fishermensline

Beautiful Home-For Sale?

2011-12-21T14:51:00.001-08:00

http://www.hdhathomes.com/tours/6061_tourb.html

STOP ABUSE and COVER-UPS in 'church'

2011-12-16T05:11:00.000-08:00

STOP ABUSE of our YOUTH!

If you know or become aware of abuse and cover-ups in your (or any) 'church' you may contact this news organization to EXPOSE these evil people!

PROTECT our YOUTH!

STOP the ABUSE!!!

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/independent-fundamental-baptist-discipline-call-tough-love-abuse/story?id=13310172#.Tus8LdT2ZiR

Youth Abuse in 'church'

2011-12-16T05:05:00.001-08:00

STOP ABUSE of our YOUTH!

If you know or become aware of abuse and cover-ups in your (or any) 'church' you may contact this news organization to EXPOSE these evil people!

PROTECT our YOUTH!

STOP the ABUSE!!!

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/independent-fundamental-baptist-discipline-call-tough-love-abuse/story?id=13310172#.Tus8LdT2ZiR

Run The Race!

2011-04-25T15:28:00.000-07:00

Run With Endurance The Race God Has Set Before You!

Hebrews 12:1

Crucifixion and Resurrection

2010-04-03T18:32:00.000-07:00

Another Poem for Passover/Easter by-Sue C. weaver

Passover Week-End!
By-Sue Weaver
Friday April 10, 2009 (copyright)

I heard the shouting and the crying,
As I walked along the way-
I saw a mob had gathered…..
I’ll never forget that day!

I saw a man had been beaten,
His bones were showing through-
The bleeding flesh that hung so loosely,
His body was bent and broken, too.

Upon his head was a crown of thorns,
That pierced the skin upon his brow-
He stumbled through the streets that day,
He continued, but I don’t know how!

His eyes were swollen masses,
Of blood and bruises, and pain-
But as he stumbled along the street
He fell; then got up again!!!

The crowd was jeering as He walked,
The guards struck him in the face-
“Tell us who struck you, King!”
“Save Thyself, Thy Royal Grace!”

He looked into the crowd that day,
His eyes could barely see-
I caught the sadness in those eyes,
He was looking directly into me!

He saw the brokenness in my heart,
He saw my loneliness, and yes, my sin-
He pierced my soul with his depth of love,
He saw me deep within!

I shouted to the guards nearby,
“You must not do that to this man!”
They laughed at me and pushed me away,
“Who are you to tell us? Stop us if you can!!”

The man was becoming weaker,
His steps were very slow-
The crowd was getting wilder,
“Crucify Him, Crucify Him, Hurry on, let us go!”

There was a woman in the crowd;
Whose eyes were filled with pain and fear-
“Oh, God, my God, He is my son, too,
Why have You brought Him here?”

“ I thought He would redeem the world,
I thought He would be King!
Have I understood so little?
Why have you done this thing?”

The man looked into her eyes,
And knew what she had felt-
He didn’t falter as he spoke to her,
As before him, his mother knelt.

He said, “This is the reason I came here,
For this moment, I Am sent to earth-
To redeem man’s soul for my Father,
To offer a second birth!

Now, I go unto my Father,
Where I have prepared a place-
For those who are willing to believe in me,
Find salvation, through my Father’s grace!

If I were not to suffer so,
If the cross I did not bear-
I would not be their redeemer,
And their sins would still be there!

But Because I have obeyed my Father,
And the work I have is nearly done-
I must continue in this way;
Until the victory, has been won!”

He looked up toward the sky;
And stumbled up toward that hill-
He had determined in Himself,
He must obey His Father’s will.

I watched in terror, as they placed the spikes,
Into his wrists that fateful day-
He willingly submitted to His death,
There was no other way!!

The crowd began to weep and wail,
As thunder and lightning filled the sky-
The darkness covered all the land,
As they watched their savior die!

The crowd began to change their mind,
About Whom they crucified-
“Surely, this is the Son of God!”
The crowd, who mocked; then cried.

“Father, please forgive them,
For they know not, what they do!”
Could this be the Son of God-
Who has done this thing for me and you!?

I fell down upon my face,
My heart completely broken-
I was absolutely certain,
To me, the man had spoken!

“If you had known the Father,
You would have known me, too!
You are forgiven, you sins are gone,
Yes, I AM, doing this for you!”

He cried out one last time’
His voice strong and not diminished-
“Into Thy hands, I commit my spirit-
And now, it is finished!”

This is not the end,
Of the story of my Lord-
On the third day He had risen,
And kept His promised Word!

He is coming back someday,
To take His children, his church, His bride-
To live eternally with the Father,
Forever at His side!

Fishing in Lansing!

2010-02-01T16:15:00.000-08:00

Greetings, Loved Ones In Christ;

This evening as I sit on the sofa, in a warm, toasty house, the cold 21 degree weather outside is merely an inconvenience, As if I wanted to be out there! However, tomorrow being Tuesday, I'm looking back to last Tuesday....looking back with memories of our outreach.
I look forward to tomorrow with great anticipation! I have wanted to do this for so long! God truly does always give us 'the desires of our heart' when we delight to do His will! (Psalm 37:4-5).

He had long ago placed a desire in my heart to be out in the streets, whether Prayer-Walking, handing out tracts, flyers, or whatever. I have Prayer Walked all over East Asia, Europe, America, and parts of Canada.....I have loved every moment of it. I've even loved it though I was heartbroken to see tracts thrown away, as I looked back. I've been overjoyed to see people stop what they were doing to read them on the spot, and wave a "thank you" to me. I've been blessed to have some come to meetings, or talk in a park, etc. Prayer Walking in itself has been an instrument of teaching and evangelical opportunities that grew into more than 2000 believers prayer walking over E.A., and teaching the teachers all about the power of prayer and intercession.

This past Tuesday, though, I was blessed to be able to stand in the cold, wind, and icy snow, to serve the homeless. I grew up in a depressed area of Kentucky, where I was born. I know what it's like to see people have real struggles, to see little children with either no shoes or shoes taped together. The 1947-1955 years in eastern Kentucky left a mark in my heart, and a longing in my soul to reach out to hurting children, especially. I knew that I wanted to be a nurse from the age of five. There was more in my desire to be a nurse than I could ever explain.....it was a 'calling', I now realize (and have for quite some time).

When I once said to Lora, that I didn't feel that I contributed much to God's Kingdom work, she said, "but Mom, you're a nurse! You don't just do your work, you love your patients and you love your work!" I proceeded to tell her it was different, I was paid to do my work (doing it my best was a given). She then told me, "Well, you can be paid to do work you love, but loving your patients the way you do....that is from God! You have the gift of love." (thank you, Lora!!) My children can both be so wise, and so encouraging!

So, now here I am. I've just returned from Poland since September. I'm in my beautiful new home. I'm near my grandsons and Lora (and Michael, in spirit and heart!) I have a dream or two still unfulfilled. I wanted to do what Jesus says is so important: Matthew 25:35-46. "When I was hungry, you gave me food, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you took care of me........"

Well, we've all pretty much donated our clothing, non-perishable food items, etc., to Salvation Army and many other organizations. Many of you have gone to Haiti and worked with missions there......seeing poverty that most will only read about. God bless you for that love and compassion that HE placed in your heart as you delighted in Him! We saw a lot of poverty in asia and in other places around the world.

I see the devastation all around Haiti, and my heart aches for all of them, but especially for the more helpless children, elderly and sick.

I know the situation here at home is no comparison to the devastation of Haiti, even before the earthquakes and aftershocks.

I feel called to do what I can right now, in this little corner of Michigan. The weather is freezing cold. The wind has been blowing. The roads are icy and dangerous. The shelters are filled. People are hurting. Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in America, right now. As I stood at the table, dishing out whopping over-sized portions of bread pudding, lovingly made for the outreach by a local restaurant owner, whom God had "told him to do this, and I've been doing this for seven years, now", I was enjoying myself immensely! There is just something about being able to help those who need help. I could stand on my head for a sick and helpless patient, but anyone who could reach their own water glass only inches away from them and ask me to get it for them...should beware! I just enjoy feeling that I am showing Jesus to others. I listened to the words of the outreach leader on the loudspeaker as she talked about Jesus and His love. She made it so clear to everyone that this is completely unconditional love; we wanted to show it by actions.....not only by words.
I could hardly believe it when we had fed over 160 people and the line was dwindling down, and that our time was about up. We began to tear down the tents, tables, and clean up. I talked about it all the way back home......I remember the last time I talked like that! I was going back home from our mission trip to Ecuador......I just about talked Allan to death! He told me later that he figured I'd talk myself out soon, but it went on for two weeks! That's where our journey into missions began.......well, anyway, that's where I can see that it began. We know that God had His plan from much earlier than that. He was just waiting for a 'willing' heart to STEP OUT of the BOAT and look only at HIM!
Pray for me as I continue to seek where He is working and obey His voice as I walk along the Way. Pray for Allan, because he is so eager to do anything that I feel God is leading us to do, as well as what he feels led to do. I appreciate him for that. I remember once, I believe it was Chuck Swindoll, who said, "listen to your wife. Sometimes she may be the one God is communicating with. Women really do have discernment more than most men" (paraphrased and maybe it wasn't even Chuck...maybe John McArthur!!!).I love people who confess that women are more sensitive, don't you?? I could listen all day to that kind of person!

I am so glad you at FBI and CFTB were able to see Michael, hear what's been going on, and get a chance to talk with him. I'm so looking forward to seeing him, too! It's been way too long!!

I must say bye for tonight. I hope you enjoy reading about our wonderful new involvement with the "Into the Streets Ministry." Pray for the homeless, for the hungry, lost, and those who feel helpless, and pray that we can show the Hope and Light of Jesus Christ and His free gift of salvation. Pray that we can be a light for them and that they will see JESUS through us!
Glory and Power to the One and Only True God!
I Th. 5:16-18
Matthew 4:19 "and Jesus said unto them, Follow ME, and I will make you Fishers of Men!"
The Fishermens Line
Michigan, U.S.A.

Another Blog Fog?

2010-01-16T05:22:00.000-08:00

Greetings!

This morning (started about six a.m.), I am practising updating my blog...what fun! I'm usually not THAT awake, this early......although I get up between five and six, usually. It takes me an hour to be awake enough to think 'technically'!!

I'll keep this short, of course, for my second cup of coffee! I may even delete it, so you'll never know about this post! Ha-Ha.

I recently posted a very long post; "Step Out of the Boat" that I am fervently PRAYING that you will read through to the end, and respond by fervently seeking God for an answer to HOW you will be called to help with Michael's work in E.A.

I just want to tell you how much we appreciate your support and prayers over the past few years! Words are not enough, so I will do what I always do. I'll ask God to tell you how much we love you and appreciate you! Isn't He just so awesome!

Please write to me, post a comment, and let me know how Allan and I, can pray for you! If you like, visit me on Face Book: Look for Lily Sue, or look me up by e-mail address: lsw@pobox.com
You know our Fishermensline address, so you can write to me there (both Allan and I).

Please PRAY for Haiti.....how my heart breaks for those children! My heart breaks, of course for the entire country, but I have always been a child advocate, and I just hurt so much for them! I pray that God will open the eyes of this poor country and turn their hearts toward HIM!

Again, please write to us and give us your prayer requests!

We love you in the precious Name of Jesus!

Sue and Allan
The Fishermensline
Matt.4:19
I Th. 5:16-17

Review: 2009!

2009-12-25T16:43:00.000-08:00

Okaaaaaay!

Well, It's now Christmas Eve., 2009! Wow!! Time has flown this past year and so much has happened that I truly don't know where to begin!!

I suppose I could try to re-cap 2009 from January until today.

Greetings to our beloved friends, family, and prayer warriors!

As you may know we returned in January from a trip to the Far East to visit Michael, and what a wonderful two weeks we had with him, his friends, family, and laborers for our Kingdom!!

I did a blog about the trip if you want to re-visit that site.

The summer in Poland was absolutely filled with so many exciting times, summer day trips to visit my friend, Dagmara and her daughter, Julia in her new summer home in Misclinice, Poland. We toured castles, the country side, beautiful restaurants, the Krakow Zoo, parks, and took long walks, drove up mountain sides, went to Zakopane, and just had so many special times together, I can't even begin to tell about all of the great times we shared together!

We had Roma camps with IWC (International World Changers...with whom I did my very first mission trip .....to Ecuador), we had a team for Roma camp from the Goss family's home church in Va., we did games, had singing, preaching, teaching, prize give-aways, testimonies, special music, dancing, bon-fires, souls coming to Jesus, new commitments, re-commitments, baptisms, and just about every wonderful event you could imagine......we were blessed to be a part of!

We prayer-walked all over Krakow, Misclinice, Oswiencem, Kazimierz, Zakopane, Nowa Huta, Skawina, Charznow, Budapest, Wieliczka...all over Poland, Hungary, and Czech Republic..wherever the soul of our feet touched (Joshua 1),we prayed for the souls of Poland and it's surrounding areas!

In June we attended AGM in Eretria, Greece. What a very special treat! In addition to the most wonderful Greek foods, we enjoyed music, worship, preaching, special singing, games, fun, swimming, sunning by the pool, walking on the beach, moonlight walks around the retreat areas, shopping in the nearby village, the absolute BEST Baklava on earth, water aerobics (taught by yours truly, for about one and half hours), relaxing, the Lottie Moon auction...what great fun!, meeting with old friends from MLC (ILC now), sharing memories, talking about future plans, and again, just about everything one would want to do, to make their life enjoyable and content.

We made new friends, met old friends, and had the fantastic opportunity to worship the God of the Universe every moment of every day...to see more of His awesome creation, to spend time with Him, rest and recuperate and feel restored in body and spirit.

In May we had our vacation back to America to see our precious grandsons; Ryan, Ian, and Zane and our daughter, Lora, and our son-in-law, Jim, all of whom we'd not seen in way too long!

We enjoyed our time in the states, visiting our church in Portland, Michigan, spending time with "our boys", and just hanging out with friends and family. What a glorious blessing that was!! Thank You, Lord!

The summer was very busy with Roma camps, prayer-walking, International Fellowship Meetings, Street EV in Krakow and surrounding towns and villages, and various activities with the Roma and Krakow Teams. Time just seemed to speed by.

In July we made the decision to return home to America to be with our daughter, Lora, and our three Grandsons. Jim, our son-in-law, would be leaving for Iraq, so we had discussed and prayed about this since we heard that he would be leaving. We felt that God was leading us home, and we would continue His work there.

We left Poland in September this year (2009). We arrived in Michigan on Sept.6th. We moved into our new home on October 1st (this is the home Allan built before we moved to Poland and right after we returned from East Asia).

We were ecstatic to move into our brand new home! It was still in mint condition...thanks to God that we'd had excellent renters during our time in Poland!

We have been buying furniture, an auto, appliances, linens, dishes, and all that we would need to 'start over". ( we gave away/sold EVERYTHING we owned before we left for Asia!!) God has been so very gracious in supplying our needs! He IS so amazing, isn't He!?

Michael is still in Asia. We still MISS him terribly much! We still have the same heart for sharing Him all over the world. We still long to be in the 'field'. We miss our friends in Poland, Asia, and those who are scattered to the four corners of the earth, yet we know that we'll see them all again someday!!!!

Michael is still loving his work, Lora is home-schooling our three Grandsons. Jim is still in Iraq,

Allan and I are still seeking to do His work, and to please Him, above all things.

Today is Christmas. America is rapidly changing. We're in shock at some of the political happenings in our beloved country. We're in shock at things that have happened since we left in 2007. We still love and believe in America. We still have absolute faith that we will turn back to God, as a nation and a people. We pray for Obama, that his eyes and heart will be opened and turn to God and be led to do right for our country.

We are on our knees daily for the future of our country, for the lost, for our family, for our friends' families, for our church body, for the nations, for all the missionaries, for the saints of God, for our pastors, leaders, and for YOU!

We love you. We want to PRAY for YOU! Please let us know HOW we can pray and intercede before the throne of God on your behalf!!!

There are so many things and so many people to remember in prayer...no wonder Paul told the church at Thessaloniki to PRAY without CEASING! (I Th. 5:16-17).

I hope that you have had a tremendously wonderful year, and that your coming year of 2010 will be the most glorious, joy-filled, blessed, and peaceful year ever!

Thank you for your prayers, for the gifts, for all that you have done, who you are, and that you are joint heirs with Jesus...that makes us relatives IN HIM!

God bless you and keep you in His care!

Is. 30:21

Ep. 4:30

I Th. 5:16-18

Sue and Allan

The Fishermensline (Matt.4:19)

AGM R & R: A Little Time to Rest and Worship!!

2009-06-30T02:29:00.000-07:00

Old Olive Tree

Another Olive Tree

Eretria, Greece

June 2009

Look carefully...you can see the little olives on the tree!

Allan and Seba

Train into Munich

June21,2009

Lunch in Athens

June 27, 2009

Leaving my beautiful, beautiful,

Greece! Thank You, Father, for this wonderful blessed time of worship and fellowship!

Greetings, Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Jesus!

I Love Baptism Services! What a blessing it is to see our wonderful Polish friends immersed in the deep and loving personal relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior! (has nothing to do with today's blog....just looking at pictures of the Baptisms!!)

We recently returned from our AGM (Annual General Meeting), in Eretria, Greece. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and worship!!

I've been thinking a lot about Greece since we left on Saturday the 27th of this month (June 2009). I've thought about the lovely island, the excellent food (especially the olives and baklava)...I've thought of the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, the Olive Trees, that I find so beautifully twisted and gnarled...tiny, green olives, shimmering in the sunlight among the pale green leaves, I've thought a lot about our friends...some of whom we had not seen since our days at MLC, and thought we'd never see again in this earthly life, I've pondered the excitement of the LMCO Auction and the wild abandoned way everyone throws caution to the wind, in favor of 'winning' the bid for an American or National product...usually difficult or impossible to find anywhere within reach...and so the bidding reaches fever pitch, until someone gives way (the plan is to donate to LMCO, anyway...so why not make it fun!!?) I have thought about the long hours of waiting at airports, and so you see, many things have taken up my wandering mind these past few days.

I have even thought about the exorbitant costs of such an undertaking...and I have asked myself a hundred times..... is it worth it (outside the awesomeness of the time on a luxury island), and I have asked God...is the money wisely spent?

Then I think about those in Russia, the Ukraine, Romania, East Asia, Africa, the desert of the middle east, the expanse of the Mongolian regions, the cold winters, the smog and air pollution, the struggles with trying to share the gospel in the deepest throes of Satan's clutches, the long periods of time without seeing friends, family, or loved ones, the tossing of highly valued words of Christ, on a tract, -into the nearest trash can, the frustration at trying to organize meetings and house church to ones who may or may not show, the long hours of prayer for someone-anyone to respond to Jesus' call in their life, The many times we work and pray and don't see any fruit (although we KNOW HE will faithfully bring the harvest in His timing), driving or getting around in a country village with no roads or road signs, being lost in a city and having no way to communicate, struggling on a day-to-day basis just to survive. I think about the people wanting to believe and being so confused; they synchronize all of their favorite parts of each 'faith' into their own special blend of 'religion' They come out with a 'melting pot' of religions, and need discipleship desperately...I think about the time, energy, and disappointments of trying to help them sort it all out, and they think they really 'have it, now'

I began to think about the loneliness and often times, depression, some go through...about to give up, wondering if people will ever see and know the truth, and worse yet, do they even want to know it? In my own mind, I can see Jesus, daily, going for His R&R...His walks and talks with His Father....I can see Him on that Greek island, sitting under the big, old, silvery-green leafed Olive Tree. (OK, not Greek Island!!!)

I can hear Him praying for His disciples and for the lost of the nations. I can see His footprints along the beach, His arms raised to heaven, smiling, talking to Abba Father. I can see Him also, under the many Olive Trees in Gethsemane.....crying out to God, "if it is possible, take this cup from me, yet not My will, but Thine be done!" The cup was not the cup of pain, or the cup of death, neither was it the cup of sorrows, nor fear, or mockery...it was the cup of all the sin of the world placed on Him in Atonement for every person that would EVER live and die, and all OUR sin forever....He agreed to do this- He CAME for this purpose....His brokenness was for the separation from His Father! He was broken beyond any human understanding.....He did it SO THAT we would NOT have to ever be separated from the Father, ourselves...not for a second!

Why, then, do we allow anything to grieve Him? Anything? What does this have to do with Greece, or any other AGM? It has to do with worship, praise, thankfulness, love, fellowship, and really taking time to appreciate our labor for the kingdom of God, and we do that effectively, when we rest in Him. It has to do with the gift of rest that God requires of us.

God has given us the ability and the finances to accomplish great and mighty things.....He has also given us a command to rest one day a week...many can not/will not do that while in their city, village, desert, tundra, or workplace of any kind (for various reasons).

********Prayer is not the prelude to our work- prayer IS our work! ********

The Board has, for years, given the missionaries and their families, the chance to have rest and recuperation, and with that comes opportunities for education, fellowship, music, training, activities with friends long-ago seen, a chance for our youth to share their field experiences, their 'ups and downs' with friends, to share talents (old and young alike), to hear the Word of God in our own language (equally as important as the nationals hearing it in theirs!).

