Praise the LORD!!!
Today while running my networked sites, well those I use to network, one recurring fact hit me. There are hundreds of Christians out there that are crying out because times are hard and they're suffering. I began thinking on this and the LORD laid upon my heart something I believe many should think about. For forty years the Israelite nation trekked around the desert, constantly grumbling about all that they were suffering. GOD wasn't very pleased then, what do you think HE thinks about this same thing happening today?
If you've followed me or come across anything I've written, you notice that I always start it by praising GOD. Why, you may ask? It's very simple. I shouldn't even be alive today and if not for my mother's faith in GOD, I wouldn't be. My mother had slipped on the ice while carrying me, yet born, and the doctors recommended that she abort me and save her life. Now this was early 55 before abortion became so prevalent, yet she told them that if it came to a choice of her life or mine, it was to be her's given for mine!
This though isn't the only occasion where my life came close to ending, if it weren't for the call of GOD upon my life. Numerous car wrecks and accidents of other sources tried to take it. Several came very close, yet I'm still here working for the LORD's glory. As late as 97, when I had a heart attack, where the doctors had me planned for a very major surgery. One where they were going to stop my heart, remove it and preform 5 major procedures on me, all before replacing it and jump starting me.
As I see it, each breath I take and every beat of my heart is a blessing from GOD and I acknowledge HIS hand in my life for each and every detail. Right now, I'm sitting in a host families house, working on a donated nine year old computer, with only enough clothes to fill a large backpack to my name. I am still going to praise GOD for it all. No matter how bad my health gets or any other situation in life befalls me, I'll continue to praise the LORD!!!
Take a go long look around you, listen to the evening news or radio. Do you really think you've truly that much to complain about? Sure, you may be sick, out of work or fearing the lose of your house, but you've a heart beat and you're breathing! How many died in Haiti this last weekend? You could be one of those poor and suffering people, or maybe not suffering, some died quickly.
Start taking an inventory of all that GOD has blessed you with and then let HIM know exactly how thankful you are that you've been blessed by HIM so abundantly. Even be thankful that right now you're reading this, you've a computer and internet connection, even the ability to read. There are truly many little things that we overlook daily in life, that if it weren't for GOD's blessings upon us, we would not have them. Take stock in all these things and lift your voice in abundant praises to GOD. For HE is the one that truly has given more then we can ever imagine!!!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Haiti...
Praise the LORD!!!
This evening I watched the 60 Minutes bit on Haiti and the conditions the rescue efforts are being faced with. If anyone can watch this without being profoundly effected their heart has stopped beating or only beats for themselves.
They showed large frontend loaders scooping up human bodies and depositing them into dumptrucks, to be take away and buried in mass graces. Though inhuman in a sense, it is much needed to protect from the spread of disease. There is no electricity to run coolers for morgues or refrigerated trucks like those used after 9/11 or hurricane Katrina.
The doctors that they were following had brought most of what they thought they'd need, but were far from correct. They were having to preform surgery, using rusty instruments or basic hand tools a contractor would use. You heard me right, contractor tools. They had to amputate a child's leg using a common hacksaw, not the surgical type which can be thoroughly sterilized. They were having to use boiling water, which was very limited instead of alcohol, because they were down to two bottles of it. For lighting, they had headlamps on, instead of good overhead lighting normally used.
Needless to say, their efforts are being overshadowed by the enormous size of the task. I'm very thankful that they're there, but pray that better solutions can evolve from this tragedy. This is the intent of Vine of CHRIST Ministries and I'm praying that I'll be able to interview people such as these to develop a larger more efficient means of supplying relief to major disasters like this. This though will have to be undertaken in the future, the matter of taking care of this disaster must be taken care of first and foremost.
I pray that anyone whom reads this will pray and search their heart and do what they personally can to help the current relief efforts. Either by making a donation to a responsible relief organization or gathering the materials together and donating these. Every person on this planet should realize that someday in the future they too may be facing a disaster such as this and there will be people out there giving their all to assist them in every manor possible! So please, do what you can today, for tomorrow it may be you that is in need!!!
This evening I watched the 60 Minutes bit on Haiti and the conditions the rescue efforts are being faced with. If anyone can watch this without being profoundly effected their heart has stopped beating or only beats for themselves.
