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The Kreider Connection
Racers For Christ
June, 2008 Newsletter
Working with people in ministry is always interesting and challenging. We meet a diverse group and try to help folks in all kinds of ways and in all kinds of circumstances. The one thing that is obvious is that there are a lot of hurting people in this world, and deep inside they are looking for solutions. So why is it so hard to help many of them? I think the first thing we must do to be effective is to take the time to understand exactly where they are. Many a well meaning person has approached situations with solutions before understanding where the person is in life. The sad result of this kind of approach is most often failure and discouragement on the part of the one attempting to reach out.
We wouldn’t try to force an infant to eat a steak – a hamburger doesn’t sound appealing to a vegetarian no matter how hungry they are. So how can we know what may offend or be too much for the people we reach out to? Ask questions and be willing to listen and listen some more. People are more likely to listen to someone who cares about their challenges. We find it takes a lot less effort in the end and less damage control is needed. Of course the real secret is listening to God through the Spirit as He leads to give us understanding. Could that be why the scripture tells us to meet physical needs before ministering to spiritual needs?
Ultimately, Jesus is the answer; let Him use us as the bridge to reaching Him. Jesus himself set the perfect example in John 4 with the woman at the well. When more of us are willing to be used to solve others’ problems, there will be fewer people with problems to solve. Let’s all work together to make the world a better place through Jesus!! The government will not solve the problems of our troubled land; it is up to us by allowing Jesus to work through us. Working together we can be real difference makers.
Blessings,
Glenn &
Phone: 618-292-6048
Email: kreiders@papadocs.com
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BEGIN. JUST BEGIN!
By Max Lucado
What
difference will my work make?
God’s
answer: “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see
the work begin” (Zech. 4:10).
Begin.
Just Begin! What seems small to you might be huge to someone else. Just ask
Bohn Fawkes. During World War II, he piloted a B-17. On one mission he
sustained flak from Nazi antiaircraft guns. Even though his gas tanks were hit,
the plane did not explode, and Fawkes was able to land the plane.
On
the morning following the raid, Fawkes asked his crew chief for the German
shell. He wanted to keep a souvenir of his incredible good fortune. The crew
chief explained that not just one but eleven shells had been found in the gas
tanks, none of which exploded.
Technicians
opened the missiles and found them void of explosive charge. They were clean
and harmless and with one exception, empty. The exception contained a carefully
rolled piece of paper. On it a message had been scrawled in the Czech language.
Translated, the note read: “This is all we can do for you now.”
A
courageous assembly-line worker was disarming bombs and scribbled the note. He
couldn’t end the war, but he could save one plane. He couldn’t do everything,
but he could do something. So he did it.
God does big things with small deeds.