Greetings From China!

I am in the office of the agency that invited us to come. My visa has been extended and one of the workers has gone to pick it up, along with my passport. (I have been passport-less from a week!) It has been an incredible trip in many ways and I am sure my life will never be the same. My photography skills have improved and I plan on sharing some good shots and terrific stories when I return. My plane lands in Houston on Monday at noon. The hardest part of the trip is an eighteen hour layover in San Francisco! The food has been terrific and I have seen amazing things. It has been sort of an emotional time for me as today is the one year anniversary of Dad's stroke. I praise God we were blessed with him for seventy-nine years! Keep me in your prayers!
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

The Paul Potts Story (Joe Widick)

I am not into all the technical things that are available on the computer. However the other day my son sent a clip that could be played on You Tube. He made it simple for me, all I had to do was click where it said “click here.” It was an amazing video of the show called American Idol. This was the first time I had seen any of this show. The show was the English version of the hit show. The clip was about a man by the name of Paul Potts who made his living by selling cell phones. He appeared on stage for his tryout. He didn’t look as though singing was a talent. When he was asked what he would be doing, he said he wanted to sing opera. The host of the show rolled their eyes as to say this is going to be a real joke. They had no confidence that Paul could sing, much less sing an opera piece. Here on a stage in front of critics who would belittle every mistake made, and audience of thousands that were poised to laugh at his inabilities, stood Paul Potts. The music starts and he opens his mouth and begins to sing. I am not a fan of the opera, but I found his singing very inspiring. The critics of the show sat up a little straighter as he sang. Something very beautiful was happening. Members of the audience were seen wiping away tears from their eyes. As the song reached a crescendo, the audience began to applaud. When the song was over, he received a standing ovation.

I need to ask you as I ask myself, what am I hiding inside of me that I’ve never let anyone know I can do? Maybe even more importantly, what talent has God placed inside of me that I’ve never let anyone else see? I believe that inside each of us, as Christians, God has placed His Holy Spirit. Through God, we can do immeasurably more than we can think. God takes those who by human standards are failures and turns them into Peters and Pauls as well as other heroes from the Bible.

Paul Potts, the guy who sang, said he often lacked the confidence to get up and perform. He wanted to, but just lacked the confidence. Don’t let a lack of confidence ever keep you from doing something special for the Lord. Remember He was there with Moses, as he stood in front of the Egyptian Pharaoh. He was there with Esther as she made her way into the presence of King Artaxerxes asking for him to spare the life of the Jews. When Jesus our savior made that long walk to Golgotha, God was with Him. I do believe that He will be with us each step of the way, as we use the talents that the Lord has blessed each of us with

Prayer Thought: Help me Lord to use the talents you have blessed me with

Click below to see the Paul Potts clip from youtube.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NLF9iEXnBRo

Of Missions, Meagan, And Miracles (Dave Hawley)

I'm finding as I get older that more things move me emotionally than when I was younger (I cry so much that my kids sometimes refer to me as 'Weepin' Dave Hawley!), and I'm not sure I like that trait. However, I rationalize it by thinking that it means that maybe meaningful things do hit my heart more often. Probably so. All of that brings me to my thoughts. Last Sunday, we attended services at Memorial Road church of Christ in Edmond on their Mission Sunday. It might have been as important a service as I have been to in a long time. It was ALL about missions, and their congregation's dedication to them...and it was stunning. The lesson was great, the communion talks were presented via satellite from Vienna, from a team of workers, but the best was at the end. They had members who had been to places in the world , or who have family supported by Memorial, come up one at a time, holding a single light. The music was beautiful, and I would have loved the emphasis, even if I didn't have a child in the overseas mission field. But when my nephew, Luke, just back from a trip to Zambia to see my daughter, went up, it was a very gripping moment for me.


Which brings me to the Meagan part. I 'm torn between knowing a what a good work she is doing, and wanting to see her all the time. I'm so proud of her, and I know her impact is great, but NOW I better understand people in my past who have missed their loved ones who are working for the Lord in the inconvenient. I'll be content to share her, I guess!


That brings me to the miracles part. Miracles happen because of missions. People are changed and saved, from what they used to be. But also...miracles happen to us, I believe, every day. Many of you who read this blog are familiar with our loss last year of our granddaughter, Harper, to a mitochondrial disease. That has been an incredibly painful experience...and yet, I believe God provided a miracle to our family in the form of Bennett, who my son and daughter-in-law adopted at birth a year ago. He has brought a joy and radiating presence to a family that needed one. God is truly great. Thanks for listening...hope some of this made sense. And, God bless you all.
Dave Hawley

Most Influential: Is It Doing Any Good? (Joe Widick)

