Price Family at IHOP-KC

AP: New Blog Page

2011-04-23T19:16:00.000-05:00

AP writes:

I don't know how many of you know, but I am planning on going to China on a mission trip this summer and have created a blog to post updates about my trip. You can follow it at http://summerinchina2011.blogspot.com.

Have a blessed day!!!!

Ashton =)

KP: Praise

2011-04-08T10:19:00.003-05:00

KP Writes:

Just a quick update this morning.

How often do you hear praise of our Lord Jesus Christ? How often do you hear grumbling and complaint about our circumstances? If you are hearing the same human race as I am, you know where I am going. And I dare say, it is not much different within the Christian community. Yes, Christians praise while in a church service or prayer meeting or when we are giving a , but what about when all the stuff of life is happening. Is praise continually on our lips? During these times our God has not changed. Why should the praise we lift up change, or even cease? Beloved, circumstances will resolve or pass away. And, more significantly, our circumstances (aka trials and tribulations) are for developing faith and perseverance in us.

Consider Hebrews 13:15, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name."

Notice a couple of word choices that God has included.
1) constantly - 'we are to constantly offer praise up to God' - constantly means c-o-n-s-t-a-n-t-l-y
2) at all times - 'we are to at all times offer praise up to God' - at all times is pretty clear!
3) I think God makes a pretty strong case when He reiterates 'constantly' with 'at all times'.
4) sacrifice - 'a sacrifice of praise'; the word sacrifice doesn't bring to mind a sweet little girl skipping through the meadow freely praising the Lord. No, sacrifice is a costly choice when other things may be much easier and seem even more satisfying for the moment.
5) What exactly does He mean by offering up praise? That we 'thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name'.

A couple of closing thoughts regarding praise:

++Praise turns trials into faith-builders as we learn to measure our problems against His limitless power transforming the stumbling blocks of today into stepping stones for tomorrow.

++Praise frees us from having to understand our circumstances, knowing that God is in control. A heart that is filled with praise does not have to understand every detail of the circumstance. In fact, the details really don't matter. What does matter is that God is aware of every minute detail, monitors the circumstance and shapes it to fit His plan.

Love you,
Kristian

AP: 300th post!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-03-23T14:24:00.002-05:00

AP writes:

WOW!!!!! This is the 300th post on our family blog!!!! I can't believe how much God has been teaching my family! It is so much fun to go back and read old posts!

Well........I have some pretty exciting news for you! March 23rd, 2011 is a very special day. =) Today I took my Introduction to Educational Psychology CLEP test and passed. This moved my credits up to 120 which means.......

I'M A COLLEGE GRAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOHOOOO!!!!!!

I now have a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies. =) I won't actually graduate until June but I've done all the work, so for me it counts as graduation! =) I'm so excited I'm about ready to burst! My parents and Mallory met me afterword and took me to eat Chipotle! =) It's still very hard for my brain to comprehend that I don't have any more school! As for the rest of my year I have lots of things to keep me busy! I am currently working on our dance performance we are doing in June called Firstborn from the Dead and Sleeping Beauty. =) So that takes lots of time. I get to start playing piano again as well as do Calculus I and II for fun! I miss math so much, so I am going to do those and then I'll probably be done. =) I am also preparing to go to China this summer! I'm still working out all the little details but so far it looks like I'll be going for about a month. So I am starting to learn Mandarin Chinese. =) And then in August, I'm going to start my second degree. I will be attending IHOP's Bible school, IHOPU, and getting a four year degree in Biblical Studies. =)

Another exciting thing is I'm getting a facebook! I don't have time to set it up today, but I'll probably have one by this weekend......so look me up! =)

So cool that I got to post my graduation as the family's 300th post!!!!! =) Hope ya'll have a fabulous day!

Love,

Ashton =)

AP: Praying for Japan

2011-03-23T14:10:00.001-05:00

AP writes:

Most of you know of the current status in Japan from the earthquake that happened a little under two weeks ago. Just wanted to post some prayer updates:

>Dacia Bostrom (the student from Japan living here with the Kawase family) went back a week ago to visit her family for a month. While she is there they are planning on visiting Sendai, the epicenter, and providing hot meals and the good news of Jesus Christ! =) Pray that they will be safe from everything including the radiation!

>Mr. and Mrs. Kawase left this morning for Japan. Mr. Kawase was cleared as a Doctor to be able to go into Sendai and minister to the people there for 10 days. Mrs. Kawase will be assisting him as well as helping with the Bostrom family. Pray that they will have traveling mercies, especially since they are traveling with lots of medical supplies. Also pray they will be safe from radiation since they will be driving past the nuclear plants.

>Pray for Grandma Kawase as she was alive during the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is really hard for her seeing her son willingly put himself near the radiation in order to help other people.

>That God's purposes will come forth in Japan through this crisis. God causes all things to work together for his glory! Pray for the hearts of the Japanese people that they would turn to Christ as the only savior to help them through this massive crisis

Thank you all for praying! My heart hurts for our Japanese brothers and sisters. But God holds all things in his hands!

Much love,

Ashton =)

KP: Desperation

2011-03-02T09:56:00.005-06:00

KP Writes:

When things get tough, really tough, we become desperate. Quite frankly the feeling of desperation is awful. It is that state of being where you have no ability to be able fix or change the situation. None. There is no person or nothing available to you that can change your situation . That place can bring despair. Desperation can actually be our friend. "What?", you say. That sounds anything but true. But, desperation can be our friend IF it makes us crave God and long to see His power unleashed in our lives.

How hungry are you for God today? Do you long to see His power unleashed in your life? It is much more pleasant when these desires come out of a heart at peace. But, given the alternative of not seeking God wholeheartedly and not seeing His power unleashed in our lives, I would even welcome a situation that unleashes desperation for Him. The end result of hungering and thirsting after God, seeking Him like never before, grabbing hold of the hem of His garment and not letting go until He meets me new and afresh, must be the posture of my heart.

Lord teach me to love you in and out of the storm.

Kristian

KP: I Have to Know, What Makes them Cry Holy?

2011-02-21T10:34:00.003-06:00

KP Writes:
OK, so the Lord is speaking me through song right now. (He often does.) I was in the prayer room Thursday all ready for a Misty Edward's set. I had missed her 4pm and so I was really looking forward to the 8pm. When I walked in, Brandon Hampton was leading the set. Hum, I must say I was initially disappointed. But God hijacked me, one of God's names I know best - El Hijacker)

The lyrics to the song which are from Rev. 4 are below. You know, I had never really asked myself what it is that they see that makes the elders and angels in heaven do what they are doing and will continue to do for eternity. Do I have a knowledge of God that elicits the same response in me? Sadly, no, but I want it. And I want it enough to spend time getting to know Him in that way. It is a costly desire, anything is that requires time, our one limited resource. To say yes to one thing is to say no to another. But, I have to know, so I say yes.

You can click HERE to hear the song. Scroll over to 1:16 to get to the beginning of it. Warning: for those of you who do not like repeating songs, this one repeats for approximately 30 minutes, but then again, so does the song being sung by the angels in heaven, theirs lasting forever. Play the music in the background and meditate on the words as they come. I think you will enjoy.

"There He sits, upon the throne,
Sustainer of all things.
The elders bow,
And angels sing, their song forevermore.

How can I comprehend the beauty that has no end?
You have beckoned us to come and see
For every nation testifies the majesty
they can't deny the Son has made a way for them to come.

There is only one, there is only one, there is only one
Found worthy

What do the elders see that makes them all fall down?
What do the angels see that makes them all cry holy?
We have to know ,
We have to know ,
We have to know ,
What makes them cry holy?

There is only one, there is only one, there is only one,
found worthy.

To Him who sits on the throne
To him who reigns forever
To Him who sits on the throne
To him who reigns on high
Be blessing and honor and glory and power" (Rev 4:11)

Love, Kristian

MP: Love of Christ

2011-02-20T16:42:00.001-06:00

Hello all,

I hope that you have been doing well lately. I sure have. At dance we have started learning our pieces for the performance, Firstborn From the Dead. So far it looks as if I will be in three pieces. In the piece that is for my jazz class I have a solo which I am super elated for, yet also terrified in the same breath. Before I do my part (as the mute) I have to stand frozen in position for a long time that seems like a perennial. :) This performance is basically an excerpt from the New Testament as the life of Christ.

We have gotten a bunch of snow. Our trampoline had icicles hanging from the bottom of the mesh and a block of ice on top which I had to devise how to get off. I will infer that the block of ice was two to three inches thick.

Have you ever thought about how no matter what people do, God still wants them for himself? God wants His people which is why He sent his son to die on the cross. It is so amazing that God would send his only son to go to the cross, die, and resurrect just so that when you sin you can be forgiven. I mean you naturally would assume that you have to work hard or do something. But no, you just have to say God or Jesus or Holy Spirit I have sinned and I ask for forgiveness and you will be made completely and utterly clean. It is so cool!!! And God does not defer in forgiving us. All that is needed is a subservient heart. This is not a tortuous walk at all and it exonerates you.

I also love the fact that Jesus knows everything that you have ever done and He still wants you. He is the perfect Bridegroom and He is waiting to come back for His people until they are ready for His return; ready to love Him whole heartily. Jesus is intent on contending for our hearts. We don't have to contort to be someone we are not for Him. He really wants a people that fully want Him. Not just to fix problems but to talk to and to spend time with.

Well this is what I have been thinking about in the prayer room. Hope it is some food for thought for you too and I have not expounded too much.

Love always,
Mallory

KP: I Will Rest in You

2011-02-18T07:33:00.004-06:00

KP Writes:

"You guide me through the dark,
You calm my fearful heart.
and I will rest in you.

You give me perfect peace.
You fulfill my deepest needs
and I will rest in you.

And God,
Shining like the sun
Oh, let your kingdom come
Cause I want to be with you,
In your presence.

And I'm here to give you praise
cause you take my breath away.
And now I'm here to be with you.
I 'm in your presence.

Your kindness draws me in.
I am with you once again,
And I will rest in you.

My god you reign on high
To you alone I cry,
And I will rest in you."

Audra Lynn was singing this chorus in the prayer room the other night. I began to meditate on the truths it contained because we all walk through seasons of darkness, some of which are deeper than others. The chorus reminds us of the promises of God: He will guide us through the dark, He will calm our fearful heart, He will give us perfect peace. That is what He does because that is who He is. We have but one responsibility in the darkness - to rest in Him. Not to fix anything, not to find a way out. We may not initially see the way out, feel calmness of heart, or have any peace, let alone perfect peace. But in faith we, "call those things that be not as though they were" (Romans 4:17) and rest in Him.

Learning to give Him praise in all situations,
Kristian

Click HERE to hear the song; scroll over to the 1:32 mark. The song was 1 hour and 32 minutes into the set.)

KP: Blessing

2011-02-17T06:36:00.005-06:00

KP Writes:

Often Christians do not know how to define "blessing." A blessing is not always easy, painless, simple, comfortable or expected. A blessing often comes, wrapped in the mystery of darkness. But, in reality anything that makes us cry out to God can be counted as a blessing. Why? Because when we are desperate and in pain, when we have no answers and the darkness is closing in, we cry out to God,and He comes! Just as it was with the disciples.

The disciples had personally witnessed God's willingness to save His children. Yet, in Matthew 14, we find them in a boat, caught in a storm, afraid and still questioning God's willingness to rescue them. Did they cry out in fear? Yes! Did He come? Yes!

Jesus came to the disciples, walking on the water, between three and six o'clock in the morning, THE DARKEST TIME OF THE NIGHT.

He comes not because we have earned His presence or His mercy, but because we cried out with a tiny seed of faith, as His children, knowing He is not only able, but willing to come.

Father, I come to You today with a faith that seems so small. I want to believe You, Lord. I want to walk by faith, knowing that You will keep every promise You have ever made. Help my unbelief, Lord.

Kristian

AP: It's All About Your Gaze

2011-02-12T22:06:00.000-06:00

AP writes:

Eyes never cease to amaze me. I love looking at people's eyes. Ever heard that phrase, "The eyes are the window to the soul"? Well, it's very true.....at least for me. I can tell a million things about a person just by looking at their eyes or a photo of their eyes. I can read how they are doing in an instant. Whether its been a rough day, if they are excited, tired, genuinely telling you the truth how they are doing, whether they have something on their mind, their personality, something exciting just happened to them.......anything and everything is expressed through the eyes. =) Eyes have an indescribable depth. Some are cloudy, some are clear, some are vibrant, some have a soft warm feel.....they are all mystifying.

I was thinking about the different color of eyes. Green, blue, grey, brown, chocolate swirl color, yellow, hazel, mixtures.......all different, incredibly unique designs by God. What color do you think Jesus' eyes were? Knowing He was from Jewish descent, I've often pondered if they were brown or had a color swirl in them. The Bible tells us what they look like. Revelation 1:14 says His eyes are like flames of fire. What does this mean? Do they look yellow/orange/bronze-ish or are they constantly moving and changing like a fire is? I'm not sure of the answer but I do know His gaze is probably intense!

And God obviously cares about our eyes because He put so much detail into creating them, making them one of our 5 senses, and talking a lot about how to guard our eyes. So what do you think? Why is it that God made our eyes to show how we are doing and to be the window of our souls? What is it about eyes that God has so highly valued them? It says in Psalms that we were created to gaze on beauty. Our job for eternity is to gaze at God in his indescribable holiness. The seraphim were created with eyes all around to gaze at God. As were the four living creatures around the throne who never cease to cry out "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty. Who was and is and is to come." since they were created. That is their job description.....how awesome is that? =) Eyes are so small, yet so important!

So my question to you.....what do your eyes say about who you are? What are your eyes fixed on?

KP: Year 2011 Outlook

2011-02-11T22:32:00.002-06:00

KP Writes:
There is a spirit of holy fear as well as excitement in our hearts concerning the outlook of 2011. We believe that this will be a year of significant transition as echoed by a number of men and women of God that we have come in contact with over the years. There is an inward witness of the Holy Spirit that says there will be significant waves of genuine spiritual renewal and revival in various pockets in America as well as around the world in the midst of shifts, confusion, turmoil, and judgment.

More than ever, we need to know and partner with the heart of Jesus. Therefore, with an open Bible and on our knees, we need to watch and pray as commanded by Jesus for such a time as this. God will pour out abundant joy, peace, and revelation as we seek Him!

Love,
Kristian

JP: God's New Name

2011-02-10T19:00:00.001-06:00

JP writes:

What's in a name? Identity for one. They don't even have to be full names. All sports fans know Herschel, Hank, Michael, Bird, Magic, Gretzky, and Pele. The entertainment world is the same - Cher, Elton, Bing, Elvis, Lucy, Oprah. We even identify them as well by nicknames - the Babe, Old Blue Eyes, the Great One, Sweetness, The King, and Broadway Joe. Or initials - JFK, FDR, LBJ, and MLK

In Scripture, a person’s name identified them and stood for something specific. This is especially true of God. Naming carried special significance. It was a sign of authority and power. This is evident in the fact that God revealed His names to His people rather than allowing them to choose their names for Him. This is also seen in the fact that God often changed the names of His people: Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel, Saul to Paul.

