Caman getting prayer on his break

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

Free prayer

It was a little awkard-and way out of my comfort zone, but several people let us pray for them. Afterward it was like a total transformation as they let down their guard and would smile laugh, and sometimes tear-up. The guy below was watching us from the store he wprked at and came out on his break to get prayer. His name was Caman

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

This is going to be a dunkinlicious day

I am serious about my dunkin donuts coffee. I make sure every team I lead to boston has a cup of this nectar from heaven. It gets in their bloodstream and they are hooked for life. God is so good to us and the evidence is dunkin donuts coffee.

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

More bobby

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

Bobby bishop

Signed with universal records, bobbys hip hop is inspired by his experiences ministering on the streets of lynn. He lives across the street from whre we are staying- so he came over to do a live set for us tonight! What away to end our first full day of ministry.

Bryan McLemore
www.globalpassion.net

Kayley having a blast with Carissa during debrief.

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

First kids program in this park

About 20 kids and 10 adults, showd up for our first program--when we arrived there was a mom snorting cocaine at the picnic table while her kids played on the swings- we will be there all week to minister to the neighborhood.

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

Food pantry

Tonight we have no time to rest-we r cooking for 200 people!

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

Flyer distribution

Sweating for jesus- our flyer team was the best.
Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

fluffernutta

Boston team eating the wonder food you can only get in Lynn, ma---FLUFF!

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

Demo girls

Emily and Destiny from the bakersfield team tearing down the bathroom walls. Its hammer time!

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

Chiwawa victim

Megan, our first casualty-bitten by a chiwawa dog while cleaning a persons yard for jesus. I am happy to report that one of the team members sucked out the poison and she is going to live.

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

Devotions -BOSTON TRIP

Pastor Craig inspiring the troops to be like david and his mighty men. We are surprisingly awake-the ca team lost three hours- and everyone is ready to hit the streets.

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

Lynn by the sea- BOSTON TRIP

Kameron, looking out over the city
Monday night. It was awesome to hear the boat whistles the bouey bells, the train engines, the planes overhead, all at the same time. We prayed for god to break chains this week. A third of jr high kids are affiliated with gangs, heroin overdoses are the highest in the country, and the spiritual oppression has closed most evangelical churches. We are believing God is going to do miracles in Lynn this week!
Bryan McLemore
www.globalpassion.net

Where is dunkin

The bakersfield team arrives in boston. We are on our way to dnner then drive by prayer in lynn, ma.

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

Ol fashion 4th

Grandbury, TX fourth of July parade. It was so powerful to watch the veterans on the floats salute the soldiers in the crowd. I am so grateful for the courage and dedication of our troops.

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

Give me a brazilian

Today, at the xtian book store amongst the books and dvds I found a few shelves of children. My first thought, was what a great idea, but the more time I process it-it just doesn't sit well with me. Having worked with orphans and sponsored kids around the world, I am so excited about child sponsorship, but selling them next to books? I would hate to hear someone say, "I,ll take these mints-and a hondurian, oh your out? Got any brazilians?" on the flip side the kids don't care how they get sponsored- they get to eat and that is all that matters...but on our end what perspective are we creating of these kids if we make them an item in our shopping cart? Sort of dehumanizes them...which destroys the very motive that should be driving us to sponsor a child. What do you think?

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

what is your dream?

Just finished reading this on the plane to TX. So many things impacted me on the topic of leading others. It is not just full of profound thoughts but he writes it as a fictional story that is a fast read. If you lead others or run a company, prepare to have everything you "know" about the bottom line blown away! Matthew kelly's organization was at a convention I attended this month and after we spoke online He decided to donate several books to the FUEL intern program. We are honored to have such support and I hope that we can work with matthew when he is in Nor-Cal again.

cockpit

On our way to tx thr kids got to meet the pilot. I guess I wasn't supposed to sit in his lap?