How many copies of God’s word do you own? Do you have copies on bookshelves at home, one in your place of work, one that you carry with you to worship? Most of us have several copies and among those copies are different versions. Some may even have copies of this ancient book in the original languages of Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic. It is an ancient book that has traveled through history to the present, hopefully making a positive influence on mankind. And although it has been abused many times, it is still described by scholars as being the most influential book in history.
There are all types of surveys. I ran across one recently that said of the people that were surveyed 79.8 percent said that the Bible was the most influential book. In second place on this survey, and may I add a distant second was Dr. Spock’s baby book which received only 4.7 percent of the vote. In third place was Charles Darwin’s The Origin of the Species with 4.1 percent and then came George Orwell’s 1984 with 2.4 percent. It does take a professor in statistics to determine that the Bible was the overwhelming winner among the most influential books published.
Now the most important question: Is this highly influential book making a difference? Is your life a more godly life because of the influence of this divine book. I wonder of the 79.8 percent who claimed it was the most influential book have actually spent time, like many of you and have actually read the book. And if we read this book inspired by God, do we do so on a regular basis? Do we read a passage here and there, or do we follow some system that will make us familiar with the whole Bible? Do we really have a strong desire to know God’s word? Can we say with the psalmist; “They (the ordinances of God) are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than hone, than honey from the comb.” Do you and I plus that 79.8 percent believe and practice what we read? Is this book decisively influencing our lives? Is our relationship to the Bible one of obedience? If we answer yes to these questions, there is another question that must be asked. Are we encouraging others to come and worship with us? Are we spending time teaching others? Are we influencing our children in a positive way? Are we practicing what we learn in our classes? Are we hungering and thirsting after righteousness? We need to realize that this book that is so influential is immeasurably more than a collection of human writings. It is God’s authoritative Word.

Prayer Thought: Encourage me to not only read Your word, but also put it into practice daily

Just Like The Commercial (Joe Widick)

More wonderful thoughts from my good friend and brother in Christ, Joe Widick. Keep me in your prayers in Vietnam!


Unfortunately, I have grown somewhat skeptical about the validity of the commercials on TV. I see all of the neat looking representatives with their smiling faces asking customers if they can help. I see them seemingly full of knowledge with one desire that is to help. Too often as I have gone shopping for one thing or another, I have had to ask for help. First of all it is difficult to find someone, secondly they see way too busy to help, and thirdly, it just isn’t their area so they just don’t know. A couple of Wednesday nights ago, Elaine and I were picking up a few items after Bible study. Elaine was looking for some yogurt, and having a hard time deciding what flavors to get (I thought donuts would make a better mid-morning snack). As she was looking, the gentleman who was scanning prices, asked with a smile on his face, “Can I help you with anything.” Needless to say, we both almost fainted with surprise that someone was willing to help. Then I thought, their commercials on TV are real! They do care; they do want to help the customer. My faith in TV commercials has been somewhat restored.


Are you and I the real thing? We claim to be “Christians.” Most of us bring our Bible to worship and Bible study. Many will be at the building for each of our three assemblies. We will even open our voices and sing praises to God. The question I am challenging myself with as well as you, is in the day to day life that we live will people know that we are a Christian much more than in name only. I am reminded of a passage in I John, where the writer says; “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” (I John 3:17-18). Those are challenging words to me. They are words that make me look at my Christian walk, evaluating if I am real. As I talk with people, or interact with individuals, can those I am with know by my words and actions that I am trying to serve the Lord?


To me it is time that you and I no longer play at our Christianity. It is important that the community know who we are. It is important that the community knows that we want to serve and make a difference in peoples lives. It is important that have a desire to serve not to be served. I believe that God will bless an effort like that. As He blesses our efforts, we can give Him the praise and glory. We can also know that we are becoming more and more like those of the first century who were first called Christians.

Prayer Thought: Help each of us to be workers for the Lord.


God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

Frogs, Frogs, And More Frogs (Joe Widick)

No, this is not an article about the plagues that beset Egypt in an effort to set the Israelites free. It is about God knowing all about us! Recently I came across a story of a woman named Mary who worked in a large office complex. On one of her birthdays a co-worker gave her a ceramic frog. She politely displayed it on her desk for everyone who walked by to see. As time passed other of her fellow employees began to think she must like frogs, after all, that ceramic frog was on her desk. Her co-workers began to give her frog items for special occasions. Christmas time, birthdays, anniversaries, just any special celebration she would receive something with a frog on it. There were pens with a frog on the top, sticky notes with a frog on the corner, frog posters, coffee mugs with a frog for the handle. Her cubicle area was literally filling up with frogs. Time passes and Mary leaves the company. A friend asked her what she did with all the frogs. She replied, “Well, I don’t really like frogs, so I gave them all away.” All of her co-workers meant well, but the reality of the matter was they just didn’t know Mary very well.
Many times in life, I think we believe that we know someone very well, only to find out that we didn’t. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article about being my being shy. I had several who came to me and said they didn’t know that about me. None of us will no one another as well as God does. We need to understand that we are an open book to Him—there is nothing about us that is hidden from Him. Consider for a moment some of the thoughts found in Psalm 139.
God knows everything we do—vs 2. He knows all the activities of our day and every detail of our schedule. .
God knows everything we think—vs 2. He knows the good and the bad, the wholesome and the impure.
God knows everywhere we go—vs. 3. “You comprehend my path…and are acquainted with my ways.”
God knows everything we say—vs 4. Whether we are building up or tearing down with our words.
As a matter of fact I think we can safely say that He knows us better than we know ourselves. Is it a comfort to you to be known so intimately by our Lord? He knows all about our flaws and still he loves us so completely. We all need to remember that we are not just a number computers can trace; Christ knows your need, your name and your face. The Psalmist started this beloved Psalm by saying; “O Lord, you have searched me and known me…”

Prayer Thought: Help me in evaluating my weaknesses and strengthen me to do better.

