Well, after three weeks of being stuck on the 217 lb. mark, faithful fruits/vegetables eating dropped me to a bit over 210! I was wondering when the morning walks would start to payoff, so here goes : -)

Allow me to share part of my joy. As you recall, I began with a weight of 247 lbs. on 12-June-02. I weighed myself weekly and saw some progress, so here are monthly updates: July (234, -13); August (226, -8); Sep (223, -3); Oct (224, +1); Nov (220, -4); Dec (210, -10) all for a total weight loss of 37 lbs. in 6 months. I want to lose twenty-seven more, and it would be nice to do so within the next six months. I'll invest the next year working at *keeping* it off <g>

Anyway, on to last week's answered prayer needs!

Last week...

(1) You prayed for the merchants from whom I buy fruits and vegetables by asking God to draw them to Himself... I'm not seeing the same ones twice for very long, so I *really* need your ongoing intercession for them.

(2) As you considered your Christmas gifts, you remembered to give generously to a certain Lottie Moon. The project I am involved in by way of the Global Prayer Center of Jerusalem will *not* receive her gift; however, there is always a way to designate a gift. The needs of sharing the gospel are deep, and your sacrificial giving is deeply appreciated!

(3) You joined us Saturday in giving thanks for the 8th anniversary of our appointment as your workers overseas... we had a great day. Thanks : -)

(4) The group with whom we worship on Sunday morning has begun another group elsewhere on Sunday evening! May we see the desire to start even more groups! ... from the tone of Sunday evening's time of worship, it sure sounds like it!

(5) Last Monday 16-December at 11pm Eastern time was the time I began another attempt at securing an extended visa *and* requesting an additional extension. You prayed that all would be granted according to His will, grace, and mercy... your intercession is *not* in vain. I've had to postpone that by about 24 hrs and will be there within the next twelve hours of sending this knee-mail.

This week...

(1) From a fellow believer in Bethlehem...

"It is the Christmas season and many of you will be singing this beautiful and timeless carol:

'O Little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie'

As all of you turn your attention to Bethlehem these days, please remember Our Little Town in your prayers. Bethlehem now is very sad. All its people are struggling under very strict curfew since the 22nd of November. It may be hard to imagine being under curfew. It is very cruel, because no one is allowed to leave his or her home for any reason. All shops and schools are closed, as well as pharmacies and work places. There is no possibility for Christmas shopping, there are no decorations, and one cannot go to church. Being a closed military area we are even denied the usual flood of Christian pilgrims.

I pray that you will sing this beautiful song and that its meaning will bless you Christmas, but before you do please think of the suffering Church in Bethlehem and say a prayer that the curfew will be lifted and the siege on Bethlehem will end. You may want to also write to your nearest Israeli representative and your own government officials about these cruel acts done against the people of Bethlehem by the Israeli army.

May Immanuel Bless You This Christmas.

In His Name,

Bishara Awad

President, Bethlehem Bible College"

(2) In faith, begin to rejoice with us over the acquisition of an extended visa : -)

(3) Pray with me over the learning of how to set up a network sharing a high-speed Internet connection.

(4) Continue praying for neighbors as they seem more "interested" as Christmas approaches.

May God find us listening more attentively to His voice this week as I am,

Yours because His,

Scott

< scoterry31684@bigfoot.com ><

"Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you...," 1 Samuel 12:23

FLORIDA--FIRST-PERSON: Will the real Islam please stand up.

http://www.bpnews.net/bpcolumn.asp?ID=818

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it" Ps. 24:1.

Because He created us, we "belong" to the Lord. He also claims us for His own by the right of redemption (Heb. 2:9). We who acknowledge Christ as Savior and Lord know we are not our own. We are "bought with a price" (I Cor. 6:20). How were you informed of this? Who told you of His claim upon you? Today there are well over two billion individuals who have no one to tell them.

Dear Lord, burden our hearts for thousands of peoples still without a witness. Prepare the hearts of individuals in those people groups to hear and respond to Your Word. Send out laborers into this harvest.

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* CALENDAR UPDATES *

11, Thank God for utilities!

* Your intercession has kept our electricity on for many, many days : -)

12, Pray that we be His faithful followers.

* May this be an ongoing need for us.

13, Yasser Arafat’s salvation

* If there's anybody who needs to be saved...

14, Ariel Sharon’s salvation

* ... it's these two men.

15, a new church to meet for worship

* We just so happened to attend such a new gathering! The church with whom we've been worshiping realized it was too big and has branched off several members to start another church - and it's already crowded!

16, safety of US family

* As far as I know, everyone is fine : -)

17, Jasmine’s ongoing safety