Some of my favorite names of God are El Shaddai - "God all sufficient" (no explanation needed there), Jehovah-Jireh - "the Lord will provide" (amen!), Jehovah-Rophe - "the Lord Who heals" (always fun!), and Jehovah-Sabaoth - "the Lord of Hosts", the Commander of the angelic hosts and the armies God (just cool to think about.)

Well, God has just revealed another of His names to me: Jehovah Heehee - "the Lord Who laughs at me, the jokester God." Yes, as I was in the middle of my 3 hour labor of love known as shoveling 14" of snow from my driveway and listening to various teachings on a local christian station, God made this revelation to me (sidenote - I spared my beautiful ladies the chore since they had actually shoveled after the 8" storm about a week prior).

Back to Jehovah-Heehee. Think about it. First, there's Adam and Eve. Really now, did you think you could hide from God in that little garden? Later, we see Joseph's brothers deciding enough's enough and selling their youngest brother to slave traders so that they are finally rid of him. God has the last laugh as they come to beg for food from Joseph years later. Then, we have Goliath blaspheming God and mocking the Israelites. So, God sends David, " a youth and ruddy with handsome appearance", out to conquer the warrior giant with a stick, 5 stones, and a sling. Down goes Goliath at the hands of Mr. GQ. Then we have grumpy ol' Jonah. First, he runs the other way when God tells him to go to Nineveh. Then, he gets thrown overboard, swallowed by some kind of swimming creature, the fish/whale vomits him up on shore, and Jonah gets mad at God. One because God eventually uses him to spare the sinners in Nineveh, and secondly because God caused the plant that was shading Jonah to die to prove a point to him. And then there's Saul who had been persecuting the followers of Jesus. One of the most feared men in his community. The Lord basically says to him, "Dude, what's your your problem? Why are you persecuting me?" God opens his eyes. Saul gets a name change to Paul and ends up giving his life serving the Jesus whom he had persecuted.

And then there's me. The one who hated the cold. The one who always joked about escaping from the frigid north as a child. So, how's the snow, cold, and wind working for me? Just laughing with God and learning to love it. Well, the snow anyway! Still praying for and asking Him for IHOP-Roatan, Honduras.

KP: onething 2010 Archives Link

2011-02-10T11:41:00.008-06:00

KP Writes:
I have really enjoyed revisiting many of the teachings as well as the worship sets from the onething 2010 conference held here in Kansas City December 28-31. Click the picture for the link to the free video archives. You can choose which session you want to watch and even fast forward through the worship to the teaching.

Love ya,
Kristian

KP: Pray for Mallory

2011-02-09T15:42:00.003-06:00

KP Writes:

Mallory is ill, and has been since Saturday evening. She came down with a fever, headache and sore throat. Since then she has become congested and developed a cough. Mostly she has felt terrible and lacks energy. She is in the bed by night and on the lying on the couch by day. Trying to most anything else leaves her dizzy and unable to sit or stand. Pray with us that she be healed and regain her strength. The only one that has enjoyed these days is the cat who loves having someone to lay around with. He has been her constant companion and bed warmer.
Love,
Kristian

KP: America Intoxicated

2011-02-09T12:30:00.007-06:00

KP Writes:

Most of you know the burden the Lord continually places upon my heart is to pray that the church in America would awaken from her slumber, awaken to who she is in Christ, and be who she should be to an unbelieving world - through her words and her actions. With that forever in the forefront of my mind, I ran across a quote from Abraham Lincoln that in my opinion basically sums up the state of America yet today. I share it with you calling you to pray with me for the Church in the west. Pray that she will wake up and then become a sounding alarm in America to all Americans.

"Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us."

Love,
Kristian

KP: Jeff's Birthday

2011-02-08T23:59:00.004-06:00

KP Writes:

January is a busy month for us! We already shared pictures from Ashton's birthday and so here are a few from Jeff's.

Mallory, the chef, made Jeff's red velvet cake this year.

She wrote, 'Happy B-Day Dad' in the icing.

Daddy with his two girls.

Love,
Kristian

KP: Goldfish Live

2011-02-04T10:57:00.006-06:00

KP Writes:
Just before the blizzard our goldfish pond thawed just enough around the edges that we were able to catch a glimpse of some of our fish. I could not believe they were still alive! We saw all 4 orange ones and one of the white and gold. We felt sorry for them and so we ran inside and got some food for them. Unbeknownst to us, you are not supposed to feed goldfish once the temp drops below 50 (40 minimum) because you can cause algae to grow in the pond and you can kill your fish because their metabolism has slowed down for surviving the winter. Hum....oops! Well, when the snow is gone and the ice begins to thaw again, we will have another head count. Now we know.
Love,Kristian

KP: Blizzard

2011-02-04T10:49:00.002-06:00

KP Writes:

Sorry but I do not have as many pictures of the blizzard as I would like. Basically, it was too cold to have my hand out of the gloves (Yes, I had two pair on at the same time.)

Here are Jeff, Mallory and Ashton as we left the house on Tuesday about noon. It was still in the 20's with small winds (20mph) and regular snow showers. (not blizzard conditions yet)

This is Mallory, Val, and Ashton. The snow hurt as it was pelting our faces. It felt like daggers going into our eyes. Behind us is Main St./Highgrove which is a 5 lane road on normal days.
Val, Mallory, Ashton, and Jeff....with everyone trying to shield their faces from the wind.
Snow and wind picking up as we photograph.
The snow was getting heavier.
By afternoon, we could not see beyond our property lines. It was as if we were the only house in the neighborhood.
All said and done we got 14.5 inches in 24 hours. The temperature dropped to -8 and when Ashton went to work on Thursday AM the wind chill was -25degrees. Our sustained winds were 30mph with gusts of 40mph. Not like Chicago had, but cold for this southern family!!
By Wednesday mid-morning, it was beautiful sunny. (But frigid!) Jeff began the task of clearing the snow from the front door, porch, steps, then driveway. We have tried to take some photos to show the depth and volume of snow, but as with photographing the Grand Canyon, it is impossible to capture true depth perception on my camera.
Piles of dug out snow everywhere.

Piles of snow everywhere.
The corner of our yard where our two streets come together.

The left side of our driveway out near the street. The pile 'groweth'. Just wait until the plow comes to our street and adds to it.
Same pile, more inclusive angle. You can see that it is really a row-pile, not just a single pile at the end.
Mailman tracks where the postman steps off our porch and heads over to the neighbors house. Tuesday they had to halt delivery in the mid afternoon, so we did not get mail. Wednesday the post office was closed so he didn't get 'fresh' mail but finished delivering to the houses he couldn't get to on Tuesday. By Thursday, delivery had resumed but occurs much later in the day. It just takes the postman a lot longer to walk his route in the deep snow.

Honestly, this picture isn't that impressive, but this is a lot of deep snow!

Love,
Kristian

KP: Hawk

2011-02-04T08:45:00.005-06:00

KP Writes:

This morning I staggered to the kitchen to pour my first cup of coffee when I glanced out the window onto our back patio and could not believe my eyes. Perched on the back of our chair was a beautiful brown hawk. As is typical when it snows or gets extremely cold, we have had our doves coming and resting on the trashcans, chairs, steps, anywhere they can be out of the wind, and able to stand on something other than snow. Usually they are as close to the house as possible, I guess taking advantage of the heat that escapes through the walls and windows.

Also, some smaller birds have joined the doves with this last more extreme storm. It is funny to see how the puff out their feathers trying to stay warm. Having put out some birdseed we enjoy watching them move about picking their favorite from the spilled mess.

Well today, this young hawk was seeking refuge. He was beautiful and all alone. Needless to say, no doves or small yard birds were anywhere to be seen. I apologize for the picture quality, we didn't have the camera upstairs. So, par for the course, Mallory whips out her handy cell phone, takes the photo, sends it to my email, and one Picasa edited, zip file photo later, we have the picture uploaded to Blogger from being exported to My Pictures. (surely there is a more direct way!)
The chair is on our patio right up next to the house although it looks like it is out in the snow in the yard. We just still have snow drifts all the the way to walls of the house on all four sides.

Love,
Kristian

AP: Eating grapefruit

2011-01-30T19:31:00.003-06:00

This is the funniest thing I've ever seen!!!! I found this on the Yahoo news page.....

~Ashton

KP: Is Your Heart Burning?

2011-01-29T10:27:00.001-06:00

KP Writes:

Luke 23:44-45, "It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two." Why was the curtain torn in two? Because the Holy of Holies was now to be opened up for the first time to human gaze. And because the Holy of Holies of the human spirit was now to be opened to the habitation of God!

When the Son of Man died, God ripped the veil wide open. He passed through the holy place, and penetrated into the Holy of Holies, into the secret of humanity-and the reality of humanity's spirit was unveiled.

Next was the resurrection and then the encounter of the two disciples walking on the road to when Jesus appeared to them. Luke 24:32, "They asked each other, 'Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?'"

A burning heart is a heart that is caught up with the excitement and glory of a fulfilled humanity. The secret is revealed. Our humanity is fully possessed, reclaimed by our Creator. The Holy of Holies has been entered. What was lost has been saved. That is where we stand now. The secret of humanity is open to anyone who opens his or her own heart to the Son of Man, the perfect man.

He alone has penetrated the depths of the human spirit. He alone reestablishes the lost relationship with God that enables us to be what God intended us to be. He alone saves and restores what was lost in the fall of man, in the entrance of sin into the world. He alone can restore the marred, distorted image of God in our lives. All the possibility of a fulfilled humanity is available to anyone in whom the spirit of Christ dwells. All that you deeply want to be in the innermost recesses of your heart, you can be. I'm not talking about your goals in life, such as becoming a millionaire or an Olympic gold medalist. No, I'm talking about the deepest, most inexpressible yearnings of your heart-your desire to be connected to God, to know Him and be known by Him; your desire to have your life count for something in the eternal scheme of things; your desire to be clean and whole and forgiven.

Jesus makes it possible for you to fulfill God's best for you, so that you will be mature and Christlike, filled with love, forgiveness, wholeness, and good works. Yes, a burning heart is a heart that is caught up with the excitement and glory of a fulfilled humanity. Is your heart burning?

Blessings, Kristian

KP: Ashton's 19th Birthday Party

2011-01-28T07:09:00.003-06:00

KP Writes:
Ashton wanted to have some friends from dance and friends she knows through dance friends go ice skating with her to celebrate her birthday. So on Saturday before her birthday eleven girls and guys gathered at our house to caravan an outdoor skating rink in a part of Kansas City known as the Crown Center. Of course the temperature was a frigid 9 degrees when we left the house about 5pm. After a couple hours they had had enough fun and were ready to head back to the house for a chicken and rice dinner, games, a movie and then girls spent the night. Great fun was had by all, including Jeff and I. Enjoy the pictures.
Mallory getting all suited up: skates, layers, coat, scarf, hat, gloves.....
Jeff 'holding' Kirsti's hat. Not sure about that look on him! (Really, a flower?)
Most everyone was a little wobbly at first. Left to right: some guy, Mallory, Dacia, Abbi, Stanton.
Jeff and Kenon are a pair! You really never know what these two goofballs will do!
In the area where the rink is located the trees are decorated with lights and there are several large hotels all connected by indoor walkways over the streets.
Mallory and the birthday girl! Nice smiles ladies.
Part of the gang resting on a bench, or is it that they are getting out of wind for a moment? L to R: Dacia (Missionary Kid from Japan who is staying with the Kawases for a season; ATP met her and her family while in Japan last summer; she is doing College Plus now too.), Nicole (Stanton's sister; they are a IHOP family who have been here 5 or so years; Stanton dances at DT but Nicole dances at another studio.), Ashton (an amazing young woman who loves the Lord and loves her friends.), Mallory (an amazing young lady who loves the Lord and brings joy to all those around her.), Hannah C. ( a friend from dance), Abbi (4th oldest Kawase child, dances at DT, went to Japan with Ashton; started College Plus last fall), Kenon (2nd oldest Kawase child, dances at DT, went to Japan with ATP, finishing up at Johnson County Community College in May and transferring to University of Missouri Kansas City, studying Civil Engineering)
Different line up on the bench: L to R: Ashton, Dacia, Nicole, Kirsti (3rd oldest Kawase child, graduated from dance at Dramatic Truth, went to Japan with ATP, started College Plus last fall), Mallory, Hannah C., Abbi, and in the background Dante (new friend to ATP- he is a friend of Stanton, Kimberly, and April's, his family is associated with IHOP but I am not sure how), Stanton (dances at DT, went to Japan with ATP, Nicole's brother, IHOP family who has been here 5 years.)
Cluster of the party out in the middle: L to R-Kenon, Kimberly, Gabe, Ashton, Dacia, Hannah C, Abbi, Kirsti, and Stan. It was hard to photograph with the lighting, the movement, the distance, and all those people who kept getting in between my camera and my subjects.
'Mallory the Beautiful' as she is appropriately labeled in my phone directory.
Ashton and Abbi, precious sisters in the Lord; beautiful young women.
Jeff and Kristian.
Again.
Dante and Ashton.
Dacia, Nicole, Ashton and Kimberly (dances at DT, went to Japan with ATP, started College Plus last fall, lives with April and her family as Kimberly's dad is a US ambassador and her family has now moved from DC to Turkey.)
Dante, Nicole, Gabe ( a new friend of Ashton's, he is a friend of Stanton's, he plans to do FSM-IHOP's school of ministry- in the fall.), April (dances at DT, started College Plus last fall, Kimberly has lived with her family since November. Before that Kimberly lived with another dance family for about 2 years.)
L to R: bottom row-Abbi, Mallory; 2nd row-Dante, April, Ashton, Kimberly, Dacia; 3rd row-Gabe, Kirsti, Nicole; 4th row on top-Kenon.
Added 3 to the picture. Abbi, Mallory; April, Dacia; Gabe, Nicole, Ashton, Kimberly, Stanton; Kenon, Dante, Hannah C., Kirsti.
Same 13, just more goofy! Nice hat Stan. (He took Kimberly's hat from her early in the evening.) I guess if Jeff is wearing Kirsti's hat, Stan can wear Kimberly's.
Back at the house chowing down! These were some hungry people.

Playing school? Not really, playing Mofia which is a killer/detective type group game.
Gathering in the kitchen to sing happy birthday and get cupcakes and ice cream.

The girls not sure of what is going on with the guys. Jeff's hand on the right gives you the clue that a major performance is coming up.
Yes, Jeff, Kenon, and Stanton break into song-may have been some rendition of Happy Birthday. From their faces I think the girls loved it.
3 major hams!
Kenon gives the grand finale.
OK, well then. Now let's eat.

19 year old birthday girl.
Wow, this re-lighting candle is fascinating!

Hope you got a taste of the great fun we had with this celebration of a beautiful young woman. These are some great kids and they are a joy to 'do life' with. May the Lord bless them and may they run hard after Him!

Love,
Kristian

KP: Casual Prayer

2011-01-28T07:08:00.001-06:00

KP Writes:

At the onething'10 conference Lou Engle preached at one of the evening sessions. I love Lou. His messages are typically very convicting and inspiring all at the same time. He is so real. His family is real. I have watched him/them now for the last two years. They really are living this thing called Christianity out, day in day out. Back to the point of this blog.

Lou delivered a 2 hour sermon at the conference, not one that really struck me like they usually do. Just about the time he was wrapping it up he made a completely random statement, basically unrelated to his message. But it struck me to the core.

