Past Dynamite News

I was doing some work on my blog sites today and came across this post from November 4, 2007. Some of you may recall that during this time Jerry and I went to Lake Havasu City, AZ. to plant a church, and from the very beginning God honored us with powerful services and dynamic growth. I consider that out of all the decades of our ministry, the three and a half years we were there were some of the most blessed of all our ministry. Much of our work was done with alcohol and drug challenged people.

I weep at this moment as I think of those dear people and their little children. Hard? It was the hardest church work we ever did. Rewarding? Yes, absolutely the most rewarding of all.

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CHRIST ALIVE CHURCH Lake Havasu City, Arizona November 4, 2007

“We had rented 40 extra chairs, and on Saturday, Michael met with Jerry and me to set up for the Sunday morning service. When we started putting the chairs out, though, it looked like so many, that Michael’s faith and mine faltered a bit, and we decided to leave about a dozen of them stacked in the hall.

But we had invited lots of people. I had mailed letters to every person who has ever visited our church, we had made and distributed flyers, we had an article in the local paper, Jerry had made dozens of phone calls and personal contacts and Michael had invited everyone of the “Goatheads,” a yuppy, motorcycle group based here in Lake Havasu. Earlier in the week, one of them had called Mike to ask, “Is it okay if we ride our bikes to church?”

“Of course. Not a problem at all,” he had told them.

Jerry and I arrived at the church around 8:30 and there were already a few people there. But it was around 8:45 that we heard the roar of the bikes and soon the parking lot was inundated with motor cycles, so that finally there was hardly room to park.

They came pouring in, and quickly I told Brandon, “Set up the rest of the chairs.” When we had registered and counted, we found that 85 people were at Christ Alive today! Recall that we have only been here 8 months. We were ecstatic.

Brother Pence of Prescott, AZ. has a most remarkable testimony of a healing from cancer. The doctors had given him two weeks to live. He had 22 tumors in his lungs from a cancer that had metastasized from his kidneys.

He had lost 60 pounds, had made all his funeral arrangements even to picking out his casket…Here, he is showing the packet from the mortuary where he had made the arrangements. But God had different plans and has completely healed him! All the tumors have gone, his racking cough is cured, and recently, his doctors declared him completely cancer free. His testimony is incredible.

Ernie, who is pictured here is suffering from pancreatic cancer, and the doctors have not given him a good prognosis. He came to Christ Alive today believing God for a miracle in his own life.

I was touched by the generous response of the audience, and their involvement with worship that to many of them was unfamiliar. They were extremely receptive to the Word of God as it was preached, and to an invitation to join in our Pentecostal worship. All over the room, both men and women were openly crying.

At the conclusion of the very appropriate sermon, Brother Pence invited everyone to the front who needed special prayer. Ernie was the first to leave his seat and head to the pulpit. Here you see him being prayed over.

Please pray for our work here. These people are precious–some of them know God in a measure–others have a very limited knowledge of Him. Jerry and I are desperate to be able to point them to Jesus, the only Saviour.

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So, here we are many years later, retired now, someone else the pastor in Lake Havasu City. Both Jerry and I count it the greatest of joys that God called us to do a work for Him among those very dear people.

A Thousand Pieces Anniversary

At the recent camp meeting in Santa Maria, (which by the way was off the charts in excellence,) a lady came to me wanting an autograph of my book on backsliding, The Bitter Bite of Beelzebub, which she had purchased from the Pentecostal Publishing House booth at the camp meeting.

“Do you have more books,” she asked. I told her I have written three other ones, but was not sure if they were available at the camp meeting display area. Others have asked, so I’m taking this opportunity to give you a link to my site where you may order any of my books.