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

We are off to the recital

Makenna is going to dance to "3 lil kittens"

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

Faith day at raging waters in sacto

My famous bro and sis in-law singing at raging waters this saturday-chadandsandy.com Great weather, great friends and fam-great god. Sandy is due in a few weeks so she is hardcore doing this out in the heat.

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

VBS Rocks!

Bren and kenna had a blast at the first christian church "midevil nights" vbs this week. It was so cool to watch them doing the motions and laughing so hard. We bought the new hillsong kids praise cd, and it is the coolest thing ever.

Bryan McLemore
Global Passion Ministries
707-252-9725
fax 707-252-9723
100 Anderson Road
Napa, CA 94558
www.globalpassion.net

Ice cream is so good on a hot napa night. Can't beat a dollar a scoop! Missing the interns though.

---

From: Bryan McLemore <bmclemore@globalpassion.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 11:01 PM
To: Blog <lifeohope.mclemore@blogger.com>
Subject: Ice cream is so good on a hot napa night. Can't beat a dollar a scoop! Missing the interns though.

Full redemption, partial transformation

Have you ever seen Shrek? Particularly that moment when Fiona and Shrek kiss at the end and she is carried up into a rapturous glowing transformation and then brought back down as her "true-self."
I picture that happening when someone encounters God for the first time and surrenders their will. Suddenly they are flooded with love, peace, and acceptance like they have never felt before and God fully redeems them and begins transforming them. For the first time a person gets introduced to their "true self," because God's purpose for their life comes into their heart. But I have often wondered why in that salvation moment that drug addictions are not totally dissolved, temper issues still linger, and Pride retains its grip.
I think it is because the Lord will later use these temptations and issues in our lives to draw us closer to him, by teaching us day by day throughout our lifetime that His ways really do help us overcome. If he did it all instantly, presto-chango style, then we wouldn't really learn to fight through things, to trust him in every circumstance, and put His word to the test.

He asks us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

Are we redeemed by the blood--Completely, are we transformed into a new creation--Totally, but not yet. It is like a seed God plants that has to germinate and then climb to the surface, struggling through the soil to reach the sunlight.

If you are feeling particularly imperfect today, relax you are on the right path.
Keep struggling! The sunlight awaits.

Mannys Jungle Adventure

Gpm Intern Manuel Coelho had an encounter with the jungle he will never forget...

http://manuelcoelhogpm.blogspot.com/

EAST COAST TOUR

Why do planes leave this early! We left Napa at 3:30am--most of us hardly slept, but by the time we checked in at the airport we started to get excited. This is our first big trip together in a while and it has been a long time coming.

We flew into Phili then drove up to Lincoln Park, NJ to stay with Jen and Greg Volz. They rolled the red carpet out for the team-thanks to them and their parents for the delicious breakfast suffle and coffee cake!

AHHHH, finally the nectar from heaven. Dunkin Donuts the way it should be in the pink and orange styrofoam cup. It took almost an hour on the east coast, but finally I can partake of the best coffee in the world.

Saturday we took Manhatten by storm. "Trump, where are you!"

We were a few blocks away from the crane that fell, but saw all the emergency vehicles wiz by.

It happened on 52nd and 3rd street and we were on 44th and 6th.

We headed up to Wilbraham, MA in the afternoon and stayed at host homes. Pastor Ralph Clarke put on an awesome Easter Play Saturday night and we were able to do both services for the church on Sunday. A lot of folks responded to our dramas and the pastors sermon on the life of St. Patrick. It was a very powerful day. After service we headed over to Boston, MA and are all set up at my home church, Christ the Rock Metro Church. I am so excited to introduce our GPM interns to the CRMC staff and Pastor's Lou and Kris Zinanti who have been such huge supporters of the FUEL program and GPM.

This is CRMC-built in 1890. It is the coolest building, there are staff members living here as well as a vietnames, spanish, and english churches. Pastor Lou and staff have finished an awesome project on the third floor adding two apartments and another sanctuary.