A Little Bit Of Heaven (Joe Widick)

When we were in Honduras, there were many special moments. There were times when we had tears of sadness in our eyes; at other times there were tears of joy. There were times when all was well and other times we thought that if I have to go one more mile in this school bus I will scream (school busses were not designed for adults). One of those special occasions came at the end of a long bus ride up into the hills to a little community called Santa Ana. I have been going to Honduras since 1988 and had never heard or seen this place. Property has been bought and on that property they have built a clinic to meet the physical needs of the people in the community. They have also constructed a functional building for worship. The final set of buildings is a home for children. It is called Casa de Esperanza or for us gringos House of Hope. That is exactly what it is, a house of hope. Currently there are 15 children who live there. When we first arrived at the sight, we were taken to the church building to get an introduction to the property. The director of the children’s home along with the minister told some of the history of the facility. Then they introduced us to a little 4-5 year old boy who had come from an abusive situation. It was so terrible that the director really didn’t want to share with us what had happened to the boy. She stated that when he first came, he had to be held constantly (holding his arms down so he wouldn’t be hitting). Patience, care and love has won the young boy over. Each night he has the song “Jesus Love Me” sung to him. The highlight of this visit came when the director gave the microphone to the little boy and he sang “Jesus Loves Me” in English to each of us. When he got to the part of the song that says; “…we are weak but He is strong” he smiled and flexed his muscle. I don’t know about the rest in the group but as for me there was a smile on my face and a tear in my eye. God is so good. Those who had no hope are now given the opportunity to have hope. Those who saw no love are now being loved. Those who didn’t know what it was to have a bed or clean clothes now have both. There are so many opportunities within our community and those communities throughout the world to make a difference. While we were there, George and Stephonia received a special gift that will always remind them of making a difference in the lives of others. Remember what Jesus said toward the end of His time on earth; “I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was naked and you clothed me…” I am so thankful for the many blessing I have, I am also ashamed that from time to time I take these rich blessings for granted.
Prayer Thought: Help me to remember that You are the giver of all good and perfect gifts.

Discovering God's Grace (Joe Widick)

The book of Judges depicts God’s people descending into spiritual indifference and rebellion. Their dismal record of wavering allegiance hardly seems the place to find spiritual heroes, yet four people from Judges-Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah are named in the “Faith Hall of Fame” (Hebrews 11). They are listed along with Noah, Abraham, Moses and other notables. They are commended for their faith. Judges however presents these men as flawed people who nevertheless responded to God’s call during a time of spiritual darkness in their culture. The Bible honors them for their faith, not for their perfection. They were recipients of God’s grace as surely as we are. In every generation, God raises up people who are true to Him and to His word. The measure of their lives and ours is not the absence of failure but the presence of God’s gracious forgiveness and the faith to obey His call. Do you see what it is that is being talked about? These great men of faith were each and everyone the recipient of God’s grace. What they did with it made them champions. As you and I continue to discover God’s grace can we not see that he can raise us who are unlikely heroes into true champions for Him? Don’t forget Romans 5:1-2 as together we Discover God’s Grace

Do You Want Five C's Or Two G's? (Joe Widick)

I am not asking a question about grades. It would be a very low grade if you skipped over F and went to G. That is not what this is about. It is about an article that came from a national newspaper. The article was talking about the young people in Singapore. The article stated that they were aspiring to having the five C’s. The five C’s are: Cash in the bank, a career for the future, a car to drive, a condominium to live in and a credit card to travel with. The aspirations are high. To achieve these goals one would have to work hard, plan and save. In a manner of speaking, it appears to be the ingredients that often times makes up the American dream. The trouble is that many times, we Americans do not have the determination to accomplish our dreams. Too many feel as though they deserve something handed to them because they live in America. I digress! That is really not what this article is about. The article is really about the two G’s which will be far more important than the five C’s
In the 30th chapter of Proverbs the author Agur—a fanciful name for Solomon—or a real man, asked God for two G’s. The two G’s are simply grace and goodness. There seems to be a reason why Agur was asking for God’s grace. He was wanting to “remove falsehood and lied far from me” (Proverbs 30:8). It was important for Agur to not fall into the trap of believing that corrupt principles, practices, and affections are acceptable. With the help of God’s grace, he felt he could be turned from these concerns/worries. The second G that Agur asked for was the goodness of God to provide what he needed. He does not seem to ask for an abundance but simply no more or no less than was needed. He seems to be concerned that poverty could cause him to become covetous and to disgrace God’s name. He also realized how easily riches could pamper him and cause him to deny the Lord. As I look at how richly I have been blessed in this life, it makes me think of how richly blessed I want to be in eternal life. I don’t want to miss the opportunity to be with the creator and sustainer of life forever. So I have to ask myself what it that I really desire more is. Is it the temporary satisfaction the five C’s or the eternal rewards of God’s grace and goodness? The Psalmist wrote: “The Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11). If my real desire is to receive the two G’s, then I need to desire to honor God’s name above all!

Prayer Thought: Please help me to get my priorities in order.

Need Something To Do? (Joe Widick)

I remember hearing from my children “I don’t have anything to do!” When I heard that, I always thought of so many things they could be doing around the home. The problem was none of those items were on their radar as things they wanted to do. Take a moment to look in this bulletin and read about the different activities that are taking place. Look at the “Upcoming Events” column as well at “This Week’s Calendar. There are a lot of really good activities to be involved with. If none of those are on your radar, then look at the prayer list, homebound list or long-term list, and see if there is someone you could call, visit or send a card to. Maybe you could pay a visit to one of them. If you are still searching for ideas, pray for one of our missionaries, Mario Lara, who is dealing with kidney problems, or pray for Mike Johnson, Ben Johnson and Justin Latimer as they labor in Honduras. If you and I will only open our eyes to the opportunities that are out there, we will stay busy in our service to the Lord.
Prayer Thought: For our counselors, Jim Parnell and Bill Mackie as they serve so many in our community.

