INSPIRATIONAL
Amazing
true life Stories
True stories
that will touch your heart and inspire you
THREE
GIRLS JOINED
TOGETHER BY GRIEF
By
Mary Cornelia Van Sant
When
I was 14 years old, in a two-week period before Thanksgiving, my
dad developed hepatitis and died. It was a shock to all of
us. He had always been so healthy. He'd only been sick
once before and had bounced back quickly.
As
one of eight children, I was usually lost in the crowd. Now,
however, adults sought me out to console me. They told me
how much I resembled my father and what a good man he had
been. There was an outpouring of love, visitors and food to
our home. To be honest, the months that
followed his death were quite beautiful, in a weird way. I
had never felt so immersed in love.
At
school, none of my friends knew what to say to me. I did
have one friend who came to see me at my house the day after my
dad died. She sat quietly beside me. I now realize how
much courage that must have taken. Besides her, none of my
other friends acknowledged my father's death. They acted
awkward around me. It was a strange feeling.
Several
months later, one of the cheerleaders in my class lost her father
to a massive heart attack. Usually, she was in the midst of
a huge crowd. She seemed alone most of the time now. I
approached her tentatively one day during lunch. "I
think I know how you're feeling. My dad died a few months
ago," I told her.
I
didn't know what to expect. I was a little intimidated, to
be honest. I didn't mix with "her crowd" too
easily. They were all so good-looking and popular. Abby
looked me squarely in the face. Her eyes widened. And
then she seemed to relax. We talked until the bell rang.
After
that day, we chatted regularly. Sometimes it felt like we
were in our own little world. We'd share stories and giggle
about our dads. It felt good to have a connection with my
dad through our talks. I cherished them.
The
next school year a girl named Terry lost her dad. Terry was
kind of nerdy. She was tall and skinny. Not even
"my crowd" had much to do with her. Once again, I
approached someone out of my need to have a bond with my father.
"I heard your dad died. My dad died last year," I
told her.
Terry
sighed, then gave me a description of her past week. I
listened to her every word.
As
soon as I could find Abby, I told her about Terry. Abby
responded like I did. It was as if we were on a deserted
island, and we had caught sight of a shipwrecked victim floating
toward us.
We
became a threesome. Not in a social way - we didn't really
hang out together - but we snatched a few moments at our lockers
and in homeroom to share bits of our dads. Just having
someone who understood when we were going through a tough week was
comforting.
I
still have my yearbook in which Abby wrote, "Thanks for being
my buddy. I needed you." Occasionally, I hear from
Terry. I have continued to reach out to people who are in
pain. I've received comfort for myself, too, as a result of
connecting with others. Being able to reach out to others
has returned blessings to me a hundredfold. I thank my dad
for this lasting and life-affirming gift.
Revelations
21:4 And
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be
no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be
any more pain:
for the former things are passed away.
NIV:
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more
death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things
has passed away.
MY
CHRISTIAN TESTIMONY
With
Pushups and Guinness World Records
By:
Doug Pruden, Edmonton, AB March 4, 2006
That
Polish Christian student Peter Bieniada "Pete" would
become a dear friend of mine and a constant reminder of the gospel
of Jesus Christ. He would always read scriptures to me at
school and ask me if I had any new questions, while telling me of
the latest CKER evening broadcoast on the radio.
Peter
Bieniada would take me to his mom's house after school and on some
evenings on the weekend. His Mom would lay out the silver
and dishes and put Ukrainian and Polish food on the table and tell
me to eat and eat more, making an impression on me.
I
WOULD RATHER WATCH TV THAN GO TO CHURCH
I
was always invited to church and Peter always quoted John 3:16:
"For God so loved the world that whosoever believeth in Him
shall not perish but have everlasting life”.
Everlasting life to
where? We
live in the real world of ‘suffering humanity’ and school
work. I would rather watch T.V. over Kraft dinner. “My
family was not like that”, I thought.
Peter
had a modest home and T.V. but I almost never saw him watch it.
His Mom and Dad and brothers would instead talk over dinner and
get to know each other through Jesus. He tried to get me to
go to his church but I turned him down many times.
At
school he and myself, like other kids were called names. I just
ignored all of it and went on with my school work and desires
after high school, which included college and whatever career. I
was never much into the music scene and drugs and occasional booze
parties while in school. I was also not very social either
so maybe that helped.
I
feared not doing my homework and getting into trouble at home. I
suppose every other kid grew up like that. I never had the
self-confidence or self esteem to get the really great marks in
courses like English and Math. At home we ate well and studied
hard. I passed and made it through school.
One
day in 1978, Peter asked me if I would go to church with him.
I thought, "Oh I may as well,
he was so nice to me all these years, so why not”.
The
place he took me to was the Edmonton Revival Centre
- the Faith Cathedral Church (Pentecostal,
speak in tongues type of place). I did not know what to expect
so I said to Peter; "You will sit beside me, won't you?"
Peter said, “YES”!
So I went.
A
fireball of a Minister named Max Solbrekken was preaching. Max
Solbrekken spoke and then asked if anyone there would like to
receive Christ as their personal Saviour. Peter nudged me a bit -
"Would you like to go up?" I answered softly and
nervously - "I don't know Peter."
As
if trying to quell my already frayed nerves he said:
"I'll go up if you do."
I thought: “I am not a dirty drug using sinner that needs
help. I am just a school kid”.
But
the real issue was whether I was going to go to heaven? And
will I have a personal relationship with this Jesus Christ he had
talked to me about for years? THAT WAS THE ISSUE.
THE
CALL TO FOLLOW JESUS
So
I stood up and went to the “altar” with Peter and bent my
knees like the others there to pray for forgiveness of sins and
accept Jesus Christ as my Saviour. All of what Peter taught
me and all of his work in my life came to a head right then and
there. I was SAVED and I was like Peter, "a Christian
person".
After
I wiped away all the tears, Peter and his Mom and I went to their
place to eat. He asked
me how I felt after this experience. I said: "better, but
seemingly more happy than I was before" I went into the
Revival Centre. I guess that was proof enough for Peter that his
work and love towards me was worth it.
Only time would ever tell.
AS
THE YEARS WENT BY, I learned more about speaking in tongues and
the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire.
A few years later, I finally got that "speaking
in tongues thing" at a Morris Cerullo
event.
I
began to read my Bible more and talk to family and strangers about
the love of Jesus Christ. I discovered a unique purpose to
my life and that was to reach out to young people in the same way
that Peter did to me.
Over
the coming years I went to conferences in Canada and
the USA to learn about Ministry.
I sat under teachings by Tony Campalo, Benny Hinn and
Bill Macartny of Promise
Keepers.
I
reached out to kids by going to malls and talking to kids after
school. Kids practically grew up with me in the 1990's in
south Edmonton. I had a heart for them and wanted to see
then changed in Christ.
People
would sponsor me, buy me lunch and I would just keep on telling
them about Jesus. I
would go to their graduations and open houses and meet their
teachers and eventually get favor to speak at some schools.
I wanted to really make a difference and change the world.
I
RECEIVED A BURDEN TO REACH YOUTH
I
went to the University
of Alberta and gave
out gospel tracts until the U of A student president finally wrote
about them in the ‘Gateway’.
I
went to public events frequented by the secular media with the
hopes of making a difference and voicing my opinion on everything
from policing and school drop-out rates to public architecture. I
needed a unique edge.
I
went to clubs and bars and worked them just to share something
about the Lord. I got a permit in 1992 and became a
performer for the first time at the Edmonton Fringe
Festival.
I
could not sing or juggle so I did what I knew best, that is to do
1000 pushups in 20 minutes. I had a busking show.