Well it is almost midnight and we have to be up at 6am to run! Tommorrow we will be painting the second floor to give the kids program more room as they have outgrown the basement.

My Lil' Peanut

Kayley Renae McLemore wa born November 24th at about 3am. She is absolutely perfect at 7lbs 4oz and 19 inches long. I call her my little peanut. Pumpkin is already taken by my other perfect little girl Makenna-seen here holding Kayley.

I will never forget sitting in my pastors living room and watching in horror as the first tower collapsed. I started pacing the room as if I had to get there and start doing something. Several folks from our church in Boston routinely did business in Manhatten, not to mention that several buddies of mine worked there.

Thank God none of them were downtown when it happened. There were several stories though of friends and parishners being way to close. One friend from church had been in teh tower the day before doing a tour. He had his family were supposed to have waited unti l 9/11 to do the tour, but he had to get back to Boston for work early so they did the tour a day earlier. I guess a lot of us have heard stories like that.

Later that week Dorie and I were flying home to Texas and we were on the second flight out of Boston on American Airlines since the "no-fly" ban was lifted. We flew directly over ground zero and everyone got real quiet as we starred down into the smoke. It was like a meteor had hit Manhatten and left a huge whole.

It is hard to believe that it happened six years ago. We have been to ground zero a couple of times and even then there was little sign of the amazing buildings that once stood there, except for two mammoth I-beams that had fallen down into the shape of a giant cross and for some reason the volunteers and workers had left it admist the reconstruction.

After it was discovered, construction workers, firefighters, police officers and family members began holding weekly Sunday services at the site. The names of fallen police officers and firefighters were also scribbled on the cross, along with the message "God Bless Our Fallen Brothers".

On the radio this monring results from a poll announced that 85% of Americans alive today say that the 9-11 attacks were the single biggest event in their lives.

Check out the current model of the building to replace the twin towers:

DANGER: This one is going to get Mushy!

I have been attempting to add a little romance in my marriage...yes I can hear the interns making gagging noises right now. But the reality is any man can romance 100 women 1 time, but it takes a real man to romance 1 woman 100 times. Think about that guys. So anyway I have been writing little notes to her on the above cards and this time around I found a quote that sums up a lot of what we have been learning lately.

Love is not blind - it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less.
Rabbi Julius Gordon

As Dorie and I grow together and learn more and more about each other, I have to admit there are some things at my core that I am not too proud of and I have a hard time sharing or letting her see. But as we reveal our faults, and darkest secrets to each other something funny has happened. What we thought would repulse and drive the other away, has actually brought us closer together. Our commitment is growing stronger as we open up and trust each other with our true selves. It isn't always easy, it can be downright tough, but in the end there is nothing like looking into the eyes of someone that has seen our worst and yet still loves us completely.
It is how the Father loves us. God knows your heart, you can't hide anything yet he completely loves you...There truly is nothing like His love. Today, no matter what you have done or how bad you think you are, Know that God has seen it all and He is absolutely in love with you.

Lonliness is next to Godliness?

This weeks time magazine includes excerpts from a beloved woman-of-God's struggle against depression and loneliness. Mother Teresa writes things like, "Lord, my God, who am I that you should forsake me? The child of your Love-and now become as the most hated one-the one-you have thrown away as unwanted-unloved. I call, I cling, I want-and there is no One to answer--no one on whom I can cling-no, No One.--Alone...Where is my faith." She goes on like this over and over again in letters to her confessors. She writes to the Rev. Lawrence Picachy, "Tell me, Father, why is there so much pain and darkness in my soul?"

I haven't read the entire article yet, but I am sort of in shock. Every time I read of a great respected leader's personal struggles it always shatters my perception of who they were. I would think I should know by now that leadership can be a lonely place. Take King David's lamenting in the psalms, or Jobs painful pleas to end his life--great men throughout the bible have lived through loneliness and doubt, and we see it today as well.