It so happens that today, August 6, 2013, is the 19th anniversary of the event that led to the writing of my first book, A Thousand Pieces. That book is in its 4th printing and has proven to be a faith-builder of rare effect. A quick summary is that my husband Jerry was struck by a truck driven by a drunk driver as he stood by our disabled car. He was knocked 86 feet through the air and landed in the street, dead. A lady revived him, but he had almost unbelievable injuries including a broken neck, bleeding into his brain stem, compressed spinal cord, bruised kidneys, bruised heart, punctured lung, broken hip . . .and more. He was paralyzed, only able to move his toes and a couple of fingers. He spent five months in the hospital, but through the mercy and healing power of God, coupled with excellent medical care–if you saw him today, you would never know anything had happened to him. Many people refer to him as a walking miracle.

It’s all in the book, A Thousand Pieces, whose opening lines are:

Screaming brakes slashed the afternoon air. Tortured wheels whined at high pitch digging into the hot pavement as the truck careened crazily, strewing debris in its path.

Closing lines:

Life beats us all. Mysterious and vaporous in creation, a new being spurts forth, its plump flesh rosy, gushing with Adam’s juice. The quick intake of breath and the sharp wail are but the front edge of a grim continuum. Invisible yet, the deadly claws have revealed their tooth, for insidious and relentless, they work their scheme of death and decay. For now, though, Jerry and I had escaped. Just ahead of the whirlwind, we had danced a frantic cotillion, swinging always toward the passage of life and avoiding that of death and its greed.

That it was done with grace, let it be said.

We are forever grateful.

Thankful

Yesterday, as with a wooden spoon I was pulling a very hot food from a heavy pan, the spoon broke in half and over three of my fingers spread and stuck the hot substance, causing 2nd degree burns on my hand. (A nurse was there and diagnosed the degree of burn.) I’m beginning this New Year by being thankful that I have experienced virtually no pain.

Immediately after the accident, I thrust my hand under running cold water, and when the food had dissolved and was no longer sticking to my hand I dried it and a friend sprayed my hand with a cooling, antiseptic medicine. A couple hours later she spread on a healing cream and applied a large gauze bandage. I felt no pain.

Today I have large blisters over the three fingers that were burned, but I have no pain. I’m thankful.

I give credit to God for sparing me the agony that usually accompanies such a burn…Neat way to start a New Year, a New Decade. And for all my friends who read here, I wish you a delightful, cheery, healthy, safe, prosperous 2010.

Gulf Coast Ladies Retreat–Afterglow

It was a Sunday evening service never to be forgotten. The retreat had ended early Saturday afternoon, Jerry had preached on Sunday morning, we had eaten lunch, taken naps all around, and now were ready for the culminating service of our trip to Houston, Texas.

Before the preaching began, the highlight of the service for me had been the choir. I don’t know why I was so shocked as they began to sing, for absolutely everything at this magnificent church had been done in an outstanding, superior way. When the choir began singing, though, I was stunned at its beauty. Not only was it obviously done in a spirit of godly worship and adoration, but it was finely and elegantly executed. The second song was my favorite. Although I do not know the name of the song, I had heard it before, and it was simply glorious. At the conclusion of this second song, Pastor Jackson asked them to sing another–which they did.

As is so with most people, music moves me profoundly, so that when I see and listen to a group of talented people who are offering their best in worship to God, I am deeply touched. I was keenly moved by the passionate music of this church.

Jerry preached then, using as the thrust of his message the story of his remarkable recovery from a tragic accident in 1994. A powerful move of God swept the auditorium, and before the doors were closed that night, four people had received the Holy Ghost. Amazingly, included in that number was Louise Neuerburg, who is 96 years old! Her daughter and other relatives and friends were gathered round her as she was born into the kingdom of God. It surely was a memorable night. None of the people at the church had ever seen anyone that old receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

Louise Neuerburg, originally uploaded by Shirley Buxton.

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Prayer and healings were taking place in every part of the auditorium. Yesterday, this comment was posted on one of my columns.

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“Sis Buxton,

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We were so blessed to hear you at our Gulf Coast Ladies Retreat. We were also able to feed our faith and starve our doubts as Bro Buxton preached to us Sunday morning and evening. I am thrilled to share the following testimony.Our 13 year old son, Zach, broke the humerus in his left arm near the ball and socket joint while playing football last Saturday. In the emergency room, they would not set the bone. A splint was placed on Zach’s arm and we were told he would need to see the Orthopedic Surgeon on Monday. It was discussed with us that Zach may need surgery due to the severity and location of the break.