The company, through the very generous LMCO and other offerings, has been able to make life in the field an enjoyable one....along with each pain and sorrow, hurt and disappointment, joys, and rejoicing, praise and testimony, we have security, safety, and a strong sense of stability and support. The many ways the LMCO supports the teams are too numerous to mention. The gratitude of the many families across the globe is beyond words! To say thank you sounds so weak, but we thank you from the very depth of our ability to communicate.....how can we say it- just THANK YOU!!! I thank my God at every remembrance of you!

Allan and I will be going home to Michigan in September, as many of you know. We will continue our faithful prayers, our blog, and will continue all personal e-mail (anyone who writes to us, we will answer a soon as possible!)

We have had the most blessed time in this walk with our Lord...and our walk is taking another turn, we don't know what is around the corner, or the next bend, we don't know what tomorrow holds-BUT we know WHO holds tomorrow!

We want to thank each one of you for your faithful prayers! We both thank you for your Christmas gifts and cards, for all the letters, and for reading the blog! We appreciate your prayers on behalf of our family, both in Michigan and East Asia. We thank you for your LMCO that makes it possible to do this work for our Lord, without too many distractions....the way the SBC does their missions is absolutely the best way among all the different organizations I've seen and been in contact with.....I pray that we will keep digging deep for the Storehouse of God's work for His laborers to reach the nations-Quickly!!

I awaken about five a.m. every morning with songs of praise and worship in my heart, I am so thankful for that. God has blessed us in so many ways...I love the song: He knows my name, He sees each tear that falls.....He knows my name, and hears me when I call! Isn't it the greatest blessing on earth, to know the God of all creation, hears us when we call, and really cares about our every concern! To be able to serve the Living God and have a close- friend relationship with Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Savior of the world! How truly awesome that is!

Think about this: we really do see dimly through a glass, and He will reveal Himself in His entirety one day...and we WILL know Him as fully as He NOW knows us! I'm looking forward to that day, when I see Him face-to-face, and I will know all....no questions needed!

Thank you for 'listening' to my heart today! let me know how I can pray for you, Please

In Christ Alone Our Hope Is Found!

Matt. 4:19

"I'll never know how much it cost, to see MY sin upon that cross!..." (thank You, Lord for taking MY place there!)

Sue and Allan Weaver

The Fishermensline

Krakow, Poland

June 30, 2009

Another Poem for Passover/Easter

2009-04-09T22:23:00.000-07:00

Passover Week-End!
By-Sue Weaver
Friday April 10, 2009 (copyright)

I heard the shouting and the crying,
As I walked along the way-
I saw a mob had gathered…..
I’ll never forget that day!

I saw a man had been beaten,
His bones were showing through-
The bleeding flesh that hung so loosely,
His body was bent and broken, too.

Upon his head was a crown of thorns,
That pierced the skin upon his brow-
He stumbled through the streets that day,
He continued, but I don’t know how!

His eyes were swollen masses,
Of blood and bruises, and pain-
But as he stumbled along the street
He fell; then got up again!!!

The crowd was jeering as He walked,
The guards struck him in the face-
“Tell us who struck you, King!”
“Save Thyself, Thy Royal Grace!”

He looked into the crowd that day,
His eyes could barely see-
I caught the sadness in those eyes,
He was looking directly into me!

He saw the brokenness in my heart,
He saw my loneliness, and yes, my sin-
He pierced my soul with his depth of love,
He saw me deep within!

I shouted to the guards nearby,
“You must not do that to this man!”
They laughed at me and pushed me away,
“Who are you to tell us, stop us if you can!!”

The man was becoming weaker,
His steps were very slow-
The crowd was getting wilder,
“Crucify Him, Crucify Him, Hurry on, let us go!”

There was a woman in the crowd;
Whose eyes were filled with pain and fear-
“Oh, God, my God, He is my son, too,
Why have You brought Him here?”

“ I thought He would redeem the world,
I thought He would be King!
Have I understood so little?
Why have you done this thing?”

The man looked into her eyes,
And knew what she had felt-
He didn’t falter as he spoke to her,
As before him, his mother knelt.

He said, “This is the reason I came here,
For this moment, I Am sent to earth-
To redeem man’s soul for my Father,
To offer a second birth!

Now, I go unto my Father,
Where I have prepared a place-
For those who are willing to believe in me,
Find salvation, through my Father’s grace!

If I were not to suffer so,
If the cross I did not bear-
I would not be their redeemer,
And their sins would still be there!

But Because I have obeyed my Father,
And the work I have is nearly done-
I must continue in this way;
Until the victory, has been won!”

He looked up toward the sky;
And stumbled up toward that hill-
He had determined in Himself,
He must obey His Father’s will.

I watched in terror, as they placed the spikes,
Into his wrists that fateful day-
He willingly submitted to His death,
There was no other way!!

The crowd began to weep and wail,
As thunder and lightning filled the sky-
The darkness covered all the land,
As they watched their savior die!

The crowd began to change their mind,
About Whom they crucified-
“Surely, this is the Son of God!”
The crowd, who mocked; then cried.

“Father, please forgive them,
For they know not, what they do!”
Could this be the Son of God-
Who has done this thing for me and you!?

I fell down upon my face,
My heart completely broken-
I was absolutely certain,
To me, the man had spoken!

“If you had known the Father,
You would have known me, too!
You are forgiven, you sins are gone,
Yes, I AM, doing this for you!”

He cried out one last time’
His voice strong and not diminished-
“Into Thy hands, I commit my spirit-
And now, it is finished!”

This is not the end,
Of the story of my Lord-
On the third day He had risen,
And kept His promised Word!

He is coming back someday,
To take His children, his church, His bride-
To live eternally with the Father,
Forever at His side!

He’s Coming Soon!!!
Be Ready!

Pictures of Michael, etc!

2009-04-07T05:08:00.000-07:00

Michael @ Airport: Dec.19, 2008

Michael's City.

Dec. 2008

Michael, Mom, and Dad

Christmas Season

2008

See, Isn't that the CUTEST smile!!!???

OOOOPS! I got this one twice!

Dec. 2008

Christmas with Michael!

Photos By-Sue and Allan

Fishermensline

Krakow, Poland

Link:
God of This City! By-Chris Tomlin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d61LamkXfwk

Dagmara's Baptism: April 5, 2009 Krakow, Poland

2009-04-07T04:00:00.000-07:00

A New Year Has Begun!

2009-01-19T05:45:00.000-08:00

Michael,Mom and Dad
in EA

Michael

Julia (Dagmara's Daughter)

Dagmara at her Baptism!

April 5,2009

Krakow, Poland

Julia, Dagny, and Sue @ Dagmara's Baptism

Today is January 19, 2009, and as I sit here thinking about all the things that have taken place since I last did my Blog, I am wondering where to begin!

The year in review would be good, but first I would need to give you a bit of the story of our visit to East Asia, to see Michael.

On December 18, we took the express train to Warsaw to catch our flight to Asia. The train was about three hours . We quickly caught a taxi to the airport. The sky was cloudy and it was very cold...but we were so excited

to arrive in Asia and sunshine!!!

As we arrived in Michael's city, we went through the gate, straining our necks; camera in hand, to see Michael as soon as possible. Allan, of course, being a foot taller than I, saw him first. We got the camera ready and got the cutest picture of his handsome smiling face...the biggest and cutest smile I had seen for months!

Michael totally impressed us with his conversation in the national language with the taxi driver! This he did hundreds of times while we were there! We are very proud of his new language abilities!!!

We stayed awake until after two a.m. to talk and I could not stop staring at him....it had been over a year since I had seen him, and this was my first time away from him for that long!! Ever!!

Michael took us to many wonderful places to do sightseeing, eating, shopping, visiting with his friends, and other co-workers.

Our time there went by so quickly! It seemed just moments until time to leave! We thank God for this time with our son!

We, of course, took hundreds of pictures and videos. He took us to the southern-most part of the island. We stayed two nights in the south, and enjoyed every moment of our time together!

Our return to Poland was on January second. Our New Year's Eve with Michael was absolutely wonderful...a night of waiting for the New Year with many of his friends......our special time of fellowship, singing and in adoration of our Father, was overwhelmingly precious!

I wish I could say more about that, but some things must be left for personal visit time with you.

January, here in Poland, was also a very busy time of loving labor, joys, and disappointments. As we plan for summer teams, things seem to speed along, yet seem to go very slowly in other ways.

In February we went to Budapest for a 'quick medical follow up' which should have only been about one week. It turned into three weeks again. I was informed that I will need a cardiac catheterization due to family genes, and some other circumstances. It was scheduled for me at that time, but due to other considerations (again a time for personal discussion!), I decided to wait until we go home to America in May.

Please pray for me about the cath...not that I am concerned about the results...my lifestyle is totally opposite of my family members who have had seriously negative results ( we have an extremely strong heart history in my family)....I just want to get it over! Our time in Budapest was simply wonderful, again. Even with all the medical aspects, time there in worship and fellowship with others who are there for medical reasons, (among other reasons), those who live and work there, and meeting new people, spare time going about the city (while waiting for tests/results, etc.), is a nice time altogether.

Roma:

Mihelena, the Roma lady with the serious heart condition we have been praying for, finally got her by-pass surgery and is doing very well! She looked more energetic, and did have more energy. She was not looking as tired as before...PTL for that!

Allan's Bible study with the Roma is going well. He has a wonderful Polish translator (Tom), who is also a catholic (who does not attend mass), and is very eager to hear the gospel as he translates and has many questions! God is certainly using this Bible study time with the Roma to bring about other good things. Tom is also learning more about a people group that is much persecuted and hated by the most of society in Europe. He is enjoying this lesson in the Roma culture and seeing the believers heart! PTL for this also!

March has been very exciting so far. We have attended so many wonderful services! Saturday night (April 4) we attended a Shabbat Passover Seder at the Franciscan church...now here we have Polish Catholics, Messianic Jewish Believers, American Baptists, Polish Baptists, British Believers, and many others of different denominations....all having a fantastic time learning about the Passover and how the Old Testament Passover depicts the New Testament Passover and how it ALL points to Jesus the Messiah.

There was singing, dancing, instrumentals, teaching of the Seder Meal, and what each food represents, and all around joyful fun, worship, and fellowship. The guest speaker was a Messianic Rabi from America and Israel.

Sunday April 5th, my very close Polish friend, (whom I have mentioned to you several times) was Baptised!!! We had three Poles from our International Fellowship, who confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior, and obeyed His command to be baptised! PTL for this also!! HE is MIGHTY!

This coming Easter Sunday, we will have a Polish Traditional Gathering with Dagmara, Julia (her Daughter) and Anna (her mother). We're looking forward to this time of traditional fellowship with her family. Easter Monday, we are invited to Dagmara's new little home in a village nearby, called Mys'linice. (she sold her beautiful little country home; it was too much up keep for her). She's very excited about this new flat and its view of the mountains. She wants us to go there and have a picnic in the beautiful weather...our first of the spring!!

Also coming up in April: We are scheduled for the Auschwitz/Berkinau "March for the Living" on the 21st. The 20th will be a day of prayer for this annual-world event. People come from Israel, Poland, America, England, Germany, Italy, Austria...all over the world for this event. It's so great an even that all who attend must first get security clearance! Please pray for the event and for opportunities to share the LOVE of JESUS CHRIST!!!

So many of the Jewish people were told by the Nazis that Jesus hated them for killing Him! Please pray that this LIE can be revealed in their hearts, and that The WAY, The TRUTH, and The LIFE will be shown to them! Please pray for the PRINCE of PEACE to be made known to them...and only then will there be any real peace.

May upcoming: May 18th- HOME for three weeks!

Cardiac Cath; pray for a wonderful cardiologist and a successful outcome!

(In Michigan, I know none of the cardiologists...I know them in Florida, but that may not be an option!

June Upcoming: leave Michigan around the 8th (depending on medical, of course). June 21st, AGM for one week.

We have teams coming in July and August...please pray for them as God lays them on your heart. Please pray for the IWC team coming to work with the Roma again this summer.

Pray about the FBI (First Baptist Indialantic) team in August; that God will direct and we can get the details all worked out on both the Poland/USA ends.

Pray for our son, Michael in EA...language, relationships, sharing, energy, perseverance, rest, quiet time with HIM, discernment, health, traveling, co-laborers, and all that HE may place in your heart to pray about!

Pray for: Lora, Jim, Ryan, Ian, and Zane. Jim leaving for Afghanistan in June, for Lora and the boys left back home, school, growth in Him, the boys helping their mom while dad's away, health, homework, rest, enjoying good times together, summer church camp at Lake Ann, alone time with God! Please pray for Jim to grow in Christ and while he is away, that he can share Christ with his fellow servicemen/women, and be a witness and light for them to see Jesus in him. Please pray for his safety and health! Please pray for his safe and speedy return home to his family!!

Pray for us: that we will have many opportunities to share Gods Love and Faithfulness; Growth in our daily walk with Him, our Bible study with the Roma, our Roma team, the team here in Krakow (growing wondrously), pray for our trip home! Please pray for a young lady we met at the American Embassy. I invited her to the International Fellowship and Compass Coffee House (another of Krakow Team's ministries). She says that she will come, and she seems to be in need of support and fellowship of believers. Her name is Michelle. Also, Allan and I have both been sick for over a week...most people are saying this colf/flu/bug/whatever it is, lasts about a month! Pray that it will be over soon and we can get back to 'normal'! Ha-Ha: whatever 'normal' is!

Please let us know how we can pray for you! Remember to me, praying is my walk, my life, my love, my honor, my joy...if you don't' let me know how I can best pray for you-well, would you deny me my joy?? Please, let me know, so that I can pray for you specifically!

OK, I think this is quite long now....I will say bye for today. May the God of all peace and understanding, the Father of us all in Him, be with you, encourage you, bless you, and give abundantly to you, so that HIS name may be glorified in all the earth! I love you just as Jesus loves you and me!

The Fishermensline,

Sue and Allan

Krakow, Poland

Matt.4:19

Jesus said, "Follow me, and I will make you Fishers of Men"

P.S. I am so sorry, but this blog, began on January 19, was completed on April 7, 2009!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-14T22:52:00.000-08:00

Roma Bible Study: Wednesday Evenings At The Home of A Roma Believer.

McKenna and Kari at Chocolada-Chocolate Smiles!

Eva and Sue at Chocolada

The 'Chocolada ladies'

Another Picture of the 'Chocolada Ladies'

And It came To Pass In Those Days, There Went Out A Decree From Caesar Augustus That All The World Should Be Taxed....and Joseph, Also, Went Up From Galilee..... Luke Ch. 2

I have known and loved this story from my earliest childhood memories. I can't even remember when it happened, but I read this story from the book of Luke, so many times, that somewhere along the way, I learned it by heart. When I am around someone who opens the book of Luke to chapter 2, I immediately begin to recite it from verse 1 through verse 14.

When I was about 12 years old, I remember being Mary in our church's Christmas program. As we all sang Silent Night, when the program was over, I recall feeling ecstatic at the visions formed in my mind, of the Baby Lord Jesus, The Stars shining serenely over Bethlehem, and the beautiful little lambs in the stable. I could 'see' the shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night, the Angel of the Lord, surrounding the night sky, the shepherds, and the sheep, with a light so wonderful and bright, as it glittered on the snow covered ground-sparkling like a zillion tiny diamonds. I could hear their sweet melodious voices ringing out all over the land; "Fear Not, For BEHOLD! I bring You Good Tidings of Great Joy, Which Shall Be To All People! For Unto You a Savior Is Born...and This Shall Be a Sign Unto You: Ye Shall Find The Babe Wrapped In Swaddling Clothes, and Lying In a Manger!"

I Could 'see' the heavenly multitude praising God and Saying: "Glory To God In The Highest, Peace On Earth, Good Will Toward Men!"

In my young child's mind, this was all very simple and clear. There was nothing to fear or doubt. How we all should become like little children and 'see' the Glory of God!

Day before yesterday, Allan and I were talking about a message that Pastor Jim (Johnson) had preached one time, about the un-seen battles going on around us. We compared it to the great dynamics (un-seen) that go on inside of our bodies. Although we can't see these things, we know they exist. We know our heart is pumping our blood, we know that our cells are processing our food and oxygen and waste, we know that we are storing knowledge in our brain, however, we can see none of it.

It made us think about these un-seen battles for our walk with God, for our faith, our witness, our very souls (for those who are lost), battles that we know nothing about are being fought all around us.

We know that Satan is alive and well, and that he is going about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8). We must be vigilant, yet we also must be like little children, having a pure and un-shakeable faith in our Lord Jesus.

As we come upon this holiday season, I think of many things from my childhood. There is just something about Christmas to me, that even the modern day commercialism can't take away!

It's the becoming a child again, the belief and knowledge that HE IS our Savior! He did come to save and redeem the world! My faith in God has been my salvation all my life. He knew me when He formed me in the womb, He watched over me and protected me, and loved me while I was yet a sinner, He kept me while I was rebellious, He never stopped pursuing me, even when I refused to listen to Him! He is faithful and will complete what He began in me! He is still working, daily in me, to make me more like Him, and that is my desire; Oh, to be more like Him!!!

I still have so much little girl in me, and I really never want to lose it. I want to be a child...HIS child. I want to obey and walk with my loving Father.

I am including in this very unusual blog, some pictures of an evening some of the girls here (with our organization), for our evening out...just being fun-loving, silly, and child-like.

We walked to town, to the square we call the Rynek, here in Krakow. We sang along the way, we talked with a "British" accent, we took different names for ourselves, we had a lot of fun, just being 'children' yes, me, too! (I'm actually the instigator!)

We went to a place called "chocolada" (chocolate in Polish), and we had the most delectable chocolate drinks,,,decadent in richness, and we laughed, joked with the waiter, took silly pictures, shopped, and just had fun, altogether.

I looked up at the night sky, very dark and mysterious, no stars seen, pitch black-was the sky, but I saw the twinkling Christmas tree lights, the bustling shoppers, the wares being sold in the little shops, the smell of foods being grilled for the shoppers to buy as they hurried about, I looked around me at this busy city, so far from my home and family and I silently thanked my God for His coming to save us. I thanked Him for the beauty of His universe, for His creation, for all the wonderful blessings he has bestowed upon us, I thanked Him for my church, my family, my friends, I thanked Him for loving us all so much, and I thanked Him that He gave us the most precious gift of all- the gift of His salvation, His grace, His mercy and love, He gave HIMSELF for us, that we might live, by our own choice...to serve Him-as King Solomon says: I have considered the matter and have concluded that we have one purpose: To serve God, to know Him and to make Him known (paraphrased by myself)....Ecclesiastes 12:13

This season, as I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, I have a wish, that we all make Him known to even one person that does not know Him...that we proclaim Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men-For Unto YOU, a Savior Is Born Which is Christ The LORD!

May The God of Peace Be With You All!

In Christ Alone Our Hope Is Found!

Sue

The Fishermens Line

Krakow, Poland

Call Unto Me!

2008-11-08T01:09:00.000-08:00

Jewish Synagogue in Prague

MK: Team Member!

Philip....How adorable!!

Another View of Prague's Jewish Synagogue-October,2008

Allan at an AMERICAN-Style Restaurant: Buffalo Bill's! Prague Conference Oct. 2008

Sue and Karen Prayer-Walking at Berkinau: We walked around the entire complex on Saturday

Miss Clare on the train to Prague! Isn't she a cutie!! She's one of our MK teammates!

Hotel in Prague. One of the thousands of beautiful buildings. Oct. 2008

Allan having a relaxed moment on the train to Prague. October, 2008

One of my MANY blessings!

Prague:

Sue on the bridge near the castle. October, 2008

The Fishermensline written from Krakow, Poland

October, 2008

Greetings from Krakow!

My dearest brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ,

I must apologize once again for my delay in updating the events that have taken place here in Poland (and elsewhere!).

After we returned from our medical trip to Budapest, we were back for one week and headed to Prague for about four days of conference (Ebenezer).

We had a wonderful time of fellowship, worship, and sharing what has happened and how we have been feeling about our time thus far, in our fields...for some were from Krakow, and many others from different parts of Central and Eastern Europe. We were able to make new friends and meet with old friends.

We were blessed with one day of sightseeing. After our arrival in Prague, Mark Edworthy took us on a 'whirlwind tour' so that we would know what to look for when we had time to explore a bit on our own.

One of my blessings while there, was hearing Karen Pearce speak. She also gave us a copy of the book she has written called "Being An Aroma of Christ". It is an excellent and encouraging book. If interested you may find it at your local Christian book store...I think you'd find it enlightening, regarding Harvest field- life and expectations! It's so true to how we have felt so many times.....I feel as if she's been 'inside my head!'

God bless you Karen and Preston! Now you have another prayer warrior in your court of PRAY-ers!

