July 2007: Love Story Number 3
(A Long Obedience in the Same Direction)
Hola! A Spanish greeting to you this month.
'eTouch' is designed to be a blessing and encouragement to anyone who has been 'YWAM-touched,' anyone who has ever served in Youth With A Mission, or anyone who just kinda likes to hang out with us . . . This is our way of saying thank you for your contribution to missions.
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Peter Jordan, Editor
1. Matters that Matter - Love Story Number 3
2. Profound & Pithy - Wise words
3. Feedback - Sweet & Sour
4. Donna's Corner - Be Prepared
5. Rhyme Time Contest Winners
6. Renewal Gatherings - Times of Refreshing
1. Family Matters that Matter - Love Story Number 3
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Donna and I have three daughters and one son. A couple of years ago I told the story of my own Mom & Dad's courtship; then I spilled the beans on the seven-year lead-up to our own wedding. Our three girls are all married now, but their romances were more serial than overlapping and none happened the way we expected. Michelle, our youngest daughter led the parade to the altar (which makes me wonder how youngest first‚ would be accepted in some cultures).
Michelle's was a long obedience in the same direction (thanks to Eugene Peterson for one of his book titles). From the time she was scarcely 14, Michelle believed the Lord had shown her who to marry. Like her father many years before, she just knew. And just as it had been with her mother (Donna), Mark the young Australian object of her affection, did NOT know.
Until much later, it was a one-sided relationship. She had met Mark when his family all came for training to our missions base in Kona, Hawaii, and the two kids became friends. Soon Mark went home to Australia to high school, which would eventually lead to university where he studied to become a mechanical engineer.
Donna and I watched, as Michelle, all through her high school years clung to her belief that the Lord had chosen her man. She prayed for Mark every day; she wrote a couple of friendly letters to him each year (no email back then), and she got little or no encouragement in return; and when she graduated, she came to us and said she felt she was to go to a Discipleship Training School and asked us to pray and see if we could confirm it. "And where Michelle, do believe you are to take your DTS?" we asked "Australia," she replied, somewhat hesitantly. Oh!
She told us she had asked the Lord to show her where, but was afraid that her emotions may have taken over the answer to her question; she added that she just could not shake Australia off. "Mom & Dad," she asked, "Would you please pray about it?" We took her request seriously.
Having observed her life and her relationships with the Lord and others, we knew she wasn't being flighty. She had received little or no encouragement from Down Under - way over on the far side of the Pacific Ocean. After seeking the Lord, Donna and I both were able to happily release and encourage her to take the Lord's next step for her life.
And so it was that I flew with Michelle from Kona to Honolulu on the first short leg of her journey. With time to spare before her midnight flight, we went to see the hot new movie, Back to the Future; and then I put my little baby daughter on a gigantic 747 and tearfully bid her farewell. I'll never forget seeing her face in the window of that jumbo jet, as we waved to each other and the mighty aircraft pushed back from the gate; Michelle's great adventure into the future had begun.
To her consternation, who should show up at the Sydney airport to meet her, but Mark? He had heard that she was coming, and though in a steady relationship with another girl, he was curious enough about Michelle to do a little investigating. Presumably his investigation proved positive because Mark's other friendship came to an abrupt end.
Michelle's DTS went well, despite some rather over-strict rules concerning her new SR‚ - Special Relationship. On the few occasions when Mark was able to visit during the five-month course, heavy restrictions were imposed on the fleeting times they had together. To their credit, some years later the leaders acknowledged their over-zealous legalism and apologized to Michelle.
Following DTS Michelle returned home to us - but by then the relationship was solid and two-sided. Over the next three years - from opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean with a few months here and there together - their friendship grew into love, engagement and then marriage.
When the time came, the whole family gathered in Canberra, Australia for our first wedding. For me, to walk Michelle down the aisle would be an exciting and joyful thing, and indeed as we entered the sanctuary we were laughing.
It was going to be a breeze. Suddenly, halfway to the front, I got blindsided. The father of the bride syndrome hit me, unexpectedly and hard.
I think it was the clash of the emotions - happiness, enjoyment and pure delight, all tinged with a certain sadness at losing‚ my daughter. I couldn't seem to keep my face straight; it felt like it was contorting and all twisted, and that I had lost my composure; to make matters worse my eyes filled up with tears and spilled over and down my face. I felt like a mess.
But Michelle beside me, was thoroughly enjoying her once-in-a-lifetime bride‚ moment.
The reception that followed the church ceremony was at the main YWAM base, and I must say that the leaders and staff knocked themselves out to put on a classy, five star party. We felt like royalty as every effort was made to give the couple a great start on their journey together.
Today, Michelle and Mark live in Australia with their four children.
If you're looking to get married, do you think maybe, that God has someone lined up for you? And perhaps you believe you know who it is, but so far that one‚ hasn't yet seen the light? Here's some advice: don't come on with a, "God has told me that you‚re the one" approach. Fatal mistake.
Seek wisdom from wise and mature others. Keep a good attitude. Pray faithfully. And know with assurance, "that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." (Romans 8:28, The Message)
Peter
2. Profound & Pithy - Wise Words
Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire? Corrie Ten Boom
God grades on the cross, not the curve
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called
God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?
I'm an old man dreaming of young men having visions. Pastor Bob Birch
3. Feedback - Sweet & Sour
Each month we receive a raft of responses - most of which are sweet. Thanks for taking time to interact. But life is not all sweet . . .
