We have just past the mile marker of being in country doing ministry for just over 3.5 months. It doesn't seem possible but with the help of our Lord and many team members, we are!!!
Just the other day Melanie and I were driving on post to check the mail and then to meet with one of the chaplains we serve here. Melanie said, "Daddy, when you were a boy driving on post with your daddy, did you ever think that you would be serving on a post when you were older?"
In the process of time, life and events, I never ever thought that I would. We love the idea of ministry to the military and with our exposure in years past with Cadence International (formerly Oversea Christians Servicemen Center how I grew up knowing it) I never gave it a thought. As I turned to her and answered I said, "Never crossed my mind! I did always love the fact that my daddy got a salute from almost everyone on post/base because of his rank and that made me feel good and proud!"
I miss the days of riding with my dad on post and having time spent with him. In fact, part of the process of growing up and our military childhood was the Saturday morning trip to the PX, commissary and also the barbershop. For only 50 cents, we would get our buzz cuts and were GI ready. Just the other day, part of the process of living here is finding a barber to cut my hair. So one morning I ventured on post to the PX, went to the barbershop, pulled the customer service ticket and waited for my turn.
Around me were 3 soldiers getting their 'High and Tights' while a dad had his two boys with him. Thought of the days as dad and my 2 older brothers went for our cuts. As I watched them all get their haircuts, I realized that it was just like me...in the process of life...growing, changing and becoming who God wants me to be. Well, it was my turn to sit in the chair and no, no High and Tight for me but the thought did flash by for a minute. As I sat there, I reflected on the process God has and is taking us through to make us who He wants us to be.
In no time, my haircut was done and I was off to do ministry. Now as I look back, even that days event was part of the process we are in.
The process of becoming the children He wants us to be. The process of serving the chaplains He has over here. The process of serving the students and their families each week and daily with ministry. The process of learning to depend on Him more and more.
All in all, the process of being a child on a military installation over 35 years ago, did and has marked me for the ministry we are in! Thanks for being a part of such a vital and crucial ministry.
A bit of a random post today but trust that you can follow the flow and know we are all in the process as we follow Jesus through our lives.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Hear the Sounds of Church Bells Ringing!
As I woke up this morning, I (Julie) began to go through our little home and open all the windows to this beautiful day when suddenly the church bells began to ring out in celebration for what seemed like a long time.
I told Jeff, "something special is happening!" So I went to the window to see many people dressed up and pouring in the church right next door to our home. "Something is happening and it is calling everyone to church", I said again.
It's "Shavut!" The Jewish second Pentecost. In Germany this Holy day is called, "Whit Monday"
The first one was where Moses came down with the 10 commandments, where God gad given him the written Word and he found the children of Israel in disobedience to God worshipping the golden calf. 3000 people died that day.
The second Pentecost is where Jesus instructed the disciples to remain in Jerusalem and 50 days after Passover, Jesus would send the Holy Spirit to descend on them with tongues of fire and 3000 came to the Lord and were baptized! This Holy day of Pentecost is where God wrote His Word upon our hearts.
May we remember our Lord and thank Him for giving us His Holy Spirit to dwell in us!!
This is the church next door to us...our home is the top third and fourth floor of the wood structure next door to the Protestant Union Church of Idstein. The dormer windows are our house! "Hear the bells ringing!!!!" Yes we can!!
I told Jeff, "something special is happening!" So I went to the window to see many people dressed up and pouring in the church right next door to our home. "Something is happening and it is calling everyone to church", I said again.
It's "Shavut!" The Jewish second Pentecost. In Germany this Holy day is called, "Whit Monday"
The first one was where Moses came down with the 10 commandments, where God gad given him the written Word and he found the children of Israel in disobedience to God worshipping the golden calf. 3000 people died that day.
The second Pentecost is where Jesus instructed the disciples to remain in Jerusalem and 50 days after Passover, Jesus would send the Holy Spirit to descend on them with tongues of fire and 3000 came to the Lord and were baptized! This Holy day of Pentecost is where God wrote His Word upon our hearts.
May we remember our Lord and thank Him for giving us His Holy Spirit to dwell in us!!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
A great week at camp
Many of you know that Julie, Melanie and I joined our CSM staff in Europe for a week of camp ministry. We were in Italy at a large sports camp with over 220 of us! Students from five different military communities and from all different walks of life.
We had a great time there in fun and fellowship. Our speaker was Todd Arnett from California and did he ever do a great job connecting the dots from the WORD to the lives and hearts of our students. His desire to share with them was evident every time he taught and spent time with the students.
The three of us were part of our community from Wiesbaden as small group leaders. Julie also used her decorating skills to turn the program room into a look of our theme...The Illusion! With the help of Becke, Delilah and Julie, they did an amazing job!
I had the privilege of helping Dan out with games. We planned them from our living room in Oregon and their living room in Wiesbaden and then once we arrived in Germany, we began to put the final pieces together. God was good in working out the details to it all.
One day on our final event, we did a 9 event Great Race and ended with....ANGRY BIRDS! It was a ton of fun and will do it again!
