As we enter a new year we are once again given the unique opportunity of “starting over” or “beginning again”. Each of us has the full 365 days before us to use as we choose. May I challenge you to “take time”…

Take time to think…
It is the source of power.

Take time to play…
It is the secret of perpetual youth.

Take time to read…
It is the foundation of wisdom.

Take time to pray…
It is the greatest power on earth.

Take time to love and be loved…
It is a God given privilege.

Take time to be friendly…
It is the road to happiness.

Take time to give…
It is too short a day to be selfish.

Take time to re-create…
It builds a scrapbook of memories.

Take time for God…
It turns into eternity.

Presented by Bob D. Foster of Lost Valley Ranch, Sedalia, CO

And as we look forward to this new year, I would wish that you may enjoy it to the fullest…

May you laugh often
May your coffee be hot
May your steaks be tender
May your taxes be reduced
May your traffic lights be green
May your planes fly on schedule
May you sleep until the alarm goes off
May your bank balance never be in the red
May your gains be great and your pains be few
May you work hard, play vigorously and rest easily
May you always have change for the parking meter
May your summers be cool and your winters be warm
May your service in the restaurant be worthy of a tip
May you never have more than one child in college at a time
May your trips to the dentist be for cleaning and polishing only
May your care get the mileage per gallon that you were told to expect
May you be privileged to pay your life insurance premiums another year
And may you just keep on being the person you are in the New Year!

(Anonymous)

Taking time to enjoy the moment,

Kent

January is a month of beginning again. I enjoy it because it means that I can start over, renew my vision, and have hope. At this time of the year, we often analyze our successes and failures of the last year and commit to do it differently this time around. As I have thought about my daily practices, I am amazed how much influence “habits” have in my life. Most of what I do every day is simply controlled by long standing habit patterns. These control my eating, sleeping, exercise, reading, travel, work, play, spending, and thought patterns. They influence both positively and negatively my social, spiritual, work and family life.

These behaviors are established after weeks, months, and even years of practice. It seems that I have to continue to work at sticking with the “good” habits. Although now they are second nature to me and fairly automatic, they usually require effort to “keep up”. If such effort is not consistent, they disappear rather quickly. Therefore, I must frequently reinforce my good habits and discipline myself to persistently “stay with it”. The “bad” ones, however, seem to start naturally and take no effort to maintain. I am so blinded by these “bad” ones that I seldom see them for what they really are and what will be their result. They have the power to keep me bound, even addicted. They are only broken by effort, accountability, and the reprogramming of my mind and natural responses.

Most of my habits I learned not from a book, a speech, or a class, but from observation of lives around me. I adopted most of the good habits that I have from people that I admire and respect. The bad ones I simply fell into naturally, gradually slipped into a rut, or spent time with the wrong crowd or influence.

We are “comfortable” in most of our habits, whether they are good or bad. But while they dominate us, they are the result of deliberate choices. Paul writes in Romans, “don’t you realize that you can choose your own master?…The one to whom you offer yourself – he will take you and be your master and you will be his slave.” Most of the good in my life is due to lifelong habits. “However, for good or evil, each habit is a cable; we weave a thread of it every day, and at last we cannot break it” (Horace Mann).

Sow a thought, and you reap an act;
Sow an act, and you reap a habit;
Sow a habit, and you reap a character;
Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.

As we approach this new year, lets understand that what we read, watch, listen to, and particularly the kind of people that we spend time with and admire, will influence our thoughts. Habits start in our minds and result in our destiny.

Paul challenges us in Philippians “Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious, the best, not the worst; the beautiful not the ugly; things to praise not things to curse”. Lets brighten our lives and our world this new year by thinking right, doing right, and establishing a couple of new good habits!

Habitually yours,

Kent

Well, the weekend is over and it’s time to let you know what’s happening. Kent seems to have about 50% “good” days (when he can breathe the easiest) and 50% “bad” days (when breathing is more of a struggle). The good news is that the good days are getting stronger, and the bad days are not nearly as bad as they were. Over all, his progress is continuing to head toward health. THANK YOU for your continued prayers. We have heard from many of you, and your encouraging comments have been such a boost to our spirits. Please keep up the prayers – that’s really all he needs.

