Redeeming Halloween

James 5:16 Ministries...would like to invite LADIES of any age, tribe or tongue to attend our Gathering on Thursday, October 1, 2009.....from 1-2:30 PM.....at Crete Ref. Church....Get your hands on a copy of the book....."Redeeming Halloween" by Kim Wier & Pam McCune (Focus on the Family) and join us for a discussion & fellowship to answer the question...."how will we handle Halloween this year?"
For years..........I would either stick my head in the sand OR would dress up unrecognizably to my peers every October 31.....because as a Christian I NEVER knew how to deal with this "trickiest" of holidays!!! So join us.....for a frank discussion on how to "celebrate without selling out!"

A Life Well Lived!!!

I (Lois) grew up knowing Betty Ruth because she went to my church. Betty Ruth and Neal had 3 children: their oldest and only daughter, Kathy, would some day become my sister-in-law. Kathy was 13 years younger than me and married my husband's baby brother, Bill.
While expecting their second child, Kathy developed a brain tumor. Little Rachel was born and the testing began. That is when I really got to know Betty. Betty's strength and endurance never wavered as for 5 years she assisted Bill in every way with Kathy's care. As the entire family gathered around Kathy's deathbed at St. Margret's Hospital, Betty sat at her head. We lingered all day, saying our good-byes and supporting Kathy. Finally, I heard Betty Ruth say to Kathy, "is Jesus coming for you?" Kathy smiled. Betty Ruth said, "then go to Jesus." And Kathy was gone. For the last 14 years, Betty stood in as a mother to Ryan and Rachel. Through her words and behavior we all saw her remarkable love for Jesus Christ as her Savior and Redeemer. Then Betty Ruth was diagnosed with cancer. She continued with the same attitude of pushing forward and living the life out of each new day. On two occasions she came as an inspirational speaker for our Patient Support Group. On April 17, 2008 she told the group that she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and had 3 months to live. The patients hung on her every word as she said, "I'm not afraid to die--this world is not my home. I'm just passing through."
On June 7, 2009, the Lord called Betty Ruth home in a very special way. She was at home, in bed and not hungry for lunch. As she and Neal watched TV, Betty Ruth said "Dear, give me a kiss, I'm going home." Within the hour she joined Kathy in Heaven.
I personally feel so blessed to have had Betty Ruth in my life. If her name were in Hebrews 11 it might sound like this:

By faith Betty Ruth put God first in every situation of her life, taking the diagnosis of cancer and fighting it's effects with all of her might, sending her daughter, Kathy, before her into an inheritance that would never fade, and by faith Betty Ruth waited patiently to the very end to be taken home by Jesus Christ, her Savior.

Hallelujah and Amen to a life well lived!!!

Banqueting with CPO

When we began to feel the Lord directing us into full fledged ministry with our visiting of the medical patient...we began to feel....like we needed a mentor....someone who could show us the ropes....point us in the right direction....remind us who the POWER SOURCE was!!!

So we looked around for someone we would like to emulate as not only a follower of Christ but also as a missionary to the local!!!

AND there he was.....Dan Swets of CPO!!!

Chicagoland Prison Outreach

So we....James 5:16 Ministries want to take a blog moment and not only "thank" Dan for pouring wisdom into us and our ministry but to also give his web address to his ministry!!!

Click here!!! www.cpoministries.org

Lois, Ron and Char will be banqueting (don't you LOVE that word? reminds me of the banquet feast with the LORD someday) tonight with CPO in Lynwood....Hope to see you there!!!
If you cannot attend...information for supporting this amazing outreach ministry at his web address. All donations are tax deductible!!!!

Wandering and Wondering...No More

When we got the news two months ago that the Park Forest Library was going to be doing a "complete" renovation of their facilities....of course...we were outrageously happy for them...then we got the news that our meeting place for the past 9 years was becoming the computer lab and we would be "homeless" with our Bible study and Prayer Meeting beginning in May...we then became the wandering and wondering mini church.....selah!!!
But, God saw fit to lead us to the Promised Land in a fairly reasonable time frame (not the usual 40 year time span) and we couldn't feel more blessed and excited to meet in our new location.....
(drum roll, please!!!)
We will be meeting in the Fireside Room of Crete Ref. Church...located in the lovely and quaint town of (you got it) Crete!!!!
Just so happens this is also the loca of the two family residences of Moses and Joshua...I mean Lois and Char....so that means....definitely no wearing out of sandals or Michelin tires for us to get there!!!
The Church is also excited about this partnership.....AND we want to take a blog moment to "thank" them in a big way for.....their hospitality, the keys to the kingdom, a metal storage cabinet and letting us advertising on their most impressive marquis on Exchange Avenue.
Way to go.....Church!!!

So....join us for this exciting gathering of Ladies of any age, tribe or tongue (really!!) at our first meeting in Crete on Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 1PM...we will be studying chapter #2 from the study book by Jennifer Rothschild called "Walking by Faith...and Not by Sight" (available at the Vine Bookstore, Dyer, IN)

Oh...and if for no other reason...come and join us in partaking of some "manna" provided by none other than....Moses and Joshua!!!

Dave and the Church Ladies

The very first person that Lois and Char ever made a "call" to and prayed over at the hospital was.... Dave!!! Then it was only "right" when we needed to have endorsements on the back of our very first PrayerBook that we asked...Dave for some words!! Now this story has come full circle...last month...Dave joined Faith Church with the "Church Ladies" as he has always referred to us....Glad to have you....Dave...you have come along way from that hospital room in 1998 and the hospital gown....and the Church Ladies praying over you....so glad you are in our lives!!!!

Come and SEE!!

This Thursday we will begin our 1st lesson out of our new study book by Jennifer Rothschild called Walking by Faith...Lessons Learned in the Dark....we are so excited with the prospect of really going deep into God's Word for 2009....won't you join us???? We meet at the Park Forest Library on the 1st Thursday of each month at 1PM...be there and learn to walk by faith and not by sight.....see you then!!

