . . anywhere else.
+ Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.
+ Never drink from your buddy's coffee cup if he just sneezed in it.
+ Timin' has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
+ If ya find yerself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
+ Sometimes ya get, and sometimes ya get got.
+ The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with watches ya from the mirror ev'ry mornin'.
+ Always drink upstream from the herd.
+ Good judgment comes from experience, . . . and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
+ Never walk naked in a blackberry patch.
+ Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.
+ Never pet a dog while you got a cat in th' other hand.
+ Don't make sense why some people change churches so often. It don't matter which one they stay home from.
+ Never try to put a ring in a pig's nose by yerself.
+ Never stalk a wild animal into a cave where there's only one narrow path in 'n out.
+ If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around . . . or his wife.
+ Before ya' swing on a rope, be sure the top end's tied real good.
+ Cultivatin' crops ain't a good time to look back to see how you're doin'.
+ Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Pray daily. Leave the rest to God.
+ Christians are called to be witnesses, not lawyers.
FINALLY:
Well, not particularly inspirational or spiritual, but hopefully funny . . . and practical . . . and thought provoking.
Have a great day, and a great week.
And try to make some time to sit back and laugh.
In His Bond, By His Grace, and For His Kingdom,
Bob Tolliver -- Romans 1:11
Copyright October, 2006
Life Unlimited Ministries
http://community.webshots.com/user/kic4n for new church ministry albums.
http://www.praykiev.org for our city-wide prayer strategy.
If this letter has blessed you, feel free to forward it, with proper credits, to any and all you wish.
Please do NOT hit reply to this letter. This is an automated unmanned system. If you want to write Bob, send directly to [email protected]. Replying to "Shoulder To Shoulder" mailer gets you nowhere.
REMEMBER ---- "God's Work done God's Way never lack's for God's supply." (George Meuller)
May I Recommend . . . .
If you have a heart for God and would like to be encouraged in your life and ministry,
and you have a burden for your church, your community, and the world,
then you may want to receive . . .
http://www.answersingenesis.org/ ---- one of the best Creation websites I've ever seen.
http://frangipane.org ---- for excellent brief words of encouragement from
one of America's premier evangelical writers/thinkers.
http://www.jfloydministries.org ---- great website for dealing with hurts and wounds through forgiveness.
http://www.cnsnews.com for daily world news without a liberal, godless bias.
http://www.worldprayerteam.org ---- A world-wide network for praying together.
http://www.watchword.org ---- excellent resources on revival, prayer, missions.
http://www.waymakers.org ---- resources on prayer, evangelism, etc.
http://www.nppn.org ---- "National Pastors' Prayer Network" newsletter. ~
Other Great Resources Are:
http://www.sermonindex.net for access to over 3900 downloadable audio sermons. Exceptional site.
http://www.illustramedia.com a great site for video on creation and evolution.
http://www.livinit.org a super source for Christian extreme sports witness to youth
http://www.creationscience.net an excellent source for dealing with evolution and creation
http://www.crosstv.com a great site for video on creation, evolution, and apologetics
http://www.biblemaster.com for great Bible resources and downloads. Exceptional site.
http://www.e-sword.net (one of the best free download Bible study site I've ever seen!)
http://www.discipleshipdirect.com/ for new and fresh evangelism & discipleship materials.
http://welovegod.org/camsoc/ctt/"Christian Communications Toolkit" (using internet wisely)
To subscribe to CAMSOC update newsletter, go to [email protected].
Online Resources on Ukraine are . . . .
http://www.kievukraine.info/ Excellent website on Ukraine with lots of links.
http://www.uazone.net Excellent website on Ukraine with hundreds of pictures and other links.
Secular News on Kiev and Ukraine will give you interesting views at . . .
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