PRAYER:
INSTANT 2-WAY COMMUNICATION WITH GOD
“While
I was praying for your daughter Sue this morning, God told me there was no
need to pray anymore. I called to ask what happened.” It was a
fantastic phone call. Dad and Mom were away at my sister Sue’s house on
the morning it was recorded on their answering machine. At the very
moment, Sue was passing into Glory.
Mom has
gone in to check on her, and Sue was napping. Then a few moments later she
checked again, and could see that Sue’s head was slumped over. She knew
that Sue’s soul had likely left her body.
Elvie,
the kids and I were away at Delta Lake Bible Conference Center, speaking
and challenging campers to become missionaries. The camp director told us
the news of Sue’s death. We cried and prayed in a little huddle there on
the campgrounds. When we got back to Dad and Mom’s house, we checked the
messages on the answering machine.
Isn’t
God wonderful? He has chosen such wonderful people to be His children:
people who care for and console each other. Sue’s husband Rich has decided
to have all memorials go to Barner Learning Center. We will use the $500
that has come in, plus any other money that arrives, to build a sixth
grade classroom in memory of her.
For 14
yrs Sue taught Special Education to 6th graders.
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OUR
DISSAPPOINTMENTS: GOD’S APPOINTMENTS
We planted a church in Davao City, Philippines with the help
of students from a local Bible College. Recently the college changed its
policy. Student’s won’t be leaving to do ministry in local churches on
Sundays anymore. So now the new believers in our church are taking
responsibility. Each morning they have a prayer time. Half a dozen men get
together for prayer. Most of these have been believers less than a year! Our
BLC teachers are now teaching Sunday School, and the interim principal
recently led a parent to become a believer!
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DO YOU HAVE A SPRING PROJECT? HERE ARE A
FEW NEEDS THAT WE HAVE AT BLC:
SCHOOL STORE: $500
ROOF & DORM: $3,500
SCHOOLBUS: $1,500 (x3)
5th GRADE: $3,500 |
FILE CABINETS (3): $20 each
PAID!
GYM ROOF: $3,500
SIDEWALK SECTIONS (33): $20 each
SOUTH DORM: $25,000 |
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WANTED:
VOLUNTEER SPOKESMEN FOR BLC
Exhibiting at Missions
Conferences is fun. Churches that are serious about missions normally
welcome more exhibits. If God's calling you to fill this need, please ask
for a promotion packet at
PJLILTIM@yahoo.com
J
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ULTIMATE
HEALING:
GOODBYE SUE!
My sister Susan
completed her six-year cancer battle on July 25. The morning before her
47th birthday she took a nap and woke up in heaven. Thank you for your
many prayers for her strength during these past years.
After she successfully
planned my parents’ Golden anniversary celebration earlier in the month,
the family had a joyous time of singing hymns as she listened in. When we
left we each said goodbye, aware it would likely be the last time. Tears
and smiles made bittersweet memories that will last the rest of our days.
The last few months Sue
and her husband Rich let Elvie, me and the kids stay occasionally with
them whenever we were to speak in her area of New York State. We’d
surprise her in the mornings with mini celebrations.
One morning it was
Post-it Notes. We stuck hundreds of them all over the house with messages
of faith and memories like “Remember when…?”
Another day it was
balloons, dozens of them, all hanging from the ceiling of her special
room. Then there was the day of the streamers. Why? Because as we watched
her life flickering dimmer and dimmer like a candle about to go out, we
treated every day like a birthday: a gift from God to cherish and
celebrate.
She planned her own
funeral, a time of rejoicing. The pastor read the message that was from
Sue’s own pen:
My
message to you: We pray for miracles, but when God doesn’t grant them, why
are we surprised? God has His own plan, and it doesn’t always agree with
ours. As Christians, we have hope for our future that others don’t have.
We have hope of Heaven and spending eternity with God.
Since April, I have rapidly slid downhill. Life hasn’t been much fun when
all I can do is eat and sleep. I have very little energy for much else.
This wasting away doesn’t mean I’ve lost my faith in God. If anything, it
has made it stronger.
I will miss Richard,
my wonderful family and friends. However, I am in a better place-with no
more pain and suffering. Please be happy for me, and if you haven’t made
Jesus the center of your life-please don’t wait any longer. I want to see
you all in Heaven some day. -Susan
At Susan's funeral,
various family members and friends described how Susan had touched their
lives. Several sang songs celebrating Susan's life and ministry,
including brother Steve, who sang this song that he wrote for Susan.
Thinking of Susan
Stephen Barner
The way
of God is a mystery,
And no one can comprehend His plan.
Our wisdom is His folly,
His purpose is not understood by man.
He casts perfect seed and tends to its care,
And gathers it in His own time.
They
shall mount up with wings, as eagles.
They shall run and they shall not be faint.
Illumine the night with the light of His love,
Find life's meaning in His grace.
They say
the stars cannot be counted,
Yet He calls them one by one by name.
He knows each lamb on the mountain,
Though to me, they all look quite the same.
He calls to His own and gathers them in
To everlasting light.
They
shall mount up with wings, as eagles.
They shall run and they shall not be faint.
Illumine the night with the light of His love,
Find freedom in His strength.
Lord,
lend us some of your wisdom
To bridge this chasm in our hearts.
Give us ears to hear your perfect message
And a passion for your work.
When grief comes to bear and pain is your guide
Look up, from despair,
And behold His hands and side.
They
shall mount up with wings,
They shall mount up with wings,
As eagles, as eagles.
Amazing
Grace.
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“A
leader is a person who has the ability to get others to do what they don’t
want to do, and like it.”- President Harry S. Truman |
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GIVE YOURSELF A HUG!
“I want to be a missionary when I grow
up!
I helped 200 kids already with my offering this week!”
Around the closing campfire at Delta Lake Pathfinder and
Explorer Camp, as the sparks floated upward into the night sky, dozens of
campers dedicated themselves to become missionaries. They wanted to spread
the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.
They took up a special offering, raising enough to send
two boxes of shoes to the poor children in the Philippines. Many churches
and friends have given us shoes and toys for the Filipino kids, and I
challenged these campers to help us pay the postage to send them.
After the offering came in, I thanked the kids. “Take
your two arms and wrap them around yourself. Give yourself a great big
hug, and imagine that it is coming from the 200 poor grateful kids, in
rags, who will be receiving these gifts because of you!
SHOE TALLY: GOAL:250 RECEIVED:210
SPONSORED KIDS TALLY:GOAL:150 PLEDGED:114
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PLANNING YOUR '03-04 CALENDAR?
It's been three years since our last furlough, and we're
now planning on being in the USA from Feb. to Oct., 2003. Would you
like for us to visit your church? Please contact Bud Barner for available
times, at budbarner(at)juno. com. |
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newsletter in the mail, send your name and address via email to budbarner(at)yahoo.com
Click here to download a
PDF version of the printed newsletter. (700 KB) |
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Last edited
September 06, 2003
Please write
SteveB@boltonvt.com with comments or
questions
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