Tenacious Prayers...2

Just wanted to give everyone out in BloggyLand an update on what us two wild (for Jesus) and crazy girls are up to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Thurdays of each month...We have begun the writing of Tenacious Prayers Book 2 which will have prayers for 6 additional medical conditions (e.g. stroke) and their treatments...it will also include a "deathbed prayer" which we have been asked to write by so many who actually work in the field with terminal and hospice patients...We are asking for you to specifically pray that we can get this second prayer book completed in 2009...and that funds to print (around $1500.00 for 200 copies) will also come into this ministry in 2009...we know that the economic situation of this world and personally for people does not look good....but, with God all things are possible (Matt 19:26) ...we focus not on what we see...finances look bad....but we focus on our GREAT BIG GOD and what He can do!!!!! So take a faith walk with us on the wild side today (2 Cor 5:7) you'll be so glad you did...as He never fails!!! Have a wonderful day filled with the lavishing grace of God!!! (Eph 1:7&8)

Give Back with Thanks...Bracelet Making

We have scheduled our 3rd Give Back with Thanks Event...and it will be making .....GOSPEL BEAD BRACELETS...these are given out by GAIN (Global Aid Network)...we are connected with this ministry through our member Joan H....as her son Scott is employed by the ministry in Texas...Joan will be bringing everything needed to make these bracelets...which will serve to explain by colors of beads...the gospel of Jesus Christ all over the world....we are excited to play bracelets on Thursday, April 2, 2009....Hope you can all join us for this exciting Giving Back Day!!!

GAIN Website: www.gainusa.org

CHRISTMAS 2008

We wanted to share with you the pictures of the wonderful time that we had this past Christmas at the Park Forest Library/Faith Church Mini Church...We started off with our shared meal which consisted of delicious appetizers and desserts...after the feast...we had our 10th annual "photo op" with photographer George of the Park Forest Library....we exchanged Christmas tree ornaments...and then had our Christmas Play...the actress this year who played the beloved baby Jesus was Lois' new Granddaughter....Juliana...What a way to set the tone for the Christmas season...this years play was based on the new book by Rick Warren called the "Purpose of Christmas". To read a review of this great book click the link below:

http://www.rca.org/thepurposeofChristmas

Hope all those of you out in BloggyLand had a most blessed Christmas remembering the real reason for the season: JESUS

Matthew 1:23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

Partner in Prayer Coordinator

We are so excited to announce our first official volunteer position is filled...that of Partner in Prayer Coordinator!!! We are bursting with joy to introduce her to all of you that are connected to this ministry....her name....Mrs. Nancy Dykstra....this lovely women has agreed to sign up new folks to be Partners in Prayer.....to send out re-commitment forms when they expire....and to do the mailings to all our current Partners in Prayer which includes quarterly update letters as to what exactly is going on with us and this wonderful outreach ministry to the medical patient WORLDWIDE ...Welcome aboard Nancy....and fasten your bonnet this ministry thing is a wild ride....WooHoo!!
May the Lord continually pour out to you, Nancy....Heaven's blessings as well as human joys...Psalm 128:5

Urban Praise!! LIVE

Today we were scheduled guests to speak about James 5:16 Ministries at Moody Radio for the Roy Patterson show called Urban Praise!!! What an exciting day...we wrote notes for this adventure and THANK THE LORD we did...we were told that we would be doing a taping that would be broadcast on FM 90.1 on Mr. Patterson's show either this Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon...we arrived in the studio to find out...we were going to do this interview.....LIVE!!!! on his 3 o'clock AM1110 show!!
The whites of Lois' glassy eyes turned red and the rise in my blood pressure almost sent me off the stool I was perched on in the studio...we surely thought they were joking until the studio got quiet and the show engineer, Eric Townsend started reading the weather...It all turned out fine and we rose to the occasion...Mr. Patterson gave away two of our Tenacious PrayerBooks to listeners in his radio audience...What a fun day...and we even got an invitation to return...our prayer always is that hearts be encouraged and souls be won for the Lord....what more could we ask???

...PrayerBook WORLDWIDE....

When we were asked a year ago to write a 5 (cinco)
year visionary plan for James 5:16 Ministries...there were certain facets the Lord had laid directly onto our hearts (el corazón).....facets that the Lord unveiled for us while we worked at the World Vision Step into Africa Exhibit....and then there were facets like this one that have come about by walking with the Lord (Dios) in this ministry over the past year....We are in the pondering, talking, networking process of what it will take to publish Tenacious Prayer Book one into Spanish!!! WOW (VIVA) ....how exciting is that???? Here is what we need from those of you out in Bloggyland and our "Partners in Prayer" to pray for specifically for this project...
~The perfect person to do the translation as there are alot of medical terms in there!!!!!

~The financial covering of this endeavor...apx. $1500.00 (dollars....no pesos please!!!) for the first 200 copies!

The reason why we always share where we are going with this ministry is that we know that you or someone you know may have it placed in your hearts to participate in this project...because we know that with God all things ...including this project...are possible!!!
As I was typing this the Lord laid it onto my heart...wouldn't this be a wonderful project to be completed to celebrate Cinco de Maya Day (May 5th, 2009) with our Spanish speaking/praying Brothers and Sisters in Christ??? Just a thought (creía) !!!

Cinco de Maya History: www.vivacincodemayo.org

SQUANTO and the First Thanksgiving

Last Thursday we gathered together at the Park Forest Library for our 5th Gratefulness Praise Meeting...This is a time that we come together with grateful hearts for the answers to prayer that have been received as our mini church/support group in the past year...We always start off our time with some kind of inspirational presentation, music, readings, or video....this year we watched a delightful video about an Indian from the Patuxet tribe named, Squanto...and how he was captured by Thomas Hunt, brought to Spain as a slave and was purchased by monks who attempted to "civilize" him. Eventually gaining his freedom, Squanto was able to work his way to England and signed on as an interpreter for a British expedition to Newfoundland. From there Squanto went back to Massachusetts, only to discover that, in his absence, every one in his village had been wiped out in a epidemic plague in 1617. As the last Patuxet, he moved in with a neighboring tribe that lived at Pokanoket--the home of Wampanoag chief, Massasoit. The Pilgrims arrived on the Mayflower--in November of 1620...they had left England for religious freedoms. Squanto helped the Pilgrims to manure their corn, catch fish and eels, and acted as their interpretor and guide. A year later, in 1621...the Pilgrims and Indians feasted on the harvest at the First Thanksgiving as a three day celebration of what God had done!!! In 1622 Squanto died of Indian Fever...God's hand had been on Squanto the entire time...even when things didn't look so great (like when he was taken to Spain and sold into slavery) God was still in control...(reminds me of the Joseph story...What you meant for evil God turned into good!! Genesis 50:20) If Squanto had stayed with his tribe he also would have died with the epidemic plague...Instead he was there to help the Pilgrims in their search for a place they could worship God as He was leading them to do and to an Indian who would smooth out the way!!!! What a great story...of God's love, faithfulness and sovereignty!!! and on that note!!!
Blessed Thanksgiving to one and all!!!!

