**The Wooden Pledge

The following was from a tribute to John Wooden by Michael Josephson, founder and President of the Josephson Institue - Center for Youth Ethics

John Wooden, basketball coaching legend and hero to many, passed away on Friday at the age of 99. But the example he set, and the homespun wisdom he offered, will surely leave a powerful and lasting legacy.

The Wooden Pledge

The tidal wave of praise and tributes commemorating Coach John Wooden's passing makes it hard to add something new. My effort is the following pledge derived from his Pyramid of Success and some of his favorite maxims. I invite you to take the pledge and pass it on to others.

I pledge to improve and safeguard my character and to myself be true,

     being faithful to my convictions in all I say and do.

I will strive to do what's right and let my conscience be my guide,

     knowing my worth is measured by what I am inside.

I'll take on each day enthusiastically and give every task my all.

     I will not whine, complain, or make excuses, even if I fall.

I will live my life with purpose, thinking ahead and having a plan.

     I will never allow what I can't do interfere with what I can.

I will find opportunity in adversity and do things right the first time through

     and never be afraid to change or try something new.

I will be patient, poised, and confident, working toward each goal,

     being sure to govern my emotions and demonstrating self-control.

I will count my blessings daily and be grateful for what I possess,

     getting joy from moderation and avoiding all excess.

I will work hard and take initiative in order to excel,

     and I'll make big things happen by doing the little things well.

I will pursue victory with honor, not letting praise or criticism change how I act,

     and I'll strive to be worthy of pride and emulation, in reputation and in fact.

I will be sincere, honest, and loyal, worthy of other's trust.

     I will be respectful and responsible, doing what I must.

I will always act with fairness and show others how much I care,

     and I'll be a good citizen and always do my share.

I will live my life with dignity, passion, and fun

     and make each day my masterpiece when all is said and done.

Guatemala in Need!

6/1/2010 - Updated report from the UPCI/Foreign Missions Department
Greetings from Guatemala!! Late Saturday night we sent out an urgent prayer request for the country of Guatemala. We are very grateful for the prayers of so many of our friends and supporters.

On Thursday afternoon Guatemala was hit by a fairly strong earth quake centered just outside of Guatemala City. A few hours later the Pacaya Volcano had a catostrophic eruption, shooting lava, debris and ash over 4500 feet into the air.

Devastation in Guatemala, Central America

The following is a report from the UPCI/Missions Department:

We ask your prayers for the nation of Guatemala as it has been hit with a devastating tropical storm and volcanic eruptions.

~Impact ASIA!

Impact ASIA

Mark Morgan

Greetings in Jesus name and I pray the grace of God be upon you!

First of all, I want to express my gratitude for all the prayer support and concern from everyone. As many of you were aware I was very apprehensive as to whether or not I should go on this trip to China and Singapore. However, after praying, and many of you praying, I felt it was right and God's strength and grace were upon us!

Our team consisted of Bro. Xenn Seah - Impact Asia Director, Bro. Billy Hale - Denver, CO., Bro. James Carney - Columbia, MS., Bro. Alonzo Dummitt - Ottawa, ON. Canada, and Bro. Tony Wyatt - Mt. Vernon, MO. and myself (Mark Morgan). Our team landed in the fabulous city of Beijing, China on Friday, April 9, 2010. We were weary and tired, but full of anticipation and excitement. The next day, Saturday, was set aside for some sightseeing and time to allow our body clocks to try to reset themselves.

                    Great Wall of China 

The real excitement, and the purpose of our trip,

~TEAM Finland Newsletter

Please NOTE!  The following is a newsletter sent out by the Alphins, missionaries to Finland, to all of their supporters.  They did not request that I post it on our Blog.  The emphasis in Bold or Italics are mine.  If you do not support them at this time and would like to become partners in TEAM Finland there are instructions at the conclusion of this newsletter.  Thank you for supporting the missionaries that are taking the gospel to the far reaches of our world. 

God bless you,

Jerry E. Powell

 Headed For the Finnish Line...

We are coming down the final stretch! We round the corner and see the Finnish line! Suddenly, a bit of unexpected news comes to our attention...

~Is There Not A Cause

A Greater Cause!

There are many causes which people believe in and work toward. All of these causes are considered legitimate and worthy by those involved. Many do deserve our consideration and support.

We are grateful to those who have committed their lives to the pursuit of worthy causes that benefit mankind such as curing disease, eradicating hunger, and providing for the poor.

Following are some causes and rights, as well as organizations which support their pursuit.

~Haiti Report from Missionary Ron Brian

On January 12, 2010 at approximately 4:53 P.M., the earth shook for 35 seconds in Haiti. Every since that day “life as normal” has been anything but normal. Hundreds of thousands of lives were lost, multitudes more were displaced and left homeless, and businesses, churches and homes became piles of rubble. Suddenly, daily survival and picking up the pieces of a normal life became the new norm.

Within 60 hours of the earthquake, staple food items for distribution were being loaded on a bus in the Dominican Republic. Within 72 hours—a team arrived in Haiti to begin assessment and distribution of Earthquake Relief.

Since that time—