Testimonial from Glenn Inn

We had our church bazaar today to raise funds for our short term missions.

Guess who came to visit … none other that Francisco, the young boy who started with our La Vida Ninos program and had such severe ADD that he couldn't sit still for more than 30 seconds. 

After the first 12 week session, Francisco was able to sit and focus on homework for 15 minutes. He dropped out of the program not because he wanted to, but because his sister didn't like coming to do homework. I haven't seen Francisco for 1.5 years. I am so proud of him he's growing up well, thriving after the 1.5 yrs of time with our program.

~ Glenn Inn

Glenn Inn and Francisco at Church Bazaaar.

Beethoven. Listening to Greatness

Many of us may have learned about the famous Fifth Symphony. I am in the process of listening to Ludwigs complete works via amazon music on my ipad. This may take some time as there are at least 372 works!

I put my head back and listen. This is indeed restful as music bypasses all the chatter that we hear. Instead we hear cadences, cords, and I must say soul. Because when I want an infusion of inspiration I find that listening to greatness helps. It is like seeing the Olympics. People do the most amazing feats in what appears to be effortless grace.

And so it is with great music that is perfected by those who have laboured to get it right. We don't see the hours of putting down the notes with a quill pen, or the years of practice of the performers before the greatness of the music is translated down to us.

WHAT WE HEAR IS EFFORTLESS GREATNESS. I find myself waving a baton in the air. I want to enter into this in some way. So it is with greatness in any area. We recognize it when we see it or hear it. Greatness lifts us. It takes is out of the ordinary to another place where we can sore.

We all have a few moments of inspiration in life when we touch what we are supposed to be or do. Never forget that these are divine moments and take time to reignite what you heard or saw in that place.

 Get still and let inspiration lead you where you must go!

Thanksgiving Blog

It really is a good thing to give thanks to God. Thanksgiving focuses us on what we have been given. We thank God for shelter, food in our homes, cars, friends, special moments we have had during the past year.

Thanksgiving is not just individual but Thanksgiving Day is a chance for us to give thanks to God for living in America. We have been showered with opportunities to learn, to move ahead. We have had values instilled in us by our churches, families and mentors. We have a large grand land with mountains, plains, lakes and oceans.

As we sit down at our Thanksgiving Dinner we think of all the food blessings. This Thanksgiving I have been particularly thankful for the heritage of sharing food via local food banks and other non profits who provide help for those who struggle with hunger. As we get a heart of real Thanksgiving we want to reach out and share, not because it is expected, but because we want to express our love to God and what has been given to us by expressing our feelings in action. Some of you may go down and serve a meal for the homeless. That is a good thing to do.

If we can keep our head and our heart on being thankful, we will experience joy in the midst of all the business this season brings.

Thanksgiving isn't just a national holiday it is a very real remedy to get us in tune with the God who so richly provides all things for us!

LET US GIVE THANKS WITH OUR WHOLE HEARTS!

Touchdown Camp is Special

What makes something unique? It can be an unique pairing. Here the cheerfulness of the daisy with the crunch of chips.

We are invited to sit down at this table and be part of something. Touchdown Kids camp is original because it involves children, adults, teenagers. It mixes those from different economic and church backgrounds. It invites to the table, pastors, and the very newest believer. It mixes the most serious message of salvation with the cheerfulness of games, clowns, silliness.

Camp reaches beyond all comfort zones. Shy children become bold. Teenagers forget themselves in serving. Invited speakers give time but receive unforgettable faces. Visitors go away amazed and challenged to try for an original mix where they live.

Grown ups find themselves laughing and lightening up as they see children loosed to really act like children. Freedom is in the air. Memories and friendships happen that make new friends out of strangers. Cheerfulness and very real work mingle together as comfortable partners.

Angels hover over the camp guarding the divine joy.

EHen

Sit Down With a Child

Yesterday I heard a report from an elementary school counsellor that there were children who weren't doing their homework because their parents were at work, and besides that, some of them had little education and so couldn't help their own children.

"The hours when kids get into trouble is after school until the parents get home." she said. This is the ideal time for a tutoring team, even two adults to jump start a simple program that can quite literally change the life of a child.

As an educator, I know that without the basics of reading and math in first through fourth grade, a child has little chance of success in school. There is a window of time. One hour of your time if you will give if, can make a huge difference!

Children need to have adult roll models. An adult who sits down with a few others either at your local school, church, or your home sends a message that these children are important and cared for!

I urge men, especially, who may have some flexibility in work days and hours to seriously consider the needs of your community and see what you can do. A first step might be to go talk to a school counselor at your local elementary school.

Look at the situation, analyze the problems there and start the ball rolling to save the children.

For those who do something in response to this call, I would appreciate hearing what God does through you! I believe the entire country in every city needs these efforts and if we all give an hour it will make a difference to us and to all our communities.

Lessons in Jelly Donuts

It has been years since I have enjoyed a jelly donut. It's not years since I've had any kind of donut. I like the cake donut of the lightly sugared donut. Jelly donuts I treat as a different kind of thing.

I put it on a plate and then cut it in two pieces, The gooey, red filling spreads over part of the plate. I ate the first half and my fingers got all sticky. It was a wonderful sticky that made me feel about 10 again. So, I ate the second half! 

Now a child would never be so cautious as to put the donut on the plate and Cut it in half. A child would just shove as much as possible in her mouth and let the juice drip and ooze out wherever it wished. 

Kids really enjoy food they like and I can tell you watching the kids eat at camp, we see the enjoyment. We don't serve donuts but they get fresh fruit, juice drinks, pizza and grilled chicken. Hungry children don't complain, they eat and when the call comes, for seconds...they leap for joy to get more. Get a little bit more like the child you were and let the jelly filling get you sticky with delight!

Elaine Biser - Secretary of Project Lost Sheep

Love Takes Initiative

Today, I heard a wonderful, true story from one of our former tutors in Redwood City who moved to Florida. She is a single woman on very limited income who loves children. She found a very poor school in her area and was invited to tutor the students at no pay. Let's call this woman Sue. Sue has a way of listening to children's needs because she loves them. 

A little girl that was working with Sue, told her that she had asked her parents for ballet lessons, and when Sue asked her student what happened, the little girl face got sad. Her parents couldn't afford lessons.

Sue took the initiative because she loved to dance and knew a place that taught kids dance. After she went in person to the leader of the program the girl was admitted to dance classes at no charge. Beyond that Sue found some used dance clothes and dance shoes that fit her little student.

How kind God is. He can look down and reach out a loving hand to help a little girl dance!