Be His Delight

One definition of delight is "the power of affording pleasure" Are you a delight to God? Psalm 16:3 says, But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

Evaluate your own list of things to do today; then, give it to Him and ask Him to change the list to what pleases Him. You will be richly blessed.

Someone to Pray For

What a blessing, I was with a sister in the grocery store today and there was a sweet elderly man in front of us who joked about the two frozen meals on the counter as being enough for a "few meals" unless he said, "you want to come to my house and cook for me." I was thinking Lord I would cook for him; but I said while chuckling, "sure" He said, "God Bless You" as he left.
I love chatting with people and meeting a friendly guy in the store whatever the conversation is joyful and I believe for him too. I believe that God puts people in our path who has a need for acceptance, friendly conversation with a person no matter how brief can not only mean a bright spot in your day but also someone to pray for.

Missionaries the McGrady Family

McGrady's Mission Moment
August 14, 2009

Never Too Old!

Ever think that you were just too old to do missionary work? We returned to our call to missions during our mid-life and found that God has blessed us beyond what we could have imagined. But how about if you were 84 years old? Do you think you could do anything for the Lord in missions? Well let me tell you the story about my mom. When Jordan and I returned to Ecuador on July 27, my 84 year old mother along with my brother and his wife joined us. Our trip flying from Columbus, Ohio to Guayaquil, Ecuador met with many delays and we spent 21 hours to get there from the time we got up till we finally went to bed that night. But we were safe and for that we were thankful. We spent a couple of days



traveling around Guayaquil visting our churches and meeting some of the people there. The picture above on the left is my mom and I greeting some of the congregation. We saw first hand that there is a great harvest field of people to reach with the Gospel and our pastors are reaching out to make a difference in their communities.
We traveled by plane up to Cuenca where we live and have re-planted the church there. We took in many sites of the city as well as visting the Ruins at Inga Pirca.
It was amazing to learn the history of the Canare people as they were conquered by the Inga Indians and then later by the Spanards. We learned that the people of this area went from worshiping the moon to worshiping the sun to the catholic influence of the cross. See below the face of an Inga Indian carved
in the mountain. It was amazing to see engineering feats that would have taken place with out the use of modern day tools. Huge rocks were cut and carved and transported across mountains with out the aid of the wheel. We truly enjoed seeing all of these amazing sites.
We learned a lot about the history of the people that God has called us to minister to and my mom took it all in.
Well, the week moved on and it was time to prepare for our first Sunday back at "The Carport Church" at our home in Cuenca. We had been traveling in the USA since June 10 and we returned ready to worship. My mom preaches every Sunday back in Rockbridge, Ohio. She has been a lay speaker for years and has a two point charge that she preaches at every Sunday. Did I mention that she is 84 years old? Well she was ready to tell the Good News of Jesus Christ to the people here in Cuenca, Ecuador. On Sunday, August 2, my mom preached to the congregation of 24 persons in our house church that God planted earlier this year. She told the people of Christ's love for them and how she was saved as a young girl and Jesus took all her fears away and gave her a peace in her heart that has lasted all these years. She shared the hope that only Jesus Christ can bring to the heart. It was my privilege to translate my mom words into Spanish. What a blessing it was for me and for all the church to hear her heart. Who says that you are ever too old to serve the Lord anywhere? My mom proved to me, you're not! What are you getting ready to do for Him? You're never too old.
For the latest go to http://straightpaths.org/default.aspx For our August Newsletter "Never Too Old" go to http://straightpaths.org/news.aspx For the latest in Jordan's ministry, go to http://straightpaths.org/jordanscorner.aspx God Bless You,Ned, Marlene and Jordan