Grateful and Thankful

We just want to express our "Thanks" to those people who attended the launching of our teaching/training/role play seminar, "TheCall" on Saturday, November 1. We will be sending out a seminar evaluation survey which we would love for you to fill out and return.
We also would like to say a ginormous "THANK YOU" to Crete Reformed Church for their grace filled help and fellowship (Mark, Marcia, Andrew, Jared and Debbie) as we were underfoot for a few days. We also would like to "THANK" them for the use of the beautiful Fireside Room and the Spirit of God that resides there. You are a blessing to us!!!

We have set up an informational sight just for " TheCall" teaching/training/roleplay seminar. This sight will include pricing, materials included in the price, schedule and locations of events and any other needed information about this facet of James 5:16 Ministries ...at

http://www.thecall2sick.blogspot.com

Past seminar attendees, if you are in need of additional Tenacious PrayerBooks containing the six (Cancer, COPD, Depression, Heart, Arthritis, and Diabetes) specific medical diseases (cost $10.00)
The single prayers on CD (cost $5.00)
The mailers with postage for the CD (cost $5.00)
Please contact us by email at James516Ministries@yahoo.com, or
by mail at James 5:16 Ministries
P.O. Box 186 Crete, IL 60417.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE!!!

Just for PrayerTime Tuesday

Hello Friends out in Bloggyland!!!
Since PrayerTime Tuesday Requests are coming in on a more regular basis to this ministry...we have decided that those requests deserve a place of their own where those of you who support this ministry in prayer can go right to the prayer requests for that week in one direct CLICK!!
So here is the news:

PrayerTime Tuesday has it's own site as of today!!!

click here: www.prayertimetuesday.blogspot.com

You can also get to the request page from the icon of the sunset at the right hand column on this blog....
Please continue to email or snail mail your physical, spiritual, emotional, or situational requests to...James516Ministries@yahoo.com or P.O. Box 186, Crete, IL 60417...or hand Lois or Char a readable request on paper.
And keep those prayers-a-rising....they are changing lives... eternally!!!
Bless you for caring!!

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

According to Chinese tradition.....there are five happinesses in life...wealth, longevity, health, virtue, and peace in life and death...
Yesterday, during our mini church....we talked about the sixth happiness (according to two missionary ladies to China) and most important happiness...being in the center of God's will...
According to 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 we found out the answer to...
Which kind of people does God invest in?

...and sometimes the answer comes as quite a shock....and definitely counter-cultural...society values: those with good looks, the right clothes, lots of money, great talent, highly respectable name or position, or material acquirements...those are the kinds of folks the world invests in....

Paul, in these verses says that God chooses the seemingly foolish, weak and insignificant (as the world sees them) as the ones He calls to invest in. And why does God do that??? V.29..."so that no flesh should glory in His presence"...so no man gets the credit!!!

Gladys Aylward (1902-1970) was one of those whom God chose...she had deep within her heart that she was called to be a missionary to China....she was born into an English family with 2 sisters and a brother...all whom of which took after their parents as they were tall, blond haired and blue eyed....Gladys was born small in stature, with dark hair and eyes...she was told by the head of the Chinese missionary board that she was "not qualified" to be sent to China...but instead of deterring her from the "call" on her life, she took a job as a house maid, saved up her earnings and went to Yang Cheng, China of her own accord....where she met up with the aging Christian missionary, Agnes Lawson...who had founded an inn...called the Inn of the Sixth Happiness.....to evangelize travelers who passed through...This inn later became an orphanage under Gladys Aylward's direction which housed 100 orphans...who then in 1940 fled Yang Cheng because of wars to the safer providence of Sian...a perilous 100 mile mountainous journey with 100 orphans in tow...

Glady's story became the movie...The Inn of the Sixth Happiness...now out on DVD...starring Ingrid Bergman...even when Gladys had the chance to go to a comfy, clean, upscale orphanage....she chose to go back to Yang Cheng...and the Inn of the Sixth Happiness...(not because of the love of a man as portrayed in the movie version) but for the sixth happiness as she said...that is the greatest happiness...to be in the center of God's will for your life!!!

Insignificant and Ordinary?
At the end of her life Gladys wrote of herself: "My heart is full of praise that one so insignificant, uneducated, and ordinary in every way could be used for His glory for the blessing of His people in poor persecuted China."

Are you living in the sixth happiness??? It's the happiest place on Earth....sorry Disneyland®!!

1 Corinthians 1:26-31: Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when God chose you. Not many of you were considered wise by human standards. Not many of you were powerful. Not many of you belonged to important families. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. He chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the things of this world that are common and looked down on. He chose what is not considered to be important to do away with what is considered to be important. So no one can brag to God. Because of what God has done, you belong to Christ Jesus. He has become God's wisdom for us.He makes us right with God. He makes us holy and sets us free. It is written, "The one who brags should brag about what the Lord has done."

3...2...1...LIFTOFF....We have LIFTOFF...

The countdown has begun...(We have LIFTOFF!!!) on Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 9 hundred hours....James 5:16 Ministries officially launches....TheCall!!
The teaching/training facet of this ministry for "CallTeams" in the local church to (the mission) hand hope, help and healing to the medical, hospitalized, hospice care, nursing home, and house bound patient....after our 10 years experience in "the field"...and based on the Word of God to all the sheep......in Matthew 25:35-40.
This event will take place at Crete Reformed Church, in the quaint little town of Crete, Illinois...(launching pad) in their Fireside Room....We will be giving out a few free tickets which will entitle the bearer to:

**A copy of Tenacious Prayers...PrayerBook!! one...which contains the scriptural based prayers for 6 specific medical conditions...e.g. Cancer and treatments.
**A 44 page "CallBook"...which is the workbook with all the "helps" in it.
**3 hour teaching/training/role playing time with Char and Lois (with the Lord makes 3 main engines ).

