And we continue to hold you in our prayers as well, Mike.

I can say that after being under your leadership for 25 years, if someone were to ask me to describe you in one word as best I could I would use the word discipler. From the time you came to Ginghamsburg you were all about building a strong team and then going out and reaching the lost and building more disciples. It is a gift I believe that never stops giving. And in my 25 years I have never had to look far before finding a way to go out and serve. Thanks for challenging us in ways that never fail to stretch and is sometimes uncomfortable but always worth the ride!

I look around sometime at the attendance of my own church and lately have been wondering if this is an example of the road less traveled. I can remember when the new building was first built and it seemed packed and it just looks like there are more and more empty seats lately. I'm ashamed to say, If I am to tell the truth, I am guilty of being a beleiver who has been one of those filled seats, not really turning my faith into much action except a few extra dollars into the offering here and there. I'm really understanding, especially for an introvert, just how difficult walking this walk can be. I am trying hard to move from my own stagnate comfortable beleif and declaration of faith to truly walking in the way of Christ. I've known I needed to get moving for a long time. It's been eating at me and I don't want my faith to be that "spectator" sport any longer, but stepping out makes me question my heart. I'm almost forcing myself to do the right thing and shouldn't it be more an automatic and immediate desire? For instance, I'm now having my tithe taken directly out of my account so I don't have to struggle with it. If my faith were better, wouldn't it be easier to do the right thing? I feel at peace about doing it this way but I still question where I'm at with God. I'm signing up to do more things, such as I'm volunteering at the V.A. but it's not easy for me. I'm literally "making" myself do the good things, making myself leave the comforts of my home and so I wonder how deep really is my love for Christ. I've said and I beleive I do beleive and I have accepted Christ as my Savior but what does that say about my faith if it's so hard for me to really step out? I've sort of feel like i've just been giving God breadcrumbs, I know that and I'm embarrased by it, I've been going to GUM for 23 years and still have only been giving him breadcrumbs. Argh! It's an inner struggle. A constant inner struggle. But I have to thank God for leading me in this walk, of which I'm sure GUM is a part of, because I don't know if I would have realized the void that has resulted in living a stagnate faith, without Him. Whenever I hear someone say how Christians are judgemental I think to myself "Oh Yeah, You bet they are" and often I think that's why I don't hang out with them, but I'm discovering that I can be as judgemental as any. In my sons latest letter from Afghanistan he wrote...I was driving next to the fense yesterday and all of a sudden looked over and saw some kid running with a shotgun. It was pretty crazy. I kept looking over waiting for him to point it at me thinking "God please don't make me shoot a kid". I guess alot of people will send their kids to do stuff like that because they want us to shoot them so they get money, and it makes us look really bad. Its so sad. There are such desperate people out here." and I caught myself looking down on the Afghan people, judging them, thinking what kind of "animals" are they? what kind of parents could do that? As i thought it I felt ashamed because I saw that I'm as much of a judger as anyone. I don't live that life and my perspective is definitely from a life of comfort and ease and not desperation. Those are Gods childen too. Who am I? Im the one with the plank in my eye. I've been remembering you and Carolyn in my prayers this week. I think I also need to start praying for the Korean people. As Tom Barnes used to say it's a process not an event. Thankfully! And thanks for sharing, it's a lesson in itself.

Suzanne as I read your account of your walk with Christ it is something I could have written myself. It is so hard! I'm in First Place For Health and last week we saw a DVD by Beth Moore where she said First it's hard then it gets harder then it get easier then we put it under out feet. I am trying to call out the Jesus each time I'm tempted, at the moment of choice, that I make the choice that would please my Lord. I will pray for you as I pray for myself in this walk.