Missionaries Ron and Janice Jones- Newsletter

Greeting in the name of Jesus,
It is hard to believe that we are finishing up our 23rd month in the Caribbean. It just seems like yesterday we
stepped out onto the tarmack at the V.C. Bird Airport in St Johns, Antigua, and began the journey that God had ordained
for us. Time flies when you are having fun. And that really sums up our ministry here. It has been fun because
we have seen God do so many things in our lives, the lives of the team members who came for ministry, and
the lives of the people themselves here in Antigua, Montserrat and Dominica. We are excited about what the future
holds for our ministry here in the years to come. Please pray for us as we return home on August 1 and begin raising
our support to return in June 2010. We have many slots open to speak in churches that have not been filled, so
we encourage pastors to email us and get us slated in your churches. Laypersons, your pastor may be really busy
and has not had the time to schedule us, so encourage him to contact us.
This past month we have been busy with special services in some of the churches. I have been preaching quite
regularly, and Janice was busy organizing a “Mother’s Day” service at the Grays Farm Church. We have pictures
below of that service. Janice met with the children for about 3 weeks twice a week learning songs and memorizing
recitations. We had 17 children in all, and they were pretty excited about the program. The children also did a
craft which was making a picture frame for their picture we took of them, and they were able to present that to
their mom’s in the service along with a long stem red rose. We sent out personal invitations to each mother and we
had a good response. In a congregation of about 20 every Sunday, the Grays Farm church had over 50 in attendance
on that Sunday. It was a real blessing! I was asked to preach that Sunday by Pastor Michael and brought a
message entitled: “Hannah: The Model Mother”. Our hearts were really stirred when we saw the hurt in some of
the children’s faces whose mother’s did not attend. Two little sisters who practiced a special song to sing for their
mom, were heart broken telling us their mom wasn’t coming, but they did a great job singing “Moms Are Special
People”. We were excited that we were able to purchase the song online and download it to our iPod for them to
perform. We wish you could have heard their angelic voices. Their names are Nadine and Jessica. The church was
thrilled with the performances of the children. The grand finale’ of the day was a short tribute to moms created
by Janice. She came up with the idea of each child wearing a different hat that portrays what moms do. For example:
Nurse’s hat, chef ’s hat, chauffeur’s hat, policemen’s hat, ball cap, garbage man’s hat, cleaning lady hat, business
man hat, fashion hat. Each child had a short recitation about what the hat meant which related to what their
mom’s do for them. And at the end each child said, “We love you mom and our hats are off to you”. At that time
each took their hat off in honor of their mom. The church exploded with applause and we saw many mom’s shed
tears of appreciation. Janice is a genius at pulling these kinds of programs off and she has definitely been in her
element with children’s ministry while here in the caribbean. Oh, by the way, the church has asked her to do “Father;
s Day”!
Pray for us as we host 4 teams before we leave May 31-June6 Brandon & Lynn Baker; June 19-27 Shady Grove
Colfax Youth, July 4-11 High Pine Wesleyan and July 18-25 Gibsonville Brown Youth. To God be the glory!
In Christ-Ron & Janice Jones
May 2009
P . O . B o x 2 2 3 4 S t J o h n s A n t i g u a W e s t I n d i e s E m a i l : r o n n i e j o n e s 1 @ m a c . c o m
THE
ANTIGUAN WAVE
N e w s l e t t e r
“I can do all things through
Christ who gives me the
strength”. Philippians 4:13
http://web.mac.com/ronniejones1/Site/Home_Page.html
May 2009