I mentioned that he had cataract surgery last week. It went well, and his healing is going beautifully. He is so happy with the results, and so glad that he did it.

I can’t even explain how excited Kent is about his upcoming trip to India! The trip is still 7 weeks away, and his doctors are beginning to agree with him that he will be ready. Another miracle to add to his list of ways that the Great Physician has worked. I am going with him, so getting a visa, immunizations, and doing research for the trip are high on my “to do” list. (Yes, I will know where every trauma center and pulmanologist is at every stop, “just in case”.) I don’t mean for that to be a lack of faith, but I am a girl who likes plans A,B,C, and D to be in place before I go wandering off. If he needs extra help of any kind, I will try to know how to get it.

Have a good day,

Davidene

He amazes me. He just keeps doing life as though nothing  is going on with his health, and I have to work hard to keep up with him. As I talked with God about all of this, He reminded my heart that my role is to love and support my man; thankfully, I don’t have to be a mother to him, or act like the Holy Spirit and make his decisions for him. I am grateful, because I wouldn’t want that responsibility. God has a sense of humor, however, and He showed it through a friend of mine this morning. We were talking about Kent’s decision to go to India, and a few of my girlfriends admitted that they thought he was just being “Kent”, and that Kent is a little passionate and eccentric compared to most other people. Then my one friend, Debbie, declared that God is thrilled about that, because God is eccentric, too! He can’t always be understood, refuses to be put in a ‘box’ of expectations, has visionary ideas with no boundaries, and on and on. I’d never thought that way, but I had to admit that God is a really good pattern to follow! I’ll never understand completely what makes Kent tick sometimes, but I am along for the wild ride! I’ll blog from India (if I can figure out how to do it).

In the meantime, please keep praying for us. Kent still needs to improve his strength and energy. He is actually being a very good patient, resting when he needs to rest, eating healthy, and being sweet about all of it. Being sweet is hard when a person is on a lot of steroids, because steroids change emotions in a negative way. But God has given grace to Kent in this area, and I am the beneficiary. I am thankful!

Have a good day,

Davidene

In Lamentations 3:22-23, God reminds us that every day His mercies are renewed. His faithfulness never wavers and His love is unconditional. Each morning we are able to come to Him for cleansing, direction, and strength for another day in the marketplace. I do not know about you, but I need that fresh start. In my readings in recent weeks, I have been reminded of God’s promise to us in Isaiah. Speaking of the Christ, the Messiah who was to come, verse one proclaims,

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives, and release for the prisoners.” 1

In this verse, God is talking to you and me as leaders in the workplace. We have been anointed by God to be His personal representatives in our companies. We are to tell His good news to everyone. He has commissioned us to heal the brokenhearted, the abused, the discouraged, the hurting, the hopeless, and the struggling ones. He has asked us to share the freedom of Christ with those employees, clients, vendors, and associates who are in bondage to today’s fast paced culture. We are to share the secrets of Christ to those locked in the prison of debt, sexual problems, addictions, and impossible  relationships. As we live each day in the marketplace, we are to help release those prisoners around us.

There are many workplace leaders who are frustrated, alone, and ready to quit. They need hope, just as we do. We must free those trapped by this world’s business system, so that they can know the Spirit’s direction and power for living between Sundays. We must release those mired in “old paradigm” religion, not realizing that God has called them to go out beyond the walls of the church and model the risen Christ in their workplace.

As we face this New Year let us determine again to be obedient, faithful, and sensitive to the Spirit of the living God as we join Him in freeing thousands to walk in His pathway. May we be as lights in a darkened world, showing others the path to freedom.

Offering a helping hand,

Kent Humphreys

1Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)

“Why did this happen?” many of us asked God, just after we got word in November that my disease of seventeen years has gone into remission.  After walking one to two miles a day for the last year, I was suddenly not able to breathe even while standing.  I could literally not even walk to the bathroom and back without stopping and fighting for air.

I am home, feeling much better, and gaining a little strength each day.   I hope for a full recovery in order to resume my new “normal” lifestyle and intend to be on a plane to India within eight weeks.  But, here is why I still need to go.  The Holy Spirit simply showed me:

A Comparison

There are only two nations in the world with one billion people, India and China.  The Church is rapidly growing in each of these nations in totally differently ways.