Well, I suppose one of the things on my mind is the recent Presidential election. Therefore, my title from Jeremiah 33:3. This is one of my favorite verses, because I have found His Word to be so absolutely true...God IS faithful! I am well aware of the millions of people who have prayed for this election in the hopes that the 'one who seems so against what God has taught us in His Word to do and not do' would not be elected. However, in His infinite wisdom and according to His perfect plan; God has chosen (through His Sovereignty), to allow the events that took place to be so. Nothing is a surprise to Him!

We know that God is sovereign! He builds up nations and kingdoms and He tears down nations and kingdoms. What we need to consider now, is to be in equally fervent prayer that our new president-elect will have his eyes opened to the truth of Gods sovereignty, and that he will change his mind about many of the plans he has for this country. It is my prayer that he will come to know that he got this position because of the Most High God of the universe, the creator, because of the plan God has for us, as a nation.

We all should be in prayer, continuously, about what we, the people need to do as well. Nothing is too big for our God! We still have the strongest voice on earth...the voices who call on our God to intervene on behalf of the nations. Our nation is in a terrible state of sin, abominable sin, and very grievous to God, our Father. Our country needs to see this truth and repent of the rampant sin in America. My prayer is that we will do so, and very soon!

Out Reach:

Allan and I are trying to venture out of the city more to do EV in some of the nearby towns and villages. We found that there are Roma in some of them, but have not been able to contact them yet. Please pray that we will be able to do so and that their hearts will be prepared to receive Gods Word!We visited a city near the Czech border a couple week-ends ago. There are Roma there. We had gone to attend a Jewish festival/Conference. Through a friend, we met a couple of British Christians, who showed us around the city and told us about Roma there. He didn't know exactly where, but he had seen them around town.

We've also been prayer-walking in Oswiecim (near Auschwitz and Berkinau) several times. We have added that city to the three regions we already have. It's less time that we can go to our regular areas, but this little town needs a lot of prayer. This is where people all over the world come to visit, dine,go sightseeing, hold conferences on the Holocaust, etc. There's a lot of dispute in the village right now, concerning the future of the area in connection to Auschwitz/Berkinau. It seems many people are attempting to make them more of a "Theme Park" style of museum! That, of course, will make it 'appear' less real and lessen the shock of the entire Holocaust! The shock of the TRUTH is what people need -always to remember, lest it happen again.

Today there is a funeral for the little baby I mentioned to you in previous letters. His name is Zacharias. He is the third baby this couple has lost to a respiratory disease. He has struggled to breathe the entire year that we have been here, and in fact, his entire little life. His mother and daddy have suctioned him since he was born. My heart goes out to this sweet Roma couple. Jerry said there will be three days of mourning together with friends and family. The day today will be long and sad, but one consolation is that they are believers. They have the certainty that they will see their children in heaven someday.

Family:

Michael seems to be doing fine. He's in language study and is very busy. We haven't talked on Skype for quite awhile and we aren't sure why. We have had several letters (e-mail) from him, though....Thank God for that! Please continue to pray for him as he does the work he loves so much! Oh, yes, we also met more of Michaels (From Va.) associates in Prague, and that was very nice!! They are all such a precious group.

Lora, Jim, Ryan, Ian, and Zane are well. The boys are in public school for the first time since maybe kindergarten/first grade. They all three enjoy it. Lora is doing things she hasn't been able to do for a long time....like more errands (Ha-Ha!). I don't think for a wife and mother, you can ever have really 'free' time! At least I never could (but then I was an obsessive-compulsive worker). Ryan wants to try out for basketball (of course we all think swimming would be best since he has an injured knee from football, and has always been an excellent swimmer!!) Pray for him that he will choose wisely!! Ian ran for student council and lost by only one vote! (and this is his first year in public school-I think that in itself is a great feat!) Zane is in Top Dog and he'senjoying school much more than when he was first "drafted by Mom!" Jim is very busy with family, job, and week-end GI Joe 'fun'!

He is still planning on leaving next summer. Please pray for all of my family as all these changes come about. Pray for strength, for wisdom, leaning on He Who is able to do all things! We need a lot of prayer about this, too. Knowing that Lora will be alone and have the boys to try to raise, once again, on her own. We think of the many needs of a young mom with three little (well, to me 12 and 14 are little!) boys, the long and hard Michigan winters, trouble with power outages, cars that won't start......well, you know as their mom and grandma (and dad/grandpa), that we'll have many concerns for them!!!

Changes in The Wind!

There are many changes coming within the "Company" this summer, also. The way people groups are divided is changing, new leaderships, moving to new locations, schools, and making new friends, contacts, etc. are some of the coming changes. Please pray for the leadership, other staff, and for all the "Laborers" everywhere. We are not sure how this will all work, as any change is usually challenging and a learning process for everyone. Pray for patience as the process unfolds.

I'm not sure how Poland and Krakow will be affected, but will try to keep you posted as we learn new information. Just know that your "LOTTIE " donations continue to be hard at work to best reach the UPG's of the nations! Pray for those who make decisions on behalf of the "Company Laborers" The ultimate goal is to "Know Jesus and make Him known!"

Thanskgiving!

We are so thankful for all of you who faithfully pray for us.

We are thankful for LOTTIE!

We are thankful for your sacrificial giving!

We are thankful for Pumpkin Pie!

We are Thankful for:

Lora, Jim, Michael, Ryan, Ian, and Zane!

I am Thankful for my precious, and most patient husband, Allan!

We are Thankful for God (through Dagmara) sending a translator for the Wednesday night Bible study! He is excellent, and his name is Tomasz. Pray for him, as he is also seeking the truth! This study will be helpful all around!!! God Knows what He is doing in all events, no matter how small they may seem to us!!! (nothing too great or too small for HIM)

We're Thankful for Gods Mercy, Love, Grace, Forgiveness, Longsuffering,

Wisdom, which He gives freely when we ask, for His Holy Spirit, for salvation through Christ Jesus, for all things that are from Him, for His gifts are good and from above. We Thank Him for WHO HE is, and that He loves us, unconditionally; even while we were yet sinners! We thank Him for allowing us to be His instruments of His Word-please pray that we do this faithfully, out of a loving and obedient heart! Pray that we will walk worthy of Him because HE DIED for us! We are Thankful for THAT!

Closing:

Well, I'll close for today. As Thanksgiving nears, I have so many things for which be thankful! I thank my God at every remembrance of YOU!

Please write to us and let us know HOW we can best pray for you!

We love each one of you! '" and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Ph.4:7)

I Th. 5:16-17

Matt.4:19

Eph. 4:30

The Fishermensline

Ul. Modrzewskiego 8/5

Krakow, Poland

31-216

Video Clip: Berkinau, near Auschwitz

Allan taping video during Prayer-Walk around the Berkinau Concentration Camp. October, 2008

Trip to Budapest!

2008-09-21T23:50:00.000-07:00

Budapest, Hungary
Sept. 2008
Modern Building Downtown
The "Walking Street"
Very European!
See the difference where renovation is being done!
This along a side street...no matter where you go in Budapest, you'll find this wonderful archtecture!

Budapest, Hungary

Sept. 2008
One of the many beautiful buildings!
Along the Danube!
The River Danube

Sept. 2008
Parliament Building, Budapest

This is only a very small portion of the building!The other side, and each of the four sides are just as exquisitely beautiful!!

Greetings from Krakow,

May the Lord Bless you as you praise Him in all things! The past few weeks have been very hectic, to say the least. We have been in a virtual whirlwind of activity. Expecting things to slow a bit, we made our long put-off trip to Budapest for some medical work-up. Little did we know that our one week trip would turn into three weeks! Had we known, we would have made sure the potato and onion bin was emptied out!!!

You know though, that even the little things turn out ok. When we arrived back at the apartment-the veggies were still alive and well....no rotten veggies to be found!

Ok, now for the trip itself and to update you on the medical tests, etc. We left Krakow on August the 31st, on the night train to Budapest. The trip was un-eventful, and we were even able to sleep a little on the way down. We arrived at Kelety Station at about 0830 and were met by Glen Borders.

Glen took us to the Eden House, where we were met by his wife, Cile. As we were settled into our room, Cele took us to buy a few groceries for our 'weeks' stay.

This was on Sunday morning. On Sunday evening we attended the church service at Eden House. The music (led by Robert Rierson) was beautiful. The message given by Alvin Doyle was also a wonderful message from the Gospel of John.

Monday morning was our 41st anniversary. 41 years...wow! 41 years...wow!

It seems only yesterday, that Allan and I met, and just days ago since we held our precious Lora and Michael for the first time. Time truly does have a way of slipping away. God has so richly blessed us, that words fail me in trying to thank Him enough.

We had so many tests and labs drawn, that all I can tell you is that most things were good, some unchanged, and some new things going on.I know that most of you want to know about our health, so here's the brief summary:

Allan is now on blood pressure medication.Our doctor told us that he can only have kielbasa once a month for dessert! He must watch his salt (he's been told that by R.N. Weaver for years!!), yet she says that I may have his salt, because I need sodium.

He had to be fit for orthotics for his heel pain-we are calling this "transfer technique" it transfers his pain from his heels to his arches!!

He also needs to use lotion for severely dry skin...can you believe she recommended MY favorite-if he can get it (Hmmmmmm, maybe I can sell him some of mine-ha-ha!)- Jergens!!! A couple of his labs were abnormal, but then he is 61 now. Anyway, he seems to be in pretty good health for a kielbasa, salt, fat, buttery pop corn, ice cream,Frito-loving guy!

As for myself: my colonoscopy showed the (known ) collagenous and lymphocytic colitis with inflammation. There is a new thing, though-an ulcer in my stomach, which will be treated with antibiotics and prevacid for a couple of months, then re-evaluated in four months (H. Pylori +).

After avoiding anti-cholesterol meds for all my years.....I now must take meds for high cholesterol! Now, isn't this just life; I am long term vegetarian, no meat/dairy (but an occasional egg or cheese-rarely), and he eats every fat-laden thing he can find..and I have genetically high cholesterol, and now have to take meds for it. My doctor said, "you have done everything humanly possible and you have done all the right things, and I'm so sorry, but you must do this now." Ok. I am.

My Ophthalmology exam for Glaucoma (since 1999) was also not as good as I had hoped- pressure high in both eyes. He was amazed at my good vision though. He did write an Rx for reading glasses (he doesn't seem to think Wal Mart glasses are as good, for some reason!). Anyway, I will need an additional eye med added to my current med.

My stress test was abnormal-and still not determined as to why this is so. They did a Coronary PET scan, in which the results were good. PTL for that, as we have a strong cardiac history in my family.

Now for that beautiful city; Budapest! We were able to see a lot of the city between appointments, labs, etc.

Budapest is divided by the Blue Danube River. What an enchanting city! The architecture is awesome. The detailed beauty of each building seems more delightful than the one we saw before it. The old Parliament building was one of the most beautiful man-made creations I've seen anywhere. God has certainly blessed man with an incredible gift for design, detail, and craftsmanship! We took a lot of pictures during our time there, and I hope some of them will give you an idea of how lovely this city really is.

One of my most memorable times in Budapest was at the Budapest International Fellowship Church. The pastor spoke one day of the praise and worship of our God. As I had just begun reading a book by Tommy Tenney called "Finding Favor With the King" (highly recommend it, too!!)I was very interested in this particular message. As I listened to this parallel to the book I was reading, I began to think about what he was saying.

The pastor was talking about God inhabiting our praise and worship. Just as the book was talking about how much God loves our worship, and how He responds to our worship far more than anything else we can do. This message made an impact on my thinking. Many times we hear pastors preach about our sort of making God out to be our "demands of needs and wants" supplier. To be honest, it's so good to know that our Father really does care about every small and great detail of our daily life. Yet as parents, we know how special it is to be appreciated and loved, and obeyed.

How often we'd love to have our children (at any age) tell us how much they love and appreciate us, and to not only speak the words, but to show us through their actions! Just as we feel taken for granted and not appreciated at times, so does our Father!

Can you imagine that He would just love for us to come before Him just to worship and adore, praise, thank, and glorify Him without a long list of do's and dont's! How often do we do that? I have decided to make it a point to NOT ask for things every time I come before Him. I have usually used the ACTS form of prayer in the past (A for Adoration, C for confession, T for thanksgiving, S for supplication), but I am re-thinking my prayer life!

Adoration, Adoration, Adoration!

I will always continue my supplication and intercessory prayer, of course! I am a committed prayer-walking warrior. I am a committed down on my knees and flat on my face prayer warrior. I awaken in the early morning hours, and I am and have been for years, and worship God with adoration and praise-before I even get out of bed warrior......but I want a new level of closeness with my Lord. I want Him to inhabit my praise and worship! I want Him to whisper things to me and tell me things that are "great and mighty" (Jer. 33:3).I want to dwell in his secret place (Ps.91:1).

I am telling you all of this because I desire that you will pray for me, as I have such a desire that God will hear me when I call, that He will tell me what He wants me to do/know/see/understand and learn from Him and His Word!

There is a desire that God has placed in my heart, for America, for Poland, and for China, as well as many other places....a desire to see these countries united in a common goal- God first in their governments and people and churches...to know WHO Jesus is! I also have come to love and have a very deep burden for the Hungarians during our three week visit there. They, too, have been victims of WWII and the dictatorship of Communism. They too, need to know God and His free gift of mercy and grace, His gift of salvation through Jesus Christ!

I am praying about some things that I feel certain that God is wanting me to do. I have been asked by a Great Commission Church here to speak one Sunday, and share my testimony. I am thinking that God is leading me to also share Prayer-Walking for this city, with this church. Please be praying for me about this!

Another prayer request is that (last year I did the children's Christmas play), this year I am hoping to do a drama with the teens...please pray about this.

Back home, Jim is away again, so Lora an the boys are working toward getting homework, chores, etc. all taken care of. Jim is working very hard and is tired. Michael is happy in his new apartment in his city. He's in language school, and staying very busy. Ryan is hoping to come to see us and now he has yet another delay: he has injured his knee and is having physical therapy-so please pray for him, for healing...14 is too young for bad knees! Ian is getting good grades and very proud of that! (so are we!!). Zane is in "Top Dog" at school and hopes to win a trip to Traverse City this year. Ryan is in swimming, soccer, and Civil Air Patrol...so he really needs his knees! Lora is doing some ladies book studies and one of them is with my niece, Betty Sue (online). Pray for these precious souls, along with us! Thank you so much for these prayers for our family!!

In summary, we have had teams here all summer. The Clear Vision Drama Team, Hilton Head S.C. Team, IWC, Summer missionaries (Kate and Stacy), a team of football coaches, Hixon Church from Tn., Women of Hope with Paula Hemphill, Harvest Baptist Church, Sally Klein O'Connor, and numerous others. God has richly blessed the International Fellowship with wonderful, spirit-filled messages and music, testimonies, those who came to faith in Christ (and planning baptisms), services for the children, new people coming (so that we'll need a new building!), and just so many blessings altogether!

He has blessed the prayer -walking trips, the day camps, the over night camps, sports, English classes, Bible studies in homes, coffee house ministry, and we have all grown in our personal walk through the willingness to obey Him. Pray that we all keep the team spirit, through coming changes with the company, over the next few months. God is working and we need to be listening to where, when and how, so that we are in His will and not our own!

Please write to us and let us know how we can pray for you! Thank you all once again for your faithful prayers!! May God bless you, so that you may bless others, so that HIS name may be glorified in all the earth!

The Fishermensline

Matt. 4:19

I Th. 5:16-17

Eph. 4:30

Sue and Allan in Krakow

Rest and Renewal in the Polish Countryside

2008-08-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 40:31 says, "They that wait upon the LORD, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint." I remember a wonderful sermon once that told about not only waiting FOR the LORD, but waiting ON Him, as one who loves and serves Him out of that overwhelming love for Him. "Delight thyself in the LORD, and He will give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD, trust also, in HIM, and HE shall bring it to pass"

I'm sure I quote this quite often, but it's because I find such power in His truths! The verse above (paraphrased) says to trust in the LORD and do good, and you will feed (be fed by) HIS faithfulness! Psalm 37:3-5.

Father, I thank YOU for Your Faithfulness, for Your rest, for all that you do, and for WHO YOU ARE! I thank You, that You fill my heart with desires to serve, wait, and please You, as one who loves You with an overwhelming love. I thank You for giving such good gifts, as only You know how, when, and what to give according to what is best. I trust in You and Your Omniscience! I thank You for salvation in Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, The Savior of the world (John 14:6)

Below are pictures taken on my two day trip to have some badly needed rest. Dagmara invited me to visit, and it was such a blessing to be able to go there for a brief time. The air was pure and the weather perfect. As I looked out over the hills and valley's, I felt so rested and so close to God, I could almost see Him, painting the sky, setting the sun for the evening, and sprinkling the stars across a vast, beautiful night. I could almost feel His arms reaching toward me, and pulling me close to Himself. I could almost hear Him saying, "I Love You!" LISTEN, Can You Hear HIM? (Psalm 46:10
"be still, and know that I AM GOD.")

Dagny and Julia:
A Wonderful day for a walk into the nearby village!

Dagny, taken at the restaurant where the "best pierogi in all of Poland", is served, with a warm smile. Taken August, 2008

Beautiful Old Church Near Dagny's Country Home.
A View from The Hillside, Looking Toward The Village. This was the most peaceful time, and the most beautiful country that I've seen, since arriving in Poland! Isn't God Truly The Master of Landscapes?
One of the Oldest and Best Preserved Gothic Style Churches in all of Poland! The First Church was constructed in 1141, in the same location where a Slavonic Pagan Temple once stood. The inside walls are elegantly and artistically, painted with scenes of the Stations of The Cross and various other angelic and saintly scenes. It's quite beautiful and serene.
One ancient 'pole' from the pagan temple has been preserved unto this time, and the building is now part of UNESCO'S World Heritage List of The World's Most Precious Historic Sights. Certainly worth seeing, when you come to Krakow!

Singing In The Rain by Julia and Dagmara. Filmed on location at Dagmara's Country Home. August, 2008

Pictures From The Fishermensline in Krakow, Poland

2008-07-31T02:03:00.000-07:00

Trees at Dagmara's Country Home.
Anna and I at Dagny's Country Home.
A Beautiful Castle near Dagny's Country Home, about one and half hour from Krakow, Poland
Some of the team from IWC, working in Nowa Huta in Krakow, Poland.

Joe and Elizabeth. Joe is with IWC and works with Life Way. Elizabeth is a team member, who came here with IWC for Ministry in the Park at Nowa Huta, in Krakow. July, 2008

On The Lake in Finland: Allan and Sue at AGM-June, 2008
The Jewish Synagogue in Krakow: One of Many, but the Only One Still In Operation! Notice The Ten Commandments at the Top Center of the Building!! It is so Beautiful Inside and Out.

Allan at the local Thai/VietNamese/Chinese Restaurant in our neighborhood. Taken the Day Avi left for Germany. The Great Hail Storm Day!!
Avi Snyder at the Same Restaurant. We had a nice, but short dinner, before Avi had to catch his flight back to his home, in Germany.....after The Great Hail Storm! Below:
Dagmara's Mother at Dagny's Country Home. It was a beautiful day and a great place away from the city heat and pollution. Dagny's home has dozens of beautiful fruit and nut trees, berries and beautiful roses, trees, and is quite a lovely retreat!

Rejoice Evermore!

2008-07-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

Greetings From Krakow, Poland!

This evening, as I sit here in the apartment, trying to recall the many wonderful events of the past several weeks, I am overwhelmed with memories of so many faces, so many smiles, hugs, prayers, and of course, good-byes!

As I mentioned in the last blog, we had a wonderful time with the team from Hilton Head, S.C. We had camps, prayer-walking time, and of course, the wonderful music filling the air at the Compass Coffee House.

We had just had the pleasure of hosting a team from Clear Vision Drama. The team did the Resurrection Drama, and as many of you may recall, this was the drama we did in 2003 in Ecuador with IWC. Of course this particular drama brings back many memories of FBI church and my awesome mission trip. Many memories of this trip involve Michael, my son, who is far apart from us now, physically (as are all of our precious children), yet we are all together as one in spirit!

The Clear Vision team did several different skits while they were here, and we, along with many nationals, were so blessed to have them, as they witnessed and gave glory to God, through their talent.

Shortly after the Clear Vision Team left, International World Changers arrived! The week was an awesome display of how God can work through us all, as we ministered to the neighborhood children! (II Timothy 3:15 and that from a child, thou hast known the Holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through Faith, which is IN Christ Jesus). We shared His love and His word with so many children, their parents, grandparents, and friends, that we could not number them. Yet we know that God knows each one of them! We were able to share the gospel with a young couple, many young adults, both men and women, and at least some grandparents! Please pray for these, whom God has placed within the sound of His Word. His Word will not return void, but will accomplish that for which it was sent and it will prosper. (Is. 55:11) paraphrased by me...Sue

IWC teams played basketball, soccer, frisbee, we did rope jumping, face painting, story telling, hop-scotch, ping pong, sang songs, and played games.

