Have you ever lost your keys? Your wallet? Your cellphone? How about a favorite piece of jewelry? One that has intimate sentimental value to it and cannot be replaced? How ferociously do we search for that lost item? Almost to the point of panic we search. Our hearts start racing, we hit the verge of hyperventilating and sometimes tears. We become consumed with finding it. Our focus is microscopic. We can think of nothing else until it is found, right? J ust like the woman searching for her lost coin in Luke 15:8-10, w e’ll even turn the house upside down with no care for how much time it will take to put it back together again, even if our search comes up empty. Albeit costly nowadays, keys can be replaced. So can money. It might be a big hassle, but credit cards, driver’s licenses and cellphones can be replaced too.   But, there are some things that are too precious to be replaced. Some of them are one of a kind and can never be replaced. Some of them hold memories atta...

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 Greetings in Jesus’ wonderful name. This week our nation celebrated its 236th year of Independence from Britain, and I hope you and your family enjoyed the day very much. My contribution to the newsletter this month is about family, as we are preparing for two very important and very different events. One is a joyful occasion – the wedding of Mark and Julie’s firstborn, Hannah, my first granddaughter – in Boise, Idaho on July 21st.  Jennifer, Janna and I will be flying out on the 19th, and we are looking forward to participating in this wonderful time in Hannah’s life. The other, is the approaching death of my youngest brother, who is under Hospice care for terminal lymphatic cancer. Of course, no one knows the day nor the hour when this event will occur, but he seems to be declining now at a more rapid pace than before. That means another trip to Austin, Texas, where he resides, is necess...

India Ever After by Bill Paddock Nearly three months have passed since I stepped into the mission field for the first time. I keep asking myself: “self, why didn’t you do this sooner”? The experience was nothing short of amazing! India is truly the richest culture I have ever encountered, and I’m not referring to material possessions. What I found was a beautiful collage of colors, smells, warmth, and passion. I saw and felt God at work like an artist preoccupied with a masterpiece. I love the way He is working in the lives of the people, through all the diversity and intricacies of life. While in prayer one day with Mark and Bhalchandra, I saw a vision of the presence of God rushing through the streets of Pune. His form was like a blue comet with a long tail – and as He passed by at supersonic speed, dust and papers and anything not tied down was blasted up and away. Chains were being broken, doors were being opened, and freedom was being released. God was confirming that...