Thank you for eTouch . . . we are always blessed - and thank you for the news on Dean Sherman; he was our first YWAM leader when we joined YWAM over 30 years ago. Topi & Liisi Kivimaki, Australia
No matter what you may think or feel about the next letter, please pray for this man and all who are involved. According to the law he is innocent until proven otherwise. Here is a compilation of two desperate messages; and remember, this is a family matter . . .
In early July I was arrested for the most heinous crime in our society.
Attorneys I interviewed to represent me said they (would) charge (me) less (if it was) for murder. The crime is a capital felony - sexual battery on a child under the age of twelve. This crime carries a mandatory life sentence without parole. The child is my daughter. I cannot go into details, but I am not guilty. I hired an attorney yesterday. I need prayer for all the obvious
- wisdom for my attorney, confusion for the opposition. Last night in my small group, the brothers told me not to confess anything negative. I declare here that I am not going to prison. I am out on $50,000 bail, and I just handed my attorney a down payment of $20,000. The process begins. My assets will now be consumed by this event. Hallelujah, I am broke! It is a good place to be. God showed me from Colossians 3 that God's love will no longer be one dimensional words on a page saying, "God so loved . . ." I will know the three dimensional love of God. Please pray that He does this work in me, and anything else you feel led.
My condition? Weak, scared, confused, angry. Arraignment is early August.
Please pray as God leads, and by all means you may share this with the eTouch family.
Not guilty,
Peace
4. Donna's Corner - Be Prepared
Are you prepared for the days ahead?
I've just started ten weeks of ministry in Europe and then on into Asia. A month before setting out on this trip, I was teaching in the Salem Crossroads and as they prayed for me before the first session, my dear friend Howard Bruce, who is the leader of the CDTS said, "I see God's hand on your back saying "Go forward" Tears welled up because I knew what He was saying.
How we need each other to encourage one another with prophecy. (1Cor 14:3)
I had been questioning God, "Is this trip really from You?" I always want to do whatever He says, but 10 weeks seemed so very long, much of it alone. But I know Jesus sends His guardian angels to protect me, and wherever I go there is always family‚ who are also wanting to do their Father's will.
(Mark 3:35)
Peter and I were together in Sweden and Norway and then he returned to Canada while I continue on in Europe until mid-August. The last night we were together, I was crying, and I know God sees every tear.
The next morning in the shower (does God speak to anyone else in the shower?), He reminded me, "Donna, this is wartime physically and spiritually, and I need you to do what I ask you to do, and I will go with you. I am your loving commanding officer and I know every detail of what is happening. Many young men go to Iraq, Afghanistan or other dangerous places, leaving their wives and children for one or two years; you are just going for 10 weeks before returning."
When we listen to God all self pity goes! There is nothing greater than being in the center of God's will, knowing people are praying. So many people across the nations want to see His Kingdom come and are taking it by force. (Matt 11:12)
I love what Paul said to his spiritual son Timothy . . .
"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer." (2 Timothy 2:1-4)
Could God be asking us to get prepared to be in the armies that will be following Him in Revelation 19:14? I believe as we are faithful here on earth, He will trust us with greater things in the days to come.
I love God, and am so excited with all that He is doing. What a privilege to be His friend. (John 15:9-17)
So my friends be strong and courageous, and listen to your commanding officer who is the all-knowing, all-loving God. He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5-8)
Love & Blessings,
Donna
5. Burma-Shave-type Rhyme Contest Winners
Here‚s an example of the old Burma-Shave roadside humor on which our contest was to be modeled . . .
Dinah doesn't
Treat him right
But if
He'd shave
Dinah-mite!
Burma-Shave
The last line had to read, YWAM-Touched‚ (although we all know that it is God that touches us). We were blessed with a multitude of poems, some of which were Shakespearian in their language and length; others whose rhymes must have been hidden (we're still looking); agonizingly we narrowed it down to the following winners (in no particular order):
The eTouch bug
Has struck again
To make the point
I take my pen, I‚m
YWAM-Touched
David Cohen, OZ
Old and young
They let us come
DTS for everyone
The Father‚s love
From heaven above!
YWAM-Touched
Mary Winter, Southeast Asia
To Kona I went
My Lord in the lead
I was opened
Then broken
But never did bleed
YWAM-Touched
Lisa Carrisoza, CA
Big outreach
Little me
Help! I‚m scared
But God‚s
In me
YWAM-Touched
He smiled at me!
I‚d chosen my dress
Wedding bells ringing
Oops! It‚s DTS
No relationships!
YWAM-Touched
Both of these are from Melissa Lee (the second one more for humor than for rhyme!)
6. Renewal Gatherings - Times of Refreshing
Aug 11-18, Near Paris, France - Speaker, Donna Jordan - "Listening to God"
Hosted by Roy & Shirley Jones
contact Roy Jones at info@intouchcamps.com or go to www.intouchcamps.com for more details.
Sept 6-8, Singapore - Speaker David Demian. With Peter & Donna Jordan
Contact: Lin at singaporeintouch@yahoo.com.sg
Feb 24 - Mar 1, Kona, Hawaii - Speakers Dan Sneed & David Demian Register early while there‚s space to stay in the Go Center - first come first served (and you‚ll save money too).
Alternate accommodation: Royal Kona Resort
Contact: Laurie Jordan-Worrall: laurie@ywamassociates.com
Till next time, here's a parting thought:
Religious people get uncomfortable when God shows up. Ron Smith (Minnesota's version)
Many blessings,
Peter