"Casual prayer leads to casualties." God immediately had my attention. How many casualties have there been because I have been casual in my prayer for someone or some need or some situation? Am I casual in praying for my husband, my children, our families, my friends, our health, our church, our city, for the salvation of the lost I know???? Casual prayer leads to casualties. We as believers have been invited to participate with the Lord through prayer. We can make a difference in outcomes. But, casual prayer leads to casualties. The resolve in my heart is: Not on my watch!

Love,
Kristian

KP: Bad Idea

2011-01-27T09:28:00.001-06:00

KP Writes:

Jeff, honey, I don't think that is a good idea.......

KP: Prayer is the Deepest Function of the Human Spirit

2011-01-26T15:44:00.004-06:00

KP Writes:

OK, so I admittedly am not an Old Testament scholar and I do not know much about many things. But, one of the glorious things about home schooling is that you are a perpetual learner. As a teacher of a younger student I was able to 'wing' it and draw on my previous education especially in the realm of secular academics. Let's face it, I have now graduated from high school, twice, and from medical college.

But as the teacher of a high school student in a year long study called History of God's Kingdom, I am at a loss. To that regard I am reading more than I thought humanly possible and learning things that astound me. Of particular appeal is a book Mallory is reading (therefore I have to read) which is a comprehensive guide to the entire Bible. Now, I typically steer clear of commentary type books until I have tried to do my own word studies, etc....But I am amazed at the way the Scriptures are being opened to me by understanding more of the historical and cultural context of certain books and passages. (I also believe these revelations are the answer to an apostolic prayer we have been praying over ourselves and each other for the last two years - Eph. 1: 17-19, "That the Father of glory, may give to me(us) the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of my(our) understanding being enlightened; that I(we) may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power..."

Anyway, back to the Old Testament. This is very rudimentary for you who have studied, but my point is prayer, which I am getting to. In the Holy of Holies there were only two articles of furniture: the ark of the covenant and the golden altar of incense. Basically the ark of the covenant had the mercy seat under the overarching wings of the cherubim, where God's Shekinah glory dwelt. The golden altar of incense was that by which a nation was to offer its praise to God. This author was drawing a correlation that these two objects are symbolic of what is hidden in the depths of humanity.

The mercy seat speaks of human relationship with God. Hebrews tells us that it is blood alone that can make that relationship possible and acceptable.(Heb 9:22) It was the blood upon the mercy seat that released God's forgiveness and grace. Our Lord entered into the hidden spirit of humanity and offered His own blood. Hebrews 9:12, "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption."

The altar of incense speaks of the communication between people and God, the place of prayer. Prayer is the deepest function of the human spirit. Nothing goes deeper than that. God, in the humanity of Jesus Christ, made the way through His redeeming blood for us to communicate with GOD! Us, not some saintly high priest, not some pastor we esteem, but US. We can pray anytime, all the time. We can 'do' what the human spirit was created to do. Whether driven to our knees by despair, defeat, exhaustion, need, joy, thanksgiving, sorrow, our spirit can cry out to the God of the universe. That is what prayer is at its most fundamental level: the cry of the spirit. God gave us a spirit that with the need for communion and the function of prayer. Then He gave us redemption through the blood of Jesus so that we could have those needs met and perform that function. He is our all in all. Through prayer we exercise that cry in our spirit.

Blessings, Kristian

KP: Snow

2011-01-25T21:11:00.006-06:00

KP Writes:

Well 3 weeks ago we got our first snow of the season. Although we have been thankful we have not had all the extra work and mess that comes with snow here in the midwest, we were kind of disappointed that everyone else, including our friends and family in GA were getting snow and we were not. This first snow was about 5 inches and really didn't change our schedules at all. Things just take a little more time, like backing out of the driveway or getting appropriate clothes on to leave the house.
Jeff sweeping the truck and shoveling the drive so that he could go to the prayer room. Don't worry, we have an equal opportunity household. Ashton and I each had the privilege of shoveling the driveway during this snow as well. That will teach us to wait a couple hours between each other when we have leave the house.
Mallory and Ashton dressing to go out and play in the snow during their lunch break from school. Yes, we still have school when it snows, Papa. One of the many benefits of home schooling. (But we also get to take a late fall/early Christmas break to go with you on cruises because we home school!)

Ashton in her Canadian Olympic gloves.
Why is it that the first thing my kids do in the snow is eat off the dirty trampoline?
Oh no. Here they go again....WHERE IS THE MOM??
Yes, they always want to make snow angels. Not in the yard, but in the middle of the street. (There was a car coming behind the mail truck. But the girls assured me they would be done before it got there because they had to drive so slow with all the snow. )
Struttin' Mallory.

Snow eating Ashton.....
......with some great manners. Must be from the Price side.

None of our snow had gone anywhere until six days later when it began to rain heavily. In a matter of hours the snow was gone. That however, only lasted about 2 days. Then we got a big snow!!

In one Wednesday evening /night we got 9 inches! In fact the weather forcasters had predicted this storm and issued a winter storm warning before it started. Ashton's boss (the manager of the hotel where she works as the breakfast hostess) had called her Wednesday morning and said he had made a room reservation for her for that night at the hotel, if it was ok with her parents. In all, he had made 8 reservations for all the people who were scheduled to work first thing Thursday morning. With her shift starting so early, it would be doubtful she would be getting anywhere before the snow plows could do their job. So, Mallory and Ashton headed to the hotel for a "girl's night". Mallory got the best end of the deal since she slept in until 9:30AM and then just read some of her literature until Ashton got off at noon when they checked out. It was really comical, when Jeff and I dropped them off; they checked in carrying a couple bags of popcorn they had microwaved at home. (good movie snacks) Right beside them was the morning front desk guy checking in with a Little Caesar's pizza!
Nine inches. You can zoom in if you want! :)

The driveway, steps and front porch must be shoveled before you can even leave the house.

I wonder how our six fish are doing in this fish pond? Can anyone say 'fishcicles'?

It is hard to believe there is a big multi-level raised, rock enclosed garden here. There is also a large patio that starts at the lamp post on the left.
It has now been 13 days since the 9 inch snow and we still have 7 inches in the yard. Most of the streets were fairly clear until today. We were above freezing and sunny yesterday and today causing daytime melting with runoff. Now we have ice slicks where the water went across the roads. You have to be alert, ever mindful...To me this is a reminder in the natural for the prayer cry I have for the church in America. "Awake o sleeper!" You must awaken, be alert and ever mindful!

Love you,
Kristian

MP: Toilet Flower Pot

2011-01-25T11:15:00.001-06:00

MP writes:

Hello,

Wow! It has been a really long time since I last blogged but it is kinda like my mom said it is a feast or a famine. Things are getting back into the swing of things now: school is going full blast, dance is back, and we have even set our new prayer room schedule.

From the title of this entry you are probably wondering where is she going? :) About four months ago on my way to dance I saw this one yard that had a toilet in it and I thought (and I quote) "That is absolutely disgusting." But the next time I went passed it I gave it another chance and noticed that it had some drop dead gorgeous flowers in it.

That is how we are sometimes. We see our outer self and feel torn down. When we then take a second glance we see that we are beautiful and our inner being gets stronger and we feel more full of the spirit.

It is as if God is taking ashes, the ugly, and showing us the glorious beauty. The Lord loves to give beauty for ashes.

"to bestow upon them a crown of beauty instead of ashes," Isaiah 61:3b.

Well hope you learn from this too.

Love Always,

Mallory

P.S. You should go to google and type in toilet flower pot pictures to get the full meaning of this blog.

JP: What's Your Crown a Memorial To?

2011-01-24T21:00:00.008-06:00

“Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Receive the gift from the captives; from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon; and go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah. Take the silver and gold, make an elaborate crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.” Zech 6:9-11

We all know the story of Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon ransacking Jerusalem and taking Daniel and thousands captive. Seventy years later, Cyrus king of Persia overthrew the Babylonians and ordered the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. So, here we find three of the exiles - Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah - returning to Israel bearing a gift of silver and gold from the exiles in Babylon. Only a relatively small number of the Jewish exiles returned with Zechariah the prophet to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The rest either stayed behind in Babylon because they weren’t physically able to make the journey or because they knew that Jerusalem was the “hood” compared to Babylon.

The Lord commanded that the silver and gold be taken from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah. Why did He choose these three? The Lord reveals a lot about Himself as we examine their names (Heldai means vigor, Tobijah means God’s goodness, and Jedaiah means God knows). Our Heavenly Father knows that through His goodness, He will put His King on the throne, and He will do it in a vigorous manner.

This gift was to be taken and made into a crown to be placed upon the head of Joshua the high priest. It was really unusual to crown a high priest, because priests were never crowned as kings and kings were never priests. Throughout the history of Israel there has always been a separation of religious and civil leadersship. For example, 2 Chronicles 26 tells us the tragic story of King Uzziah who tried to function as a priest and as a result was stricken with leprosy for the rest of his life. Imagine what was running through Joshua's mind as they came to put this newly fashioned crown on him!

However, this was to be a symbolic act of crowning the high priest as one would crown a king. Joshua was crowned because he was representative of the character of the Messiah. He was a picture of the ruling Priest-King in the future. It will be Jesus who will be the only King who will also function as priest upon His throne and everlasting peace will be between His two offices.

"Now the elaborate crown shall be for a memorial in the temple of the Lord for Helem (healing), Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen (gracious) the son of Zephaniah" Zech 6:14

Here, the Lord tells us that the crown was to be a memorial in the temple of the gift given by the exiles from Babylon. They endured much to bring their gift to the Lord. Leaving the beauty of Babylon and going to ashes of Jersusalem. Conversely, when we invest our time, finances, and talents into reaching others for the kingdom, the people that are rescued and saved trade their ashes for the beauty and joy of the Lord. They become our crown memorials in the heavenly throne room.

If He asks, how much are you willing to endure in order to bring your?

Is 51:11 Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Jeff

KP: Christmas in the Sky

2011-01-22T09:20:00.001-06:00

KP Writes:

On Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving a local radio station puts on a big holiday celebration to kick off the Christmas season with singers and dancers followed by fireworks over the lake in the park near our home. They then light the Christmas light displays for everyone to drive past during the 6 weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years. We went again this year with our friends the Kopplins.
This year another friend, Jeff H. was also able to join us. (This picture shows Ashton, Isobel, Jeff H., Mallory, and Jessica, with Paul and Angela in the background.) Needless to say it always ends up being cold and breezy too, being that we are near the lake.

Here are Ashton and Mallory with Jessica.
This year by comparison was not as bad as last year and we stood and watched fireworks rather than sitting in our car with the heat on.Love,
Kristian

KP: Real Knowing Takes Purposeful Time

2011-01-21T11:17:00.002-06:00

KP Writes:

My mind rarely finds rest from from a restless swirling of thoughts: tasks to be done, blog articles to be written, newsletters to create, home school to be taught, children's cares, the demands of days, finances, future...you know the story. But in a moment, if I purpose to set my mind on the Lord, a scripture verse or thought from Him often pops into my head. Reflecting now, I am reminded of a hymn that says, "There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God".

Which, brings me to my next thought. We have realized that people suppose that they know our family from reading our blogs, newsletters, hearing about us and what we 'do', seeing us around, knowing our extended family members, etc...Yes, words do help and provide some truth as do pictures. But without spending time in our presence, people can only suppose that they know us.

Often people fill in the gaps of what they do not know about us using their imagination and ascribing to us their own values and and tastes. But most of the time, what they have supposed about us is not really true. To know us truly, they must spend time with us over a period of time in the real moments of our lives with us.

So, still pondering the line, 'There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God' - it struck me that the principle is the profoundly the same with Him. You cannot just read words on a page, or sit in a pew once a week thinking of what you will have for lunch, or read a 5 minute blog post and really know Him.

A real relationship is built over time through every moment of sharing life.

You cannot just read God's Facebook profile and suppose you can be close to His heart. To be near to His heart-understanding His heart, believing He really loves you, experiencing His personality, requires hours and hours of real life in His presence-knowing His words through the voice of scripture and then talking to Him-pouring out your heart in prayer that is engaging with Him in the privacy of your own room, all alone, believing-living through years of seeing His faithfulness.

God is grand, beyond our imagination, everywhere, powerful, gentle. We may never know Him fully. But acknowledging His presence in the reality of a quiet snow storm, the painted evening sunset, the comforting embrace of a friend or lover, the grace of forgiving, gentle words from a loved one, in the flesh real live person who is being God to us, laughing or crying or having a warm, intimate embrace, and actively loving Him through each moment, we understand that He was the designer of these gracious moments of life.

It can't be found from saying, "Tomorrow, I will do better." Or "Tomorrow I will make myself have a devotional," with guilt in my heart.

It is found in a heart fully alive to Him-through my messing up and my being a child in my faith-but loving, loving and seeking Him while He may be found. It is not virtual-imagined by reading one more book, but it is days upon days of just being, walking with, talking to, resting in-His presence, in His word, contemplating Him, complaining to Him, doubting Him, knowing His patient grace and love when most undeserved-just like a real relationship. If I invest my time and my heart, I will indeed end up with a real relationship.

And so if I am to find that place of quiet rest-it must be as a result of being with Him, day in day out and then coming to know. Knowing and understanding Him through all the moments of my life, through what He has made, what He has said, what He has taught me through His Holy Spirit, what I have learned from being with other godly people who are filled with His attributes. It is a real live relationship-exciting, always mysterious, an adventure. Being close to His heart-will always, always bring confidence, peace, security.

If I engage my worship of Him through all the moments of walking life with Him as my closest companion, then a natural result will be that I will be and feel near to His heart and then I will find that being there, it is a place of quiet rest. But, this is a life intentionally lived and pursued. Without the investment of heart, time, mind and soul (loving Him with our heart, soul, mind, strength), there can be no rest. If I invest my whole being in Him, with all honesty as I am with Him, getting to know Him, then I will come to find more than I ever hoped for.

Kristian

KP: Visiting With the Alan Williams Cousins

2011-01-19T22:12:00.002-06:00

KP Writes:

During our trip to Georgia in November, we were able to spend a lot of great time with Alan and Amy's children, oh and the adults too! :) Here is a picture of Autumn, Mallory, Archer, AJ, and Abram. We love you guys very much and look forward to seeing you this summer.
Love,
Aunt Kristian

KP: Metropolis, Illinois 11-2-10

2011-01-18T00:53:00.011-06:00

KP Writes:

When we travel home to Georgia, our route takes us past Metropolis, Illinois, the famed home of Superman. Typically we have our sights on the south and do not even slow down, knowing that Padukah, KY is just a few miles down the interstate. In November, however, we succumbed to the temptation to sto p and visit downtown. Not to worry, we saw all that there was to see in a matter of minutes. And, we did get some fun pictures. The girls' favorite was the "I am She" pose at the feet of Superman. From the look of confusion and the laughter, I do not think they have seen the show enough to understand Jeff tied up in knots trying to change clothes in the phone booth.

Love ya,
Super Moma

KP: Ashton Celebrates Kimberly's BD

2011-01-18T00:44:00.005-06:00

KP Writes:

Ashton's friend Kimberly turned 19 this in October. They celebrated with a masquerade party coming as your favorite musical character. Ashton dressed as Pocahontas and had a great time!

