Free Worms 2 Corinthians 1:20

Free Worms 2 Corinthians 1:20

A few weeks ago it rained and rained and rained in Eastern Oregon, where we live.

One day I noticed that there were worms all over the street in front of our house.

Another rainy day came and even though I was in my normal rush to get to work, I took a “flower smelling” time out. Dozens of worms were all over the street again, so I grabbed some gloves, a kitchen spatula, and bucket to cash in on a great deal; for a fisherman.

Only one other time in my life do I remember this same phenomena occurring. When I was about 14 some really rainy days came where my family lived in Nebraska. My Dad and my little brother walked for what seemed like hours scooping up the worms that had surfaced in the standing water around the barn yard.

Our life in Christ is like the free worms that surface only under special conditions.

If Christ be not risen then our faith is in vain. 1 Cor 15:14 The effective condition to our faith is that Christ has risen. Witness's on several sides have confirmed the fact of his resurrection. You can read the Jewish historian, Josephus's account if you only believe the papers and magazines. When researching what is going on in various countries I have read congressional reports that confirm what VOM or other biographies have stated.

In Hebrews 11 the scriptures declare that the heroes of faith did NOT receive the promise that has come to us.

We have the once for all atonement.¹ A final sacrifice has been made for our sins. We have a hope of a resurrection from the dead. Because Jesus has risen, we are assured of the same resurrection on the final day.

For many years have been paying high prices for worms at the convenience store. This last year the prices and a few other things grieved me more than ever. I would check the Styrofoam cups and find that many of the containers were 1/2 empty from thieves, or the essential contents was very poor quality.

My experience in turning over boards or digging somewhere out in the garden has not been very good either.

Here are a few secrets - mystery = truth unveiled about getting worms when its not raining cats and dogs. These are truths that I have known, but have not put into practice. In like manner we are so quick to forget all the good things that come from above.²

Water the yard really good in the late afternoon or evening.

As soon as its dark, walk around the yard with a flash light or a lantern. The worms should be there in the grass waiting for you.

If its day time and your needing to get going...here is what my father in law did;
Get out the battery charger or be brave enough to hook up some 110 wired to a metal stake.

Head out to the yard and give them worms a reason to come fishing with you!

( not recommended- only shared as science )

Are we plugged into the wall of 110 or 220; but not shining our light, not running a fan that can cool off a weary person?

The abundant life is peace, faith, joy and if I don’t don't have it, may be its because the worms are still laying there on the street or just going stale in the bucket that I now have them stored in.

Feeding them coffee grounds compost, newspaper, leaves will make 2 buckets by the time fishing gets going. We can, in the same way, cultivate the promises and provision from our heavenly Father.

Here are a few ways this can happen; Reading the word every day. Memorizing it. Together. Putting into practice one thing at a time, in my own life. Reviewing prophecies and seeing the fulfillments as the revelation of faithfulness and love of our God. Making prayer lists and seeing them answered.

There is fishing = missions some where in the world all the time. If its not perfect conditions now where you are, then tie flies, dig worms, and get ready.

What are the promises of God that he has spoken to you personally? If your not hearing any, or only remember a very few that were from a long time ago, then its time to pour 2 cups of tea and drink yours while the Lord has your time and attention. He has much more to say to us, and a lot more to share with us, if we will just listen.

There are fish to be caught. If your willing to be Jesus disciple it does NOT mean that you have to go on foreign missions, or fulfill the office of an evangelist. BUT he will make you a fisher of men.³ As you follow him, "there will always be people in your life that have room in their heart for more of Christ."⁴

Gathering worms is like getting a job offer. Until you fill out the application, get through the interview, get hired and show up for work; there is no paycheck. The worms are free, in God's economy. In order for us to enjoy the fish, the worm has to get on the hook and in the water.

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 1 Corinthians 1:20 NKV

May you find the worms in your yard and the fish that you enjoy catching and eating. G.W.

1By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all]. Hebrews 10:10

2Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

3 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19

4William Hawkins 2006

Thoughts On Missions

Thoughts On Missions Matthew 28:19-20

It's been almost a week since I just returned from a 10 day mission trip. Lots of Folks are asking how it went. The short answer is, " it went really, really well." Team members grew in faith, and I even matured some more. People that we served were uplifted, emotionally, spiritually, and with practical physical help. No radical conversions were seen, but I believe that God was glorified in most everything that happened. A few of the highlights will have to settle into me before I can write them in detail. The rest of this blog entry was written just before the trip.

In 2002 one of my sons presented me with a bi-lingual bible. a couple weeks ago I was cleaning out the office and finally threw the tattered torn book away. I usually try to transfer any notes I can from one bible to the new one, and review what God has spoken to me during the seasons that I have had that last copy. Not this time. For three days I had been cleaning my office and getting rid of any thing that could possibly go. This time there was not time to even take a look at the "best highlights." The words are holy, not the pages or the book. One of the quotes written in the pages did get saved. I tore it out just before I tossed the book along with a huge pile of papers in my cluttered office.

" Preaching the gospel is like attending a birth. With most of our 9 children, I have been just as exhausted as Marianne by the time the birthing process is over. Only the Holy Spirit can give birth to some one. Only the convicted person experiences the birth. We, as attendants, labor also, and experience the energy and exhilaration and exhaustion after."

