EyeSmiling
October 31st, 2006My mom smiles with her eyes...
No greater love than this
October 31st, 2006For almost 8 years I have been a volunteer at the Polinsky Children's Center which has brought me sheer joy.
This center meets the immediate needs of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. Many children come with so much fear and hurt in their little hearts that it's such a privileged to bring a smile to their face.
I bring the puppets every Sunday morning and share with them the Love of God.
Even if the time I spend with kids is short. I know that our message of hope brings them back to life.
Only God knows their pain. Only God can transform their sorrow to Joy!
One young man shared with me a little bit of what God has been doing in his life.
This young man is 17 years-old and was taken to the center because of poor choices that he had made in his life. Yet he was faithful to come to Sunday School and he asked very direct questions about God and Christianity. After three times seeing him go to Sunday School I had not seen him for awhile. Then one day he came and after we started the service he wanted to share.
He spoke about how that he was truly seeking a better way for his life and that he was not totally convinced about God, but that something happened to him that made him come just one step closer to God.
He told us that he was locked up in Juvenile Hall and that while there a chaplain came in to speak to the young men in the facility. It was on the same day that he was to present himself before a judge. The chaplain spoke to him in a way only he could understand. The chaplain explained that everything will fail, but God will never fail them. The chaplain invited them to make a decision today. The young man left the meeting and went back to his cell where he got on his knees and spoke frankly with God. He told God that he might be 100% a believer but that he was close to being so. Then he asked God to touch his life. At that moment he felt a touch on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and saw that no one was there. In his words he said that it "freaked him out", but he knew that it was God showing him that he was not alone.
God is looking at us and saying, "Who will go and be my hands and feet?"
Will you go?
Bow Down...
October 31st, 2006Recently I went to a worship conference at Calvary Chapel San Diego where a group of musicians named Shachah played. Now what stood out for me about the group wasn't their talent (which by the way they had plenty!) But it was their name?...
Shachah means "to bow down" in Hebrew. At this point in my life that is just how I felt.
I mean lately I've been realizing that trust is not just a feeling, but an action. When you trust someone you actually physically need to rest that what they said they will do they will do!
Just like a flower who just sways in the breeze enjoying the sunshine and trusting that the earth will provide for it's very need. I too needed to come to a place to just enjoy my every day living.
Look up Shachah and enjoy the testimony of God's love and grace!
JV Allstars
October 30th, 2006Here is a photo of my indoor soccer team, the JV Allstars. I'm in the back because I was pouting after just losing 2-9 in our first match.
foto by Tim Percy.
Send Jon to Chile!
October 27th, 2006Dear Friends and Family,
Just in case you have been asking yourself, "Self, what am I going to get Jon Wilson for Christmas this year?" I have the answer! I recently (and by recently I mean yesterday) committed myself to a mission trip to Concepción, Chile. December 27th through January 9th I will be joining a group of friends from a church in Portland (Gladstone Christian Church) in assisting a missionary family I have known since childhood (the DeLeons) in the construction of a new church sanctuary. The cost of said mission trip is about $2400 and I am asking you, your families, your friends, your friends' families and your friends' families' friends to help me raise enough funds to make it happen. So, instead of that perfect pancake maker, new toaster, fruit cake, paisley tie, or argyle sweater you were contemplating sliding under the ol' tree with my name on it, I would be very grateful for your participation in this work.
I know many of you may be asking yourselves, "Self, doesn't Jon Wilson already work for a missions organization in which he is required to raise financial support?" Yes, I do. And I am so thankful to all of you who support me and Amor Ministries with money and prayers. This trip to Chile is an opportunity for me to grow outside of my work with Amor - to stretch myself a little (or a lot) -to reconnect with the reasons I started in this crazy missionary business in the first place.
If this sounds like something you could be on board with (and I pray it is), please respond to this post or write me at: jon@amor.org
I would love to talk to any of you more about this if there are any questions. And if by chance I raise over the $2400, the extra money will go to help others on the trip or to help the church in Concepción. Thank you all and God Bless.
Jon Wilson
Can it be true?
October 26th, 2006At the end of September two co-workers and I visited our Ministry Planning Board in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora. Amor Ministries build homes there for the needy twice a year. This little town is starting to get noticed because of the booming resort hotels. Due to the fact that Puerto Peñasco is not heavily populated these resorts had to bring in personnel from southern Mexico. Many families left their hometowns with only the clothe on their backs. It's a miracle that with what little pay they receive that they can buy a piece of land. Yet not enought to buy materials to build a house.
I stood there in awe at how little that these families had. Where do these little ones sleep?
Some families that we will build for in November have a physical illness or disability that prevents them to be able to work.
One elderly woman lived with her disabled son who sold candies in the street. I walked in their little shelter and the little bed just seem to be almost out in the harsh elements.
Amor Ministries will be building 56 homes for families!
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p>Check out our website at www.amor.org</p>
Thanks!
TheFam
October 25th, 2006
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Quote of the Day
October 24th, 2006
"I thoroughly enjoy you, Ryan Gwillim."
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Heritage a gogo
October 24th, 2006I had a funny conversation with my friend Justin* via email today. Justin's* wife, Heather*, as a smidgin of Mexican blood hidden somewhere in her family line (ok she knows where it's at, but her physical appearance lends not even a little hint of it). Here's our little chat...
Justin*:...how about 6:30, and bring your appetite. Heather* said that she wants to make chicken tacos (well, burritos, but she's white, so she calls them tacos).
Me: I'm gonna tell her u called her white, don't u know that she is like 1/845th Mexican! How dare you insult the chola in her! I'll be there at 6:30.
Justin*: Well, she had Mexican in her. Unfortunately, when she was clipping her nails last week, she lost it. She thinks her last remaining bit of Mexican is somewhere under the couch, but I don't think she'll find it.
*The names represented in this story have not been changed to protect the innocent.
the ol' college try...
October 23rd, 2006I just took two pills packaged in plastic and foil. I have a cold, and my congestion this morning is pretty bad so I found drugs for it, in someone's desk drawer...someone that doesn't work here anymore.
The little package says:
Pseudophendrine HCL
exp. MAR 2005
The thing about expiration dates is that I think you can generally extend them by two years or so when it comes to medications. I don't follow this same rule with dairy products, but for medication, I feel safe up to 24 months after the posted expiry date.
I'll keep you informed if I have to go to the ER or if I grow an extra eye or something in the next day or two!
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