Prayer (docking) needs:

God's choice for the crew that needs to be at this launching.
God, in the person of the Holy Spirit (external tank) to power us in the right direction.
God's peace and wisdom (solid rocket boosters) as Char and Lois prepare for the launching.
God's blessing and favor on this facet of James 5:16 Ministries...so that names will be written in the Lamb's Book of Life because of it!! (mission accomplished)

PrayDate Thursday

Another powerful PrayDate yesterday at the Park Forest Library...

enjoy The Hoppers (love their name~reminds us of bunnies)...singing
"Mention my Name"......we did!!!
(enjoyed and mentioned that is !!)

click here: http://www.youtube.com/TheHoppers


Hopper Family bios: www.thehoppers.com/biographies


The Tenacious Prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective!!! James 5:16

What on Earth

If you have ever asked yourself...What on Earth am I here for?....the medical patient mini church of the Park Forest Library is offering a gathering of 5 Wednesdays to help you answer that very question...
We will meet at Faith Church in Dyer, Indiana at 5:30 for a delish supper at the nominal cost of $5.00 (which includes...you got it....dessert and coffee).
We will gather at 6:45 in the sanctuary to behold the DVD of Rick Warren's teaching on the Purpose Driven Life....and then we will gather in a smaller venue...to discuss questions which will by the nature of them...and the Holy Spirit propel us into a direction of walking out what we have learned to live a fulfilled and pleasing life as unto the Lord.....So below find the Wednesday list of meetings and the topics....We have available for $4.00 the Purpose Driven Life book which correlates with each of the Wednesday nights....reading this book will help to prepare the heart and understanding for the teachings......Hope you can join us....Please RSVP via email at: james516ministries@yahoo.com or to Lois or Char in person....if you will be attending!

Wednesday, October 22...What on Earth?...Planned for God's Pleasure
Wednesday, October 29...Formed for God's Family
Wednesday, November 5...Created to Become Like Christ
Wednesday, November 12...Shaped for Serving God
Wednesday, November 19...Made for a Mission

Languages of Love

¡Hola!....Not too long ago in our mini church...the group read and then we taught from a book by Dr. Gary Chapman called
The Five Love Languages ...How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate...some of us never realized that ...sometimes we need to speak another language to interact with that person....and show them how much we really love them....

Here is the list of languages that speak I love you according to the author:

*Words of Affirmation
*Quality Time
*Gifts
*Acts of Service
*Physical Touch

We found out amazingly that we quite often "talk" to loved ones in a language that speaks to us....but not to them!!!
For example, if I am a person that would love to hear words of affirmation... encouragement from someone by what they say to me... instead that person gives me a back rub and doesn't say a word during it....because they think I may want to meditate on the Lord...I would feel no better or more loved than pre-back rub...This would be like speaking Spanish to someone who does not speak Spanish...No comprende.

Once we had this teaching "under our cinturóns" we began to look around us at those folks we love...and started to speak in their languages.....and what a grande difference it made in those relationships.

Gracias, Gary for helping us to finally realize that language does matter.....and by the way....nothing says "I love you" more to me than taking out the bathroom garbage...(now guess which one of the ministry team I am??)

¡Adios mis amigos! ¡Hasta mañana!

Prescription for Condition: Laughter!!

The Bible states in Proverbs 17:22 that a merry heart is a good like medicine....so read the below list and feel better...these are actually taken from patient's charts....not any of OUR patient's charts...HIPAA you know...Enjoy!!

1. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.

2. On the second day the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared.

3. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.

4. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.

5. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.

6. Discharge status: Alive but without my permission.

7. The patient refused autopsy.

8. The patient has no previous history of suicides.

9. She is numb from her toes down.

10. While in ER, she was examined, X-rated and sent home.

11. The skin: was moist and dry.

12. Occasional, constant, infrequent headaches.

13. Patient was alert and unresponsive.

14. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.

15. She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, until 1989 when she got a divorce.

16. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.

17. The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he took a job as a stockbroker instead.

18. Skin: somewhat pale but present.

19. Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.

20. Patient has left his white blood cells at another hospital.

21. The patient lives at home with his mother, father, and pet turtle, who is presently enrolled in day care three times a week.

22. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.

23. Patient is a healthy, appearing decrepit,69 year old male, mentally alert but forgetful.

24. Patient's past medical history has been remarkably insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past three days.

25. I saw your patient today, who is still under our car for physical therapy.
26. Patient was seen in consultation by Dr. Blank, who felt we should sit on the abdomen, and I agree.

27. By the time he was admitted, his rapid heart stopped, and he was feeling better.
28. The patient was in his usual state of good health until his airplane ran out of gas and crashed.

29. When she fainted, her eyes rolled around the room.

30.Patient was released to outpatient department without dressing.

31. The patient will need disposition, and therefore we will get Dr. Blank to dispose of him.

32. The patient expired on the floor uneventfully.

33. Bleeding started in the rectal area and continued all the way to Los Angeles.

34. The baby was delivered, the cord clamped and cut, and handed to the pediatrician, who breathed and cried immediately.

35. I have suggested that he loosen his pants before standing, and then, when he stands with the help of his wife, they should fall to the floor.

36. The patient is a 79-year-old widow who no longer lives with her husband.

37. The patient left the hospital feeling much better except for her original complaints.

Can you hear me now?

Soon and very soon.....yes.....you are going to.....hear....Tenacious Prayers volume one....in audio....we are very close to making each scriptural, medical condition specific... Prayer... available on CD....each one will also include the Prayer for the Doctor, Medical Staff and the Prayer of Celebration...what a blessing this will be for patient's to get the Word of God...which we know contains hope, help, and healing...... prayed directly into their spirits....and to be able to have prayer when with some conditions the patient is not able to pray for themselves...this will also be another wonderful way to pray for friends that are far away...pray from home and drop a CD into the mail with your card and best wishes for a speedy recovery...So check back in the next few days to reserve your CD's...we are pretty sure they will soon and very soon be gone!!!

Single Audio Prayer for: Arthritis, Cancer and Treatments, COPD, Depression, Diabetes, or Heart.

Seasons Change...

Today we had a most wonderful season of time in the Park Forest Library.....it began with a study of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8...which are wise words...from the second wisest man of all time....King Solomon....(Jesus takes first place!!!)...
There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

We talked about how thankful we were that God created the world with natural order so that day follows night, Spring follows Winter.....then Spring into Summer.....Summer into Fall...and Fall into Winter....we pondered how shook up things would be if...natural order became obsolete and in the Midwest, where we live, and we had two Winters in a row.....YUCK!! and BOO!!
We love how the Lord does not give us the Ecclesiastes...seasons of life....to stay in either ....because of God's creative design of natural order, after a time....that season comes to pass....We taught how the devil would like us to get stuck in a season....for instance, grieving something or someone ....and never dancing again....We taught how you can battle the devil and keep yourself free by keeping God's word in your heart but also in your pocket on cards if necessary...and how to prepare for the battle with the amour listed in Ephesians 6:13-17...
Our season of time...ended at the study....with this verse in Ecclesiastes 12:13...(King Solomon speaking again) Here is my final conclusion: fear God and obey his commandments for this is the entire duty of man. For God will judge us for everything we do (no matter what season we are in) including every hidden thing, good or bad.