1. In China, this growth has been mainly underground with “house churches” and has now gone to above ground churches in many areas.  This has happened as the people moved to the cities.  The government has been open to new freedoms, but there are still pockets of persecution.  In India there have been massive crusades, healings, and many people have been raised from the dead. Tremendous persecution, church burnings, and the killing of many believers have occurred particularly in the north with much greater freedom and open success in the south.
2. These are two key nations that I have visited four or five times over the last few years and made some close friendships in each.  As President and an Ambassador for FCCI / Christ@Work I have been able travel with teams of business leaders and visit 25 nations over the last decade.  What a joy to meet believers in places of relationships around the world.
3. The “god” of China is money and power.  So, for all the new Christians, the “secular / scared divide” is huge.  They can easily compartmentalize their lives and be dishonest in the workplace while loving Jesus and being a leader in the church.  The “god” of India is religion.  Just as in Jesus time, the religious leaders are sometimes the biggest problems, not the sinners.  Christ came to save us sinners, but religion tries to mask the real problem. We have not helped from the West by many times importing into India all of our religious baggage and practices and pride rather than simply Christ.  So many times, the people simply ADD another religion. Or, even the Christian church tends to adopt the world’s methods of growth.  (The way the “god” of the USA is pleasure, followed closely behind by possessions, and finally by pride and power.  See I John 2:15, 16)
4. Therefore, God showed me.  To deal with the business leaders of China (which is the most powerful group) I had you send a team of five men in December to help with the integration of faith and work.  The church got our churchy religious baggage in the mission movement and the notion that “business and the marketplace are dirty and must be separate from the church.” Our team, as many others have been, was very well received and the message is really needed.  The government in fact encourages interaction with business leaders from the USA and Taiwan because they discovered that our “capitalism” without values and ethics does not work.  They do not necessarily care if we bring Christianity, but they want us to bring relationships to do business and values.  What an Open Door that we as business leaders have that even the “church” cannot enter.

But, in India the pastors need to see that the focus is not to be upon crowds, the platform, the church buildings or programs, or even the miracles.  The focus is to be upon the risen Christ and HIS glory.  The focus is to be upon HIS method of discipleship which gets lost in all of the churches’ “success with huge numbers”.  The pastors are simply to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, who will then go and make disciples in their daily sphere of influence. Shepherding Horses is about pastors and church leaders building bridges of relationships, affirming, equipping, commissioning, and releasing.  Just as the non-professional grew the church in China without missionaries for thirty of more years, the church in India will only have true rapid growth when every saint is involved where they live, work, and play.

Understanding the Battle

So, when we began to plan our trip to India, we made the enemy mad.  He could see our strategy.  Hundreds and thousands of groups work in India and do great jobs in crusades, training, education, and orphanages. But, our training will go right to the pastors, who will train others, and eventually impact a network of 100,000 pastors across India.  Yes, there is persecution around the world in Iran, where God is using visions and dreams to bring many to Christ. But, Christians are killed there every day.  In northern Nigeria, the believers are under huge challenges and face death.  But, in India we have an opportunity to see an entire nation transformed in the midst of heavy persecution. That is when the church grows the most.  In the USA, we are a stagnant church because we have adapted to the easy life.  The blessings of God have become our curse because we have focused on them instead of Him.

So, I finally understood.  It is NOT about me, just one of millions of Christians involved around the world.  It is about HIS glory and one nation.  When I was asked in the fall to go to India next year, I was better physically but had not been able to travel overseas in nearly two years.  My disease appeared heading into remission.  I asked to pray and wait until December 1^st to respond to the invitation to train pastors in four cities (now five). In November, we got good blood test results, great reports from all the physicians, and encouragement to go on the trip.  We announced to friends and family that after three years the disease had gone into remission.