As
word spread, people notarized my act as the one that did push-ups "for
Jesus" because I said things or prayed to Jesus
during the shows. I had even put Philippians 3:14 on a sign
and my shirt "I can do all things through Christ Who
gives me strength."
People
asked me repeatedly how many more push-ups I could do, even
referring to world records in the Guinness Book. I began to seek
the Lord on this and how I could mold myself into a champion with
push-ups. I read the Word of God where Isaiah says:
"Those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
They will mount up with wings as eagles. They will run and
not grow weary and they will walk and not faint".
Faith
frees a person to do his best and to achieve his potential.
Successful people believe they can overcome and win a battle.
Think success! Proverbs
23:7 says: “For as a man
thinks in his heart, so is he." We must believe
that we are a champion. I needed to believe I could be a champion.
I never liked physical education in High School but with Jesus
helping me, I could “do
anything”. Have a will to do whatever it takes.
My
faith in Christ gives me assurance and the confidence to win.
Philippians 3:13-14 says: "Forgetting those
things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which
are ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward
call of God in Christ Jesus."
FOCUSING
ON CHRIST
Focusing
on Christ is a worthwhile purpose! You don’t know how strongly
you feel about something until you have to stand up for it. Be
fixed, unwavering and certain. That is what Jesus is to me.
Certain and unwavering faith is what you have to have within you
to do a lot of pushups and to challenge any world record that may
be there.
Physical
strength is from training, but courage comes from God.
God wanted to give me courage and He supported me in
“being the best”. Psalms 37:4 says: "Delight
yourself also in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of
your heart" - Proverbs 16:19 states: "A man's heart
plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."
I
learned early on to write down my goals and read them every day,
believe them, sleep them, dream them! Get them in your head.
Forget your past and believe in your future as the champion.
Not to live by chance, but by a planned purpose in Christ.
When
we prepare ourselves for adventure, our setbacks and losses become
building blocks rather than stumbling blocks. And stepping stones
instead of headstones.
Sacrifice,
discomfort, pain, injury and the will to suffer in sports to gain,
exceeds the need for comfort..
Romans 12: 1 says that we should present our bodies as a
living sacrifice to God. Romans 5:3-4 says: “We
glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation produces
perseverance, and perseverance character and character hope."
IN
2001 I ATTEMPTED MY FIRST WORLD RECORD
The
first time I ever attempted a world record with pushups was in August
2001 at the Edmonton
Fringe
festival. I
managed after many
different attempts to do 102 one-arm pushups in one minute.
That record was accepted as a world record. However,
heartbreak set in a year later as I discovered that someone else
had beaten that record by 18 push-ups.
Evander
Weber of Switzerland did 120 one arm
pushups in one minute and made it into the 2004 Guinness Book of
world records. I was
crushed in my heart and had to seek a lot of counsel, as I did not
make the book. People prayed and told me to press on and try
“other records”. There
were none to try, at least that I was interested in.
The
August 2001 record
attempt took me months and months of work to get the documents
together for invigilation by Guinness world records in London
, England
. They required things like: photos,
video, witness letters, and the need to perform the attempt in a
public place, in my case, the Edmonton ‘Fringe
Festival’. After
the Edmonton fringe festival was done in late August, I began to
go over all the record attempt paperwork that people signed at the
fringe festival and videos made and got then ready for Guinness.
11
SEPTEMBER:
EVERYTHING ON HOLD
Then,
just as soon as I got things started everything was put on hold
because of the September 11
terrorist attacks in New
York. Witnesses who had seen
my one arm pushups ecord at the fringe festival were not in the
mood to immediately give letters, and besides I also was watching
the world’s reactions on T.V. over the September 11 terrorist
attacks.
During
the many weeks and months that went on after the September 11
terrorist attacks I did a bit here and a bit there and started to
get documents for Guinness organized and that was delayed further
by the coming cold winter in Edmonton.
Just
before Christmas, I finally got all the documents to Guinness
World Book of Records. The world record of 102 one arm
push-ups in one minute was accepted in March 2002 as an official
world record.
However
my balloon was burst, Evander
Weber whom I tried to beat did another one on October
2001, thus nullifying my chance at being selected as the
latest unbeaten record for inclusion in the millions of copies “Guinness book of records 2004.
I
was stunned that the record I worked so hard at was beaten before
the book was ready for the presses.
I just wanted to give up and give up on hope I had always
had for things in God. God
after all “seemed to have lost control” of my circumstances and that of
making it into the biggest selling book in the world. I
NEEDED STRENGTH AND COURAGE TO GO ON,
but only found misery and defeat. And time to have a good cry.
We
read in Psalms 46:1: “God
is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble.” We
need to establish our foundations on God’s Word instead of on
emotions that can fluctuate.
THERE
IS NO OTHER NAME THAN JESUS AND NO OTHER PLACE BY THE HOLY
SCRIPTURES
There
is no other name that we can turn to but Jesus. Where was I to go
for a new set of values and beliefs? I turned to my Holy
Bible and the Holy Scriptures. In
Psalms 55: 22 it says: "Cast your cares on the
Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous
fall" and "Wait upon the Lord and keep His way, and He
shall exalt thee to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off,
thou shalt see it." (Psalms 37:34)
Believing
God was a very tough thing to do, when you have been bumped out of
the biggest selling book in the world, “The Guinness Book of World Records”.
To me that is the “Academy Awards” of pushups, to have
a world record and have your name in the book. Kids at schools
always asked me: “Are
you in the book, Dougie?” I
always told them: “With God’s help I will be."
My
next attempt was not till July 1, 2003, when I tried to beat Roy Berger’s record of 3412 push-ups in one hour and I did that on
CTV at West Edmonton Mall. I
only reached 2500 plus. I
failed again and was well short of the Guinness World Record.
I spent money on that record and the Mall had pre-organized
it for months, how could I lose that too.
I
gave everything and every single attempt back to Jesus in tears.
BACK! I gave the talent and gift back. BY THIS
TIME, I DEFINITELY GREW WEARY. “What now”?
I asked the Lord.
I
knew I needed faith to carry on.
Back to the prayer closet and back to the prayer partners.
Could you pray for me about…..? Could you say a prayer
for me about this and that? Strength, Lord!
Commitment, Lord!
Don’t give in or give up. Try something, anything.
FIST
PUSH-UPS
On
the internet there is a record of 1000 in 19:20 minutes by Roy
Berger. How about 4,700 by a Russian karate guy in 3:20
hours. That is a lot of push-ups to do.
I
started to organize the two latest fist pushup attempts.
Hire the judges, get the video camera, get a photographer,
get back into the swing of things and let God be GOD.
And get letters made and send them off.
On
July 8, 2003, I did the fastest set of fist pushups ever done,
reaching 1000 in 18:13 minutes beating the previous record by
almost 1 minute. My faith was being stirred.
It
took a year before I tried the next record. The next one was also
a fist one held by the Russian Karate guy!
He completed 4700 in
3 hours and 20 minutes! And
he had to stop the exercise because he passed out for 30 seconds
at the 4700 mark which resulted in the end of his performance.
My
goal was to surpass his total by a lot. On July 9, 2004, I
reached 5557 in 3 hours 2 minutes and 30 seconds. It was
broadcast on the news that night and I had quite the testimony and
story to tell.
The judges were amazed and gave
their letters and I got the video and sent things off to Germany
to get approval to which they did.
I was on a roll.
MORE
RECORDS AND GLORY FOR GOD
I
prayed to the Lord, read my goals and cased out more world
records. I called a few friends for support and kept
training. September 2004
came and I called Guinness World Book of Records in London,
England and asked them if there was a
category for “most one
arm pushups in one hour." Praise the Lord, there
WAS a category.