In obedience to go, make disciples,baptize, and teaching others to obey Jesus, we find a promise. Jesus knew we would need his comfort and assurance when times of adverse circumstances tempt us to be doubting him. When we are facing persecution and suffering for doing the right things, Jesus proclaimed that he is with us.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. - Mat 28:19-20 NKJV

Learning to have the right priorities first is so important in our daily walk, and as we seek to serve others in the kingdom. Here is another note that I kept back from the "burn pile". John Piper once wrote,

"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. When this age is over, countless millions of the redeemed will fall on their faces before the throne of God, and missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever. Worship, therefore is the fuel and the goal of missions. Worship is the goal in missions. Because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white hot enjoyment of Gods glory. The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God."

Thirdly, I would like to quote from a devotional that had been a real help to me in learning how to serve. "My Utmost For His Highest" March 11th, Oswald Chambers, Acts 26:19

"If we lose the vision, we alone are responsible, and the way we lose the vision is by spiritual leakage. If we do not run our belief about God into practical issues, it is all up with the vision God has given. The only way to be obedient to the heavenly vision is to give our utmost for God's highest, and this can be done by continually and resolutely recalling the vision. The test is 60 seconds of every minute, and the sixty minutes of every hour, not our times of prayer and devotional meetings."

What is the vision that you have received? If you have not received a vision of what God has called you to, or you've struggled keeping the most vision your main priority, like I have been struggling with the last couple years, you are in grave danger. Where there is no vision, the people perish: prov 29:18

My vision is to run the race of following Jesus as his disciple. To continue in the right direction to obtain the completeness that I have been called to; Philippians 3:12.13 If new births occur and disciples are made along the way, then all glory be to Our Father. He is the only one that can open the eyes of our heart and draw us to Jesus. See Matthew 16:17 and John 6:44 May Holy Spirit be using us more than ever in this rescuing and caring for His sheep. G.W.

Grace Is Not A Mystery Titus 2.11

Grace Is Not A Mystery Titus 2.11

It was a warm summer morning back in 1979. At 18 yrs of age I had already lost my license. As I was hitchhiking into town and noticed a car coming back and turning around to pick me up. It was Randy, a friend I had known in high school. Was he coming back to give me a ride because he knew me, or what had prompted him to turn around after passing a hitchhiker by? Well, first of all, who hitch hikes into town? I had studied the fine art of traveling across country by thumb for a couple years now, and no one gets a ride into town. The best place to catch a ride is just on the edge of town going out. Secondly, Randy had not seen me in three years.

The last time we talked he had come to my mothers home to see why I had dropped out of the Christian youth group where we had met. He smelled smoke and kept saying it looks like it was coming up from under the couch. I said, " no, there is nothing there," until it became visible and he looked under to discover my smoldering cigarette. That terminated our visit, as he left feeling very uncomfortable.

It had been three years of sex, and drugs, and rock and roll partying for me and now one of those Christians I knew from School days is picking me up. "This must some kind of sign," I thought to myself. "Did you pick me up because you knew me?" I asked as I got in the car. For a couple weeks I had been clean from using drugs and drinking. I had gone deeper into T.M. and Soul travel. For several days I had been seeking "truth" at an abandoned non-functioning commune farm a friend of mine knew about. What had gotten me to stop the drugs was a three day LSD trip that yielded nothing for me, and only destruction and pain for others that I was partying with. I was hungering for some thing that would last. Some thing real. What had really happened is I saw a young man, some one with a future, stick his hand right into a bon fire. Because of the drugs we were all on he did not perceive the pain to follow, but I will never forget his screaming. It was time for me to to find some thing better than all the trouble I kept getting into with the law. At that point I was able to quit going out and looking for the high, but was not able to quit smoking tobacco. As I stepped off that curb on July 13th 1979 I was about to experience grace, like never before. I had a variety philosophies and knew I needed some thing out side of my own powers, but up to that moment I had not given thought of going to Jesus for the help I knew I needed.

As a child, who Jesus had been was clearly taught to me. My parents would pray with me at bedtime, say a prayer at mealtimes, and read to me from a devotional book called "little visits with God." Through the traditions of the protestant church and at Sunday school I learned the basic bible stories of Christs' birth, life, death, and resurrection. Then one day, when I was about eight, I was playing in the back yard when a phenomena occurred. The sky was over cast, but out in the middle of the neighbors large field a light beam shone down though the dark grey clouds. I ran in to the kitchen and said, "mommy look, what is it?" My mother said, " Maybe its the coming of the Lord." I listened but did not understand, and then I went on back out to play. I never gave that experience any more thought until I was converted.

A couple of other experiences I had were with the Sunday school teacher at the local community church. My Dad would take me there on the Sundays that my Mom had to work. This lady was known for sharing the "good news" with every one. Even my foster brother who had returned from Viet Nam told of how had been cornered in her back yard for what seemed like hours as she compelled him to "accept Jesus in his heart." My invitation came to go into the closet at the end of a Sunday school class. I did so, by my own choice. On a following Sunday I chose to go into the same closet and pray again, trying to get what ever it was she was offering.

Once again, at 14 I had more encounters that were invitations to give my life to God. When an African American Evangelist held a meeting at the fairgrounds in our Nebraska town, another foster brother and I went into a side room after the service for counseling and prayer. The next morning I remember looking at the booklets that I was given and they were like a tech manual for equipment that I knew nothing about. About a year later I got invited by a fellow shop class student to a picnic. I did not know it at the time, but he had mustered all the courage he could to be able to ask me if I wanted to go. No one knew how tore up I was about our family life at home being broken and about to end in divorce. When the an invitation was given at the end of the outdoor meeting I fled forward and cried with pain for the Savior that I was hearing about. For that summer I hung out with a lot of the kids that revolved around a Saturday night bible study for youth. It was only a message that I retained as long as I was looking at it. It reached my mind but not my heart. The one relationship that I needed the most was not there. Eventually, when school started up and I tried and failed at sports, I started working part time and hanging with the wrong crowd. The summer friends slipped into the past and my search for a new identity began.

