New Sheriff Appointed

This morning at 7:00a.m. we had our Africa Breakfast in the Hard Rock Cafe. Dr. Roland Vaughan, our out-going General Director of World Missions made the announcement to all of our group that Peter and Deborah Thomas are the new Field Directors for West, Central, and Eastern Africa. At that time I presented a very dressy looking ten gallon hat to Peter and also pinned a gold colored "tin star" on his coat which had his name on it. This was intended to show all the leaders in our area that the power has transferred. He is NOW officially carrying the load, so I don't have to wait until high noon on Saturday. In fact I have already begun to send those with questions about the work in Africa to him for their answers. Of course I will miss the interaction and the opportunity to give my input to the work there - but we could have no one more familiar with the COG in Africa than Peter. Jurgen Rudolph, who has been serving as E.A. Regional Supt has moved into the Continental CE Director's slot to follow up on the Educational programs which Peter has initiated in our 33 countries.

West Africa Superintendent David Le Page also is retiring at this Assembly will be succeeded by Ephraim Shawa, who has just completed his Master's Degree at the COG Seminary in Cleveland. Eastern Africa's new Superintendent is to be Bishop Joseph Kagarama, who has been serving til now as the Overseer of Uganda. He is a very loyal and kind person who has always treated me exceptionally well whenever I've visited in his country. Please pray urgently for Bishop Jack Nkandu, the person appointed to serve as Central Africa Regional Superintendent.

Bishop Nkandu, who has been serving as the Central Region's C.E. Director, was on his way to the General Assembly and had stopped to visit a friend in Germany when he started vomiting and spitting up blood in the middle of the night. Had a doctor not been his host it is un-likely he would be alive now. The doctor did a tracheotomy that night to help him breathe. When he was taken to hospital next day for complete tests it was discovered that he has a huge cancerous tumor growing behind his nasal passages and invading the area of his brain and down into his throat. Doctors have induced a coma and also inserted a feeding tube into his stomach so that he can survive while a decision is made as to whether even radical surgery can save him. While doctors do their best, I am asking all of you who may read this to pray fervently for Brother Jack and also pray for his wife, whose name is Peace, to have the strength needed during this ordeal. GOD STILL DOES MIRACLES. We NEED one!

Would You Believe It?

I arrived in San Antonio last night without Frances, who decided at the last minute that she was too sick to make it. Being here without her is very difficult for me, especially in light of the fact that this is my last General Assembly to attend as the Field Director. However ... Her blood pressure is too high and her heart rate is too low and the stress of the flight alone might have triggerred an "incident" for her health. Neither of us want that to happen. So I have to make the best of it. I won't have any pictures of this event for I decided that with all the security regulations and luggage carrying restrictions I did not want to keep up with it.
On the trip out there was considerable turbulence between Chattanooga and Memphis. At one point the plane suddenly dropped and then stopped as if it had run into a brick wall. We continued on without further major incident. Fortunately the plane out of Memphis was late, so all luggage was safely transferred and I was able to make the connection from Memphis to San Antonio.
After a good hot shower I found nothing on TV worth watching, so spent an hour channel surfing, picking up tidbits about Senator McCain and Senator Obama trading political barbs and lashing out at one another's ineptitudes with meaning meandering. God help America! Give us someone as President who loves God and is not ashamed to say it publicly; someone who supports our constitution and our bill of rights; someone who will lead with moral courage and not let the UN (nor anyone/anything else) influence us to leave behind the convictions of our founding fathers.
I have been out of the hotel twice this morning to walk around and orient myself to the area. Breakfast in the hotel is $18.00. Would you believe water in the room is $5.00 for a 24 oz bottle? It is sitting on a divice that is designed to add the price to your bill when you pick up the water???

Fred Alton's 70th Birthday

Cleaning Day

I'm packing boxes here in the office at General Headquarters today. It's hard for me to comprehend that ten years ago at the General Assembly of 1998 I was appointed to the post of Field Director. I need a rest, so here I am on the blog page.

It's also incomprehensible and wild that a young thing like me just recently celebrated my 70th Birthday. Say, "It Ain't True" please - someone - anyone ? My daughters cooked and baked and served the food in grand fashion. They are wonderful girls. The said we had to have two cakes because one cake did not have enough room for all the candles. Observing the smoke when I blew out the candles someone (probably one of the grand-children) wanted to call the firetruck. It was a wonderful time during which they made me feel special and much loved. I'm so proud of all of my children and their families too. I want to upload a couple of pictures and then must get back to work - so this is short. Plus -- it is almost time to go to lunch!!!

Oh well...something is not working right here. Pictures don't want to upload. Maybe later.

