I'm scared. . .

I'm scared. . .really scared. I'm starting this program through my church called Christ-Life Solution. Phase One of this program will take me through a journey of looking at my hurts, horrors, humiliations, hungers and hatreds. I will explore what has caused me to be stuck in various parts of life.

I'll be delving into my personal history. . .sounds about as fun as a root canal, right? I'm sure that it will be worth it and that Christ will be with me every step of the way.

Further clarification from God

If we listen, often God guides us to what we should be doing with our lives. I find it really amazing when He gives us an even clearer focus beyond just a general direction.

Such is the case with Matt Johnston, a native of Alto, N.M. Johnston felt called to be in ministry. While participating in a mission term in England, Johnston felt God clarifying the focus from youth ministry to a higher level of ministry.

The Baptist Standard has the story.

In love with God's creation

Experiencing God's creation humbles me and helps me to take a step back and contemplate my place in the universe. I enjoy visiting and seeing waterfalls, lakes, mountains and. . .caves.

The Union of Catholic Asian News recently wrote about how Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, an underground river cave, is inspiring its visitors:

In (Ronces Paragoso's) mind, she said, the magnificent rock formations of the cave resemble religious images in cathedral-like caverns and domes, and the 45-minute tour was a conversation with God. 'God spoke to me through the cave,' Paragoso said. Besides leaving her feeling refreshed, she said the tour reminded her that 'God is really awesome.'

Alex Marcaida calls the river of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park a 'spectacular creation' of God. 'Every time I'm inside the cave, I think I'm on another planet,' the 45-year-old frequent visitor told UCA News. 'How great a creator God is.'

Just seeing photos of Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is inspiring me, and I want to visit there someday.

Pastor saves his city from drunk drivers

Living in a metropolitan area, I take for granted the opportunity to take a cab if necessary. For residents of small towns, like Morris, Ill., people need to rely on their own transportation -- even if that means driving home drunk.

Fortunately for those of Morris, they had a free ride home on New Year's Eve. They just had to call Pastor Shaun Ettinger of LifeChurch.

The Morris Daily Herald shared the story:

When figuring out how to spend New Year's Eve with his wife, Ettinger said God spoke to him. He told him he needed to provide rides.

So that's what Ettinger did. People who had a few too many on New Year's Eve could call him and his wife, and get a free ride home -- no questions asked.

Kidney from a stranger

They say not to take candy from a stranger -- but taking a kidney from a stranger just may save your life.

For Paul Olearnick, who waited four years for a new kidney, an extension of his life came from a complete stranger who recently joined his church.

Connecticut's WTNH-TV shared the story of Olearnick and his donor, Jake Jandreau:

Paul found a match at his church, Valley Shore Assembly of God in Old Saybrook. A new member heard his story and knew he could help.

'It was his faith, believing that God was gonna bring somebody to help him. And it was the faith I had that God spoke to me that I was gonna help this man in this way,' said Jake Jandreau of Clinton.

Jake was a perfect match.

Talk about amazing generosity.

A warning about the current economic crisis

The Athens Banner-Herald ran a recent story in which Fred Vehe, pastor of the Christian Worship Assembly in Hartwell, Ga., references the many ways that God has spoken to him:

* 'God can show me why people are having problems,' Vehe said. 'I pray for them, and the power of God comes upon them.'

* On moving to Georgia from New York City: 'I prayed for days and days,' Vehe said. 'One night, just before I laid down to go to sleep, God spoke to me and said, 'Georgia.''

* On the current economic crisis: Vehe also said he had a vision several months ago in which he saw President Bush standing outside the World Trade Center in New York. In his vision, he said Bush looked perplexed, was wringing his hands in anxiety and kept repeating 'Oh, the economy.'
This, Vehe claims, was a warning from God about the coming global economic crisis.

It would be interesting to be in the know when Vehe hears something about the end of the current economic troubles.

200 miles on empty

In NEWSWEEK's recent list of the top 50 "Global Elite", E. A. Adeboye, a Pentecostal preacher from Nigeria, came in at number 49. Who is he? Adeboye is the pastor of The Redeemed Christian Church of God and is one of the most successful preachers in the world. His church is in 110 countries, and has 14,000 branches and 5 million members.

And Adeboye's church continues to expand. He wants his new locations to be within five minutes' walk of every person in the developing world and within five minutes of driving for those in the developed world.

Adeboye recently experienced an amazing miracle on a long and dangerous stretch of highway near Lagos, according to NEWSWEEK:

His car was out of gas, and the gas stations were empty. Then God spoke to him, clearly, and said to keep driving. Adeboye drove 200 miles on empty. Could his gas gauge have been broken? No, he insists, God intervened 'because of the need … in a crisis.'

If you haven't heard of Adeboye yet, you probably will soon.