A
NEW category that no other athlete had tried with The Guinness
World Book of Records, “The most one arm pushups in one hour” said The Guinness
World Book of Records representative.
“No one currently
has this record,” Guinness said on the phone to me from
London.
I
got on the internet and applied for the guidelines for that record
and started practicing and planning.
October 22, 2004 was
set as the date for the attempt for the most one arm pushups in
one hour.
I
phoned judges and got a photographer and called the media just
before the big day. One problem was that I did not wait for the
actual rules & requirements to come in and meanwhile The
Guinness World Book of Records changed them since August 2001 when
I did my first “Guinness” attempt.
The
Guiness World Book of Records now require 2 video cameras (one for
the side and one for the frontal view of me). I only had one
video camera. It was a few days before the attempt date AND
I DID NOT HAVE A SECOND Video CAMERA. A friend of mine called
a camera store that had previously donated film.
The friend Stew asked the owner of the store if he could
sell him a VIDEO camera very cheap or loan one for nothing for
Doug’s attempt.
The
store owner “agreed to
loan a $4,000 video camera for nothing”.
I was so happy for my friend helping me out (he was a
Christian you know). So I arranged to immediately pick it up the
day before and get things ready for October 22, 2004.
That
day I did 1,777 (a nice number) - one-arm pushups in one hour of
exact time with judges and 2 video cameras. The Guinness
World Book of Records got the package a week later by courier.
I was good at this. That record was :"praise the
Lord" accepted by Guinness. It MADE the 2006 Guinness
book of records. Now I really had something to talk about in
Christ.
I
reminded myself of Philippians 3: 13-14 that says:
“Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching
forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal
for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
Our talents are God given and we must use them for the Lord. God
gives us a unique assignment that He can use with us to change
lives and bring people to the Lord. God is a big thinker.
Once
I made the book I showed my friends, and family.
Now, I thought, why not become a multi Guinness world record
holder? Not just to establish records, but also to pass other
peoples already established world records. I checked The Guinness
World Book of Records for other weird records. A British man
by the name of Kevin Jefferson had established a world record in ‘back
of the hand’ pushups.
He
did regular pushups, but did them completely on the BACK OF THE
HANDS. Paddy
Doyle started that in the year 2000 by doing 600 of them in
one hour. It
took me about 4 years to muster up enough Holy Ghost courage to
try a few. They looked like they hurt! And they did. I could not do 10 in a row. And
Paddy did 600 and eventually Kevin Jefferson completed over 1584
of them (Oct 20, 2002). How could I do that?
PRACTICE,
PRACTICE, PRACTICE & GOD
April
29, 2005 was the set attempt date.
I did the record. I hit 1807 in one hour.
A few months later Guinness REJECTED the record. The Germans
said it was good but Guinness wanted to see me do it one more time
with a more rigid body position.
REJECTION!
Scriptures
could not change the fact but SCRIPTURES could change MY ATTITUDE
towards the rejection. That they did, and I read the Word then
went to work.
First,
I video analyzed my own body doing pushups to see if I could see
the errors. I was a
bit shaky.
After
much prayer and patience, it was decided that I was going to do
the attempt over AGAIN.
This time I would make sure I did the most perfect pushups as
I could. Make each pushup COUNT while keeping my body
completely rigid.
July
8, 2005 was set as the date the gym and the judges could do it.
I hit 1781, 197 past the record of 1584 set by Kevin Jefferson in
2002. My attempt with all its details was submitted to
Guinness World Book of Records. The
summer came and went and winter was almost here.
I
still had not heard back from Guiness World Book of Records on my
new record. Delay,
delay, delay. It was suppose to take a few months for
them to get back. No answer, nothing to tell people.
Nothing to share about what God did. Delay did not mean
denial with Guinness, because they hadn’t sent me a denial
e-mail which is usually sent with a rejection. Wait and wonder, what now?
While
browsing the Guinness website I noticed that they were having a
first ever Guinness world records “DAY” on November 9, 2005.
I thought, “LET’S DO ANOTHER ATTEMPT, BUT WHAT?"
I
did one arm, I did fist, I did two arm and failed years ago, I did
back of hand. What
could I do? How
about, the “most one arm back of one hand in one hour?
That is 441 by Bruce Swatton of the U.K. Yikkess!!!!
I could barely do the back of hands never mind the one arm
back of ONE hand. God said: “YES you could. I saw you do
one.” I did do ONE at the Edmonton Fringe in 2005.
Actually,
I did a few at the end of shows but never treated those show
“conclusions” as a real contender for an ACTUAL world record.
So I applied to Guinness and got the rules and started to
practice, as I had to learn this by November 9 (Guinness world
records day).
I
could only do 10 at a time, if that.
But no worry, the other guy ONLY did 441 in an entire hour.
Surely I could hack 10 here and 7 there, etc till an hour
is done. “Jesus,
with You all things are possible and I believe that,” I
said to myself.
In
training I could do almost 300 in half an hour.
Again 5 here, 7 here 13 here 10 here and so on and see just
how the timing is and how much actual pain there is in doing ONE
ARM BACK OF ONE HAND.
And you have to use the SAME hand!
I knew it might hurt somewhat towards the end, BUT it is
only for an hour.
Besides, Jesus suffered more.
Let’s
put this in real perspective.
So I could put up with an hour!
I phoned the judges and they all could work it!
It was coming together. I just had to pray for the
media, because that is usually a busy time in the midweek being on
a Wednesday.
Global
News Edmonton showed up, only AFTER a few hundred push-ups
were done. Presto, we had the last Guinness verification
requirement; A media
presence. All fulfilled. I did 1781 in one hour all on
the back of the hands.
In
February 2006 I finally got all the certificates for both world
records and assurance from Guinness of possibly making the 2007
book. I did 1781 in
one hour all on the back of the hands.
It
was a great time to give praise to the Lord. Faith frees us to do
our best whether it is push-ups or just living life every day. A
champion’s heart is one molded into a likeness of the Lord Jesus
Christ’s. He did that for me, taking me from defeat to
victory.
To
be a success we MUST
believe that we can win THE BATTLE. We
can’t think defeat and serve the Lord. Go in and EXPECT to win.
Proverbs 22: 24 says: “Do you see a man who excels in his work?
He will stand before kings”. Jesus is our King.
Perseverance
produces character. And character produces hope.
James
1: 17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from the
above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with Whom there
is no variation or shadow of turning.” The Bible says in Hebrews
11: 6, “Without faith it
is impossible to please God!" Psalms 84:11
declares, “For the Lord is a sun and shield; the Lord will give
grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that
walk uprightly."
That
is a call for us to believe that God is who He says He is!
It is a directive for us to walk in faith and by faith in
Christ. It is incumbent upon us to not give up in defeat but to
keep trying and to set our hearts on the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus! We are destined to win as long as we
don’t give up, and to perfect what it is He calls us to do.
We
have His promise, so we are able to set realizable goals and to
persevere. He gives us the faith to believe in Jesus to save us,
redeem us, to help us, to comfort us, to exalt us, to reward us,
to give us His inheritance so we have something to talk about for
future generations. And write our own story, our own testimonial,
and our own history. To God be the glory. Amen.
ANGELS
PROTECTED DIANE
FROM RAPIST
I
am not going to be the one who let it die...I found in
unbelievable. Angels have walked beside me all my life and
they still do.
As
a young university student, Diane was home for the summer.
She had gone to visit some friends one evening and time passed
quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year.
Diane
ended up staying longer than she planned, and had to walk home
alone. It was late and quite dark outside. She wasn't afraid
because it was a small town and she lived only a few block away.
As
she walked under the tall elm trees,
Diane asked God to keep her safe from harm and danger. When
she reached the alley, which was a short cut to her house, she
decided to take it. However, halfway down the alley she
noticed a man standing at the end as though he were waiting for
her. She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for God's
protection.
