This morning while spending some quiet time reading, I came across a story of a daughter whose parents ran a Bible and Bookstore in Raytown, MO. The parents were unfortunately murdered and the daughter was asked to tesitify at the trial of the suspected murderer. Upon being called to the stand, the bailiff asked “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth?” She stood there and waited, the bailif then said “Well do you?” and she was a little startled and said, “I was waiting for so help me, God?” The bailiff then said “Well do you?” in which the judge said you can say that if you want. She then raised her hand again and said “So help me, God!” and sat down.

I am aghast at how ridiculous this story is and even more disappointed that the very fundamentals of moral fiber that our country were founded on are being thrown aside for a small but vocal politically correct group of people. The very core of who we are is defined by our moral compass and if the foundation that holds them compass true is torn down, our path will go astray. Life is hard enough, do we really want to ask God to leave and not be the foundation stone to which we cling?

This week, Jodee Fortner MMI's Director of Physical Therapy, told a story about a family who ventured over mountains and tough terrain to come to the city for the first time in their lives in hope that their child could be helped by our team. We were able to help the child and she soon will be able to walk normally with the care being provided. That's such a blessing, but the rest of the story was even more powerful. Jodee told of the journey that this family was on as they were amazed by everything around them that they were seeing for the very first time. The family was also so grateful that there were people that were willing to help them and provide care that they never even thought possible. It brought a focus to the true simple nature of our lives.

This morning as I write this, Jodee is taking the family to church and they are celebrating all that God has provided. They may be the poorest of the poor from most perspectives, but they are so wealthy in God's eyes and are now celebrating the gifts that He has provided. We need to bring that kind of simple focus back into our lives as well.

It's time to knock off all the PC police, and get back to what makes this country great and provides the compass to which we can continue our journey. God is at our core, and we cannot stand around and let someone else remove the magnet that keeps us on course. Everyone has a right to believe what they wish, but we have a right to not allow their beliefs to distort our society and all that has made this country great. So Help Me GOD!

Many of you may not be aware that November and December are the two most important months for Medical Ministry International and other charitable organizations. Whether it is the holiday season or the tax benefits, people are motivated at this time to give almost 80% of all monies donated in the calendar year. I share this with you as today begins this period and the ability to affect lives in 2014 is directly impacted on the success of our fundraising efforts in the next two months.

MMI has been working very hard to elimate many of the issues that over the years have led to inefficiencies in the execution of our programs, projects, and training programs. The ministry is operating at the highest level of efficiency ever and we are thrilled to be considered one of the top rated charities in the world by Charity Navigator and they just raised our ranking by another 4 points! We now are one of the highest rated medical development and capacity building organizations in the world. Praise God! Every $1 that is given to MMI returns over $8 in medical services. A huge level of return on your investment.

The ministry is impacting lives and the sun never sets on the work of MMI. We are blessed with volunteers that help to execute many of our programs, but the volunteers are not enough to support the footprint of hope that is being delivered to the poorest of the poor. We need money to fund the Health Centers, Training Programs, Equipment, and Supplies necessary to continue to serve the tens of thousands of people that regularly line up to seek our help.

We need your help and you will see a big push to try and raise the money that will keep this ministry growing and changing lives in the 23 countries we serve. We need your help to get the message of this ministry to those that can help us to secure the resources that will allow these miracles to keep happening. The staff is working long hours and we are in constant prayer as we ask God to help MMI to continue to do His work. Please do what you can to get our message out. Share our Facebook posts, link posts to our website, and join the various initiatives that will be forthcoming in the next couple of months. We have some big surprises that will help you do this so stay tuned.

God bless you and thank you for the support of the over 2000 volunteers and staff that are doing God’s work around the world.

There are probably few people today that understand the origin of Halloween as it has developed into a secular time to dress up fun and have a good time. Even the act of knocking on doors, etc. has long ago transformed into what it is today, a fun time for kids to dress up and get candy. It's turned into a time of celebration, everyone be safe and have a good time.

The history of All Hallows Eve originated from a time when people would pay homage to the recently departed and over time various rituals like carving gourds and dressing in costumes to scare away evil spirits were embraced by various societies around the world. Even the act of going door to door started with beggars asking for “soul cakes' that would be accompanied by prayers for the departed. I bring this history up, not to be negative about Halloween. A good friendly celebration is not a bad thing, people need a break from the chaos of life and if dressing up and enjoying some good fun with friends is the result, have a great time!