Thanks for praying for us and the ministry here in Germany!
We had a great time there in fun and fellowship. Our speaker was Todd Arnett from California and did he ever do a great job connecting the dots from the WORD to the lives and hearts of our students. His desire to share with them was evident every time he taught and spent time with the students.
The three of us were part of our community from Wiesbaden as small group leaders. Julie also used her decorating skills to turn the program room into a look of our theme...The Illusion! With the help of Becke, Delilah and Julie, they did an amazing job!
I had the privilege of helping Dan out with games. We planned them from our living room in Oregon and their living room in Wiesbaden and then once we arrived in Germany, we began to put the final pieces together. God was good in working out the details to it all.
One day on our final event, we did a 9 event Great Race and ended with....ANGRY BIRDS! It was a ton of fun and will do it again!
Friday, April 6, 2012
First week in Deutschland & Good Friday!
It is hard to imagine that on the 8th of April it will have been two years since the Lord began to direct and guide us to begin our new adventure in ministry with Cadence International and the Student Ministries team in Germany. Who would have ever thought that!
Well of course if you know the whole story, Julie did. You see over 31 years ago while living in Frankfurt, Germany, the Holy Spirit prompted Julie to begin to pray for the students of the US Military serving here in Germany. This vision to see them reached for Jesus began in 1979 and it would become a seed that would grow, be watered, cultivated and then now, years later, come to LIFE! It is after years of prayer, passion and patience that we are serving and doing what Julie earnestly prayed for.
Little did she know that God would answer her prayer back in 1979 at the same time, direct Cadence, then OCSC to ask Dick and Margaret Patty to leave Kaiserslautern and move their family to Frankfurt and see if there was a way to reach the students of the military. Cadence (OCSC) was working with with the military through the hospitality houses and had yet to work with the students. Well, scripture tells us, "that the prayers of a righteous person, avails much." Her prayers and the Patty's prayers and their ministry team then and now see the benefits of constant and passionate prayers.
As we have just finished our first week of ministry in our new adventure, we are still seeing the Lord answer dozens of prayers! We see Him working in and through us as we meet new people, start ministry, look for housing, secure a vehicle, get ID, acquaint ourselves with live internationally and a myriad of other things. God is good and moving to bring glory to His name for His kingdom sake.
To finish a bit more of the story of a 19 year old girls prayer, we are doing Student Ministries just 20 minutes from Frankfurt on the Army post in Wiesbaden, WOW!! Is God ever good! He does provide and He does answer prayers!
As we reflect today on the fact that it is Good Friday, we are thankful for God's provision of the perfect Lamb sacrifice for your sins and mine. As we reflect on the gift that forgiveness is, we rejoice that we get to share that with the students, families and others here in Germany. Together, with His leading and help, we can see the dreams of a young girl answered and come to life!
Praise be to the Lord Most High...who was, and is and is to come! Oh Lord, we thank You for all You have and will do!
Well of course if you know the whole story, Julie did. You see over 31 years ago while living in Frankfurt, Germany, the Holy Spirit prompted Julie to begin to pray for the students of the US Military serving here in Germany. This vision to see them reached for Jesus began in 1979 and it would become a seed that would grow, be watered, cultivated and then now, years later, come to LIFE! It is after years of prayer, passion and patience that we are serving and doing what Julie earnestly prayed for.
Little did she know that God would answer her prayer back in 1979 at the same time, direct Cadence, then OCSC to ask Dick and Margaret Patty to leave Kaiserslautern and move their family to Frankfurt and see if there was a way to reach the students of the military. Cadence (OCSC) was working with with the military through the hospitality houses and had yet to work with the students. Well, scripture tells us, "that the prayers of a righteous person, avails much." Her prayers and the Patty's prayers and their ministry team then and now see the benefits of constant and passionate prayers.
As we have just finished our first week of ministry in our new adventure, we are still seeing the Lord answer dozens of prayers! We see Him working in and through us as we meet new people, start ministry, look for housing, secure a vehicle, get ID, acquaint ourselves with live internationally and a myriad of other things. God is good and moving to bring glory to His name for His kingdom sake.
To finish a bit more of the story of a 19 year old girls prayer, we are doing Student Ministries just 20 minutes from Frankfurt on the Army post in Wiesbaden, WOW!! Is God ever good! He does provide and He does answer prayers!
As we reflect today on the fact that it is Good Friday, we are thankful for God's provision of the perfect Lamb sacrifice for your sins and mine. As we reflect on the gift that forgiveness is, we rejoice that we get to share that with the students, families and others here in Germany. Together, with His leading and help, we can see the dreams of a young girl answered and come to life!
Praise be to the Lord Most High...who was, and is and is to come! Oh Lord, we thank You for all You have and will do!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Two years in the making...
This journey we are on now, 28 May 2012, started before time began in the plan of the Maker of all things. We also know that because the Word says that. We also know it, because He has been directing every step of the past two years to get us to this place.
Sitting in the airport in San Francisco, I am amazed at the journey of our life and ministry that started 8 April of 2010. God began to set somethings in motion that would redirect our lives. With the redirection come refocus and with refocus comes a clearer picture of what He wants for us.
