Extracts from Life afforded by Rev. E. Anderson

July 13, 2008 at 8:05 pm (Extracts from Life)

                                               

Rev. & Mrs. E. Anderson

EXTRACTS FROM LIFE 

When you have lived a considerable number of years in relationship with God one gathers a tremendous amount in testimony to God’s grace and goodness in life. One discovers that He does some amazing things with ordinary people and through the course of this page I would share some of the wonderful and interesting experiences He has wrought. And all is to His honour and glory.

DIIFICULT DECISIONS

 

Within the context of the Christian Ministry there can suddenly be thrust upon you the need  to make difficult decisions as others come to you for counseling and advice. They are placed in predicaments and experiences not of their choosing that requires more than human wisdom, understanding and strategy. It is far from easy to provide the best and wisest course of action in certain moments. One definitely needs to take the direction of James when he wrote: ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him’ – James 1: 5.

 

Whilst pastoring a Christian assembly it was my usual procedure on taking over to visit the people that belonged or where associated with fellowship. Sometimes I made contact with others who did not come but had some kind of connection from the past one way or another. I was hopeful to do some good even to and for those who had known some measure of Christian experience.

 

It was this kind of thing that led me into a close association with a couple that had both had some link with the church. At the time they were not married although they had co-habited for many years. How easy it would have been not to have formed some bond with them because of this situation! Over the first few years I dropped into see Alan and Sue and they were always pleased to see me and chat together. It enabled me to discover what had happened in their lives and to discover where they were. Gradually they opened up and shared some of their past. He had somehow been deeply affected by the legalistic approach that some Christians presented and such had switched him off to a certain extent.

 

Eventually he told be of how one minister when conversing him said that when he viewed him naturally he reminded him of a well-known murderer. I immediately sensed that this had not been a very wise expression to be made although it could have had some truth in it.  It seemingly had lodged in his mind and was not doing him a great deal of good either spiritually or psychologically. There was the necessity for me to deal with this unhealthy state of being. I was glad he was able to share with such a delicate, personal matter.

 

Later, maybe as a consequence of my spiritual input they got married and put things on a better basis. They appeared to feel that things were on a improved condition because of this step. During this time one kept up a regular accord with them

 

Never shall I forget one evening, after going to bed, to hear the telephone ringing and discovering the voice of Sue on the other end. Could I immediately go to hospital as Alan had collapsed and was asking after me.  When I arrived and I saw him one knew he was far from well. He thought at that time that death was just around the corner. Having prayed and assured him he entered into peace and was always glad of my visits. I am sure he was making his response to God.

 

Then a few weeks later the telephone went again, this time it was the hospital authorities asking me if I could immediately go and see them in the middle of the night. They wanted to transfer Alan to another hospital because he required renal treatment. They could not provide this urgent service and so the need to move him to where he could be properly treated. But Alan would not go unless he received the all clear from me, hence the phone call. He gladly submitted and so, along with his wife, I followed the ambulance to his new location.

 

For a few weeks he was on this machine daily that was able to cleanse his blood from toxic infection and appeared to be doing quite well. He was always glad of my visits and especially the prayers. Literally I thought he was doing fine when yet another call came one Friday afternoon from his wife. Could my wife and I go and give her some urgent counsel. The doctors had stated to her that an option was open to her with respect to her husband. If they continued the treatment it was more than likely that Alan would suffer a violent death. If they switch off the machine he would die quickly and peacefully. It was up to her to make a crucial decision. She called us to chat through this major problem. It was a difficult decision for anyone to make in these kind of circumstances.

 

We asked the Lord’s help and quietly affirmed to trust the Lord with the issue. If the machine was switched off then either a miracle would take place or it was time for Alan’s home-call. She decided what she would do and concur with the physicians.

 

Before leaving we visited Alan and chatted and prayed. He appeared to be okay and was in good spirits. In the middle of the night we were awakened again to be informed that he had quietly passed away to be with the Lord. Whilst the event really hit Sue, she spiritually recovered and has become an outstanding Christian expressing choice gifting which I will share in the next extract. All the labour that went into this couple was truly worth it.