The sad news is that others choose to use this once solemn time to advance bad or endorse immoral behavior. That is where we must draw the line and not allow those with bad intentions to overtake what should be a good time. I can't help but think of the attacks that are starting to percolate in society, like trying to take God from our schools, public buildings, etc. You are more than welcome to believe what you wish, but do not try to tear at the moral fiber of this great country. That is where the line must be drawn.

I respect people's rights to believe what they choose to believe. It is actually a gift from God that you have the intelligence to make your own decisions. It is not my place to judge, but its not your place to try and change the society around you to fit your own desires. Many of the aspects that make a country great are the fundamental core values in which it was established. In the case of the United States, the foundation stones of our country are firmly planted in Judeo-Christian values and there have been many heroes over the last 230+ years that have shed blood to protect this foundation.

This foundation is directly related to the core value of who you are as a person. A strong and moral foundation can withstand all that is thrown at it, as it is firmly rooted in God's teachings. Any of you that have had the chance to visit the U.S. Capitol Building just need to look at the walls of the facility to see the strong reference to these teachings that were at the core of establishing this great country. These are not there by happenstance, they were very intentional. The Bible is our user's manual and should be used to provide the instructions to how we are to lead our lives. If this foundation is not to your liking, then you have every right to seek out an environment that is conducive to your own belief system, just stop trying to change the foundation of ours.

I hope everyone has a great time today. Act silly, enjoy the costume party, but don't let evil seep in and spoil a good time. The evil one is always looking for a crack in the foundation to tear it down. We are very blessed to have been given this additional day by God and let's be sure to honor this gift in a way that brings glory to God and all that He has given us while on this earth. That means that you should celebrate a good time with all, but never lose sight of the One that has provided you this chance to enjoy each other. Have a fun!

We spend a lot of time working the daily grind, trying to support our families, while at the same time trying to make an impact on the world in which we live. It's interesting to watch human nature and see how various people handle situations. One thing that becomes apparent is that those that are excited and ready to take on all challenges seem to always figure out how to overcome whatever obstacle is thrown in their path.

The reason for this is attitude and also a good understanding of why God has allowed them to walk on this earth another day. Each day is a gift, it begins as a fresh start and what we make of it will be determined by us and how let the happenings of the day affect us. We are blessed to have one more opportunity to get “it” right and make an impact on those around us in a positive way. It's not easy, but with the right attitude, anything is possible.

This brings us to a negative attitude. What an awful way to go through life! Some people choose to be negative about everything, they complain to complain, they look for the bad before even considering the good and it affects their entire demeanor. You know you have seen it, in fact, it might even resemble you sometimes. We all have our bad days, but if we continue to let this affect us, we push people away as no one wants to be around someone with a bad attitude about life in general.

Do you have a passion for life? If not, what will it take to help re-light your fire and get you on the right track? This is not a melancholy message of all is good, eliminate the bad. Life is not easy, but what is proven time and again, the right attitude attracts success and will lead to a lot better way to live your life. I love the people that I work with as for the most part they get “it” and we don't let the little things destroy our focus on helping the less fortunate. I would encourage you to take an assessment of you, are you being negative? If so, I can assure you that no one wants to be around you, including your friends and family. Make a change, let's take on all challenges and with the right attitude, watch the great things that we can accomplish!

Perception is just that, it has some basis in fact, but is tempered by a lot of smoke and mirrors. We see it each day from the blowhard politicians that try to spin a story when all we ask from anyone is to speak the truth. Is it that hard? I guess so as it's amazing how the truth can be manipulated to garner support from one's view. The great news is that we have an anchor, one that is free of spin and firmly based on the truth.

We have been blessed with God's Instruction Manual… The Bible and it is full of factual information and and the example be which we are to follow. No where do you see any manipulation of the facts, and the great thing is we have 2000 years of “experts” who have found nothing that has been spun or not based on fact.

We have also found the perfect example for leadership…Jesus. He had one agenda, to teach us how to live our opportunity while on this earth and then sacrificed Himself so that we had the opportunity as followers to join Him in celebration in the end. I want to be at that party, and thus my life is dedicated to Him.

So what does this mean? We are who we are. There is no spin that can hide the true character and person behind the facade. God has given each one of us very unique skills, intelligence, and resources. You are in full control to use as you see fit, but with a catch. God is testing you. Jesus provided the example of which we are to follow, but you are the sole responsible party to execute your gifts. These gifts are substantial when used in the right manner, but can be wasted if you choose to do so.