With the tool set that God has given us and the team that is backing us, we are launching out in a new ministry and journey that will land us in Wiesbaden, Germany. There, Team Shackelford, you included, will begin to build relationships with the military, their family and their students. We will serve there and provide for them an opportunity to become acquainted with our Lord and Savior. We will also work towards building relationships where we can disciple them in their walk with God.
What a joy and opportunity it is! We are blessed to know that the Lord wants to do some great things that has been two years in the making. A lifetime vision to see the lives of students introduced to Jesus that Julie had 31 years ago is now about to happen!
Holding on to His hands and committed to Him, we are excited to see what He is and will do!
Sitting in the airport in San Francisco, I am amazed at the journey of our life and ministry that started 8 April of 2010. God began to set somethings in motion that would redirect our lives. With the redirection come refocus and with refocus comes a clearer picture of what He wants for us.
With the tool set that God has given us and the team that is backing us, we are launching out in a new ministry and journey that will land us in Wiesbaden, Germany. There, Team Shackelford, you included, will begin to build relationships with the military, their family and their students. We will serve there and provide for them an opportunity to become acquainted with our Lord and Savior. We will also work towards building relationships where we can disciple them in their walk with God.
What a joy and opportunity it is! We are blessed to know that the Lord wants to do some great things that has been two years in the making. A lifetime vision to see the lives of students introduced to Jesus that Julie had 31 years ago is now about to happen!
Holding on to His hands and committed to Him, we are excited to see what He is and will do!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Building Crates For the King
This morning four men, "Friends" came and built 3 wooden crates for us to ship our household items to our new home in Germany! They were building crates for the King. Not me...the King!! In less than two hours, Mark Kost, Steve Banister, Bill King and Jeff Dickey took a trailer full of wood and made some amazing crates that are now filling up with household items.
One is completely full and the second one is 1/2 full. In the next few days, the house will be emptied, painted and the containers will be at a warehouse awaiting our arrival and new house being found.
WOW!! It is simply amazing to see what these men did as well as what the Lord is doing! We are truly blessed by each and every member of our team as well as what He is doing in and through us!
You are all amazing those that pray, play and pay as part of TEAM SHACKELFORD! Thanks for following His leading in your lives for His sake and His people.
As Melanie, Julie and I prepare to leave on the 28th, we want you to know how much we value each of you and all you do for us!
Thanks men for your help as well as being available to be used by Him. Thanks to all of you for all you do as well!
Shack
One is completely full and the second one is 1/2 full. In the next few days, the house will be emptied, painted and the containers will be at a warehouse awaiting our arrival and new house being found.
WOW!! It is simply amazing to see what these men did as well as what the Lord is doing! We are truly blessed by each and every member of our team as well as what He is doing in and through us!
You are all amazing those that pray, play and pay as part of TEAM SHACKELFORD! Thanks for following His leading in your lives for His sake and His people.
As Melanie, Julie and I prepare to leave on the 28th, we want you to know how much we value each of you and all you do for us!
Thanks men for your help as well as being available to be used by Him. Thanks to all of you for all you do as well!
Shack
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
What a life!!
I recently attended the 90th birthday for a special and dear friend! She is one of those people that when you are with her, you not only feel like you are the most important person, you feel her love and acceptance.
It is because of nothing that I have done, it is because of who she is! She is a Child of the King!
The King has made her so special and she radiates that to those that come in contact with her. Her demeanor and her personality is so attractive and her attitude is one of making sure you know her King and that you are of value.
When you look at Margaret Hovey, you see not only the beauty of a love for Jesus, you see the beauty of a life transformed and of real value. Her beauty is rooted deep inside and it is there for all to see. When you talk with her over a cup of tea, she always communicates her love for the King and her desire for you to know Him and love Him too.
It is infectious and it is so real! How do you get there? Ask her and she will tell you, "He finds me of value and worth and that means, so are you!" WOW!! That is a life lived out in all ways.
It was an honor to be there with my friend and also was an honor to pray a blessing over her from the King, our King on His special daughter! What a life! Oh, that I would have a life that would do the same. Is your life radiating the King?
It is because of nothing that I have done, it is because of who she is! She is a Child of the King!
The King has made her so special and she radiates that to those that come in contact with her. Her demeanor and her personality is so attractive and her attitude is one of making sure you know her King and that you are of value.
When you look at Margaret Hovey, you see not only the beauty of a love for Jesus, you see the beauty of a life transformed and of real value. Her beauty is rooted deep inside and it is there for all to see. When you talk with her over a cup of tea, she always communicates her love for the King and her desire for you to know Him and love Him too.
It is infectious and it is so real! How do you get there? Ask her and she will tell you, "He finds me of value and worth and that means, so are you!" WOW!! That is a life lived out in all ways.
It was an honor to be there with my friend and also was an honor to pray a blessing over her from the King, our King on His special daughter! What a life! Oh, that I would have a life that would do the same. Is your life radiating the King?
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