Truth or Lie, who do we believe?

Watch this video and then read below:

I think we women all know this, but here's a prime example of why we find so much wrong with ourselves. We see these women on billboards, magazines, television, and we wonder why we don't look like them. After seeing this, I think we see why we don't. Very few would match up naturally. It's a good reminder for us to keep our eyes off the media and on God's word where it says in Psalms 139:
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

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Hope in Dark Times

"Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear; rather look to them with full hope that, as they arise, God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them. He is your Keeper. He has kept you hitherto. Hold fast to his dear hand, and he will lead you safely through all things; and, when you cannot stand, he will bear you in his arms." - Saint Frances of Sales

Someone sent me the above quote this week attached to an email. It came on a day when the world and local news seemed overwhelming. Combined with my own fears of the future, I had forgotten that I always have hope no matter how dark it gets. My whole perspective was fear-based and not hope-based. Maybe you need a word of hope today. As much as I like what St. Frances had to say, I think the words from the Creator of hope will stand you in better stead to face today and every tomorrow you are given.

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." - Romans 5:1-5 (NKJV)

As I write this today, the news of the world is no brighter, but my state of being is now one of hope and peace as I turned to the only one who could give me these things in such dark times. It doesn’t mean my battle with fear is over, but I have the victory for the moment and I have been reminded where to turn when I am overwhelmed.

Isn't Our Creator Amazing

Watch this video to see just how creative our God is. It's about 5 minutes long but you don't want to miss the end.

The Power of Three Minutes

Beth Gross wrote the following after attending the Quest Conference in April and it is worth the sharing. Read on:

The Power of Three Minutes

By Beth Gross

I was floored by the deep issues that surfaced in three minutes . . .

During the third week of April, Jonathan Edwards led a group of Questers in pursuit of better listening skills. He taught the principles of listening skills, demonstrated with a brave volunteer and then set us loose in groups of three to practice them. In every group, each Quester had 3 (or 4) minutes to share while another Quester practiced the listening skills and a third evaluated. I was floored by the deep issues that surfaced in three minutes.

It made me wonder why we don't see more of that kind of sharing in our casual conversations. Maybe some of it can be attributed to the urgency of the time limit or the preparation of the participants.
But, I think some things we learned about active listening are transferable to everyday interactions.

1. Freedom to choose. Our group found if we left the field wide open, others were more likely to share below the surface. Instead of greeting someone with "How's the wife and kids?" we could say "What's on your mind?"

2. Be quiet. Too often in conversations, someone's sharing triggers the memory of an experience or story. When it's our turn to speak, we jump in with our two cents, the conversation takes a turn and the opportunity to hear someone's heart is missed. Instead, we could recap what they have said, ask for more information or ask about the emotions involved.

3. Avoid advice and solutions. Sometimes a person's greatest need is just to be heard. Resisting the urge to "be a fixer" allows another the chance to continue telling his story. Affirming the difficulty of a struggle and the emotions involved can in itself bring healing. At that point, the story-teller might be ready to look for solutions.

A lot can happen in three minutes. Let's listen for it.

Honduras Bridge

Look and listen to men who recently went on a missions trip to Honduras to help construct a bridge with CAM missionary Mark Fittz. See how such trips can change lives, not only those who receive the aid but also those who go. CAM offers all kids of mission trips from the the short exposure to a longer internship. Our fields are white and we are praying for laborers such as these men who will join with us.

Barksdale Air Show and God

Capitan Keegan Williamson, USAF ATC Instructor Pilot

Keegan, Bethany and I stepped off the bus onto the hot tarmac at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana this past weekend. Our senses were assaulted first and we all commented on the smell of JP4 (jet fuel) that washed over us as we left the cool air-conditioned bus. The high pitched whine of jet engines winding up to speed was the first sound we heard, and then we saw all the people and planes in front of us. There were many young men and women walking through crowd, guarding aircraft, helping with crowd control, answering a thousand questions, and enjoying the show with their families just we were doing. We were at the annual Barksdale Air Show with the star attraction Blue Angels to perform. Keegan and I drove from Mesquite and met Bethany who was in Bossier City visiting with her in-laws and were so excited to be at the base after years of being unable to attend an air show. We stayed for the day and enjoyed all the incredible flying feats and were awed by the technology that military might requires today. Flags flew everywhere and the young men and women in uniform reminded us of a war ongoing now in Iraq and of other wars fought in previous times. We were humbled as the missing man formation flew by and reminded us of those who gave their lives for our freedom.

It was a grand day…. but it held something else for Keegan and me. The planes, especially the T-37 (commonly know as the tweet) and all the men in flight suits took us back to a time in the late 70’s when Keegan was a gifted pilot and instructor pilot headed for a great career in the Air Force. We both wondered what our lives would be like now if he had continued in that career path. God could have used him in the service just like He does so many others, but that was not what He asked of Keegan. Driving home alone after the show we both reminisced about those years and how good they were, but neither of us expressed any regrets about the calling God gave us to change directions and leave the Air Force. The 30 plus years since have been wonderful and full of God’s grace and mercy, and God has shown us that He could give us security, provision, travel, excitement, and a communal family that was and is every bit as good or better than the Air Force could have provided. Now in the years ahead we are going to trust Him for the retirement benefits as well J It WAS a grand day and as much as we enjoyed the air show, we returned home thankful that it is God who is our commander-in-chief.

Keegan and the Tweet

Quest 2008

What is Quest? Keegan and I write about it, prepare for it, pray for it, ask others to pray for it, and we regularly attend it. I would guess many of you just know it’s some kind of conference associated with our ministry but not much else. Even though I have heard much about Quest, I have to confess that I didn’t fully grasp what it involved until I attended one. I knew it was a leadership formation conference for CAM leaders but not much more than that. In light of my own experience I encouraged Keegan to continue communicating what Quest is. Leadership formation has been a passion of Keegan since he began ministry in the local church. Quest is an out growth of that passion, years of working with leaders, CAM’s needs and the primary focus of his doctorate.

In June of last year attendees were asked to help pick a name and theme that would reflect their vision and values for leader formation. Thus, the name and mantra were created: Quest…Becoming a Christ-like Community of Lifelong Learners. The word “quest” implies the act of seeking or pursuing something. A quest can also be an adventure. Often, it describes a chivalrous enterprise in a medieval romance, usually involving an adventurous journey. God certainly intends for all of us to experience an adventurous and exciting Christian walk. Quest is designed for people who want to make a difference in their ministry setting, and the purpose is to help participants become lifelong learners with the goal to understand and then seek to align their actions and attitudes with biblical principles and practices. Over 100 CAM missionaries have participated at some level in leader formation and felt it to be enriching, stimulating and highly valuable. Under its current design Quest conferences are offered twice a year during the months of April and October. Attendees include both men and women who are invited by their respective organizational leaders to participate. When possible and desirable, couples are encouraged to participate together.

The April Quest themes were focus on: 1) Living and Serving Together as Multiple Generations; 2) Essential Counseling Skills; 3) 4) What Kind of Legacy Are You Leaving?; 5) Learning as a Way of Being. Keegan will be facilitated three of these sessions Jon Edwards, CAM's member care coordinator, facilitated one session. Please continue to pray for the moving of God’s Spirit through this ministry and for changed lives and a changed mission. Join us in praying God will continue to provide the funding to continue Quest and grow it for His glory and honor(funding is by donations to CAM).