Like A Leaf (Joe Widick)

We continue with more terrific thoughts from Joe Widick of Lebanon, Tennessee. Thanks for your continued prayers on my behalf while in Vietnam!


A week ago Saturday, Elaine and I kept two of our grandchildren, Faith and John Derrick. While John Derrick was taking a nap, Faith was outside playing. She decided to climb up into one of our trees. After climbing down, she proudly came running to me and said “Granddaddy, I climbed your tree and while I was up there, I felt like a leaf.” I wonder sometimes if I have forgotten some of the real joys in life. I am amazed that so many simple pleasures are overlooked because of hectic schedules. Do I find myself forgetting that out of some of the simplest statements, I can be reminded that there is a wonderful, powerful creator, who is looking down at me.
I wonder what it feels like to be a leaf, to have the warm sunshine light up your day. I wonder about how it feels to have the rain come and wash away the dirt and grime of the day before. What does it feel like to stay outside all day experiencing the cool crisp air of the day? What is it like to be covered with a blanket of stars each night or to hold on tightly to the vine where you get your daily nourishment? To realize that one day you will let go of that vine/branch and fall to the ground.


The religious leaders were wrong about Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:15-16). They couldn’t have been more off-base if they had tried. True, they knew a lot of theology, but they were wrong about who Jesus was. The children, however, were right. They were the ones in the temple who shouted, “Hosanna to the son of David!” They believed that the person riding that unbroken colt was the promised Son of David. It was the children who responded with wholehearted joy, even though they may not have fully understood Jesus’ mission to redeem mankind.


Children can teach us a vital lesson about faith. In their openness and innocence, it’s easy for them to trust the One whose pure character touches a responsive chord in their tender hearts. As adults, we think we know so much. We try to be so mature, so correct, and so religious. I wonder if we would even recognize the Savior if He walked among us, working the kind of miracles He performed long ago.
On a beautiful fall day, a granddaughter taught her grandfather a lesson, a lesson about not overlooking some of lives most simple yet most precious moments. Thank you Faith! I wonder what it is like to be a leaf?


God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

Discovering God's Goodness (Joe Widick)

Lieutenant Paul Galanti was a US Navy pilot who spent 6 ½ years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. This experience has given him a heightened sense of ordinary privileges that most of us take for granted. Galanti once said; “There’s no such thing as a bad day when there’s a doorknob on the inside of the door.” After 2300 straight days in a locked cell, you might consider the privilege of walking outside whenever you please to be one of life’s greatest luxuries. Does this say anything to you about the goodness of God? Consider the words of the Psalmist: “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statues” (Psalm 119:71). Even from a difficult time in his life, David learned of the goodness of God. He gained a deeper understanding of the great love God has for mankind as well as a deeper appreciation for His commands. God is good, and just maybe, we can appreciate the goodness of God more as we deal with our trials and tribulation.

The Door Of Opportunity: Sevice To Others (Cindy Herring)

How old do you have to be to be a servant? This is the question I will be asking a group of 4th-6th graders tonight at church. You might say, "Well, when I am old enough to go on a mission trip with my church, or maybe when I have my children raised, or maybe when I retire." Let me share with you two individuals that didn’t stop and think about their age or worry when the right time was.The first one’s name is Saylor and he is three. He first started volunteering with me at Healing Hands International (HHI) with his grandmother at the age of two. He was only able to something for a short period of time but as he has grown he continues to have the spirit of being a servant and continues to work with us at HHI. The next person’s name is Fred and he was 93 when he came to work with me at HHI. His entire life was involved with being a servant and I am proud to say when he died at the age of 94, he was still serving others.

I share these examples with you as a parent of two adults because one of greatest gifts you can give your child is the gift of serving others. Steve has done this as a teacher for many years. My daughter, Vanessa, talks about the times Coach Hawley would take the girls in his Bible class to serve an older lady in our town. They would make her feel like a queen for the day. I am sure the lady felt very special, but it did more for the girls in the class and has given them lasting memories. "What Then Is This Child Going To Be?” Thank-you, Steve, for helping Greg and I show our children.

Also From Cindy.....

Cindy also sent me this neat link. I know none of us ever feel sorry for ourselves. This young man does not.

http://www.heraldleaderphoto.com/2008/05/31/adam-bender/

A Look In The Mirror

Lord willing, I am on my way to Shenyang, China by way of Los Angeles and Seoul, South Korea. This link is from Greg Glenn. I could never have guessed growing up in Nebraska that I would see this kind of poverty first hand or that I would have a niece, Meagan, who lives in the middle of it. I have tried to quit complaing since I have been to Honduras and Haiti. This is why:

http://mail.westburychristian.org/exchange/SHawley/Inbox/%20We%20are%20so%20blessed.EML?Cmd=open

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
*From somewhere over the Pacific*

