It was quite encouraging to see Basil Shelton express some of my thoughts in a recent Baptist Press article: Can democracy flourish in a Muslim society?

Those of you with daughters who've passed the magical age of 5 know what I've been experiencing this week. Wow, is Jasmine growing fast. This month she literally grew 15mm (5/8") and, wow, is she changing (sigh). I'm glad I started praying for her a long time ago <g>

This may be the final Wednesday Weekly sent from Jerusalem and, hopefully, future editions will be sent from wherever we may be in the US. Hey, that's a good prayer request : -)

This is beyond funny: http://www.gospeltruth.net/membership.htm

Finally, be sure to visit http://www.jerry.digisle.tv/room.html where Jerry Seinfeld and Superman co-star in a promo thing for American Express. It's quite amusing : -)

Matthew 24:14

* Be sure to sign up for the Wednesday Weekly.

+ Jasmine began the celebration of her 5th birthday with a school party in her honor, and you prayed that her teachers and friends would learn about Jesus... what a joy to see nearly fifty smiling faces receive a snack bag from the birthday girl and to pray into those faces the love and knowledge of Jesus.

+ You continued praying for the group coming to visit the Prayer Center to be open to His vision and focus for its work... wow, did they ever! Friends from FBC in Jonesboro, Georgia were quite encouraging. Be sure to visit them at www.fbcjonesboro.com

+ You continued to pray for a group of new believers from the majority community who have started meeting together for fellowship twice a month. We learned about this meeting from a new believer who attended the meeting about two weeks ago. She explained to us how excited she was to know that other followers of Christ are dealing with some of the same struggles she does, and you prayed that God would protect all attendees, since every time they meet they are putting their lives and family reputation at risk. You also joined us in praying that when we return in August that the group would become a house church and that more groups will start from this one... your ongoing intercession is greatly appreciated.

<T H I S  W E E K><

<>< Start sending up prayers for the safe arrival of all of our luggage and may it come the same time we arrive.

<>< Pray that our adjustment to the US will happen quickly and that we can focus on the tasks before us day by day.

<>< Ask God to provide reliable Internet connections for us while we're in the US this summer.

>< Pray for the Hakka. >

CALENDAR UPDATES

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26-29, Ask God to touch hearts and change lives at the Lazarus Home for Girls in biblical Bethany.

* Our time is drawing to a close, so it's good to know that there are others involved in the work at the Lazarus Home. Your intercession has made and will continue to make a great difference!

30-31, Jasmine is 5 on Sunday!

* She had a spectacular birthday and told us so a number of times (unprovoked <g>).

1, May these final days before leaving for the US not be too stressful or annoying for anyone involved : -)

* Oh, has your intercession been felt! Thank you!

"Beyond Funny"

http://www.gospeltruth.net/membership.htm

The Examination of a Candidate to be a Church Member

To determine the suitability of his membership in a local Church

A church council was examining a candidate for membership. One of the questions they asked him was, "What part of the Bible do you like best?" "I like the New Testament best," he replied. "What book in the New Testament?" "The book of Parables." "Would you kindly relate one of those parables to us?" So the uncertain candidate bluffed as follows:

"Once upon a time, a man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, and the thorns grew up and choked him.

And he went on and met the Queen of Sheba, and she gave him a thousand talents of gold and silver, and a hundred changes of rainment. And he got in his chariot and drove furiously. And when he was driving along under a tree his hair got caught in a limb and left him hanging there.

And he hung there many days and many nights, and ravens brought him food to eat and drink. And one night while he was hanging there asleep, his wife, Delilah, came and cut off his hair, and he dropped and fell on the stony ground; and it began to rain and it rained forty days and forty nights, and he hid himself in a cave.

And he went on and met a man who said, "Come in and take supper with me," but he said, "I cannot come, for I have married a wife." And the man went out into the highways and byways and compelled him to come.

He went on and came to Jerusalem and he saw Queen Jezebel sitting high up in a window. When she saw him she laughed. And he said, "Throw her down out of there," and they threw her down. And he said, "Throw her down again," and they threw her down seventy times seven times, and of the fragments they then picked up twelve baskets full. Now whose wife will she be in the day of judgment?"