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

The McLemores: Brendan (5), Bryan, Dorie, Makenna (2)