Did you know that in 1952, Pete Seeger set to music the words in Ecclesiates 3:1-8 and that it became the all time hit for the group the Byrds in October of '65...called Turn, Turn, Turn???

http://www.youtube.com/Turn Turn Turn

Think about the seasons of life you have already experienced....like a time you may have cried like a baby....remember? it was just a season....and pretty soon you laughed again...or maybe there has been a death in your family recently....and you feel the loss and sadness...but then a baby is born....and the legacy of your family continues on.....so seasons turn...turn...turn....take time and Thank God for that....by the way...some seasons really turn ...where did the Summer go?

PrayDate Thursday

During our regularly scheduled PrayDate!! Meeting we had a most wonderful, amazing, Spirit-filled time.....we want to share a glimpse of what went on with all of you out in BloggyLand...we started out by watching a worship DVD of the Integrity Praise Team from the Women of Faith Conferences...and ended our first half with Sandi Patty singing "How Great Thou Art" with a down syndrome young woman named....Lisa Smith...signing the words....now we will continue to try to secure permissions to get the exact performance on this blog entry....but until then...enjoy this version...

Click here: http://www.Godtube.com/SandiPatty

After this song....we took a small break....and then began the second half of the meeting with prayer requests and the praying....now when we say this....some may not be able to understand what we mean...the Spirit showed up and did the praying through us....kinda like an out of body experience....(but without the spaceships and aliens involved)...we still to this day have to tell each other what we prayed because it wasn't us....well, it was us standing in the front of those gathered and saying the words....but the words were the Lord's.....His Spirit to our spirits....and then our of our mouths....now that was a PrayDate!! we are sure not to forget....anytime soon!!!

After listening to the worship song....begin praying...for whatever is laid on your heart....believe it, the experience with be amazing.!!!....even better than space travel if you ask us!!!

Healthy as a leaping calf

So yesterday, Sunday...one of us from the ministry headed with husband in tow...to the local County Fair...to consume a humongous homemade apple dumpling with cinnamon sauce and ice cream on top...we, of course in the interest of gas prices...did some looking around...at the plethora of crafts for sale...the cute but stinky baby animals (PU!!)...a large assortment of farm equipment...and participated in a few "meet and greets" with local politicians...but basically this trip is all about the dumpling...So we get our bowl of Deliciousity and head to the grand stands to find out what all the "dirt was flying" about...literally...the dirt was flying...we sit on a bench in the front row and find out that cowboys twirling lassos while riding on horses are beginning to compete for a calf roping blue ribbon contest...right there.....I am very nervous...I can hardly eat my dumpling...they herd into a large pen about 25 variously hide colored...and very cute....(but stinky...I am sure)...calves to the far end of the arena...then the cowboys on horses load themselves into these large metal stalls with ropes in hand...then they take one of the very cute calves and load them into a small metal stall from a door in the back...the poor thing is just squashed into this space.....everybody stands back...the official starts the clock running and releases the stall door on the front of the calf's pen and the cowboy and horse pen...the calf so glad to be released from those tight quarters......jumps out of that pen and leaps for joy........until the cowboy comes with the rope...I will spare you the rest of the details...lets just say...the dumpling wasn't easy to eat (I was having to swallow it through the sorrowing lump in my throat for the cute little stinky calf) ) as I had remembered from years past...but those other years I ate it and didn't watch the rodeo...Then the Lord reminded me of something...so sitting in the stands...I got out my Bible and read...Malachi 4:2...For you who revere and worshipfully fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gambol like calves (released) from the stall and leap for joy...then I thought....well, there wasn't any calf roping in Bible writing days...so what are we talking about here Lord??? I found the answer from a farm wife, named Judi, who lives in Northwest Oregon...she writes about the Malachi verse..."I LOVE this imagery. I wish everyone could see what for me is a common sight; baby calves released from a nursery stall into open space for the first time in their lives, discovering the real purpose of legs is for dancing...will run and jump and leap for hours, simply because they can. Their uninhibited, unrestrained delight is so pure... I could watch them for hours."
So if you are sorrowing over the need of a release from some tight quarters of your own...physical, emotional, mental, spiritual or situational...Jesus...the Sun of Righteousness...has risen...literally...with all the "healing" available for whatever your need is...just lasso this to your delight filled heart:
I will worship...respect...rejoice in...Jesus Christ!!!.....all together now...(even if you can only partcicpate in your heart because of physical limitations)...in purity... uninhibited and unrestrained...Leap for Joy...because of what Christ has done!!!..I'll eat a dumpling to that!!

TheCall...1998.....2008

One of the early "Calls" that we made to St. Francis Hospital in Blue Island, Illinois in 1998 was to a lovely women from our practice who always donned the latest leopard attire when she came to the office...Little did we know that from these early beginnings would expand to teaching "CallTeams!!" to reach the medical patient for Jesus Christ....after our 10 years of experience in "the field"...
This second picture is of a "Call" in 2008 to Rush Pres St.Lukes in Chicago, Illinois to another lovely and dear woman to us from the practice....oh how things have changed over the years....like hair color, hair styles, glasses and hospital security....but a few things have stayed the same....our love for the LORD...sharing that love with medical patients...and our love for Leopard...which is actually our trademark ministry attire....Thanks Mrs. Kunz...when we get to Heaven we are convinced we can "spot" your mansion....pretty sure it's decorated with your trademark theme....

Teaching of 08-07-08

The first Thursday of August here we were at the Park Forest Library teaching chapter #10 from our study book: Overcoming Difficulties...a light-hearted look at Joshua by Marilyn Meberg...when we came to this verse to look up and ponder...Zephaniah 3:17...The Lord God is with you...He is mighty to save...He will take great delight in you...He will quiet you with his love...He will rejoice over you with singing!!! We asked the group to think for a few minutes what their favorite love song of all times was...you know that song that when you hear the music start...even before the words begin...you get this "feeling" somewhere between your heart and your stomach...(not that feeling like from a Taco Bell Supreme Burrito, either)...Then we asked them to picture this image...The Lord of Heaven and Earth...King of Kings and Lord of Lords...holding them in His arms...like a Mother holds her newborn baby and sings a tender lullaby over them...a song that makes the child feel secure...comforted...LOVED...that is exactly what that verse is describing...to you and me...at that point in the teaching...Char shared her favorite love song of all times...which is...I Will Always Love You...by Whitney Houston...but because of time she did not actually play the song for them to hear...fast forward to the late evening of 08-07-08...Char in checking her email realized that there was one from a lady who had attended the study earlier in the day...who sent this link not realizing what a gift she gave......

www.youtube.com/ChristiantheLion

If you ever think that the Lord does not do what He says he does in his Word or that He doesn't care...think again....HE LOVES YOU...HE LOVES YOU...HE LOVES YOU....now imagine this scene...The Lord with you in His arms...what love song is playing??? Let us know...we would love to post 'em...!!!