The big surprise came on the team's last day at the park, soft gentle rain, then down pouring, then soft again, gave us the desire to brave what ever came, go back to the park with umbrellas in hand, and say good-byes once again to the children, or whoever would brave the rain as well. As we arrived near the fence surrounding the park, we saw balloons! They were painted with cute little smiles and said "bye" in English. As we gathered around a little table, where we had been directed by the children (nationals), we were overjoyed to see the little party (in the rain), that they had worked to prepare for our last day! They served US this time; cookies and juice, hugs and smiles, tears, and last minute prayers for them to know Jesus more and more. We all sang Jesus Loves Me and held hands, and hesitated to leave the park.

We met many new family members once again, God has "enlarged our territories" Thank You, LORD! Your Love endures forever and You give good gifts to Your children!

The same day IWC left, we had a new team arrive! This team is from Tennessee (Hixon Baptist Church) and are here helping out to support us as well as a family here from their church (our team members Shea and Rachel) It's so good to see our local churches in America, sharing their heart for God with the people of Poland. This team is amazing! Lisa is a very energetic, kid-oriented, talented, and 'not too shy' young lady, who has worked along with all of her team to bring a fun and exciting time to the Roma children in Day Camp last week. The children (and all the adults!) love her wonderful antics, and her way of sharing Jesus through her ship the 'S.S. Krakow', the many songs she taught them and her desire to know their songs of Jesus' love, also. They all have a true heart for serving God through their children's ministry, and we all appreciate them! By the way; this was a very rainy week also! PTL!! the earth needed a good bath, we suppose!

This week, the Hixon team are busy once again, sharing here in the city of Krakow, right here in our neighborhood park. Yesterday, it seems that most of the neighborhood was there having fun, singing, making stencil pictures and doing the hokey pokey, singing songs, and just having fun.

My friend, Dagmara, had an opportunity to share with many of the neighborhood ladies, in their own language! She was thrilled to be able to do this for HIM! She's a university teacher, so teaching is her thing, and when she does it for the glory of God, she is thrilled. You can just see the love of Christ in her face and shining in her eyes.

Allan is at a Bible study at this time. He really enjoys this time, every week. The Roma children are at another camp with the local Baptist Church. They are in the mountains nearby, well, about an hour from the city. They were so excited to go, jumping up and down and carrying their little backpacks...they all jumped into the cars and van as soon as they could to make sure they got a seat! We didn't even leave for about an hour, but they wanted those seats!

Please pray for the teams as they minister in the many ways God has led them, and gifted them to do. Pray for us, as we host the many teams, that we will all be a strong witness and light, and that God will be glorified in all that we do!

Kate, one of our summer team members, just left this morning; bright and early! Stacy, our other summer team member, will leave us this Friday. We are all so sorry to see them go, yet we understand their family misses them terribly and are anxious for them to come back home!

We had a surprise going away party for them on Sunday after church. They were here for the entire summer, so we all got to love and appreciate them so much! We will truly miss them!!

Ryan is presently on his mission trip to New York, so please be praying this week for him! Pray for safety, fun, sharing Jesus with as many as God calls to them, and for God to use him, and for God's will in his life, always!

Lora, Ian, and Zane, are enjoying some time together this week (missing Ryan and Jim-since Jim is in Boston this week), but I'm sure they are having a good time being 'just the three' together.

I want to personally thank everyone who helped Ryan with his funding for the trip! Thank you so much, and may God bless you, and continue to bless you, SO THAT you may bless others, so that HIS name will be glorified!

Allan and I will be going to Budapest for physicals, the end of August.We will also have another Roma camp the week prior to that.

One very important thing; please pray for a lady named Sally, who will be coming to Krakow in August. She does an evangelical outreach through concerts. Pray for many to attend so that she can reach all that God is calling. The really wonderful thing about this is that Avi Snyder, whom you've heard us mention in many letters/blogs, has been putting this together. Avi is the European Director for Jews for Jesus. He and his wife, Ruth, live in Germany. Sally will be doing a concert in Germany, after leaving Krakow and Warsaw. Please ask God to help us with helping Sally with all the logistics, flyers, promotion, coffee house concert, or wherever God leads us to have the concert. We are very excited about this and want to make her visit here just as exciting for her as it is for us!! Most importantly we want God to be glorified and to see lost souls come to know Him!

Thank you so much for your prayers. Thank you for your faithfulness! Please let us know how we may pray for you! We love each one of you and thank our God for you!

I simply must add that may the Lord Jesus Christ be with the churches at Portland, Michigan, the First Baptist Church of Indialantic, Florida, and The RiverTown Community Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I also pray the Lord be with all of those who are praying for us in the many other churches throughout America and the many across the globe who are faithfully seeking His will for all Fishers of Men, for the Kingdom!

May the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all and may you walk by Faith and not by sight!

I Thessalonians 5:16-17 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.

Matthew 4:19 Jesus said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!"

The Fishermens Line

Krakow, Poland

Allan and Sue Weaver

Ul. Modrzewskiego 8/5

Krakow, Poland

31-216

How Long Has It Been?

2008-07-07T09:34:00.001-07:00

Sue: Finland Lupine!

Brenda Goss: Mmmm Good!

Allan: Finland AGM-2008

Sue and Allan:

Beautiful Lake!

Greetings in the Name of the Lord Jesus!

Why have I titled this "How Long Has It Been"? (tell you later!!)

We just returned from our Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Finland. This was an awesome time of fellowship, worship, and relaxation.

We had all been looking forward to this time of rest and renewal, and a time of learning from our fellow laborers in Christ.

We met new friends and talked with ones we had met shortly after our arrival in Poland. There have been many changes, developments, and plans for the coming months. Some have gone back to the states and some will be going shortly for trips stateside for short assignments there.

The location where AGM was held, was about three plus hours north of Helsinki (reindeer land!). The land of the "Midnight Sun" was very beautiful, to be sure! However, for those of us used to sleeping when it gets dark, it seemed 'bedtime' never arrived the entire week we were there!

Going to bed with full light was very difficult! Many times I awakened through the night and wondered, "is it morning yet?" Thankfully, we had Allan's cell phone for our alarm clock. We actually forgot our 'world traveler clock' I felt so lost without it..that darling little clock has been all over the world with us! I almost wanted to turn around and go back for it. (I doubt that the bus driver and the sixty-some others would have allowed that)

God blessed us during the trip, as usual. He is so amazing, and I fall more and more in love with Him every day. I delight to do Thy will, oh, Lord!

Arriving back in Krakow (about 3 a.m.) we were all so exhausted, we said our sleepy good byes and headed to our apartments, to fall into bed, hopefully to get some rest and prepare for the upcoming days with the new team in Krakow, that had arrived during our absence.

To me, just thinking about having enough energy to do anything made me tired! When I met them the next morning for a Prayer Walking tour, God blessed us all over again! These folks from Hilton Head, South Carolina, are nothing short of fabulous! As we walked, talked, and prayed, it seems once again, that God had enlarged our 'territories...our family'!!

I thought of the book, The Prayer of Jabez! "Oh, that You would bless me, and enlarge my territory, and that Your Hand will be with me..."

I read that little book a few years ago, and just happened to pick it up again in Finland, and it dawned on me during my Prayer Walk that God was forever 'enlarging our territory'!! Think about it! Since 2003, God has taken us to:

Ecuador, Taiwan, East Asia !!!, Thailand, East Asia!!! (again), Hong Kong, America, (Michigan, Florida, and all the states in between, Virginia (several times), Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Finland, and back to Poland. In October, we will be going to the Czech Republic and to Budapest, Hungary for a good physical, etc. Along the way, God has blessed us with many opportunities to meet some of the most wonderful family of HIS church, family members yet to be!, and many opportunities to share His love and His plan of salvation!

We both pray for more boldness! God has given us both the very strong desire to sow broadly. We hope to get a stamp made with the local church addresses, coffee house, International Fellowship address, etc., so that we can broadly sow seeds for His Kingdom!

Pray for us in this matter, because honestly, I believe God has called us to do this along with the Prayer Walking ministry, and He will see it through! We still have the Roma ministry, and I am still working to develop a Jewish ministry...speaking of which, Avi Snyder (Jews for Jesus, European Director) came to visit here in Krakow. It was wonderful visiting with him, as he shared his testimony with the International Fellowship, and attended meetings to begin preparing for an outreach here for next summer!!! Please be praying for this campaign (Behold Your God!), to reach Jews, FOR Jesus!!! This will be held during the Jewish Festival, so if any of you want to help in passing out tracts, flyers, prayer walk, etc., PLEASE join us!

My dear friend, Dagmara, has invited me to visit at her summer country home. I have seen this little village and it's devastatingly beautiful! There is a beautiful old castle nearby. Her land has all my favorite things in nature, such as; plum trees, apples, cherries, grapes, roses, lilacs, raspberries, and walnuts! She has an incredible view...and as you all know I NEED this fresh country air for at least a week-end! With the pollution and smog in Krakow, and having had laryngitis four times since our arrival in October, I believe this visit would be in order! I shall accept (I have, actually!).

Michael is on his vacation, and though I may not be able to talk about the location for reasons you may know, Please pray for him and for the two co-laborers who have gone along on a surfing vacation. Pray that they will have a relaxed time, enjoy the trip and be safe and that God will surround them with His protection. It's very difficult for us, not being able to even e-mail or Skype for over two weeks (and he's only been gone for two days!!)

These guys work very hard and long hours, and as you know, you are 'on mission' 24/7/365! You are always in the sharing HIM as you walk and talk along the way. If someone wants to meet with you at midnight, and this is the only chance you may have, you must be ready to share and give account for the hope that is in you!

Lora, Jim, Ryan, Ian, and Zane, are in transit right now, from a trip to Alabama. They left on Friday to visit Jim's mom and dad and some of his family who gathered in Huntsville. I'm sure they enjoyed the chance to see many of Jim's family, and for my grandsons to see their Alabama grandparents (Jim and Karen). They are all a great family, and I think we've had the pleasure of meeting most of them. I'm sure they got just a bit more spoiled by grandma Brannon. Please pray for all of them ,the older and the younger Brannons, and all those who will see their son, daddy, brother, and uncle go off to Iraq (we are still praying Kuwait!). We know that God is in control and HE has it all in His Hands!

The team from Hilton Head...well, one reason they are so amazing is that they sing Southern Gospel!! Growing up in Kentucky and Ohio (well Ohio isn't southern, but we had so many 'hillbillies' there that you would think you were in Kentucky!), anyway, growing up in both Ohio and Kentucky; that was my mother's music and so MY music! I grew up on Christian Southern Gospel and I love it! The team played at the coffee house on Friday night, and I was so tired (it starts at 8 p.m. until after 11 p.m.), but I am so glad we went to hear them...every song they sang took me back to the 1950-1980 (my mom died in 1980) era, and oh, what memories flooded my soul..."Precious memories, how they linger, how they ever flood my soul!" and the title of the blog..."How Long Has It Been since you talked with the Lord, and knew that He cares for you, How Long since you stayed, on your knees and prayed....."

They sang, "Put Your Hand In the Hand of the Man from Galilee" and many more wonderful songs. I am so thankful that I went there that evening. They also played for us at the International Fellowship on Sunday night, which again, I'm thankful, because Dagmara was able to hear them and she, too, loves Southern Gospel and 'everything southern!!'

Dagmara teaches at one of the large universities here in Krakow. She teaches English, American History, and Literature. She's a very special lady with a beautiful little girl, Julia. I met her mother, Anna, today, who is also quite good in her English and used to teach English as well (at the university).

Allan is busy with the Roma, and I've been helping him as I am able to go with him. I enjoy working with them, and especially working with Allan, of course! Jerry hopes to move more to the north (Krakow is located in southern Poland), so that he can find more Roma in other areas, while Allan and I will work here.

International World Changers has a team arriving here on Friday. We will do some work near here, in the Nova Huta area of town. Then toward the end of July, another church (from Tennessee) will come to do a Roma camp for the young children.

Well, I must end this blog for this time. Please let us know how we can pray for you! We truly will pray and we truly do want you to make your requests known to us so that we can take them before the Throne of God in Jesus Name.

Please let us know about the blog and what you think about it!

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing! I Th. 5:16-17

Jesus said, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men" Matt. 4:19

May the Creator of the universe, your God, and my God, Bless you and be with you! 'May He enlarge your territories!'

In Christ Alone!

Sue and Allan

Fishermensline

Krakow, Poland

July 7, 2008

Music to HIS Ears!

2008-06-12T05:24:00.000-07:00

Some of the Krakow Team at the Krakow Compass International Fellowship. (left to right are: Shea, Susie, Mark, Jacqui and Kari.

Krakow, Poland

Pictures During Prayer-Walking. Praying for Poland!

2008-06-12T04:46:00.000-07:00

Allan on a Prayer Walking trip. We pray wherever we go and cover the people with intercessory prayer.

Dawn over The Space center. Is not our GOD so AWESOME in HIS Beauty!
Gee, I have not Prayer-walked here lately!!!

Visiting surrounding Churches in Poland...how wonderful that you can meet people from all over the world! God's Family is Faithful, because HE is faithful. He gives us GRACE and JOY Unspeakable!

Allan sitting in a service in a village about two hours away from where we live. Notice all the International Flags!

Allan is never without "witness" by the clothes he wears! He truly lives what he wears!

Inside the Temple Synagogue in Kazimierz. This is the Jewish section of Krakow. Not many Jewish people left here since WW II. Pray that they come to know the PRINCE of PEACE, Jeshua, the MESSIAH of the World!

This is the outside of the Temple Synagogue. If you are able to zoom in closely, you will see the "Ten Commandments" near the top of the building.

"Bind them on your foreheads and as fontlets between your eyes, and on your doorposts...

Sue (me) in front of the Temple Synagogue. This is the only synagogue still in operation here in Krakow. There are several others being used as museums, book stores, etc., however.

We hope you enjoyed looking at the pictures. IF you decide you want to come visit this historic city to PRAY for POLAND, Please let me know, and we will do everything we can to make it happen. Just ask the Lord to show you His will and be willing to listen and obey. Psalm 37:4-5!

May God richly BLESS you, so that you may BLESS others, so that HIS NAME may be GLORIFIED!

In Christ Alone!

The Fishermensline in Krakow

Fishers of Men:Matt.4:19

(Lives Are on the Line!)

Pictures taken in Krakow and Wieliczka

2008-06-12T04:17:00.000-07:00

2008-05-11T03:06:00.000-07:00

Prayer-Walking day in Wieliczka! An Old Synagogue; Destroyed during WWII. Taking a lunch break. We usually walk for about four hours, around the town, praying for anything God brings to mind!
We (I am the Prayer-Walking Coordniator),have divided the city into sections, each team has two large areas in which we pray for the city and the people of Krakow and all of Poland.

Greetings, In the name of the Lord Jesus,

I finally decided to just take the day off to write a newsletter. Today is Mother’s Day, and I will be spending most of the day alone. Allan is making his bi-monthly trip to a Roma village about two hours away.

I want to wish all of you mothers a very Happy Mother’s day! If you are not a mother, then as Chuck Swindoll has said recently on 99.7 Family Life Radio: You make a wonderful contribution just being a Godly Christian woman, aunt, sister, etc., so happy day to you, also! May God bless you all in your raising Godly children, because they are HIS! We are only His stewards of these precious little ones!

I am expecting a call from Michael today. He wants to call me on Skype, and I am hoping that he will be able to get through. There are usually about 9 million people on Skype on a slow day! I was able to talk to him for a little while yesterday, so if I can’t today, then I will soon, again, Lord willing!

Michael seems to really love his new team. He is very busy every day, and that is what he wants. God has met his need for a national translator, who is also a believer! He is so amazing! To GOD be the glory! Thank you all for your faithful prayers for him in this.

You know, Allan and I have been doing our personal Bible study online. We found the most wonderful program. It’s called Audio Bible. The narrator is very dynamic in his readings. We have gone through: Jeremiah and Lamentations, recently. We are now in Ezekiel. The thing that really brings me to tears is how very much God loves His people, and how His chosen people (which includes us!) continue to reject, turn from, and refuse to walk in HIS ways and obey Him, trust Him, and listen to Him. Listening to Ezekiel (and all of the Bible), in this way, reveals a heartbroken, loving, ever forgiving, just and Holy God, Who gives and gives, blesses and blesses, and loves us so endlessly, yet as in one of Michael's favorite songs, "Come Thou Fount", we are all so 'prone to leave the God I love". It makes me wonder why are we so prone to lean on man and our own ways, than to lean on the Maker of heaven and earth and all that is in it! He is always so ready to forgive us out of that deep, never failing love! Why do we ever grieve Him (Eph. 4:30)?

I am so awed by His faithfulness, forgiveness, and willingness to take us back, when we stray from His ways.

As we read in Ezekiel, I said to Allan; “Aren’t you so thankful that we live in the period of Grace?” I am so thankful that we have the Holy Spirit, to lead us, guide us, and teach us! I am so thankful for the written Word and the Living Word!

Now, if I can do such a task, I’ll try to catch up on the news! I just read my last newsletter, written in February! I am so very sorry that it’s been so long!
I am thankful to Linda Adrian, who has graciously shared some of my letters with you. I feel as if I’m back in Paul’s day, when the letters were shared among the churches! Thank you, Linda.

I thank my God for all of you. I thank you for your prayers, and for your letters. I think about all of you and pray for you and for our church family, the body of Christ.

As I recall the past couple of months, my mind is a jumble of many things happening. I’ll do my best to tell you all that’s going on here in Krakow.

We have had some pretty terrible weather, but like a birth, when it’s over, you tend to forget what it was like, and only remember the best of things about it. The weather is now much warmer, sunny, and the days are getting longer.

The early morning sun awakens me about five a.m. I awaken with God in my heart and mind, always. I lie there for a time, praying for my family, and just worshipping Him, and praising Him for Who He is, and for His many blessings. I am so thankful for the sunshine because it has brought many beautiful flowers and budding tress to life!

The dismal black, and very dark days are a distant memory. The city is bustling with thousands and thousands of tourists. The sidewalks are filled with cafes. The streets are lined with art, music, and people selling their wares.
Balconies are open to diners, and there are horses and carriages to take you on the many tours of the city.

I suggest to anyone who wants to come here, make it summer! The lilacs are in full bloom, and the parks filled with tulips and flowering shrubs and trees. It is a far more enjoyable sight than the long cold winter!

God so blessed me in March! I was able to make a very quick trip back to the states. It was for the purpose of doing our taxes for 2007. The best thing was that I was able to see my precious grandsons, Lora, and Jim. I enjoyed every moment with them. I could not get over how they’ve grown in the past six months! They are all taller than I. I had tried to surprise the boys, but Ian found out when the tax accountant called their house to verify my appointment! So much for secrets! I am the one who was surprised at the airport. I didn’t think Ryan would be there because he had a swim meet, but when he found out I was coming, he wanted to be there to surprise me!

We each had a day together, plus several days with us all together. I was blessed with the opportunity to see two of my dear friends and sisters in Christ, during my visit. I had coffee with Ellen at our favorite coffee hang out, The Chocolate Mousse, in Portland. I had tea with Lora and Cathy, one of my friends from the hospital, where I worked in Michigan. Cathy has been a faithful supporter and prayer warrior from Michigan. Ellen, if you remember from my letters, was my prayer -walking partner, during my time in Michigan. She is still one of my most faithful supporters from the Michigan area. My time with my family there was such an awesome blessing, and I thank God for the time we had together!

Our Strategy Associate, Mark and his wife, Susie, and their children are in America right now. They have 'company' summits and meetings to attend. They will return here soon.

The regional leader, based in Prague,(Rodney) will be leaving the region soon. It seems as if Mark will be taking on those responsibilities, as well as his own, for a time. What will that mean in terms of my work? I am praying for him to have a truly qualified secretary! As you know, I am a Registered Nurse, and although I have been assisting Mark with several things here in Krakow, I believe he needs someone who is more qualified to help him more in office management, and all the details of his ever-increasing responsibilities!
Please pray about this with me!

I am interested in helping Allan and Jerry with the Roma ministry more than I have been able to do in the past. I ask you to please pray about this also.

We have had several teams come help with the various ministries. There was a team of eight football coaches, who helped with the Sports Ministry. They also had a camera guy along with them. They were a real blessing to our team here!

We presently have seven here, and a team who are sharing His Word through drama, coming soon.
There will be a team of two coming on the 16th of this month. In June and July, we will have two large groups, one of them being International World Changers. They will help with the Roma Day Camp. Please pray for us during the AGM in Finland in June-July. Pray for our Prayer-Walking Seminar!! Please also be praying for the Jewish festival here in Krakow in July. I am not sure if Jews for Jesus will be bringing a team, but pray for their work throughout the world! If I hear more about a team coming for the festival, I will let you know, of course.

There have been a couple of small groups also. They do prayer walking, help with the coffee house ministry, and they participate in helping in the ministry at the International Fellowship, among other things.

Ryan, our oldest grandson, is trying to raise money for a mission trip to New York, this summer with the First Baptist Church in Portland, Mi. He is supposed to send out ‘mission letters’ to family, friends, churches, etc. This is part of his responsibility to raise the money himself. Please pray for Ryan, his trip, and his fund-raising efforts, and most of all, that he will be a shining witness for Christ!

