July, 2005

WELCOME HOME!

W
“When I come to the end of the road and the
ell, our brother, Daniel Norr, has sun has set for me, I want no rites in a
gone home. He fought the good fight, gloom-filled room; why cry for a soul set
he has finished the course, and we now have free? Miss me a little, but not too long, and
another UP Team member interceding not with your head bowed low; remember
before the throne of grace. I ran across the love that we once shared, miss me, but let
some notes I had made in 2003 about a me go. For this is a journey we all must
totally different situation, but they seem take, and each must go alone; it’s all a part
appropriate now. And elderly couple in a of the master’s plan, a step on the road to
Springfield Assisted Living Center home. When you’re lonely and sick of heart,
experienced the tragedy of their daughter go to the friends we know; bury your
being struck by a car and killed while she sorrows in doing good deeds. Miss me, but
was walking the family dog. It was the day let me go.”
after her 38th wedding anniversary and the
day before she was going to the Center and It seems very appropriate to offer as the
help her parents prepare for theirs. Another reflection in this edition of the Newsletter
daughter wrote a poem and the couple asked excerpts from some of Daniel’s e-mail
me to read it in a little get-together in their messages, from this wonderful ministry he
room. When I saw it again recently, it surely had: “How many of us skip right over
reminded me of Daniel. So, I share it in (challenging) passages
honor of him, and (in Scripture) because
as a prayer for his it’s uncomfortable or
precious wife, because we would
Joanne (please have to do something
pray for her – it is that might become
wonderful to see disagreeable to our
people from her mortal ways of acting?
church reaching For example, take Romans
out to her in so many 12: 1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brethren,
ways): by the mercies of God, to present your bodies
as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to of Sienna, Italy, a middle ages reformer:
God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not “Eternal God, eternal Trinity, You are a
be conformed to this world, but be mystery as deep as the sea; the more I search,
transformed by the renewal of your mind, that the more I find, and the more I find the more
you may prove what is good and acceptable I search for You. But I can never be satisfied;
and perfect.” Did it ever occur to us that this what I receive will ever leave me desiring
is the exact reason God had Saint Paul put it more. When You fill my soul I have an even
in writing? It takes a great deal of courage to greater hunger, and I grow more famished for
turn this into a personal prayer. We give God Your light. I desire above all to see You, the
permission to bring about a complete true Light, as You really are. Eternal Trinity,
metamorphosis of our thinking, offering Him Godhead, You could give me no greater gift
the opportunity to do whatever He wills as an than the gift of Yourself. For You are a Fire
act of worship on our part. Jesus continually ever burning and never consumed, which
offered Himself to the Father. And He asked itself consumes all the selfish love that fills my
us to follow in His footsteps by our actions. If being.” Daniel’s reflection: “How many of
God takes us up on our prayer to Him, we will us have such a relationship with God that we
find that we are able to discern whether what talk to Him ‘face-to-face’ like this? Most of
we are doing is His will for us: just tolerable, my prayers are, ‘Dear God…’. If we were to
good, or perfect. Prayer: God of acceptance, approach the sun our bodies would be
we offer, as well as we are able, our physical consumed. God is a consuming Fire. By
being to You as our act of spiritual worship. entering His presence we would experience
Conform us to Your image. Amen.”… the death of our selfish love, as Catherine
Quoting a letter from a saintly woman in the verbalizes. When He calls us to Himself, we
16th century: “Put aside your hatred and need to respond. Eternal God, eternal Trinity,