Lois' love song: www.youtube.com/Powerofyourlove

Younger Son of Patsy

In 2003 while attending the GREAT ADVENTURE tour of Women of Faith Pre-Conference held at Christ Universal Temple in Chicago...we left our seats early to be the first in line for a photo-op with Patsy Clairmont...we just had to have a pix with that teeny tiny cracked pot...as we approached her book table...we beheld a young man with the face of Pasty...it turned out to be her younger of two sons...Jason...we exchanged conversation over the selling of books until Patsy arrived...The first picture was taken of us with Patsy by Jason...at the time he had a young son named Justin and a lovely wife, Danya.....Over the years we have always looked up our friend Jason at all the Women of Faith conferences that we attend every year...The second picture is us with Jason in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 2004...we had a leopard theme going on that year and we were pleased that Jason got the memo and opted for a black shirt to coordinate...The third picture is us with Jason in Indy in 2008...since meeting Jason years ago...he has moved up in the WOF company and now is the King of all the booktables...has added to his family with another son named Noah...and he and his wife own a Christian Bookstore in Brighton, Michigan...called His Bible and Book House ...if you are ever in the neighborhood of their bookstore...drop on in and tell them the Chicago Nurses sent you...


Click for Info: His Bible and Book House/Brighton, MI

Indy Chinese

A great big shout out and THANKS to Beth of P.F.Chang's in Indy who after a long day at the Saturday WOF Conference blessed the Chicago Nurses with some free lettuce wraps to make our day...and just so everyone knows lettuce wraps are the best but made even better by FREE...thanks for letting us hang out for some good food and a little TLC at your restaurant...do the shoes fit????
You are our second favorite hostess...as Karissa, Char's daughter relatively speaking has to get top billing as hostess of Olive Garden...in Merrillville...only she hasn't give us a free appetizer come to think of it....so maybe you are first in line........Hugs out to your son, Hayden Nathaniel...you have a very nice Mommy...

Love Me Never Leave Me

Is the title of the newest book by Marilyn Meberg for the 2008 WOF Conference...in this book she shares hilarious tales of real life experiences and heartrending losses from a live well lived...weaving God's Word through every experience to provide hope and encouragement to all who listen...she told a crack up till you cry story about her infestation with hungry yard bunnies...and how she rid herself late one night of this problem with human hair...not to worry though...the tribe of bunnies only relocated down the block to Luci's backyard...HAIRCUT ANYONE???

Books By Marilyn:
Love Me Never Leave Me
God at Your Wits End
Free Inside and Out
The Decision of a Lifetime
Since You Asked
Choosing the Amusing
I'd Rather Be Laughing
The Zippered Heart
The Best Devotions of Marilyn Meberg
Study Series:
Overcoming Mistakes...a light hearted look at Jonah
Overcoming Difficulties...a light hearted look at Joshua

The VonPatty Family Singers at WOF

Luci Swindoll, Sandi Patty, her parents and entire blended family sang...The Lord Bless You and Keep You...to close out the Women of Faith Infinite Grace 2008 Conference...and what a closing it was...

If you are not familiar with this benediction in song click the link below...read the music and words...sing along...AND bless someone today when you part their company...you might just make their day...

Click here:www.youtube.com/TheLordBlessYou

Sandi's Website: www.sandipatty.com

The Lord Bless You and Keep You

Luci Swindoll's Infinite Grace message was based on blessing people when you leave their company with the words from Numbers 6:24-26...The Lord bless you and keep you...the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you...the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace...OR leaving them with no words, bland words, or harsh words...the choice is ours...Luci told a story of how she was in a very long line one day at her bank...in came a lady with two small children who got into the back of the very long line...the man at the very front of the line waved this lady to his spot and he took her spot at the end of the line...now that's grace...the kind of grace Jesus offered at the cross...Saving Grace...when He took our place, our punishment, our debt and exchanged it with a place for us to be seated with Him in the Heavenly places...Jesus...what a Savior!!!

Prayer Request for Luci: her knee's

...Stink at Prayer...then read her book

"I've always shied away from this topic as I really stink at prayer," says Sheila. (Can you relate?) But, she's come to realize that, "every sound we utter, every thank you we say, every tear we cry in God's presence is prayer."

Sheila's Infinite Grace presentation which was taken from her newest book...Get off your knees & PRAY...a woman's guide to life-changing prayer...was just so prayer inspiring...but, then again as we blogged earlier... hers was one of the books that made our top 5 list of books on Prayer that definitely needed to be in one's library...

And Sheila's duet with Sandi Patty of the song from Wicked "For Good" just knocked our socks off...well...it would have knocked our socks off if we would have had socks on!!!

Sheila's Website: www.sheilawalsh.com

.......The Case of the Missing Mind.......

Was it the boss? Could it have been her teenage daughter? A woman goes "undercover" to identify the suspects who might have taken her mind...that was the the plot for one of the hysterical dramas we enjoyed by Nicole Johnson from her 2008 MotherLODE DVD...as we all looked for clues in this "case"...we questioned who might have stolen our own minds...like when walking into a room and forgetting why you are there??? Or the times we ask...has anyone seen my glasses???...when the "culprit specs" are perched on top of our own heads...
duuun...dun.dun.dun.......duuun...dun.dun.dun.dunnnnn...

Nicole's website: www.freshbrewedlife.com

I Second That Emotion

That was the Women of Faith 2008 Pre-Conference featuring Jan Silvious and her book: Smart Girls Think Twice, Patsy Clairmont and her book: I Second That Emotion, and Anita Renfroe and her music DVD entitled: It's Probably Just My Thyroid...this was a day of laughter therapy and solid biblical teaching on understanding your emotions...and what a day that was...we laughed...we cried...THEN WE LAUGHED SOME MORE and we walked away loving every minute of it...here was one of our favorite moments:

When it comes to your emotions, which of the following animals best describes you and why?

*an angry lion
*a hissing snake
*a barking dog
*a tiny kitten
*a playful otter

No matter which animal we are we can chose to not hide our emotions but expose them to the taming of God's grace.