by Roger Campbell

LESSONS LEARNED FROM A GENTLE MAN
I met Orlen while in my twenties and serving my first church. He was the pastor of a thriving congregation. Like Paul, Orlen had poor eyesight, but his spiritual insight more than compensated for his limited vision. Impressed by his accomplishments and the relationship he enjoyed with his church, I once questioned him about how to have an effective ministry. “The Bible says the meek shall inherit the earth,” Orlen replied. “What do you mean?” I asked, a bit bewildered by his answer. “The pastor who is meek will inherit his church,” he explained. Orlen’s view was new to me, but, to my surprise, I found it to be true for leaders through the centuries. Moses, chosen to lead his people out of slavery, was known as the meekest man on earth (Numbers 12:3). Earlier, while in a position of power and influence, he had failed as a leader. Finally, after losing his high place in government and leading sheep for forty years, he was meek enough to lead people. It’s important to know, however, that meekness doesn’t mean weakness. Biblically speaking, meekness means gentleness or humility. Orlen was a gentle, humble man, like his Lord. No wonder he inherited his church, along with their love and devotion. My second lesson learned from Orlen came when our church joined his in aiding a needy family. The husband and father had recently been released from jail where men from our two churches carried on a weekly outreach to prisoners. Together our churches supplied food, clothing and lodging for this homeless family and made numerous attempts to help them find work so they could have a new start. As time passed with little progress being made in moving them to self-sufficiency, I began to be discouraged, doubting that this former prisoner was putting forth much effort to provide for his family. I saw our earnest efforts failing and the whole project as a poor investment, so voiced my concerns to Orlen. His response to my negative attitude has been unforgettable. “It is better that they fail us than that we fail them,” he said. An anonymous writer in a brief but powerful piece, titled “My Eternal Preference” summed up Orlen’s attitude about people and their problems: “When we are given our rewards, I would prefer to be found to have erred on the side of grace rather than judgment: to have loved too much rather than too little; to have forgiven an undeserving rather than to have refused forgiveness to one who deserved it; to have fed a parasite rather than to have neglected one who was truly hungry; to have been taken advantage of rather than to have taken undue advantage; to have believed too much in my brothers rather than too little; having been wrong on the side of too much trust than too much cynicism; to have believed the best and been wrong, than to have believed the worst and been right.” My third lesson from Orlen grew out of his view that newspapers are the most overlooked means of telling people of God’s love. I took his words to heart and started writing a column. You’re reading it. And that’s the rest of the story. Recently, I tried to call Orlen to thank him for his influence in my life, but found I had called too late. We ought to thank people while we can. This may be the greatest lesson of all.
Roger Campbell MinistriesPO Box 301004 Waterford MI. 48330248-623-6882 (Office Hours 9:00 AM-5:00 PM [eastern time] Monday through Friday)
Roger Campbell is an author, broadcaster and columnist and has been a pastor for over 22 years.He can be reached at rcministry@ameritech.net