animosity. Take pains to refrain from sharp call us to, and fill us with, Yourself. May the
words. If they escape your lips, do not be love and hunger with which You feed us
ashamed to let your lips produce the remedy, overflow to this starving world. Amen”…
since they have caused the wounds. Pardon And, in December of 2003, Daniel sent me the
one another so that later on you will not following: “Jesus’ prayer for all of who
remember the injury. The recollection of an believe in Him is ‘that we may all be one;’
injury is itself wrong. It adds to our anger, even as the Father is in Him, and He in the
nurtures our sin and hates what is good. It is Father, ‘that we also may be in Them, so that
a rusty arrow and poison for the soul. It puts the world may believe that the Father has sent
all virtue to flight. It is like a worm in the Him.’ Jesus summed up the Ten
mind. It confuses our speech and tears to Commandments into two: Love God totally
shreds our petitions to God. It is foreign to and love my neighbor as myself. He didn’t
love. It remains planted in the soul like a come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it. In my
nail. It is wickedness that never sleeps, sin time of walking with the Lord I have
that never fails. It is indeed a daily death.” discovered my inability to love anyone as
Daniel’s reflection: “If Jesus paid the price much as God is asking of me. Too often I am
for my sins, why do I need continuous looking to my own needs first, not the needs of
conversion? It reminds me of the story of a another. And I have come to realize that
young boy. His father instructed him God’s ideas regarding love differ radically
whenever he got angry to pound nails into a from mine. To begin with, I tend to love those
fence. Later, after forgiveness, he had him who love me and avoid anyone who does not
remove the nails. The holes were still there. love me back. That is conditional love. God’s
Repentance helps heal the wound. Lord of word asks me to not only love those whom I
healing, may we repent of the damage caused can see but goes so far as to declare that I
by our angers. Amen.”…Quoting Catherine cannot love God if I do not love my neighbor!
In addition, He requires me to love my heal, any and all impediments to fellowship
enemies and to do good to those who with Him and others. This is another step on
persecute me! And at the end of these the journey. Zion Enterprises, Inc; P.O. Box
Scriptures I am directed to be perfect and 938, Kimberling City 65686-0938.”
merciful! I used to believe that God was Thank you, Daniel; your journey is now
asking of me an impossible task. I realize complete. Pray for us who are still on the
today that He wants to equip me with way.
everything I need to accomplish these goals.
But the only way is through His gifts and His TIME IS FLEETING
style of love. It’s called agape, and it requires
me to be willing to lay down my life for
another. It is impossible in the natural. But
D aniel’s homecoming
serves as a
reminder that time
in dying to my self and learning to live in is short; it goes so
Christ Jesus who showed me the way, I know quickly, and none
it is achievable. God will not ask me to do of us is ever
anything that He is not willing to give me the certain when our
ability to succeed in. I have to ask – and then time on earth will
I must be willing to let Him make changes end. A great
within my heart and mind to bring about His source of e-mails for this Newsletter is my
will and way in my life. It is not easy but good friend, Judy, at Silver Dollar City.
possible. The obstacle to this kind of love in About a year ago she sent me one entitled
the family of God is not an external problem; “How Old is Grandma?”: “Stay with this.
the fears, angers, hurts, subtle deceits, One evening a grandson was talking to his
antagonisms, and pride all reside inside of grandmother about current events. The
me. On this journey to wholeness I am to call grandson asked his grandmother what she
on the Name of the Lord Jesus. thought about the shootings at schools, the
He desires to give me computer age, and just things in general.