Simply, people stopped praying, Satan got upset, and NONE of us saw the spiritual battle for a nation that was taking place.  So, when a small infection or a virus or bronchitis shut down my airways the last few weeks, then many asked “Kent, are you still going to India, where it is crowded and dirty and could really damage your airways?”  I said YES!  But, now as I understand that this is NOT about my health but HIS glory and the transformation of a nation. NOW I must reply, “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  The action is just beginning, not ending.”  We are in a spiritual battle for the millions of souls in an entire nation.  We have the rare opportunity to encourage and equip hundreds of pastors and church leaders who are on the front lines of the battle.  They face hardships of all kinds and persecutions and simply need our support and help in preparing them to be used to disciple an entire nation for Christ.

If the basic truths that we have shared across the US and around the world with pastors will give them some small help, then I will not miss this opportunity. Pastors across Africa and Europe and even Asia have told me, “how did you know that this was an issue here, I have never heard this before in bible school or seminary, and why have you not come earlier?”  We must go.  I am just one simple businessman.  But, God has given me a unique message for the church and pastors and workplace leaders.  It is biblical to the core.  As the pastor builds bridges of relationships, he equips the leaders to model Christ in their huge sphere of influence.  The church is scattered, not just gathered. The HORSES are allowed to be themselves and run free.

A small team of us (pastors and business leaders) will leave around March 8^th and return March 25^th after visiting five cites.  Please pray for my health.  However, if I can just get on a plane, then I will be going.  I fully anticipate doing just that.  This is a SPIRITUAL BATTLE for a nation.  The battle is being fought where we cannot physically see it.  But, it is there.  This is about God the Father’s glory, the method of Christ His Son, and the power of the Holy Spirit working through us His saints.  I am NOT asking you to go, I am not asking you to give (although there will be real financial costs for this large training process), BUT I am asking you to PRAY!  Prayer is NOT just a tool; it is where this battle will be fought.  So, start now instead of eight weeks from now.  A nation hangs in the balance. YOU have the power to see God work in a huge way.  He wants you to ask, seek, and keep knocking.   I thought that this was just another trip and training many pastors.  It is NOT about training, or pastors, or me, or my health issues, BUT it is about a line being drawn in the sand by the enemy. Breath is the essence of life.  It is a miracle that I am still around.  So, if Satan is this mad to target a little guy like me, we must have discovered a hole in his armor.  Let us bring together all the forces of hundreds of believers praying and let help bring down the “religious strong holds” of India.

Pray simply that God will be glorified, Jesus’ methods will be adopted, and the power of the Holy Spirit will be released!

Thanks for receiving these insights with me from our Father.

Your brother, Kent

 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)

 Therefore, I will live in the temporal world of the visible, while focusing on the eternal world of the invisible relying on His grace and power.

A new story: A staff lady was working on Kent, and he gave her his “Holiday Letters” book. She mentioned that she wanted to write a book. When Kent asked her what she wanted to write about, she said that her 14 year old son was killed when a garbage truck backed over him! A few days later, her 20 year old son died! We decided that learning about another pereson’s tragedy can change your perspsective in a hurry. We are also grateful that God only lets us experience the things that He is gives us the grace to endure.

Rejoice with us tomorrow, and keep praying! Please! And thank you… Davidene

Kent’s improvement is measured in very small increments, but it is there. He looks and feels generally much better, although he is still remarkably weak. The doctors have started the process of weaning him off of IV steroids by giving him a slightly lesser dosage in pill form. If he tolerates this, he could be sent home to finish recovery there, still closely monitored by doctor visits. We have been told that insurance companies and medicare apply great pressure to doctors to release patients quickly, but I think that our doctors are very patient oriented, and would not knowingly send Kent home early. So please continue praying that they would have the wisdom to know when it is safe to send him home. He is resting better and getting more sleep – thank you.

It is amazing to me to think back at the stress of 3 days ago, and realize how God has orchestrated events so that this hospitalization has been so positive. Every single staff member who has entered Kent’s room has been encouraging and caring. He has had excellent care, and been surrounded by sweet staff and wonderful friends and family. The whole thing changes when God’s people start praying earnestly, and we have been the recipients of that power. We are so thankful. Strong prayer is spiritual work, and to say “thank you” seems so simple. But be assured that you, too, are brought to God’s throne by us, with grateful hearts. We pray that God would richly bless you with all of the promises that He gives to those who pray – and there are many.

Well, it’s time to go, but I will talk to you again tomorrow with any news. Love In Him, Davidene