Love,
Kristian

KP: Girlfriends at Noah Lucas Wedding

2011-01-18T00:32:00.009-06:00

KP writes:

Here the girlfriend are at the Noah's wedding on October 24,2010. Left to right: Elaine, Me, Jill, Donna Sue, Denise, Donna, and Rochelle. Elizabeth had to work :(
Love ya, Kristian

KP: Girlfriends Do Wedding Rehearsal Dinner

2011-01-18T00:24:00.006-06:00

KP writes:

I am so far behind in sharing photos, maybe I can upload one a day to give you a snapshot of some of the happenings since October.

Here, my high school girlfriends (and Elizabeth's daughter) pose after having the privilege of 'doing' Noah and Jenna Lucas' rehearsal dinner for our precious girlfriend, Donna Sue. It was great fun.

Come back tomorrow to see if I have more posts with pictures uploaded. (And still check out the 2 real 'articles' Jeff and I wrote below and Ashton's January 9th birthday post.)
Love, Kristian

KP: Plastic is Not a Substitute I Should Settle For

2011-01-17T21:50:00.002-06:00

KP writes:

I was reflecting on the goodness of real relationship. In our world of plastic, so often we grow comfortable with the "less". We substitute the better for the convenient, and we end up with the shallow. It is true of our relationships with others, and most definitely in our relationship with the Lord. We have such a "fast food diet" of Him, that we miss the goodness and pleasure of the FEAST, that is ours for the taking.

Plastic is not a substitute that we should settle for.

Love,
Kristian

JP: A Party for 30,000

2011-01-17T19:39:00.008-06:00

Every now and then someone will ask me, "how can I increase my prayer life?" Typically I would suggest more time reading and studying the Word, having a list of specific things to pray for, specifically scheduling time, and really just gritting your teeth and going for it. However, now I have a new, sure fire solution - come spend New Years Eve at our Onething Conference with approximately 30,000 young adults filled with the joy of the Lord and celebrating His love for them in total abandonment.

If you watch it on the web, I'm sure that it probably looks like any of a number of emotionally charged, high volume, rock concerts complete with choreographed light system and a mosh pit. Yep, yep, yep, and yep. We even have the mosh pit! So, what's the difference?

First, it's free. They don't have to worry about getting their moneys worth. Secondly, it's not about what they can experience or get, it's about what they can give back. Too often we are weighed down with the cares and stresses of life and our lifestyles to even think about God. The only time we acknowledge the Lord is when we want something or when times are hard.

So, what makes these young people turn into human Mexican Jumping beans on New Years Eve? They truly believe the first six words of John 3:16, "For God so loved the world..." And Isaiah 62, "But you will be called Hephzibah (My delight is in you). As well as Zephaniah 3:17, "...He will exult over you with joy...He will rejoice over you with singing." The Hebrew word for exult is yagil which means to dance or to spin around with joy.

They figure what's good for the goose is good for the gander so the saying goes. Or to put it in IHOP lingo, what's good for the Bridegroom King is good for the bride. If He sings and dances while delighting in us, why can't they do the same in response? Who are we to hinder them from emulating God in response?

Thus you have the human Mexican Jumping bean sensation. Children of the King wanting to have fun and relish the joy of the Lord. Jumping, dancing, singing.

And we have the privilege of experiencing this as part of our job! I love to walk from the front of the auditorium to the back just watching all these people from all over the world worshiping our Savior as one body with the same joy. What a great way to ring in the New Year!!

And if the worship doesn't increase your prayer life, then the floor of the convention center bouncing up and down 3 - 4 inches while all 30,000 dance in unison definitely will!!

AP: January 9th!!!!!!!

2011-01-09T19:44:00.004-06:00

AP Writes:

Today is January 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Which means.......IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!! =)

I have had quite a busy last couple of weeks with Christmas, OneThing, Lizzy staying with us for a while, and then my birthday. A big group of people went ice skating yesterday downtown at Crown Central for my birthday. It was really cold, 11 degrees without windchill, but it was a lot of fun. Then we went back to my house to have dinner, cupcakes and icecream, play games, hang out, and watch a movie. Some of the girls got to spend the night and this morning we went to church, came home and ate lunch, and took a much needed nap. After we woke up I got to open some presents. =) And now we are preparing for this next school semester.

All in all it was a pretty fabulous birthday! I can't believe I'm 19! I'm really excited to see what God is going to do in this next year of my life!

Here are some highlights of my past year:

>I went from having 27 college credits to 105

>I was able to perform in my friend Kirsti's graduation for dance

>I got my first real job working at Holiday Inn Express as a breakfast hostess

>I got to go on a mission trip to Taiwan and Japan

>I got to visit Georgia this summer for 4 weeks

>I went to summer camp as part of the rising college women (my last year of camp as a camper)

>I got to go to Branson, MO on a trip with my family and grandparents (Tablerock lake.....absolutely beautiful!!!!)

>I went on a cruise paid for by my grandparents to the Bahamas with my family, aunts, uncles, and grandparents

>I was able to have an incredible part in the Christmas performance for dance that I had wanted (I got to represent the Spanish speaking nations by performing Spanish)

>I got to go back to Georgia for Christmas and had our first White Christmas in Georgia since 1882 (and see my old studio's dance performance!)

>I got to have one of my good friends from dance and another good friend whom I've known since 2nd grade come out for OneThing 2010

>And I got to finish out 2010 by participating in the best New Year's Eve party ever with 30,000 of my closest friends! This was my 7th year to be at OneThing for New Year's. I wouldn't miss it for the world. There is just nothing greater than to be worshiping Jesus finishing a year and starting a new one!

So now I have 364 days left of being a teenager.....a very odd thought. =) But I am excited for the new experiences and things God has planned for me for this year!

Hope you've had a fabulous day!

Ashton =)

105=15=5=120...........college math

2010-12-18T21:30:00.001-06:00

Well as most of you know, many colleges have been finishing up with this semester by giving their students final exams. Even though I don't physically go to a university for class, I too had a final yesterday. (I do take my tests at several universities in MO and KS.) My final test for 2010. =) It was Social Science and History.........basically I had to study everything about, well, everything. It covered Western Civilization 1 & 2, United States History 1 & 2, Psychology, Sociology, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and much more. It was kinda nerve racking because I had taken this test in May but had not passed. Thankfully though, after many more hours of study, I was able to pass yesterday! =)

So you are probably wondering what the numbers above mean. Well, because I passed my test I now have 105 credits! =) 120 credits is what I'm aiming for, which means I only have 15 credits left before I graduate with a Bachelors in Liberal Studies! I only have 5 more tests. I'm so very excited! This was an amazing early Christmas party!!!!! =)

Have a very Merry Christmas!!! =)

Love,

Ashton

JP: Sports, Finally

2010-12-06T16:39:00.005-06:00

JP writes:

If you know me you know I love sports. And finally, God comes through with a sports blog! I was flipping stations on the truck radio as I was heading to the missions base when I landed on a sports talk program. Of course, I just had to stop and listen for a minute. The KC area sports teams generally are at the bottom of the standings regardless of the sport (reminds me of Atlanta's teams when I was growing up in the 70's.) Their fans must be conditioned to complain because that's all they did despite the fact that the KC Chiefs football team is 8-4 and in first place for the first time since I was growing up in Atlanta. Yes Tuffy, that's a long time ago. "The quarterback is not good (just named the Player of the Month for November) , they need to settle on using just one running back rather than two (this despite the fact that they lead the league in running the ball), why didn't they tell us one of the coaches was having knee surgery during the off week, blah, blah, blah..." People, they are in first place! Give them a break and enjoy it.

Then I started thinking. God must be thinking the same thing about us, the body of Christ in the USA. Just like the KC sports fans, we've been conditioned to complain. We're not satisfied. Our churches are big and beautiful with amazing state of the art audio/visual technology, but we still find something to complain about. We don't like the music, the sermon's too offensive, the sanctuary is too warm/cold, the coffee doesn't taste good enough. The same thing goes for our houses and cars. Someone else always has a bigger, nicer one. Our cell phones and ipods are "so yesterday". We wring our hands a complain because right now we can't afford to stop at Starbucks on a daily basis. We are constantly comparing ourselves to those who have more rather than those who have less than we do. Instead of stopping and giving thanks to God for how He has provided, we complain because we want more. It seems like we as a society are never satisfied.

Now imagine what the tribe of Levi must have thought when God divided out the promised land among the Tribes of Israel. The story can be found in the book of Joshua. God first told Moses and now reminds Joshua in detail how to divide the land. Nine of the tribes inherited land on the west side of the Jordan: Simeon, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, and Ephraim, plus half the tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 13:7). The tribes of Reuben, Gad, plus the other half of Manasseh, took their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan (Joshua 13:8). And I'm sure people were complaining because they didn't get river front property or didn't have mountains in which to build their weekend retreat. I'm sure that they wanted what the others had received.

But what about the tribe of Levi. Weren't they left out. In fact, it was as if God had said "Sorry, no land for you." However, he did provide them with an inheritance. "But to the tribe of Levi, Moses has given no inheritance; the Lord God of Israel is their inheritance. (Joshua 13:33, Numbers 18:20).

What? No land? I imagine many from every tribe thought that the Levites had received a raw deal. After all land was and still is a sign of wealth and a means to more wealth. Ahh, but God knew that true wealth was found in spending time with Him.

The Levites had inherited the privilege of coming into the Lord's presence on a daily basis and serving Him. They had to learn to be satisfied with just the Lord and nothing else.

And that's the question that the Lord poses to us today - In the world today, if all we had was the Lord, would we be satisfied?

AP: Heart Matters

2010-12-06T00:15:00.003-06:00

AP Writes:

Hello all!!!!

I apologize for not writing sooner! My life has been super busy this past couple of months with preparation for the Mystery of Christmas. (We performed this past weekend. It went really well and was so much fun! I'm kind of sad it is over, but relieved to be able to sleep again!) Recently over the past couple of months God has really been highlighting to me the state at which I hold my heart. I often find myself in the prayer room just flipping through different parts of the Bible when verses I've never noticed before will jump out at me, all of them dealing with issues of the heart. I've even had conversations with different close friends about how our hearts are doing.

I was struggling in October/November with really trying to understand my heart and feeling kind of disappointed that I wasn't able to control the emotions of my heart well. I found a verse in Jeremiah that said "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jer. 17:9) I was reminded that my heart was human, and that if I followed what my heart was 'feeling' then I was following things that were untrue. I found the verse that said, "Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God." (1Chron. 22:19) I realized that we are supposed to give ourselves in our day to day business. Even though our hearts are wicked, God still really wants them!

He even knows the secrets of our hearts. Which, honestly, could be a little scary for most of us if we stop and think about it. God knowing everything we think........everything. It makes you not want to think! =) "God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." That would probably be my prayer right now. That in everything, through everything, that my gaze would be such that I would depend on God to sustain my heart. He should be the strength of my heart......He's the one who created me. I have nothing that I could give Him in return for His sacrifice for me. He deserves every second of every day.

It also says in Matt. 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Doesn't that make you want to go get your heart in check? I mean, who wouldn't want to see God? I love how blunt the Bible is. It tells you what to do in order to get desired results. Only, they aren't things we can do on our own......we have to depend on His guidance. =) Colossians 3:1 is also encouraging because it says, "Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God." God wants us to meditate on Him. How cool is that? Our job is to think about Jesus. =) I also like Phil. 4:7 which says that the peace of God will guard your heart and mind. The thought that God's peace will guard our hearts is so comforting to me because that means I don't have to be in control! He leads my heart!

One day during this past week, I was putting my makeup on for the show and Uncle Matt came up while fixing his suit/costume and asked me a few questions. I love it when he asks me questions because it always makes me think. He wants to know what's going on deep in the heart, not just the surface. I love that about him! =) He was asking me about my heart and how my life was going. Through our conversation I was reminded that the matters of the heart are so extremely important! We should hide ourselves in Christ. (Col 3:3)

I also really like this quote. It would be so cool if this were the case of the guy I end up marrying! =)

"A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her."

Max Lucado

Hope to write more later!

Ashton =)

JP: Dust off and get back in the game

2010-11-30T16:41:00.008-06:00

JP writes:

Isaiah 52 begins with the Lord saying, "awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor.....shake off your dust, rise up, sit enthroned." There are two things that He wants us to do. First, to wake up from our deep, comfortable, cozy slumber called contentedness. And secondly, to shake off the dust, rise up, and walk into the glory and power that He desires for us and makes available to us. Or in other words, to get back in the game as I like to put it.

God desires to use us to heal, evangelize, and prophesy on a regular basis. However, somewhere along the way in our christian walk, we as a church body have lost our initial zeal for the Lord and have gotten knocked down by the tribulations of life. Now, we are afraid of getting back up and causing waves. Afraid of what others may say and of losing their so called respect. We have written our selves off as useful in the kingdom of God. We don't see ourselves as God sees us. Wollowing in the self-pity of our human weakness, we crawl to the sidelines and take our place on the bench content to watch the "game". Giving into the lie that our sin is bigger than God's power. We need to shake off the dust because the enemy wants to speak lies into your brain saying that what you've done in your past disqualifies you from being used by God. He wants to speak lies to us saying that we are not worthy.

The Lord is crying out "awake, awake. It's time to get up, brush off, and get back in the game. I came to set you free so that I can use you to set others free." We have to do something. We have to wake ourselves from the lethargy of unbelief. We have to get up! I remember getting knocked down several times in sports growing up and not wanting to get back in the game. It was painful and many times I was afraid. But as I was picking myself up, brushing off, and doubting myself, my coach would be there reminding me of the player he knew me to be. Telling me to not look at the circumstances, but at the facts. God does the same thing when He tells us to walk by faith, not by sight in 2 Corinthians 5:7 and to agree with who He says we are!

But that's easier sad than done because we look at weak, little ol' us and compare ourself to those that we are in awe of on the ministry stage. We look at them wondering what amazing things are going to come forth from them next. Wes Hall recently shared at a service that often the leaders are sitting there thinking, "Man, I'm tired and really hungry. The music is irritating me and that guy in the 5th row is really bugging me. I really wish I could go home and be with my children! I just don't feel it." In reality, they are just like us. They, too, have to shake off the dust.

We all have times when we feel it, but the majority of the time we don't. If we operated on feelings, no one would show up. That's why we walk by faith not by sight. Kind of like a train. Lead with faith, and the feelings will follow. We need to wake up to who we are - sons and daughters of the King of kings. Royalty equipped to do His works. It's not so that man gets the glory, it's so that God gets the glory.

Many of us are sitting in the dust waiting for God's big crane to pick us up when it's time, shake us, and then set us up where we are supposed to minister. However, He has already done His part, now He's waiting for us to do ours. Most likely your ministry field is right there in your day to day life. It's time to get back in the game. Keep going even if you get knocked down the first time. Don't be afraid. Our Heavenly Father is right there cheering you on and whispering secrets to unlock hearts. It's our job to rise up and get going. the results are up to Him.