Off We Go

If all goes well, I will be in the air on my way to China by the time you read this. It has been a long and winding road since my participation was first brought up in the Spring of 2007. One Saturday, I came to the church building to join several others in inviting those in our neighborhood to worship services. As I was the first to arrive, I sat down and talked to Bill Yasko, our former minister at Westbury, about the work we had been involved in together with our Chinese brothers and sisters. I mentioned I would love to go to China someday and Bill, a dreamer if there ever was one, told me it would happen. A month later, I was in St. Louis visiting my folks when I received a call from one of our elders in Houston, Mark Hall. Mark dropped the bombshell on me that the night before, a lady came up to him and gave him a check for $3,000 to cover my trip. The stunning part for me was that I did not even know the lady. (I assure you, I have corrected that oversight!) In the intervening thirteen months, the trip location was discussed before the decision was finalized for me to go with Ron Brown to Shenyang. Ron leads groups of doctors, dentists, and nurses to do cleft-palate surgeries on very poor children. My responsibilities are...well, I am not sure except for record keeping and being the backup photographer. You have to have volunteers to get anything accomplished and that's where I come in. It will be an experience! My one regret is that Dad, who was so excited for me, is no longer here to share the memories but his suitcase is going with me! Jordan Hall, Mark's son and one of my former students, is on the same mission but his plane left yesterday. Please keep us in your prayers as we show the love of the Lord by helping those who cannot help themselves and please pray for the little ones who will have the procedures that can give them a normal life. Please also pray that my ten day VISA can be extended to cover the eighteen day length of the trip. See you in, Lord willing, eighteen days!

Applicable quote of the day:
"You can take all the tea in China....."
Van Morrison (opening line of the song, Tupelo Honey)

*you can read aboout this great work by clicking http://www.china-mission.com/*

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

In The Meantime...

In my absence, you will be blessed to read devotional thoughts each night from Cindy Herring, Joe Widick, and my brother, Dave. If I can do any posting from China, I will give some updates but I have no idea if that is possible. Thanks to Cindy, Joe, and Dave for pinch hitting for me!
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

As Of This Afternoon.....

Weather for China, Liaoning, Shenyang
- Add to iGoogle
67°F
Current:CloudyWind: E at 4 mphHumidity: 99%
Sat82°F 68°F
Sun75°F 66°F
Mon71°F 64°F
Tue84°F 69°F

More Honduras Photos

Here are additional, and very good, pictures from our Honduras trip as seen through the lens of Dr. Paul Straughn, DDS, of Franklin, Tennessee:

http://picasaweb.google.com/phsdds/PaulSPhotosHonduras2008

Through A Viewfinder

My job in China is taking before and after pictures of the children who will undergo cleft-palate surgery. The dilemma is that until ten days or so ago, I never had taken a picture in my life. With a Canon Camera purchased for the China mission, I practiced the past week in Honduras. With the exception of the shots I am in, all the pictures are mine. I have a long way to go!

These two scenes are from a Vacation Bible School we put on in San Laurens. I wish I could say my students were as focused as these children!

How The Other Half Lives

One of the books that changed America was Jacob Riis' How The Other Half Lives, an in depth look at the lives of the poverty stricken. These are pictures of houses made out of whatever is available. In spite of what we would consider unlivable conditions, people in Honduras, and other poor nations, survive.

The Swingset

We visited a school run by Mission Lazarus. Like any children, these little ones love to play. I had not been in a swing in years! This child was a sweetheart.

The Young And The Poor

This little girl lives in San Laurens in a mud and stick house. A local minister selected a number of families who were in more desperate need than others. I met her as we gathered in her most humble dwelling, bringing her family a bag of food staples. What a smile in the face of gut-wrenching poverty.

The Master Craftsman

To those of you who believe I have no construction ability whatsoever, let me offer evidence to the contrary. In the first shot, I am nailing siding to the dining area in one of the soon to be opened houses at Las Palmas Refugio. Each house will be home to ten children.

This is the gate and wall entrance to the orphanage at Las Palmas Refugio. (There are no actual pictures of me laying brick but I did, on the right hand side. Masons everywhere are sighing a breath of relief I only slung mortar one day!)

We put a beautiful four rail wooden fence along the road to the homes at Las Palmas Refugio. Here I am tamping down the dirt in a post hole under the watchful eye of my patron, Steve Meek.

The Week That Was

Now, to see very good pictures of our trip to Honduras, from the camera of Steve Meek of Nashville, please click on the following link.
http://picasaweb.google.com/MissionLazarus/Hondurasjuly200802

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

Back Home Again

It was an adventure but I'm back in Houston! I was supposed to sleep in my own bed last night but instead, I lay my head on a very soft pillow in the Crown Plaza Hotel next to the Miami Airport. Our flight out of Honduras was delayed by ninety minutes, we sat on the runway in Miami for forty more, then stood in line more than two hours to pass through Customs, resulting in my 9:05 PM flight to take off without me. As always, the Lord handled the situation much better than I could have imagined. I did manage to have my two suitcases disappear yesterday somewhere between the hotel and the airport in San Pedro Sula, never to be seen again. I will be shoes/belt/shorts/underwear shopping in the next several days....and I probably need to pick up some luggage while I'm at it. (In a potentially serious blow to my finding my true love in China next week, my Lucky You Cologne was a casualty in the suitcase heist!)