Instantly,
a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped around her
and she felt as though someone was walking with her. When
she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man
and arrived home safely.
The
following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had
been raped in the same alley just 20 minutes after she had been
there
Feeling
overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been
her, she began to weep. She thanked the Lord for her safety
and asked Him to help this young woman. She then decided to
go to the police station. She felt she could recognize the
man, so she told them the story.
The
police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup of
men to see if she could identify him. Diane agreed and
immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the
night before. When the man was told he had been identified, he
immediately broke down and confessed.
The
officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was
anything they could do for her. She asked if they would ask
the man one question.
Diane
was curious as to why he had not attacked her. When the
policeman asked him, he answered, "Because she wasn't alone.
She had two tall men walking on either side of her."
MORAL
OF THE STORY - Don't underestimate the power of Prayer!
Gives you goose bumps, doesn't it!
-
The Candle of Love, Hope & Friendship
DADDY
- DON'T FORGET
TO WAIT FOR ME!
By
Heather McPherson, 12 years old
I
remember my dad so well: the way he laughed, the way he smiled,
the corny jokes he used to tell and that goofy look he put on his
face to cheer me up. When I was growing up, my dad was in the
Navy, first sailing, and then later working in the office. I
remember how his office was covered in cards that I had made him.
After
my father retired from the Navy, I got to know him much better.
We did more things together, we talked more often and he'd always,
always listen to everything I had to say. I never guessed
that those good times would come to such an abrupt end.
April
21, my dad sat down with me and told me something that changed my
life forever. He had terminal lung cancer. When he
told me, I felt hot and cold all over at the same time. I
couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't make a sound.
I just sat there, and we both began to cry.
Months
went by with regular hospital visits, chemotherapy and radiation.
My father looked better, but then started to get worse with each
passing day. I watched him, that strong, amazing, fearless
man that I once knew, become weak, sick and tired. As the
weeks went on, he could no longer eat, and he was worse than ever
before. My mother had planned to bring him home to visit,
but as December came, he became too sick to come home.
December
11 came. My birthday. We brought a cake to his room
and he tried to sing happy birthday for me, then he called me over
to his bed and kissed my forehead. I tried to believe that
everything would be all right. That everything would go back
to normal.
Two
days later, I spent the night with my dad. I sat by his bed
and watched him sleep, and he looked so peaceful. It was
really hard for me to see him the way he was though, with IVs in
his hands, and tubes all over. I cried myself to sleep every night
after that.
On
the night of December 20, I spent the night at my mum's friend's
house. I lay awake that night, thinking about the next morning
and, for some reason, fearing it. Maybe I knew or maybe I
had a sense that something was going to happen. The next
morning, she took me to the hospital and my mum was there. I
sat down on a chair in the lounge, and I overheard my mother
talking to her friend.
"The nurses say that today is the day." I felt
exactly like I had eight months ago, a surge of hot and cold
filling my body. My grandparents were at the hospital too;
my tiny grandmother was shaking, and my grandfather was talking to
a nurse. I didn't cry, though. There were other
patients in the room, and I didn't want to upset them.
I
went to see my dad. He looked so sick, so thin, but I held
back my tears. I didn't want him to see me crying. I walked
over to his bed and I bent down and hugged him. He whispered
into my ear, "I love you," and kissed my forehead.
I hugged my dad, kissed his cheek and whispered, "I love you,
too, Daddy."
I
stayed with him in that room until the nurses told me that I
should get something to eat. My two sisters, my brother and
my sister's boyfriend were waiting for me, so that we could all go
out to lunch together. We went across the road, and we were
halfway through our lunch when my sister's cell phone rang.
I dreaded this phone call. My sister, in tears, mumbled
something to the caller and hung up. "It's time."
We
quickly paid the check and ran across the street. There were
cars coming, but we didn't care. We wanted to see our
father. When we got there, my grandma was standing in the
hall crying. She told us that he was gone. It was too
late. My sister collapsed on the floor and couldn't get back
up. I ran into my dad's room and saw his lifeless body, just
lying there, motionless. My mum was beside him, holding his
hand and crying. I didn't know what to do; I was so
confused. I just started crying and ran up to him. I hugged
him and said, "Daddy, come back, come back," but he
didn't.
We
had a service for him on December 27. My mum had put an
announcement in the paper about his death, giving details about
the service. There were so many people there. Most of
them didn't talk; they just sat there and cried. My
godfather and my aunt both gave speeches, and both burst into
tears when they finished.
To
this day, almost six months after my father's death, I think about
all those people crying for one man, for my father. I think
a lot about different things. I think about how he isn't
suffering anymore and how he is up in heaven with his grandparents
smiling down at me. I think about how he won't be there for my
graduation, and how he won't be able to walk me down the aisle at
my wedding, but I also think about how he'll always be here for me
- not in body, but in spirit - and how he'll forever be in my
heart.
If I could say one thing to him right now, and he would be
able to hear it, it would be this . . . Daddy, don't forget to
wait for me.
Hebrews
12:9 - Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh
which corrected us,
and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in
subjection
unto the Father of spirits, and live
Sent
in by Ken Reuer, Burning Bush Crusades, Wetaskiwin, AB
NAVY
SEALS
Two
things NAVY SEALS are always taught:
1.
Keep your priorities in order
2.
Know when to act without hesitation
A
college professor, an avowed Atheist and active in the ACLU, was
teaching his class. He shocked several of his students when
he flatly stated that once and for all he was going to prove there
was no God.
Addressing
the ceiling he shouted:
"GOD,
if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform.
I'll give you exactly 15 minutes !!!
The
lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten
minutes went by....
"I'm
waiting GOD, if you're real, then knock me off this platform now
!!! "
Again
after 4 minutes, the professor taunted God, saying,
"Here
I am, God!! I'm stilling waiting!!"
The
professor was down to the last couple of minutes of his bargain
with God. A Navy Seal who had just been released from
serving in Afghanistan and Iraq had recently registered in the
class. The Navy Seal walked up to the Professor.
The
Seal hit the professor full force in the face, and sent the
Professor tumbling from his lofty platform. The Professor
was out cold !!
The
students were stunned and shocked. The students began to
babble in confusion. The SEAL nonchalantly took his seat in
the front row and sat silently.
The
class looked at him and fell silent ... waiting. Eventually,
the professor came to and was noticeably shaken. He looked
at the SEAL in the front row. When the Professor finally
regained his senses and was able to speak, he asked:
"What
the heck is the matter with you? Why did you do that?
The
SEAL looked and the professor and said, "God was really busy
protecting America's soldiers, who are protecting your right to
say stupid things and act like an idiot!!
SO
HE SENT Me !
INSPIRATIONAL
Amazing
true life Stories
True stories
that will touch your heart and inspire you
TOMMY
from
Texas Bob's Page
http://texasbobsworld.com/tommy.htm
Tommy
turned out to be the "atheist in residence" in my
theology of faith course.
He
constantly objected to, smirked at, or whined about the
possibility of an unconditionally loving Father/God. We lived with
each other in relative peace for one semester, although I admit he
was for me at times a serious pain in the back pew.
When
he came up at the end of the course to turn in his final exam, he
asked in a cynical tone, "do you think I'll ever find
God?"
I
decided instantly on a little shock therapy. "No!" I
said very emphatically.
"Why not?," He responded, "I thought that was the
product you were pushing."
I
let him get five steps from the classroom door and then called
out, "Tommy! I don't think you'll ever find him, but I am
absolutely certain that he will find you!"
He
shrugged a little and left my class and my life. I felt slightly
disappointed at the thought that he had missed my clever line:
"he will find you!" At least I thought it was clever.