I'll close by quoting that great theologian Adrian Balboa of Rocky movie fame:

Rocky - "But, I'm afraid."
Adrian - "There's nothing wrong with being afraid. You're human aren't you?.. You're the one that has to carry that fear around inside you... Get rid of it, because it's going to bother you for the rest of your life. Look at what it's doing to you now."
Rocky - "And if I lose?"
Adrian - "At least you lose with no excuses. No fear. And I know that you can live with that"

AP: Word of the Day

2010-10-25T21:38:00.004-05:00

AP writes:

I thought a while ago I should unsubscribe from the Dictionary word of the day. Moma signed me up for this a couple of years ago to prep for the SAT. But now that I am a college Senior it seemed as if it was not serving its purpose anymore. I'm so thankful I kept it! The funniest words come through! Here are just a few of them:

Slugabed \SLUHG-uh-bed\, noun:

One who stays in bed until a late hour; a sluggard.

Viand \VAHY-uhnd\, noun:

An article of food, now usually of a choice or delicate kind.

Smithereens \smith-uh-REENZ\, noun:

Small pieces; bits.

Acta \AK-tuh\, noun:

Official records, as of acts, deeds, proceedings, transactions, or the like.

Lucifugous \loo-see-FOO-guhs\, adjective:

Avoiding light.-----------(Interesting since Satan's name is Lucifer and he hates God, who is light.....)

Hobbledehoy \HOB-uhl-dee-hoy\, noun:

An awkward, gawky young fellow.

Frabjous \FRAB-juhs\, adjective:

Wonderful, elegant, superb, or delicious.

Brobdingnagian \brob-ding-NAG-ee-uhn\, adjective:

Of extraordinary size; gigantic; enormous.

Quaggy \KWAG-ee\, adjective:

1. Marshy; boggy.
2. Soft or flabby.

Tittle \TIT-l\, noun:

1. A dot or other small mark in writing or printing, used as a diacritic, punctuation, etc.
2. A very small part or quantity; a particle, jot, or whit

Kenspeckle \KEN-spek-uhl\, adjective:

Conspicuous; easily seen or recognized.

Mojo \MOH-joh\, noun:

1. Personal magnetism; charm.
2. The art or practice of casting magic spells; magic; voodoo.
3. An object, as an amulet or charm, that is believed to carry a magic spell.
4. Good luck or favor concerning an event or individual.

Yeuk \YOOK\, noun:

1. An itching sensation.

verb:
1. To itch.

Cheechako \chee-CHAH-koh\, noun:

A tenderfoot; greenhorn; newcomer.

There are so many funny ones!!!!!!!!!!! All this to say, you should sign up for the Dictionary word of the day; it provides you with a fantastic vocabulary and you will laugh twice! (once on your own and then again when telling all your friends!) =)

Have a great day!

Ashton =)

Fred

2010-10-19T23:58:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone!

I want to share with you a special story of what happened in my life today and ask you to partner with me in prayer. Today as I was doing school in the basement, my entire house's electricity went off. Unfortunately since all my school work is on the computer and internet, I was unable to do school. So I went to the Grandview McDonald's because they have free wi-fi. (Personally I think it's just to get you to purchase food but yeah....=) )

There was quite an unusually large number of seniors in the McDonalds so I assume they had some type of gathering or celebration or something. Personally I love elderly people. I love to listen to their stories and listen to their wisdom. Most people in my generation don't give them a second of their attention and act as if they don't exist. What great wisdom we are missing out on! We shouldn't shove them in a corner just because they need us to talk a little slower and louder......we should listen intently to what they have to say because they have lived life and know what's coming our way.

As I was sitting there working on my biology homework a very sweet, older gentleman saw me working on my computer and saw the symbol of the brand of my computer on the back of my screen. Jokingly he asked me if my computer was an Apple. I was like, "No sir." wondering what he was going to say next. He said that if it was, he was going to ask if he could take a bite out of it. =) I smiled at this old man's humor. Little did I know this little encounter was going to last 1 1/2 hours.

He started talking to me about how the companies were trying to get our money by showing us that we needed the newest, latest, better version of everything. I responded by saying that my generation would be wise if we would listen to the advice of our grandparents and parents. He said that we should also listen to Christ. I heartily agreed and then he asked if I was a Christian. I said that I was and his next question was if I was part of the International House of Prayer. I said that I was and that my parents are on staff there. At this point I was thinking that he was in favor of the International House of Prayer but his next comment quickly put me in place.

He told me that people from IHOP are antichrists and freaks. Immediately I knew my place was not to argue with him and prove him he was wrong but to rather listen to what he had to say and just question him on why he thought that way. (Later I found out that this instinct was from the Holy Spirit because anyone who knows me knows that I always like to argue and prove I'm right until, well I'm right! =) Also during the conversation I felt a trembling that would rise up inside my stomach to my jaw where it would tremble. I was like, "Not now Holy Spirit! =)" And I kept seeing flashes of light out of the corner of my eyes.)

I asked him why he thought IHOPers were antichrists. His answer was incorrect in that he said that we didn't teach from the Bible; that we paraphrased and taught from the paraphrased version and that was punishable by eternal damnation. He is correct in the fact that if you change the Bible by adding or taking away from it that you are putting yourself in the position of eternal damnation. (It says that in Revelation) He said that the leaders had taken the scriptures, added and taken away from them, and were teaching from that. I had no idea where he got this idea but I knew that the IHOP leaders only teach that which is straight from the scriptures. He was wrong about the IHOP leaders. Mostly the one he kept referring to was Mike Bickle. I told him that Mike Bickle even puts the exact words of the NKJV into notes and hands them out so people can search it out for themselves what he is teaching. This brought us to another point.

He said that the only real version of the scriptures was the original documents due to translation errors by humans. I asked him how the originals were true if they too were written by humans but he didn't have an answer for me. He only said the NIV, NKJV, KJV, NAS, ESV, and many others were wrong. (I don't believe this though.) We talked about many of history's translators, like Wycliff, and I was very thankful for my education where I had studied this! =)

This man was so right on so many issues but just a little bit wrong on a couple of parts, which throws all of it off. He said that he had studied 23 different translations of the Bible, including the Greek and Hebrew. He believes that all scripture is God breathed and infallible. He believes that only God is God. He believes we are saved by grace and that salvation is a free gift from God.

But some things I knew were wrong. He said that there are 3 stages of life for humans. 1) The first generation of humans being before Jesus' death in which men had to perform offerings (works) and attain salvation. 2) The second being the ones after Jesus' resurrection who receive the gift of salvation freely. 3) And the third being those who live in the final days. That in itself wasn't wrong but he said that we don't need Jesus' blood. He said that Jesus wasn't God, but merely an image of God. But then he said that if we reject Christ we will burn in Hell for eternity forever, which is correct. So instead of pointing out he was wrong I simply asked him, "If Christ isn't God, then why does it matter if we reject him or not?" He had to ponder about that one for a while and eventually told me he didn't know the answer.

Another question I asked him was, "If Christ isn't God then how was he born of a virgin?" He responded by telling me that all things are possible with God (true) but that Christ was only an image of God (false). I asked him what he thought about John 1:1 where it says that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Wouldn't that be Christ---God? He didn't have an answer for that one either.

Another thing he said was that God and Satan don't dwell on the earth....at all. (false) I asked him if he thought that demons could control the minds of humans and he said no. (I knew this was wrong). Since I could tell he knew the scriptures, I asked him this, "If God doesn't dwell on earth then answer me this. In Acts when Jesus left his disciples, he said that he would send a helper for them and he sent the Holy Spirit. Is the Holy Spirit God?" His answer was that due to the languages of Greek and Hebrew, words mean different things in different orders next to other words. He said that there are 8 different meanings of the words Holy Spirit, one being God and the others meaning a 'good' spirit. In this case, he said, the meaning was a 'good' spirit. He said that God took their bad spirit and gave them a good one. (This is true, it's the message of salvation, but not the Holy Spirit). He also said that man was born good natured with eternal life and that men choose against Christ, when the truth is we are born eternally damned and we receive the free gift of the Christ's salvation.

He said that there were no Christians on the earth today because Christians were the one's who did works, and we didn't need to do works anymore because we were out from under the law. That is true that we are not under the law of Moses anymore and don't need to offer sacrifices because Jesus' blood covers all. But I believe he was wrong about there not being Christians on the earth. True, there are people that claim they are Christians who are not and many of the churches do teach heresy, but not all. There are true Christians on the earth who give up their lives for Christ and true churches who teach the exact words of scripture.

He was so smart. He was able to back up some of what he was saying with correct scripture left and right. He said that he had studied with the Jehovah Witnesses, the Mormons, the Catholics, and many others......no wonder the deception on his mind! He does say that they are not teaching the correct truths of the scriptures, so he is right about that. He said that he was so grateful that I listened to him. He said that most people will just combat everything he said with a statement and not even listen to him. So I was so grateful that the Holy Spirit had allowed me to shut my mouth and just listen and inquire; and not teach. This way the Holy Spirit was able to plant a seed through me in this man.

This man's name is Fred L. Please pray for my newly encountered friend. He is so close and yet so far. And due to his age, I'm not sure how much time this man has left. Please join in with me in praying for this man!

Also please pray for me. Today was the first time I have ever had to really defend my belief in Christ....on my own without my parents or others with me. I had to depend on what I had learned from Scriptures and what I had learned by spending time with Jesus. And while I feel like I was used by the Holy Spirit, I also feel like I failed miserably. After the McDonald encounter, I came home and sobbed for about 2 hours telling my family of my day. How could I profess to be a Christian when I clearly came up short in reciting verses to back up my theology when this man was quoting scripture left and right and most in context. He even knew the verse address! My calling of being a missionary was very squashed too. I spent 1 1/2 hours with a man who was so hungry for the truth, and I felt like I couldn't convincingly state what I believe.

McDonald's on October 19th, 2010, was a divine encounter set up by the Lord. I'm so grateful He was able to use this to teach me how much more I need Him. I press on towards the goal He has set for me!

Thank you for praying with me for the salvation of Fred! He is blinded and needs to see the truth! Come Lord Jesus!

Blessings,
Ashton

AP: October 15th.....a special day in history!

2010-10-15T18:56:00.004-05:00

AP writes:

Well, my October 15th has been great for multiple reasons! I worked this morning at the Holiday Inn and it was incredibly busy. It was hard work but very enjoyable. Today was also my cousin (well, half cousin) Kaeo Skeele's birthday. =) Also on this glorious day I am getting together with some of my friend (Kawase's, Kimberly, Stan, Dacia, and some others) to watch the movie How To Train Your Dragon. It will be good to hang out with them outside of dance. In addition to all of these, I found out from dictionary.com that smithereenes is a real word that means small pieces or bits. That practically made my day. =)

But, let's get to the real news. =) So today I took another test. Well, actually the same test I took before and failed. History of the United States 2. Again. Not cool for a girl who can't stand history and would rather be doing algebra all day. It took me down the first time but I conquered it the second time gaining the 3 credits I should have earned before. Adding these credits to my already earned credits gives me 90....which means.......

I'M A COLLEGE SENIOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so super excited and pumped!!! I only have 7 more tests. Technically I would only have 5 but two other tests have gotten the best of me as well. But I will conquer them too! =) I was so excited I was doing a party/happy dance in the car driving back and this lady in the other lane saw me and pointed me out to her husband who was driving and they were laughing at me. But I just smiled and waved at them cause my day was going great and it gave them something to laugh at. =)

October 15th, the day I became a senior in college........................while technically still a freshman in age! =)

~Ashton =)

KP: Manna_4U

2010-10-11T10:51:00.003-05:00

KP Writes:

Praise the Lord!
Wow, it is such a blessing to see our heavenly Father pour out such a rich blessing in abundance. Jeff and I have each been working with a ministry within IHOP-KC called Manna_4U. As the name implies, this is a ministry to help provide food for individuals within our community who are physically hungry and currently without monetary means to buy food. Typically the food comes from local grocery stores who donate items that are near the 'sell by' date, fruit/vegetables that are less than perfect, or items which have damaged packaging such as a crushed box, peeling label or dented can. (Yes, I have read the reports. You do not need to email me about dented cans.) The recipients can come to Manna_4U three days per week for a couple of hours in the afternoon and 'shop' from the items available that day. The selection is always changing, based on whatever is provided for that day-hence the name Manna.

I have the privilege of working while people come and shop on Mondays. It is great to be able to pray with and encourage people who have such a humble spirit. Singles, mothers, fathers, families, people of all ages from all walks of life come. One thing that blesses me is the gratitude of the recipients, not just for the material provision of food but to the Lord for His faithfulness. Because these folks are 'forced' to live by faith, they do not take having food to eat for granted. Most of the people in America that I know do not rely on the Lord for food. That don't have to. Food is a given. No faith required. Not really any need there pressing them to pursue the Lord. Sadly the truth is that our needs are actually God's gift to us, to direct our attention and affections toward Him. Oh that we would love Him with such pureness of devotion that this would not be the case.

Also working with Manna_4U, Jeff has been able to assist Skip in picking up food, as well as off loading 'the quail'. Specifically the Lord opened a door in July/August for the ministry to receive a donation 8000 pounds of frozen meat each month. In fact, this last load was 11,000 lbs! That is a LOT of bacon, bologna, chicken, ham, etc....Jeff helps to put the pallets in the freezer for storage before distribution. The humorous thing was that there were actually some quail in one of the deliveries!Pray not only for continued supply but also increase. There are many hungry people in this current economy. Pray that the Lord will abundantly bless the businesses of the grocery stores and distributors who so generously donate. Pray also that our weak hearts will pursue Him in abundance and in lack.

Blessed to be a blessing,
Kristian

KP: Come Out of the Clutter and Hear God #2

2010-10-05T10:06:00.006-05:00

KP Writes:

A couple of our readers have emailed and said that they are unable to read the portion of my 'clutter' post that I copied and pasted. So, I am posting it again, typing the entire post in hopes that they can read it. Sorry. I guess I have learned that not all computers can recognize things we copy and paste.
Kristian

Come Out of the Clutter and Hear God-reprinted from 9/23/10

I was reading a posting on Elijah List this morning and was struck by a posting written by Garris Elkins. I have copied excerpts from this timely message to Americans and the American church. I concur: Simplification is much needed in America. The clutter has gotten so deep, 'up to our ears' I would say, that we can no longer hear the Lord. Read on and be blessed!

"We are living in cluttered times that have produced distracted lives. Family activities and careers ask for their fair share of our day. Ministry commitments ask us for more of our time. The needs of others stand in line at the door of our lives and want to come in. Each of these demands are good by themselves, but together they can become overwhelming in their ability to fill every spare moment of our lives. At some point we must push life back and create a place to listen to what the Spirit would say.

Paul addressed cluttered lives when he wrote to the Church in Corinth: "The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage. Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away. I want you to be free from the concerns of this life." I Corinthians 7:29-32

Later in verse 35 Paul wrote:
"I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible."

Paul was listing, among those things that can distract us, our relationships, our failures, our successes and our possessions. When all the stuff of life begins to fill our lives, we become absorbed into them and take on their shape - and our image changes. Like we clay, we are crafted into an image of the distractions in our lives instead of being absorbed and molded into the image of Christ.

Now is the time to push back the clutter and distractions of life that are occupying your time and space and draining away your energy.

God is asking His people to unclutter their lives where His Spirit can set down and do extraordinary things. Remove the clutter and distractions and welcome the coming of the Lord."

I choose this day to push back the clutter and distractions and be crafted into the image of Christ. Will you choose the same?

