By Josh Weidmann on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 10:12 AM

Faithful Blog Readers,

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read Josh's artfully crafted blogs! Before you get too excited to read something from Josh, know that this entry is not from him. We, Stephanie and Mandy (part of the Honest to God staff) wanted to tell you that Josh is currently serving on a mission trip to Guatemala City, Guatemala. A group of Jr. and Sr. high school students along with four adult leaders from Harvest Bible Chapel left on Saturday, June 23rd and will return Sunday, July 1st. They will be serving at a local church called Iglelsia Cristiana Verbo Los Alamos, doing some work on the church building as well as ministering to the surrounding community.

Please pray for Josh and this group of students and leaders who are working to spread the Word of God throughout this community. Pray for the members of the church as well as those within the surrounding community, that they would be affected greatly for the kingdom of God.

Isaiah 55:11 says,

"...so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
       It will not return to me empty,
       but will accomplish what I desire
       and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

We don't know about you, but we can't wait to hear what God has done in Guatemala City, Guatemala! Thank you!

 

In Christ,

Stephanie and Mandy

 

By Josh Weidmann on Friday, June 15, 2007 6:26 PM

There are some women in this life that minister to others simply by they way they tend to their own souls and own families. Ruth Graham was one of those women who was able to touch millions of lives by taking care of the souls that were entrusted to her within her own household. Mr. and Mrs. Graham have always been a couple I look up to and treasure from afar. I think I’ve bought every book by them and about them and have had the privilege of ministering with them as a part of their Crusade ministry on a few occasions. Their steadfast faithfulness to one another as they serve the Lord has been awe inspiring to me. Ruth’s consistent faithfulness to Mr. Graham for more than 55 years of evangelistic ministry has been a tool God has use to change more lives then we may ever be able to comprehend.

Ruth Graham taught me what to look for in a wife. I remember reading through her book a few years ago entitled, “It’s My Turn” and realizing multiple pearls of truth I longed for my wife to wear as a part of her character. Her strength and faithfulness allowed her to stand strong as she supported an evangelist, raised her children, dodged public criticism, and fought against the enemy's attacks.

It was only a few months ago when I asked one of my friends who works for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association how the Mr and Mrs. Graham were doing, he replied, “Billy says ‘they are happier then they’ve ever been,” he continued, “They (Billy and Ruth) just sit at home all day holding hands and smiling.”

Yesterday Mrs. Graham went to be with the Lord. How bitter sweet this must be for Mr. Graham as now He can rest assured his bride is now even more happy as she is in the presence of the Lord, yet He has lost the one God gave His as a life long support (but only separated for a time).

Thank you Lord, for giving us a blessing like Mrs. Graham for so long, and for allowing her the strength to let her life preach so loudly. Please be with Mr. Graham while they are separated between two worlds, give him your peace.

By Josh Weidmann on Friday, June 15, 2007 12:17 PM

There are those things in life that you want to do, and then there are those that you have to do.

I’m not always so fond of the “have to do” things in my life; mostly because they keep me from the “want to do” things in my life.

I wish I had some phenomenal story about how I was hiking in the Alps and there were wild grizzly bears after me trying to get my almond cranberry Cliff ® bars…and that I had to save a stranded baby mountain goat from the highest peak… or that I helped a wild bobcat give birth to her cubs… or that I had to learn how to dig through feet of snow to find frozen berries to eat just so that I could stay alive (after the grizzlies ate my Cliff ® bars)… but none of that happened.

Nope. I just got busy and I’ve learned that “busy = no blog.” Sad but true.

So now I am back and going to again make a feeble stab at sharing what God is sharing with me. Come often. Comments frequently. Stay long. Be my friend. Grow with me.

See you back here soon.

Josh.