His Holy Spirit to The grandma replied, ‘Well, let me think a
lead me into a minute. I was born before television,
loving penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox,
relationship with contact lenses, Frisbees and the pill. There
God the Father and were no credit cards, laser beams or ball-
with all of His ‘children.’ It’s point pens. Man (or woman) had not
about inviting God to transform my life into invented pantyhose, air conditioners,
one of agape love. God’s word tells me this dishwashers, clothes dryers. Clothes were
live is the only thing I can take with me into hung out to dry in the fresh air and man had
eternity – and it is the greatest gift I can yet to walk on the moon. Your grandfather
desire. I need to ask God to reveal my heart and I got married first and then lived
and to purge all unrighteousness. Through together. Until I was 25, I called every man
older than I ‘sir’ and every woman
‘ma’am.’ We were before gay-
rights, computer-dating, daycare
centers and group therapy. Our
lives were governed by the Ten
Commandments, good judgment
and common sense. We were
taught to know the difference
between right and wrong and to
God’s word I am asking Him to reveal, then stand up and take responsibility for our
actions. Serving your country was a list: 1) Prayer Mobilization is an effort by
privilege; living in this country was a bigger Love INC, Pastor Gordon Shields, myself
privilege. We thought fast food was what and others to identify people with specific
people ate during Lent. Having a needs – clients of Love INC, applicants to
meaningful relationship meant getting along Share It Forward (the non-profit
with your cousins. Draft dodgers organization I coordinate that provides
were people who closed their front financial assistance to employees and their
doors when the evening breeze families – from a fund created by employees
started. Time-sharing meant and Company matching), and others we
time the family spent become aware of. So, please pray regularly
together in the evenings for all the social service needs of people in
and on weekends. We our area – individuals and families, agencies
never heard of FM radios, and churches that provide assistance, and a
tape decks, CDs, electric consistent matching of needs with sources to
typewriters, yogurt or guys wearing meet those needs. 2) The Promise Keepers
earrings. We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Event in Fayetteville, Arkansas is history,
Benny and the President’s speeches on our but please keep NW AR in your prayers,
radios. If you saw anything with ‘Made in including the Willits and the DaySpring
Japan’ on it, it was usually junk. Pizza Hut, folks who coordinated the event and have a
McDonald’s and instant coffee were unheard passion for community transformation. 3) I
of. We had 5 & 10-cent stores where you had lunch recently with Jeff Reynolds, the
could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. UP Team member who has a vision for
Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a Rockaway Beach and is raising funds to
streetcar and a soft drink were all a nickel. build a state-of-the-art skate park there.
And if you didn’t want to splurge, you could There is a new church there which is
spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail reaching out to the community; Vince
one letter and two postcards. You could buy Blubaugh is the pastor, Chris Campbell the
a new Chevy Coupe for $600, but who could Youth Pastor, Sheri Pierce is a Ministry
afford one? Too bad, because gasoline was Assistant and Nancy Finn is the Church
11 cents a gallon. In my day, ‘grass’ was Administrator. These folks are not waiting
mowed, ‘coke’ was a soft drink, ‘pot’ was for people to come to them; they are finding
something your mother cooked in and ‘rock creative ways to mingle with and serve the
music’ was your grandmother’s lullaby. community. Dick Scott has been a spiritual
‘Aids’ were helpers in the Principal’s office, rock in Rockaway Beach for years and was
‘chip’ meant a piece of wood, ‘hardware’ the first person years ago to donate land to
was found in a hardware store, and Mountain County Habitat for
‘software’ wasn’t even a word. And we were Humanity. He is also donating
the last generation to actually believe that a land for the skate park.
lady needed a husband to have a baby. No There are still folks in
wonder people call us ‘old and confused’ and that area who are
say that there is a generation gap. Now, how hoping for gambling to
old do you think I am?” Let’s see, this was come in. People like Jeff
written a year ago, so she is actually older and Vince and Dick and
now. Grandma is 59! many others believe that
gambling is not the answer, is not
PRAYER PARTNERS in the best interest of the people of

T here are so many people and

organizations with needs all around us.
Please include the following on your prayer
Rockaway Beach, but that there are creative
ideas that can be implemented to bring a
spiritual and economic renewal to that
community – just as for other communities should empty the teapot and stand upside
in SW MO. 4) Pastor Howard Boyd has down on the draining board.” Outside a
partnered with Walt Cameron, a mortgage thrift shop: “We exchange anything –
banker, and they are offering incredible bicycles, washing machines, etc. Why not
opportunities for people – individuals and bring your wife along and get a wonderful
families – to be home-owners. This really bargain?”… In a health food store window:
works, and there are many testimonies “Closed due to illness.”… In a safari park:
already. Lack of downpayment, lack of good “Elephants please stay in your car.”… Sign
credit, nothing is an posted during a conference: “For anyone
insurmountable obstacle. If who has children and doesn’t know it, there
you would like more is a day care on the first floor.”… Notice on
information, call Kimily a fence: “The farmer allows walkers to cross
Tinch at 335-2424. 5) I the field for free, but the bull charges.”… On
mentioned Share It a leaflet: “If you cannot read, this leaflet
Forward earlier; please will tell you how to get lessons.”… On a
pray for this unique repair shop door: “We can repair anything.
