Lasstik, Haiti

Kevin Bronson has left for Haiti-Monday. Lorne Toews from Enderby is going to conduct a blast survey. Roger Jantz from Winton is going along as the new project fund raiser. Wish them luck!

Stewart Loomis is in Faunsdale

I heard is talk last fall in Winton California- Good stuff on Creation, the flood, and his personal experience in finding God. He used to work with Von Braun in the sixties during NASA's push to the moon. He also worked in depth with transistors. I was interested about him saying that they could have found a preflood ship. It had a computer on board consisting of gears for calculating global positioning. I would like more back ground on this for somebody that has more time. He also mentioned a book I want to read. Ark Fever about different expeditions in search of Noah's Ark. Until then...

10 Points for the Challenged Tract Worker

1. PACE YOURSELF-Luke 14:28-30- It is not a one or two man crusade: Lasting results need to include as many people as possible. Realize attainable goals and raise the bar after the goals are achieved. Don’t burn all your fuel (enthusiasm) up at once, build up the fire over time including others.

2. ENJOY THE CHALLENGE-Col. 3:22-24- If you are doing it “as unto the Lord” you should be able to have a smile on your face and believe that the “battle belongs to the Lord.” Be creative and enjoy the challenge. You’ll not know what the Lord can work with your humble witness. You may have planted a seed that will sprout years later.

3. KEEP TRACTS ON HAND-2 Tim. 4:2-They say you are not a tract worker unless you have tracts on hand. More than half the time you need them you do not have them with you.

4. BE ORGANIZED-I-1 Cor. 14:40 It is a detriment to progress to know you will have to sift and sort out a number of boxes every time you want to go on a route. The boxes should be marked and ready to go. The church entry tract rack is a good indicator in if the tract men are on the ball. Hopefully they are not just dusty.

5. KEEP THE CONGREGATION INFORMED-Pro. 11:14- It is a congregational effort- try to make everybody involved.. A lot of failure in tract work is that people forget it exists.

6. INQUIRE FOR AND READ AREA RESPONSE LETTERS FROM GOSPEL TRACT-Luke 10:2- Reminds everybody that it is a real responsibility and that many others out there are passing out tracts even if we were too preoccupied else where.

7. TRY TO HAVE THREE AND NO LESS THAN TWO PERSONS ON A ROUTE-Ecc.4:9-12-It seems three is a good number to have on a busy route. The fellowship flows and you can keep the moral up on a slow day. A couple should invite a youth, older person, widow, or other family person to visit with and keep the route from becoming to much of a ritual drudgery.

8. GATHER AND HAVE TRACT ROUTE SATURDAY TO BRING ROUTES UP TO DATE-1 Cor.12:14-Have a number of brethren show up, number off, and enjoy fellowship in bringing the gospel to others.

9. STRATEGIZE-Pro.29:18- Whether you have colleges, homeless, Spanish migrant workers or some other special interest group in your area, make an effort to try to reach them with special tracts and other outreach that could bear fruit.

10. PRAY-Luke 18:1- The work is the Lords and it is always important to entreat him to guide and bless your efforts as he sees best.

Corn Cob Commitment

This is a picture of a thirteen kernel corn cob from Lastic Canyon. This is a sample of their hillside corn yield. Talk about recession! What does it mean to you and me? I call this picture a rallying call to not forget those that really hunger- physically or spiritually. I even consider myself as that corn cob. Really how fruitful am I to help relieve other's pains or even help to supply other's needs on a volunteer basis? The next question is how selfish am I? How covetous? Do I ever lust after those things that I should not? I think of David and how he as a king lived his life with plenty to enjoy. When Nathan told him the parable of the wealthy man that took the last sheep of the poor man, David was upset and yet he was the guilty one. I have to admit that today I recognize myself as being guilty. My righteousness is as filthy rags- If it were not for the grace of God- there go I. God looks down and says he will supply all our needs if we are obedient. Yet we always desire more or we do not quite have it good enough. How do you think he feels about helping a bunch of winos that have plenty when others are growing corn cobs for food like the one depicted. I stand in need of a corn cob commitment: to not forget the pain and sorrows of others. It is also a commitment that no matter how much I think I hurt-somebody has had it worse. To be offended at anyone is also unpardonable in light of all that God has given me. I really appreciated the article in the Messenger by Tyson Zeiset it underscores what I am trying to express today. May I be forgiven for my failings and receive grace and courage to crucify self and keep trudging up the hill helping others all along the way.