Love ya,
Kristian

KP: You are Probably Not Old

2010-10-05T08:26:00.004-05:00

KP Writes:

Well now. I have been informed and updated by my 'college daughter'....It seems that before this morning I was not in the know, but now, I have the latest, breaking, 'scientific' classification. I was sitting at my desk reading an all inspiring teaching about Holy Spirit and the strength of the Lord as described in Isaiah 40, you know-feeling quite inspired when Ashton said, "Moma, you are not old." Curiously, I pursued her train of thought and was informed of the facts from her current text. Psychology currently describes old as the following:

65-74 Young Old
75-84 Middle Old
85-and up Old Old

Well then. I am not by definition, old. Some of my readers, well you have entered the classification scale of old, but not to worry- you are not Old Old, nor even Middle Old-but you may be pushing the scale!

Lynn S. and Margaret K. once gave reference to Psalms 92: 12-14 when someone mentioned 'old' and it is my prayer for me as I grow 'old'.

"The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Planted in the house of the Lord, They will flourish in the courts of our God.
They will still yield fruit in old age;
They shall be full of sap and very green,"

Love ya,
Kristian

P.S. I wonder what tomorrow will bring? All I started out to do was meditate on the Word. Hum...

KP: Birthday Gift

2010-10-03T22:43:00.009-05:00

KP Writes:
My newest prized possession is a hit for the Price family! For my birthday I asked Moma and Dick for a hammock. I was really excited that Dick was able to find one online at Sierra Trading at the end of the season at a clearance price. Being a proud owner of a fabulous hammock I had the task of suspending it for use. I asked Jeff to 'just hang' it from our patio covering, "like from chains or something". Well the problems were many ranging from a sloping ceiling, to support rafters not being in the correct spot, to taking up the entire covered area where our patio table sits....That is when Jack and Doe and Uncle Dick came to my rescue giving me checks for my birthday. At first I hadn't been sure what I would spend it on until I received a call from Jeff who was at Lowes. Guess what had been clearanced.....hammock stands, the big ones like what I needed. He bought one, brought it home and I immediately wanted to try it out. Unfortunately it was raining cats and dogs which if you know MO weather means the wind was blowing (as always) and so the drops were driving horizontally. Not to be stopped, we set up the hammock in the living room.

It was great. The four of us became quite fond of the indoor hammock: Ashton lays in it with her laptop preparing for tests, Mallory reads in it, Jeff takes five to regroup between tasks, and I have found it to be my favorite place to lay while downloading my day in a 5 minute capsule to Jeff, who so lovingly swings me with his foot while he sits the couch. All good things must come to an end....today we were having 15 people over for prayer so we had to move the hammock out of the front living room. (We thought we might need to get to the piano.) Each of the young adults found time to test drive it even though it was quite cool outside. (We warmed up to 62 after having been 35 last night!) But don't worry, the Prices have decided when it is too cold to lay in the hammock it will be relocated to the basement school room for the winter. Ahhh! Thank you everyone for a wonderful birthday gift.
Love ya,
Kristian

AP: Team Gatherings

2010-10-03T21:25:00.000-05:00

AP writes:

Hello all!

I'm so sorry that I haven't blogged in forever but hopefully that will change. =)

Today we were blessed to be able to have a team gathering! The Kawases (with the addition of Dacia!) and koalas (Stan, Kimberly, and I-we renamed ourselves while on the trip =) ) and our families got together at my house today for fellowship and prayer. It was really encouraging to see everyone and be together again. One of the things we had noticed while on the trip was that God was using our group as a support group for each other. We had what we called "flamily" meetings where we would go around one by one and tell what was on our hearts and then pray for each other. God was able to minister to our hearts in deep, powerful ways through these times so we felt it was essential to continue them! We prayed for each other today and one of the big concerns for lots of people, including me, was where to go from here. Where was God leading us in our lives and how to faithfully walk His plan no matter how hard the decisions seem to be was the big question that needed answering. We were asking God for his wisdom and clarity in hearing His voice.

We were also able to pray for all the churches we visited. To name a few we prayed for Living Waters Church in Tainan, Taiwan, the Hongodai church in Yokohama, Japan, Ricky Gordon's church in Shizuoka, the Bostroms and their community in Kakegawa, the churches in Kure near Hiroshima, and many of the surrounding churches we have maintained contact with. It was a great time of intercession for our beloved friends!

Because we were able to have Dacia with us, who is a daughter of the Bostrom family living with the Kawases for school purposes, we were able to have direct prayer needs from Kakegawa. Please pray for Mrs. Bostrom as she is suffering with a pain in her forearm, back, and other pains. Also please pray for them as they are in the process of acquiring an old public school building for their Christian school. While this is a tremendous blessing it also comes with lots of stress due to the monetary aspect. Pray that God would bless them financially to be able to compensate the teachers who have to work an additional job for enough income.

We are planning on being able to have regular meetings as God allows! I'm so grateful God has enabled us to maintain such a closeness as a team and as friends.

I will write more later!

Many Blessings,
Ashton =)

JP: Campfires

2010-09-23T13:26:00.014-05:00

JP writes:

The Price Family went camping this past weekend with two families from our home group. We had a great time of fun, fellowship, and laughter. Our campsites were down by the lake in what was termed the "primitive" area of the park which meant tents only and no electricity with about a 300 yard hike to the bathhouse. Being that our sites were right on the lake, this meant that we had to walk past every other campsite whenever we made that trek.

The thing that I noticed whenever I made the hike was that no matter what time it was, if someone was at their campsite they always had a campfire. At times it was really pretty ridiculous. People with RVs would be inside cooking or watching tv with the air conditioning blowing while at the same time there was a campfire burning outside. You could pick out the people that obviously didn't think about having a campfire before they left home. Even though they hadn't brought wood, a saw or a hatchet, they were adamant about having a fire. I saw many instances where they found 6-8 feet long fallen branchs/trees and laid them across the fire pits and had a blazing fire that could be seen from the moon. It was comical to see the extremes that they went to.

Not to be outdone, we too had our campfire going. However, we planned and brought the necessary tools to have a controlled burn. One night, we actually had a conversation about our love of campfires.

Campfires fascinate us. They are beautiful and mesmerizing with flames that crackle, dance, and flicker, an ever changing pattern. The colors are spectacular - white, red, orange, blue. We seem to be drawn into the fire and often get lost in thought in it. We cook on it, get warm by it, and gorge on Smores around it.I even love the smell. And at times small campfires aren't fascinating enough, so we fuel it to make it larger and more satisfying.

Satan and sin are like this. Much of the time they appear beautiful, mesmerizing, and spectacular. Luring us in to more and more, bigger and better in order to take our eyes off what we were called to do or were created for. That is having a relationship with Jesus. But even inherently good things can cause us to stumble if it keeps us from what we know we should be doing.

For example, one night the Prices decided to have Smores while everyone else went to bed. The other families decided to pass after seeing the sugar high that their children had from partaking the previous night. However, Angela sent Paul back to the campfire area to get her some tissues. Feeling guilty that no one else was experiencing the pleasures of Smores, Kristian and I quickly (and easily I might add) lured Paul in. Several minutes later Angela came investigating only to find Paul sticky fingered with a mouthful of marshmallow and chocolate.

It was pretty much the same classic scene as in Genesis 3. "Paul, where are you? What are you doing?" Me being the good friend that I am tried to aid in the cover up by yelling, "Here she comes Paul, hide!" Pretty similar to Adam's reaction when he heard God walking in the garden after they had disobeyed God's instructions. Hide!?!? What good would that do? At that point Paul was already caught brown and white handed. All of us were as a matter of fact.

All because of the lure of the fire and the promise of a reward of temporary sweetness. Is there anything that is luring you away from living your life to its created purpose? Ask God, He'll show you.

Blessings!

KP: Come Out of the Clutter and Hear God

2010-09-23T07:08:00.009-05:00

KP Writes:

I was reading a posting on Elijah List this morning and was struck by a posting written by Garris Elkins. I have copied excerpts from this timely message to Americans and the American church. I concur: Simplification is much needed in America. The clutter has gotten so deep, 'up to our ears' I would say, that we can no longer hear the Lord. Read on and be blessed!

"We are living in cluttered times that have produced distracted lives. Family activities and careers ask for their fair share of our day. Ministry commitments ask us for more of our time. The needs of others stand in line at the door of our lives and want to come in. Each of these demands are good by themselves, but together they can become overwhelming in their ability to fill every spare moment of our lives. At some point we must push life back and create a place to listen to what the Spirit would say.

Paul addressed cluttered lives when he wrote to the Church in Corinth:

"The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage. Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away. I want you to be free from the concerns of this life." 1 Corinthians 7:29-32

Later in verse 35 Paul wrote:

"I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible."

Paul was listing, among those things that can distract us, our relationships, our failures, our successes and our possessions. When all of the stuff of life begins to fill our lives, we become absorbed into them and take on their shape – and our image changes. Like wet clay, we are crafted into an image of the distractions in our lives instead of being absorbed and molded into the image of Christ.

Now is the time to push back the clutter and distractions of life that are occupying your time and space and draining your away your energy.

God is asking His people to unclutter their lives where His Spirit can set down and do extraordinary things. Remove the clutter and distractions and welcome the coming of the Lord."

I choose this day to push back the clutter and distractions and be crafted into the image of Christ. Will you choose the same?

Love,
Kristian

MP: God's Beautiful Creation

2010-09-20T10:58:00.021-05:00

MP writes:

Hello,

This past weekend, as we were camping for probably the last time this season, I felt God telling me to look at the beautiful creations. I will share some of those beautiful things that I saw.

The lake that we swam in was so clear and beautiful. This reminded me of the sea of glass in Revelation. When the light shimmered on the water it looked almost as if crystal was being bent. It also reminded me of how God creates things for us to think of as beautiful. I marveled at how God even thought to make the sun able to warm you up when the lake makes you cold.
Revelation 4:6 "Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal."

I also thought that it was really sweet that as we were packing the car up we saw some wild turkeys and two of them were white. They were so pretty. But because they weigh so much they made a bunch of noise whenever they tried to fly to the top of the trees.

We went with some of our friends, the Skeeles and the Kopplins. It was fun to be able to play and hang out with them. For use in the lake we brought some water floats that we used to take to the beach; and the Kopplins brought their Zodiac. Believe it or not my mom actually did get into the water even though I thought that it was a little chilly in some spots.

Over all we got to enjoy the beauty of the nature and have good family fun with everyone. We also got to roast a few marshmallows.

Love Y'all, Mallory

P.S. For the Christmas dance I am in Russian again and possibly American too performance. :~D

MP: Into the Swing of Things

2010-09-17T09:30:00.003-05:00

MP writes:

Hello Y'all,

My life is back into the swing of things, sort of like before school ended last year. Dance has started back too. Also I have been able to make earrings and cook. I finished sewing a small sheet for a doll that I started a couple of years ago, with Nana on the way to Ashville, North Carolina. All these things I have been doing in the afternoons. I have such an affinity for making things.

Dance has been really good. It feels good to be sore except for my left calf which I hurt. But now it feels better because I stretched it out. The one bad thing about taking two months off is you feel as if your muscles have atrophied to nothing. Because I did Gram modern last night, today when I was doing science which was talking about gram bacterium all I could think about was dance.

Sometimes when I am making earrings I have these ideas that I think will be cool. But when I beget them they are bizarre and I wonder how I ever thought that they were cool. The earrings that I make to sell are a variety of colors. Sometimes the posts badger me when I am trying to get them onto the hooks.

Lately I have been making salsa and it is so good because I don't make it spicy but it still tastes great. I have really enjoyed being able to have this free time. When Grandma and Papa took us to Branson, MO, I was able to watch some cooking shows and I wrote down some recipes that I have not been able to try yet but am very much looking forward to preparing.

I have also made some knitted items. I hope that y'all have enjoyed this update of my life. Hope your ambiance is lovely. I love you!

Love always,
Mallory

JP: Celosia Flowers and the Bees

2010-09-14T13:05:00.024-05:00

One of the things that the Lord has blessed us with is a covered back patio surrounded by a beautiful flower garden with a pond. My favorite thing about it is that all of the flowers are perennials and come back on their own every year. (Note the phrase "on their own!")

A few days ago I was on the phone out on the patio when the Lord began to speak to me. Currently, we have beautiful Celosia flowers in bloom. They remind me of fireplace pokers glowing from the heat of the fire.

As I gazed nonchalantly at them the Lord reminded me that the closer a fireplace poker is to the fire or source of heat the hotter it gets. The same is true with believers. The more we place ourselves in His presence, the hotter or more intense we are for Him. Another benefit of fire is that it purifies. When precious metals are exposed to a heat source for an extended period, they become more pure. God is a fire that purifies. Therefore, the more we expose ourselves to Him, the more we are purified and our sinful desires are burned away.

God then focused my attention on the bees that were buzzing from plant to plant. There seemed to be about 20 bees or so. Not wanting to miss what God was wanting to teach me, I looked up pollination on the internet.

It is estimated that one third of the human food supply depends on insect pollination, most of which is accomplished by bees. That is one third of human life depends on the bees unwittingly pollinating. Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male parts of a flower to the female parts of a flower, which results in fertilization of plants and the production of seeds. Pollen is also a source of protein that they feed to their developing offspring. Bees don't even realize that they are carrying it. The pollen just falls of them after they land on the next flower.

Likewise, after placing ourselves in the presence of our beautiful Lord and Savior through worship and prayer, we unwittingly carry His presence and fire with us.
Pollination is a picture of the Heavenly Bridegroom King using His bride, the church, to deposit seeds into this lost world. We do this mostly by consistently seeking Him and living a lifestyle fully pleasing to Him. In other words, "walking the walk." And as our children see us do this, they are fed and grow in the Lord.

Just as a great deal of human lives depend on the pollination process, human lives depend on us being willing to plant seeds. Our job is to plant seeds and harvest. We're not responsible for it taking root. That's God's job. And honestly, some of the pollinating occurs from just living life. I refer to it as the ooze factor. Just walking the walk and looking for opportunities to ooze Jesus love onto people.

So, are you willing to be a bee?

----- Jeff

MP: Joel on Fridays

2010-09-11T13:15:00.002-05:00

MP writes:

Hi y'all,

So every Friday afternoon there is a teaching at IHOP. Right now Mike Bickle has been teaching on the book of Joel. I am learning how much it relates to the end times.

One of the things that I have learned is there are four factors that often overlap and work together in a national crisis.
1-God's zeal for relationship with his people leads him to discipline them and to destroy their oppressors.
2-Another is Satan's rage-
In the end times God will allow Satan to vent his rage but within limits.
3- Man's sin also plays a role-
Humans will be violent toward each other.
4-The last is creation's groan.
These four factors work together for good under God's sovereign reign. I personally think that it is strange that we are quick to point out Satan and man's role in disaster but not God's. He is very much involved in in crisis that hit nations. In national crisis the greatest need is God's favor.

God's passion is to remove all that hinders love. But we say how? How do we answer that? Well here are three things: 1- receive God's correction, 2- resist Satan's activity, 3- repent of sin.

As the church we have the most responsibility to pray and raise a standard against sin and oppression. God requires that His people humble themselves in obedience before Him. Therefore we must stand in the gap and intercede for the unbelievers. Part of Joel 2:13 says that we must rend our heart and return to Him.

