Romance me, O my Husband!
You lavish Your arms around me.
Where could i go where i would be outside of them?
There is no where You are not!
I dance and sing before You.
There is nothing You do not possess.
Yet You want more of me.
Haste the day when We become one flesh!
You are God of the universe!
You know every harlotry i've done,
Yet You find me beautiful.
I am captivating to You.
Your mercies are too much for me.
I cannot bear it!
Your grace is too deep for me.
Thus You swim with me.
O Your reckless Love for me!
O the price You paid!
Am i worth it?
You make me so!
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
Posts by : Admin
Futbol!!!
In case you were unaware, futbol=soccer.
Last Friday night. Quito (Liga) vs Guayaquil (Emelec). Playoffs (i think). 40,000 fans in the stands.Ben Haley, another IMB missionary, and i got to the game 30 minutes late. No matter. Emelec was up 2-1. We were at Liga's stadium but the only section left was the one reserved for Emelec fans. Ben was wearing his Liga jacket so we had to sneak past the guards. As soon as we got to that section a woman, wearing and Emelec jacket, looked at me, pointed at Ben and started punching her fist as if to say she was going to hit him, since we were in the wrong section. We got away from her and went to the other end of those bleachers.
Liga scored in the 2nd half and tied it up, 2-2. Then one of the Emelec players accidently scored on his own goal, putting Liga in the lead. Ben was jumping up and down so i had to remind him to not celebrate too much cause we were still in the wrong section.
One of the ball boys for Liga was slow returning the ball so one of Emelec's players started a fight. 20-30 police officers flooded the field and there was a 5 minute fight among the players. They cleaned it up and continued playing. A fight broke out behind us in the stands next. A police officer got shoved down and so 3 other officers pulled out their night sticks. People scattered like cockroaches.
The time ran out with Liga ahead and we rushed for our car, as to beat the crowd. Riot police blockaded the exit stairs for the Emelec fan section. I was in the front of a line of people shouting, "WE'RE LIGA!" All of a sudden the started pushing me from behind, my face against a plexi-glass riot shield. We busted through the line of cops and i had to run fast to keep from getting run over (sorry Dr. Jennings).
Once back in the car, we had to pass the road that was in front of the stadium. Pedestrians flooded the street, making it impossible to drive more than a few feet a minute. Another fight broke out in front of my car! Some guy kicked another and the victim fled, being chased by the kicker. What a night! So fun!
I've never seen anything like it.
Last Friday night. Quito (Liga) vs Guayaquil (Emelec). Playoffs (i think). 40,000 fans in the stands.Ben Haley, another IMB missionary, and i got to the game 30 minutes late. No matter. Emelec was up 2-1. We were at Liga's stadium but the only section left was the one reserved for Emelec fans. Ben was wearing his Liga jacket so we had to sneak past the guards. As soon as we got to that section a woman, wearing and Emelec jacket, looked at me, pointed at Ben and started punching her fist as if to say she was going to hit him, since we were in the wrong section. We got away from her and went to the other end of those bleachers.
Liga scored in the 2nd half and tied it up, 2-2. Then one of the Emelec players accidently scored on his own goal, putting Liga in the lead. Ben was jumping up and down so i had to remind him to not celebrate too much cause we were still in the wrong section.
One of the ball boys for Liga was slow returning the ball so one of Emelec's players started a fight. 20-30 police officers flooded the field and there was a 5 minute fight among the players. They cleaned it up and continued playing. A fight broke out behind us in the stands next. A police officer got shoved down and so 3 other officers pulled out their night sticks. People scattered like cockroaches.
The time ran out with Liga ahead and we rushed for our car, as to beat the crowd. Riot police blockaded the exit stairs for the Emelec fan section. I was in the front of a line of people shouting, "WE'RE LIGA!" All of a sudden the started pushing me from behind, my face against a plexi-glass riot shield. We busted through the line of cops and i had to run fast to keep from getting run over (sorry Dr. Jennings).
Once back in the car, we had to pass the road that was in front of the stadium. Pedestrians flooded the street, making it impossible to drive more than a few feet a minute. Another fight broke out in front of my car! Some guy kicked another and the victim fled, being chased by the kicker. What a night! So fun!