Later,
I heard that Tommy had graduated and I was duly grateful. Then a
sad report came. I heard that Tommy had terminal cancer. Before I
could search him out, he came to see me.
When
he walked into my office, his body was very badly wasted and the
long hair had all fallen out as a result of chemotherapy. But his
eyes were bright and his voice was firm, for the first time, I
believe.
"Tommy,
I've thought about you so often--I hear you are sick", I
blurted out.
"Oh,
yes, very sick. I have cancer in both lungs. It's a matter of
weeks."
"Can
you talk about it, Tom?", I asked.
"Sure,
what would you like to know?", He replied.
"What's
it like to be only twenty-four and dying?", I asked.
"Well,
it could be worse.", He replied.
"Like
what?", I asked.
"Well,
like being fifty and having no values or ideals; like being fifty
and thinking that booze, seducing women, and making money are the
real biggies' in life", He replied.
I
began to look through my mental file cabinet under 's' where I had
filed Tommy as strange. (It seems as though everybody I try to
reject by classification, God sends back into my life to educate
me.)
But
what I really came to see you about", Tom said, "is
something you said to me on the last day of class."
(He
remembered!) He continued, "I asked you if you thought I
would ever find God and you said, 'no!' Which surprised me.
Then
you said, 'but he will find you.'
I
thought about that a lot, even though my search for God was hardly
intense at that time."
(My
clever line. He thought about that a lot!)
"But
when the doctors removed a lump from my groin and told me that it
was malignant, that's when I got serious about locating God.
And
when the malignancy spread into my vital organs, I really began
banging bloody fists against the bronze doors of heaven.
But
God did not come out. In fact, nothing happened.
Did
you ever try anything for a long time with great effort and with
no success?
You
get psychologically glutted, fed up with trying. And then you
quit."
"Well,
one day I woke up, and instead of throwing a few more futile
appeals over that high brick wall to a God who may be or may not
be there, I just quit.
I
decided that I didn't really care about God, about an after life,
or anything like that.
I
decided to spend what time I had left doing something more
profitable.
I
thought about you and your class and I remembered something else
you had said:" "the essential sadness is to go through
life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to go
through life and leave this world without ever telling those you
loved that you had loved them.'"
"So,
I began with the hardest one, my Dad.
He
was reading the newspaper when I approached him.
"Dad."
"Yes,
what?", He asked without lowering the newspaper.
"Dad,
I would like to talk with you."
"Well,
talk."
"I
mean... It's really important".
The
newspaper came down three slow inches.
"What
is it?"
"Dad,
I love you--I just wanted you to know that."
Tom
smiled at me and said it with obvious satisfaction, as though he
felt a warm and secret joy flowing inside of him.
"The
newspaper fluttered to the floor. Then my father did two things I
could never remember him ever doing before.
He
cried and he hugged me. We talked all night, even though he had to
go to work the next morning.
It
felt so good to be close to my father, to see his tears, to feel
his hug, to hear him say that he loved me."
"It
was easier with my mother and little brother. They cried with me,
too, and we hugged each other, and started saying real nice things
to each other.
We
shared the things we had been keeping secret for so many years. I
was only sorry about one thing --- that I had waited so long.
Here
I was, just beginning to open up to all the people I had actually
been close to."
"Then,
one day I turned around and God was there.
He
didn't come to me when I pleaded with him. I guess I was like an
animal trainer holding out a hoop:" 'c'mon, jump through.
C'mon, I'll give you three days, three weeks.'
"Apparently
God does things in his own way and at his own hour.
But
the important thing is that he was there. He found me! You
were right. He found me even after I stopped looking for
him."
"Tommy",
I practically gasped: "I think you are saying something very
important and much more universal than you realize.
To
me, at least, you are saying that the surest way to find God is
not to make him a private possession, a problem solver, or an
instant consolation in time of need, but rather by opening to
love.
You
know, the Apostle John said that. He said: "God is
love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is
living in him.'"
"Tom,
could I ask you a favor?
You
know, when I had you in class you were a real pain.
But (laughingly) you can make it all up to me now.
Would
you come into my present theology of faith course and tell them
what you have just told me?
If
I told them the same thing it wouldn't be half as effective as if
you were to tell it."
"Ooh
I was ready for you, but I don't know if I'm ready for your
class."
"Tom,
think about it if and when you are ready, give me a call."
In
a few days, Tom called, said he was ready for the class, that he
wanted to do that for God and for me. So we scheduled a date.
However,
he never made it. He had another appointment, far more important
than the one with me and my class.
Of
course, his life was not really ended by his death, only changed.
He
made the great step from faith into vision. He found a life far
more beautiful than the eye of man has ever seen or the ear of man
has ever heard or the mind of man has ever imagined.
Before
he died, we talked one last time.
"I'm
not going to make it to your class", he said.
"I
know, Tom."
"Will
you tell them for me? Will you tell the whole world for me?"
"I
will, Tom. I'll tell them. I'll do my best."
So,
to all of you who have been kind enough to read this simple story
about God's love, thank you for listening.
And
to you, Tommy, somewhere in the sunlit, verdant hills of heaven
--- I told them, Tommy as best I could.
If
this story means anything to you, please pass it on to a friend or
two.
It is a true story and is not enhanced for publicity purposes.
With
thanks,
Rev. John Powell, professor Loyola university in Chicago
1
John 4:8 He
that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (kjv
INSPIRATIONAL
Amazing
true life Stories
True stories
that will touch your heart and inspire you
THE
'Birdies' ANGELS came to
take our 3 year old son to Heaven
When
I got
off the plane a solemn-faced young man came toward me and said,
"Mr. Glenn, there is an emergency at your home. I do not know
what the emergency is, or who is involved, but I will take you to
the phone so you can call the hospital." My heart was
now pounding, but the will to be calm took over. Woodenly, I
followed this stranger to the distant telephone where I called the
number he gave me for the Mission Hospital.
My
call was put through to the trauma center where I learned that my
three-year-old son had been trapped underneath the automatic
garage door for several minutes, and that when my wife had found
him he was dead.
CPR
had been performed by a neighbor, who is a doctor, and the
paramedics had continued the treatment as Brian was transported to
the hospital. By the time of my call, Brian was revived and they
believed he would live, but they did not know how much damage had
been done to his brain, nor to his heart. They explained that the
door had completely closed on his little sternum right over his
heart. He had been severely crushed. After speaking with the
medical staff, my wife sounded worried but not hysterical, and I
took comfort in her calmness.
The
return flight seemed to last forever, but finally I arrived at the
hospital six hours after the garage door had come down. When I
walked into the intensive care unit, nothing could have prepared
me to see my little son laying so still on a great big bed with
tubes and monitors everywhere.
He
was on a respirator. I glanced at my wife who stood and tried to
give me a reassuring smile. It all seemed like a terrible dream.
I
was filled-in with the details and given a guarded prognosis.
Brian was going to live, and the preliminary tests indicated that
his heart was OK, two miracles in and of themselves. But only time
would tell if his brain received any damage.
Throughout
the seemingly endless hours, my wife was calm. She felt that Brian
would eventually be all right. I hung on to her words and faith
like a lifeline.
All
that night and the next day Brian remained unconscious. It seemed
like forever since I had left for my business trip the day before.
Finally at two o'clock that afternoon, our son regained
consciousness and sat up uttering the most beautiful words I have
ever heard spoken. He said, "Daddy hold me" and he
reached for me with his little arms.
By
the next day he was pronounced as having no neurological or
physical deficits, and the story of his miraculous survival spread
throughout the hospital. You can imagine how relieved we felt as
we brought Brian home. We also felt a unique reverence for
the life and love of our Heavenly Father that comes to those who
brush death so closely.
