The Mentors of our life.

Today I got to have a conversation with a long time friend and mentor. A man big in stature and with an equally sized heart. I met him back in 1989 on the Island of St. Croix where my family and I were serving as missionaries. We had just come through hurricane Hugo, I was a new leader, (very wet behind the ears in leadership) and was attending a meeting with pastors from the island in regards to how we could get help for members of their congregations and communities they lived in. I sat not far from this man with a big voice and a laugh that once you heard it you would never forget it.

His name is Busta and he is from the island of Jamaica, he has the spirit of an evangelist and heart of a pastor. Well we struck up a relationship that day that continues to this day and I am so very grateful for the relationship we have had. During the early years of my leadership in ministry on the island he and an other pastor who was originally from the British Virgin Islands were not only friends but mentors in my life. They taught me how to relax,trust Jesus as a leader and as they would say in their patwa "everyting goin be ire" (everything is going to be good) and it normally was. They bought me my first note book computer and believed in me.....they were men that believed in me and stood with me through my many ups and downs....oh I thank God for those men.

In the last few weeks I have renewed my relationship with another pastor from St. Croix whom I had not heard from in years, he and his family are doing well and serving the Lord in Southern Florida....what a blessing to have old relationships be renewed, thanks Max.....

What did you expect?

Friends,
I am writing to you tonight with a heart that is burdened by the state of our nation, 44 years ago my family moved to this nation from Canada, my mom and dad had moved to Canada from post WW II Holland. They came with the clothes on their backs, a dream in their hearts and 2 little girls. (I was born in Canada) They traveled across the broad expanse of Canada in an old train in the middle of a Canadian winter eventually arriving in Saskatchewan where they would settle in and go through the process of learning a new language, culture and world view. Today what my parents went through would be cause for the ACLU to rise up and bring individuals and organizations to court for prejudice, mistreatment and insensitivity. But that was not the case back then and my parents just had to "bite the bullet" and keep going believing that with hard work and strong values they could succeed in this life.

My mother and father were never the "victims" they took a chance and they knew it would be hard but the opportunity was worth the risk,disappointment, hardship and trial. My mom and dad's story can be repeat countless times in this great nation but it seems that the spirit of greatness that is associated with my parents and all those of that same mind and heart is fading quickly. God help us to rekindle the fire that made this nation great; it is not the money, I am sick and tired of people screaming for more money. it is not the leadership.....we voted them in, we should of been more discerning and questioning, it is you and me rising up each day by the grace of God and tackling the day with the determination that we can live our dream and help our off spring to live great and virtuous lives that encourage and enable our fellow citizen to dream and live the dream. We were not promised paradise in this life but we were given the opportunity to live free if we could handle the responsibility of that great gift. God Bless America

God, taking the simple of this world to confound the proud!

I have just listen to an incredible voice from a simple woman from Britian. By the time you read this you will probably of heard it or heard of it. In either case I have been delightfully blessed by a simple woman who has the voice of angel wrapped in the beauty of heaven. Please go to this site and enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXX_gMFeWlc

Following Him

Ed