Passing Out Tracts In Denver Airport

I figured on my flights from California to Atlanta would provide me with an opportunity to spread the Word. My first flight from Sacramento to Denver was a red eye flight. Since I had three seats to myself I crashed and fell asleep. When I got to the airport I was slightly groggy and not really in the mood for person to person contacts. Instead I took a walk to get brunch. On my way I challenge myself to think of places to leave a tract. Telephone booth. Internet booth. Bathroom. On the way back check if they are gone. Leave one or two in locations that you can monitor from where you are waiting for a flight. On the way back my bysitters were heavy into their pay-to-view movies. I have to admit that they were fairly interesting. On the way to California in contrast some of my bysitters talked the whole flight. You win some you lose some in the lottery of airplane seating. I tried out passing those picture tracts. I ordered their basic tracts and a sampler. I would say it strikes me to recommend people to stick with gospel tracts in your tract work, because you know they are doctrinally sound and you know they people that stand behind them. These others are for profit and I feel I need to be careful which ones I pass out. I use them only for special applications were it seems they would do the most good.I want to only pass out that literature that is sound and of a good report. It does come in handy to have tracts on your person especially while tripping. My sister introduced me to some of her fellow Adventist friends. Eventually we talked about our beliefs. An older lady called me to her car to give me a "gift". It was a tract book. My hand was in my pocket and I returned with another gift. I thought it was kind of funny that we were both handing out literature. However I found out that my sister was impressed that we are ready to pass out tracts at all times. I wish I could be half that diligent-so long.

Operation Lasstik Haiti

I was at Kevin Bs for supper last night and have been updated on the canal project up in Lasstik Haiti. It is an effort that can irrigate around a 1,500 acres of arid valley in central Haiti. The project is located in a canyon about a hour or so from Port-au-Prince. There was a underground pipe that ran up into a dam and ran a number of miles down to the valley. Well the flood waters and erosion buried the dam and the pipe through time. Now they have cut into the side of the hill to run a canal on a more even grade that will drop the water into the same pipe. This canal will have special features to take care of the silt. That is an article in itself. CSI a humanitarian organization has been running the project for the last number of years. Since the last hurricanes and devastation they have focused their attention to other areas of Haiti. They had hired local men to work for rice and later ordered a backhoe with jack hammer to aid the twenty to thirty men in the work. The CSI unit boys supervised the project. I was in Haiti for two weeks two years ago and was impressed with the effort. I have been keeping up with it here and there and now yesterday I was looking at detailed plans and photos of what is now going on. It is a worthy project that needs to be completed. I will keep you posted on what is going on there. A blasting survey is going to be conducted shortly to loosen up 5,000 cu yds of rock. Kevin B. is doing a lot of leg work in the states, Well Mr. Raymond W. is doing the work on the Haiti side. However it is possible that more help and support will be needed in February to put the prep work into action to get that water into that valley to allow the farmers to feed their people. If you feel you have something to contribute to this effort in any way let me know and I'll direct you to who you need to talk with. jonluketws@gmail.com

More Books....

I guess it is no surprise to those that know me, but I love to read. I did not learn to read till I was in Grade three. At that time I was transfered from Public French immersion school to Mennonite private school. I have always liked those books best that really teach me something. Sometimes fiction foots the bill, but usually it is nonfiction. If it doesn't edify and help build good character what good is it? Of course I have thos unwind times were I just want to relax read. However it is here are a list of books that I recommend to those that are interested in learning about others that you would like to reach out to.