Jan's Website: www.jansilvious.com

Patsy's Website: www.patsyclairmont.com

Anita's Website: www.anitarenfroe.com

We're off to see the Wizard

Well, actually we are off to see the Women of Faith in Indy...at the 2008 Conference called Infinite Grace...now that's a Yellow Brick Road we can't wait to click our heels over and dance down...we will blog about our Adventures at WOF on Monday when we just might be overheard saying....There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home...no...probably more like...there's no place like ones own bed...

Opposites

So you may ask yourselves....I wonder what those two are doing today??? Well, if it's the early morning (dawn)...this is what Lois is doing...and if its the late night (dusk and beyond) this is what Char is doing...because after all there couldn't be two more opposite people in the whole wide world...like hot and cold, sweet and sour, fast and slow, quiet and loud, tight and loose...Zack and Cody...
Felix and Oscar....Florence and Olive....you get the picture...if it hadn't been for the Lord and some accidentally holey Squirt cans at Cub Foods in Lansing...we would not be friends, neighbors or ministry partners...as we would not have deliberately chosen one another...but one thing we are not polar opposites on is our total agreement that the Word of God should be read frequently and not occasionally...either at dawn or dusk..... if you feel your life is a little disheveled in this area....join with us on the completely organized daily Bible reading schedule from our church, Faith in Dyer...click the link below to see where we have been reading in the past and where we are going for the future....and please nobody ask which one is Olive...but where did I leave my Message Bible???

www.FaithChurchonline.org/BibleReadingSchedule

...and DANCE...she does!!!

She was a teacher with a Master's degree...She was passionate about knitting, cooking and attending TOPS meetings...She loved to dance with her husband every chance she got...She also came to the doctor's office regularly...As a younger woman she did not take the time for things like Bible study, to attend church or pray...Then, she became close to us after her husband died and agreed to try our "support meetings"...She was diligent in attending and often brought a friend or two along for the ride, which they supplied...She never missed an opportunity to pray for someone or herself...She always wanted the latest prayer updates...On June 13th, 2006 she met the Man we introduced her to...She dances now with a new partner, her Savior!!!

This is what James 5:16 Ministries offers to medical patients worldwide...Hope, Help and Healing through Faith Filled Encouragement, the Teaching of God's Word, and Praying the Scriptures...Thank you for partnering with us in this mission...

Our prayer is that if you get the chance...You'll Dance!!!

CLICK HERE: www.youtube.com/I hope you dance

...Standing on the Shoulders of Giants...

As the leadership of a Praying Ministry...we have decided that it is imperatively important to continually, tenaciously, and expectantly be on the look out for Spirit filled authors and books on the topic of Prayer...The five books that we have had the privilege of partaking of in the last few years that have really rung our bell and helped us in standing on the shoulders of giants are listed below in the order that we partook of them:

PRAYER...Finding the Heart's True Home
by Richard J. Foster
The PRAYER That Changes Everything by Stormie Omartian
I Told the Mountain to Move by Patricia Raybon
The Threshing Floor by Juanita Bynum
Get off your knees and PRAY by Sheila Walsh

Now we know what you are saying...these are completely different authors, from different backgrounds, different perspectives, different races, and different (Lord help us) denominations...here is how we handle this...we PRAY...before we read and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in all truth (John 16:12&13)...now that should ring a bell or two...oh never mind it's just the door...gotta go!!

Phrase: Standing on the shoulders of giants...using the understanding gained by major thinkers who have gone before in order to make intellectual progress.

HOWDY!!! Partners in Prayer

They number 31...come from 5 states...7 counties...and 17 towns...who are they you ask??? Those folks who faithfully committed to partner in prayer for us and the future of this ministry...In turn we return the blessing and pray for them and theirs... monthly...want to join???
Simply print off the form in this blog entry and snail mail (or pony express if available in your area) it to: James 5:16 Ministries...P.O. Box 186, Crete, IL 60417...

YeeHaw Y'All...Let the Prayin' Begin

Jump for Joy!!!

"And he who receives the Lord will Jump for Joy!"
Malachi 4:2

The Younger Girls

The 2nd set of mentee's are lovingly referred to as "The Younger Girls"...The first picture was taken on Sept. 11, 2004 when Jackie, Lois' Granddaughter was 5 and Valencia, my God-Daughter was 3 1/2. This picture is entitled...The Secret!! and was actually entered into a contest that the Picture People were having for their cutest kids contest...we voted them the winners!!!...and guess what the secret was??? Mama Char has stinky feet!!

Can't wait until Saturday, July 19, 2008...now Jackie is almost 9 and Valencia is 7 1/2...we will post the remake of The Secret!! as soon as we can...!!!

OH!! WHAT A FUN DAY!!! It is good to have mentee's 3 and 4 with us for the day....As you can see the remake of The Secret!! is here...Thanks Jenny from the Picture People for your creative care for customers and meeting their photography desires...........and putting up with the Older Ladies when we wanted to Jump for Joy too!!
Then we headed to the nearest theater and saw the American Girl Doll movie...Kit Kittredge (Farrah and Sarah enjoyed it too) , rode the carrousel at the mall (sorry about all that spinning), and acquired red punching balls (sorry about the one that EXPLODED!!!) Who knew it would be a "good thing" that your mentor's are medical people...Younger Girls!!!

To my children in the common faith: Grace and Peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior...for this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains...Older ladies are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored...Titus 1:4-5A; 2:3-5

Mentee's of our own...The Older Girls

Lois and I have had the privilege of pouring ourselves into two sets of girls...The first set which we now refer to as "The Older Girls" started when Karissa, my daughter was 10 and Rachel, Lois' niece was 8 1/2...The first picture of us is at an all day adventure to the American Girl Doll Tea Room/Chicago on July 10, 1999...The second picture was taken on June 6, 2008 at the Family Christian Center in honor of Rachel's graduation from Illiana Christian High School...As you can see the first set is "grown"...so mentorship with them is basically done....the only thing left are all the wacky stories for the wedding receptions....and tell them we will...We love you older girls...time to ship off and pour yourselves into "little girls" lives of your own...we wish you well... and we will always be available in case you have any questions...tea in the Team Room anyone??? There's always a table for six!!!

20/20 till 2012

Where there is no vision...the people perish!! Proverbs 29:18a...not desiring to have that experience...we prayed, covered one eye, asked and believed for four 20/20 eyes of understanding...then seeing clearly compiled our 5-Year Visionary Plan...this was handed or sent out in Fall "2007" to all those who "Partner in Prayer" for this ministry...In case any of you in Bloggy-land are "looking to see" in which direction we are going for the next five years...examine it with your own eyes...no seeing eye dog necessary!!!