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On Sunday morning, Zach went up for prayer. After service, Bro Buxton encouraged us to talk to Zach and help to build his faith expecting God for a miracle Sunday evening. We had a wonderful worship service and you could feel an expectancy in the atmosphere. Bro Buxton shared his testimony and preached a faith-building message. Zach, along with others, was worshiping around the altar. Bro Buxton came down from the platform stating that he felt the anointing of God. “This boy has a broken bone that needs to be mended.” He then laid hands on Zach to pray for him. Zach enjoyed such a blessing from God.
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On the other side of the church, a ninety-six year old lady received the Holy Ghost along with two young people. What a miracle! God is awesome.

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Today, we followed the instructions from the emergency room and Zach saw the Orthopedic Surgeon. I brought with us the x-rays from Saturday and asked the doctor to please take new x-rays. After the nurse took those x-rays, she came back for Zach stating that the doctor needed for her to take another x-ray. Afterward, the doctor came into the room and tried to explain. We were told, “The angulation of the break has actually improved from the x-rays taken on Saturday. Zach will not need surgery and pins. In fact he won’t need a cast on that area. His arm is aligned like it needs to be!” Isn’t God awesome! Dr. Franklin said that he would like to put some traction on the arm and fitted a cast on the forearm and over the elbow with a sling around the neck. He would also like to see Zach in 3 weeks! We could hardly contain ourselves!

As we ate dinner tonight Zach shared something else with us. “I don’t know if this has anything to do with it, but when Bro Buxton was preaching last night I felt something move in my arm!” The telephones have been ringing as we give God the glory!”

Sis Michelle Wyant

I lack the words to describe to you the depth of feelings I have for the wonderful weekend we spent in Highlands, Texas. Forever, will I be grateful for these days of refresing fellowship, and for the opportunity to worship with a remarkable group of God’s people.

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My devotional blog is here.

 

Extremely Urgent Prayer Request for Bethani Roam

Tonight, I bring a very special need to you. Please, all of you join me in prayer for Bethani Roam who is desperately in need of a touch of God. In my Thanksgiving post I told a little of her story. She is 24 years old, the mother of an 8 month old baby and is the wife of a minister. Last month her liver suddenly and completely shut down, she was flown to U C San Francisco and had a liver transplant. She has been doing extremely well, until a few days ago, when she became unable to keep either food or medication down. Last night she was readmitted to the hospital.

There is only one God, and He is not of a certain denomination. I’m asking every friend and acquaintance I have on this blog to earnestly pray–however you find it comfortable to do so–for Bethani Roam.Thank you.

EDIT from Bethani’s blog

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Hospital Report

Bethani has been resting more and more. She was dehydrated and one of her lungs is two-thirds filled with fluid, but she had no fever. The doctors at this point think the lung fluid will clear by itself. They can drain it if it is needed (God can drain it!) The ultrasound and x-ray on her liver was fine. Fluid is flowing through her liver. Last night she was able to keep her medications in her system. They are trying different meds for the nausea. The doctors want her to eat anything at this point. The more calories the better.

She has been very determined to get better. Even when she was nauseated she would still get up and walk. The doctors very strongly told her she needs to eat more to get more strength.

Bro Bishop is at home with Wyatt. Sis Bishop and Brian are at the hospital with Bethani. Thank you for your prayer for all of them. God’s family is awesome! The support and prayer they are getting is beyond words.   ____________________________________________________________________

My devotional blog is here.

Record Breaking Sunday!

Christ Alive Congregation, originally uploaded by Shirley Buxton.

Eighty-five was the count! Eight months ago, Jerry and I came to Lake Havasu to start a new church. Two people beside Jerry and me were in the first service. Today, we had 85!

There are more pictures and details of the service under My Church Activities.

Jerry and I with part of the group after the worship service.

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My devotional blog is here.

 

 

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