One night we were partying and I felt like I was going to overdose. I cried out to God and pled with him that if he would save me I would serve him. I did not forget my promise the next morning but neither did I seek him out. As I went on my way in life, chasing girls, wrecking cars, and landing in jail 3 times, my misery deepened. Finally, late one night I called a pastor that my Mom knew. This man had taken me to lunch once while I was in high school. He was trying in a very nice way to challenge me to commit my life 100% to God. Now here I was calling him out of the blue, and telling him I was ready to sign a contract with God. He said, "Greg, sleep on it and call me again tomorrow." Well, tomorrow never came. I spaced out his open invitation once again. He was testing me, and I was still was not ready. In the moment of crisis I was crying out for help to get relief from my troubles, but I had not been sincerely ready to submit to Jesus' authority.

Now I am riding in the car with Randy, who had been in and out of the air force, gotten married, and was living a "normal' life. He bought me a cup of coffee. He did not say much, I did most of the talking. I realized this was my day to be a disciple of Jesus, he was just marveling. I was asking him to take me back to the park where I had once prayed for a Savior in my life. Now I was praying for a Savior to keep me from the wrath that I deserved for my sins, not just save me from the troubles and hurts that had offended me. Now I wanted to know what it meant to let Jesus be Lord and have complete control of my life. Jesus was revealed to me in a new way. Has this grace been made known to you? Here is what it taught me. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age," Titus 2:11,12

I did not become instantly perfect. But I was delivered from smoking. I was never tempted to use drugs again. A grace came over me in the area of morality. A significant sign of a converted person is their choice to change friends. I brought some friends with me over from the dark side and we started walking in the light together. Others that I tried to help, or old friends that I went to see just did not feel right to be around. Another old friend just showed up at my house one day, and said," what do I need to do, I want to be saved, and I heard that you have changed, Greg." The next Sunday a few of us "long hairs" we went into the little country church to listen to that preacher friend my mom knew. It was not about "going to church" for me. The desire to hear God's word and be able to converse with him was so strong. I was learning new songs and loved to sing to God. Reading the bible and attending bible studies was a big help in getting to know who God is, and how I should be living.

It took almost a year to pay my debts and restitution's. When I was released from probation, I took to the road again, heading out west. There was something about the adventure of hitching. It was not just about getting to the destination, it was about the places your find and people you meet along the way. The next year, while hitching a ride, I met my wife to be. Her and her cousin picked me up. Like many other Christians I met in the early days of my walk, there was a common joy we shared. The joy of our salvation.

30 yrs later Marianne and I are on the same road together. It is a narrow path following Jesus. She has been raising 9 children and taken in a few extras from time to time. After 32 years of following Jesus I have learned that there is a ditch on each side that I can easily fall into. One side is called religion where one can be stuck in pride and play acting, which the bible calls hypocrisy. A ditch on the other side is something I can fall back into if I let the cares of this life, or the pleasures of sin tempt me back into old ways again. There is grace freely flowing from the throne of God and I need it like never before. May we each learn to humble ourselves and receive it abundantly. G.W.

The Dead End Road Luke 12:46

The Dead End Road Luke 12:46

The other day I was jogging. I went past a city street that has a cable across it. A proposed sub division that has not been able to get off the ground. 2 yrs ago I ran up that same road and saw how deteriorated it has become, from non use. A house can be that way. We have a house and another lot in a separate town in Mexico that we purchased with the intent of using to minister to the students from the surrounding area that come to school there. We hoping praying that God will be glorified and that there are good things ahead for anyone that comes onto both properties.

I don't want to be on a dead end road. In my walk with the Lord, or with any projects and activities. What we build upon the foundation needs to stand the test on the last day, and we are called to bear good fruit to our God.

My life with my wife and family is an area that has great need. It may be looking good in the eyes of some, but I know where I am and where I have been. The question one must ask, is where will this road lead to.

Luke 12:46 says "The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers."

This verse and other parables describe a "dead end road" for Gods servants who are not awake spiritually when Jesus returns.

A man about my age fell into the river here this last year and drowned. He got off the path, which is plenty wide, even paved, and lighted in most areas. We could say it was the cold, or that it was his slick tennis shoes. But the truth is, he did not stay on the path. This is what I am trying to apply to my own life in remembering this neighbor who died at a young age. I need to stay on narrow path of life.

Jesus said in Luke 12 "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? "

The command for me above, is to provide spiritually, emotionally, and physically for my own house. This is what I been thinking on ever since I shared "part a" in my last blog. The dilemma I faced with loving and training our children was this; My times of anger, bad judgment, and selfishness has been sin in my life that has not totally gone away. Some things are still hurting our children and young adult descendants to this day. May healing come, in Jesus name.

I have had a hope for years to bounce grandkids on my knee. Now Marianne and I am able to enjoy two of them. We have grown closer together, and if the nest empties out we are able to enjoy each other a lot more than ever. If we are apart, we have matured and are able to use the time apart to seek the Lord. And yes, we really look forward to being with each other after long trips.

Jesus said if I loose the healthy hope of his return - thus the day of Judgment when all things will be brought into the light and each of will account for every deed we have done; If I loose that vision or focus then two things can happen:

But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; Luke 12:45

For myself, getting drunk or high is not the temptation, its just coasting, and not being whole hearted. Loving pleasure more than loving God. 2 Tim 3:4 If Jesus said hating someone is the same as murdering them, then beating up my brothers and sisters in the Lord, or my wife, or my children, is to criticize them, or curse them in any way with my mouth. May there be mercy surrounding all who trust in the Lord. Jesus is my Lord, and his eternal forgiveness is precious and valued. Until the End - G.W.