nonprofit organization that (Please knock hard on the door – the bell
seeks to provide help to HFE doesn’t work.”…
employees and their immediate families, and
pray for me as the Coordinator of this
outreach. 6) Please continue praying for the
Silver Dollar City Foundation, under whose
umbrella the UP Team operates. This
community outreach has provided some very
important and significant services to our
area (and many pastors and others can attest
to it) and needs our prayers on a consistent
basis.
QUOTE FOR THE MONTH:
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE: WHOOPS!
“P
I
rayer is the slender nerve
n a Boston fast-food parking lot:
“Parking for Drive-Through Customers that moves the muscle of
Only.”…Ad: “Illiterate? Write today for
free help.”… Church bulletin: “The Rector omnipotence.”
would appreciate it if the ladies of the parish
would lend him their electric girdles for the
pancake supper.”… Sign: “Toilet out of
order. Please use floor below.”… Sign in a
laundromat: “Automatic Washing
Machines: Please remove all your clothes
when the light goes out.”… In a department
store: “Bargain Basement Upstairs.”… In DAYSPRING
an office: “Would the person who took the
step ladder yesterday
please bring it back or
I mentioned the involvement of the
DaySpring founders in planning the
Promise Keepers event. I have met Dean
further steps will be and Dave. Years ago they were discouraged;
taken.”… In an office: they were working in a print shop, but
“After tea break, staff
things were not going well and they both had One spoke up and said that this was not fair.
a huge heart for ministry. So, they followed The employer said, “I’m sorry, but all the
Biblical advice and went out into the desert – time you’ve been here the telegraph key has
actually, in Southern California. They been ticking out a message in Morse Code.
found a juniper tree that looked like they felt The message was, ‘If you understand this
and settled under it to pray. The Holy Spirit message, come right in. The job is yours.’
prompted them to totally yield to God and None of you heard it. He did, and the job is
His will. Within weeks DaySpring was born, his.” Can we be so deafened by the noise
and it is now the largest Christian greeting around us that we fail to hear the patient
card publisher in the world. and persistent voice of God? Does it take a
crisis, a tragedy? God loves us so much.
CONCLUSION

T he Scriptures encourage us to be still

and to listen if we want to hear God.
We live in such a fast-paced society,
there is so much noise, but
nevertheless God is present,
God yearns to speak to our
hearts and give us Please pray that the UP Team
encouragement and direction. continue to grow, to 24/7 and
But we have to listen. The beyond. Please invite family,
following story brings this friends, church members to join.
home: A number of years Please encourage other prayer
ago, a young man was groups to partner with the UP
seeking a job as a Morse Team. Please suggest to people
Code operator. He found an ad in a from outside our area to consider
newspaper and went to the office address beginning their own
that was listed. When he got there he found uninterrupted prayer teams. I
it was a large, busy office with lots of hustle deeply appreciate all of you. I
and bustle, including the constant chatter of would love to hear your ideas,
a telegraph key in the background. A sign input, suggestions. My number
directed all applicants for the open position is 338-8036; and my cell phone,
to sign in, take a seat and wait to be called day and night, is 331-1028.
for an interview. About a dozen applicants
were already there; this was discouraging to
the young man, but he went ahead and
signed in and sat down. After a few minutes
of waiting, the man got up, walked to the
door where the sign was, opened it and
walked in. That disturbed the other
applicants, all of whom were before him. A
little later, the door opened and there
stood the young man and the God bless you. Peace to you and yours.
employer. The
employer told the
others that the Bob Burton
position had been
filled and they
were free to go.