Run Baby Run by Nicky Cruz of course is a Christian classic. About a Dominican street tough who knows little about love works himself up in a New York City gang. One day is confronted by a hillbilly preacher and then things start to happen. Its a read at least twice in your life book. The Cross and the Switchblade by the preacher Wilkerson is also a good companion read. Nicky Cruz is still preaching in the big cities across the Americas and Europe.

Across Mountains More Mountains by Tracy Kidder is a fair read about a Harvard doctor who uses his resourses and influence to help improvished Haitian peasants. He is all about helping the little man. He is not a religious man though the book challenges our selfishness at the expense of others.

Black Like Me by Griffin is a book to understand the Black problem in America. A white man dyes his skin black and goes under cover realizing that there is another side to America. I can relate with his book. It will help you see the other side.

These books are just a quick list that needs editing. I feel every book you read you need to be careful what spirit it is feeding and what is the authors agenda. The next person breezes through it and it is done and over. I will let you be the judge. I just liked these books because they opened my eyes to the cry that is out there and how we can reach out.

The People Under the Overpass

In these hard times one notices more homeless on the streets or so it seems to me. I have been involved in a few mission programs as a volunteer in New York City and latter in Church ministries in LA. When I lived close to Merced, CA you would also see homeless everyday to and from work pan handling. These activities have not failed to open my eyes to being down and out. Your impressed also with the colorful character that is also represented in these people. As we would sing,give testimony, and preach I would wonder what is the appropiate inspiration to share. All things said I do take for granted the blessings of which I am steward over. The Lord loves all men he is no respector of persons. Even though our lives seem at times to be worlds apart we are equal in the sight of God. If so how can I more effectively reach out to the homeless.
Now that I have moved to Alabama I do not have much contact with inner city homelessness. Even so I have picked up a good book on the subject while visiting California this week. It is helping me stay connected. It is called Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski. I am not done, but have already benefited from the authors material. It is about two youths going homeless for five months in various cities across the United States. You can find the book at Barnes and Nobles in the Christian Inspiration section. I have heard good feedback from different ones and finally took the plunge and started reading it myself.
He says out of twenty-seven chapel services he attended about twenty focused on hell, condemnation, sin and eternal suffering. He suggests that for such a "physical needy group" they need a little more upbeat message, since they are surrounded already by misery and hopelessness. He doesn't say these are not relevant parts of the gospel message, but suggests these people are attracted by messages of love and deliverance. Peace of Mind in a Troubled World might still be the best tract to handout in the city. If you have read this book or have thoughts on the ministry to the homeless give your thoughts and comments.

INTRODUCTION

Well folks we are now ready to launch Operation Noah's Ark. The inspiration for this idea was born in the Southeast District meeting of Gospel Tract Society. I was like we need a place for brethren to share ideas across districts and time tables. A tract worker gets involved in the work and yet feels many times as a lone ranger. It is encouraging to have a place to share ideas that one can view at random for inspiration. I want to commit myself to more faithful service in these small yet most important duties of Christian life. I feel there is much work too be done for the laymembers. The start of missionary work does not just start in board rooms or mission fields, but it starts in the heart and actions of every born again believer. The witness that we leave at home or in the public is what matters at the end of the day. Have any thoughts or suggestions post them. Let's make it real.

Picture Tracts

I have a concern about reaching American Youth in our communities. We know American attention spans are not very long. I have ordered some tracts from Chick publications to review. I have seen them here and there. They make an impact and are pretty captivating even for myself. I just would like feedback on what you think of using them for personal handouts alongside our tracts. They maintain the basic Doctrine that you must be born again. They do not shy away from the fact that their is a heaven and a hell in the balance. He has a few out of the two hundred that have references to the millenium. I wondered if any one had suggestions or cautions on pursuing to use these tracts for personal handouts. Please share some of your thoughts on this or check out their website by googling Chick Publications. If you know of any other sound youth oriented tracts let me know.