Colegio Cristiano Christmas 2010

Foster preview

Ready For Every Good Work

"Ready For Every Good Work" 2 Timothy 2:21

This fall we tore out the carpet of our Living room. Not only was it worn, but we had never used a rental cleaning machine on it during the last 2 yrs that we have lived here. All the 100+ times we vacuumed over the warm brown fuzz were not enough. I knew that this was not the best living condition for us, or any of our grandchildren to be playing on. We knew that down under the surface there was some things that not even a steam cleaning would take out. Under the carpet was a foam pad. Under the pad was a few layers of dirt. After we set all the furniture out in the front yard and rolled up the first 2 layers and swept all the dirt up, a once beautiful linoleum was revealed. We took up 3 layers of different patterns of this vinyl flooring with 1950's newspapers being the final barrier above the worn, torn, and diesel stained red fir floor. For 20 some years the original owners probably lived on the medium to poor quality, untreated wood floor with hopes of having a "new look some day." Layer after layer were installed to keep the "new look". Now we were going back to the "rustic look" and it took hours and hours of sanding to get this floor ready for normal use. Gideon did most of the work. I researched the products, rented the tools and helped with the corners and the edges. It was worth all the cleaning and elbow grease we put into an area of our house that is ready for good use.

Paul used a similar analogy of the floor removal that I just described. He described the various vessels that a great house would have in it. Some of clay, some of wood. Others of gold or silver. Some of these need to be need to cleansed out, if we are going to be useful to our Master, Jesus.

2Timothy 2:21 ESV says, "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work."

As a follower of Jesus I have a choice to cleanse out of my life the sins and iniquities that he has called me to depart from. If I want to be useful to him, and ready for every good work this is a necessary exercise. Confession is a good start. Daily choices, and habit changes have to happen or change is not really change. Change of mind that brings about a change of action is what it means to repent.

"We sow our thoughts and reap our actions. We sow our actions and reap our habits. We sow our habits and reap our character. We sow our character, and we reap our destiny."

As a follower of Jesus, I have a responsibility to not take our Gods name in vain. To me this means that if I am going to call myself a Christian, and profess to know God, I am commanded not to deny him in my conduct. I always used to think of this command relating to swearing curse words that included one of Gods' names. The application that I just shared with you may be obscure, but a true moral principle. Don't do any thing in Jesus name that does not honor and glorify him. Don't let it be for nothing. Don't run the race 3/4 of the way and quit. These are the some of the things that I am hearing. "Pursue peace with all men" but also holiness or I won't see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

How do we find a proper balance for this as we live out our faith? Over a decade ago I marched our whole family out of the middle of a worship service. The church we were visiting was playing the music a little louder than I liked it. What we were accustomed to in our "home birth, home school, home church" environment was hymns and Maranatha scripture songs. I felt not only compromised myself listening to these secular style love songs to Jesus, but I sensed that I needed to lead my family away from its exposure. Another time I was in a service at a church camp where a group of young adults were trying to share a few special songs. The sound equipment kept cutting out. I gave a loud cry, "God doesn't want this rock music in his house!" Then I stormed out. While attending a similar outdoor meeting with the same church group, a singer who is now a nationally known music artist, came with a visiting youth group. The artist who was at that time barely a teenager, stood up to share his talent in the rough. His special was a hip-hop style played with a custom made stringed instrument. The lyrics were rhyming rap lines. That time I did not round up all my young adult children from their various seats in the crowd. Right in the middle of song, I marched out, and left the service. I did not give ear to the lyrics, because of the music style, and the location of the situation. If it would have been on the street or in a home I would have had more tolerance for the music talent trying to be shared. I would have had more patience to hear out the faith of this young man. My preconception of "how it should be" in an organized church service, or what kind of worship our Father desires was very narrow.

Over the centuries the church as whole has seen a lot of changes. Eventually I experienced enough change in myself that my judgments and reactions have changed in relation to the way things are done or the way that other people are. Especially when it comes to worship.

I've changed. For those who know me now, its obvious when one hears what music I play myself or what you would find us listening to in our house. What happened? When did this change occur or where did it start? I have to ask myself that question as I write this article. I am sorry to leaving you hanging, but I am going to leave off writing this and call this part "A" and follow up this with a sequel. The answers to questions above will be explained in detail and testimony the next time I get share another "Soul Food" article.

The bottom line answer needs to shared now, in case I don't live to type in all the that I have scratched on my notes for this subject. What happened was I faced the fact that I failed miserably to win the hearts of my young adult children. I may have been winning some battles, but I was definitely loosing the war. The enemy was my own flesh, not a style of music. The tempter had trapped me into condemning myself in the way that i was judging. The vessel that I was being, did not point them to Christ, or attract these precious ones that I love the most to be connected with his love. It might have been my private faith, obedience, or heart felt love for God at the time. But it did not bear good fruit in the end. God declares that he can work it all together for good, and I believe that there are ways that he is redeeming what I have ruined in my own life.

The few "righteous" acts that I testified about above...along with a dozen other incidents that occurred in Mexico, Southern Oregon, and a few other places in between; may have been some good conservative food ( see John 4:34 ) but it was served on wood, hay, and stubble platters ( 2 Timothy 2:20 and 1 Cor 3:12-14 ) My heart attitudes of pride, criticism, and desire for selfish comforts of being surrounded by others who were just as like minded as myself were the dis honorable vessels that Paul wrote about.

The good work that I missed out on doing, was the call to be an intercessor for those I was among or in difference of opinion with.