Ryan, Ian, and Zane will be attending church camp at Lake Ann, Michigan, again this year. I am so thankful for the opportunity for them! Camp, to me, is priceless for these young children! I can still remember my own camp days!!! A long time ago, indeed! My grandsons have become very good friends with the Johnson boys, and love to get together when they can. They are hoping to share the same rooms at camp again this year. I hope they can! I love those boys!!! (And their entire family, of course!) They are all such beautiful children. Karlene and John are very blessed, as are Jim and Lora!

Sarah, one of our team members, recently had an emergency room experience. One that could be written about! We learned; that we need to put together an emergency kit. I am planning to see if I can locate, or have sent to us, some scrubs, a couple of hospital gowns, and a few other things. We discovered that they do not supply drinking water for the patients! She had no gown, no soap, toothbrush, toothpaste; she was given absolutely nothing! If you want something to drink, you must go to the nearest store to buy it! I wondered why I had seen patients walking down the streets! Well, now I know.

They don’t give antibiotics often, even with infections, they rarely give pain meds, you have a small curtain that only goes about half the length of your bed, for privacy, and you may have men and women in the same room, we are told. Sarah had nausea, but had no emesis basin, in case she needed it.

I prepared a small bag for her and took it to the hospital. They only kept her overnight. Thank God that she didn’t stay longer!! The staff was friendly, and tried to answer questions as best they could. It's just very different than in the states...which is ok, once the surprise is gone.

Allan, Janik, (a Roma believer) and Eva, our Polish Baptist translator, and I, went to Charnow’ on Thursday. We met another Roma family there. We visited with them for about two hours and shared the gospel. They say they are believers, already. They do seem to know about the Bible. They also offered to help with a plan to show the Jesus Film to a large (hopefully!!) group of Roma this month.

We have another team coming at the end of May, so we plan to rent a facility to show the film to anyone who will come. We plan to pass out flyers a few days before the film showing. Please pray that there will be many seekers, and that they will come to know who Jesus is and desire to follow Him!

I will close for now. I hope that my next letter will not be so far apart from this one! I appreciate your patience with me. If you don’t get mail often, please forgive me, and just know that you are all still in my heart, mind, and prayers!

I thank my wonderful God, always for you!
Please let us know how we can pray for you! I Th. 5:16-17-Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing!

In Christ Alone, Our Hope is Found!
The Fishermensline
Krakow, Poland
P.S.
Shelby, if you read this, please send your e-mail address! Thank you for your comments! My address is: fishermensline@yahoo.com OR you can send to: allwea@everyheart.net

Fishermensline-March 2008

2008-02-28T05:12:00.000-08:00

Allan In The Village of Chrzanow

Greetings In The Name of Jesus!

I hope this newsletter from Krakow finds you all well and prospering in the grace of our Lord.

As February nears its closing days, we are enjoying some sunny days, however the March winds are early and often cold and severe in intensity. Even so, we have had much warmer weather here in Krakow than in Michigan, where our beloved daughter, son in law, and grandsons are living.

Michael is enjoying the sixty –plus degree temperatures after more than a month of forties and below! I think he was not prepared for those forties and below, by the comment “I wish I had known, I’d have brought heavier sweatshirts!”

God has been working here through the new Krakow International Fellowship worship services! Not only are we blessed with worship in our own language, there have been some Poles come to faith in Christ, and I am praying for (and ask you to join me) a lady that I have become friends with. She is Polish and is Catholic. She is a wonderful, kind, and friendly lady. She and her daughter have been visiting almost since the new services began. She and her daughter both made a comment that they feel like crying during our services. Last Sunday, before the service, as we were talking, she said to me, “I am truly questioning my faith in the Catholic church, when I go there, I feel nothing, yet when I come here, I feel such joy and want to be so close to God!”

Please pray for her and for me, that God will help me to share the personal walk that Christ calls us to, and that no one comes to God, except through Him, and that there is no more sacrifice for sin; that He paid that price as the perfect and final sacrifice for the sin of the world and how He is the only mediator between man and God. I am here to share His love with any who will listen and with whom He is calling to a saving faith and walk with Him. Please pray for this lady and her family!

Allan has been very busy with Jerry and the Roma ministry. They are constantly having meetings, Bible studies, and outreach days, where they go to a new village and seek out the places where Roma live.

In the past couple of weeks, they have gone twice to a village where there are many Roma, and none of them know about Jesus. Please pray for this village of Charnov.

Allan wants me to go there with him on a day that we can just go prayer walking around the village. He talked (through a translator), with a man who had survived WWII and he told Allan and Jerry that the village used to be the home of over 15,000 Jews. This was half of the village population at that time, now there are none. How sad when entire villages are wiped out because Satan was given a foothold in people’s hearts and minds!!

The coffee house ministry is still making efforts to reach out to the young people of the city (young or not so young!!). There have been several who have come for the music and snacks, conversation and games, etc., but so far none seem to be very interested in the gospel, but thank God, He tells us His Word will not return void. Therefore, we have faith that the seeds planted will bring forth fruit in due season.

We must continue in the planting to have a harvest, so pray that we will faithfully continue to plant, even as it seems sometimes that it is not fruitful at the time, after all; how many of us can plant a seed and the same day see the fruit?

We are waiting on the Lord for many things. I, for one, must learn what I know to be true. Walk by faith and not by sight!
I am praying for so many people and so many things, and events, that I truly know the meaning of my signature verse; pray without ceasing! I Th. 5:17

Lora and Jim are in the midst of many concerns and changes in their life and the life of the children. As many of you may already know, Jim will be deployed this fall for, possibly Kuwait. Please pray for them as they make plans for this. The heartbreak of their dad leaving is one that I ask my Lord, daily, to help them through, as with Lora, seeing her husband leave again, and her left alone to care for the three boys. They are the age, where support and encouragement from their dad is crucial. Please pray for Jim, also, as he has to leave them all behind. Our God is able to do the most amazing things, and nothing is too big for Him to accomplish!!

Please also pray for Michael. He is seeking God’s will in finding someone to travel with him, someone who is a believer and who speaks both languages, and someone he can trust. I know that God will meet all his needs.

Pray for Allan as Jerry and his family go to the states for two months for a turn-around time. Pray for the Goss family as they go through the process of going state--side, physicals, travel, and all the many stresses that come with the paper work and plans to return to Krakow.

During the two months that Jerry and his family will be in America, Allan will take on the full responsibility of the Roma ministry. There will be IWC teams and another team from Romania coming to work here during that time. It will be Allan’s responsibility to find lodging, transportation, and all the logistics of the teams, until Jerry returns. Jerry has a lot of responsibilities and we (from our past work history!) know about the un-seen, behind the scenes responsibilities that a strategy coordinator has to do, in addition to the Bible studies, travel, meetings, etc.

I am in the process of doing a newsletter for the Krakow Team, Baltic Field, and one for the churches in America that Mark has asked me to do. If you like, I will send the Krakow letter to you each month. This would give you more information about the families here in this city. Each month, I plan to do a “Spotlight on…………..” using one family unit per month to share information about the family, their ministry, a bit about their history, etc.

A funny thing about the Weaver’s: remember when we were in East Asia and we occasionally shared a bit of humor about the funny (ridiculous!!) things that happen when you don’t know the language or other little incidents? Well, here goes!

Allan and I have been shopping at the little store nearby. As we were looking for detergent for the laundry, we saw an advertisement (all if Polish, of course!!). It was a promotion. We know that from the word “promicija!”

We happily made our purchase for the ‘detergent’ and washed our clothing for two months. Our clothes didn’t seem to be very clean, however. When you get older you often don’t connect the dots (my phrase for you just don’t get it!!) W ever rationalized the lack of suds by saying, “well, maybe it’s the environmental protection kind of detergent” (well that made no sense with black air in our lungs!!!)

Finally I went online (the dictionary has no word translation for brand names) to see if I could figure out what this stuff is.

I started laughing aloud. Allan said ok, “what’s so funny?”
I said, “well we have been washing our clothes for two months in fabric softener!”
We had noticed one good thing about the ‘detergent’ was the clothes were very soft! Isn’t that scary!!!!

Lord, help us as we age! I have to tell you we did have help in choosing this ‘detergent’! A friend’s daughter told us this is what her mom uses!!

Well, dear friends and family, I will close for today. I pray that the Lord will richly bless you and yours. If there is anyway we can pray for you, please let us know. We faithfully remember you each day, but if you have a specific request, please let us know. It’s an honor to pray for you!

“What does the LORD your GOD require of you, but to revere the LORD your GOD, to walk in all HIS ways, to love Him, and serve the LORD your GOD with all your heart and with all your being.” De.10: 12.

“For by your words, you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words, you will be condemned and sentenced.” Matt.12: 37.

Choose your words carefully and wisely and wait for the LORD’S Blessings!
The Fishermensline in Krakow, Poland
Feb.24, 2008

Two building in the Village: Old and New

Why God Chose Israel

2008-01-28T06:07:00.000-08:00

Pictured Above: Allan, Sue, Isabella, John, Zosha, and Valdi. This is the wonderful, gracious, and loving family who hosted us as guests in their home in Poznan, during our time there for the Conference.

God chose Israel to be a ‘Nation of Royal Priests’ to be a witness and light to guide all the nations to God. When Israel failed, and broke the covenant with God, He took them into captivity. In their captivity, and in their redemption, His heart and His plan was always to show Himself as a God of great love for all His children, to lead them all to Himself and to salvation.

When God told Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him, he became a world -wide missionary, to carry out God’s plan for Israel and the nations of the world. The blessing God would give to the nations, including Israel, and through Israel, would be the written Word, and THE LIVING WORD! (The WORD became flesh and dwelt among us! John 1:14)

The law was given to the Jewish people to convict of sin, to show God’s character, as a testimony and a witness to the world.

When the Jewish nation broke God’s covenant, they broke HIS heart! The ones chosen to be a witness and light to the nations became idol worshippers, and like the pagans, the people did not want their God! They cursed God rather than desired to know Him. God sent His prophets again and again, to warn the Jewish people of their great sin and abominations toward God. He continually forgave them each time they repented. His love is boundless and His forgiveness is endless.

When Israel continued to disobey God, He told them, you will live in darkness and in exile! The consequences of their disobedience, was to be a lesson to the nations and to the Jewish nation, as well.

God keeps His promises to us, even when we fail to keep ours. When Jesus was crucified, the Jewish people thought it was all over. No! It was just beginning!! God’s plan to redeem the nations and the Jews was just beginning to teach salvation and eternal life to all who will believe and repent! Jesus told the Jews that they would be His witnesses through out Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world!

We must preach salvation to the Jews and the Gentiles! We must pray for the peace of Jerusalem, not the peace of the world, which is a good thing to pray for. Not for military peace, not through a peace treaty, nor peace policy, but the peace that ONLY comes through the Jewish nation knowing WHO JESUS really is. Jesus said, ‘you will not see Me, until you say, ‘blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the LORD!’”

The Jews MUST know Who Jesus is! Israel still needs to fulfill God’s call to them!

Pray for: Peace of Jerusalem, the peace only found IN the Prince of Peace!
Pray for: Behold Your God! Campaign in May being held in six cities in Israel.
Pray for Jews for Jesus in this campaign, for their protection and for the Jewish people to hear their words and believe the WORD of God, Jesus, the Messiah!
Pray for: Teams for this historic event!
Pray for: teams for Krakow Jewish festival this summer.
Pray for: The Christians to be in constant prayer for the Jews to come to know their God and His HOLY ONE, JESHUA!!!
Pray for: ‘Life from the Dead’ a group in Europe, involved in missions.
Pray for: the Catholic church here in Krakow and Poland.
Pray for the Poles to love their Jewish brothers and for renewal of relationships! Pray for the Jews to love the Poles, also!
Pray for: The Poles of Poland to have a personal relationship with Jesus.
Pray for: the Jewish festival in Krakow this summer, for open eyes, ears, and heart of understanding.
Pray for: team Roma and for team Krakow.
Pray for: all the missionaries of Europe.
Pray for: support from home, both prayer and financial.
Pray for: the Olive Tree Organization, here in Poland, a group of believers who have a ministry to the Jewish people.
Pray for: Sue, and desire to serve God in a new Jewish ministry here in Krakow, or wherever he may lead.
Pray for: Allan and Jerry and their work with the Roma.
Pray for: the families of the missionaries, both here and those back in the states.
Pray for: Michael in East Asia, that God will bless his work there, for his traveling, health, and a trusted worker to come along side him to help with the work there.
Pray for: America, that our country will never forsake Israel!
Pray for: The president, both current and future, for God’s will in their life, to seek Him for His leadership and direction.
Pray for: Godly leaders in our government!
Pray for: God to prepare the soil of people’s hearts and minds.
Pray for: Mark and his leadership role and for his family.
Pray for: The Baptist Union, here in Poland.
Pray for: God’s perfect will in our life and ministry.
Thank Him for: Blessings, salvation, family, finances, prayer supporters, His WORD, for the missionaries, for the Jewish nation, from whom the Messiah came, for Lottie Moon, for so many wonderful and awesome blessings!
Thank Him for the young people who came here to join us here in our work!

Pictures of Recent Months!

2008-01-22T12:09:00.001-08:00

Prayer for Israel to Know Jeshua As the Messiah!

2008-01-22T11:42:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Poland!

Allan and I just returned from the Jewish Conference in Poznan, Poland. God richly blessed us through the conference and through his many gracious children there!

If you are receiving this letter, it is because I consider that you are faithful in praying for the needs of the children of God!

I will post a bit of information on my blog: www.fishermensline.blogspot.com within the next couple of days. I wanted to write to you immediately, however, about an urgent prayer request that I encourage you to get everyone involved in that you possibly can!

In May of this year Jews for Jesus will hold a campaign in six cities in Israel. The campaigns have been held throughout many countries in the past, yet this is the very first time it is planned for Israel! The campaign is called "Behold Your God!" The teams will be in constant jeopardy during this time, Please pray for the safety of these Jewish Christians. Nothing like this has been done since Paul the Apostle, and we all know what Paul suffered for the sake of HIS name, Jeshua, the Messiah.
Please also pray for the Jewish people to know WHO the God of their Father's really is! Pray that they will come to know Peace through the Prince of Peace! There is no world peace and there will be no world peace, until the world knows The Prince of Peace!

Jesus told the Jewish people during His time here with us on earth, "you will NOT see Me again, until you say, 'blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Pray that the world will cry out, "blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!!!"

The Jewish people still have a broken covenant,( broken by them, NOT by God, Who is faithful, even in our unfaithfulness) to honor and keep with God. Until we all pray for the Salvation of the Jews through their (and our) Messiah, the Prince of Peace, that covenant will remain broken. We MUST pray for the salvation of the Jews. They are NOT automatically saved, salvation is through CHRIST ALONE, and we can not allow our concentration on the world being evangelized, to the exclusion of the Jews! To exclude the Jews would be to permit Satan to deceive us once again through anti-Semitism!

We need to pray for this mission of Jews for Jesus! We need to support their desire and commitment to make the Messiah-ship of Jesus known to their people.

Their covenant with God was to be a witness to the nations through their obedience to His statutes and commands, when this was broken by His chosen people, they became not a light, but a 'by-word' and a nation living in darkness and exile and persecution, according to the warnings they had been given through the prophets found in God's written, inspired Word.

Avi, from Jews for Jesus (European Director), preached messages regarding this. We all were asked to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Praying for political peace, etc. is good, but they need the Prince of Peace before any true peace will ever be found.

Please join me, and please ask the congregations to join in fervent, continual, prayer for this campaign in May, 2008! God is working in so many hearts and lives. This is my desire, that we pray as Christ wants us to pray for our Jewish family who are not yet IN the family of God in the way of salvation through Jesus the Messiah.

They have suffered much persecution. It is because of God's love for us that the Jewish nation was chosen. Just think...it could have been any other nation who had undergone such persecution, such dislike and disrespect if they had been the chosen people! We should be forever THANKFUL to the Jewish nation that they went through this for us! They were God's instrument for the written word and the Living Word which we have today!

Thank you so much for your fervent prayers for this undertaking. The Jews for Jesus are willing and aware that they may be in such danger for their lives! Please Pray!

Also, I truly desire that any support we can give as believers in Jesus would be most appreciated. You know, I have not been asked to say this, and I doubt in this world of 'political correctness' that this is even appropriate, and I know we have so many times given above and beyond, financially, but I believe with all my heart, that this campaign is so important to the entire world, that I am stepping outside of the boundaries of political correctness, doctrines, etc. to say that if anyone wishes and feels led to support this endeavor, you can go to the Jews for Jesus website; www.jewsforjesus.org to give to their organization. I also for the sake of political correctness add that any giving to anyone must be above and beyond your tithes to your local church, Lottie moon, etc. I read their newsletter and the work they are doing is truly God inspired!(and risky). When we find people who risk their lives, friends, and families, we need to support in any way we can and feel led.

Please write with any comments or questions!

In Christ Alone, Our Hope is Found!
Sue

Fishermensline December- Krakow!

2008-01-05T11:50:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Krakow!

December has come and gone very quickly. The wonderful and festive days of anticipation filled with excitement, secrets, and wonder are already a memory. Moments of quiet recall make us smile and sigh, for yet another year has quietly slipped away.

In recalling December (here in Poland, called Grudzien), I have quite a few things to share with all of you back home.

Team Krakow made many plans for the month, one being a Christmas Party in which we would make flyers and invitations to announce our new Compass International Fellowship. In our new fellowship services we will have several worship songs, a testimony at each service, a brief message, scripture reading, a couple more songs, prayer time, and then a team meeting afterwards. The fellowship will have volunteer helpers for the very young children and infants during the meeting. We are welcoming all English-speaking people to attend (or multi-lingual, of course!). You may say to yourself, this sounds a lot like church! You would be correct. Since we can’t establish a church, we have a Christian Fellowship.

We are all looking forward to the fellowship times because it is such a blessing to worship God in our own language. We all love the Roma and Polish church, but of course, just as they need worship in their language, we do, as well.

This will make our already full Sundays, filled to running over with activity, but then we will appreciate Mondays more! You know very well, that no one has ever appreciated Mondays! Right?

We also planned a small Christmas party for the team so that everyone could get involved and enjoy time getting to know each other and having some fun time with games, good food, etc. We had a gift exchange and played the game where you may take another’s gift or choose from the tree. Having children’s gifts in the pot made it a lot of fun (hoping some one would take my gift of little toy cars!!). Thankfully, we have a five year old who eyed my little cars immediately. (wheeew) I chose someone else’s gift of Tabasco sauce for Allan and gee, I got to keep it!! He loves Tabasco on everything. You all probably remember that about him.

In the first Christmas Party for the CIF introduction, we had a lot of fun games, beautiful Christmas carols, and a little nativity play that even our team’s four month old played a part and was the ‘star’. Nathan Dowdy played baby Jesus, and he did a perfect job. The youth sang Silent Night as we recited Luke 2. The children did a fantastic job and I was very proud of them (especially since I was in charge of the play). I did a lot of praying you can be sure. During practice I had thought, “what have I gotten myself into?” God is so amazing!! He is forever glorified!

We did prayer walking around the city square and several blocks on the way there and back. We made a few trips to Zakopane and Tarno’v. These are cities where there are a few Roma villages. We had Bible study and prayer time with the Roma.

Ed and Ann Dayton, the couple I mentioned a few times before, graciously sent a check for the Roma for us to buy Christmas gifts for those under 15.
Allan and I shopped for the gifts and supplies, and the stores were so crowded that it was unbelievable. When it came time to check out, I kept letting people with only a few items in front of me, because we had so much in the carts.

It actually took three buying trips, but Jerry and Allan did the last one (PTL!). I never thought spending $500.00 could be so difficult! (hear that Lora??) It really CAN be difficult to spend money. We had to buy 53 toothbrushes and split them into age groups, etc. There were at least 53 children of varying ages to buy for. FUN, I say. Next year it will be more organized because this was an unexpected donation. Hopefully we can get any donations for Christmas in November or prior.

In addition to the above, Brenda and Jerry hosted their daughter’s wedding here in Krakow. It was quite an exciting time for the Goss family! Tara is getting married, Kristen coming also, from the states. Tara’s fiancée’s arrival, and all the activity going on for Christmas; well you can imagine the coordinating efforts involved.

Allan and I attended the wedding and had a wonderful time. It was in a beautiful hotel in the center of Old Krakow (well all of it is old!) The food was good (it seems all we had done in Dec was eat!!!), and everything was perfect for the bride and groom. They left the following morning for 10 days in Italy. (WOW)

The MK’s had a retreat just after barely recovering from Christmas and the wedding. I understand that it was not only fun for them but very busy as well. They had to get up at four or five a.m. to get in all the fun possible in their three days time.

We had a very quiet Christmas ourselves. Mark, the S.A. for the Baltic Region, had family from the states over to visit. The Goss family were blessed to be together again (except for Tara on her honeymoon!), others on the team either left on trips to visit family or friends.

