Exloring Life Eternal

The kingdom of God is like the woman who lost her rings.

There was a lady who lost 3 rings that each had substantial carat weight on the high-end.

She had taken off her diamond rings while cooking & put them in a paper towel. Her husband was helpful & dutifully helped clean up the kitchen & promptly took out the trash. ... She later discovered that she was missing the rings & he immediately realized his careless mistake. ... But not before the mega trash truck had hauled their trash away!

They called the trash company & found the truck. They pulled the full garbage truck off to a vacant parking lot & emptied the whole contents of trash. Then, they hand-sorted through the whole pile of
-TRASH- Looking for a paper towel with the 3 priceless gold & diamond
rings. At last, the husband recognized their family trash & the precious crumpled up paper towel. Then, he was again able to present the 3 rings to his beloved wife of many years.

And when she had the rings, the neighbors heard, indeed the whole region heard for she called the news announcers station to tell them of the treasure lost & recovered.

And so it is with us today.

Are you looking for treasure?
Feel like you are digging through trash?
Does it stink at times?
Keep digging.

Does your brother seem to be digging through a pile of rubbish?
Remind him of the Prize & dig in with him.

Perhaps sometimes the folks digging on the rubbish heaps of Cairo wonder & dream when / if they will find some rusted old box that holds someone's treasure within.

At times Bible portions have been in thrown into trash heaps & were later used for the Glory of our Lord & the salvation of souls. Some of these were ancient manuscripts, some of these were mass produced Bibles. But the Word of God did not return void.

Be blessed today,
Mert H.
"We have this treasure in earthen vessels."

Today I asked some folks where I work a simple question:

What is the simplest thing you have ever learned?

Some responses:
How to breathe.
How to walk.
Language.
How to love.
How to eat.

For me, the most important/simplest thing I have learned was:
The answer to this question:

"Whose ya Daddy?"

To know God as our Father is such a joy.

He gives us breath.
Fills us with love.
Enables to speak.
Feeds us with His Word.
& Has shown us how to walk.

Just a line or two to let you hear from us. We both are well and hope this finds you the same. My grandmother used to begin all of her letters to us with those sentences, to us, her family. To you, who are part of our Christian family, I write today.

Mr. came in late last week intent on sharing an event with me. He prefaced it with, “You have to tell them, they have to KNOW what their prayers are doing, how they are opening up hearts, SO here goes:

By Mr. (by Mrs.):
Friday I visited the offices of the water dept. I normally work closely with them on any number of projects. Through the head of this government dept we have made entry to many villages. She has always been very interested in what we have to share from the word when we visit and has even helped with interpreting and expounding on some trips. I wanted to discuss an upcoming project in the Wakhan with her and see about other things that may be needed. I took along a couple of calendars that I printed up for distribution from our office. Each includes a picture of some project or person that we know in common, along with the first three verses of I Cor. 13 in a national langauge. [Which is our motto for our office here.] We did talk about projects but most of the time was spent on explaining what I thought about the meaning of the verses. Several quotes to note from this include:

1. “I like to talk about spiritual things with you. Can we do this more?”
[Would you pray that we do have many opportunities to talk about spiritual things with her?]

2. “Every cabinet in my department needs one of these calendars because of the words on them.”

3. "Is it ok if I give one to the Governor and maybe other department heads?"
[Also pray that others will be struck to the heart by these verses.]

So I’m busy printing Before I left she shared this story.

“When God handed out land the Pamiri people were lazy and didn’t come for theirs until He had handed out everything. So He said that the only land left was part of His place and not really designed for humans. So that is how they got here and anyone who is allowed to come here and stay is special to God.”

[Mrs. writes:
To be honest, other than a general request for prayer some time ago for government leaders here, I don’t think I have requested specific prayer for this lady. We have been really drawn to her, I like her personally, and it has been always an enjoyable experience to work with her, partly as she has a great sense of humor. Last summer we were going to a village to begin a canal project, Mr. read from the Word to explain who we are and what we are about. She translated into their dialect and added some comments of her own, that they should PAY ATTENTION to this, God’s Word. On the way to the village we had been talking about times past and what it was like when we were all kids, us in the USA and them here.. It seems that the world around was watching Tarzan movies back in the early ‘60s. She said many boys here broke ankles and legs trying to swing and drop like Tarzan did. Anyway, on our way down the mountain we had to stop for an oncoming truck, as the road was so narrow. A good opportunity for leg stretching, I walked up the road and she walked down. We were a good bit away from one another, standing on the edge of the rough dirt road, the stillness of the sharp walled valley surrounding us, I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted HELLOOOO! She looked back up at me and grinned, and thumped her fists to her chest and the Tarzan AAeAAeAA rang through the air!

I’m going to name her Deborah, she is not a judge but she does have position in the government, as head of our region’s water dept. and now a seat in the Senate as well. Deborah is married, and is in her early 50’s. Please pray that we do have many opportunites with Deborah, her husband, and their family as well.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

If I speak in the tongues of humans and angels but have no love, I have become a reverberating gong or a clashing cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can understand all secrets and every form of knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains but have no love, I am nothing. Even if I give away all that I have and surrender my body so that I may boast but have no love, I get nothing out of it.