May our Lord Jesus, by the Spirits power, cleanse us and help us to do our part in cleaning out of our own house any thing that dis-honors our Master. We have a great hope. As His property you have a great and noble destiny.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10 ESV

There is a bright future of good works to be fulfilled in and through us, despite any past or present circumstances, true? My vision is fixed on the finish line ahead of me. I see 10- 20 years of life ahead. Each day the faithfulness in the small things will matter. Each day, until final day, there will be a work or two that I need to be ready for. Peace to all who read this. Blessings to you, in Jesus our Savior and Lord. G.W.

Going Forward

Going Forward


When I read this letter from Levi, I thought of the many times that I have been feeling growth in my own life, or had steps of faith to take in service and missions. G.W.

PS: By clicking on the top or bottom half of his letter. It will enlarge to make the reading easier.

Thank you. God bless,

Levi.

FALL WEATHER 1

There are some things in the air this fall that have really helping me to keep looking up. The fresh smell after a rain. The leaves falling in the sky. the bright colors of the trees, happy humming in the kitchen, and a new puppy. What is going on around me, and what is happening with close friends and family.


Here is a picture of Judah's Buck deer he harvested this month.

There are a few vivid memories that I have over the years, of being out hunting. They always bring me joy. I am so glad to have this one joy shared with me. G.W.

Hosanna - led by Brooke Ligertwood

Mexico Mission Trip Fall 2009

This is a video of slides from our trip Nov. and Dec. 2009.

There is an inspirational song that is included, called "Set da world on fiar."

In order of the slides Credits and descriptions are here in listed:

Destination of the teams trip: City of Los Mochis

Team member photo in Casa Grande AZ where we were hosted by one of supporting families.

Rich Newman, director of IDT missions, gave us counsel along the way.

The students, were the real objective, not our trip or the construction work, they were great inclusions also.

The Pizzaria being up and running out in one of the small villages was a fulfillment of a mutual vision with our Mexican brethren.

The Tortillaria was also a cottage industry that our poor brethren were able to get up and running in an outer area.

Most of the construction was a warehouse made into dorm rooms and a 3 bedroom apartment for the directors family.

Home Depo taught me, on a daily basis, a lot of patience and a little wisdom as I negotiated most of the building material from them.

5 months later, other teams accomplished the finishing of what we framed, plumbed, and wired in.

The school now has a very large useful place to train and teach 45+ students, 20 of which live on site during the week.

Special thanks to Mr Osborne and Mr Booth. Without their help the trip would not have been the same.

Special thanks to Pendleton Foursquare church, and Unreached Villages supporters who made it possible to go.

Thanks to my wife and family that stayed behind to work while sending us.

A Good Song I want to sing to someone, thee only one.

Its not to late

Up out of bed this morning trying just to find out why
There's something wrong here, there can be no denying
One of us is changing
Or maybe we might just stop trying


And it's not too late, baby, no it's not too late
If we really try we can make it
Something inside is going to die
If we really try I know we can keep it alive.

It used to be so easy finding life with you
You were light and breezy and I knew just what to do
Now you look so unhappy and I feel like a fool

And it's not too late, baby, no it's not too late
If we really try I know we can make it
Something inside is going to die
If we keep on trying I know we can make it.

There'll be good times again for you and I
The right thing to do, is to stay together,
I'm glad for what we have and that our love is still alive

And it's not too late, baby, no it's not too late
IF we really try we can make it
Something inside is going to die
If we keep trying I know we can make it.

Five Smooth Stones

^{Five Smooth Stones 1 Samuel 17:40}

Have you ever tried on some clothes that don’t fit? It’s not even a question to buy it or keep it if don’t fit. Then you have to like it. The color and the style. Is it you, the look? Saul’s armor may have fit David, but it was not comfortable, like a shoe that would make you sore if you kept it on for an hour or two. That is how our faith in Jesus needs to be, we need to know that it is just right for us, the only way to live, and no other. We cannot inherit it. There are no second generation disciples. We cannot run with the faith of someone else. Each of us is in our own lane on the track of life. Most young adults get to make their own decisions in life. Who we marry, where we live and work, world view and moral values will be big important decisions that will be made whether carefully planned or by omission. David decided to pass on the armor offered to him. What can I offer to my family, other than, “ The Lord be with you, and may it be according to your faith.” ? There are many giants that we face in this life, and most of us have enemies. Here is what David decided to do in his quest to gain a victory for his people:

Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. ³⁹ David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.

“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. ⁴⁰ He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

You may only have time to pick up two or three of these weapons, but if you have a good source, it might be good to grab them on your way in the fight of faith. David passed by a brook on his way to face his enemies, I suggest we do the same. Find the streams of living water and get what you need there. Gods promises are like a sword that attacks doubts, fears, or even our own pride when we need to stay humble. Can you think of a few of his words to you?

Good memories are worth making also. I built a lot with legos when I was a kid, I mean a lot. I tried to build a tree house that never got off the ground, but our boys built a deluxe one with a window in a big oak. It takes work and planning to make a good memory, but they are like the 5 stones David had, good ammo, when one is thinking of others or recalling the past.

Keeping traditions and making good memories is something that I would put more emphasis on if I were able to try the first 28 yrs of parenting over again. Today is fathers day, and we hope to make a memory feeding some ducks. It is going to give us joy to see DT watching them eat some bread we toss them. At 2 yrs old Master Wilke won’t remember this day, only the telling of it, if God allows us to get to the ponds and really do it. Do you remember the times by the camp fire? I don’t remember specific nights, but just the general experience of it in the gypsy camp. The owners coming down to play music or friends coming over to visit around the fire. May be you recall playing a foursquare game or something.