They showed large frontend loaders scooping up human bodies and depositing them into dumptrucks, to be take away and buried in mass graces. Though inhuman in a sense, it is much needed to protect from the spread of disease. There is no electricity to run coolers for morgues or refrigerated trucks like those used after 9/11 or hurricane Katrina.
The doctors that they were following had brought most of what they thought they'd need, but were far from correct. They were having to preform surgery, using rusty instruments or basic hand tools a contractor would use. You heard me right, contractor tools. They had to amputate a child's leg using a common hacksaw, not the surgical type which can be thoroughly sterilized. They were having to use boiling water, which was very limited instead of alcohol, because they were down to two bottles of it. For lighting, they had headlamps on, instead of good overhead lighting normally used.
Needless to say, their efforts are being overshadowed by the enormous size of the task. I'm very thankful that they're there, but pray that better solutions can evolve from this tragedy. This is the intent of Vine of CHRIST Ministries and I'm praying that I'll be able to interview people such as these to develop a larger more efficient means of supplying relief to major disasters like this. This though will have to be undertaken in the future, the matter of taking care of this disaster must be taken care of first and foremost.
I pray that anyone whom reads this will pray and search their heart and do what they personally can to help the current relief efforts. Either by making a donation to a responsible relief organization or gathering the materials together and donating these. Every person on this planet should realize that someday in the future they too may be facing a disaster such as this and there will be people out there giving their all to assist them in every manor possible! So please, do what you can today, for tomorrow it may be you that is in need!!!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Unable to go to Haiti so...
 | CBN.com | Prayer | Giving | Contact / Help |  |
 | Partner with RevBarth to change lives Dear friend, You can help the victims of disasters around the world through CBN's Operation Blessing Disaster Relief fund. Operation Blessing teams travel the world to provide emergency food, medical supplies, and relief to those who have suffered in disasters like the recent earthquake in Haiti. Your donation will go directly to CBN's Operation Blessing Disaster Relief fund, which supports international and domestic relief efforts. Operation Blessing teams are now en route to the quake zone in Haiti to begin emergency relief efforts. Will you help me reach my fundraising goal for Operation Blessing's Disaster Relief fund? | |
|
Thursday, January 7, 2010
GOD is moving!!!
Praise the LORD!!!
Any that have checked into the VCM website will know that there are things happening there. Not a lot to the site itself, but expansion within the ministry, or I should say ministries! Though I am the only one here in the states working on this ministry, GOD has brought in others from around the globe. There is now an international branch being formed. Vine Ministerial Network International will be the official name and each of the branches will amend their name behind this.
Currently there are two; Liberia, Africa and Chittoor, Indian. The total number of workers operating in these fields I currently am not sure of, but do know that there are more then here in the states! I believe that at last count in Liberia there were well over a dozen, with more coming on daily. We will even have a school, which is already open, coming under our control. There are a good number of details that are lacking and I'm in the process of gathering them so it can be recorded and kept official.
All of this has come about through the LORD's leading these men to read my book, "Out of the LIGHT", and then them undertaking to translate it into their native tongues, Liberia was easy, because they speak English there. Then the LORD began moving on all of our hearts at the same time and VMNI came into being, well the first stages of it. As many of you can imagine, there are many details to be worked out and organized. These are being taken care of as they are presented.
One of the biggest obstacles to all of this is my current standing as a convicted felon and not being able to gain a passport to travel outside the country. I've known that the ministry was going to be international from the very beginning, but was lead not to worry about this matter and to this day, haven't and won't! This is one of those things where GOD has promised to do the works completely and I must simply, let HIM. To me, there is no better place to leave a matter, then in the LORD's hands. For if HE can create a universe with just a spoken word, what is impossible for HIM to do on this earth!?!
Any that have checked into the VCM website will know that there are things happening there. Not a lot to the site itself, but expansion within the ministry, or I should say ministries! Though I am the only one here in the states working on this ministry, GOD has brought in others from around the globe. There is now an international branch being formed. Vine Ministerial Network International will be the official name and each of the branches will amend their name behind this.