I've never seen anything like it.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Posts by : Admin
Faith Healing
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." James 5:14
That's just what i did. But first...I've been dealing with a shoulder problem for close to 2 years. I had surgery on it at the start of that time and it was never 100% since. Bone spurs were removed and they seem to have come back sooner than expected. Especially during the summer, i started having severe pain in my right shoulder. It's actually been so bad that i was able to do my push-ups in order to get in shape for the Xtreme Team. It's been a rough ride-- all these ailments. Nevertheless, i was continuing to try my push-ups on my own strength and failing miserably. Last week i tried doing the 6 sets of 30 push-ups according to the workout schedule. Discouragingly, i could only pull of 3 sets of 15 girl push-ups (leaning forward on a wall instead of pushing off the floor). I was desperate.
Last weekend at the 5-10 member dirt floor church in Pesillo, i asked the pastor, my friend, Jose, to follow this verse in James 5:14. Since the church was so small and everyone was older than me, they all got up and Jose spread a handful of vegetable oil on my head (I think it's silly to buy special "blessed" oil at the Christian bookstore. The grocery store has some oil that works just as good for a lot cheaper.) Now, i'd like to say this: I don't believe that the oil itself has any healing power, in and of itself. I believe the power of healing to come from God alone through faith. Like baptism, anointing with oil is symbolic of an act of faith that God is doing through me.
Not feeling any better, i was still certain that my shoulder had been healed. That's what faith is: Knowing without seeing. So the next day, it was time for my push-ups. Just before starting, i thanked the Lord for healing me, even though it still hurt a little. I did my first set on the ground (real push-ups)... all 30 of them. Then another set, then another. Within 10 minutes all 6 sets were complete. I had a moment of praise to Him, not that i wasn't doing it since the anointing the day before. Yes, i still felt a little discomfort in my shoulder, but the difference was night and day. I have been able to do all my exercises this week free of severe pain. I'm very excited about this and wanted to share what God is doing with this old wine skin/clay jar that He's chosen to reach the nations with. Glory to Him!
That's just what i did. But first...I've been dealing with a shoulder problem for close to 2 years. I had surgery on it at the start of that time and it was never 100% since. Bone spurs were removed and they seem to have come back sooner than expected. Especially during the summer, i started having severe pain in my right shoulder. It's actually been so bad that i was able to do my push-ups in order to get in shape for the Xtreme Team. It's been a rough ride-- all these ailments. Nevertheless, i was continuing to try my push-ups on my own strength and failing miserably. Last week i tried doing the 6 sets of 30 push-ups according to the workout schedule. Discouragingly, i could only pull of 3 sets of 15 girl push-ups (leaning forward on a wall instead of pushing off the floor). I was desperate.
Last weekend at the 5-10 member dirt floor church in Pesillo, i asked the pastor, my friend, Jose, to follow this verse in James 5:14. Since the church was so small and everyone was older than me, they all got up and Jose spread a handful of vegetable oil on my head (I think it's silly to buy special "blessed" oil at the Christian bookstore. The grocery store has some oil that works just as good for a lot cheaper.) Now, i'd like to say this: I don't believe that the oil itself has any healing power, in and of itself. I believe the power of healing to come from God alone through faith. Like baptism, anointing with oil is symbolic of an act of faith that God is doing through me.
Not feeling any better, i was still certain that my shoulder had been healed. That's what faith is: Knowing without seeing. So the next day, it was time for my push-ups. Just before starting, i thanked the Lord for healing me, even though it still hurt a little. I did my first set on the ground (real push-ups)... all 30 of them. Then another set, then another. Within 10 minutes all 6 sets were complete. I had a moment of praise to Him, not that i wasn't doing it since the anointing the day before. Yes, i still felt a little discomfort in my shoulder, but the difference was night and day. I have been able to do all my exercises this week free of severe pain. I'm very excited about this and wanted to share what God is doing with this old wine skin/clay jar that He's chosen to reach the nations with. Glory to Him!
Posts by : Admin
Well Butter My Behind and Call Me a Biscuit! Happy Thanksgiving, America!
The meat and taters: (for the skimmers)
The milk and cookies: (for the non-skimmers)
Dear cloud of witnesses,
First, i want to ask yall if there's anyway i can be praying for you. As i asked this back in the summer and ask it now because Satan wants to put things in your lives that will stop you from thinking/praying for your brothers and sisters overseas (including me). We can't afford that. Plus, this is not a religion where you have my back but i don't have yours. Back to back, we fight our spiritual battles.I was able to lead a local named Edgar to Christ! PTL! Read the story . A week later, we visited him again and his family was there. Maria (mom), a little girl (sister?), and a boy/girlfriend couple (sister?). They are not believers but are interested in learning more. We shared the Creation story. Edgar has started reading the book of John in the Bible we gave him. He has a tough living situation with a women who is married to someone else.