Often times just one phrase that was said to us sticks, and is like a compass that holds true in the experiences of life that lie ahead. Our landlord, who was like an uncle to us all, once said that he had heard of a proverb that he was finding true in his own life. “ You better enjoy the progress, because you may not live to see the results.” He has lived on 15 yrs since he retired and got busy than ever fixing up his place and doing the business ventures of his dreams. He has lived to see his grandkids, even great grand kids, and a lot of enjoyment in the things he has built. But he also found a treasure each day that he started out on. He was completely enjoying each of those things that he was involved in, because he knew there was no guaranty that he would be living 10-20 yrs more to see the longevity of those projects.

Well, I have written very little in my life time, and most of it has been newsletters, but I hope that this is personal, especially to the Wilke’s. Whoever else can read this, I hope you can take time to tell a story or write one paragraph or two that causes them to thank God for someone you know. How many stones would you grab if you were facing Goliath? I would not have the faith to only take one, but that’s all it took for David to bring down a man who was defying the living God. David’s purpose in taking down his enemy is made known in the eternal words that we have in writing: “That the whole world may know that there is a God in Isreal” 1Samuel 17:46

One day Juan Lira and I stood in front of the Tortilla factory in Sarabia. We had a quest, “to know Jesus and make him known”. Handing the owner a tract that day, was like throwing a stone. The battle on that front was a whole lot more complex than passing out one tract. We had Marianne and Clementina in the pickup, and 1500 miles away there were 8 more arrows in the quiver. We needed to find a house, a yard, and everything that it takes to keep a godly family growing and going in a new frontier. My giant was timidity and fear of what that business owner might think of us. Taking down Goliath was not the end of the battle for Sauls army, it was only the beginning of a victory. G.W.

The Majestic Cloud

This cloud was captured in photo on a trip Marianne took to Mexico last July. Isn't it amazing? Without any edits or "doctoring" there is a glow up there. Sometimes life is that way, and we see something supernatural happening, but most often we don't. We can marvel at the ordinary, small details, if we are able to see that it is the Creators' hand of love for us. Its very hard for me to write about the mundane, minutia, every day life. That's about all you would have heard from me during this prior month of silence. Life as not been all work,eat,and sleep, but almost. Do I have to wait till something sensational comes along before I start typing some lines? Well, this time I did. Meanwhile we were enduring lots of cloudy days, and rain, grizzly depressing rain and wind, harsh bitter face biting wind. Also, for the last few weeks I have been working, like 3 jobs, literally. We also started Spanish services at our church, which has added another activity to our busy schedule. I still do really want to keep writing and have reminded myself often for the last month of the purposes that I started this blog. One was to communicate my heart with my adult children. Even the teens in our house, may read this and get something out of it, something of temporal joy, or eternal value, I hope.

What I did take time for the last couple weeks is any chance to stay connected with the 2 girls and the 2 young adult men still living in our home. This included a couple of fishing trips. The first trip was just Levi and me, standing in 35 degree cloudy windy weather catching trout, while trying to keep our fingers from going numb. I would not trade that day for any other I have lived. Despite the elements we caught fish, enjoyed views of the mountains, stayed warm by the fire, and did some target practicing on the way home. The second trip both boys and I caught fish and camped out for the night, making another good memory that will last....and yes, it was a record catch for this particular Wilke clan.

Another purpose of this blog is share thoughts from what I am hearing from above. What if I am not hearing much, just trudging through the pages that I read? In reading through Galatians and Ephesians I did not want to have the "Teachers" view with these timeless truths. It is important to stay in a mode of learning and growing personally. It would not be good to just pull something out of the hat, and magically have food on the plate for this blog. Your not going to hear, " And now presenting, Greg, with the latest greatest twist on the same message" We are called to point to the one who is faithful and true. He is enough, even if I am not hearing much during this season. I will not be disappointed or offended in him when most of my days are gray or blue. I trust in his eternal purposes in every relationship and circumstance HE allows in my life. G.W.

A Treasure To Keep 2 Corinthians 4.7

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

As I read the passage above, I thought of how temporal our bodies are, and the various weaknesses we all have. God places his Holy Spirit in us, fallen humans, sons of Adam, with delight.

“See what I can do, in you and through you,” he says. He calls this his treasure, the deposit of the Holy Spirit that guarantees our resurrection from the dead and the eternal life to come. The Scripture declares "that where a mans treasure is, that is where his heart will be also." Our Fathers heart is in us, where he has placed his spirit, that our inward man can be “renewed day by day.” 1 Corinthians 4:16

When we lived in Mount Vernon, Oregon, a mobile home burnt to the ground in our neighborhood. I remember seeing the older couple standing in their yard being thankful just to be alive. They mentioned that they had a fireproof box, full of money, but the heat was to great and it too was lost. They had the greatest thing remaining after the fire, their lives and each other.

What do you treasure? Where do you keep your treasures? I think of a chest, up in an attic, full of treasures. My folks had an attic, and I have a few memories of seeing a bunch of old relics and various things, very unused, like an old violin up there. Marianne has several little jewelry boxes, that are full of pretty rocks, and ornaments, memorabilia and keep sakes. We take these kinds of things out every once in a while and hold them in our hand, appreciating their beauty. Some times we set them on a shelf for display, but often we just put them back away till another rainy day comes along and we re-discover these little treasures again. Some of them are tied to good memories, others are just rare items that you cannot just run down to local “Five and Dime” and replace.