On another note, yesterday I started back to dance. My gluteus maximus, hamstrings, hip flexers, and calves are sooooooooooo sore. I only took two classes this summer and boy am I paying for it now. On Monday I have Jazz which is my favorite class. Tuesday I take modern and ballet, Friday is pointe, and Saturday is another required ballet. We will start Christmas show rehearsals soon. At that time I will let you know which dances I am in for our Mystery of Christmas performance.

Love Y'all,
Mallory

MP: Camping and Visitors

2010-09-08T10:49:00.005-05:00

MP writes:

Hello all, I am so sorry that it has been forever since I blogged.

I love visitors and camping! We have had visitors and we have gone camping with some friends of ours.

Since I last wrote we have had Ben Brinker stay with us for a month while he did Awakening Teen Camp. That was before we left for Georgia. The week we got back Kurt Miller and his friends, Casey and John, stayed a week with us. They were amazing! After they left, Grandma and Papa came for a couple of days and and then took us to Branson, MO, for a couple of days. It was a FABULOUS vacation!!! The aftermath of those days was that I got tan. Then we had Mrs. Joyce and Ms. Kathleen come to visit us.

Last weekend we went camping. I must give Mommy accolades for preparing all that wonderful food that I have affinities for. While we were in the woods camping we had to be careful not to leave our food containers ajar because if we did it would allure some critters that we might not want.
I don't like this picture much
While at our campsite that had a lake right there by it we were able to go swimming. I got a tan once again. Yeah, I am no longer white. Though I did hurt my knees several times on the rocks.

So not only did we have fun but we got to do it with some of our friends, the Kopplins. Being able to swim at the same place that we camped was pretty sweet. The whole time we were camping it was not too hot or too cold.Love y'all,
Mallory

JP - The End Is Near!!

2010-09-06T19:06:00.016-05:00

There, I said it (typed actually) and now the proverbial cat's out of the bag! It seems that everywhere I turn someone is talking about eschatology or end times. My mom is doing a bible study on Revelation, a women's bible study at Riverstone is doing the same thing, our family is taking an IHOPU class on the book of Joel, a number of the Christian radio stations I listen to when I mow the grass are teaching on it, various ministries and websites that our family follows are discussing it, and a friend of ours, Mark Nysewander, is actually writing a book about it from the Enemy's view. Right now people seem really hungry for a better understanding of how God's end time plan lays out. What does this mean? I don't know. Maybe nothing or maybe the Lord's stirring up His people. If I had to vote I would fall on the later side.

So, why is so important to have a clear understanding of the end times? Because it is important to God. Did you now that there are over 150 chapters in the Bible that focus on the end times? Compare this to the four gospels which total 89 chapters. The gospels give us a record of Jesus' ministry related to His first coming when He redeemed us from our sin. The 150 chapters on the end times reveals His ministry related to His return to rule all nations.

Some say that it's too difficult to understand or that we weren't intended to understand. Many are offended at the idea that we can know. Some choose the Ostrich method - putting their heads in the ground hoping it goes away. Others mock calling anyone who talks about it as doomsdayist.

Noah was given a difficult message to receive, unprecedented, unfamiliar, doomsday type message. They undoubtedly mocked him, after all, everyone knew that water didn't fall from the sky. It came up from the ground. Others were offended at the idea. Still others ignored his message. But did that change the message?

Jesus said "as in the days of Noah, so it shall be in the days of the Son of Man (Luke 26:27)". They were eating, selling, buying, planting, and marrying right up until the rains came. That's how it will be with us.

But, how will we know when? Matthew 24 tells us that no one knows the day or the hour. True. But in the same chapter Jesus tells us what things or signs to look for. The book of Revelation lays out God's plan for Jesus return. In the middle of summer, we don't know when the first snowfall will occur. However, when we see the leaves changing colors and falling off the trees, the temperature dropping, the thick gray clouds rolling in, and the snowplows getting ready, we tend to get the idea that snow might possibly be coming.

So, I encourage you to familiarize yourself with what God's word says about Jesus return. Sounds simple, right? Often God's way seems so simple that its offensive. The story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5 is a great example. "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh will be restored." Sounds easy enough. But, nooooo! Naaman couldn't imagine it being that easy. So he suffered with leprosy until he relented to the simplicity of God's plan. Am I saying that it's easy to know when He will return? No, but you won't know how soothing the water feels until you jump in with Naaman.

When is Jesus coming back? I have no idea! Though I do know that we are a day closer. It could be 10, 20, 80 or so years, but I see the leaves changing.

--Jeff

Long time no see!

2010-09-06T18:21:00.010-05:00

It may seem that the Price family has forgotten how to blog! We apologize for our absence, but we have had a busy summer. Still no excuse.

2010-08-24T17:42:00.000-05:00

I love God's way of saying, "Good morning child. I just wanted to bless you today. Love you forever and always. ~Abba"

Back in the USA..... =)

2010-06-20T18:53:00.000-05:00

AP writes:

Well, I have been home for a week now. I can't believe that much time has passed by! It has been good to be with my family and re-adjust to the time zone. Jet lag hasn't been too bad which I am forever thankful for. Abi slept for 19 hours once we got home. Now that's what I call a deep sleep!

I am hoping to be able to put LOTS of pictures on the blog soon. We downloaded all of the pictures into the Kawase's computers so I should get them sometime near the end of this week and then figure out how to put bunches on the blog!

It was amazing to see God work through us when we least expected it and felt the least usable for ministry. God truly does move in mysterious ways. Being able to see another view of who God is and see Him through the eyes of a different culture group was an incredible experience. Many good friendships were made and others were strengthened. I am so thankful that God allowed this trip to be written in my history! God is so good!!!! =)

I'll write more later. I am currently trying to study to take another test before I leave for Georgia in a week. I'll post pictures soon!!!!! See ya in July! =)

dancing in the orient - day fifteen/sixteen-

2010-06-13T06:01:00.007-05:00

We're at the Narita Airport, two hrs. from takeoff. Below is our final trip diary and a few pics attached.

See you soon.
Sue

_________

SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2010 : TOKYO

Quick Sketch:

Zushi Beach
One hr. visit with Nagisa & mother
Ja Mata Hatanakas’
Kobe Beef , Hymn Singing, and Nakadairas’
10 Yukatas + 20 slippers + 1 bed = slap-happy fun

Trip Diary:

Dear Friends and Family,

Our final day has been pure relaxing, fun, connecting with extended Kawase relatives, and playing the American tourist. With our busy two weeks, this has been a welcome chance to relax and debrief.

Saturday after breakfast, Reina, Hatanaka’s 15yo daughter, took the teens to the beach. Walking along the Pacific shoreline in the sand and water was relaxing. They discovered live starfish; some stayed on for devotions.

After their return to Hatanakas’ designer home, Nagisa arrived with her mother. (Nagisa was a JCCC student in 2008 who we had taken in at a crisis moment in her life.) How good to reunite with her and meet her mother for the first time. We were moved to tears when at the end of her visit she stood before us, reading a long thank you letter in her broken English. She is finishing her teaching degree in Japan.

Late morning we left for Jiyugaoka, a suburb of Tokyo. The Tokyo commuter trains and stations are quite busy. There was no way we could have made it without Yutaka and Jenna’s Japanese language. The rushing of black-haired crowds in all directions is a sight to see. These people are used to the tight spaces; they learn to talk quietly but move swiftly from place to place. We enjoyed seeing an evening train packed to the gills! The train screeches to a halt; the doors open. No one gets off the crowded train. But a line of 15 people still push forward into the train. The final people in the line turn around and simply back up into the crowd then hug their purses, skirts, briefcases to themselves as the soothing whistle blows and the doors close. Despite one woman’s skirt getting caught in the door, the train sped forward. Very efficient. A sight to see.

Our final visit was with the Nakadairas’ . Yutaka’s uncle and aunt and cousin welcomed us to their home. So did G’ma Nobuko. How pleasant to see them all. Immediately we were invited in for a meal of Kobe beef, rice, salad followed by ice cream. (Beef is very expensive in Japan; Kobe beef is even more rare—the beef cattle are massaged and given beer to give us very tender steak….a very expensive and delicious plate!) Oishi to ippai desu nee! (delicious and filling). The guys were wide-eyed when they were given seconds! A gift from God!

Uncle Kenkichi is a retired Tokyo appellate court judge. More importantly, he is a believer who for the last 25 yrs. has argued many cases (even before the Japanese supreme court ) on behalf of minority groups in Japan, especially the Koreans. He is a man of words. We each gave our greetings and thank yous to this dear family, all translated. At his request we worshiped together, singing “Jesus Loves Me” and “It is Well.” He then presented each of us with Japanese yen to spend. You truly can never out give a Japanese person!

Later the teens enjoyed the Japanese private garden outside while some of us rested and chatted further. We took pictures in front of the Japanese garden gate before we bowed, hugged, gave our final “sayoonaras” and sped away on the taxis to the train station where we were taken to Richmond Hotel, just one train stop from Narita airport3pm Sunday. where we will leave at

Our final debriefing was slap-happy fun as the entire team dressed in our Japanese style white robes and slippers jumped on Yutaka and my bed for some former god-stories when Yutaka was a student here 35 years ago. The stories moved to giving thanks for all that God has accomplished in our trip here. What a time we had. There is much more to share. Pics will have to wait…if we find a WiFi connect at the airport.

Please pray for our final trip home…. About 13 hrs from Narita to Detroit, MI…a short 2 hr. layover, before we meet in Kansas City.

Much love and thanks for being our stateside team. We are very grateful for each of you.

With love!

Sue, for our entire team

Hatanaka home.

Nakadairas

Team at Tokyo Garden Gate

Tokyo Trains

dancing in the orient - day fourteen-

2010-06-11T22:40:00.004-05:00

FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2010 : Zushi

Quick Sketch:

Train traveling north
Tourists
Hatanakas’ welcome weary travellers

Trip Diary:

Dear Friends and Family,

8:30am our team gave our final “chows” at the Nishi-Hiro train station, then headed north past Hiroshima, Nagoya, Osaka, and finally to Yokohama. There, for two hours we enjoyed being tourists. We had caught snatches of sleep esp. on the shinkansen. We were grateful.

Yokohama, Japan's 3rd largest city is set for tourism—lots of beautiful sites to see--parks, Japanese gardens, waterfronts, architectural structures, and shopping. We thought of John Ho as we marveled at the Yokohama Landmark Tower : built to withstand earthquakes with shifting plates within the foundation. This 70-story structure is the tallest building in Japan and has the world’s fastest elevator, rising 28mph . Here’s a pic and website if you want more info: http://web-japan.org/atlas/architecture/arc10.html Mostly, we laughed and enjoyed ourselves.

At 8pm we arrived at Zushi station where Yutaka’s cousin graciously greeted 10 weary travelers. The Hatanakas’- Ichiro, Itsuko, and daughter-Reina are believers that minister in the corporate and educational sectors. You may have known, they housed Monika & Juergen Kramer’s youngest daughter several years ago. They have a fascinating story of the Lord’s pursuit. It includes a dangerous Zaire I love hearing each believer’s story—each so fascinating and unique. This is certainly no exception. military coup, Buddhism, Havard MBA, regularly hearing the audible voice of God (it began when he was 20yo as a Buddhist.), and a Christian baptism in Boston, MA.

Saturday Prayer:

Connecting with former student- Nagisa- here at Hatanakas.
Our final trip to Jiyugaoka, a suburb of Tokyo
Honoring Uncle Kenkichi Nakadaira (84yo?) who helped us first establish contacts in Japan
Reuniting with Grandma Nobuko
Travel to hotel by airport: Reorganizing our luggage ; Debriefing

Much love to all!!

Sue

Natalie

More than Ashes

Hiroshima City Hall after Abomb

Hip Hop Blocking

dancing in the orient - day thirteen-

2010-06-10T23:17:00.004-05:00

THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010 : Hiroshima³

Quick Sketch:

Reunited with team : heart check-in
Last rehearsal
Brazilian home-cooked lunch
Finale Concert

Trip Diary:

Dear Friends and Family,

Our final dance concert is over! It was truly a grand finale for all the past four months of preparation. The concert was held at the newly built Hiro Civic Center adjacent to the busy train station. Lighting, sound, and stage (with large wings!) and separate dressing rooms made it a perfect place. Natalie and Jenna co-led this one. Who would ever have guessed when they met 17 years ago at MCF that they would be leading dance teams near Hiroshima, Japan!

The local Brazilian hip-hop dancers opened the evening with the vibrant dance:“He Reigns”, followed by “Go Get “em, and later “Living Clean” . Natalie had prepared the dancers well—with four practices each week for the last two weeks—all spoken in Portugese! And this is Japan! They love their Natalie!

Our dancers joined with them in the opening piece, then later in the program added their own repertoire- “When It Was Over” , “Man of Sorrows”, and among others, a powerful Cory Asbury piece “More Than Ashes.” Some of the song lyrics were first read in English, then translated to Portugese, then Japanese. We ended with improv worship to a Battlestar Gallactica instrumental. The evening was a celebration of friendship with these warm-hearted believers; a gift of encouragement during their hard months.

True to Brazilian culture, the socializing continued on and on- first in the civic center lobby, then outside, and finally in a local Italian restaurant. Lots of laughter and hugs… slap-happy fun. Exhausted, we fell into bed after midnight. Our final “chows” and pics taken—our hearts full. We had accomplished our purpose in coming.

Friday prayer points:

Four hours of train travel to Zushi (near Yokohama)
Late afternoon and evening with Hatanakas’ (Yutaka’s cousin)…pure relaxing.
Touching hearts with our team: beginning debriefing

Much love and gratefulness,

Sue

PS: The movie, “Ratatuolli” (sic?) portrays well how much tasty food reminds us of past conversations, places, and emotions. Ask Kimberly. One of the Brazilian grandmas cooked a large meal of soup beans, rice… at noon today. Kimberly’s eyes quickly brightened at the sight and smell….”This is my mom’s food,” she exclaimed! She looks forward to her return with them in mid-July, as we all do with our families and friends. Just three days left here.

Natalie and Kirsti Backrub

Kimberly and Soup Beans

Sayumi and Gustavo

Team Heart Check-in

dancing in the orient - day twelve-

2010-06-10T06:34:00.007-05:00

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2010 : Hiroshima²

Quick Sketch:

Team on-their-own for the day—rehearsal, train ride, shopping & A-bomb visit, & more rehearsing
Yutaka and Sue counseling day

Trip Diary:

Dear Friends and Family,

As Yutaka and I ate our Wed. supper in the “Thankfull Restaurant” (that really is the name!), it felt like dejavous. Just two years earlier, our last team in 2008 had ended their stay in Kure (town near Hiroshima) with an evening at this restaurant. It had seemed the perfect ending to our time with these joy-filled folk. Never would have we imagined the testings ahead for these believers.

We met for several counseling sessions and various conversations; we have heard quite a few stories—many the same—how hard the last months of trial (abuse on all fronts) have been, but also how faithful God is. We came home both saddened and encouraged—many going on with God despite the hard season, yet other younger believers struggling in their faith. We are sobered. We are called to prayer. We are reminded that in this earthquake ladened land, where every building is constructed in preparation for catastrophe, we too must have solid foundations, and develop our daily personal history with Jesus that will withstand any possible catastrophic event.