Jose and i are working on a very small bathhouse on the weekends. We started last weekend. Once i realized he had no intentions of making it square and i could stop worrying, i felt a lot better. Laying blocks is very different in the States. We hope that this bathhouse will attract the town´s people to the church, many of whom don´t have a shower or toilet. Glory to God!
We celebrated Thanksgiving at the house with about 50 missionaries from Ecuador. As you might have gathered, the Pilgrims didn´t settle the coast of Ecuador, so it´s not a holiday most of the nationals know or celebrate. It was some good eating though! I even met a girl named Katie Kaley who was a camper at Snowbird the last 2 summers! What are the odds?!
PrayeRequests:
- A guy named Edgar got saved, God tested my faith, and God is teaching me some strange things. Several stories like these are posted on the blog.
- Jeff Hill, from Texas, will be joining the Xtreme Team in February with me.
- Prayer requests are below.
The milk and cookies: (for the non-skimmers)
Dear cloud of witnesses,
First, i want to ask yall if there's anyway i can be praying for you. As i asked this back in the summer and ask it now because Satan wants to put things in your lives that will stop you from thinking/praying for your brothers and sisters overseas (including me). We can't afford that. Plus, this is not a religion where you have my back but i don't have yours. Back to back, we fight our spiritual battles.I was able to lead a local named Edgar to Christ! PTL! Read the story . A week later, we visited him again and his family was there. Maria (mom), a little girl (sister?), and a boy/girlfriend couple (sister?). They are not believers but are interested in learning more. We shared the Creation story. Edgar has started reading the book of John in the Bible we gave him. He has a tough living situation with a women who is married to someone else.
Jose and i are working on a very small bathhouse on the weekends. We started last weekend. Once i realized he had no intentions of making it square and i could stop worrying, i felt a lot better. Laying blocks is very different in the States. We hope that this bathhouse will attract the town´s people to the church, many of whom don´t have a shower or toilet. Glory to God!
We celebrated Thanksgiving at the house with about 50 missionaries from Ecuador. As you might have gathered, the Pilgrims didn´t settle the coast of Ecuador, so it´s not a holiday most of the nationals know or celebrate. It was some good eating though! I even met a girl named Katie Kaley who was a camper at Snowbird the last 2 summers! What are the odds?!
PrayeRequests:
- Pray for Igancio and i as we disciple Edgar and minister to his unbelieving family.
- Pray for me as i have no face-to-face accountability with English-speaking guys my age. There are none here. This has been the biggest loss i've suffered thus far. Props to my accountability guys back home who email me.
- Pray that i would not miss opportunities to serve and witness to souls that are ripe for the harvest.
- Jeff Hill is in training in VA at the moment. Pray he doesn't tear his ACL, etc.
- Unspoken request. Just kidding! Those aren't in the Bible. (Think about it.)
Love yuns!
†il the whole world hears,
corey reid pendergrassThursday, November 23, 2006
Posts by : Admin
wo who!!!
This weekend Mirjam and I are planning on taking Felipe to the mountains across Guimaca. We´re going to hike to the highest point in Guimaca and are praying for opportunities to share Christ with the peoples in the mountains. A friend of mine that teaches at the Catholic school in town tod me there are quite a bit of people living up there that never come down and need to hear about Christ. Please pry that God would open up opportunitie and that we would get the official go ahead from the Jefe. Everything else here is going amazing. I cannot believe snowbird gets here friday. Please pray fr healing of mine and Mirjams ankles. We took a group of 10 older boys to the mountains for a camping trip this past wekend and it was amazing but we both twisted our ankles. Ironic eh? Mine is actually getting a lot better. Tuesday night I had the opportunity to talk to one of the watchimen...Modesto. We talked for about an hour in the 40 degree...yes i said 40 degree weather here in Honduras. I asked him about his beliefs and shared with him the gospel, but he stated he knows the gospel but isnt ready to be obedient. Pleae pray for him and for further conversations. Helene has been asking more and more questions about the Lord and salvation, she even talked to Wade about salvation. She is searching and seeking hard cre, PLEASE pray for her and This morning i was doing my Bible study in the living room (usually i do it in the bed room) but Sabrina came to me and asked me what I was doing and why and i was able to show her how to have a Bible study and show her the many reasons elievers study the word daily instead of only in church. It was a very fruitful time please pray the Lord would continue to work on her heart as well.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Posts by : Admin
"Ok, corey, POP QUIZ" -Jesus
Ever had a pop quiz from God? I had one Saturday night.