Dorie and I have been through our own Valleys and have tasted a little bit of what Mother Teresa describes. Those nights of utter loneliness and confusion when you feel like you have lost everything-even the presence of God. Those times when you can't muster even a seed of hope and all you can see ahead is darkness.

In those times, we simply have stood on the promises of God. One time, I just looked at this little wood carving of the word "hope" on our book shelf until I could feel a twinge of it again. No, we are not perfect and leadership can be a lonely place, but I heard it said once that on the other side of Loneliness is God's presence.

But the good news is that David writes about a God that is with us even when we, "walk through the valley of the shadow of death." There is nothing like coming through a valley experience to build your faith, but better yet to show you how much our Father loves us.

I pray for my students that when they are on the mission field and find themselves in a valley that they will stand firm on the promise of God to bring them through. It is something I cannot teach them, but they will have to walk through on their own. I believe in you guys!

graduation day!

I can't believe the day is here. Never have I have looked forward to yet dreaded a day as much as this one. I looked forward to it, because this is the first ever class to graduate (Christina will always have the honors of guinea pig 1 though) from the Fuel Curriculum. And I dreaded it because it would mean that our year together is over. I feel like Tula's dad in the movie, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" when he said, "Why you wanna leeeve me!" But alas, I must let them go, because God has a calling on their lives and the whole point of what we do in the FUEL intern program has to do with equipping and launching. They are equipped and ready, now the countdown begins. Elizah is heading to Honduras to teach English and help begin a youth ministry program. Randa is heading to Derry, Northern Ireland to work in the public school system sharing God's love. Sean is already in Florida training before he leaves for South Africa and then Asia to work with Book of Hope as a trainer. Manny is heading to Bombay, India to work with teen challenge, and Sarah is heading to Fiji to help begin a medical clinic and a university. Angie is going to help me here at the home base get the new class of interns up and running before she heads to India herself. Yea, you could say I am proud. I am so thankful to have crossed paths and built relationship with such fine people. There is no doubt in my mind that these students are going to change the world!

TEAM A horsing around at St. Pauls church. We had just finished the kids club and couldn't put the props down. J.R., Brandon, ME, Melody, and Jessica.
It has been a great time being with the kids, I just wish we had longer. It is only about 2hrs that we spend with them.
I am so greatful to be serving with the 15 members of our belfast team. All of them have worked hard to impact the neighborhoods we are serving in and they have blessed our missionary Jonny Caldwell too. I am very proud of them. Lets just say they know how to 'negotiate' very well!

marching day

The crowds were packed into the intersection on the Shankill Road. There was a buzz in the air as the different protestant lodges marched through the streets flutists, drumers, and twirlers giving it all they had. I always wondered why the children at our outreaches here in Belfast would use marching conducter batons, but at the parade where they sold childrens baton's and all the kids would march behind the conductors as they passed-I had no doubt why. It was difficult to imagine these little ones understanding that the groups they were marching in had very serious intentions that could be violent and at times sensless in their hatred of their neighbors not two blocks away. I wondered what beat that my children would march too, what heroes and toys would they idolize and what example I was leaving them.
Just then, one of the leaders from the church we are ministering with shouted, "theres my uncle!" Everyone waved as he passed by with his orangeman's garb on.
The whole experience left me desiring to seek God's face so much more, that his presence in my life would root out the hidden hatred, sin, and impurities that can be so nicely masked that I would never notice them without God's light.
Belfast Team 2007 is ready for the next week. We desire so badly to support our host church and pastor Jonny Caldwell. We will be doing al kinds of children's activities and neighborhood outreach to share the love of Christ...for all men.

can you take me higher?