Missionary Orientation

Guess what? I sung for the Missionary Orientation meeting on Tuesday morning, July 15, and they loved it! I had several sincere compliments throughout the remainder of the orientation sessions which ended at noon yesterday. The Assistant Director said, "Fred, I had no idea what a good singer you are." My reply was, "Well sure. I'm a professional. I once sung at a little Baptist Church and they gave me $200. Do you know the difference between an amateur and a professional? A professional gets paid. An amateur does it just because he loves it." Also I had several compliments on the 15 minute devotional I shared. Would you like to hear a synopsis? LoL. O.K. Glad you asked me to share it. Here goes.

Three "C's" For Successful Missionaries"
1. C - Call
My thoughts about call are probably different than what you've heard. I've heard it said a number of times, "You know Fred, I admire you for what you do...but you know people have to have a "call" before they can do anything like that. I often say, "No! I don't believe you have to have a "call" to go to Africa...or Asia...or anywhere else in the world. All you need is a "want to". I've seen young people go to Africa - and stay - just because they wanted to. Some went for Anheiser (or is that Anhauser?)-Busch; others went for the spirit of adventure; some went for the United States Government. So why not us?"
I told them of Quinton Griggs, an older man who had been raised in the Church of God but who had never been saved. I think he was about 60 - 65 at the time this incident took place. He came to the altar to pray for salvation. He prayed. He cried. He begged God, "Oh Lord, Please Save Me!" He prayed for a long time. But when he had finished praying he said, "No, I'm not saved. The Spirit has to draw me. I can't get saved until that happens." When I began to quiz him as to what it meant to him to be saved, he quoted John 6:44 where Jesus says, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." Also he quoted John 6:65 which says, "And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." I asked, "Do you wnnt to be saved?" "YES!" He answered with emphasis. "More than anything in the world!" "Well, what do you think it is that makes you want to get saved if not the Spirit of God! It's the Holy Spirit's job to make you want to get saved. That's what made you come to this altar tonight."
So if we have a directive from our commander-in-chief (and we do in Matthew 28:19) then why can't we go if we have the "want to". Besides - who do you think it is that puts the "want to" in you? God is the one who causes us to will and to do of His good pleasure. (Cf Phillipians 2:13) Yes, it helps to understand that God is who made us want to; especially when we get into sticky situations and frustrations and tough times come; AND THEY WILL COME.

2. Culture
Two things about culture. Your culture and Their culture. Of course you know what culture is: The definition which I really like is: "Culture is Learned ways of doing and being."
Let me be right up front with you. You are who you are and you will never be one of them. Accept the fact that you are different from the people where you are going and respect those differences. Besides, Jesus taught that we are to be like "a city on a hill" or like "a candle on the mantle." (O.K., Candle on the candlestick.)
Don't allow "culture" to become an excuse for sin. If it violates the teachings of the Bible but it's culturally acceptable, culture does not make it o.k. to be polygamous, or to lie, etc., and etc. We are not exporting American Culture, although it is found in the Bible! Don't believe me? Read Romans 1. It is the kind of culture Jesus came to change. Got the picture?

3. Creator
God created you. You are unique. He knew all about you - your warts and freckles - the good parts and the bad parts of you when He called you. Or should I say when He put the desire to go to the place of service you are going. He knew you -yet he loved you. Awesome.
So when the frustrations begin of going through customs and immigration, and they will; when the frustrations with headquarters come, and they will; when the disagreements with fellow missionaries come, and they will; when it dawns on you and you realize that you are imperfect, and you will ... Just remember your CREATOR is who designed you and know that He is still on His Throne in Heaven. And I concluded with these verses:
Romans 8:26-31 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. [27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. [28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. [29] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. [30] Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. [31] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"
Then I sung the song for them titled "I Need Not Leave With The Burden". and concluded by asking them to sing with me the chorus of, "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go" Many had tears in their eyes as we concluded with prayer. Can you say from your heart, "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go, Dear Lord; O'er Mountain or Plain or Sea; I'll say what you want me to say, Dear Lord; I'll be what you want me to be!" ???

