Category Archives: Special Interest

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HOW to be a LIGHT in the WORLD TODAY

Let’s Get Our Priorities Right

We’re in this together. It is up to us to get it right. Don’t look to others, look to yourself. We’ve been frustrated with the Covid and the looting, rioting, and other elements that disturb us. I don’t write political commentary though I have a strong interest in what is going on. However, that aside, I am quite concerned for my country and our citizens.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus didn’t take us home when we followed Him? Why are we here? Does what we do matter or make a difference? Does God really need our help? Do we have a part to play in the present political/national/spiritual environment? If you’ve been reading my posts for any length of time, you already know what I think. I’m passionate about this one. For the Christ follower, wherever you are on the spectrum, you have a part to play.

You, me, ‘we’ are here to speak life to others. Jesus uses your story to touch their story. You are meant to connect well with others. That’s why your messy story needs to be told and why your voice matters. Your life uniquely interacts with those you meet and know. Your life is the Christ-light that shines wherever, whenever, and in whatever you are doing.

Everyone has a story. You have a story. People are watching you. They’re noticing which parts in your story match their story. This may surprise you, but they want to learn from you. You have hope, and everybody needs hope.

Everyone needs Jesus, you included. Go to Jesus. Look to Jesus. Find Jesus as your enough. Do it. Be it. Live it. You are Christ to the world. Christ lives in you. This is an awesome responsibility, not to be taken lightly.

Everyone needs your unique light. Shine in the darkness. Love in spite of the darkness. Be original. Let Jesus help you find your path. You will never be someone else, nor they you. Be aware that your thoughts may try to dissuade you. Don’t listen to them. They’re lying to you. You need to speak, do, and love. Be ready to speak of the hope that is within you.

But in your hearts revere Christ as LORD. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

1 Peter 3:15 NIV

You can. . .

  1. Approach each day as a gift to spend for God.
  2. Approach difficulties with a smile. What is God going to do next? Wait and watch for it. Share what God is doing.
  3. Approach others as someone to love for Jesus. Every person matters.

This man does. . .

My friend Coach Pete Coulson understands this. Born in Austria, he and his twin brother were abandoned, they were raised in an orphanage with caring parents, then he moved with the family to Idaho where he learned English as a second language while adapting to their new life. Pete’s life is not the average as you will learn in this video.

I became acquainted with Pete when we were college students at Western Baptist College in Salem, Oregon. Pastor Dennis Kreiss, the gentleman interviewing Pete in this video, is also a graduate of WBC. He pastors in Oregon and is the author of several Christian books. You can check out his books here on his Dennis Kreiss amazon page. Dennis shared this interview with me. Their conversation impressed me so much that with his and Pete’s permission I now share it with you.

You don’t want to miss this. . .

Pete Coulson has a mission in life. He is a motivational speaker and is eager to share what he has learned and what God has taught him. Get a notebook and pen and be ready to jot down a few notes. I did. Pete has a lot to say that will motivate you to do what you can to help, to love, and to bless others.

First off you get to meet Pastor Kreiss. He, also, is doing his part to make the world a better place. Thanks for the listen, Dennis.

Note: Here’s a direct link to YouTube if you’d prefer a listening to it there: Kreiss – Coulson Interview

  • Thank you to Dennis, for making and sharing the interview, and for caring enough to go to the added effort to conduct this interview.
  • Thank you to Pete, for being an example of living to give, and for sharing your heart with the world.
  • Thank you to God, for loving all the people in the world, for being our Light, for believing we are worth it.

Go to Jesus. Look to Jesus. Find Jesus as your enough.

. . .

Photo by Adria Crehuet Cano, Unsplash

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REMEMBERING MINCAYE of “End of the Spear”

SPECIAL FEATURE

Many of you have read Through Gates of Splendor, The Story of Dayuma, or End of the Spear. There comes a time when the past revisits the present as is the case with this writing. Steve Saint, author of End of the Spear, has sent notice of the passing of Mincaye of the Waodani people in Ecuador.

Steve Saint’s has written this letter about Mincaye, a member of the Waodani people in Ecuador. Mincaye was in the group of tribesmen that killed five missionaries in 1956, which included Steve’s father, Nate Saint. Later, Steve Saint’s aunt, sister of Nate Saint, lived with the Waodani people as did Elisabeth Elliott, wife of Jim Elliot (also killed).

April 29 at 5:58 PM

OBITUARY FOR MINCAYE
By Steve Saint

He was born into a violent “Stone Age” culture in the Amazon Rain Forrest of eastern Ecuador, South America. Mincaye, whose name means “Wasp,” died April 28, 2020 at home in the tiny village of Tzapino of natural causes related to old age. He was between 88 and 91 years of age.

Mincaye is survived by his wife Ompodae (Otter), thirteen children, fifty some grandchildren, many many great grandchildren and tens of thousands of people who saw him as proof of God’s redeeming and transforming power.

When “Grandfather Mincaye,” as we affectionately knew him, helped five other Waodani warriors spear my father Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, Roger Youderian and Ed McCully to death on a river sandbar in 1956, there was no reason to believe anyone outside of his small clan and the five bereaved families would ever take note of that incident.

Nevertheless, millions of people in North America and Europe followed radio news releases that five North American missionaries were missing in the Ecuadorian jungle. For most of a week there was no word of their fate.When a search party finally found their five, spear-riddled bodies the question was, “Why?”. The term “Tragedy” accompanied virtually every radio, newspaper, and magazine article as the news of these vicious and seemingly senseless killings spread.

But sixty-four long years later, it seems clear that Genesis 50:20 was about to come true again. “What man meant for evil, God meant for good.” There has been no greater ambassador of that message than the life of Grandfather Wasp. Mincaye is also the main character in the feature film, “End of the Spear.”

When “End of the Spear” in book and movie form became available, Mincaye traveled around the United States and Canada telling his life story. This amazing jungle warrior who counted only up to twenty on his fingers and toes, personally impacted hundreds of thousands of people in audiences as large as forty-five thousand.

The movie in which his life plays the leading role has now been translated into the mother tongues of approximately one quarter of the world’s population. Mincaye’s most frequent speaking theme was, “We lived angry, hating and killing, ‘ononque’ (for no reason), until they brought us God’s markings. Now, those of us who walk God’s trail live happily and in peace.”

Then he would often ask, “How long did you have God’s Markings before you brought them to us?” “Waa, iñinamai” (well, I don’t know). “Maybe if we had known sooner that ‘Waengongi’ (the Creator) did not see it well that people should live angry, hating and killing for no reason, we could have walked God’s trail sooner.”

There are people who question the motives of the five missionaries who made contact with the Waodani in 1956. There are some who question Mincaye’s motives in participating in 10 speaking tours to the U.S. and Canada, trips to Europe, Panama and even India. I can only answer that I was Mincaye’s traveling companion on all of those trips. We traveled together, ate together, shared the same room, and spoke together.

I have known Mincaye since I was a little boy when he took me under his wing and had his sons teach me to blowgun hunt.

He was one of my dearest friends in the world. Yes, he killed my father, but he loved me and my family. One of my grandsons is named Mincaye. We will miss you, Maemae Mincaye, but we hold onto the certain hope that we will soon see you again. (John 3:16).

– Steve Saint

. . .

A beautiful tribute. All I can add is “To God be the Glory.”