Currently there are two; Liberia, Africa and Chittoor, Indian. The total number of workers operating in these fields I currently am not sure of, but do know that there are more then here in the states! I believe that at last count in Liberia there were well over a dozen, with more coming on daily. We will even have a school, which is already open, coming under our control. There are a good number of details that are lacking and I'm in the process of gathering them so it can be recorded and kept official.
All of this has come about through the LORD's leading these men to read my book, "Out of the LIGHT", and then them undertaking to translate it into their native tongues, Liberia was easy, because they speak English there. Then the LORD began moving on all of our hearts at the same time and VMNI came into being, well the first stages of it. As many of you can imagine, there are many details to be worked out and organized. These are being taken care of as they are presented.
One of the biggest obstacles to all of this is my current standing as a convicted felon and not being able to gain a passport to travel outside the country. I've known that the ministry was going to be international from the very beginning, but was lead not to worry about this matter and to this day, haven't and won't! This is one of those things where GOD has promised to do the works completely and I must simply, let HIM. To me, there is no better place to leave a matter, then in the LORD's hands. For if HE can create a universe with just a spoken word, what is impossible for HIM to do on this earth!?!
Monday, December 28, 2009
New 'branch' for the 'VINE'
Praise the LORD!!!
As of yesterday, I'm being led to start another new branch for the ministry. This one will be international in scope. Vine Ministerial Network International (V.M.N.I.) will be its name. It will be multifunctional in actions. There will be evangelism outreaches to many countries around the globe, discipleship training schools, along with the standard disaster relief operations.
This has me a bit stifled. Because currently I'm living in a host family's home, with a backpack full of clothes, a few hand tools and this ancient computer system (that freezes up typing emails:)) You can count on the fact that I've been talking a great deal with the LORD over this matter and the answer keeps coming back, 'trust in ME!' If there is one thing that I truly do, that is trust GOD!!! All the things HE's done throughout my life are amazing, it boggles my mind to think I waited so long to turn the controls over to HIM! I was 39 and had lived 26 of it in heavy drug use and all sorts of sinful behavior. More details on this can be found in my book "Out of the LIGHT" at the ministry's website, so I'll not go into it all here. To say the least, I wasn't one that you'd think would ever be successful, let alone running an international Christian helps ministry. GOD can surely amaze us at times.
Since the LORD opened my eyes to HIS calling in '95' I've totally given HIM the control over what I do. The results can be seen by doing a online search of my name or that of the ministry. Ever little detail of it has been at the LORD's leading, even the prayers and the few games I play to relax. Now I'm no computer guru, not even close, but I've been highly blessed to produce the ministry's website, all by myself. To date almost everything I've done has been 100% done by these hands and feet that the LORD has blessed me with. All moneys, well 98% of, have come from my own pockets through work that I've done outside the ministry.
Yet with all this being said and done, there are three people at this moment working on translating my book into a foreign tongue. I've been asked to come to two nations, Liberia and India, to preach and evangelize. Through one of these two men has come the formulation of this branch of the ministry, to open the door for it by having it legalized before his government. Now the fact that VCM was going to be a world reaching ministry isn't new to me, but when I've not even yet begun to break ground on that part of it here in the states!
There are hundreds of details that have yet to be taken care of here, let alone those that will come with the addition of an international branch.I spent several hours today, walking around the house talking with GOD, bearing my soul to HIM (there's no one home but me.) I talk to GOD like I would my earthly father, with respect and straight from the heart. If something has distressed me, I let HIM know it and this has me a bit stirred up. As I said though, the answers keep coming back the same, "Trust in ME." There is truly only one that I trust anymore, for I don't even trust myself, that is GOD and GOD alone. So I guess what I'm saying is, Vine of CHRIST Ministries is going international, with it's branch Vine Ministerial Network International !!!
As of yesterday, I'm being led to start another new branch for the ministry. This one will be international in scope. Vine Ministerial Network International (V.M.N.I.) will be its name. It will be multifunctional in actions. There will be evangelism outreaches to many countries around the globe, discipleship training schools, along with the standard disaster relief operations.