 

 

 

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Great Stories assembled by Rev. E. Anderson

July 13, 2008 at 8:02 pm (Great Stories)

                                                     

Rev. E. Anderson

LESSON FROM A SON

 

My son Daniel’s passion for surfing began at the age of 13. Before and after school each day, he donned his wet suit, paddled out beyond the surf line and waited to be challenged by his three- to six-foot companions. Daniel’s love of the ride was tested one fateful afternoon.

 

‘Your son’s been in an accident,” the lifeguard reported over the phone to my husband Mike.

 

“How Bad?”

 

When he surfaced to the top of the water, the point of the board was headed toward his eye.

 

Mike rushed him to the emergency room and they were then sent to a plastic surgeon’s office. He received 26 stitches from the corner of his eye to the bridge of his nose.

 

I was on an airplane flying home from a speaking engagement while Dan’s eye was being stitched. Mike drove directly to the airport after they left the doctor’s office. He greeted me at the gate and told me Dan was waiting in the car.

 

“Daniel?” I questioned. I remember thinking the waves must have been lousy that day.

 

He’s been in an accident, but he’s going to be fine.”

 

A traveling working mother’s worst nightmare had come true. I ran to the car so fast the heel of my shoe broke off. I swung open the door, and my youngest son with the patched eye was leaning forward with both arms stretched out toward me crying’ Oh, Ma, I’m so glad you’re home.”

 

I sobbed in his arms telling him how awful I felt about not being there when the lifeguard called.

 

“It’s okay, Mom,” he comforted me. You don’t know how to surf anyway.”

 

“What?” I asked, confused by his logic.

 

“I’ll be fine. The doctor says I can go back in the water ‘in eight days.”

 

Was he out of his mind? I wanted to tell him he wasn’t allowed to go near water again until he was 35, but instead I bit my tongue and prayed he would forget about surfing forevermore.

 

For the next seven days he kept pressing me to let him go back on the board. One day after I emphatically repeated “No” to him for the 100th time, he beat me at my own game.

 

“Mom, you taught us never to give up what we love.”

 

Then he handed me a bribe-a framed poem by Langston Hughes that he bought “because it reminded me of you.”

 

 

Mother To Son

 

Well, son, I’ll tell you:

Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

It’s had tacks in it.

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor -

Bare.

But all the time

I’se been a-climbin’ on,

And reachin’ landin’s

And turnin’ corners,

And sometimes goin’ in the dark

Where there ain’t been no light.

So, boy, don’t you turn back,

Don’t you set down on the steps

‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.

Don’t you fall now­  -

For I’se still goin’, honey,

I’se still climbin’

And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

 

I gave in

.

Back then Daniel was a just a boy with a passion for surfing. Now he’s a man with a responsibility. He ranks among the top 25 pro surfers in the world.

 

I was tested in my own backyard on an important principle that I teach audiences in distant cities:

“Passionate people embrace what they love and never give up.

 

Danielle Kennedy

 

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Points to Ponder arranged by Rev. E. Anderson

July 13, 2008 at 7:59 pm (Points to Ponder)

                                                    

Rev. E. Anderson

LEMONS and SUGAR

 

This should probably be taped to your bath room mirror where one could read it every day. You may not realize it, but it’s 100% true.

 

1. There are at least two people in this world that you would die for.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don’t like you.

5. Every night SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

6. You mean the world to someone.

7. You are special and unique.

8. Someone that you don’t even know exists loves you.

9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

10. When you think the world has turned its back on you take another look.

11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude

remarks.

 

0h . . .

If you are a loving friend, send this to everyone, including the one that sent it to you.

If you get it back, then they really do love you.

And always remember….

when life hands you Lemons, ask for Sugar and call me over!

 

Good friends are like stars, You don’t always see them, But you know they are always there.

 

‘Whenever God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another, Even Though Sometimes It’s Hell in the Hallway’

I would rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend while I’m here than a whole truckload when I’m gone.

 

Forward to all your friends. And don’t tell me you’re too busy for this..

Don’t you know the phrase ’stop and smell the flowers’?

 

Happiness keeps you Sweet, Trials keep you strong, Sorrows keep you human, Life keeps you humble, Success keeps you glowing, But only God keeps you Going.

 

 

 

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