Urban Challenge was challenging in so many ways. The 45 ft up in the air rope bridge, the zip line, sleeping in the same room with Chad Nance, Finding parking in San Francisco, but most of all on Tuesday night when the Lord spoke to each of us. It was one of those amazing trips. I will never forget the stories pastor Tim Gavigan of Glad Tidings told us of Smith Wigglesworth raising a man from the dead. The best thing was after Tim told us of all the amazing miracles that had been done in that church he said, "but we are more excited about what God has promised to in our future." That is vision my friends. He inspired us and we sought God till the wee hours of the morning and God spoke vision to each of us. My Word was to "Stand Strong." It was so appropriate as I have been fielding some doubt lately. Blessings

Four Star

Well it is off to MO for a few days of rest and relax...oh started dreaming again. I am actually going to MO to sit at a booth and go to meetings for the next five days. The cool part is the 4 star hotel I am in! Thanks poppa Steve!
Pray that our time with the leaders of the Assemblies of God is one of making new friends and connections to help us continue to support the youth leaders in the U.S.

I have been a ninja for God for the past few days in China. I am amazed at how beautiful the scenery is and how kind the people are. Total strangers make sure we get the right buses, eat the right food, and get all that we need as we travel through their towns. This has been the trip of a lifetime for me. We are looking forward to bringing our interns and teams here in the future and training them to be ninjas too.
hi ya!

The past few days have been tough. The news of Pastor Ted Haggard's resignation from the NAE and New Life Church as well as all of the accusations flying and his confessions to some "sexual indiscretion" have left me sick. The only category of shock that I can compare it to is the way I felt watching the twin towers come down. I know that Pastor Ted's moral failure is in no way as terrible as all of those who perished in the 911 attacks. The similarity is in the way that both events felt like a punch in my stomach. It has consumed my thoughts the last few days. We have several students that have graduated or are currently attending leadership programs at Ted Haggards church, and my heart goes out to them. We pray for them to find peace in this storm to find their center in the presence of God and allow Him to bring forgiveness and healing. Dorie and I have been praying for Ted's wife Gayle and their children and I would ask you to pray as well.
Two things the Lord is speaking to me as I pray through this:
1. Bryan, there is never a time in your walk that you become immune to sin. Satan is crouching at the door and you must stay on guard and maintain a "battle" mindset lest you relax and are devoured. But know that My Spirit will give you a way out in every temptation, and the strength to take it!
2. Be quick to actively forgive him. Honor the work God has done through him, and focus on that rather than the sin.

The church is known for shooting its wounded, in order to change this mindset we must actively seek to forgive and restore those who have fallen. We must err on the side of love instead of punishment.

Well it is late and I am getting ready for service tomorrow. Tomorrow, Ted's church will be reading a letter of explanation and apology as well as a letter of encouragement from his wife Gayle. The church website will probably publish it: http://www.newlifechurch.org/

Just want to brag on the interns for a minute. We did our first few services together today as a whole team, and they did great. I was very proud of Randa, Christina, Sarah, and Elizah for being so clear and passionate while sharing their testimonies. They held a prop in their hands while they spoke about what kept them from really pursuing the call of God on their lives and then when they finished sharing they broke the prop and threw it into a metal trash can...the shattering glass got everyone's attention.
Manny-Fresh and Shank (Sean), you guys will forever be the audience "thrillers"-no one can get the kids dancing like you did.
Angela, your demon was particularly menacing today during the skit-maybe that is why you attacked me with your water bottle today...I think you need to see our campus counselor Dave.
Everyone had a great attitude overall and served well. One example I observed was after lunch. We had done two high energy services and just ate a filling lunch so when enterd the chapel for our third service we pretty much all just wanted to sit around a little. Instead of just relaxing, Elizah offered to take over vacuuming for one of the school janitors. We have been talking about serving others and your actions personified the heart of our team and Global Passion--Great Job.