This has me a bit stifled. Because currently I'm living in a host family's home, with a backpack full of clothes, a few hand tools and this ancient computer system (that freezes up typing emails:)) You can count on the fact that I've been talking a great deal with the LORD over this matter and the answer keeps coming back, 'trust in ME!' If there is one thing that I truly do, that is trust GOD!!! All the things HE's done throughout my life are amazing, it boggles my mind to think I waited so long to turn the controls over to HIM! I was 39 and had lived 26 of it in heavy drug use and all sorts of sinful behavior. More details on this can be found in my book "Out of the LIGHT" at the ministry's website, so I'll not go into it all here. To say the least, I wasn't one that you'd think would ever be successful, let alone running an international Christian helps ministry. GOD can surely amaze us at times.
Since the LORD opened my eyes to HIS calling in '95' I've totally given HIM the control over what I do. The results can be seen by doing a online search of my name or that of the ministry. Ever little detail of it has been at the LORD's leading, even the prayers and the few games I play to relax. Now I'm no computer guru, not even close, but I've been highly blessed to produce the ministry's website, all by myself. To date almost everything I've done has been 100% done by these hands and feet that the LORD has blessed me with. All moneys, well 98% of, have come from my own pockets through work that I've done outside the ministry.
Yet with all this being said and done, there are three people at this moment working on translating my book into a foreign tongue. I've been asked to come to two nations, Liberia and India, to preach and evangelize. Through one of these two men has come the formulation of this branch of the ministry, to open the door for it by having it legalized before his government. Now the fact that VCM was going to be a world reaching ministry isn't new to me, but when I've not even yet begun to break ground on that part of it here in the states!
There are hundreds of details that have yet to be taken care of here, let alone those that will come with the addition of an international branch.I spent several hours today, walking around the house talking with GOD, bearing my soul to HIM (there's no one home but me.) I talk to GOD like I would my earthly father, with respect and straight from the heart. If something has distressed me, I let HIM know it and this has me a bit stirred up. As I said though, the answers keep coming back the same, "Trust in ME." There is truly only one that I trust anymore, for I don't even trust myself, that is GOD and GOD alone. So I guess what I'm saying is, Vine of CHRIST Ministries is going international, with it's branch Vine Ministerial Network International !!!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Something to think about during CHRISTmas!
Praise the LORD!!!
I've not been blogging much in the last week because GOD has laid upon my heart a little side job. It is a little something we as Christians should think about during out CHRISTmas. If anyone has been keeping track of my activity on Facebook or several of the other sites that I frequent, its likely they'll know these subjects. Homelessness and Human Trafficking.
Recently I've started posting bookmarks to several sites and articles that have been working on or focused on the elimination of or at least the knocking down of the statistics relating to these two topics. Since the beginning of time we've had both of these around and at times had began to get them under control. In the last part of the 20th century, with the advent of the internet, investigations into both of these began to expose some startling figures and practices. As the world has become more civilized, or supposed to of, we have more and more people becoming trapped in one or both of these webs of indecency.
We as Christian are supposed to look out for and if possible supply the needs of those in need. Yet it seems that we forget this, especially during the CHRISTmas season. That time of year when we celebrate the birth of our LORD. This year I ask that while you're preparing for this festive celebration, that you think about one or both of these groups. These people are our neighbors, as pointed out in the parable of the 'Good Samaritan.' We should not look down upon them with disgust, but lift them up with love and compassion. Trying to figure out a way to improve their lives and possibly lead them to a saving relationship with JESUS. Could a few leftovers be gathered up and taken to some homeless person? Or maybe a young prostitute plying her trade on the streets? We don't know the conditions that brought these people to either of these lifestyles and shouldn't stand in judgment. What we should do is our best to bring about a change within them, not through a gospel tract or preaching to them, but through a compassionate and loving spirit.
There are so many ways we can change peoples lives, if we but take those first steps to actually do something. You've obviously a computer, or you'd not be reading this, so do a little research into these topics. Swing by the local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Maybe even lending them a hand or supplying them with the needed provisions. Pray for them, but also pray for the LORD to open your eyes and heart to what HE wants you to do and then go and do it! Believe me, there is no greater feeling than seeing the smile on someone's face or hearing a thank you from someone that you've just blessed in some way by showing them the love CHRIST has for all of mankind!!!
GOD bless all and may you have a Merry CHRISTmas and a happy New Year. Better yet, may you bless someone else with these same blessings!!!