We had a visitor in town; and not wanting her to be alone on Christmas we invited her here for a small Christmas dinner. She is a missionary from farther north in Poland. We had a good time talking about missions. She had been in Asia in the past, so we had a few things in common.

As for the office work in which I am involved; I’m still learning (trying that is). I will do my best, of course, but I am still not really ‘office material’.
I just want to honor and glorify God in what ever I do and in any way that I can. Please pray for me about this.

The conference in Poznan: I am so excited and looking forward to that! I have learned that Avi, from Jews for Jesus has been invited to speak on two different topics. He sent an e-mail saying that he will talk about how to best pray for his people and the call of the Jewish people. Doesn’t that sound exciting!!! We are truly looking forward to this conference. At the wedding we talked to a guy named Richard (Allan had met him before), and when we mentioned the conference, he wanted information about it, so I believe he plans to attend. For us, that would be yet another blessing. He speaks fluent English and could help us with translations.

Health: although this will bring us into January, we certainly want to tell you these bits of information. Allan is so happy about the shoe inserts he received! His feet are painful most of the time when he walks. He appreciates these gifts so much and so do I.

Since we are already into January; we received the three boxes from FBI Church in Indialantic. God Bless you all! Thank you from the bottom of our heart. I opened the huge box of Charmin and I just about died with excitement and from laughing. You are amazing!

For those who aren’t aware: we got gourmet coffee of every known flavor, Caribou Coffee bars, energy bars, CHARMIN, Peter Pan by the dozens of jars, books, DVD’s, sweet n’ low, long johns, spices, more than I can say. It was so wonderful opening the boxes with all the treats and oh, yes!!! I got Jergens lotion! We can’t thank you enough. We love you, and hopefully, you know that.

Lora sent movies, cards, and sweet n’ low!! We will have enough to last our three years and enough to share with those who love these things as much as we do!

I have just been getting over my third bout of laryngitis. I have been coughing a lot. I went to a Polish Dr., who speaks a little English. He gave me a prescription for an inhaler for use for three or four days to see if it helps. He also prescribed some cough medicine and lozenges. He said if I don’t improve on this, I’d begin antibiotics (they don’t use them here as much as in the states). I had a 102-103 temperature through the day and all night on Tuesday with aches, etc. but it seems to be on the mend. It’s just not a good way to start your year.

Praise Him for His Faithfulness!
Praise Him for His Love, Mercy, and Grace!
Praise Him for Our Family!
Praise Him for our Churches!
Praise Him for our Team here in Poland!
Praise Him for our Missionaries!
Praise Him for answered prayers!
Praise Him for the beauty of the Universe HE created for our pleasure!
Praise Him for His healing!
Praise Him for His Constant Presence!
Praise Him for His WORD!
Praise Him for the Lessons He teaches us!
Praise Him For He is Great and Greatly to be Praised!

Pray for Michael!
Pray for Lora and her family!
Pray for Health!
Pray for perseverance!
Pray for Poznan Conference!
Pray for the Roma!
Pray for this team in Krakow!
Pray for East Asia!
Pray for times of travel!
Pray for the New International Fellowship!
Pray for the Jewish Ministry!
Pray for our churches! Pray for each other!
Pray for our grandchildren!
Pray that we will see family soon!
Pray for Workers in the Harvest!
Pray that His WORD will be spread and the TRUTH be understood and Believed and accepted!
Please tell us HOW we can pray for you! You are so important to us, let us be part of sharing your burdens and taking them before the THRONE of GOD!

In Christ Alone My Hope is Found!

Sue and Allan
He said, “ Follow ME, and I will make you fishers of MEN.”

Dec. Fishermens Line

2007-12-09T07:53:00.000-08:00

http://www.fishermensline.blogspot.com/ Fishing in Poland!!

Greetings!

Have you ever been ice fishing? Today is a chilly 30 degrees here in Krakow, but I notice that it’s an even chillier 28 degrees in Michigan, where Lora, Jim, Ryan, Ian, and Zane, live!

We always watch the weather on our pc desktop to monitor Lora and family and Michael, in his tropical 75 degrees!

Today is one of the busiest days of the week for us. Sundays we have two church services, travel to and from one house church, which is about two hours drive each way, then a meeting of the entire Krakow team at the end of the day! So much for rest! Therefore, we usually have our rest time, when possible, on Friday.

I’ll try to update everyone on our developments over the past month. My office helper, Ann, will not be coming to the field, most likely. She and her husband, Ed, still plan a short trip, maybe this summer. Ed just this past week (on the 6th of Dec.) had a tumor removed from his brain. It apparently was non-malignant, thankfully. They just don’t think it’s very likely they will come here to stay. Please be praying for Ed and Ann.

Another note about this lovely couple (whom we have only met once, and love them both dearly); they have donated a gift for the purchase of Christmas presents for the Roma children. Brenda, her daughters, and I will be doing the shopping for these gifts. Most likely, it will go for much needed items, and maybe a small treat that the children will appreciate.

Michael is very busy traveling for about a week at a time. He tells us he gets a big kick out of people thinking about him being in a beautiful, tropical island, with monster surf, and beautiful women! He has seen the beach once! He says knowing the waves are so big, is absolute torture, not being able to even see them! He says, ‘it’s so different than how I used to be, when surf was up, I was there, and now, I’m being so responsible!” Allan told him, “We all have our cross to bear!”

I have been telling him that he will have a time of R&R, and that he’ll be able to do that, Lord willing, of course. Anyway, he’s doing great and still loving his work for the Lord. Pray for him and for the lost souls of his area.

Lora tells us that she put up her Christmas tree. I haven’t seen a picture of it yet (Lora?!), but she always does a beautiful tree. This year it is filled with natural decorations, pine cones, etc.

I have been in touch with one of the representatives for Jews for Jesus, here in the European region. Allan and I are hoping to meet him at the conference in Poznan, in January. I am still not sure where God will take this desire to minister to the Jewish people of Poland, but He has already placed several people in my life, that are even connected to each other, across oceans and country boundaries!

It seems by our conversation on Skype, that he knows the lady here in Poland that I have been in touch with through e-mail! When we discovered this, it was clear that it was God at work.

Allan and Jerry are hard at work with the Roma people. They have a Bible study on Tuesday and Thursday evening. They also attend the 3rd Baptist Church on Sundays (the Roma), and they often try to attend the house church in Tarno’v.

Last Saturday we attended another baptism of 5 Roma and 3 Polish believers. It is a blessing to see them follow Jesus’ example of obedience to be baptized.

The really wonderful thing that happened on that Saturday, was that the pastor of the Baptist church in this nearby town (about 45 min. away from Krakow), wants to get involved in a Roma outreach! He said it was a divine intervention that Allan and Jerry came there. He told Allan that the little city is full of Roma. Allan asked if there are any Roma believers there, and he said, “not even one, that I know of!” Please pray for this opportunity to further this outreach of this persecuted people. Please also pray for this pastor, who has such a heart. He seems to be most humble! Also pray for his church and the believers that they, too, will share his vision of reaching these people.

Most of the Roma are too poor to tithe much, but they contribute greatly to the church’s ministry. They usually struggle with daily survival in a world of extremely high costs of living, and no healthcare, very little government aid, etc.

Our Strategy Associate, Mark and his wife Susie, have family here for the rest of Dec. Jerry and Brenda, have their two daughters here from the states. One of the daughters, Tara, is getting married on the 21st. Her fiancée’ Will, is here also. We will attend Tara and Will’s wedding and after the ceremony, they will fly to Rome for 10 days then back to America.

I’m not sure what Allan and I will be doing for Christmas. We will miss our family so much, that I am hoping we can take a drive to somewhere nearby. I was hoping Austria for only a night or two, but it’s about 8 hours drive. I’m not sure we would have the time. If not, then maybe we can make a trip to Zakopane. Zakopane is in the Tatra’s, part of the Carpathian Mountain Range. It’s a beautiful little ski village and will be completely decorated for Christmas. I don’t think I’d get on skis, however, but a ride on the lift should be safe enough for my bones!

We are having a Christmas party on the 16th to announce the opening of the New International Fellowship here in Krakow. Please pray for this fellowship! It will be our worship time in our own language, and wow!, do we ever need that!

It will be an English-speaking fellowship, and we’ll have music and a message that we can understand. I know, more than ever what Paul is talking about when he talks about someone in the congregation who cannot understand without an interpreter. If there is no interpreter, how can one be edified?

Usually, in the services, we can pick out a word or two, and if we listen extremely carefully, we may be able to tell what book and chapter they are reading from! The numbers here are very long and they speak rapidly. It’s very difficult to understand, so often, someone (usually Jerry) will lean over and whisper to us which book, chapter and verse, so we can at least follow in our own Bible. Please pray for us in this too!

I believe that is about all for this month. Oh, one more thing though. The office is pretty well set up. We also have two or three rooms where guests can stay. If anyone wants to come for a mission trip, visit, etc. we can accommodate you with bed and breakfast at least! Allan and I will also have one extra room. Everyone here would be happy to help out to keep expenses down.

Please pray about sending a small group in July for the Roma camp! There is much to do and if anyone has musical skills of any kind, it would be awesome to have you help out! Please pray, also, that Lora, Jim, and the boys can come over this summer! Ryan wants to be here for the Roma camp, to help us with that. They also want to return to Lake Ann Camp this summer. I’m praying that this will all work out. (Ps.37:4-5!!!)

Thank you so much for your prayers, and we both want to know, how can we pray for you? Please let us know. We will certainly pray! Pray for our prayer team, that we will be faithful in intercessory prayer! Prayer is our foundation, and all work must be based on His plan and direction!

God bless you one and all! Have a wonderful Christmas! (Lu.2:1-16). John 12:27.

I have inserted two or three pictures of Zakopane. This is where we go to visit with Roma believers. There are several towns and villages where there are believers, thanks to LOTTIE MOON and the generous gifts of the believers back in America. Pray for LOTTIE MOON offering this year. Pray that the offerings will exceed beyond our imagination. We know, first hand, what this Christmas offering accomplishes worldwide. God uses this wonderful offering to spread His Word to those who are lost and desperate and without hope. LOTTIE MOON makes visiting villages and nearly impossible to reach, out of the way places, possible! LOTTIE MOON gives missionaries all over the world a chance to do HIS work un-hindered, as it should be done!

Please prayerfully consider your giving this year! Please remember what Jesus meant when HE said in Matthew 24:14 “and this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto ALL Nations; and then the end shall come”

In His Great Unfailing Love,
Sue and Allan

Matt. 4:19

Pray for Discernment Praise Him for His Mercy!
Pray for our family Praise Him for He is Great!
Pray for the people of Poland Praise Him for His Blessings!
Pray for the Jewish People Praise Him for new believers!
Pray for the Roma Praise Him for Answers!

Fishers of Men

2007-08-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

As I have contemplated my Fishermens Line ( now I must apologize because I have contemplated this for quite some time!), I realize that not weeks but months have gone by and so very quickly!

I will do my best to update the past weeks and inform you of the anticipated events of the coming weeks as well.

Let me go back to May. On the 8th of May we had the great pleasure of our son, Michael, coming to spend the summer with us. Michael is now in orientation in Virginia preparing for the field in October. (II Timothy 2:2 and II Timothy 2:15)

During Michael's time here we had many wonderful times together. We enjoyed a summer concert in the park. The concert was in Midland, Michigan. The weather was near perfect. The Christian musicians were wonderful and inspirational, the worship was fantastic. Ryan and Ian attended the concert with us (and Allan, of course!).

We worked on the house, went to a couple of movies, had cook-outs, dinner at Lora's a few times, sleep-overs with the grandsons, celebrated Michael and Allan's birthdays, took short trips ,shopped at local orchards...and oh, yes, Michael and I picked strawberries at a local strawberry farm! What fun that was! Michael made smoothies for us (several times) and we still have strawberries left in the freezer!

We have had many evenings of just sitting around talking about our upcoming journey (Michael to Asia and us to Poland). Michael took the boys (Ryan, Ian, and Zane) to Bertha Brock Park to run and swim with Cane (Michael's dog). They played basketball,played miniature golf, saw a baseball game, and Michael and Ryan went to a concert in Grand Rapids.

Shortly after Michael arrived we had to leave for a trip to Oregon to see Allan's sister. We had tickets to fly to Portland, Or. We spent ten very much needed restful days there....well, Allan certainly needed them!!

Allan fished on the Columbia River and wonder of wonders...he caught an eleven foot sturgeon!! He fought it for over two hours! He was so exhausted by the time the fish finally gave up! I prayed for him to pull it in, mostly for all the hard work he's been doing on this house...I felt so strongly that he just needed a little reward like that (you can't keep a sturgeon that big, but for Allan, it's all about the sport, anyway). Anyway, God allowed this wonderful gift for him and I'm so happy about it. The best part of it all, is the witness that Allan gave before his sister and her husband, Ed: "it wasn't me, it was God that allowed it! He gave me the strength to keep fighting with the fish and pull it in."

We had a great time in Oregon. We passed field after field of the most beautiful, vividly bright colored Iris's. They were deep reds, oranges, purples, lavenders, yellows and whites. As far as you could see, the colors blazed in the sunlight. The mountains were so beautiful! On the Columbia River, you are near an area where you can see Washington's Mt. Rainier and to me, that's always an awesome sight.

We went to one of my favorite places in Oregon; Newport Beach on the coast. It was much busier than when I had seen it a few years ago. This time it was bustling with summer activity...last time I saw it, there was very little activity, it was very cold and foggy, misty, and winter was in the air.

As we returned to Portland, Michigan and our family, I was happy to be home again.....back to my grand babies, Lora, Michael, and Jim...and back to work on the house and at the hospital (well, maybe not so glad to be back at the hospital). Although I still love nursing, I'm not that crazy about this hospital.

Lora and I had a very special time going to "The Melting Pot" for a ladies dinner night out. It was wonderfully delicious. We had such a good relaxing time just talking and talking more! I always enjoy spending time with her. She needed the quiet time away. Uncle 'Mikey' watched Ryan, Ian, and Zane for her. He stayed the night and even cooked breakfast for everyone the next morning! What a great uncle...they miss him already!

Jim is now in Oklahoma for training for the reserves. Please pray for him during this time away from his family. We miss him, terribly. The boys and Lora want him home, so we hope this happens soon! Pray for his knee. He's been having some pain since doing all the running required for physical training. Pray for strength and to be pain free! Pray for his witness among the other military men. He was able (very blessed!) to lead someone to Christ during his time there...it makes me think of Paul in Rome (under so- called house arrest, which I prefer to think of as God's protective custody, as he preached the WORD boldly in chains!), so while Jim is training; may he speak the WORD of GOD boldly to his friends and co-laborers of the reserves, and redeem wisely, his time there in Oklahoma!
This month (August) we signed a contract with a local realtor, Randy Sandborn (please pray for Randy as he tries to sell the house!!). We have had some pictures in the paper, but since it's still not completely finished, it's difficult to show everything.

You know, this house has taken about a year, now. Let me tell you why:
The long, hard, cold, windy, wet, snowy winter. The fact that Allan has been doing all the work himself.....NO sub-contractors at all! Well there was one, the drywaller (Allan hates doing drywall). Allan has done the plans, the layout, the permits, the foundation, the walls, the roof and roofing, the garage, the entire framing, trim, electrical system, plumbing system, air conditioner/heating system, painting, cabinets, tile, wood flooring, deck, fireplace and mantle,the entire house with very minimal help. He was up on the roof (not only building the roof, but roofing it, too,) in some pretty scary weather!

He is the hardest most dedicated worker I have ever known. Anyone who knows Allan, knows this about him. God has certainly blessed him with not only a wide variety of skills, but also with a love of hard work, intelligence, and common sense. Many times through the cold to freezing winter days, I have questioned this common sense....but I am so thankful to God for my husband and his desire to accomplish whatever he feels that God has set before him to do.

Our 40th anniversary will soon be here (Sept.1, 1967!!!), and over the years of our marriage, I have had many people tell me what a hard worker Allan is, and I tell them: "You don't know but half of it, I know better than anyone how hard he has worked and how determined and dedicated he is! I thank God for him everyday!"

You know this didn't start out to be a newsletter dedicated to my husband and how special he is, but maybe this is what God has led me to say. My family has always been the heart of my world. God has blessed us with two beautiful and precious children, a wonderful son in law, who is like a son to us, and three beautiful and precious little grandsons.

He has blessed us with family all over the world. He has given us, not a hundred fold, but a thousand fold in loved ones!

Now for the plans that are upcoming, Lord willing! Michael plans to return to Michigan for one night to pick up the rest of his luggage and will depart from Detroit on October 4th. PLEASE pray for him! Pray without ceasing!
He will be in his new home away on October 6th. Pray for his safety, protection, witness, lost souls to be led to him for hearing the Word through the Holy Spirit. Pray for his health. Pray for discernment.

The day after Michael leaves from Detroit, we will leave from Lansing. We'll fly to Chicago then on to Germany, then to Krakow. PLEASE pray for Lora, Jim, Ryan, Ian, and Zane as we leave them back home to carry on here. Pray for peace that passes all understanding...the peace that only Jesus Christ can give to us! Pray for their health, their safety, pray that they will be able to come see us! Pray for us for safe travel, for lost souls who seek to know the truth will learn that there is only ONE way and that is through Jesus...that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Pray for Asia and for Europe! Pray for us as we carry out the Lord's Plan in Krakow!!!

Pray for us as we try to sell our 'stuff' once again! Pray for our witness; that we WILL always be salt and light! Pray that we will walk worthy of the calling! Rejoice always in the Lord! Pray without ceasing!
And HE saith unto them, "follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" Matt.4:19

In His Great Love,
sue
The Fishermens Line

How Times Have Changed!

2007-05-03T18:30:00.000-07:00

Can you believe this is the Weaver family? How many years ago do you think this was taken?

The sunset was at our condo in Melbourne Beach in 2003. Isn't it just beautiful!! Our God is such an artist and what landscapes He has created in His divine love for us. Can you imagine what heaven must be like! I can only imagine that it is un-imaginable! When I see the beauty of His creation on earth and in the skies and seas...I long for heaven more than words can ever tell.

I just finished reading the book "90 Minutes in Heaven". It was a truly wonderful book that made me cry like a baby most of the time. How much suffering the author, Don, must have gone through, and such after experiencing heaven for 90 minutes! It reminded me of Paul, and Jesus telling him "what things he must suffer for my name's sake", and also of Paul telling of the man he knew who had been to heaven (whether in the body or out of the body, he did not know), and how he saw things un-speakable and was given the thorn in his side to keep him humble after being so honored as to get a glimpse of heaven.

As I read the book, I wondered (yet I think I know the answer!!), would Don trade the experience in heaven, to come back to earth and life here, pain free? I think he would choose to keep the heavenly experience!!! I am certain that God allowed him this experience for a purpose far greater than we can imagine. His witness will be far-reaching into the future. I have no doubts what-so-ever of the authenticity of his literally being in heaven for that 90 minutes, then returning to this life on earth....after all he was prayed through by a Southern Baptist!(God had spoken to him through his heart to pray for the man in the accident). I have heard of many miracles since going into the mission field, I firmly believe in them, because I have it on good authority that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that HE can do anything. That He is sovereign. That He is omniscient. That He is omnipresent. That He is omnipotent. He is Lord. He is the creator. He is coming back someday to take us to that place of indescribable beauty, where eye hath not seen, nor entered into the heart of man the place God has prepared for us....and we shall worship The King of Kings and sing praises to Him forever. What hope we have IN Him! Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly!

In His Love for His Glory!

The Fishermens Line

Is. 30:21, Eph. 4:30

Pray for us as we continue to prepare to leave in October. Pray for our children and grandchildren...for peace, for the time we will be together again, and for God's perfect will in all of our lives, to seek Him in all of our decisions, and to please Him in all that we do, to glorify Him by the life we live for Him. Pray for the house to sell as quickly as it is finished (and pray for it to get finished soon!). Pray for Michael as he prepares to leave in October, also.

Pray for wisdom, discernment, and a faith that will never fail when tested. Pray for souls for His Kingdom!

Grace to You, A Gift from God, Your Father!

2007-04-11T07:27:00.000-07:00

Greetings!
May you walk by faith and not by sight!

Romans 6:23 says; "for the wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through JESUS CHRIST, our LORD"

We can not buy this gift We can not pay enough penance. We can not suffer enough for it. We can not give enough, and we can not do enough to earn this gift. It is unmerited, undeserved, and there is absolutely nothing we can do to obtain this free gift......but to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and savior of all mankind (whosoever will believe on Him), to know that he died for our sins, he paid the penalty, once for all, the perfect and final sacrifice! To know that He was raised from the dead, and became the victor over sin and the grave for us; to know the Holy One is understanding!

Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that, "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that NOT of yourselves, it is the GIFT of GOD, not of works lest any man should boast" You may walk a million miles barefoot, you may climb a million mountains, you may fast until you are a wisp of flesh, but it will do you no good! You may pay alms or gifts to the poor until you have not a penny, and these are good, but they will not bring salvation, forgiveness, or righteousness.