In
the days that followed there was a special spirit about our home.
Our two older children were much closer to their little brother.
My
wife and I were much closer to each other, and all of us were very
close as a whole family. Life took on a less stressful pace.
Perspective seemed to be more focused, and balance much easier to
gain and maintain. We felt deeply blessed. Our gratitude was truly
profound.
The
story is not over (smile)!
Almost
a month later to the day of the accident, Brian awoke from his
afternoon nap and said, "Sit down Mommy. I have something to
tell you." At this time in his life, Brian usually spoke in
small phrases, so to say a large sentence surprised my wife. She
sat down with him on his bed, and he began his sacred and
remarkable story.
Do
you remember when I got stuck under the garage door? Well, it was
so heavy and it hurt really bad. I called to you, but you couldn't
hear me. I started to cry, but then it hurt too bad. And then
the 'birdies' came."
"The
birdies?" my wife asked puzzled.
"Yes," he replied. "The birdies made a whooshing
sound and flew into the garage. They took care of me."
"They
did?"
"Yes,"
he said. "One of the birdies came and got you. She came to
tell you "I got stuck under the door." A sweet reverent
feeling filled the room. The spirit was so strong and yet lighter
than air.
My
wife realized that a 3 year old had no concept of death and
spirits, so he was referring to the beings who came to him from
beyond as "birdies" because they were up in the air like
birds that fly. "What did the birdies look like?" she
asked.
Brian
answered, "They were so beautiful. They were dressed in
white, all white. Some of them had green and white. But some of
them had on just white."
"Did
they say anything?"
"Yes," he answered. "They told me the baby would be
all right." "The baby?" my wife asked confused.
Brian
answered. "The baby laying on the garage floor." He went
on, "You came out and opened the garage door and ran to the
baby. You told the baby to stay and not leave."
My
wife nearly collapsed upon hearing this, for she had indeed gone
and knelt beside Brian's body and seeing his crushed chest
whispered, "Don't leave us Brian, please stay if you
can."
As
she listened to Brian telling her the words she had spoken, she
realized that the spirit had left His body and was looking down
from above on this little lifeless form. "Then what
happened?" she asked.
"We
went on a trip," he said, "far, far away." He grew
agitated trying to say the things he didn't seem to have the words
for. My wife tried to calm and comfort him, and let him know it
would be okay. He struggled with wanting to tell something that
obviously was very important to him, but finding the words was
difficult.
"We
flew so fast up in the air. They're so pretty Mommy," he
added. "And there are lots and lots of birdies." My wife
was stunned. Into her mind the sweet comforting spirit enveloped
her more soundly, but with an urgency she had never before known.
Brian
went on to tell her that the "birdies" had told him that
he had to come back and tell everyone about the
"birdies." He said they brought him back to the house
and that a big fire truck, and an ambulance were there. A man was
bringing the baby out on a white bed and he tried to tell the man
that the baby would be okay,
The
story went on for an hour. He taught us that "birdies"
were always with us, but we don't see them because we look with
our eyes and we don't hear them because we listen with our ears.
But
they are always there, you can only see them in here (he put his
hand over his heart). They whisper the things to help us to do
what is right because they love us so much.
Brian
continued, stating, "I have a plan, Mommy. You have a plan.
Daddy has a plan. Everyone has a plan. We must all live our plan
and keep our promises. The birdies help us to do that cause they
love us so much."
In
the weeks that followed, he often came to us and told all, or part
of it, again and again. Always the story remained the same. The
details were never changed or out of order.
A
few times he added further bits of information and clarified the
message he had already delivered. It never ceased to amaze us how
he could tell such detail and speak beyond his ability when he
talked about his birdies.
Everywhere
he went, he told strangers about the "birdies."
Surprisingly, no one ever looked at him strangely when he did
this. Rather, they always got a softened look on their face and
smiled. Needles to say, we have not been the same ever since that
day, and I pray we never will be.
Luke
4:10 (kjv) For it is written, He shall give his angels
charge over thee, to keep thee:
NIV: For it is written: “‘He will command his angels
concerning you to guard you carefully;
Sent
in by Ken Reuer, Burning Bush Crusades, Wetaskiwin, AB
DADDY
- DON'T FORGET
TO WAIT FOR ME!
By
Heather McPherson, 12 years old
I
remember my dad so well: the way he laughed, the way he smiled,
the corny jokes he used to tell and that goofy look he put on his
face to cheer me up. When I was growing up, my dad was in the
Navy, first sailing, and then later working in the office. I
remember how his office was covered in cards that I had made him.
After
my father retired from the Navy, I got to know him much better.
We did more things together, we talked more often and he'd always,
always listen to everything I had to say. I never guessed
that those good times would come to such an abrupt end.
April
21, my dad sat down with me and told me something that changed my
life forever. He had terminal lung cancer. When he
told me, I felt hot and cold all over at the same time. I
couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't make a sound.
I just sat there, and we both began to cry.
Months
went by with regular hospital visits, chemotherapy and radiation.
My father looked better, but then started to get worse with each
passing day. I watched him, that strong, amazing, fearless
man that I once knew, become weak, sick and tired. As the
weeks went on, he could no longer eat, and he was worse than ever
before. My mother had planned to bring him home to visit,
but as December came, he became too sick to come home.
December
11 came. My birthday. We brought a cake to his room
and he tried to sing happy birthday for me, then he called me over
to his bed and kissed my forehead. I tried to believe that
everything would be all right. That everything would go back
to normal.
Two
days later, I spent the night with my dad. I sat by his bed
and watched him sleep, and he looked so peaceful. It was
really hard for me to see him the way he was though, with IVs in
his hands, and tubes all over. I cried myself to sleep every night
after that.
On
the night of December 20, I spent the night at my mum's friend's
house. I lay awake that night, thinking about the next morning
and, for some reason, fearing it. Maybe I knew or maybe I
had a sense that something was going to happen. The next
morning, she took me to the hospital and my mum was there. I
sat down on a chair in the lounge, and I overheard my mother
talking to her friend.
"The nurses say that today is the day." I felt
exactly like I had eight months ago, a surge of hot and cold
filling my body. My grandparents were at the hospital too;
my tiny grandmother was shaking, and my grandfather was talking to
a nurse. I didn't cry, though. There were other
patients in the room, and I didn't want to upset them.
I
went to see my dad. He looked so sick, so thin, but I held
back my tears. I didn't want him to see me crying. I walked
over to his bed and I bent down and hugged him. He whispered
into my ear, "I love you," and kissed my forehead.
I hugged my dad, kissed his cheek and whispered, "I love you,
too, Daddy."
I
stayed with him in that room until the nurses told me that I
should get something to eat. My two sisters, my brother and
my sister's boyfriend were waiting for me, so that we could all go
out to lunch together. We went across the road, and we were
halfway through our lunch when my sister's cell phone rang.
I dreaded this phone call. My sister, in tears, mumbled
something to the caller and hung up. "It's time."
We
quickly paid the check and ran across the street. There were
cars coming, but we didn't care. We wanted to see our
father. When we got there, my grandma was standing in the
hall crying. She told us that he was gone. It was too
late. My sister collapsed on the floor and couldn't get back
up. I ran into my dad's room and saw his lifeless body, just
lying there, motionless. My mum was beside him, holding his
hand and crying. I didn't know what to do; I was so
confused. I just started crying and ran up to him. I hugged
him and said, "Daddy, come back, come back," but he
didn't.
We
had a service for him on December 27. My mum had put an
announcement in the paper about his death, giving details about
the service. There were so many people there. Most of
them didn't talk; they just sat there and cried. My
godfather and my aunt both gave speeches, and both burst into
tears when they finished.