I've not been blogging much in the last week because GOD has laid upon my heart a little side job. It is a little something we as Christians should think about during out CHRISTmas. If anyone has been keeping track of my activity on Facebook or several of the other sites that I frequent, its likely they'll know these subjects. Homelessness and Human Trafficking.
Recently I've started posting bookmarks to several sites and articles that have been working on or focused on the elimination of or at least the knocking down of the statistics relating to these two topics. Since the beginning of time we've had both of these around and at times had began to get them under control. In the last part of the 20th century, with the advent of the internet, investigations into both of these began to expose some startling figures and practices. As the world has become more civilized, or supposed to of, we have more and more people becoming trapped in one or both of these webs of indecency.
We as Christian are supposed to look out for and if possible supply the needs of those in need. Yet it seems that we forget this, especially during the CHRISTmas season. That time of year when we celebrate the birth of our LORD. This year I ask that while you're preparing for this festive celebration, that you think about one or both of these groups. These people are our neighbors, as pointed out in the parable of the 'Good Samaritan.' We should not look down upon them with disgust, but lift them up with love and compassion. Trying to figure out a way to improve their lives and possibly lead them to a saving relationship with JESUS. Could a few leftovers be gathered up and taken to some homeless person? Or maybe a young prostitute plying her trade on the streets? We don't know the conditions that brought these people to either of these lifestyles and shouldn't stand in judgment. What we should do is our best to bring about a change within them, not through a gospel tract or preaching to them, but through a compassionate and loving spirit.
There are so many ways we can change peoples lives, if we but take those first steps to actually do something. You've obviously a computer, or you'd not be reading this, so do a little research into these topics. Swing by the local homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Maybe even lending them a hand or supplying them with the needed provisions. Pray for them, but also pray for the LORD to open your eyes and heart to what HE wants you to do and then go and do it! Believe me, there is no greater feeling than seeing the smile on someone's face or hearing a thank you from someone that you've just blessed in some way by showing them the love CHRIST has for all of mankind!!!
GOD bless all and may you have a Merry CHRISTmas and a happy New Year. Better yet, may you bless someone else with these same blessings!!!
Monday, December 14, 2009
May the LORD meet our needs!!!
Praise the LORD!!!
With this being the CHRISTmas season, things are tough all around. Many have had to focus on personal needs only with the current state of the economy. With the relocation and reformation of VCM beginning just months ago. This has become a very tight time within our budget. With the ministry's state of currently being funded only through my income, it has been extremely hard. Especially with all the new increases in 'branches' to it's operational umbrella.
You see, for all of the twelve years of this ministry's existence, it has been almost totally dependent on the works of my hands alone. There were those that made donations of clothing and food items when I first set it up in Springfield, MO. But after I made a move to another section of town, this even disappeared and it was all out of pocket. Then with the move to Louisiana this became even more so a truth. With relocation to MS. after being hit by the hurricanes of '05', this became a greater reality. All the works done in the ministry's name, and CHRIST's, were totally out of pocket. Even though while there, for almost two full years, I worked on over two hundred homes, some from the ground up, others just renovations and repairs of existent structures.
I don't know the reason for the ministry not receiving acceptance from the Church and public in general and really don't care. The LORD has called me to this ministry and I'll work it until the day I die, alone if need be, but whatever happens through it's name will be in the name of JESUS!!! I've promised to not make pleas for donations. This being a personal dislike of mine, because when I've watched or listened to Christian programming, it seems as if this is most of what you see and hear. So I've promised the LORD, this will not come out of my mouth.
What I will ask for, are your heart felt prayers!!! I know the power of prayer firsthand and trust that if the needs of this ministry are going to be met, this is the way that it's going to happen and this way alone. I've totally placed my life and the life of this ministry in JESUS' hands, as of April this year. When I started to walk from Utopia, Ohio to Kingsville, Texas on foot. (You can find out details on this at the ministry's website, in the November newsletter (of sorts.))
Since making it to Kingsville, I've been hosted by two marvelous families. One even setting me up with a donated computer and the internet, this is where this is being entered from at this time. With the LORD's blessing upon this old ('01') computer, I've been blessed to do far more then I thought possible. Even though I've fought 'tooth and nail' at times to keep it from freezing up, by running only one program at any time. Though progress has been slow, the ministry's web presence has grown, now being tied to numerous Christian and social sites online. One just has to do a search of the ministry's name or mine to find this out. This all has come about because the LORD has blessed me with a great faith and perseverance to put in twelve to fourteen hours a day in doing thus. If I have to, I'll continue this way until my last breath, but I truly don't believe the LORD wants it to come to these ends.