We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. None is righteous. We have disobeyed the God of the universe, the creator of all things. The only way to have a relationship with Him is through Jesus. Jesus paid our sin debt once and for all. In John 14:6 we read that Jesus said, "I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, no man cometh unto the Father, but by ME" There is no saint, no prophet, no ritual that will get you through to the Father....only through Christ Jesus will the Father receive you or your petitions! Only through Him will you ever be saved and receive eternal life!

There is ONE mediator between man and God: I Timothy 2:5 says, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the one Christ Jesus."

There is one Father, therefore Jesus said in Matthew 23:9, "And call no man your Father upon this earth, for one is your Father, which is in heaven."

Jesus, Himself says that HE stands at the door and knocks, there is no other who can do this! Revelation 3:20 tells us; "behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in and sup with him, and he with Me."

Jesus has this free gift of salvation, eternal life, and we just need to answer His call and receive the gift! We are accountable for our salvation. The Bible says that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the Father (Phillipians 2:10-12)Wouldn't you rather bow to Him now, than at judgement day..unsaved!?

Work out your OWN salvation with fear and trembling! Why would you allow someone else to tell you about your own salvation...something that is so critical, so eternal? Why would you not want to know the truth for yourself? II Timothy 2:15 tells you to study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the WORD of TRUTH! (Remember; JESUS is the WORD and JESUS is the TRUTH!) The Word is living and dynamic. Study it for yourself! Hunger and thirst for it!

I do not bow or pray before icons or idols! God says that we are to have no other Gods, and that we are not to make an image or an idol to pray before (or to). in Exodus 20:4-5 we read, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or likeness....thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them..." We, as humans can also set up idols in our hearts and minds, we must not allow this to happen, either. Christ will help us guard our hearts and minds. (Phillipians 4:6-7)

Isaiah tells us that God has said that anyone who makes a graven image (or icon) shall be ashamed and it is vanity. Read Isaiah chapter 44!

Isaiah also tells us that He was wounded for our transgressions and He was bruised for our iniquity.( Isaiah ch. 53) Jesus is the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world. He did this for me! What more could be added to what He did? He said on the cross, "it is finished!" He was the perfect, sinless sacrifice. His work on the cross completed the atonement, satisfied the wrath of a Holy and Righteous God, He bought us with His life, He paid the debt...we can pay no more!

When we confess our sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord, and when we repent (meaning a complete surrender and turning from sin), and when we ask Him to be Lord of our life, when we walk in newness of life with Christ as our strength and the Holy Spirit as our guide and counselor, when we are baptised into Him and are raised in Him, we are a new creature.

Let us live as new creatures. Let us "be ye Holy, for I am Holy".
I Corinthians 3:17-18 says, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy, for the temple of God is Holy, which temple you are"

It is my prayer that anyone reading this may hunger for "the Bread of Heaven" and may thirst for "The Living Water" The book of John says that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was GOD, and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1-14).

Jesus IS the Word, He IS the BREAD of LIFE. He IS the Living Water. If we consume His WORD, if we desire to know HIM, He will reveal Himself to us (Jeremiah 33:3; "call unto Me, and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not")

Life is so short and our time on earth is but a wisp, a fleeting moment, and we are gone....we can not put off so great a thing as our salvation! We live and breathe and have our being in Him!

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. (I Thessalonians 5:16-17

The Fishermens Line

If You Could See Me Now by TRUTH

2007-03-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

If You Could See Me Now by TRUTH

Knowledge and Wisdom

2007-01-11T12:03:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I felt the strong urge to lie face down, prostrate, before the Lord, to pray.

I had been feeling that there was something God wanted to show me. All my life, I have been an avid reader, and one who digs deeply into every thing in which I have an interest. I cross-reference and cross-reference until I'm nearly cross-eyed and confused as to where my study began and what am I doing now....how did I ever get into this new subject!?

As I lay there praying that day, I felt as if God wanted me to go to Proverbs...read it all carefully and then go to James and read it with equal care. I thought to myself: "Proverbs and James?" What do they have to do with each other? (aside from the fact that ALL the Word of God is connected!)

As I read Proverbs (which I had previously studied at least a dozen times or more), I began to underline many verses, then I began to see a pattern in what I was underlining. I thought, "ok, here are a lot of little encouraging tid-bits I can share with Lora and Jim about raisng children"
Little did I know that God was leading me into some 'tid-bits' for myself!

I read more and underlined furiously (my KJV is completely covered in markings in Proverbs, now!!). I read all of Proverbs and moved on to James. As I began to underline things in James, I saw the same pattern as I was being led to understand in Proverbs. Then I read in my Bible (which has an 'outstanding facts' section) that James is considered, by many, to be "The Proverbs of the New Testament" !!! Something I didn't know when I was 'called' to read them together!

The common thread that God had revealed to me is that "discretion shall preserve thee; understanding shall keep thee"

Now, I have always worked in the health profession; confidentiality and discretion are one of the trademarks of a good nurse! I have always honored those qualities and abided by them to the fullest. But that is not what I needed to know.

God was telling me that I needed to watch what I say to my daughter and son-in-law, in regards to raising their children (my very precious grandsons). I learned that just because you have knowledge, just because you love very deeply, just because you feel strongly, maybe even just because you may be right, love does not give one the right to say whatever you feel you want someone else to know. It does not give one the right to be another's conscience or act as another's Holy Spirit or convictor. Now, of course, we know these things, but to put them into practise is what God wanted me to do!

I learned that the law of love is greater than the law of liberty. Although I may have the knowledge and the liberty to say what ever I think may be helpful or worthy, or even instructional, and although I may love one so deeply that I feel I simply must tell them what I know, I do not have the right under the law of liberty because the law of love is greater. This law does not permit me to say whatever I want (although with the best of intentions!).

In my case, God was telling me that I should use discretion in my knowledge and use wisdom in watching what I say. He was, in effect telling me to trust HIM to be the teacher.

I also realized that in James, when he spoke of bridling one's tongue; it does not always mean saying something negative or bad; it can also mean that even with good intentions we can say too much, or the wrong things, or make another feel 'judged' or wrong. There is an old saying: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Now what brought me to all this awareness and revelation of my need to learn this instruction? Love, of course! Deep abiding love!

The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. I want to know Him more!!! I want to listen to His every Word...for whoso findeth Him findeth life.

My 'outstanding facts' section tells me that the personification of wisdom is Christ.

WHEN wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee. (Pr. 2: 10-11).

We know that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Pr. 9:10).

These three: wisdom, knowledge and discretion are a blessing
when working together!

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. I Th. 5:16-17

The Fishermens Line

My GRACE is Sufficient!

2006-11-16T06:48:00.000-08:00

As I sit here beginning to write my Blog, I am in the active process of listening to 99.7 Family Life Radio. How amazing that the two programs I have been listening to this morning are about the very subject I have decided to write about today!

The first was Chuck Swindoll in raising children and the difficulties we encounter and the huge responsibilities. The second (which is still in progress is the story of a Korean Street Child, as she tells her story of being put out in the street as an infant, still believing that her mother loves her, but did what she had to do. The child, now a grown Christian woman, in ministry, tells of being thrown into a building with another little girl, younger than she. She tells of the hatred she felt at being used as a human bait for rats. She tells of being abused by men over and over. She told of a man who finally showed some real affection and she spat on him, at nine years old, she was dead to emotion except for hatred. She was adopted by a Christian couple and began to know God and the love of Christ and began to heal....what a blessing to have a mother and father who can Train up a child in the way he should go!

That leads me into my subject for today. Proverbs 22:6 is an all time favorite verse for most Christian parents. I have that scripture dedicated in a brick at the Melbourne Beach Library for my three grandsons; Ryan, Ian, and Zane.

As I think deeply and intently about the verse, I see so many ways it can be understood. ( I LOVE the living, dynamic, changing, revealing, yet firm ways God makes His every Word come alive!)

Train: the definition of train means to impart knowledge, to instruct by precept and example, to give experience. As we train a tender plant as in a Bonsai tree, so shall it be bent. As we nurture and gently shape and mold it, as we turn it toward the sun (SON), it will turn in that direction. We can not force it, we must be gentle and consistent...if we force it, it will break. This is proven Biblically by the following scripture:

Colossians 3:21 " fathers, (and mothers) provoke not your children to wrath, lest they be discouraged" Some translations say: "Do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."

Know that your child is wonderfully made by God and trust God that He will be His protector and guide. Know that His grace is sufficient for you and for your child if you leave that child in the Father's hands!

When we train up a child in the way he should go it means more than meets the eye! Train is to teach, to admonish, to gently guide, to discipline with loving admonishment (to express disapproval by gentle and ernest, solicitous manner, to advise and encourage...not DIS-courage).

As we train our child, we know that the fruit we will see may (most likely) not be immediate, nor even may it be in the next few years, but know that if you lovingly, gently, teach and admonish by example of your own life, that child will turn to the one who is loving, forgiving, and provides for him in his times of trouble. If he knows that God is his counselor, his sustenance, his rock of salvation, a very present help, his Lord and savior, he will turn to Him! It is God's promise. It is truth. It is written. God is faithful. The KEY is training by example, with love, gentleness, and loving admonishment.

When the Bible says; "spare the rod, and spoil the child...." I shudder to think of the ways in which this has been made perverse! We knew of a man back in Sheridan, who made a rod about three feet long and about 1/2 " thick to use on his children..they were ages from one year to about three!

In Biblical times, the rod was a gentle probe to guide or nudge in a certain direction. The rod and staff were to comfort not to beat or harm! We need to nudge our children in the right direction. If we see them having a desire we should listen with intention, ask them to pray with us about it and ask God to direct and counsel and then let God's grace be sufficient. In doing this, we teach them to seek God for all decisions and to trust in God's will not our own.

David was a man "after Gods own heart" yet David killed a man, caused another to die at the front lines of battle, committed adultery, killed a giant, killed a lion, and danced naked in the streets. The heart of David was toward the Lord, always. His intent was to please God, yet he failed many times to be a perfect example....the consequences of his behavior was to have those same sins repeated by his own sons, and to lose the son of Bathsheba. He paid the price of sin. God is no respector of persons, if we sin, we pay in this life, as well as being judged or rewarded on judgement day.

We teach our children that there are consequences in this life for our sins and for the choices that we make. When we include God in our decisions, I am a firm believer that He will work things together for good for those that love Him and keep His commandments!

We shall become as little children...."whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and whosoever shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me. But whoso shall offend (cause one of these to stumble!) one of these who believe in me, it would be better for him if a millstone were hanged around his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

The raising of a precious child is a very serious business. It is the greatest responsibility one can ever carry. It absolutely must be done with fervent prayer and with a bridled tongue. It must be carried out with the I Corinthians Love scriptures:

Love suffereth LONG! Love is KIND! Love envieth not! Love vaunteth not ITSELF! Love is not puffed up! Love doth not behave itself UNSEEMLY!
Love seeketh not her own! Love is not easily PROVOKED! Love thinketh no EVIL! Love rejoices not in unrighteousness. Love rejoices in TRUTH!
Love bears all things! Love Believes all things! Love HOPES all things! Love ENDURES all things! Love NEVER FAILS!

To the children: Children OBEY your parents in the LORD, for this is right. Honor thy father and mother. This is a commandment with promise, that it may go well with you! (Eph.6:1-2).

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.....let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, clamor, and evil speaking or railing (shouting, arguing) be put away from you! Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving, EVEN as GOD forgives you! (Eph. 29-32).

Fathers, provoke NOT your children to wrath! but bring them up in the LOVING nurture of the Lord. (Eph. 6:1)

As Thanksgiving is upon us, I am so thankful to my God and my Savior for my children! I thank my God for my grandchildren and my son-in-law and for my husband. God is so good to us. I have no words to thank Him for His awesome grace, mercy, love, patience, forgiveness, and His constant and wonderful presence. I am so glad, in light of my lack of ability to thank Him enough, that His GRACE is truly sufficient for me!

To my family: I thank you for being a part of my life, for the blessing you have been to me these past years, I thank my God for all of you. I thank my God for my brothers and sisters around the world, for the body of the Living Church of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer! With every blessing, I give HIM praise!

Thanksgiving be Unto our Father!
The Fishermens Line
Pray Without Ceasing!

The Eyes of Man Are Never Satisfied!

2006-10-30T07:21:00.000-08:00

King Solomon said in Ecclesiastes that the eye is not satisfied with seeing. (Ec.1:8) How true this statement is and always has been and will be true!

Greetings!

I make the above statement about Solomon's wise saying because it fits so perfectly with my reading Genesis this past week (for the 15th time at least...probably more than that even). This time, although I always love to read Gods word, I love the history of creation...and history in general, but I wanted to read it with INTENTION! I asked God to show me more, I want to know Him more! I want to know His Word for me!

As I read through Genesis and read intentionally, with the strong desire to get what HE wanted me to get out of it, I was overwhelmed with how truly AWESOME He is! What a plan for us! Even though our ancestors, Adam and Eve, were placed in a paradise garden, with un-told beauty, and with the job of taking are of this paradise and the animals subject to them, even though they walked and talked with their Creator God, they were not satisfied!

Why can we not be satisfied with what God has given us? Why do we always want to listen to the adversary? Why do we allow ourselves to be deceived by a tempter and liar, and the father of lies?

This is why! When the serpent (Satan) held the beautiful fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil up before Eve...he knew the eyes of man are never satisfied...he was the progenitor of pride and the desire to be above God! The very thing that caused his fall was about to cause the fall of humankind!! He knew that Eve would easily be tempted to be more 'like God', to know more, to not surely 'die'!

See, isn't the fruit alluring? Isn't it good to look at? Isn't it satisfying?? You will not die, you will be like God and know good and evil! You will be lifted up! Your station in life will be better! You will be stronger...smarter, you will be better than others, you will be successful, you will be in control! Isn't there the idea that you will be on a higher plane? You can control your life, if you just have this one thing!

Then the moment you listen to this tempter and give in to his enticements, you know you have been deceived! You know God is near and you have disobeyed HIM!

The instant, you give in to Satan and his lies and deceptions, you KNOW he has won and you have broken Gods very heart! Thank God for His omniscience! His omnipresence! His omnipotence!

Once Adam and Eve fell, we could never be innocent again! We all became immoral! How wonderful that God had a plan from the beginning! When He gave us free-will, He had a plan to redeem us from our sin.

Isn't it so amazing that God told us about it all in the beginning. All we have to do is believe in Him and the salvation plan He has given to us!

God shows us all along that when THe Word said, "let there be light,(Jesus is that true light!) and Christ was and is that light! The Word is the creative work of God and the Word is Christ. God shows us the three person work in the first chapter of Genesis: The Word, The Spirit of God moving upon the face of the waters. The Word speaks, God moves,through the Holy Spirit of God.

Every Word that He has spoken has come true and will come true. He implemented the entire plan into action from the beginning! He planned one wife...monogamy. He planned a job for us...tending a perfect garden. He planned a moral and intellectual nature. If He had not given us free-will, there would have been no opportunity to do what is right on our own...we may have been better to be robots...but thankfully, we serve a God who wants us to CHOOSE Him out of faith and love!

He tells us later in His Word to "be ye holy, for I am holy" He would not say this to us if it were not possible! He only wants us to know that if we choose Him once He calls us, we are to follow His lead, His example, His life, His work, to die daily to ourself and literally tell Satan, "get thee behind me!"

We must continually be aware that the adversary, the devil,walketh about, as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour! (I Peter 5:8).

As Proverbs 6:11 says "a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool to his folly (repeats)". Once we have chosen to follow Jesus, we must simply tell Satan, "get thee behind!" and that "you are a liar and a deceiver, and the father of lies!"

Think of the men of God who believed His promise of a city whose builder and maker is God! We are not looking for an earthly city, we are looking for the promised land that is eternal, with the Lord, and our walk through this earth is filled with trials, temptations, troubles, testing, and adversities, but when we ask God, our Creator and our Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, He will lead us through all of this by the power of the Holy Spirit! He will be right there with us, going before us and being strong when we are weak!

Right now, I know, beyond a doubt, that God has called us to a Prayer Journey...we are preparing for Rain! God called us during our trip from Bangkok to Hong Kong...February 8th. We don't know how, when, etc. but we do know that it is a call that we must answer. Please pray for us!

I am not sure, but even though we also have a desire to go overseas for awhile again, the Prayer Journey seems to be a priority on the agenda! We need a LOT of prayer for guidance in the details. We are trusting that God will reveal as He sees necessary!

We also are positive that He wants us right where we are right now! As in the cloud by day and the fire by night...we will move when God moves! Until then, we serve Him right where we are and are content in that.

The house is coming along. It has a roof (not a finished roof yet), and we are hoping yet again for good weather to hold until the garage is poured and built and roofed! Allan is working so hard! He is so intent upon this task. Ryan, Ian, and Zane help him when they can. They are such precious little guys...what a blessing God has given us in our family!!

Michael plans to come up here for Thanksgiving, so please pray for him, traveling and for a wonderful time here with the family. Pray for blessings on all of us during this time of Thanksgiving and fellowship with God and each other! I BELIEVE in the power of prayer, so please pray for this. We miss Michael so much and I pray for good weather and safety for his journey!

I hope that all of you have a very special Thanksgiving and BE THANKFUL "Let your moderation be known to all men, be careful for nothing (be not anxious!),but in everything by prayer and supplication, with THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds in CHRIST JESUS."

Finally, bretheren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE." (Phllipians 4:5-8

"Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have..." He.13:5

May God bless you and may Kingdom work be done by His Spirit through you.

The Fishermens Line

Is.30:21, Eph. 4:30

I Can Only Imagine!

2006-10-12T13:08:00.000-07:00

I can only imagine and what an awesome glimpse of His Power, His Presence, His Knowledge!

This past Wednesday, as I took my walk along the river walk in Portland I walked and prayed for the people of Portland and its surrounding villages and communities.

When I awakened and once again saw the heavy mist and fog hanging low over the winding river, the leaves of gold, red, yellows, browns, and scarlet, russets, and all sorts of breathtaking colors, I looked at the Colorado Blue Spruce, Scotch Pines, Holly, Juniper, and many other evergreens, and the still remaining greens of the Maples, Oaks, Walnuts, Elms, and Sycamore trees along the path, I felt an overwhelming awe at the landscape that our Father designed for us to enjoy!

I took a deep breath and just felt so joyful at the fragrances of fall mingled with the lingering fragrances of summer. God knew exactly what He was doing when He created this beauty for His children!

That thought gave rise to another regarding the spoken WORD of God. What power! To speak and a thing comes into existence! To breathe and a life comes into being! What power has our God! What power IS our God!

Of course, I then thought about the way only HE can design such intricasies as to be able to co-ordinate every detail of the life of every person that He ever created. What power He has, what intelligence! What love! What presence!

How can I even put these thoughts into words! To have a personal relationship with the God of creation. The One who can just speak things into being. The One who knows all...who is omniscient. The One who even created knowledge! The One who is all wisdom! The One who designed the living cells of all creation!

To know the One who hung the stars, the moon, the sun, the planets, the One who holds the ocean in its place, the One who gave the law and fulfilled the law. The One who gave us grace through His love for us, His special creation...mankind! The One we can call Father, through faith in Jesus Christ. What an awesome wonder, to be His children and to be able to say, "Abba, Father!"

I truly stand in awe of Him! I was reading today in my "Every day with Jesus" newsletter, about knowing Him, not just His word, but knowing His attributes, about what would someone feel who sent a love letter to us and cared so deeply for us, but all we cared about was the words of the letter, but not the PERSON behind the letter...the One who actually wrote the letter. I started to think about that, and it made such perfect sense! I want to know my Father and my Lord Jesus, I want to know Him better! I want to really know the Person of Christ! I want to see Him as He is. I want to experience the kind of love He gave to us. I want to experience the kind of forgiveness that He has for us! The forgiveness that would forgive a thief on the cross beside me, that had just mocked me, and then asked me to forgive him, and I would do that!

I really want to be the kind of person that can look at the beggar on the street and love him or her for the fact that they are God's creation...and not pass them by, but reach out to offer a helping hand! I want to be a doer and not just a hearer! I want to give, not just pray for them, but to offer them a hand of love and hope.

I don't want to just pray that God will bring people to Himself, I want to speak the words of hope to them, and to show them the way to salvation through Christ.

I suppose these walks are really being used by my Father to open my eyes to things that I need to see in myself. Please pray for me that I will be and do what God wants me to do, that I will walk "worthy" of the calling. Pray for me that my prayers will be for fruit for my Father's Kingdom!

I have been working in the outpatient surgery department, and I am really enjoying it. I think that, maybe this is where God wants me right now. I have been working in Med-Surg until a couple weeks ago, and once I started doing orientation in outpatient, I found I really like it, and I don't have to do any lifting and that is a big relief! God always comes through, and he knows my needs!

Allan is working on getting ready for the second story of the split-entry house. He just got the backfill in yesterday, even during the wet, muddy day (it had rained for two days!).

We awakned to the first snowfall this morning! This is the 12th of October and we had about three or four inches...it was so beautiful! The snow didn't stick, though...what a pity!