This is the truth. You have skills, intelligence, and resources that have been gifted by God. How are you going to choose to use them? This is not a guilt trip, but straight reality, no spin. No one controls you, except you and we await your decisions. You can have a very powerful impact on the world. Jesus clearly stated that we are to seek out the poor, the blind, the meek, the lame, and love them as He loves us. It took me a while to fully “get it” too. Life is a journey full of deception, obstacles, etc. The enemy does not want us to have success, but he is no match for God's team. We are honored to serve and will continue to pray each day for guidance, direction, and the resources to do God's work as He directed.

Let's set the example for the politicians, talking heads, etc. The impact that can be made through action is much more substantial than any words will ever make. You don't have to leave the comfort of where you are reading this to make an impact. Stop reading this and pray for MMI and all that have the ability to leave the comfort of their careers and go and serve. We need your prayers and we also need your financial support and through this team you will help to bring the truth through action. It's a very powerful way to share your gifts with the world.

Baseball is one of my passions. I love the game for many reasons…competition, strategy, and most of all watching the human element develop throughout a game. This past weekend the St. Louis Cardinals won Game 3 of the World Series on an Obstruction Call where the runner advanced to home to score the winning run. It was the right call, but the response of any Boston Red Sox fan was less than happy to say the least. I love the game and don't really have a team in this Series, but it did remind me of the obstruction that works to defeat all of us in our daily lives.

The one constant in life is that we are all flawed. These flaws are the basis for which all chaos begins. It doesn't matter how good a person you think you are, human nature will cause your thoughts and opinions to get in the way. We see this in ministry as people allow their personal opinions to develop a perspective that may not be the full picture and cloud their judgement. The person is not trying to be difficult, but the perspective can lead to obstruction and discourse. It comes back to leadership and trusting the team you are working with to do their part and you stay focused on doing yours.

I am amazed at how some people can have the best of intentions, but their attitude becomes an obstacle that becomes a barrier to success. Attitude can not be understated in a team's ability to execute their strategy. It is imperative that we don't let challenges negatively affect our ability to perform our roles. The team is one body that can only function as a single unit to achieve their goals. You play a very important role on your team, do not let the rest of the team down, regardless of what you perceive to be out of your control.

The Boston Red Sox could have let the tough call end their hopes for a Championship, but they bounced back last night and tied the series. We must continue to do the same as anything less than full focus is not going to get the job done. There is a team counting on you to do your part, God expects it, and your success will yield great dividends for the team!

Have you ever noticed how much discourse is created due to the lack of communication? We see it with our governments, our organizations/business', etc. yet this simple fact is often overlooked. People have a tendency to not speak, or choose to avoid the discussion because they don't want to deal with conflict. The direct result of all of this is that discord, deception, and confusion is the result. It takes courage to speak up for what you believe and it is imperative that those who believe in something speak up or others will control the message.

There are many people today that tell me that they don't even watch the news or read it because they don't like what they are reading. They are tired of hearing all the bickering back and forth, or about how bad people are doing bad things. It's sad, but a reality that is very common today. Thus the question remains, who is going to step up and help change the message?

Courage is not just a word, it's a lifestyle, and we are in desperate need of people willing to step out of their comfort zone and communicate a good message. People that have a strong moral compass and a passion to serve are allowing those with the wrong intentions to dominate the dialogue.

We were provided a great example by Jesus when He came and was willing to confront those that were doing wrong…

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.” Matthew 21:12-13

Today we are witnessing similar activity happening throughout our country and around the world. People with no moral compass and faith basis are trying to drive the predominate message. I am confident that the majority of those on the sidelines have this compass, but lack the courage or fortitude to get into the fray to right the wrong.

Take a moment as you read this and step back, what is happening that causes you concern? What can you do to help make a difference. Every time you step out of your comfort zone and seek to make a difference…you do! You have the gifts, it's just a matter of how you choose to use them. We see miracles happen every day, but only because someone chose to make a difference. Take the leap, volunteer, donate, and use the powerful blessings that God has given you to change the message being delivered to others. I promise you will be amazed by what you will see happen!

One the most difficult challenges in life is to be patient. We all want things to happen on our timing. We forget that God has a plan and we need to relax and keep doing our part. This is a core component of faith. God places challenges before us, its not so much about the challenge as how we handle the challenges that God wants to see. We serve an awesome God, He is all loving and He also has a great sense of humor. He is prepared to help us in any way, but the timing of this help is His.