I'd tell y'all the full vision of the ministry, what the LORD has shown me, but you would call me 'nuts', because believe me this isn't just a little one man operation. I'll say this, that if you took the world's top ten helps organizations, ball them all up together, the combined mass wouldn't hold up to a part of VCM. I can hear some of you now, 'this guy is nuts!' or 'he's totally lost it.' Well if I am in this state, let me say it clearly, JESUS has been in my life to such a great extent and changed the man that I used to be to such an extent, that I'm crazy for JESUS and have given my life totally to HIS glory and HIS alone!!!
As I said earlier, I just want your heart felt prayers on these matters. If the LORD effects your heart to help in other ways, so be it, but all I want is for the prayers of the saints to fill heaven with prayers for this HIS ministry through me, and this alone!!!
With this being the CHRISTmas season, things are tough all around. Many have had to focus on personal needs only with the current state of the economy. With the relocation and reformation of VCM beginning just months ago. This has become a very tight time within our budget. With the ministry's state of currently being funded only through my income, it has been extremely hard. Especially with all the new increases in 'branches' to it's operational umbrella.
You see, for all of the twelve years of this ministry's existence, it has been almost totally dependent on the works of my hands alone. There were those that made donations of clothing and food items when I first set it up in Springfield, MO. But after I made a move to another section of town, this even disappeared and it was all out of pocket. Then with the move to Louisiana this became even more so a truth. With relocation to MS. after being hit by the hurricanes of '05', this became a greater reality. All the works done in the ministry's name, and CHRIST's, were totally out of pocket. Even though while there, for almost two full years, I worked on over two hundred homes, some from the ground up, others just renovations and repairs of existent structures.
I don't know the reason for the ministry not receiving acceptance from the Church and public in general and really don't care. The LORD has called me to this ministry and I'll work it until the day I die, alone if need be, but whatever happens through it's name will be in the name of JESUS!!! I've promised to not make pleas for donations. This being a personal dislike of mine, because when I've watched or listened to Christian programming, it seems as if this is most of what you see and hear. So I've promised the LORD, this will not come out of my mouth.
What I will ask for, are your heart felt prayers!!! I know the power of prayer firsthand and trust that if the needs of this ministry are going to be met, this is the way that it's going to happen and this way alone. I've totally placed my life and the life of this ministry in JESUS' hands, as of April this year. When I started to walk from Utopia, Ohio to Kingsville, Texas on foot. (You can find out details on this at the ministry's website, in the November newsletter (of sorts.))
Since making it to Kingsville, I've been hosted by two marvelous families. One even setting me up with a donated computer and the internet, this is where this is being entered from at this time. With the LORD's blessing upon this old ('01') computer, I've been blessed to do far more then I thought possible. Even though I've fought 'tooth and nail' at times to keep it from freezing up, by running only one program at any time. Though progress has been slow, the ministry's web presence has grown, now being tied to numerous Christian and social sites online. One just has to do a search of the ministry's name or mine to find this out. This all has come about because the LORD has blessed me with a great faith and perseverance to put in twelve to fourteen hours a day in doing thus. If I have to, I'll continue this way until my last breath, but I truly don't believe the LORD wants it to come to these ends.
I'd tell y'all the full vision of the ministry, what the LORD has shown me, but you would call me 'nuts', because believe me this isn't just a little one man operation. I'll say this, that if you took the world's top ten helps organizations, ball them all up together, the combined mass wouldn't hold up to a part of VCM. I can hear some of you now, 'this guy is nuts!' or 'he's totally lost it.' Well if I am in this state, let me say it clearly, JESUS has been in my life to such a great extent and changed the man that I used to be to such an extent, that I'm crazy for JESUS and have given my life totally to HIS glory and HIS alone!!!
As I said earlier, I just want your heart felt prayers on these matters. If the LORD effects your heart to help in other ways, so be it, but all I want is for the prayers of the saints to fill heaven with prayers for this HIS ministry through me, and this alone!!!
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