Mentwo's...Rox and Mrs. "C"

I know...I know...I made up a new word...isn't it great???...It's mentor times two...we want to take a blog minute to honor those two mentors in our lives who over the years helped us be...who we be...or who we are today because of them....In his book, Finding a Spiritual Friend, Timothy Jones writes, "a companion who tells us, "I'm here, I'll stay--even if you do not have all of your life put together" frees us to grow. Such a friend helps us not grow weary and lose hope that keeps us trying."

Heartfelt Gratefulness to God for Rox, Lois' mentor and Mrs. "C" my mentor...we can't thank-you enough for handing us hope enough to "keep on trying" at every visit and staying with us when our lives were disconnected...like the ankle bone is not connected to the leg bone...we love you from the bottom of our hearts...well, actually with all four chambers...
Every time I say your name in prayer--which is practically all the time--I thank God for you, the God I worship with my whole life in the tradition of my ancestors. 2Tim1:3 MESSAGE

Tenacious PrayerBook...One

For those of you who are ...wandering...no excuse me....wondering.....or is it...wandering in your wonder?....or wondering while you wander?...oh...never mind....what medical condition prayers are contained in Tenacious PrayerBook!! One....here is the answer to that question...these are available with a donation of 10 bucks (+ $2 shipping) to this ministry...or available at the Vine Bookstore in Faith Church/Dyer and Cedar Lake locations.........and we are so overwhelmingly joy-filled to report that Thelma Wells and Sheila Walsh from the Women of Faith speaker team think that this book is DaBomb!! (def: used as an interjection to convey emotion of excitement of the speaker, which usually has no grammatical connection to the rest of the sentence and simply demonstrates the explosive feeling of a particular experience)

A Time to Gather

Our Ladies Support Group/Medical Mini-Church Meetings are held in the Ringering Room of the Park Forest Library at 400 Lakewood Blvd. Park Forest, Illinois...this is a little town apx. 17 miles south of Chicago. We are currently studying from a book by Marilyn Meberg called Overcoming Difficulties...a light-hearted look at Joshua...These are available from Lois for any size donation into this ministry...We hope that you can join us for these meetings to be encouraged in your walk, help in digging deeper into God's Word, and partner with us in scriptural praying for healing of mind, body, soul and spirit...Blessings!!

BREAKING NEWS...TheCall....logo

Okay...so two days ago we asked for prayer for the completion of the logo for TheCall!! and the breaking news is...we have an answer to that prayer...HOUSTON...we have a logo....and one that we outrageously love...searing hot chili-pepper hugs to Sue from www.artdeptgraphics.com...we are so totally convinced that Sue is from the family line of Speedy Gonzalez...or that she spends sleepless nights working and praying for her clients...

A darling of this ministry...Mrs. Ron Mitchell

Congrats to Nicole Brown on becoming Mrs. Ron Mitchell on June 7, 2008. Nickey, a darling of this ministry...has been the medical assistant in our doctor's office for the past 3 1/2 years. Through her excellent job performance, she has demonstrated the love of Jesus to both staff and our patients...God's Blessings....Ron and Nickey for many years of happiness together!!

TheCall

The ginormous project that we are in the process of launching is the teaching seminar of James 5:16 Ministries....TheCall!! We are in the final stages of writing, typing, tweaking, and fussing over this cutting edge facet of this growing new ministry. We will be taking "the show on the road" Lord willing the Fall of 2008 to a church near you. The seminar will consist of Why?? minister to the hospitalized, shut in, nursing home, and house bound patient...according to the scriptures in Matt 25:35-40. And also How?? to minister to these folks based on our 10 years experience in the field with patients. The main focus of this seminar will be the attendees role playing...as characters named Isaiah Prayer, Dee Hydration, or Grammie Hitmyhead... Each paying seminar attendee will receive a Tenacious PrayerBook!! volume one...a CallBook!! which is the official name for the workbook with all the "Helps" in it...and a three hour teaching time with....us....Char and Lois...now how much fun is that going to be??????
So here is what we need: PRAYER!!

~completion of the logo for TheCall!!
~completion of all the typing jobs
~completion of the power point presentation
~a projector to play the power point presentation on
~health, strength, quiet time with the Lord, time in general for Char & Lois to continue to lead this ministry into 2012 according to our 5 year Visionary Plan

Thanks for taking the time to invest in the Lord's work by praying for us...it makes all the difference in the world...!!

Give Back with Thanks Event...Purse Packing!!

Here we are the 18 happy purse packers...well, 17 one had to go home before the picture was taken. Our 50 purses, each in a different size, shape, style and color were packed full of wonderful items donated off the list by each of the packing ladies...We had wonderful snacks and fellowship as we packed...Special prayers were said as each item went into each purse for the lady who would receive it. Our day concluded with a visit from Jamie from the Crisis Center who spoke to us about what these purses would mean to the ladies she works with, the signs and behaviors of an abuser, and the services available to women in South Suburbia. We piled and packed full Jamie's cute little red SUV and we all were so glad to have ...
Given Back with Thanks...and participate in this event.....Acts 20:35...And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: " It's more blessed to give than to receive."

Twas the Night Before Purse Packing!!

It was Wednesday, July 2, 2008...and as I went to bed I had the packing of 50 purses on my mind for the next day. So here we were, Lois and I....at the United Center in Chicago...yes the same one the Bulls and Blackhawks play at. Lois was sitting at a little table (just like the one I bought my daughter, Karissa for doing manicures at) checking all the people in who came to pack purses. Only problem...we only had 50 purses to pack and only items for 50 purses.
All the people (12,000 of them) who were showing up had nothing to pack or pack in...they all came empty-handed. I kept going over by happy Lois at her little table ...covering up my microphone (one of those big plastic ones my kids had when they were little) so no one could hear and saying "How did we advertise for this event since so many are showing up?" She ignored me and smiling from ear to ear just kept on registering more people. I took the first 50 people into one section on the floor of the United Center for purse packing. The rest I took to section 111 which is a section I know from going to the Women of Faith Conferences every year as good seats to see from. With my plastic microphone in hand I told the 11,950 of them that their job was to pray!! And that they had the most important job in all of this purse packing event. I woke up in a scare and sweat...Thanking God that it was only a dream...come back tomorrow for the details of actual exciting event!

Our First Post

Today is our first posting on this new blog. We have decided to try a new way to keep everyone informed of the happenings of the ministry and our lives as the leaders of it . Bear with us as we make changes and adjust to the new concept. Our website will also be improved in the near future.