Fasting

AAAHHHHH...The 3 day fast is over and I just had one of the best Mexican meals I have ever had. What a great feeling. I had three cups of Dunkin donuts coffee the best coffee in the world!
Whenever we fast like this I love the way the Lord feels so near. Everyone has had such a great experience and did so good. (Lizah only smelled the pizza!). All of us felt a breakthrough in our hearts. Mine was in the area of selfishness. It is hard to admit, but I am still struggling with the same things from kindergarten, but instead of fighting over toys it is stinginess with my time, my space, and my expectations. When you are so weak that you can't argue anymore...God can make some progress maturing you!
Anyway fasting for us at Global Passion is an amazing time. It is a normal part of our schedule at the FUEL intern program. If you have never tried it, maybe you could skip a lunch this week and go to the park and just talk to God. You will be surprised at the difference it makes in your ability to resist temptation and hear the voice of God.

Fun with the fam

We had a great time with Dories Grandma and aunt while in Sacraemento last week.
Here are four generations of Women in our family...Sandy (dories sis) Cookie (dories mom) Grandma, suzie (dories aunt), Dorie, Missy (dories other sis), Makenna, and Jada.

I am so sleepy. It is almost 1am and I am up having a hard time sleeping. Here is a little trick I learned in bible college: If I want to get right to bed I simply read the book of Numbers...and"jehosaphat begat lemonfat and lemonfat begat wahutzy"..ZZZZZZ

If you ever wondered who Brendan looks like...we do too!

Whew! I never knew having seven children at once could be so draining! I feel like a proud papa of six new kids, but they aren't kids at all, they are our new Global Passion Interns for 2006-2007. Randa (can I get an inhaler?), Sean (shank), Elizah (drives like a bat out of heck), Sarah (the momma), Manuel(scoobydoo van), and Angela (our cow girl). And of course Christina (OMG) makes seven (she started in January because she is special.
What makes our team so effective is that one persons weakness is covered by another's strength. It really has been a God designed team and they are already making an impact as part of the GPM Family.
Pics and details of the crew will go onto the website in the next few days but this one is of us conquering our 5 mile hike during orientation weekend.

I can't believe it has been this long since I updated the site. Time flys! We are here in Belfast, n. Ireland right now with our Global Passion teams. One of our pastors, Dan Williams is doing a great job keeping up with the trip...www.rescued.typepad.com/remnantyouthministries

This video will get you fired up

"That's My King"

Just want to say howdy to all those students applying right now. A few personal hello's to Angie, Robert, Elizah, Kim, and Sara. It may seem impossible for you to apply, get all your paperwork done, and raise your support to get here, and your right; it is impossible. Here at Global Passion we do the impossible everyday. I watch hundreds of young people raise thousands of dollars each in order to get to the mission field. When we step out in obedience we must remember we are walking in the supernatural. One of our missionaries in Zimbabwe keeps reminding me...God's work, done God's way, will never lack God's supply. We are honored to have the chance to work with you, and it will be my delight to watch God supply all that you need to fulfill the call on your life.

----B

Cool Christian portal with lots of resources:
www.crossmap.com

Best airfare

I love getting my travel zoo email every week. Some of their deals are really amazing, but you have to book quickly because they sell out so fast. www.travelzoo.com

$769-$959 -- India from Across the U.S. (Roundtrip)

http://www.travelzoo.com/Top20.asp?md=w00225584

Source: American Airlines

Slugs don't gross her out?!

Dorie finally agreed on a pet. After all her research and eliminating the ones that gross her out we settled on underwater snails. Yes you read that right. Snails that live underwater like fish. So my kids get slugs for pets. One hasn’t moved since we brought it home. I don’t know if it is dead or if that is just what slugs do. Before we got to the pet store my kids had already named their pets-to-be. Brendan's will be called "brown-eyes," and Makennas will be dubbed her favorite food, "cheese puffs." Come to think of it, Makenna has named several dolls, and misc toys cheese puff.

Best Travel Deals

I love getting my travel zoo email every week full of their handpicked deals. Some are really amazing, but book fast cause they sell out quick. www.travelzoo.com

$769-$959 -- India from Across the U.S. (Roundtrip)
http://www.travelzoo.com/Top20.asp?md=w00225584
Source: American Airlines

Saw you there!