As my other missions to Honduras have been, this was a terrific trip. Both the kids and adults in our group worked hard to serve the Lord by ministering to our fellow man. We are very blessed here in the States. While we complain about the cost of gas, consider what the fuel increases have done to the main staples in the diet of the poor in Honduras. In the past year, the costs of beans and corn have doubled while the price of rice has tripled. To make matters worse, fertilizer, which is petroleum based, has become prohibitively expensive, making farming more difficult and less productive. In the US, we spend a small percentage of our income on food. In poorer nations, the percentage is much, much higher. In spite of the hardships they face, we found the brothers and sisters we worked with to be joyful and perhaps more spiritually focused than their North American counterparts. Jesus said the poor would always be with us. Fortunately, physical poverty does not insure spiritual poverty. Unfortunately, neither does material wealth insure righteousness. If it did, we would be turning the world upside down.
Applicable quote of the day:
"Anyone who has struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor."
-- James Baldwin

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

While I Was Away..........

I greatly appreciate Ruby Parker, Paul Arnold, Mike White, Reed Sutton, and Joe Widick filling in for me this past week. On Friday, I leave for sixteen days in China. I need authors! If you have some devotional thoughts you would like to share, just send them to me in e-mail form at steve@hawleybooks.com. THANKS!

I'm Falling And I Can Get Up! (Joe Widick)

Tonight, we are again blessed by the writings of my former colleague, Joe Widick of Lebanon, Tennessee. Please pray for my mission in Vietnam!


One of the most graceful of all the competitions in the winter Olympics is figure skating. I have only been on ice skates once in my life. I found it challenging to stand much less skate. After some effort, I was able to glide around the rink. It was a good feeling to be gliding on that thin blade. Then I guess I remembered how thin the blade was and down I went again. I say all of this because of a story I recently read.


Paul Wylie was skating in the 1988 Winter Olympics at Calgary. Like most in the competition, he was nervous. The arena he was skating in held 20,000. There were millions of people who were watching around the world on TV. All would be watching his every move. Paul recalls how everything got off to a good start until he went into his first jump. It was there that something went wrong. He stated; “A flash later my hand touches the ice; the blade will not hold. I started slipping and realized quickly that I was falling. All I could hear as I collapsed to the ice was the empathetic groan of what seemed like a million voices.”


One never knows how they will respond in the split instant that followed. Paul Wylie could focus on the mistake he had made and give up or he could keep on skating and do his very best. Instantly without thought he continued his routine and decided that he would give his very best throughout the remainder of the program. When he brought the program to a close the crowd burst into enthusiastic applause for his courage and determination. He didn’t win the gold medal, but he was a winner.


As followers of Christ, we may be knocked off our feet by a powerful blow. It may be by the death of a loved one. We may lose a job, or we may be overlooked for that much wanted promotion. We may find ourselves in dismay and fall into Satan’s snare. What we need to remember though is; it is one thing to fall; it’s quite another to give up. What happens if we get up again? I believe that we will reaffirm our faith in Christ and as we do that, we find ourselves continuing to serve him. The psalmist penned these words many years ago. As you read them, realize that their stated truths are as real as when they were originally penned. “Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord holds him with His hand.” It has been stated that success consists of getting up just one more time than you’ve fallen down. Let each of us be determined to get up one more time, because success is failure turned inside out. It is the silver tint of the clouds of doubt.


God  bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

One/Ten Thousand/Twelve (Joe Widick)

One/Ten thousand/Twelve
I was in my truck going to make a visit the other day, listening to the radio. I heard a commercial (I don’t remember what they were selling). In the commercial there was the statement that said one can make a difference and ten thousand makes a movement. I thought that was an interesting thought for each of us to consider for just a moment. You can see where part of the title comes from, but what about the twelve? If memory serves me correctly it is said of the apostles that they turned the world upside down for the cause of Christ. It made me think that I do want to make a difference and that is something I can do and should do. But to make a movement that sounds overwhelming to me.
If there is one thing believes in Jesus should be known for, it is love. The word love appears in scripture more than 500 times. We would all agree that the essence of the gospel is love, as seen in John 3:16; “For God so loved the world…” The epistle of I John 3:16 elaborates; “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.” Christians are commanded to serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13), love their neighbors as themselves (Galatians 5:14), live a life of love (Ephesians 5:2), and love with actions and in truth (I John 3:18). So, if Jesus and His followers are all about love, why do some people love to hate us? Why are there according to one estimate, 200 million persecuted “Christians” in the world today? Jesus told us why! He said on one occasion to his disciples, “Everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20). Jesus is the light. When He walked this earth, people hated Him because He exposed the darkness of their sin. We are now His light in the world (Matthew 5:14); therefore the world will also hate us (John 15:19).
I believe that our challenge today is to become that movement again. To turn the world upside down for the cause of Christ is our calling. To let the world see in us God’s love and light. Each one who reads this article can make a difference. Think what a movement it would be if the seven hundred or so that are here Sunday morning put into practice the idea of showing God’s love to others. I believe we would have a movement in this community that would gain momentum daily. I believe this movement could turn our community upside down. Could we not each and every day show God’s love in our life, by being a friend, helping those who are down, those who have no one and no hope.

Prayer Thought: Help me to show God’s love in this community.

