Delighting in God

The Mercy of God led to Calvary - A.W. Tozer

I love the writings of A.W. Tozer

I first discovered Tozer back in 1994.  I was in the midst of a YWAM Discipleshp Training School.  Assigned a book report, I scoured the shelves and came across The Pursuit of God.  That book changed my life.  It challnged me, encouraged me and left me thirsty for God!

Over the years I have picked up old Tozer books whenever I found them.  Over the last decade, many of Tozer's sermons and magazine writings have been turned into books.  The majority of those have been compiled and edited by James L. Snyder.

So I got excited when Bethany House published a new book of Tozer's writings called Delighting in God. I eagerly dove into this book. Like every Tozer book I have ever read, this one challenged me in new and exciting ways.  Snyder does a brilliant job of compiling Tozer's writings on the theme of delighting in God.  I found numerous passages that caused me to pause, reflect and pray.

For a man who passed away in 1963, Tozer's writings are a much needed breath of fresh air!  His words challenge still today.  At times his words are even prophetic. 

If you like old school preaching, having your faith challenged or find yourself craving more of God then Delighting in God  is the book for you.

"This book has been provided courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications and Baker Publishing in exchange for an honest review."

Missionary Spotlight: Lenard and Debbie Nance

Here is the next Missionary Spotlight. Each month I will highlight a different missionary that my wife and I know somewhere around the world. We encourage you to pray for them and their work. You will find contact info if you want to send them an encouraging note and also information on how to donate towards their ministry if you feel so led. The next missionaries are Lenard and Debbie Nance. You can find out more info about Lenard and Debbie, including contact info, at their website: Connecting Cultures and Lenard's Blog.

Lenard and Debbie have been married for 32 years, have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. They started their missions life in 1991 by taking a Discipleship Training School (DTS) with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) in Tyler, Texas. In 1993 they were accepted on staff with YWAM Salem, Oregon where they have served for the last 16 years.

In 1993 the Lord gave Lenard and Debbie a vision of seeing a YWAM operating center in Southeast Alaska. The Lord refined that focus to connecting the Native people of Southeast Alaska with unreached tribal people around the world, engaing them with the message of Jesus Christ through their own culture. Lenard and Debbie launched Connecting Cultures in Christ in 2003 to intentionally move forward with mobilizing Southeast Alaskan Natives to missions.

Lenard and Debbie are currently in the process of developing property, donated in 2008, for a YWAM operating center in Ketchikan, Alaska. This is one of the main gateways to Southeast Alaska. They will move to Alaska this year. After all these years in pursuit of God's leading and provision, they are experiencing the joy and excitement of seeing their dream fulfilled.

Donations are needed for property development and ministry costs. You can donate to the ministry of Lenard and Debbie Nance via Connecting Cultures in Christ, PO Box 12647, Salem, OR 97309

CCinc is a registered non-profit 501(c)3 organization and all donations are tax deductible within the rules and regulations of the IRS.

Missionary Spotlight: The Freckas

Today will start a new monthly feature called: Missionary Spotlight. Each month I will highlight a different missionary that my wife and I know somewhere around the world. We encourage you to pray for them and their work. You will find contact info if you want to send them an encouraging note and also information on how to donate towards their ministry if you feel so led. I have asked the first missionaries we will spotlight, the Freckas, to write a bit about themselves. You can find out more info about Andy and Rachel Frecka, including contact info, at their website. www.handyrachet.com:


Let there be no talk of self denial. A team from an American church came to visit us in Perm, Russia in 1999 and asked, "Why did you choose to become a missionary, Andy?" I answered with the first thought that popped into my head: "It sure beats cutting grass for a living." There have been some good days and some hard days, but they were all with Jesus, and they were all a whole lot more interesting than cutting grass. We didn't bring Jesus to Russia. He was already here waiting for us, and boy were we glad for that when we got off the train! The best part of going into all the world is that He will be with us to the very end.

How's that for some random thoughts? :)

Andy and Rachel Frecka make their home in Perm, Russia together with their four small children. We have called Perm home for most of our adult lives, living here for ten years now. Andy is the national director of Youth With A Mission Russia, and is involved with multiple mission pioneering projects across the nation of Russia. He also has a teaching ministry in various mission schools throughout the former Soviet Union. It is our dream to see Russia reached with the Good News of Jesus Christ, and to see Russian missionaries sent long term to ALL nations.

Tax-deductible donations (tax-deductions for US donors only) to the ministry of Andy and Rachel Frecka can be sent to YWAM Accounting/Box 3000/Garden Valley TX 75771. Make the check payable to "YWAM" and attach a separate note that states "For Andy and Rachel Frecka". Our names should not appear anywhere on the check. Donations can also be made with the "donate online" feature at www.handyrachet.com

Winter Road

So I read this really awesome book this week. It's called Winter Road: Journey of a Russian Mission

Now to be fair, I know the author. My wife and I actually were in the same YWAM Discipleship Training School back in 94-95. We went on outreach together. Our destination: Perm, Russia. The same Perm, Russia that our friend, Andy Frecka, returned to as a missionary.

Andy and his wife Rachel have been serving in Perm for 10 years now.

SO with that out of the way, you STILL need to buy and read this book. I found myself laughing out loud at his missionary adventures while praising God for the way He has been (and still is) moving in Russia today.

To quote Andy himself: "Russia is not just the land of Sputnik, Gorbachev, borscht, post-Communist civil strife, impressive Olympic gymnasts, and endless landscapes of industrial gray. Russia is also a place where total strangers will spend a morning teaching you to speak without an accent, where the bureaucracy is truly a marvel of human engineering, where the airlines "fly with soul," where hospitality approaches a fine art, and where a village will rescue you if you try, during the spring thaw, to travel a winter road."

So please harass your local Christian bookstore until they bring in this soon to be missionary classic. Or go to Andy's website for more info on the book. You can find the book at Amazon, Amazon (Canada) and Barnes and Noble as well.

You won't be disappointed. You'll find yourself praying for Russia, praying for missionaries to go into the harvest and praying your side will stop hurting from laughing so hard.

Relational Christianity Spotlight

What is relational Christianity - Another way of saying Christians meeting together in community and fellowship. Meeting each others needs spiritually and physically. To share Christ passionately!

If you read this blog then you have likely noticed the numerous posts on the Life that is found in Christ. I have spoken often about the need to get back to community style Christianity. To live Christ daily and to show it not only in word but deed as well.

In an effort to highlight some of the ministries and organizations that are displaying this style of Christianity I will be posting some occasional spotlights.

These links do not count as an endorsement on all that you may find on their websites but the heart of these ministries does reflect Jesus.

Lifestream I have linked to their page where they share their passion which to me is absolutely awesome.

Little Flowers Community This little community is a YWAM partnership ministry and I know one of the leaders. He has a passion for relational Christianity.

Crossbridge This church in Florida is very intentionally relational. They even meet at a coffee shop....you gotta love that! Another friend is pastor there.

Present Testimony Ministry Frank Viola's website where you can find a house church in your area: House Church Resource

The Simple Way Their mission: To Love God. To Love People. To Follow Jesus.

The Meeting House A church focused on relationship and not religion!

So there you have it. A very small list of ministries I have come across recently. If you know more please let me know.