At GPM convention it was great to talk to many of you and to your parents. I am always humbled when I see students at the conference or display booth, because many times it is the beginning of a lifetime of ministry.

Robert and Elizah; we got to stop meeting like this! You guys are great. I can't wait to hear from many of you again and hopefully get some of your applications soon. Our next induction (sounds like a medical procedure) date is September 1, 2006. If you are serious about coming to Napa, now is the time to get your app in and start raising support. Lets get it started!

TO INFINITY AND BEYOND!

The pastor said that Christmas is a journey. My family and I are here in TX with my mom,dad, sister and all my relatives. We went to Pantego Bible Church for the "glow stick" Christmas Eve service, where pastor Daniels said some pretty profound things amidst the screaming and crying children. He said that out of all those who travelled to the manager that night none came so far as the baby Jesus. Mary and Joseph came about 70 miles, the shephards a few miles, the wise men hundreds of miles and of course there was a few animals that really didn't have to go further than the next stall. Then there is christ. He came from infinity and beyond miles away. He came from God to man, from the Old Testament to the New, from Spirit to Flesh, and from Heven to Earth. Why did he go so far? The same reason we drive 20 hours to see relatives during the holidays, because he loves us. This Christmas Jesus has come quite a long way to be with you, but His real destination didn't end at the manager, He wants to come into your heart. And he wants to lead you back to His fathers house.
I am going to slow down this week and allow that to sink in...

I am so excited to welcom Christina Murrell who will be joining me next week at our main offices as a one year intern. We are blessed to have her with us and I am filled with anticipation of what God is going to do in and through her! Hope to see you all at our convention Jan 7! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

It was hard to say good bye to frosty. His wife and son were griefstricken as they followed his "bucket" to the pond site. Sometimes tragedy strikes when we least expect it. Frosty didn't see the little kid with the hair dryer...

Memorial Service for James

I was at a memorial service last week for a man I hardly knew. He used to fold bulletins for our church and every now and then I would stop in and say hello. He was 85 and had served the Lord most of his life. His son spoke and told of a time when he asked his dad if he knew what his purpose was and without hesitation his father said, “to pray.” The more I learned about this man I found out that as he sat in the church brake room he was praying for our pastors, Global Passion, and for me. I am so grateful for James and his prayers over me. I never knew until now.

Have you ever been prompted to pray for someone randomly? You are experiencing the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

The bible also says that Jesus sits at the right hand of God and intercedes for us each individually. Psalms 32:7,8 says, “He surrounds us about with songs of deliverance…and leads and guides us with His own eye.” I am encouraged today to know that even though I may feel a little overwhelmed, there is someone I may not even know praying for me right now, and Jesus is interceding on my behalf; even our God is singing over me right now. Today I want to take a lesson from my friend James. I am going to take some time today to pray secretly over someone and to be sensitive to the H.S. prompting.

Blessings,

So much to be thankful for

I get so excited everytime another application for FUEL comes across my desk, because it shows the faithfulness of God and the passion of this generation. Congratulations to Christina and Sara who are joining us January 3rd! They are our trailblazers, because they are our first one year interns who will use the FUEL curriculum. Our next start date is September 1st 2006.
This weekend is Thanksgiving and my family is going to Sacramento to enjoy mucho turkey and play a little Halo.
Have a great Holiday!

Praise God the oven is in!

I can be a little impatient, which isn't always a good thing when you are doing home improvement stuff. I get half way into a project and I start to think, "I just want to be done with this." I had this thought yesterday when I was putting a new stove into our kitchen. I was using a buddys jig-saw and I must have been sub-concisously pushing this thing to hard, because it blew-up in my hands. Sorry Jim. But in my rush to finish I used a saw he had let me borrow and again, you guessed it, I broke his saw blade. Sorry again Jim. I did end up finishing the project and slid the oven into place, but today I have to tell Jim about his tools. Please pray for God's protection.
Have a great Monday--Make it Count!
Bryan