Easter at Christ Alive!

By Saturday night before Easter we had prepared everything, including setting up the chairs so that now on Sunday morning 99 chairs were lined up in our little auditorium, with a few spares in the nursery. Our goal was 100, but some of us thought we might have more.

At 9:00 after a short meeting with the staff, we knelt and prayed.

Ninety-one (91) was our final count! Although it was a bit under our goal of one hundred we were happy. What truly made us happy was that we could strongly feel the presence of God, and at the conclusion of the preaching by Andrew, the altar area was filled…and then once again, a new one was born into the kingdom. Nicole (no picture. Hope to get one soon) received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost. That made three of our CIP students who during a two- week period had received the Holy Ghost! We were ecstatic.

How Tough the Love?

“Why?”

“Because they’re your kids.”

After the guest speaker had finished, Michael went around the circle asking each of the students; “What did you hear from him?” and it was at this point that a lively, profitable discussion had ensued. The guest was Darin Craig, a local businessman whose only son has gone through a serious bout of drug addiction, and who had agreed to address our Christian Intervention groups as he spoke of a child’s addiction as seen through the parent’s eyes. The sessions were riveting.

It was the “tough love” issue that aroused lengthy and conflicting views. “Tough love” was not universally endorsed by this group and when it became so obvious, Mike asked for a show of hands. Interesting. About half of the group thought that a child could do nothing that should cause a parent to refuse to support that child. No matter what he does, he should always be accepted back in the parents’ home.

“Why?” Mike asked.

“Because they’re your children,” was the pointed, adamant answer of one young man.

I disagree, as do all the leaders of our group, our thought being there comes a time when parents must be tough, and say, “This behavior is not going on in this house.”After repeated tries, broken promises, defiance, law-breaking, jail time, drugs in the house, drunkenness in the living room–finally, a parent has the right (even obligation) to say, “No more.” Does that mean that parents no longer love the child? Of course not. A normal parent will love his child to the grave–no matter the behavior.

What say you? Are you a “tough love” proponent, or do you agree with many in our Christian Intervention program who say no matter what a child does, the parent should always take him in again, and again?

And So Went the 2nd Anniversary Services

It is Sunday evening, the dedication festivities are over, all the company is gone, and Jerry and I are alone here in the motor home. If all was not perfect, it was so close as to never be remembered otherwise.

…except that for the opening service on Friday evening we had carpet in only half the building…then at 5:00 on Saturday morning, Ken, the carpet layer, let himself in the building, and by 5 minutes before 10:00, had the job finished. It is beautiful.

More beautiful was the quality of every service, the visitation of God, our wonderful visitors–family, friends and new people from Lake Havasu. Guest singers blessed us, Brother Keyes’ preaching was outstanding as usual, Brother Branks’ testimony was striking, Rebecca baked and brought over from her home in California 300 cookies, and she and Rosalinda served them after church. It was a marvelous time.

The best part? Five people received the Holy Ghost!

Our son Andrew opened the service with a time of worship.

Denae Abbott joined her parents in uplifting music. At 15, Denae just released her first CD. She wrote 6 of the songs on the project.

Charley Branks spent most of his adult life in prison, and finally had been sentenced to over 200 years in the penitentiary. During his time of incarceration, he began seeking God; God revealed His word to Brother Branks and filled him with the Holy Ghost. He was baptized in Jesus name, then miraculously received a full parole. He is now a successful businessman, who has been serving God for more than 30 years–a unique, dynamic testimony.

Randy Keyes ministered in a powerful, anointed way.

Dale received the Holy Ghost!

Andrea received the Holy Ghost!

Dustin received the Holy Ghost!

George received the Holy Ghost!

Numerous ministers honored us by attending all or part of our three-day dedication/anniversary services. Among those were Gary Hogan, superintendent of the Arizona district, Robert Allen, secretary of the Arizona District, and Rick Faulkner, regional director of Spirit of Freedom. With his wife and three small sons, our grandson Joel drove all the way from Carson City, Nevada, a 10-hour drive, to be with us on Friday night. Early Saturday morning, they drove back for their own services on Sunday.

To everyone who contributed in any way, we say thank you. It was a tremendous time of worship, ministry and of fellowship.

On the Move with Christ Alive!

Last Sunday we held church services in our new facilities; a beautiful building, whose existence neither Jerry or I had known of merely a week before. Not only did we have church there, but after the morning worship, we hosted a free Thanksgiving dinner, serving 50 pounds of ham and 75 pounds of turkey, with all the trimmings of course.

It came down this way: As many of you know, for the past year and a half, Jerry and I have worked toward establishing a church in Lake Havasu, AZ. A tremendous blessing has been the use of a large room within the Tiger Trenching building, which Mike’s friend Darin Craig supplied to us at no charge of any kind. We have paid no rent, nor any money toward the utilities we have used. We offered repeatedly, of course, but Mr. Craig always said, “No, there will be no charge.”

We outgrew that blessing, though, and must find a new place: suddenly, and quickly, it all moved into place. On Monday Jerry and I met with a broker who showed us various properties, several of which we thought would work. On Tuesday we looked again, and as we walked from a building on Kiowa, I strolled over to the empty place next door and peered through the windows. “What about this one?” I asked. There was no lock box, nor sale or lease postings on the windows.

“I don’t have the information concerning this place, but I can learn who the owner is through the tax rolls. ”

“Look, there’s a sign posted out by the street,” I said.

Sure enough, there was a large sign erected, the broker took down the information, made a phone call, and in minutes here came someone to open the building. It was perfect, but I knew instinctively it was much more expensive than what we could afford, by any stretch.

We had seen the reception area, noted the four office/classrooms, the minuscule kitchen, the fine bathrooms, and now as we rounded the corner that led into the warehouse section that would be converted into our sanctuary, I exclaimed, “Oh, no!”

“What’s wrong?” the lady who had brought the key asked, as she looked with concern at me.

“It’s perfect,” I responded, “but I’m sure we cannot afford it.”

But it was to be, and on Thursday evening, Jerry signed the lease. By Sunday morning, everything was in place for our first service. It was unbelievable how rapidly and smoothly the transition had been. On Saturday night, Jerry and I looked like this.

By Sunday morning, every detail had been arranged, including a computer generated sign which we stuck onto the door at our old location: We’ve Moved! Jerry was there at 9:00 to meet those who hadn’t heard of the move, led them to the new place, and about 9:15, the first words were spoken in our new Christ Alive! facility.

The meal afterwards was scrumptious. Tell you more later.