Last week was very long for me. Many occupations were before me. Working for the U.S. Census Bureau, Tree service and construction, then on Saturday our janitorial duties. Thank God for one day of rest each week! I treasure this day of rest that we are given, one in seven is very good for me, and it helps to set aside a day or a time to worship. I also treasure the rest of Hebrews 4, ceasing from my own works for righteousness.

The scripture declares that the “unseen things are eternal” 1 Corinthians 4:18 This is where our attention should be drawn to, each day, as we go through our work and play. Out of this circumstance or relationship, what has lasting value? Do I love? Does this glorify God?

A friend of mine has often testified, “I have peace.” This was his treasure, and joy. He was referring to the right standing that he knew he had with God by faith. Romans 5:1

One of the most valued treasures that some people have is their family. Many are missing this security and love. May we all know our Fathers love for us, and how much he has invested in us. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is working in us! See Ephesians 1:18-20

Many are searching to fill up in themselves, the void God designed to fill with himself. I had sought for security or fulfillment from a peer group, or pleasures from alcohol, drugs or sex, and even video games. Sports enthusiasts live for the burn or the rush. May our identity as Gods sons and daughters be so strong in knowing him and his care for us that we are not lost, or searching in the wrong places. May we enjoy all the good things in this earth, and in this life, even sports or horses, with a sound mind and without making it an idol. G.W.

Easter Song Video Link

Easter Song Video

This is a Song and video that I have enjoyed this week. I really appreciate and respect the creativity. The Song is by Kieth Green and is put to some photos and a recent sunrise from Mexico, by Mentalatious - Which is Levi's Utube handle.
On his utube site there are other videos that you may enjoy also. I really like the time lapse sunrise, that Levi posted but Gideon was the one who filmed it.

Easter Song Video link

The Vision a song of 30 years ago

The Vision

A song by Greg Wilke

The moon rose over the mountain,

just as the sun went down.

Water flowed from the fountain,

and within the vision,

love was found.

Like a rainbow 'round the moon

Like a rainbow 'round the moon

your promises are forever

The clouds have faded away,

and I can see your love shin'n on me.

Like the drops of fall'n rain

Like the drops of fall'n rain

Your mercy surrounds me

Like the water fall'n down

Like the water fall'n down

your blessings are abundant

The moon rose over the mountain,

just as the sun went down.

Water flowed from the fountain,

and within the vision,

love was found.

What Are You Hoping For? 1John 3:2-4

What Are You Hoping For? 1John 3:2-4



About 27 yrs ago I remember being startled that some Christian sisters talking about how they bought a lottery ticket and won. Growing up in Oregon and Nebraska I did not know that such things existed. In the Evangelical circles that Marianne and I fellowshipped in, this was equivalent to drinking alcohol or smoking. How many today are playing the state lottery and hoping to win? Recently I've seen many folks getting tickets or turning a few winners in. Many are hoping for a way out of their dilemma's financially. Others are dreaming and talking of what they would do, "if I win the big one." Some of it is justified as entertainment, and for a good cause, like a fun way of paying voluntary taxes. Many fall into depression, by not seeing their expectations met. This is an illness that the scriptures talk about.


A hope that is not fulfilled can make the heart sick. But a longing that is fulfilled is the tree of life. This is a truth that we can live by from from Proverbs 13:12

Have I been fulfilling my longings and finding life, but only in the temporal things that will perish?

Having a vision and goals in this life are not wrong. Its the priority that we hold those things that we need to consider. At what cost will I obtain this thing? If it will mean loosing my soul, and life eternal in Gods presence, I need the grace to say,"no, this is ungodly, and against God."

God promises a hope of being raised from the dead, and He promises us a life after this one that will last forever in His presence. Here is a couple references of this hope:

" By his power God raised the Lord from the dead and he will raise us also." 1 Cor 6:14

"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears,we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure." 1 John 3:2-4

How much do I hope for the day when I shall see Jesus face to face? Is my hope for the life after this one keeping me on the straight and narrow?

I read this week about temptation and how God is Faithful to provide a way to escape offending him, or a way to resist the temptation to rebel against him. I fail so often to look for the escape when the temptations come, and I just let my flesh and the sin rule. The foundational verse to memorize is 1 Corinthians 10:13 This is a weapon for us to wield when temptation comes. Gods promise is there for us to claim. Verse 14 spoke to me also, flee idolatry. We in America have no idea how idolatrous we are. I am asking the Holy Spirit to convict me where I am grieving him, and practicing any kind of idolatry. My compromise has been with watching movies. I love to sit and watch a movie with the family, or with Marianne alone. Many of the "PG" and "R" ones compromise the morals that we would never practice in our home. I have let Hollywood tell their stories in our living room with swear words, or demonstrating other immoralities that we never dare to do, or have not wanted to see our children ever do.

We have been bought with a price. We are not our own. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, we dare not defile Gods Temple. We are called to honor God with our body and do not commit sexual immorality with it. Are we able to name sin as sin and call it what it is? Fornication = pre martial sex. Adultery = sleeping with some one elses wife or husband. Homosexuality = sex with some of our own gender. Any of these activities entertained in our minds is sin, not just the action.

Marianne and I suffer depression at times. We have had our hopes deferred. Lately we have had goals and not been able to meet them. When we have reached high points in life, valleys have followed soon after, why? Were we hoping to find life in the accomplishments we made, or expectations we had of others? One friend of mine said his life goal was, "to be a humble servant and finish well." I have not forgotten his testimony and his steady attitudes and actions which are still on track today. Paul stated his life goal, or hope in Philippians 3:10-12 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. May each of us have this hope, and not be distracted from obtaining it. God will raise us from the dead just as he raised up Jesus. G.W.