Lora said she felt really guilty because she wanted it to stay, yet she knows that for Grandpa's sake and building the house we don't need snow or rain! We are praying that the weather doesn't get too cold, windy, wet, etc. If it does, we may need to hold off on building till the spring thaw!

I just ordered tickets for the musical called the "Magic of Christmas", which will be performing in Grand Rapids in November. I am so looking forward to it! It will be mine and Lora's birthday gift to each other. We have birthdays together (mine Nov. 18th and Lora's the 19th), The musical is Christian and Christmas music with several musical talents and the Ohio/Michigan Orchestra.

We had the most wonderful blessing yesterday! We had a visit from Karlene and John Johnson and the family! What a great visit. We all talked non-stop, but our visit was all too short. We made plans to get together again soon,though, and we are looking forward to it! Ryan was here,too,so he got to see them and he was very happy about that! Katie is such a beautiful little baby and this is our first time meeting her (except by photographs, of course).

Karlene looked just beautiful. God has so wonderfully blessed that family. John looked great, too, and all the boys had grown since we last saw them in Florida before we went to China.

Karlene pointed out a very interesting thought. She mentioned that just five years ago she sat in our living room in Melbourne Beach, and now she sat in our living room in Michigan! God is truly awesome! That's just what I meant about He plans all the tiny little details of our lives and works His marvelous blessings into our days!!! He designs our life just as He designed us in the womb, if we only allow Him to work His wondrous works in us, He plans so much better that we can even think to ask!

As I look out the window, the snow is still gently falling. The flakes are smaller now, and still not sticking to the ground. It's about 45 dergees out there, but I'm all snuggly inside with a cup of spice tea. Allan just got home a few minutes ago, and is reading a magazine...waiting patiently for me to stop writing and give him attention. I think I will make tea for him and we'll do our devotional time together.

May the God of peace be with you and may Kingdom work be done!

In His Love for His Glory!

Is. 30:21
Eph. 4:30

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. (I John 3:1)

Sue and Allan
The Fishermen

They That Wait Upon the Lord!

2006-10-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

And she said unto them, " Call me not Naomi, call me Mara, for the Lord has dealt very bitterly with me." Ruth 1:20

As I read this scripture in the book of Ruth, I think about how we are so quick to decide what our Sovereign God, our Father, our Creator, our Rock, our Protector, our Savior has in His perfect plan for us!

How can we be so quick to decide that He has left us, or dealt very bitterly with us?! Why can we not always do as Isaiah says, "but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

If only Naomi could have known and trusted the God she served...if only she could have known her future and her contribution through the faithfulness of Ruth...the child born to her daughter-in-law would be the the bloodline of the Christ, the savior of the world! If she had known the plans God had for her, how blessed she would have been! How very differently she would have viewed things that seemed at the time to be a bitter inheritance!

If we only trust the promises of our Father God, through His Living Word! If only we can step out of the boat in complete faith...if only we can truly know, not just believe, not just think, but truly KNOW that our God is faithful and that He will prosper us and not harm us, that HE will work things together for good for those that love Him and keep his commands and are called to His purpose!

We can know it. He has told us in His Word and we can trust Him completely. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption...we are His kinsmen and He is our kinsman Redeemer! He has given us His word and every jot, every title is written in His Word for a purpose! Nothing is accidental. Every word, every line has a meaning.

God works in every little detail of our lives to accomplish His purpose! All we have to do is invite Him to lead, guide, and intervene in our daily life! He will not force us to be part of His blessings, but He has made it clear in each word spoken through His instructions, divinely given and preserved for us, that He wants us to have the promises and blessings given to those who love Him!

When God called Ruth, a Moabite, to be part of the Davidic line, He was showing His love for the Gentiles of the world, both then and the future. His plans have always been to include the nations of the world for Salvation! What a blessing for us to have God's written words, living and dynamic, to follow, to study, and to compare with secular history, and to know that He has shown us His plans and His will for our present life and for our future in eternity with Him!

Naomi didn't have that wonderful book. She didn't have the Holy Spirit to listen to and to guide her along. Her knowledge of God was passed on to her through family stories and through the books of the Law of "Moses". Think of the joy she must have known when she passed into eternity to be with God, and to learn, perhaps for the first time, that she was the grandmother of Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David!

My whole point to this is that when we have been dealt with very bitterly, and when we suffer persecutions, and sorrow, and pain, that we remember that our Father is still in control and that we will someday know why these things happen...but in the meantime, let us "occupy" till He comes( Luke 19:13). Let us trust in Him completely. Let us Let Go and Let God do His magnificent planning in our daily life and then let us see what wonderful things can come from that seed of faith that is un-wavering!

Please pray for me as I speak at the WMU meeting this week (Oct. 5th). Pray that God will give me words to say that will glorify His name.

I am also hoping to start a prayer-walking team here in Portland. Pray for that, also. Prayer-walking is fairly new around here, so I'm hoping to encourage the women of this church to step out in faith and pray for the many things we need to take before our Father.

Please pray for Lora as she home-schools Ryan, Ian, and Zane. Please continue to pray for Michael and his desire to serve God. Pray for Allan as he builds our house....for safety and for his health. Pray for me as I work at the hospital, that I will be salt and light to those I work with that are lost.

I just partnered with my favorite radio station...you can hear it online at Family Life Radio! www.familyliferadio.org. On Thursday morning they are calling to get my testimony about missions, so pray for me, that God will use my words to reach someone!

The weather is so beautiful! We have had a lot of rain and fog. Monday morning on my way to work at 0630, you could not see one foot in front of you! It was also thundering and lightening and raining!

I took a nice morning walk today (off work today), and I took a dozen pictures of the misty foggy morning, the river walk, the beautiful Colorado Blue Spruce trees, the Scotch Pines, and the beautiful leaves turning their lovely reds, yellows, golds, and browns, mixed with the evergreens. The fog hung low over the river and what a glorious sight the Lord has given us to enjoy in this earth!!! If only I could have captured the smells: fresh rain, misty air, a spicey fragrance from the trees, and the flowers that are still lingering...roses and petunias, morning glories and marigolds...how wonderful!

Please pray for Ryan, my twelve year old grandson (just turned twelve) and is struggling between childhood and wanting to grow up all too quickly! That age is so difficult for both the child and the parents, who often are torn between wanting to please yet direct their child. Please pray that Lora and Jim will seek their counsel from God and His word during these years of growing and learning and changing....physically and emotionally. Ian and Zane will be ten years old on Friday the 6th. Ten is not quite so difficult because they still are being little boys, and mom and dad have been there with Ryan! It's always the one who is the one paving the road in childhood that we are always so worried about. Pray for wisdom for all our pre-teens and for the desire to serve and love God with all their heart, mind, and strength!

We had a very successful Missions Conference. It was a blessing to everyone. We had missionaries to Peru, Romania, and Turkey (in addition to Allan and I representing E.A.)

Hopefully, tomorrow, we will go see the new movie "Facing the Giants". It is the Christian movie that had received so much attention for having a PG rating because it was about having faith in God!! Please try to see it when it comes to your area!
Oh, well, God will make this work together for good, too! Publicity!

Please write to us and let us know how we can pray for you! We always pray for you and remember you each day. It would be nice to know how we can pray more effectively with specifics that we can take before our Father on your behalf.

I send my love to all, as does Allan.

"laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life (the life which is life indeed). I Timothy 6:19 Grace be with thee!

Another Blog-Fog!!

2006-09-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

I went back to check my blog post and noticed that sereval paragraphs had been cut off. Now, I seem to be having problems with the posting....it won't stop publishing a blank page! help!!! It has never done this before.

This is a test blog.

To God Be the Glory!

2006-09-10T06:43:00.000-07:00

I Thessalonians 5:16-17
Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.

Greetings once again to our faithful prayer warriors, brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ. May the blessings of the Lord be with you as you walk in His love and His perfect will.

Yesterday as I listened to my new favorite Christian radio station Family Life Radio, I was deeply involved in many people calling in to tell what prayer has done in their life. Then a young pastor came on to give his view of how we, in America, and the world have become so complacent in our prayer life.

This young man is from a SBC church in, or around Kansas City. He was talking about how we often (usually) are so quick to ask God for everything we need (or think we need), or want, (think we want), and we don't make our personal relationship with Him intentional.

We know that we pray to God the Father, through Jesus the Son and through the Holy Spirit, yet the world is filled with those who believe just as fervently in PRAYER, yet to other 'gods'. When we pray to God in fellowship, worship, for intercession, for requests, for praise, etc., if we EXPECT those prayers to be answered, we MUST be in His will. We can not be living a life of sin, of complacency, of living the ways of the world, and still expect God to hear and answer our prayers!

If our prayers go un-answered and it seems that we are forgotten...could it be that we have allowed the deceiver to slip in and convince us that the wrong we are doing is "right, or okay"? In I Peter, we see that we should "be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may DEVOUR".

He can not take your soul, but he CAN take your joy, your walk with your Lord God can be destroyed and he can cause you to fall over and over! He can cause your prayers to go un-heard or un-answered.

It is common for us to search our selves and see if we have un-confessed sin in our life before we take communion.....just so, we should examine our walk with Him and daily offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him. Christ tells us to "be ye holy, for I am holy". He loved us so much, still in our sin, that He gave Himself for us.

Too often we CONFUSE legalism with OBEDIENCE. Too often we CONFUSE works with OBEDIENCE. Too often we CONFUSE law with OBEDIENCE. Jesus says, "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments."

In James we read that "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask AMISS, that ye consume it on your lusts (worldy desires)". What if we are asking for others, and not for ourselves?

We still need to be IN Him and "be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22).

We should ask ourselves in all that we do, think, and feel, and in our attitudes: Is this grieving the Holy Spirit? "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30). If we truly have Jesus as Lord of our life then we must obey His every command.

" be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds, (thoughts) through Christ Jesus." (Eph.4:6-7)

May we grow daily in His love and may we love and forgive as he loves and forgives us....completely!

I love you all and will be praying for my precious family every day! Please pray for us without ceasing and rejoice evermore with us.

In His Name for His Glory!
Is.30:21, Eph.4:30
Sue and Allan
The Fishermens Line

Blog-Fog

2006-09-08T21:16:00.000-07:00
Ok, I'm not a blog pro...but you would think I could at least get the web address correct for those interested enough to come online to read the letter!

Well, by now you have it and you are reading this and all confusion (Blog-Fog) is cleared up! Praise the Lord!

As I sit here at this very late hour, rain falling gently on the roof, and softly against the windows....I should be sleeping soundly in my new warm comfy bed, but after work today and all that is going on, I found myself a "tad" hyper.

I'll try to begin back in July (like I can remember yesterday anymore!). Well, after our return from Florida in July we played the bounce back and forth game....what should we do now (with the next year or so, of our lives!)?

We decided to try to build a little home (buying is too expensive here for what you get), and Allan feels that he can do it just the way he did 20-30 years ago (pray for him, please!!). After weeks of getting prices together and looking for affordable property, we finally started the foundation about a week ago.

Maybe by Christmas (Lord willing), we can at least be close enough to move in. I'll be happy if it's far enough so that he can work inside and not out in 20 degree weather!

I was hired at the Ionia Memorial Hospital to work per diem. I'm in orientation and can stay there until I feel comfortable with the new paper work, equipment, etc.....I think that'll be a couple of months or five! Once I go off orientation, there is no guarantee of being called in to work ( from what I see, though, it is very likely that I will have as many shifts as I can handle).

Since I had been away from the hospital for about three years, I was a bit nervous, but it all came back (with much prayer, of course!). God is sooooo good, all the time, isn't He?

Ian (one of my twin grandsons) and I went prayer-walking around Portland. We walked for about half a day and had lunch together. He kept me in 'stitches' all through lunch. He could really be a comedian!! We had a wonderful time laughing, talking, and praying for the city.

I think most of you have heard about our friends in China who are being kept under scrutiny by the PSB. The prayer-walking and Bible study team we formed, The Joshua Team, are having to be very careful. One of my friends had told us that during a Bible study that Mr. W.W. (Chinese) had prepared some English lessons to pass out to the team "In case we need them". Please pray for them as often as you can, because the persecution and consequences for being a Christan there can be imprisonment, beating, death, children, family members disappearing without a trace, and loss of jobs, education opportunities cut off,etc.. People just disappear and often no one even questions it for fear of their own life.

We know of a situation during our time there, of a co-laborer and his wife, who had reached many in their city; only to have over one hundred people arrested and a little girl ( about three) taken from her parents. No one knew where they took her or anything about what happened to any of them. The couple who had been working there had their visa cancelled and could not go back into the country.

These are some of the things I could not tell you while we were there because the mail and phones are monitored and you just can't risk it. We know that God has it all, don't we?!

We usually get about fifty e-mails every day or two. We try to answer them as much as possible. If we are away from the computer (which is often), we may have 70 or 80 to sift through. Hopefully, if you write (and I hope you do!), I will answer as soon as possible, because your letters are truly important to both of us. We love hearing the news...all the way from Turkey, Taiwan, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, New Mexico, Virginia, Tenneessee, South America, and even Michigan! Thank You All!!!!!!!

When God promises a hundred-fold blessing...He delivers! We are so blessed to have so many brothers and sisters around the globe, and that God has allowed us to be part of their ministry in a personal way.

Speaking of ministry....I always loved WCIF radio in Melbourne and I knew I would miss it terribly, and I do, but God blesses us with such good gifts every day...I found 99.7 Family Life Radio, and what a station it is! I love it so much...and you know that I have six Christian stations locked in on my car radio!! Six at least. I am so thrilled with that. Even though I am not sure "Michigan is my cup of tea", there are many good things about it.

I have a lot of quiet time this next couple of days.....Allan, Jim, Ryan, Ian, and Zane, all went camping (and they happened to choose a week that will be very, very cold). I think in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan tonight it will be in the low fifties! I hope they went prepared!

I mentioned my new soft bed early in my letter....well, we left Lora and Jim's "cottage" and rented a small (very) house until we get the house finished. Well, for three nights I slept on the floor....we had an air mattress, but I kept rolling off onto the floor, so the second night I just stayed there. They delivered the bed after three days and when the alarm went off, I just did not want to get up at five a.m.! (but I did, of course).

Allan got us hooked up with DSL today before they went camping/bear hunting. See, now I can do my newsletter at home without going over to Lora's to use her service............so much better!

Sunday night at the First Baptist Church in Portland, we were blessed with the opportunity of opening the month-long missons conference with our presentation of our trip to East Asia. It was a real blessing to all of us. We are hoping to be able to get some short-term trips planned for some small groups...we don't know when or where yet, so please pray for us about that.

We will continue to keep you all in or prayers. Stay strong IN Him. Be strong. Be of good courage, the Lord is with you! We love you and pray for you.

Ok, now, it's 0130 and I am finally ready to try to sleep. The thunder is rolling out there and I love to lie in bed and listen to it and talk with my Father and worship Him in the early morning hours.

In His Love for His Glory!
sue and allan

Fishermen go to Florida!!!

2006-07-20T11:56:00.000-07:00
Greetings!
Today, I decided I'd best get back to blogging and update my blogspot.
We have, once again, done so much traveling that it's very difficult to keep up with all the exciting places and happenings.

Allan and I recently made the journey to the IMB debriefing in Richmond, Va. We met many wonderful brothers and sisters there. They had all just returned, as we had, from the field. Many from Europe, Asia, S. America, Java, Indonesia, East Asia, Romania, and many other places.

It reminded me of Acts...when they were gathered together and had all things common. I so much love the being part of the real living book of Acts in todays crazy mixed up world! Sometimes, I feel as if I could just look up into the clouds and see our Messiah returning...at any moment it could happen!

During our time at debriefing we were happy to learn that we were "being normal" to feel lost, displaced, lost in the cracks, and out of sorts! It was to be expected and we were so glad to be in the company of others in the same 'boat'. The trip was very well worth the time spent. We also got free round trip tickets for two, to anywhere in the U.S. for allowing someone to take our seats on an overbooked flight.

We plan on using those to see Michael off when he is commissioned in Feb./March, 2007, Lord willing! Please pray for him as he finishes up his paperwork for the Board and for conference in October of this year.

He is very excited about the prospects of going into the field and serving overseas. He is not sure yet where that will be...so pray for him for wisdom and guidance in that, as well. We are excited for him and of course, a lot anxious about it because of the the terrorism and fighting going on in the Middle East right now.

On July 6th, we headed out for another trip to Florida to see Michael for his birthday (on the 12th) and to visit our family at F.B.I. in Indialantic.

This was one of the most wonderful, blessed weeks of my life. Each day we were able to spend time with Michael (we all probably gained about 10-12 pounds, though). We ate and bowled, ate, went to church, ate, visited with friends, ate more, shopped and ate again! It was great!

Thank you, to Linda and Howard for the use of your lovey Harbor House. You are so blessed, and you do just what God wants you to do, and that is to bless others with those blessings. I pray that someday, we can bless you in a very special way. I know that you are so kind to tell us that we do bless you, and we appreciate that so much, but maybe sometime we can return your so many kindnesses. If you ever want to come to Michigan, you have a home with us!

We had a very special time on our trips. We used that time to do a lot of praying for our country, our church, our family, friends, and for Israel, Lebanon, North Korea, China, South Korea, and our servicemen and their families. We prayed for our borders and for our leaders.

We have had a burden for our country since our return from E. A., and we hope that you will all join us in this effort to pray for peace and for the return of the only ONE who can give us all real peace!

As the wheels turned to take us back north, I must say, I really missed Michael more and more with each mile apart from him. It was such a treasured time there with him. As we sang along with the cd music, and as songs came on that I know Michael loves (like Victory in Jesus), I felt very homesick. I know that he is in the best possible hands, though!

Jean and Suzanne had a birthday party for Michael (surprise!!!), and it went very well. Jean's grandsons made the cake with Suzanne, and wow! What a cake....it was really good...and it was beautiful....lots of chocolate.

We all had a great time, and Jean and her neighbor (party crasher) kept us all laughing! Michael was indeed surprised.

We spent the night in Bardstown, Ky.....one of my favorite places. It is very beautiful there, the weather perfect, and the air so fresh and clean. I love Ky.....(very beautiful in western Ky., Brian!). Bardstown is near Lexington, where all the thoroughbreds are raised (and bred!).

We took our time both going and returning, so it was a good trip. We got a lot of pictures and some movies of the birthday party.

Well, now that we are back in Michigan, I suppose we really must settle down a bit and start getting into the routine of life here in the north. We are not sure exactly what that means yet, but we need to find out and get busy doing whatever it is. Pray for us!!!

We truly enjoyed your company! We miss all of you, and we are praying for you every day. Remember Joshua 1:9.
We are sorry that we were unable to see Jim J. this trip, but maybe next time??

Write us when you can: fishermensline@pobox.com or adw@pobox.com.
We love you!
Is.30:21, Eph.4:30

Sue and Allan

fishermensline

2006-01-15T17:20:00.000-08:00
Good morning!

Well, this is my first posting on http:// fishermensline.blogspot.com. I hope you all will enjoy the many new discussions that will be posted! I also hope that you will make comments that can help my blogspot be a wonderful source of information and good healty feedback!
Today is January 16th and It's a good day! We are planning a trip to Thailand in just a few days. Michael will be going back to America, and how we will miss him! He has been such a joy and an inspiration. God is so good, isn't He!!?

I'll keep this short so that you can know that this is really just a test blog posting. Please let me know what you think!

In His Name for His Glory!
Is. 30:21, Eph. 4:30
SW fishermens line

fishermensline

Beautiful Home-For Sale?

STOP ABUSE and COVER-UPS in 'church'

Youth Abuse in 'church'

Run The Race!

Crucifixion and Resurrection

Another Poem for Passover/Easterby-Sue C. weaver

Fishing in Lansing!

Another Blog Fog?

Review: 2009!

AGM R & R: A Little Time to Rest and Worship!!

Another Poem for Passover/Easter

Pictures of Michael, etc!

Dagmara's Baptism: April 5, 2009 Krakow, Poland

A New Year Has Begun!

Merry Christmas!

Call Unto Me!

Trip to Budapest!

Rest and Renewal in the Polish Countryside

Pictures From The Fishermensline in Krakow, Poland

Rejoice Evermore!

How Long Has It Been?

Music to HIS Ears!

Pictures During Prayer-Walking. Praying for Poland!

Pictures taken in Krakow and Wieliczka

Fishermensline-March 2008

Why God Chose Israel

Pictures of Recent Months!

Prayer for Israel to Know Jeshua As the Messiah!

Fishermensline December- Krakow!

Dec. Fishermens Line

Fishers of Men

How Times Have Changed!

Grace to You, A Gift from God, Your Father!

If You Could See Me Now by TRUTH

Knowledge and Wisdom

My GRACE is Sufficient!

The Eyes of Man Are Never Satisfied!

I Can Only Imagine!

They That Wait Upon the Lord!

Another Blog-Fog!!

To God Be the Glory!

Blog-Fog

Fishermen go to Florida!!!

fishermensline

Another Poem for Passover/Easter by-Sue C. weaver