Jose and i were at the church in Pesillo, getting ready to spend the night and have church the folowing morning. We needed to go to a neighbor's house but, even though i´d managed not to wreck the car this week, i did lock the keys in it. I started to call AAA but 1) They aren´t in Ecuador and 2) i'm not a member. I´d seen coat hangers used in the movies so i began describing a coathanger to Jose with hand motions since i lacked the Spanish word. We came up with one and jimmied the window space for about 15 min.
Jose is a wonderful man. He says "Glory to God!" about 4 times an hour for ever situation, good or bad. He spits in his hands to wash them. He has a heart for Jesus as hot as i've seen yet in Ecuador.
He suggested praying. So i began praying with faith that God would open the lock. I have often thought of myself as a person who is able to seperate scientific explicable situations from the reality of God´s unexplicable works and power. But, is faith knowing that God can do miracles, or is faith knowing that He´s going to do it, period. The latter is much harder, in my case. Sure, i knew without a shaddow of a doubt that God could unlock the door with or without our seemingly endless failures with the coathanger. I told Him that i knew He could do it. He replied, "But do you know that I will do it?" This was the pop quiz. I confessed that i did not, but i asked Him to give me this kind of faith, something i have very rarely experienced. He gave it to me. Jose continued with the coathanger a few more minutes and it popped open! We danced hugging one another in the field for a few moments. What joy!
We had a very fruitful conversation with the man and i believe he accepted the Lord. We´ll be following up with him next week.
Jose and i were at the church in Pesillo, getting ready to spend the night and have church the folowing morning. We needed to go to a neighbor's house but, even though i´d managed not to wreck the car this week, i did lock the keys in it. I started to call AAA but 1) They aren´t in Ecuador and 2) i'm not a member. I´d seen coat hangers used in the movies so i began describing a coathanger to Jose with hand motions since i lacked the Spanish word. We came up with one and jimmied the window space for about 15 min.
Jose is a wonderful man. He says "Glory to God!" about 4 times an hour for ever situation, good or bad. He spits in his hands to wash them. He has a heart for Jesus as hot as i've seen yet in Ecuador.
He suggested praying. So i began praying with faith that God would open the lock. I have often thought of myself as a person who is able to seperate scientific explicable situations from the reality of God´s unexplicable works and power. But, is faith knowing that God can do miracles, or is faith knowing that He´s going to do it, period. The latter is much harder, in my case. Sure, i knew without a shaddow of a doubt that God could unlock the door with or without our seemingly endless failures with the coathanger. I told Him that i knew He could do it. He replied, "But do you know that I will do it?" This was the pop quiz. I confessed that i did not, but i asked Him to give me this kind of faith, something i have very rarely experienced. He gave it to me. Jose continued with the coathanger a few more minutes and it popped open! We danced hugging one another in the field for a few moments. What joy!
We had a very fruitful conversation with the man and i believe he accepted the Lord. We´ll be following up with him next week.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Posts by : Admin
New brother: Edgar!
Last night, i went with Ignacio to the small town of Llano Grande, where he had a contact of this guy named Edgar. We found his house and talked to him for maybe an hour and a half. Ignacio presented a clear message of the Gospel. He kept making excuses why he couldn't be saved. Most dealt with his past sins being too many to deserve forgiveness. We went through John 3:16, Romans 3:32, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, and finally Romans 10:9. I told him that he would make a decision tonight to accept or reject the salvation of Jesus. I explained, "You know in your heart that Jesus is real and He can be your Savior. [He agreed] Also, you are listening to Satan giving you reasons to not accept Jesus. How long will you listen to Satan?" He decided to stop listening to the Devil. He prayed for Jesus to save him and forgive him of his sins. He asked Jesus to make him a new man. He told us he meant it in his heart. That gave way to me jumping around the table and hugging him big time, telling him he is my brother. Rejoice with me, Church!
We will visit him again next Tuesday.
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