Working in service for others is very difficult. It's not for everybody, but those that choose to go this course realize that flexibility and the ability to stay focused on the task at hand is paramount to success. It is very easy to get frustrated when you see the level of suffering and pain and all you want to do is fix it now. Sometimes you can, but yet other times you have to develop a plan and work toward accomplishing the goals to get where you can help them. The great thing is that when you have to work harder to accomplish this task, you appreciate it even more when you achieve success. I like to think of it as God saying, “Good job, I knew you could do it!”

We must never lose focus that this journey we are on is really a tryout for God and He wants to see how we use the gifts He has given us. Each one of us has received a blessing that is just waiting to be put to use, how this happens is up to you. To accomplish this, you need to be prepared to come out of your comfort zone and be willing to be flexible. There will be many obstacles, some that are quite difficult, and the journey may be long. The great news is that the reward at the end is priceless. You can do this, and never forget that everything happens on God's clock, not yours!

We are in the same position at MMI. There are so many people that need our help, and we want to help them now! The only thing keeping this from happening is money and volunteers. The team is faithful and working hard to get our message out to others. Sometimes it takes a lot longer than we want and it also causes us to worry that we may not be able to reach all those that are seeking our help. We must be patient and realize that God has this and we just need to stay focused on the roles He expects us to play. It's all on His clock and when He delivers, we will celebrate how great is our God!

Saving lives on a daily basis just doesn't happen, it takes a tremendous amount of dedication and focus on multiple fronts to make it all happen. One of the most important areas of focus in the ministry is reaching those that have the ability to help fund the work that is being done. Yes, we have people that volunteer to go and serve, but the monies and services they provide go straight to the project they are on, the ministry has to help support our Health Centers, Training Programs, Equipment, etc. It's a great investment as for every $1 donated, MMI provides over $8 in Medical Care.

A key component in finding those that can help support the ministry financially is to be able to get our message in front of those with the capacity to do this. It is not a good thing to be “a best kept secret” and no one know about the work being done. MMI is working very hard to do this and we received word today that MMI's latest video “The Work of MMI” is the recipient of a 2013 Davey Award for excellence in media on the international level. This is a big honor to be selected from over 4000 entries world wide and it is a blessing for the ministry.

As great as this news is, the purpose behind the video is even more important. We need to reach people to help support this ministry financially so that more lives can be changed. The only thing keeping us from saving more lives is the lack of money and supplies. We have volunteers at the ready to give of themselves to go and do the work, but MMI must be able to provide the foundation to make it all possible.

It's always the challenge of ministry to find those that are willing to share their own blessings to make an impact on others. We are so thankful for those that do this and we must continue to find more to do the same. We are one of the most efficient ministries in the world, and to be able to multiply your gift 8 times in services is an amazing return on your investment. Please share our story and video linked above with all you know. Lives are at stake!

Working in ministry is always a challenge, and there are times that the burden to raise money to operate the ministry, secure volunteers, etc. can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are the stories that come on a daily basis of the amazing work that is being done across the world.

This morning, I left my family at 4:00 a.m. to catch a flight for the East Coast of the U.S. We had a great weekend where my daughter’s high school band received all division 1 rankings and my son’s baseball team won its second straight tournament. They are great kids and it seems to hurt more and more when I have to leave them after such a great time. I tell you this story as I am sure many of you have been in a similar position, and I am living proof that we serve an awesome God…

As I landed after the first leg of my flights today, I received an e-mail from our MMI National Director in Ghana. I was just there a few weeks back and met a new friend, Ernest, who was suffering from polio related issues. Ernest could not walk, go to school like the other kids, and had to scoot along the ground to get around. My new little friend was a tough kid and he did not let his disability stop him from playing with friends, but I also knew that there was something we could do to help Ernest.

As soon as we arrived back in the States, we reached out to our friends at PET International. They hooked us up with Point Hope who provides PET cars that are designed for people who can not use their legs to get around. You pedal with your hands, and I knew if we could get one of these to Ernest, he would be able to go to school, attend church, etc. just like the other kids. We found out last week that the MMI Team in Ghana would be able to get one of these cars from Point Hope Ghana, and this weekend Ernest got his new PET car! Praise God!

There are so many kids like Ernest that are out there and we are working so hard each and every day to reach as many as possible. This is the kind of thing that keeps us working the long hours and spending time away from our families as we are part of God’s team. Ernest is off to school today for the first time, and God made it happen! It makes this Monday a great one, and I hope it makes yours too! Please keep our efforts in your prayers and support us financially if you can so we can reach more kids like Ernest!