Lonliness

CBN TEACHING SHEETS
Overcoming Loneliness
By CBN.com
CBN.com – I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever (John 14:16)
"Loneliness was the first thing that God's eye named not good." - John Milton
It was the sixth day. God Almighty had just finished creating all the living creatures that move along the ground. As He had at each stage of creation, God paused and evaluated His work. "And God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:25). Only one more task remained.
"And the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being" (Genesis 2:7).
Here was God's only creation that would not live its life in total ignorance of its Creator. Rather, made in God's image, Adam would fulfill a role no other creature could -- he would have fellowship with God and be the object of His love. But after placing Adam in the Garden, God observed that there was still something missing.
"The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him'" (Genesis 2:18).
God recognized Adam's need for contact with another human being -- a need God had built into him. More than just a fellow inhabitant of Eden, Eve would be the object of Adam's love and would love him in return. She would share the wonders of creation and the responsibilities of stewardship. With the creation of Eve, Adam's intimate relationship with God was complemented by communion and companionship with someone like himself.
By God's design we have an innate need to be loved and belong. As children we learn to give and receive affection and are taught the skills that will help us find acceptance in society. Through our relationships with family, friends, co-workers and others, we form our sense of individuality and find our place in the mosaic of life. It's when that need for affection and fellowship goes unfulfilled, that we become restless, unhappy...lonely.
If you are struggling with loneliness, you're not alone. Everyone experiences seasons of isolation for one reason or another. Usually we overcome loneliness by meeting new friends, entering new social circles, or taking some other action that reengages us with people.
However, a variety of personal factors and other circumstances can sometimes short-circuit our ability to connect with others. Perhaps you have become insecure about meeting new people after the death of a loved one. Maybe some social setbacks have led you to think that no one would be interested in your company. Relocating to a new area may have left you yearning for old friendships and unable to start new ones. There are many ways that long-term loneliness can take over our lives.
Causes of Loneliness
Loneliness doesn't develop overnight. It can be the result of a lifetime of influences that shape our personality. Or it can evolve after a major transition or trauma. Often we are unaware of the subtle forces that can slowly lead us into self-imposed isolation.
Some people tend to be loners because of circumstances in their childhood development. For example, growing up with an unaffectionate or overly critical parent may make one shy away from intimacy with others. Some people simply never learn to communicate well or get along with their peers. Others have overly aggressive or demanding personalities that make people withdraw out of intimidation. Conversely, people with low self-esteem often withdraw from social situations they believe will lead to rejection. Loneliness can become a lifestyle for the person who struggles with poorly developed interpersonal skills.
There are also many social factors that contribute to loneliness. We live in an age in which modern technology has made it easier to do things without other people and without leaving our homes. Television is the chief culprit that robs us of time with relatives and neighbors. For some, especially the elderly, the increased likelihood of becoming the victim of a crime keeps them from venturing out of their homes. Also, because our society is more mobile than in the past, families may relocate several times for career advancement or other reasons, which tends to discourage the development of deep friendships.
Loneliness can result from "situational factors," circumstances in life that increase the possibility of isolation. People who are unmarried, divorced or widowed are more likely to encounter loneliness simply because they are more likely to be alone. However, loneliness can also occur when a marriage relationship doesn't produce the closeness we expect. The student separated from home, the leader who must remain aloof from his subordinates, the individual with a disability or disease -- all face a greater chance of loneliness due to a situation in their lives.
Often loneliness brought on by developmental, social or situational factors leads to problems that only worsen loneliness. Alcoholism, drug abuse, family breakdown and other social ills are frequently rooted in loneliness and usually lead to greater alienation from meaningful human contact. The proliferation of gangs, religious cults and other deviant social groups can be attributed largely to people's need to belong somewhere and their failure to find acceptance in a traditional setting.
Whatever may be contributing to your loneliness, there is a way out. It begins with confronting a cause of loneliness that every human being must come to terms with -- the spiritual loneliness of being separated from God. Each of us has a need to connect with something larger than ourselves in order to fill the spiritual vacuum that exists within us all. The Bible is God's plan for developing the most important relationship in our lives.
Loneliness and The Bible
As the story of Adam and Eve illustrates, God intends for us to share our lives with other people. The importance of personal relationships in God's eyes is evident in the amount of space devoted to them in the Bible. Both the Old and New Testaments have a lot to say about marriage, parenthood, friendship and church fellowship. But it is also clear from God's Word that there is one relationship that is preeminent from God's point of view. That is the fellowship He wants to have with us, which forms the foundation of all other relationships.
When we accept God's gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, we enter into communion with the Creator of the universe. God Almighty becomes our Heavenly Father and He places His Holy Spirit within us. Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as the "Counselor" (John 14:16), whose presence would guide us into all truth (John 16:13). The Apostles Paul and John said God's Spirit would fill believers with assurance of our membership in God's family (Romans 8:16; I John 14:13). Day by day, through prayer and Bible reading, we can experience the wonderful fellowship that God wants to have with each of His children. He is never too busy to listen.
