Prayer

If anything is of value to you, cover it in prayer.
If anything is a hindrance to you, cover it in prayer.
If anything brings fear, pain, or suffering to your life, cover it in prayer.
If anything is worth being thankful for, cover it in prayer.
If anything is too big for you to conquer, cover it in prayer.
If anything seems impossible for you, cover it in prayer.
If anything draws your heart, passion, and love, cover it in prayer.
If anything.....

....cover it in prayer.

Phone Calls Home

I don't know about you, but I love hearing the stories of what God is doing in the lives of our soldiers who are fighting around the world. Recently, my Minister of Instrumental Worship (orchestra guy) shared the following story with me. This is not one of those passed around the Internet stories with faulty origins. Jeremy, is actually the son of a co-worker of my orchestra director's father. Does that make sense? Okay. Just read the story below. It's pretty cool. It makes me think of battles in biblical times.

I haven't updated you recently on my son Jeremy, who is serving with
the 82nd Airborne Army Division in Afghanistan. He has been involved
in many firefights with the Taliban as he and his buddies are high in
the mountains near the Pakistan border and are attempting to stem the
flow of Taliban recruits from Pakistan into Afghanistan.

He called me 10 days ago and said that he thought he was going to die
in a firefight the day before. His 5 man patrol met up with another 5
man US patrol to make camp for the evening. After establishing a
perimeter defense around their camp, they eventually ate dinner and
settled in for the night.

All at once, enemy small arm fire and rocket propelled grenades began
pouring into their camp from the hills surrounding them. Jeremy is
the Fire Control guy and he dove into the Humvee to get to his radios
to call in some artillery fire on the enemy. Unfortunately, neither
radio worked, either because of technical problems or being destroyed
by small arms fire. With a night vision camera, they scanned the hills
around them and counted 75 enemy raining fire upon them. 75 against
10 is a tall order, even for the 82nd Airborne.

Jeremy said everyone started firing back with everything they had.
The battle went on for over 3 hours. Jeremy said he manned a machine
gun on one of the Humvees and fired until he eventually ran out of
ammunition. They could see the Taliban moving toward the camp to
attempt to overrun the small group of men. Jeremy said they all threw
all the hand grenades that they had with them, then began firing their
last weapons available, their rifles. Eventually, Jeremy's supply of
ammunition dwindled from 12 clips to just 1. He had 30 rounds left
and decided that he would save the last one for himself because he
chose not to be captured and tortured by the Taliban. He said he knew
that he only had a few scant moments left and he was praying to God
for all that he was worth as he carefully shot his last ammo.

Then, miraculously, all firing ceased....both from the Taliban and our
guys. As the soldiers waited, the sun began to peak over the tops of
the mountains as a new day was beginning. Jeremy said that,
afterwards, they came to the conclusion that the Taliban must have
thought the U.S. soldiers would call in an air strike on them once
daylight appeared. Who knows what really happened... I believe God
answered prayer and supplied a way out for our guys that goes beyond
human explanation.

Eventually, Jeremy and his guys walked through the hills where they
had returned fire and found the bodies of 30 Taliban troops. I was
fighting tears as I asked Jeremy how many brave American troops lost
their lives that night. He started crying and said, "Not one, Dad.
No one was killed, no one was even injured! All of our equipment was
destroyed by enemy fire, but not one person was injured!" Praise the
Lord! Jeremy said, "Please ask everyone back home to continue praying
for us! It is, by far, the best protection we have!"

Folks, no one is THAT bad of a shot! This is proof to me that angels
were protecting our troops that evening, just as millions of Americans
are praying! Please, please, keep it up.... Our heroes are depending
on you to be Prayer Warriors! Thank you so much for your
faithfulness!

Pretty cool, huh? Now, get off of your computer and go pray for our troops!

Lisa's Song

Anne Johnston-Brown, just one of many of our awesome Immanuel Choir members, recently wrote a song called We'll Be Alright, dedicated to Lisa Lyons . Lisa, our Outreach Productions Coordinator here on our Worship Staff, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and is facing chemo, beginning this Friday, and possible surgery later this year. We're trusting God with this one, and we know He loves Lisa far more than any of us possibly could. Trust His hand!

Anne has also given this song another title that I like even better, Lisa's Song. Check out the music video she made for it below. We love 'ya, Lisa!

In the Words of the Prophet M.C. Hammer

M.C. HAMMER had a song that I often quote just because it seems to fit in every situation. "You Gotta Pray Just to Make It Today" was a hit song many years ago, but that plays out to be true in our lives on a daily basis. Prayer has to be a central focus of our walk with Christ. Not just prayer for ourselves, but also prayer for others.

I have been blessed to have LISA LYONS on my staff as our Outreach Production Coordinator. Lisa is responsible for everything from sermon skits to the three major musical productions we do each year. She ALWAYS does an incredible job yet shifts the glory off herself onto those around her. She is the ultimate staff member. Lisa recently was diagnosed with breast cancer and desperately needs our prayer. To talk with her about it, she is very upbeat and positive. Almost as if she doesn't want others to worry. (She's still protecting all of us) But, she will soon begin chemo for 18 weeks and will need us to lift her up.

Please be in prayer for her and for her family. We're all in this together. Whether you live in Egypt or in Highland, as believers we are a family. When one celebrates, we all celebrate. When one hurts, we all hurt. Let's join together as the body of Christ and pray for Him to do an amazing work in the life of Lisa during this time.

FREEDOM

Two good friends of mine, JR Lee and Todd Lollis, have answered God's call to plant a church in Acworth, GA. I love these guys and know that God is going to use them to accomplish some incredible things for His glory. They are stepping out on faith, looking to Him to supply their salaries, homes, meeting place for the church, and a people to reach and pastor.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Be in prayer for Crosspointe - my former church, and the church that JR and Todd are leaving to follow God's will for their ministries. Pray that God will supply them with a Pastor and staff, and that He will continue to bless them in the meantime. Be in prayer for FREEDOM CHURCH, for their staff, and for the city of Acworth, GA. Pray for God to do an incredible work, the likes of which only He can accomplish. Pray for JR and Todd. Pray that they dream big, that they be equipped with the resources that match their passion, and that their families transition well. Check out their blogs, JR Lee and Todd Lollis. Also, check out the church website, freedomlive.net.

JR and Todd: I love you guys, and I love your families. Having served on staff with each of you, I can truly say that I love your passion and vision. As you take Acworth for the Kingdom, I will be cheering you on. Go get 'em!

Wanted: Prayer

Some of you may know of my Pastor's situation with his wife, and others may not. So, allow me to catch all of us up. Our Pastor's Wife, Sue Zinn, has been battling bone cancer for several months now. She has had some good days, but most have been filled with pain. Through it all, I have watched my Pastor proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ with a passion rarely seen. Even in the midst of the biggest storm of their lives, they have chosen to use it as an opportunity to give God glory. A few minutes before our first morning worship service, he approached me to say that he was going home. He needed to be with Sue. Just hearing that, I knew that things could not be good. It would take something very serious to take him out of the pulpit. By the end of the worship service we had received word that Sue could leave us at any moment.

As of tonight's worship service, Sue was still holding on. The family is at her bedside and soaking up these last moments the best they can. Please lift this family up in prayer. God is still on the throne, and they are grieving as those who HAVE HOPE! Yet, grieving just the same. Thank you for your prayers. She is only 51 years old. Yet, God's ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. He has a perfect will, and at this moment, it appears as though that involves calling Sue home. Nonetheless, we will praise Him and glorify Him for His goodness. His blessings are immeasurable, and His mercies are new every morning.