Blessings,

From South-Central Asia

In the sunset of his sojourn
he came, bearing gifts,
wearied with unworthiness
and all the myriad "ifs."

"If I had known what I know now
would all have been the same?
If I had loved as love demands
could I have brought such pain?

"If I could return to former times
and cross the bygone years
could I kiss away the sordid sins
and wipe the wasted tears?"

"What's done is done," she says,
the stars left from her eyes.
And I still care! Yet, though I try,
my heart is filled with "Whys?"

"Why did you hurt me once again
after we were old?
I tried so many, many times
and thought the tale was told.

"Why was it simply not enough
to crush my youthful heart,
to rip my children from the nest
and tear us all apart?

"Why did it need to be that lust
could drive you to such sin?
Why make me fight that awful thing?
How could I hope to win?"

He sags into a tattered chair,
the gifts slip to the floor.
"I'm so ashamed," he weeps.
"But it¹s not true any more."

The addiction is done, the craving controlled,
God knows I've tried.
I'd like to spend our remaining years
close by your side.

"Is it too late? Can it never be?
Has the story been too long?
Have the struggles of the recent years
been altogether wrong?"

And I get a picture of Another Love,
rejected yet utterly spent -
a Man out of God still giving His all
for a world not innocent.

I have taken His love and squandered His gifts
and spit on His beautiful scars.
Now I come near in the evening of life
and ask Him to lower the bars.

She says,
"Let's try again! What's there to lose?"
And a twinkle returns to her eyes.
"None else would do it," he says,
and he bows his old head and cries.

Yet Another has done and continues to do
all this and much, much more.
He forgives it all and puts it away
and opens wide the door.

"But," He says, "it's not the same. You are different now
and I want your life to show
that you are changed, that you are Mine!
I want them all to know!"

So man and God have tried to love
and necessity, in each case,
insists on and provides a
tremendous extension of grace!

- Bill Hawkins
February 12, 2006

Editted for confidentiality:

A.,

Just to let you know, wherever the good news is preached it is the love that you showed that is shared. Better a faithful $50 than a flippant $5,000,000.

<+>< + ><+>
ptap@srginc.org
North American Coordinator
Praying Through the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info

--- from the Arabian Peninsula --- Thu, 10 Nov 2005

Wow! PTL! Thanks, Mert. I will contact the folks who put forward that email to determine who it is and how best to make it possible for this dear sister to bless this family.

- D.

--- from the North American Coordinator ---

Dear D.,

Praise the Lord for moving in the hearts of His people. I believe
A. is connected somehow with [Ministry Name] in F. She helped translate
the PTAP materials into her tongue. Let me know how to direct her.

Your friend,
<+>< + ><+>
ptap@srginc.org
North American Coordinator
Praying Through the Arabian Peninsula
www.pray-ap.info

--- from a PTAP weekly news recipient --- Tue, 8 Nov 2005

A big thank you for your ministry!

For some time now I have been considering increasing my support to
pioneer missions; the Muslim world being close to my heart I want to
focus on that area.

Now you write about the key tentmaking family of 10 years having their
support so low that they may have to leave. I know my support alone will not keep them on their field but I want to check with you if there is a convenient way for me to start supporting them regularly.

I live in F., and international money transfers are rather costly so I do not see a point in sending what I have thought XX every month; maybe I could send a lump sum of XXX every six months? Starting December?
Or if there is a partner in Finland who could be the link?

Please let me know.

A.

An article on the importance of love:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/2000/006/3.29.html

I think the above news is particularly relevant about the importance of loving all peoples, in deed & word. Do not despise the day of small things.

Peace,
Mert

Following is a story that may be sweet & sentimental, as Jason A. suggested. But I think it accurately portrays God's call on all of our lives each day:

====
These lines were the saccharine portion:

-
When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. ... an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, ...
... "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world."
-

I would only recommend editing the story in these ways to give proper honor to the Lord:

+
When not resisted with by evil & rebellion, everything God does is executed with perfection. ... an call to return to our original design is given, ...
... "the boys from both teams welcomed a bit of real love and kindness into this world."
+
Mert H.
mertaka@everybody.org
====

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question.

...

"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?" The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child."

Then he told the following story: Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball.

Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?"

Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play.

The boy looked around for guidance and, getting none, he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning.. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth ! inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the outfield.

Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher took the ball and turned and threw the ball on a high arc to right field, far beyond the reach of the first baseman.

Everyone started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!"

Never in his life had Shay ever made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!"

By the time Shay rounded first base, the right fielder had the ball.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward second base as the runners ahead of him deliriously circled the bases toward home.

Shay reached second base, the opposing shortstop ran to him, turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third!"

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams were screaming, "Shay, run home!"

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.

"That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world."