Finishing the Work We Started

A couple of weeks ago on April 15th (Tax day) I was able to drive off to Colorado Springs, Colorado. This is home to EMI (Engineering Ministries International). This is the ministry with whom I went to Africa with this late winter. We went to work on master planning a christian university in Burkina Faso, Africa. Pastor Michele, who is blessed with the ministry of reaching the lost children in the local tribes surrounding Ouagadougou with his boarding school for children, was going to be in the country. He was coming to EMI along with the 2 men who work feverishly to help raise awareness and support for Pastor Michele's efforts.


The reason for my visit was two fold. I wanted to see Pastor Michele again. I love experiencing his passion and deep faith in the Lord. It is contagious. And I wanted to deliver a second model, which myself and my work intern had spent over 70 hours working on since March.


This work would not have been able to be done without the help of many people. First my intern, who spent alot of hours working on all the details of the model. And second the people who sponsored my trip and prayed for me. Additional money had been left in my EMI account from your support. So all the support that came in allowed me to make this additional trip to Colorado. Thank you again to all who gave, and to all those who prayed and continue to pray.


The model will serve to give a visual in 3-D for people to see from all different angles. To dream, to pray, to financially support until a time that it becomes a reality in Africa.

So I have included a few pictures for you to see that work that you have made possible through your support.

Thanks again. And may God bless you.

By Who's Power?

I was reading in Ephesians 1 this morning and specifically the following verses 19-23: "I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and he gave him this authority for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is filled by Christ who fills everything everywhere with his presence."

Now when I read this I couldn't help but think about how this played out on my trip to Africa this past February. It totally amazed me how a group of 15 people who didn't know each other came together for about 10 days in a foreign country to do the work of God to design a 30,000 student university in the middle of a far away continent in a hot, dusty, lacking vegetation 1000 acre site. We all came in with our own ideas, our own agendas, and our own "power". But God had different plans. Christ brought all of our work, all of our time, and all of our strength under his authority. And we finished the work, which would normally take 2-3 weeks, in a time frame of 5-6 days. That's amazing! The amount of work and energy we spent was not in our own power, but that of Jesus Christ.

This was super natural power that kept us going. How do I know this? I was able to stay up for 3 nights in a row late and survive on 3-4 hours of sleep anight. I was totally focused on my work and had a clear mind. I was able to take time out and interact with the 450+ children presnt at the school too. And as I was totally wiped out physically and emotionally for almost 2 weeks when I got back to Sioux City. And in God's super natural plan, he allowed me to rest before the on slot of work that he has currently blessed me with.

So ask yourself (as I am), "Who's power am I under today? My own feable power or God's mighty power who raised Christ from the dead? When the task seems insurmountable, who do I lean on for strength and power to go forward? I can only go so far on my own".

Maybe it's time we all surrended to the power of Christ, since it is available for us to tap into for all those who believe in him. This is my prayer for myself, for you reading this and the church. It's time for us to plug in. The time is now.

Win4him!
Karl

Did you ever think about...

Did you ever think about the uniqueness of God's plan in the way Christ came into the world vs. the way he was crucified and resurrected?

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." Luke 2:10

A speechless, defenseless baby in private...

vs.

"They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. They made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head, and they placed a stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery, yelling' "Hail! King of the Jews!" And they spit on him and grabbed him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified." Matt 27:28-31.

A speechless, humble servant in public...

He came into this world in a private way with a few chosen to see him born in humility, feared by one king. And he was crucified in a public way, feared and hated by multitudes that wanted him silenced. Only thing is he chose to Love us in humility by going to the cross in silence with no arguements . But he is not silenced. He is risen with blessings and honor, glory and power, forever and ever, Amen.

Have an awesome Easter and Ressurection Day and be thankful for what Christ has done.