To
this day, almost six months after my father's death, I think about
all those people crying for one man, for my father. I think
a lot about different things. I think about how he isn't
suffering anymore and how he is up in heaven with his grandparents
smiling down at me. I think about how he won't be there for my
graduation, and how he won't be able to walk me down the aisle at
my wedding, but I also think about how he'll always be here for me
- not in body, but in spirit - and how he'll forever be in my
heart.
If I could say one thing to him right now, and he would be
able to hear it, it would be this . . . Daddy, don't forget to
wait for me.
Hebrews
12:9 - Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh
which corrected us,
and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in
subjection
unto the Father of spirits, and live
Sent
in by Ken Reuer, Burning Bush Crusades, Wetaskiwin, AB
HOW
A DISTRESSED WIDOW
was saved from Suicide
by a little boy !
A
Small Boy's Witness
Every
Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at their church, the
Pastor and his eleven-year-old son would go out into their town
and hand out Gospel Tracts.
This
particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and
his son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold
outside as well as pouring down rain.
The
boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said;
"OK dad, I'm ready." His Pastor dad asked, "Ready
for what?" "Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together
and go out." Dad responds, "Son, it's very cold outside
and it's pouring down rain."
The
boy gives his dad a surprised look, asking "But Dad, aren't
people still going to Hell, even though it's raining?" Dad
answers, "Son, I am not going out in this weather."
Despondently, the boy ask, "Dad, can I go? Please?"
His
father hesitated for a moment then said, "Son, you can go. H
ere are the tracts, be careful son." "Thanks Dad!"
And with that, he was off and out
into the rain.
This
eleven-year-old boy walked the streets of the town going door to
door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel Tract.
After
two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled wet
and down to his VERY LAST TRACT.
He
stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to, but
the streets were totally deserted. Then he turned toward the first
home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang
the doorbell.
He
rang the bell, but nobody answered. He rang it again and again,
but still no one answered. He waited but still no answer.
Finally,
this eleven-year-old trooper turned to leave, but something
stopped him. Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and
knocked loudly on the door with his fist. He waited, something
holding him there on the front porch. He rang again, and this ti
me the door slowly opened. Standing in the doorway was a very sad-
looking elderly lady.
She
softly asked "What can I do for you son?" With radiant
eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said,
"Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell
you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU,
and I came to give you my very last Gospel Tract which will tell
you all about JESUS and His great LOVE."
With
that, he handed her his last tract, and turned to leave. She
called to him as he departed. "Thank you, son! And God Bless
You!"
Well,
the following Sunday morning in church Pastor Dad was in the
pulpit. As the service began, he asked, "Does anybody have a
testimony or want to say anything?"
Slowly,
in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet.
As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her
face, "No one in this church knows me. I've never been here
before.
You
see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband passed
on some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world.
Last
Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more
so in my heart that I came to the end of the line where I no
longer had any hope or will to live.
So
I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic
of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof,
then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope
around my neck.
Standing
on that chair, so lonely and broken hearted I was about to leap
off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs
startled me. I thought, I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will
go away.
"I
waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder
and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started
knocking loudly.
I
thought to myself again, "Who on earth could this be?! Nobody
ever rings my bell or comes to see me."
I
loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all
the while the bell ran g louder and louder
When
I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for
there on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little
boy I had ever seen in my life.
His
SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you! And the words that
came from his mouth caused my heart that had long been dead, TO
LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice,
"Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS
REALLY DOES LOVE YOU."
Then
he gave me this Gospel Tract that I now hold in my hand. As the
little angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, I closed
my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel Tract.
Then
I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be
needing them any more. You see, "I am now a Happy Child of
the KING and since the address of your church was on the back of
this Gospel Tract, I have come here to personally say THANK YOU TO
God's little angel who came just in the nick of time and, by so
doing, spared my soul from eternity in hell."
There
was not a dry eye in the church. And as shouts of praise and honor
to THE KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor
Dad
descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel
was seated.
He
took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably. Probably no
church has had a more glorious moment, And probably this universe
has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love & honor
for his son...Except for One.
This
Father also allowed His Son to go out into a cold and dark world.
He received His Son back with joy unspeakable, and as all of
heaven shouted praises and honor to The King, The Father sat His
beloved Son on a throne far above all principality and power and
every name that is named.
James
1:27 - Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is
this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and
to keep himself unspotted from the world.
TRANSFORMED
from
Atheist
& Alcoholic to
GOSPEL
PREACHER
by:
Terry Severson
I
WAS AN ATHEIST & ALCOHOLIC!
Jesus
saved me, Jesus filled me with The Holy Spirit & I'M NOW
PREACHING THE GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.
The
day is Wednesday, September 15, 2004. I am sitting
reflecting back to September 15, 1991, the day that Jesus Christ
came into my life and set me free. The day that the Lord
saved me from myself and from an eternity in hell.
My
name is Terry Severson. I am from Norquay, Saskatchewan.
For 29 years of my life I was separated from God. I was a
professing atheist, someone who says there is no God. I had
never seen any evidence of God and our school system teaches
evolution, which is godlessness. We teach our children in
Canada that there is no God.
I
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT LEAST FIVE TIMES
As
a young boy of 14 years of age, I started drinking, which lead to
numerous problems. I made at least five suicide attempts
from which God delivered me every time.
I
did not know until many years later that it had been God who had
saved me from killing myself each of the five times I attempted to
kill myself.
At
the age of 19, I met Shelleu Schow and God used her to take the
desire of killing myself away from me. I still had
major problems such as alcoholism, a foul dirty mouth and many
other problems. Sin had me bound and I did not know how to
get free. Deep inside I knew that something was
missing from my life.
Norquay,
Saskatchewan is the home town of Pastor Max Solbrekken.
Pastor Solbrekken is a powerful man of God who has proclaimed the
Gospel of Jesus all over the world.
In
Norquay, not much is known about Pastor Max Solbrekken or his
ministry ( a prophet has honour except in his hometown and amongst
relatives), but that is about to change !
In
John 4:43-45, we find Jesus going back to Galilee where He was
first rejected, but this time they received him after they had
seen all the great things that Jesus Christ did.
I
believe a day is coming when God will move powerfully in Norquay,
Saskatchewan and Pastor Max will be used mightily by our Lord.
In
1987, we were still heathen. I was still mocking God when my
wife and I rented a house which was owned by Max Solbrekken's dad
who had passed away. We were the first ones to rent his
house and people would say, "Someday, Terry, you will be a
preacher like Max Solbrekken. I used to swear at people
and tell them to get lost.
My
wife even told me, "One day, Terry, you will carry a Bible
and be a preacher like Max Solbrekken." I couldn't
believe my ears. I thought my wife was loosing her mind.
But
shortly after we moved into that house, I quit drinking, and nine
months later, I quit smoking. I smoked two packs of
cigarettes a day. It was the mercy of the Lord that was
dealing with me, even though I was unaware of it. Even
before I knew the Lord, He was doing a work within me.
September
15, 1991, I heard the message of salvation in Regina,
Saskatchewan. Jesus Christ set me free from sin that day.
I have never been the am since that day. There was no
looking back. There was no going back. I really had
nothing to go back to.
I
am now an Evangelist, a preacher just like Pastor Max Solbrekken.
The prophecy came true, much to my surprise.
I
have a passion for Jesus Christ. I have a passion for the
lost souls in this world. Many people in the world do not
know about Jesus Christ. I want to see hell empty and Heaven
full.
The
church must rise and let the world know about Jesus Christ.
I am so thankful for what the Lord has done in my life and I want
to share the gift of eternal life with all I come in contact with
(Psalm 40 - 1-3)
Pastor
Max Solbrekken, greetings from Norquay. I am sending you my
testimony. May the name of the Lord be glorified amongst all
people.