We also came away with two other assurances—

-- that God is faithful and will not allow more than we can handle;

--that these people feel incredibly loved by us for traveling the distance to hear their hearts.

The dancers successfully managed their 24 hrs. without their “team parents.” Surprise?! It was we who missed them! We couldn’t stop talking about the great team that we have. Some shopped; others visited the A-bomb Peace Memorial—very sobering.

Thursday prayer—

Final rehearsal for Thurs.7:30pm (Th., 5:30am CST) performance at the public auditorium near the Kure train station.
Marcio (one of pastors Yutaka, Joshua, & I homestayed with) & friends will prayer walk the streets Th. before the performance, attempting to gather interested unbelievers to performance.
Final “chow” (Portuguese for goodbye) Friday morning early.

Much love,

See you in just four days!

Sue

Abi beside advertisement: Beauty

Breaktime

Kimberly and Ashton rest

Marcio (one of pastors in Kure) and family

dancing in the orient - day eleven-

2010-06-08T21:58:00.003-05:00

TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2010 : Hiroshima¹

Quick Sketch:

Chapel with KIC School
Sword posing in front of Japan’s oldest castle
Shinkansen and Commuter trains to Hiroshima
Three Japanese HS gals fascinated with Americano dancers
Reconnected with Natalie!
Team hiphop rehearsal in open park while
Yutaka and Sue joined the Hiroshima Church’s prayer meeting

Trip Diary:

Dear Friends and Family,

After just 40 hrs. with the Bostrom family and students of the Kagegawa International Christian School (KICS) we loaded our suitcases into the 20-passenger Toyota van (a far cry from our Ford diesel van affectionately named “Clifford”—Yutaka did I catch you drooling?!) and headed for the Shinkansen downtown. Paul Bostrom graciously chose to drive us via the old section of the city where we spent 15 min. inside the giant gates of the Kakegawa CastleJapanese swords (replicas) for them to pose with. What fun they had for the few remaining moments! I have no doubt it was a gift from God to seal their time here! complex- the oldest castle in Japan. It was beautiful! Of course the guys immediately began climbing the huge stone base of the watchtower followed by sparring at the gate entrance. A Japanese man noticed them and brought 2

The next 7 hrs. were spent in trains and stations…the further south we travelled the more crowded it became as we headed into rush hour Japan-style. As before, the guys were such a blessing, regularly stacking 50# suitcases overhead our train seats and racing down stairs with a large suitcase in each hand. They were troopers! Pas de Deux trained them for this life!

We were so glad to reach our southern most destination around 6pm. As we awaited our contact, our team engaged three Japanese high school 15yo girls, attempting to try out their English on us. I pulled Jenna and Yutaka into the conversation when needed. The gals were fascinated that we were dancers from America. We invited them to the Thursday night performance. Pray that they come. As we left, we exchanged our American coins for some of their Japanese coins. We had made new friends.

And then Natalie arrived! How good it was to see her! We all cheered and hugged. Of course, it was also great to connect with Marcio, Hernaldo, and later at a pastry/coffee shoppe with Eri, Sayumi (Paula), Hiro, and other friends. It was great, yet sad because of all that has transpired with these Brazillian immigrant believers in the last half year. Their world has been shaken by much abuse at the leadership level. Though several limping churches now, they appear to be holding on to God. Hopefully, they will allow time for their hearts to heal completely.

Last night, the team had a 2 ½ hr. hip-hop rehearsal in an open public park led by Natalie. The Brazillian/Japanese dancers will join our team for a few dances on Thursday night. During this time, Yutaka and I joined Marcio, wife Sayumi and the believers of the new Hiroshima church for a prayer meeting. Unfortunately, the 45min. hum of Portuguese prayer was just enough to “sing” me to sleep! I awoke in time for Yutaka & my translated talks! We hugged and cried with the believers, encouraging them to take time to heal their hearts.

The entire team divided into groups of two or three for welcoming homestays for the next two nights.

Please pray for—

The weary dancers--esp. Jenna/Natalie as they lead the two groups (Portuguese/Japanese/Spanish/English speakers)
Abi and Joshua our youngest team members-emotionally/physically hard with the constant travel and quick entry/exit in each place here in Japan.
Yutaka and Sue --as we travel to the other church today, engage in listening/counseling two separate couples.
Jenna--as she leads the team this afternoon ON HER OWN : travelling by train/trolley cars to downtown Hiroshima shopping and/or the Peace Memorial (A-bomb museum).

Again, thank you so very much for your prayers. We are greatly indebted to each of you for “holding up our arms.” Don’t stop…in this place especially, we need your prayers!

Much love,

Sue, for all the team

Kimberly and Maharia

KICS Dance Camp

KISC Camp
Kakegawa Castle

dancing in the orient - day ten-

2010-06-07T20:37:00.001-05:00

MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2010 : Kakegawa

Quick Sketch:

All-day Dance Camp at International School
Evening Performance at City auditorium

Trip Diary:

Dear Friends and Family,

This will be just a quick note as we need to pack before 9am, and be “on the road again…” this time to Hiroshima. Monday was filled with a full day of dance. The team divided all the children into three groups to teach them—preschoolers, elementary, and Jr/Sr high. After tough warm-ups by Jenna, then Kenon, the team showed a hip-hop piece and a modern piece. The rest of the day was choreographing with the students. These students are truly international—there are Brazilian, Japanese, Filipino, American, and Korean. Some believing households, some not yet. (Yes, I googled it and Filipino is correct for people from the Philippines.)

The performance in the evening was a celebration for the kids for all their hard work during the day. Then, the team performed beautifully the entire 3 sets. Again, tears flowed freely. One deaf man in particular that was sitting near me was moved. I was moved just knowing that though he heard nothing, he could appreciate the dance and message behind each piece.

Our hearts were full though our bodies were exhausted.

After the international school’s chapel, we will leave this place for the shinkansen…traveling till supper to Hiroshima. We look forward to connecting with Natalie, and we hope to reconnect with a former Johnson County Community College student of ours—Nagisa as well.

We are so proud of our team. Each one has risen to the occasion, taking advantage of small opportunities to bless, and serve and love from the heart. Please pray as we prepare to minister in Hiroshima--

unity in team
safe, unencumbered travel from train-to-train-to-train
clear, heaven-sent counsel/listening from Yutaka and I due to the Hiroshima church changes
God-conversations

With love,

Sue , for all

PS: No pictures are able to be sent today. Will try another day.

dancing in the orient - day nine-

2010-06-06T23:10:00.005-05:00

Crowded Japan

The T/J Team and Emily Hong: L-R top-Jenna, Abi, Ashton, Joshua; middle-Emily Hong, Kirsti; bottom-Stanton, Kimberly, Kenon

SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2010 : Shizuoka

Quick Sketch:

Team dances/Yutaka preaches at Living Way Church, Shizuoka : powerful
Many conversation over Curry/Rice church-wide meal—American C’ian, Indian Hindu, Japanese cripple prayer warrior,…
Quick travel to Kagegawa-Paul/Cheryl Bostrom and 13 children
Slap-Happy Planning for tomorrow’s dance camp

Trip Diary:

Dear Friends and Family,

We feel as though we are on eagle’s wings; no doubt, we are being carried by your prayers. ARIGATOO!

Today we awoke from our futon sleep(strewn throughout the church bldg) - well rested, though we could have slept longer. We scurried through breakfast, put the church in order, just in time for the arrival of church folk. Living Way Church moved into the present building in March. For those who’ve joined us in previous mission trips (2006 or 2008), you will understand if I say—“there are no pillars in the center of the room to dance into!”

After worship, led by Ako Suzuki (old friends of Glenn and Karen Baron when they were missionaries in Japan), the team presented 3 dances—When It Was Over, Come Thou Fount, & Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. Yutaka then gave the sermon—an extended thank you and word of encouragement to the church, followed by a sermon on Psalm 19—responding to God’s non-verbal (creation) as well as verbal (the “law of the Lord”) . The dancers then completed the service with a powerful improv. worship piece using none other than a Battlestar Gallactica song! Lots of tears followed. The church warmly received us like never before.

This Shizuoka church takes the “breaking bread together” literally, and each Sunday they provide a very inexpensive meal at the church which builds much community. Since two years ago when we visited last, there is a renewed vibrancy in the congregation and many new faces and believers present. Some of the chats included—

-Stephen (Evansville,IN-teacher of TESL for one yr) who brought one of his new friends, Sumit

-Sumit (Indian Hindu –master’s level researcher of earthquakes). I asked if he was a believer…He smiled and said he is interested and learning. I remarked that I too am “interested and learning”, and that with Jesus I first learned about him through his work on the cross, but that He is so powerful, loving, and wise, that I am still interested and learning.” I told him I am jealous that next week he will hike up Mt. Fuji!

-Deder (sic?) Gordon—one of the oldest Gordon daughters who danced two years with San Antonio Ballet, but is returning to Mississippi to dance with a brand new modern company bringing the message of Jesus.

- Catherine and Ando—another married daughter (two adopted children) of the Gordon’s who expects in the next two years to move to Indonesia as missionaries.

- ?twenty-something male : Can’t remember his name, but I asked how he learned English so well. And this is his encouraging story—a reminder of the power of prayer:

“I studied college in San Francisco, but when I dropped out later, my parents refused to provide funds. Since I wanted to stay in America, but had no job, no food, and no bed I was desperate. A friend introduced me to a church family, provided for me, and introduced me to Jesus. I later returned to Shizuoka as a very new believer, still so hungry. As I was reading my Bible, I realized that I needed to be water baptized. I prayed what to do next. My apartment was located behind the old Living Way Church building and every Sunday I began hearing English worship songs sung. I was fascinated. Finally I developed enough courage to knock on the church door. Ricky Gordon, the pastor greeted me. I told him, ‘ I have come to be baptized!’ This was in the fall of 2008, and I have been with the church ever since.”

As I chatted further with my new friend, we exchanged more details, and I realized that he was the fruit of our prayer walks as we circled the church community praying for their neighbors. Both of us were very encouraged.

- Naotaka— This gentleman (30’s) has been with the church for about ten years. He is crippled, some brain damage, walking slowly with two canes. This is his story—

His parents raised him in Oregon. As a new believer in college, Naotaka was in a serious car accident which left him in a coma. The doctors told his parents that there is no way he will live. So, his parents returned him to Japan to die. Instead, he miraculously lived. Then He was told that he would not speak, but slowly with prayer he began to speak. He was told that he would not walk, but with great pain and lots of therapy, he is now walking. This man is a living miracle! I asked him why God brought him back to Japan to live and not die? He said, “For prayer… I am called to pray for Japan!” Immediately the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, and I began weeping, realizing that God was allowing me the honor of meeting one of the great prayer warriors of Japan. I began praying for him. Pretty soon he began shaking and fell to the floor. I firmly believe that this man will see with his own eyes the revival of Japan; what many only long to see.

By 4:30pm we were on the bus, heading to the train station. We gave our goodbyes, and traveled 15 min. south to Kagegawa. Here , Paul & Cheryl Bostrom and their 13 children lead a Japanese/English congregation, the Sakuragi Christian Center. They are third generation missionaries. Several of their children are adopted from Eastern Europe, another is a 12 year Down’s child whom they adopted just a few years ago. They began an international school two years ago that is thriving, except for space!

We spent the evening renewing/gaining our friendships, then planning for Monday’s dance camp at the school. Because the team is tired, it was hard to plan….yet, very slap-happy! We fell into our futons, strewn throughout the schoolrooms, separated by make-shift “curtains”- sheets hung on clotheslines. Oh, how we love the mission life!

Thanks again for your prayers. There is so much more to share; we save that for our return in just 6 days!

With love,

Sue

Edith and grandson Rui

Fujikawa new friends

New Fujikawa friends with Kirsti and Kenon

Penguin salute: Jenna, Kirsti, Stanton, Kenon, and Abi

Signatures on Ashton's Heel

JP: Centered

2010-06-06T20:36:00.009-05:00

JP Writes:
The weekend of May 15th, we found ourselves in the middle of our beautiful country, LITERALLY! One of our "Intro family" members was getting married in her hometown of Hesston, KS. Chastity has been a big sister and tremendous role model for Ashton and Mallory since that first week that we arrived in Kansas City. So, we loaded up and made the 3 plus hour drive to the beginning of nowhere for the Saturday afternoon event. The wedding itself was absolutely beautiful, the perfect picture of the bridegroom-bride relationship that God desires for us to enjoy with Him. But, that is a blog for another day.

What struck us during our trip over to Hesston and all day Sunday as we explored the Heart of America was the simplistic beauty of the land, the vast emptiness, the pace of life in the towns that we passed through, and the peace and quiet of the landscape. Especially the quietness. It seemed as though the quietness screamed at us at times.

As we stood at the top of the 40 foot high tower at the Maxwell Wildlife Reserve scanning the 2,400 acres for the ever elusive buffalo and elk somewhere (anywhere!), we couldn't help notice the sound of nothing. No cars, no planes, no music, only the wind blowing through the tall grass and wheat. At times we couldn't handle it and somebody had to speak.

Same thing at Coronado Heights where as legend has it after scanning the horizon for the Seven Cities of Gold and finding nothing Spanish explorer Francisco Coronado gave up his search. In his search for man's riches, he failed to notice the beauty and riches that extended to the horizons right in front of his eyes. As we looked out over this gift from God, we couldn't help but enjoy the peace and quietness as we "explored" this hilltop .
The pinnacle of our trip, at least to me, was standing in the geographical of the center of the United States just outside of Lebanon, KS. Again, the quietness and remoteness jumped out at us. Here, in the middle of farms was a stone marker, a small abandoned motel, a picnic area, an 8 seat chapel and three very large crosses. The thought hit me, "why do we cram into cities of millions of people, racing from here to there, busy, busy, busy?" These people had the right idea. Slow down and enjoy what God had placed around you.

A newspaper article at the picnic area indicated that only about 2,000 people visit this site each year. How sad. But this place spoke volumes about the spiritual atmosphere of our country. Here in the dead center of our country stood that chapel and 3 crosses. Just like God, whether anyone noticed or not, they were there in the heart of America. Symbols of why our country has been blessed as it is has been. Politicians and others can say what they might, but these are symbols of what made our nation great.

We tend to take for granted what a privilege it is to live here. Luke 17 records the story of Jesus healing ten men of leprosy. Even though all ten were healed only one returned (the non-Jew) to give glory to God for the blessing. Very few of us tend to turn back to God and thank Him for blessing us and the country in which we live. In this story Jesus even responded to the one that came back to thank Him. In essence Jesus said "Uh, I blessed 10. What's up with the others? Aren't they thankful? Where are they?" They were too focused on themselves and their vanity. They were too eager to show off how good they looked to the leaders of their day and to everyone else. The same can be said of today. Too often we are to focused on showing everyone how good our ministry/occupation/lifestyle looks rather than focusing on thanking and worshiping the One who blessed us with these things.

The quietness at the center of the United States was a prophetic reminder of the quietness that comes forth from America to the heavenly throne room. We are no longer centered. Like the Israelites of the Old Testament we have ceased to see the need for God. I am thankful that the Lord allowed me to stand in the heart of our country and intercede for the turning of our hearts back to Him. Will you join me in praying that the U.S. church body will wake up and break it's silence? Blessings.

Be joyful always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus

1 Thess 5:16-17