Thoughts From Paul Arnold

The most tragic words I hear from time to time are “I had hoped”. Those words portray someone who has lost their dreams. But they are not a new thought. The men on the road to Emmaus talking with our Lord said in Luke 24:21, “We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel”. To rob people of their hope takes away their reason for going on. If these men had not heard the good news of the resurrection, their next step would have been to give up and not to dream again. The author of the book of Hebrews tells us that we cannot live without hope.
This truth is obvious in many ways in our daily life. Listen to a child at Christmas time. They begin counting the days till Christmas the day after Christmas. Many of us are willing to do work that is unpleasant if we see some reward at the end. Years spent working for a cause is worthwhile if there is triumph at the end. A line in a poem by Tennyson quotes a nurse as she looks at the physical trauma around her. “How could I serve in the wards if the hope of the world were a lie?”
Judging from popular literature and songs, hope seems to be in short supply. We live on a steady diet of news that casts doubt on our ability to maintain life on this planet. Movies and plays often reflect the hopelessness many experience. It was not so different in ancient times. Paul reminded the Ephesians that before they became Christians they were ‘without hope and without God’. The church was the one place they could find hope and optimism to motivate them to keep on going.
Our pilgrimage on earth is toward a goal. We may get weary and tired but we know that our hope in the promises of God and in the resurrection of Jesus is enough motivation to press on to the goal. We need to give up false hopes and reaffirm the one hope that will nourish our lives and motivate us to keep the faith.

Road Work (Mike White)

Last August I bought a bicycle to get some exercise and began riding it pretty often. Since then, my riding has been “streaky” at best. I started riding again this past Saturday and have ridden approximately 10 miles a day. Here are a few things that I have learned in riding my bike that are life lessons as well.

Obey the traffic laws. Sounds simple doesn’t it? This is not as easy on a bicycle. I have learned that these laws are for my safety. I had to learn this the hard way. I once rode the shoulder on the wrong side of the street. I wasn’t actually on the street, so I thought that I was safe. I actually thought this was a better option than crossing Highway 6. However, I did not take into account that drivers turning right could not see me and was almost hit by a car. I quickly found an intersection and crossed the street.

Life Lesson: God’s laws are there for my growth in Him. They are not always easy, but when followed, my relationship with Him is better. When I choose not to follow them, that relationship suffers.

You need to use your gears wisely. My bike has 21 gears. I have always geared up and down for hills. I am truly thankful for every one of those gears. There are not too many hills in Houston, but the few on my routes have a big impact on my riding. They have saved my legs from an unbearable burden.

Life Lesson: The blood of Christ is better than any gear on my bike. He has covered the sins of all who choose Him. I don’t have to bear the burden of my sins. I can give them all to Him.

I pay more attention to those riding bikes and running on the road than I did in July 2007. I have a greater appreciation for those people. They have committed themselves to being in shape and are working hard in pretty difficult circumstances. I always slow down and give bikers and runners the right of way.

Life Lesson: It’s simple. Christ said not to judge others. I get real angry when others don’t do the things I think they should do, the way I think it should be done, when I think it should be done. Then I usually make a mistake that affects someone else and I expect them to be understanding. This puts things in a different perspective.

Stopping is easy. Starting and restarting are much harder. I hate stoplights. They kill my momentum and usually come when I am at a great pace. What is even worse is trying to start again and getting to my previous pace. My legs usually pay the price for this.

Life Lesson: It’s easy to stop living as God would have us. It’s difficult to begin that life or to come back to Him. However, if you are reading this and want to come back to Him or are considering giving your life to him, God will give the strength to overcome. You can also rely on those who are in Christ to help you. If you are struggling with a choice that could lead you away from God, remember that it’s easy to quit. It’s difficult to re-start. I am trying my best not to ever stop.

Thoughts From Reed Sutton

I am currently reading a book. I know that if my High School English teacher heard that, she would have a heart attack. If you see her, please save Mrs. Houseman’s life and don’t share with her that I actually picked one up. In truth, I initially listened to the book. I just spent the last weekend in St. Louis visiting family and on the way back I listened to a book on Audio CD entitled, “The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player” by John C. Maxwell. I am currently re-reading it so that I can take good notes on it. I am the Varsity Girl’s Basketball Coach at Westbury Christian and I work with Coach Hawley to try to make the Lady Wildcats the best that they can be. I made this book a required summer reading for our players after being inspired to do so by our Boy’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director, Russell Carr. While taking notes, I was especially intrigued by one of the qualities that Maxwell mentions in his book. It is Quality #8, being an “Enlarger”. This is the quality of making your team better because you helped add value to the team. “Your team” could be defined as your work, a sports team, your family, your church, your community, or any of the hundreds of other “teams” that you are a part of. Over the past few weeks of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and The Boston Celtics, it was not uncommon to hear radio and television commentators compare Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. They were trying to create hype over who the better player was. Every time I heard that conversation come up, it ended with the unarguable contention that MJ “made his teammates better” to a greater degree (more championships) than Kobe. Jordan was an Enlarger. The same could be said about former Celtic great Bill Russell when compared to Wilt Chamberlain. There are few compliments that I could hear in my life that would be greater than “He was a great teammate”. We all would love to receive that type of affirmation. In the book of Philippians, Paul and Timothy begin their letter by sharing with the church in Philippi that they were Enlargers. This is evidenced in chapter one and verses 3 through 6: “I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”. The individual members of the church in Philippi obviously had an enlarging effect on Paul and Timothy in their work. In Maxwell’s book, he makes the statement that, “People will always move toward anyone who increases them and away from others who devalue them”. He writes that if you want to be an Enlarger then, believe in others before they believe in you…serve others before they serve you…add value to others before they add value to you. In Exodus 17:8-13, Aaron and Hur were Enlargers by holding the arms of Moses up so that Joshua and the Israelite army could win their battle with the Amalekites in the manner that God had instructed. Mrs. Houseman was an Enlarger, because I still remember her saying, “It is amazing what is learned when you drop everything and read…Reed”