July 4th @ Pumzika Acres

Early in the morning I awoke with excitement and anticipation inside for I knew this was the day for the family cook-out. I loaded up the pick-up with chopped sirloin, Beef Franks and Turkey Franks (otherwise known as hot-dogs) -- plus a couple of rifles to fight off the bears that might be tempted to taste test the cooking before it was done, then headed for my favorite relaxing spot. It was great having Frances' family together with our children and grand-children...28 of us in all. All seemed to have a great time. Joe waded the creek bare-footed and then started to walk the log which is across the creek, but, oops! The bark was slipping off the log, causing him to fall astraddle the log. Like a rider on a bucking bronc, his legs automatically grabbed hold and locked around that mighty steed while he steadied himself, regained his composure and inched himself along back to the starting point. With no bones broken and no serious injuries he proceeded to enjoy the rest of the day. Chloe Crockett, one of our three year olds, walked out on one of the trees growing out of the bank and leaning out over the creek, then jumped off into the arms of her Dad. She is fearless. Hailey, our two year old wanted so bad to be in the creek with the other little ones but she had recently had tubes inserted into her ears and was under doctor's orders not to be in a pool. It was very difficult, but her mother (Kimberly) held her and restrained her and tried to quiet her tears. Hannah and Gracie played alongside the other little ones in the creek but Rebecca and Jessica were on the porch with the young adults. We had four watermelons in the creek but only cut one. Everyone must have filled up on the hamburgers and hot-dogs.

To my son-in-law, Curtis Crockett, special THANKS for helping with the cooking of the meat. To my girls, special THANKS for helping in the kitchen. To EVERYONE -- A HEARTY THANKS for all you did to make this day a memorable one. I hope you all had as grand and joyful a time as I did.

After everyone had left the site and I had cleaned up and straightened up the out-side I decided to go inside and clean up the pots and pans where we had cooked the baked beans, chili, and coffee. Much to my pleasant joy it turned out that my wonderful daughters (TABITHA and Frankie and Ruthie) had already wasked up everything! They deserve a blue ribbon prize. If I knew how to add one of those smiley emoticons I would put it right there. You know...the one with the biggest grin on it.

Then, surprise, surprise...Frances and I spent the night at the cabin. One of our camping neighbors had come over needing two pickles earlier in the day(which we found after some searching through our stuff). Later he returned with a sack full of blue lake beans and fresh squash and some okra out of his garden. After we had rested an hour or so and as quiet settled over the mountains we sat on the porch and broke beans.

God is Good. Life is good.

The Lord's Pocket Knife

I spoke about pocket knives on another blog, with the emphasis on how helpful or how dangerous they can be -- depending on the care with which they are used. Here is a little different thought about my desire to be "The Lord's Pocket Knife".

Around November or December of 1988 Frances and I had made the decision to follow the Lord’s call and move from the Cedar Hill Church where we had served as pastor for 7 years and go to Kenya, East Africa as missionaries. When her brother (Frank) learned of this decision he found it difficult to accept. He came to me and said, “What do you mean taking my sister 10,000 miles from home? Don’t you remember that she got sick on the mission field before? Besides that.....what do you think you can do in Kenya?” I was stunned. I had no answer, except to say something like, “I don’t know Frank. Just teach and preach and love the people there about Jesus in the same way I preach and teach here at home. That's all I can think of.”

Let me explain that later God spoke to Frank to assure him that it was o.k. and he sent us a Bill Gaither Video entitled “Dream On”. But at first...at first, he just could not understand why anyone would make such a radical change in life at our ages.

Several weeks later while Frances and I were itinerating in Texas we passed through the town where her first cousin who was a Baptist preacher lived. During our visit with Quinton and his wife Marie, I told him how upset Frank seemed to be and how I had no answer. He responded, “Fred, you know what it is, don’t you?” “No, I really don’t!” I said. Frank is right. I don’t have any out of the ordinary skills to offer. I really don’t know how to explain why.”

"Why, Fred," he said quietly, "It’s because you are the Lord’s pocket knife." While I was thinking on that, he asked, "Do you have a pocket knife?”

“Well, yes.” I said.

“Let me see it.”

When I pulled it out, he opened the main blade and the point was broken.

"How’d you break the point on this blade?"

"Best I remember - it was when I used it as a pry-bar." I responded.

"Didn’t you have a pry-bar?" Quinton asked.

"Yes." I mused.

"Why didn’t you use it?"

"Well, Because it was locked up in my tool box in the trunk of my car and my pocket knife was in my pocket. It was handy!"

"That’s just it, Fred. You are the Lord’s pocket knife because you were available. You were in His pocket where he could get his hand on you! Yes, there are others who have better gifts and skills than you, but they are over here somewhere locked up in a box." He emphasized, "It may be a pretty box with a steeple on it where all the newer tools are safely locked up. But you are in the Lord’s pocket where he can get his hand on you and use you!"

Since then, I’ve often prayed, “Lord keep me in your pocket! Use me for whatever purpose you desire. Even if I am handicapped somewhat, or am not as polished or refined as I would like to be, just let me be close enough to you that you can always get your hands on me and use me!"