Love
in Christ
Terry Severson
INSPIRATIONAL
SCRIPTURES
verses & stories of hope &
faith
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid
of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he
will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (Deuteronomy 31:6
KJV)
“And
be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another,
even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians
4:32 KJV)
“There
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is
neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
(Galatians 3:28 KJV)
“Trust
in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall
direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV)
"Be
not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of
all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with
plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."
(Proverbs3: 7, 8, 9,. 10 KJV)
JESUS
CHRIST DIED FOR YOU
#1
- JESUS CHRIST LOVES YOU
No
more beautiful words were ever spoken by men or angels than these,
"I know God loves me!" Praise God. Say these
precious words and believe them and you will see what a change
will be affected within your life.
#2
- JESUS CHRIST KNOWS ALL ABOUT YOU
"For
the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to
show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect
toward him." (2 Chronicles 16:9)
"Tis
so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word, Just to
rest upon His promise, Just to know, Thus saith the Lord."
In
every situation of life God knows about you! During every
trial, heartbreak and discouragement in the temptations and
struggles of life Jesus knows about us and makes a way of escape.
(1 Corinthians 10:13) God knows and He is ready to help -
Say it to yourself, "God knows about my existence and He
loves me - His eyes are upon me and I know everything will be
alright."
#3
- JESUS CHRIST CARES ABOUT YOU
"Casting
all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you." (1 Peter
5:7)
Life
often seems like a rat race with dog eat dog and whoever gets in
first get what he needs and whoever gets in last misses
everything. People can often be hardhearted and cruel -
circumstances and situations can make life almost unbearable.
Many times Satan has filled peoples' hearts and minds with such
tremendous disillusionment and depression that they have in utter
hopelessness taken their own lives.
The
hymn writer penned the words, "What a Friend we have in
Jesus, All our sins and grief's to bear! What a privilege to
carry - Everything to God in prayer."
I
am thrilled with the great news of God's love every time I hear
it. I am thrilled that God loves me, He knows all about me
and that He cares about me - my difficulties and my needs.
Praise God! Say it to yourself - "I know God cares
about me and will help me!"
#4
- JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU
"But
God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
You
can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.
No wonder the Apostle John wrote, "We love Him because He
first loved us." There is a word that is seldom used in
today's world but one which is probably one of the most powerful
in our vocabulary. It is the word "Apodictic" and
it means "Evident beyond contradictions". It is
one of my foremost words because it relates to the gospel and to
Christ our wonderful Lord. When you speak about God, His
power, His words, His promises, His grace, His goodness and His
mercy and love, the word Apodictic covers them all!
Evident
beyond Contradiction! His existence is so real that only a
foolish person could try to contradict the fact! No wonder
the Bible says, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no
God". (Psalm 14:1)
NO.
5 ~ JESUS CHRIST AROSE FROM THE DEAD AND WILL HELP YOU TODAY
A
dead man has no power to help anyone - He cannot even help
himself! That is why so many traditional churches and nominal
Christians receive no answers to their prayers and have no victory
in their lives. They believe in and worship a dead Christ. They
wear crucifixes that have a resemblance of Christ, dead on the
cross. Beloved friends, the cross is empty - Jesus Christ is alive
for evermore with all power at His disposal.
He
has the power to set His children free from every bondage and
situation in which we find ourselves that is embarrassing,
improper, humiliating and painful.
“Lo
behold the man of sorrow, lo behold Him in plain view. There He
stands that mighty conqueror, since He rent the veil in two."
“I
serve a risen Saviour, He’s in the world today; I know that He
is living, whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear
His voice of cheer and just the time I need Him, He’s always
near. He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with
me and talks with me, along life’s narrow way. You ask me how I
know He lives, He lives within my heart.” Hallelujah.
The
very essence of Christianity, the heart of the gospel and the
foundation truth of the church is that Jesus Christ, God’s Son
died upon a cross for our sins and that He was raised from the
dead on the third day for our Justification! (1 Corinthians
15:1-4)
Of
all religions only Christianity can boast a resurrection and only
Christ is a Saviour, for He only is Alive Forevermore. Praise His
Name.
JESUS
IS THE ONLY WAY
No
wonder Peter said, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for
there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved”. (Acts 4:12)
Why?
Because the name of a dead man can save no one but Jesus is not
dead HE IS ALIVE FOREVERMORE! Hallelujah. His entire ministry
while upon this earth revolved around preaching the gospel,
healing the sick, forgiving the sinful, restoring the diseased
back to health, feeding the hungry and raising the dead.
When
He was crucified His ministry came to an end abruptly - until 50
days later - after He had risen from the dead and spent 40 days
with His disciples He ascended into heaven and poured out upon His
followers the “Baptism of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4)
Then His ministry continued greater than ever through those who
believed upon Him - The blind saw, the deaf heard, the lame
walked, the dead were raised and the gospel was preached to
multitudes.
“Now
Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of
prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his
mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of
the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that
entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go
into the temple asked an alms.
And
Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of
them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I
have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up
and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up:
and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he
leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the
temple, walking, and leaping and praising God.” (Acts 3:1-9)
“And
by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought
among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's
porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the
people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the
Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
“Insomuch
that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them
on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing
by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out
of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and
them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed
every one.” (Acts 5:12-16)
THE
GREAT COMMISSION
It
is evident the Book of Acts is a continuation of the ministry of
Jesus Christ through His followers by the power of the Holy
Spirit, and that it is God’s will for His power to continue to
bring blessing and healing to His people in every generation until
the church age is over and Christ sets up His kingdom and ushers
in the millennium -
Notice
His words to all who believe, “And he said unto them, Go ye into
all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth
not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that
believe, In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak
with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink
any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on
the sick, and they shall recover”. (Mark 16:15-18)
The
Holy Bible says, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to
all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall
call.” (Acts 2:38-39)
If
you are called, you are saved and if you are saved, the baptism of
the Holy Ghost and power is for you! Again see what St. James
writes to the church, “Is any sick among you? let him call for
the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing
him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith
shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he
have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him”. (James
5:14,15)
THE
SCRIPTURE CANNOT BE BROKEN
Now
in closing let us see what Jesus Himself said concerning praying
and receiving an answer....
“Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and
he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be
opened.” (Matthew 7:7,8)
“Believe
me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe
Me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the
Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in
My name, I will do it.” (John 14:11-14)
“Jesus
said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to
him that believeth.” (Mark 9:23)
“Again
I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as
touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them
of My Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19)
“If
ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye
will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7)
My
beloved friend, Jesus Christ is indeed alive and waiting to hear
from you. If you will accept Him as your personal Saviour and
trust in Him you will definitely receive answers to your prayers
and the assurance that all is well with your soul, for He has
promised and guaranteed you that His word is true and the
scripture cannot be broken. (John 10:35)
Amen.
WOULD
YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST
INTO YOUR HEART TODAY?
PRAY
THIS PRAYER NOW TO RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST IN YOUR HEART
"Dear
Heavenly Father,
I
ask for Thy great mercy and grace. I acknowledge my
sinfulness and confess that I cannot save myself. I believe
the GOOD NEWS that Jesus paid the penalty for m sins, through His
vicarious death on the cross."
"I
believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead according to the
Scriptures and He has the power and authority to forgive my sins
and save my soul. I repent of my sins and am willing to
forsake them with the help of the Holy Spirit."
"I
now renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways and I
now receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, my Master and my
God. Come into my heart and save me now, for Christs' sake.
Thank you Lord, for saving my soul. In Jesus precious' name,
I pray." Amen.
-
Powerful AUDIO Bible sermons/messages
by: Pastor Max Solbrekken
- click on
message to listen -
|