Quote of the Day:
“The most important measure of how good a game I played was how much better I made my teammates play.”
-- Bill Russell

Rolexx (Joe Widick)

Elaine and I first went to Honduras in 1988. Honduras has changed a great deal since that time. On one of our visits we stayed in the Hotel de Plaza which was very near the center of the old town area. It was a hotel where for breakfast one morning a roach was poured into Elaine’s cereal bowl along with the rest of the frosted flakes. It was the same hotel where you could push the elevator button for floor 4 and wind-up in the basement. It was an adventure! At that time we felt more comfortable walking the streets and seeing the sights of a third world country. There was a plaza (we would call it a town square) where thousands of people gathered daily selling various and sundry items to poor people who had little. I remember walking by and seeing items such as Ray Bann sunglasses and Rolexx watches. Being no dummy, I could tell that these items were at an excellent price. The thought of having a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses and a Rolex excited me, especially on a teacher’s salary. Thankfully Elaine was with me and pointed out that she didn’t think Rolexx was spelled with two x’s.Imitations of the real thing easily passed off at ridiculously cheap prices. They really didn’t have much value at all. They were simply very cheap imitations that would be bought by people who were not paying attention to what they were getting.


When you stop to think about it few things of value are inexpensive. Fewer still are free. There is however one gift, a very important gift that is free. The gift I speak of is that of salvation. Unlike the imitation Rolex, salvation is of infinite value. Yet it is free because, as one old hymn reminds us, “Gone is all my debt of sin, A great change is bro’t within, And to live I now begin, Risen from the fall: yet the debt I did not pay, someone died for me one day, sweeping all the debt away, Jesus paid it all.” All of us our thrilled by knowing Ephesians 2: 8-9 that tells us that we are not going to be able to earn salvation—for we are saved by the grace of God. All that is needed of us is to believe and becoming obedient to His teachings and we will receive the gift of eternal life that God offers (Romans 6:23). It is a paradoxical truth that while salvation is free, its cost was great. One writer simply said; “Forgiveness, which is so easy for us accept, cost the agony at Calvary.” Anyone who teaches something else is simply pushing an imitation of the real thing. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

Prayer Thought: Thank you Lord for the infinite wisdom you have and the gift you have given.

-Discovering God’s Grace-
Romans 5:1-2, what a comfort and joy to read, memorize and know. In verse 1, Paul brings to our attention the idea of “..peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” As you have read through this verse in the past have you thought much about the idea of peace? It was on the eve of the execution of Christian martyr Nicholas Ridley (1500-1555), that his brother offered to stay with him in the prison to be of comfort. Ridley declined, saying that he planned to sleep as soundly as usual. Because he knew the peace of Jesus, he could rest in his Lord. The next morning, Ridley told a fellow Christian who was being executed, “Be of good heart, brother, for God will either assuage the fury of the flame, or else strengthen us to abide it.” Then they knelt and prayed by the stake and, after a brief conversation, were burned to death for their faith. Jesus had given Nicholas Ridley “His peace” (John 14:27), the same peace he gives you and I. We need to remember the peace of Jesus stood every sort of test, every strain, and it never broke. This is the peace that comes from knowing of the grace of God.

Thoughts From Ruby Parker

Like Steve, I am a teacher at WCS. And, like Steve, I have many stories stored in my memory bank. I withdraw each one from time to time to remind myself of why I do what I do. I’ll share one such story with you now but first I need to preface the story with what’s happening in my life. I turned 65 this year. That’s a milestone in anyone’s life. My older son Chris, and his wife Brooke, surprised me with dinner at Spindletop Restaurant here in Houston. Chris said #65 needed something special. Outrageously expensive, I loved every minute of the evening, and their thoughtfulness made me feel so very special and very much loved. Turning 65 has also forced me to examine the financial aspect of a looming retirement. Never in the past have I regretted spending most of my teaching career at WCS. However, lately, I have begun to have doubts. Financially, I would be in a much better position now if I had stayed in public school and could draw teacher retirement, which would be much more than the social security I will draw. I have really been praying about this and asking the Lord to give me peace about the career path I had chosen so many years ago.

Now for the story. Several weeks ago my eighth period U.S. History class was preparing to take a test. When I called for all books, notes, etc. to be put away, one student in the back of the room, Merrill, raised his hand and asked if we could pray before the test. This happens every so often and so I happily agreed. After the prayer and a resounding Amen by almost every student in the room, heads bowed and brain cells whirred as students began the test. As is my custom, I walked around the room making sure there were no loose review sheets on the floor, etc. What I saw next was God’s answer to my prayer. He spoke as loudly to me as if He were physically standing in front of me. I saw His Word, the Holy Scriptures peeking out of a back pack, tucked under a desk, and positioned between literature and algebra books. What a privilege for me to be some small part of presenting His truth to the 130 students in my classrooms this year, not to mention the hundreds of students that have come before. The magnitude of this blessing came crashing around me, I was overwhelmed with His goodness. I don’t know what the future will bring for my husband, Randy, and I. I do know, however, that the Lord is faithful, and He knows what we need, and He will provide.

Ruby Parker

Prayer Request

Please keep David Yasko in your prayers. David is our beloved minister and has had two tumors diagnosed in his brain. Along with his wonderful wife, Julie, David is a warrior in the Kingdom. Please pray for strength, comfort, and most of all, healing for this man of God.

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