Friday, April 09, 2004
Pictures from the Good Friday Outreach
4-9-04
Many seeds were sown today in downtown Dallas.
From noon to 2:30 today more than 400 Gospels of John were distributed.
They were about three fourths English and one fourth Spanish.
Bob preached the gospel boldly to those at the light rail stop across the tracks.
His friend Tim and I passed out gospels of John.
Bob has a ministry named Free Word Ministries.
Go to his web site for many evangelistic resources and ideas http://www.freeword.org/
Call his voice mail to learn about the Free Word warehouse off Central Expressway.
It is in Carrollton (214) 853-5685
If you are out of town you can request free copies over the web from Absolutely Free.
www.livingwater.org
Here is the link to the new photos
http://fellowpilgrim.photosite.com/Good_Friday_Outreach_4-9-04/
John 10:04 PM
Thursday, April 08, 2004
MEETING WENT WELL
4-8-04
Praise to the Lord and thanks for your prayers.
The meeting with the elders went well.
They had read my emails and seen parts of the web site.
God used this an opportunity to convey to them my passion.
Based on the feedback I think they got how passionate I am.
Kindly pray for the on-going relationship with all the elders and each one.
They are responsible for oversee my spiritual life.
They have already been praying for me.
May God grant them wisdom and insight as how to pray.
I admitted to them that I am a workaholic.
My tendency is to stay busy continually.
There is a danger of neglecting my spiritual life.
I committed to them that I plan to send them a monthly report about my spiritual life.
I asked them to ask me the tough questions.
I already have several accountability partners to address the little bumps along the path.
I already have three members for the Board of Directors for the emerging ministry.
During the coming months I trust that God will send a few more directors.
May God guide the pastors and elders as to how we are to relate and communicate.
On a related note I took some time after the meeting to reflect.
I went over in my mind the meeting and prayed as the Holy Spirit led me.
I noticed a request for your prayers.
These men have known me for a short time.
Yet many on this email list have known me for a long while.
During the coming months I will be approaching people that I had not met.
It would help if I had a collection of letters or emails to serve as recommendations.
Pray now for me to soon present a more orderly invitation for such input.
I have asked people before that have known me for years.
They wanted to contribute but did not know where to start.
Soon I will send out some general guidelines.
May God guide me in making those guidelines and in those who will reply.
John 10:53 PM
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
FEED BACK REQUESTED
4-7-04
I am learning that collaboration is an important part of my leadership style.
Besides prayer, I ask for people for their comments, suggestions and questions.
I understand that ultimately I must have the final say.
God holds me accountable to walk out His calling.
Attached you will find the text of the Power Point slide show.
This at long last is the show that I will take on the road.
It is acceptable.
It is too long but I need real world experiences to know where to trim.
You are invited to open it in Word and write your feedback.
Kindly do this in a different kind of font or a different color.
Maybe you do not have the time to make edits.
Maybe you want to but nothing stands out.
That is okay.
I appreciate that you have read this far.
You can pray for God to guide me in how to improve it.
You can pray for God to guide others in making wise recommendations.
Here is the link to the first version of the 37 slide show
http://www.osuonline.org/files/Mktg_ppt_shows/OMV_shorter_show_2.pps
Here is the link to the revised version that is in the attachment
http://www.osuonline.org/files/Mktg_ppt_shows/OMV_shorter_show.pps
If there are more than very minor changes due to the feedback for this request then I will include a link in a future Tuesday Briefing
THANKS again for your prayers and feed back.
John 8:46 PM
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
TUESDAY BRIEFING from John S. Oliver on April 6, 2004
BLESSINGS
ALL glory to God in Jesus Name!
May you make time to love one another in deed and in truth.
May you love God with all your heart.
May you have the assurance of your salvation.
Amen?
COMPLETED
Yesterday it was like the white tornado hit my home office. I started to organize a tiny area then many hours later the whole place was in good order.
God provided plenty of groceries from the food bank that is run out of the home of a friend.
CURRENT
Desktop computer is making add sounds and running much slower. God can fix it with prayers like He did the car.?
Had technical troubles with the online back up service. It is likely a simple thing I have failed to understand yet.?
Playing telephone tag with the accountant that has offered to help file the papers for the nonprofit corporation. May this come together easily and soon.
April rent is not paid yet. If you wish to write a check for all or part of it then contact me.
UPCOMING
Going to downtown Dallas again this Good Friday at noon with a friend come join us near the DART bus station close to West End
At LONG last God has led me to a simple way to share audio over the web. But there are technical troubles on my computer to work right with Instant Audio www.instantaudio.com this could help with the short term and long term goals.
My birthday is this month on 4-23. I will be 51. For those who wish to give a gift certificate let me suggest Amazon, Radio Shack, Whole Foods.
My God grant me wisdom in what to pray for personally and what to ask prayer for too.
RESOURCES
Cool stuff for kids at Kids Zone http://www.kidzoneradio.com/
A wonderful archive of W. A. Criswell http://www.wacriswell.com/
Excellent summary of church history www.churchtimeline.com
Picture of the DTS campus taken by a friend http://viphoto.net/grounds/
Lovely online slide shows that are not purely biblical but are lovely
http://www.positivepause.com
http://www.greatday.com/rightnowpage/rightnow.pdf
http://www.positivepause.com/en/
http://www.greatday.com/rightnowpage/EvenNow.pdf
Here is an essay on Cat and Dog Theology http://www.gospelcom.net/unveilinglory/Cat%20and%20Dog%20Theology%20Seminar%20Notes.pdf
For you who like short quotes and sound bites here is a new blog for you. http://valuablequotes.blogspot.com/
Amazing online training about practical time management http://timedesign.com/Pages/whyitworks.html
If you wish to unsubscribe then just let me know by reply email.
John 7:40 PM
BREAKING THE ICE
4-6-04
This is a VERY critical time.
I need your prayers more than ever.
When you pray believe God for wonderful answers.
PROBLEMS
I have been feeling pinned down in a foxhole.
There are sand storms and flaming darts all around.
I cannot afford to stay in this condition.
I must take actions.
And they need to be wise and courageous steps.
I got into this situation because I followed Jesus by faith for years.
Over and over I went out on a limb.
For years God provided in a different way each month.
Then last month that supply suddenly stopped.
I trust that my Good Shepherd knows what He is doing.
He is allowing this discomfort to move me out of my Comfort Zone.
For two decades I have avoided taking the ministry ideas to those who could find them.
Last year I worked with a man that helped me to recognize the wealthy in this city.
Sooner than later I need to go meet with them face to face.
I have the core of what needs to be shared.
I lack practice and confidence.
SOLUTIONS
The Holy Spirit reminded me of the guidance many months ago.
I need to go see 15 people face t face.
I take a 15 minute Power Point slide show.
I leave these prospective donors wit ha 15 page business plan.
THAT will break the ice and get me into motion.
Today I went back to correct some typos on the Power Point show.
I have made some other minor but helpful tweaks.
It is not perfect but acceptable.
I rehearsed alone this morning and it was less than 15 minutes.
I have begun to write the business plan.
I am adapting this from the Power Point show and the online script.
I need to dig out the 200 prospects and the 20 on the A list.
Then it is making the calls and setting the appointments.
I do not miss appointments.
This sounds simple.
But …
I can use your best prayers.
Your faith-filled prayers are like artillery that loosens up the resistance.
I still need to take courageous steps of action.
But the odds are less impossible.
God has provided a support network that I need to use better.
I will be sending you tiny goals and making commitments to the accountability partners
May God grant an abundance of grace and mercy.
Amen
John 5:42 PM
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