Are You Finished With Judging? John 8:9

Are You Finished With Judging? John 8:9

“...being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one beginning at the eldest, even unto the last. “ John 8:9

I have often wondered why the eldest left first. In recent years I have have observed a pride among the young single men in the church. A blinding pride. The young adults have learned to judge. Their parents have faults and have hurt them. They see injustices in the world, but how many have realized their own shortcomings? As elders, we should be all the more humble, realizing Gods mercy over us for so many years. Being aware of so many of our own faults, we should learn to not judge, lest we we be judged also. Matt 7:1 Whatever measure or standard we use on others will be used on us, true? If so, why judge at all? We are only condemning ourselves when we point the finger. Jesus said, “ I judge no man.” John 8:15 In another place it is written, “ The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the son. So if Our Father is not judging, and Jesus is not condemning any one, why do we pass judgment on others?

This is the enemies plot to trap us into condemning ourselves. This is the temptation to not help another person. Most of the time, judging a person will not help. Let me give an example. I worked in the woods falling timber with a wise man, Dale Norling. We worked on the buddy system falling timber for a large company run by a compassionate man who would, at times, hire “low rents” and drug addicts to run his equipment. Dale showed me an example of imparting truth and wisdom to these young men just by asking questions. Out there hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment could be damaged, and our lives could be hazarded every day by operator error. Rather than yell at them “Hey, you could get killed doing that!, or its gonna break if you keep doing that.” He would ask them questions, several questions, to make a point about their attitude, wrong conduct, or to offer a better way to operate the equipment. As I noticed his way, and complimented him, he said, “ If they can't get it and figure out the answer for themselves it won't do any good to tell them what to do.”

This is true in parenting. At a toddlers age, you just command them, “don't touch the hot burner!” With a teenager, coaching not command is more appropriate. With young adults, and especially my married and grown children, counsel, when asked for, is the most common way of bringing a correction or insight to one that may be bringing harm to themselves or others.
There is a time for discipline, and correction and consequences must come if parents love their children. I tried to make it clear that the spankings were only correction for getting off the path, not condemnation and punishment.

Employers and legal authorities all have the responsibility to uphold the standards and civil laws and pass sentences and fines on those who break them. In the church there will be times that determination has to be made when some one has crossed moral lines and we need to expel them from the assembly. This is a grave and sober decision that elders and Pastors must make, for the health of the body. Amputation is a severe trauma to a body, but often necessary or a life will be lost. We must consider the parameters of 1 Corinthians 5 and follow what is written in the whole cannon of scripture. Jesus could have said, “Yep, the law says stone her, but lets get the man here also, and any and everyone else that we know that deserves this sentence.” If he could not have differed these teachers of the law, and the stoning would have occurred , Jerusalem would have been cleansed of one adulterer. In pardoning her, and extorting her to sin no more, how many more lives may have been saved by her living testimony?

May we practice discernment, even in our own life, if there is any thing infectious to the body of Christ. Not only sexual immorality needs to be cleansed but greed, drunkenness, idolatry, rebellion, and swindling. How many of us need cleansing in one of these areas? May God give us grace to keep his church clean. Paul said, “ I don't even judge myself, but I let the Lord judge me.” Start with me Lord. You are the only law giver and judge. You are able to save and destroy. James 4:12 Give us grace to quit judging and be occupied with interceding with you for others. Hebrew 7:25 G.W.

Les Miserables 1 Samuel 2:7,8

Les Miserables sounds Spanish but it’s a French title to a book that was made into a musical. Some of our family went to see this live drama this last week. I photographed the cover of the program to share with you because I like the image of the child and what the quote directs my attention to. “ To love another person, is to see the face of God.” Love others and seek Gods face. What makes him smile? What makes him frown or angry? Do I want to know what he thinks about the poor, or even more how he wants me to treat them?

In English we could draw an equivalent of miserable, and find an unhappy feeling of a person, or a run down and neglected item or building. In this case the French word is defining an economically poor person, who would be deserving of ones pity.

Hannah’s prophecy in 1 Samuel 2 describes how our Creator relates to such a person:

7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
He brings low and lifts up.

8 He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,
To set them among princes
And make them inherit the throne of glory.

Last week I was able to pick up a hitch hiker, and his dog. After offering him a short ride and a cup of coffee, we were able to talk about life. “Drifter Joe” said he believed in God but had a hard time dealing with Jesus. I shared with him the Jesus I know. I invited him over for a shower, some breakfast, and come along to our Sunday morning meeting. His countenance fell, as he calculated the decision. I could tell he wanted to go, and he said he knew it would do him some good. He could not figure out how to deal with his dog, having never left his side for a year and a half. He also said he did not want to get stuck another night in our “one horse cowboy town” ( emphasis mine). I understood, and showed him respect for his decision. Passers by showed a lot of interest in “Pirate” his dog, giving him treats and compliments. Was the dog an object of compassion that Joe needed in a generation where hitchhiking and drifting is almost extinct? I have noticed how pets have been elevated in value in our society, nearly as much children. I did not tell Joe that we have already had a lady bringing her little weaner dog to some of our services. His half German Shepard, half Coyote would have been just to much, although I was confident that its behavior would have been well qualified as a guide dog or a service dog in a public building.

May we know Our Fathers heart for the poor when they cross our path. May we have His eyes to see what to do when some one is in our life and needing help or compassion. Discernment and discretion are needed when relating to someone that we really don’t know off the street. When some who is less fortunate comes into our life, how do we treat them? . I am talking about a handicapped person you know, some one that is less attractive, or some one that has less sports ability, or musical talent. May we have wisdom that is “considerate and full of mercy”. G.W.