~Gratitude by Mark Alphin, missionary to Finland

Note!  I asked Bro. Alphin to write an article for the Blog and he sent the following.  It it much appreciated!

Gratitude – The state of being grateful

When I sat down to write this article, the word “grateful” kept going through my mind. I turned to the dictionary to confirm my understanding of the word and found that “gratitude” is “the state of being grateful.” This bland definition caused me to want to go deeper, as words are sometimes used other than intended, definitions change, and a word’s origin gets lost in the process. My first discovery was not unexpected, as this word is derived from the Latin “gratus” or grateful – appreciation for benefits received. But the next discovery caught me off guard, as “gratus” also gave rise to the development of the word “grace!”

Belize Prayer Partner Update - 3rd Quarter 2010

Dear Prayer Partners,

Well, I'm back again with another update. I did miss the update last quarter, and I apologize. At the time I was in Canada and didn't have a lot of access to the Internet.

I do have a tremendous praise report for you, though. I had asked you to pray as I headed north during the winter months. I was quite worried about the possibility of having to drive in snow. You prayed and the Lord answered your prayers. During the entire time I was in the north, I did not even see snow anywhere, much less have to drive in it! Everywhere I went, people were telling me how unusual the weather was. I was happy to inform them that I had faithful Prayer Partners were praying and this was just an answer to prayer! Thank you for praying!!!

Impact ASIA June 2010

Yesterday, I had the privilege of sitting in a meeting room in the presence of two great men of God. As I listened intently to their dream, their passion and their plan my heart was overcome with a kaleidoscope of emotions: Passion?; Burden?; An overwhelming sense of helplessness? In spite of these emotions I also experienced an eclipsing sense of excitement as the vision was articulated with such clarity and Godly courage.

 This was not the first time I had felt the pulse of my heart increase and the electric surge of faith overwhelm me. I have been in these power-packed and faith infused planning meetings before. I have heard these men many times as they shared their purpose; As they strategized and planned; As they became overcome with the burden of the task; As their eyes filled with tears; As their voices choked with emotion; As their passion could only be verbalized through a prayer of the Spirit. But yesterday, it became clear that the pieces of the planning puzzle were coming together like never before.

IMPACT ASIA: What a Challenge! What a Vision! What a Mandate!

**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,