A dynamic walk with God is a solid foundation for building relationships with others. As God's children, we are members of an incredibly large extended family that encompasses the world. Our brothers and sisters inhabit every nation on the globe. Spiritually speaking, our "immediate family" is the group of believers with whom we attend church. They form an important support group that functions much like our natural family does. Christians who don't go to church or don't get involved in church activities cut themselves off from a rich source of companionship.
If you are a Christian who is suffering from loneliness, ask yourself if you have taken full possession of the abundant life God wants you to have. Are you spending regular quality time with your Heavenly Father? Are you active in a local church? Ask God to lead you into a deeper relationship with Him and greater involvement with fellow believers.
If you have never invited Jesus Christ to be your Savior, now is a good time to do so. Making Jesus the Lord of your life will put you on a path that leads to intimacy with God, new friendships with fellow Christians in this life and an eternal place in God's presence in the life hereafter.
Steps for Overcoming Loneliness
Perhaps you've heard these suggestions from well-meaning friends: "Why not join a club?" or "You should do some traveling." They aren't bad ideas but they aren't solutions to the problem of loneliness either. The following steps will help you break free from thinking, emotions and behaviors that may be at the root of your loneliness. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify actions you can take to overcome loneliness.
Admit the Problem - Only after you acknowledge that you are lonely can you take the steps necessary to escape from your isolation.
Consider the causes - Evaluate your life honestly in light of the factors mentioned above. Do any of them apply to you?
Accept What Cannot Be Changed - The death of a spouse, a relocation away from old friends, and other unalterable circumstances must be faced squarely. God can use transitions in our lives to open doors to new experiences, but we must be willing to let go of the past and move on.
Alter What Can Be Changed - Many of the causes of loneliness discussed above can be overcome. Do you fear rejection because you feel inadequate? Do you stay in your home watching television when you could be at a social function? Has your best friend just moved away? Regardless of the reason for your loneliness, you owe it to yourself to take measures that will meet the problem head-on.
§ Work on developing self-esteem by stopping destructive self-talk, such as telling yourself that you are unlikable. There are many good books on the subjects or rational thinking and misbelief therapy that can help you.
§ Practice looking at yourself from God's perspective. Study the Scriptures and meditate on verses that depict God's view of His children.
§ Make it a point to get out of the house at least once a week. Attend church activities; participate in community functions; take a class, etc...
§ Get involved in a cause. There are many groups looking for faithful volunteers who want to make a difference. Of course, working for a ministry or charity is also a great way to meet people.
Develop New Habits That Build Up Your Inner Self - As you become a stronger, more self-assured person, you'll find it easier to make new friends and encounter new situations. Try some of these strategies for self-improvement:
§ Meditate on God's Word for relaxation and to ease the effects of stress on your life.
§ Establish a schedule for a day, weekend or a week. Loneliness often seems more intense when we have nothing to do. Organize your time and be sure to include some outside activities.
§ Start exercising regularly. Take walks around your neighborhood, a local park or a shopping mall. You'll feel better physically and emotionally.
Make the most out of your time alone. Aloneness (as opposed to loneliness) can be a very positive experience. Aloneness, or solitude, gives us a chance to reflect on our lives, to meditate on God's will for us and to find healing for the wounds inflicted by the world. Many experts feel that we spend too little time alone and that we would all be better off by planning regular times of solitude in our lives.
Make an Effort to Make New Friends - Often all that is required to escape loneliness is the determination to seek out a new friend. Overcoming shyness and the fear of rejection are usually the biggest obstacles to initiating a friendship. Keep the following in mind as you try to establish new relationships:
§ Look for someone with whom you share a common interest.
§ Take the initiative and give the person a call. Chances are that person may be looking for a friend as well.
§ Build a friendship slowly. Don't overwhelm a new acquaintance with your problems and opinions. With time the openness to express feelings will develop. Give compliments and be thoughtful. Refrain from giving unsolicited advice. Be a good listener.
Consider Buying a Pet - Pets can be a wonderful source of companionship. Don't overlook the possibilities. Pets offer uncomplicated companionship and unquestioning affection. They can even become the catalyst for friendships with other pet owners.
Loneliness can be overcome. But it's up to you to take the steps necessary to break free from its grip. Ask your Heavenly Father for the courage to reach out to others and try new things. Trust Him to give you what He wants you to have -- an abundant life that includes intimate and faithful friends.

Ascension Sunday

Luke 24:50-51 And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while He blesseed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

Forty days after His resurrection on Easter Sunday, the Lord led His followers out of Jerusalem toward Bethany. This was the church being gathered by the Lord: disciples, tax collectors, women, and fisherman. Workers everyday folks like you and me. Behold, over this group the Lord of Easter lifts up His hands! And listen: from His resurrected mouth proceed words of blessing for this group. And "it came to pass, while He was blessing them" with His hands, then streteched out still--He rose from the earth, "was parted from them and carried up into heaven." Why, did Jesus lift His hands in blessing? The Son of God, church, had come to earth to work reconciliation between God and man. It was accomplised on the cross, Jesus gave up His life and with His last breath came the ripping of the temple veil separating the Holy of Holies to give us direct access to the throne of God.

Renew yourselves in the blessing of peace everyday. That is the message that the Lord Jesus would impress upon His church at His ascension into heaven, and that is the message that He continues to impress on His congregaion today. Lift up your hands, hearts, and voices with me today in praise to our Lord. Thank God for Him and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in your life.