A Tennis Missionary remembers

"Does it make sense to believe in miracles?"

I have often prayed with tennis players and their families.  I go to a church that believes in miracles and prays as if they believe "that all things are possible with God". 

I can think back to instances of my own prayers for others such as knowing the person had cancer and then passed away within a year; passing away suddenly within a few months from cancer; undergoing chemotherapy for cancer now; and another in the later stages of Multiple Sclerosis. But on the other hand, my own mother was healed of cancer and a lifelong illness after our prayer together and that is the greatest miracle that I personally know first hand.

What I do know about miracles is that is that I have met thousands of people that have been totally and significantly changed as the person accepted 'Christ' as their personal Saviour.  I have experienced many events in my life that I know were miracles to me personally.  Several times I have gone to a Grand Slam tennis event and could hardly walk for weeks beforehand because my back had gone out, yet on the very day that I arrived and needed to go to the tournament to minister to others, the pain disappeared.

I have never seen a blind person healed, the deaf hear or the dead returned to life.  Does that make me have less faith?  No.  Does that make me to have been in the wrong location to see it?  Maybe.  Does that mean I do not believe?  No.  I earnestly desire to see such events.  What I do know is that, if I, my family, or my friend were deathly ill, I want to believe in miracles.  I also am prepared to move on if a miracle does not happen. You see, faith and prayer are ours, but the healing, or lack of healing, is in God's power only.

During Easter, Christians celebrate the fact that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  I have not seen it.  I have no proof outside of what is written in the Bible and have experienced in my own life. But I want to believe--that is called faith or as I well understand to an unbelieving world -- foolishness.  For me; I chose faith.

Weekly Verse - March 31, 2008

MONDAY:  For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again. - Proverbs 24:16
Failure is not final.  Turn failure into your teacher and your greatest defeats into learning experiences.

TUESDAY:  The steps of a good man are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take. If they fall it isn't fatal, for the Lord holds them with his hand. - Psalm 37:23,24
Some of the world's greatest successes were once labelled failures.  The only 'up and down' that you should know is getting down to pray, then getting up in the strength of the Lord to go out and win.

WEDNESDAY:  He (God) hath sent Me (Christ) to heal the brokenhearted...to set at liberty them that are bruised. - Luke 4:18
in the Bible, Tamar was King David's daughter. She was also a rape victim. If you're like her, Jesus said He came to heal the brokenhearted and to set at liberty them that are bruised.  Through His (Christ's) blood, you'll recover the loss you've suffered at the hands of your abuser.  You'll get back all that was stolen from you. God will heal your broken places and rebuild your self-esteem.

THURSDAY:  And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me. - Ezekiel 22:30
Moving God on behalf of others.  Miracles happen when somebody "stands in the gap."

FRIDAY:  He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. - Revelation 21:7
'Successful failures' are people who use their setbacks to bring them out on top. You successfully fail when it stirs you up to keep on trying.

SATURDAY:  However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me. - Acts 20:24
If your number one goal is to survive, you're no longer free to make the right decisions. You'll keep doing things based on what feels good or what's acceptable to others, rather than doing what God wants you to do.

SUNDAY:  I am crucified with Christ. - Galatians 2:20
Do you talk a lot about being faithful to the church, but very little about being fruitful for God. You can bring forth Godly fruit only if you are willing to lay down your own desires and accomplishments.

Websites:
http://dailyverse.multiply.com  (Latest: Does it make sense to believe in miracles?)
http://www.tennisministry.org
http://bobkraft.multiply.com

Easter holiday, what would a 'missionary' who happens to be a tennis coach do?

Blog archives: here

Easter Friday:  Morning -Family movie with Bob, Mia and Ashley who is 6 years old: Half priced at $4US each at 10am and saw "Polar Express" followed by lunch at "Deli France", an attempt to create a Parisian French Bistro in an Oriental city.  Afternoon - Mia and Ashley went home and I went to the Golden Arcade in Sham Shui Po.  Looking for a power converter from 120V (US) to 220V (Hong Kong) for our recently brought bread maker that came from the USA. Evening:  Husband and wife movie:  Every Friday we have our own night, which is very much like the five years that we dated prior to our marriage in 1997.  Went to see 'Charlie Wilson's War' and had dinner afterwards at a Chinese diner.

Easter Saturday, We stayed home all day in Tai Po and played with the kids, Ashley and Joshua (19 months old)  How many times can you say "go get the ball" to a 19 month old in a one hour period?

Easter Sunday, Ashley and I went to our church in Sha Tin.  Mia and Joshua stayed home.  Deadly virus alert in Hong Kong for children under 5 years old and we agreed to keep Joshua at home.  Family lunch at a Thai restaurant, excellent and reasonably priced.  Walked around "Tao Fung Shan Christian Retreat Center" famous for its large white cross that can be seen on a hill top across the city of Sha Tin.

Easter Monday:  Flower show on Hong Kong Island at Victoria Park.  Victoria Park is transformed twice a year into a focal point for blooming flowers and costs about $2US per person to enter.

Tuesday: Tennis!

The other sites:
dailyverse.multiply.com (up coming blog later this week: What is a miracle?)
tennisministry.org

My own defining moments - My shoes

My own defining moments:  My Mother was never home growing up > My earliest memories of visiting Mom were in the insane asylum and remained so until my adulthood > Attempted molestation by a teacher and boss as a pre-teenager > Every summer living with a different family as a teenager.

A different time in my life; helping others...Listening to prisoners in jail singing in unison 'Amazing Grace' (listen to the song) each behind a locked door - 1985. (the unreachable) > Staying in a the home of a missionary in Daveo, Philippines and the family being murdered for their own faith the morning after I left - 1986. (the ultimate sacrifice) > Philippine business and government leaders be driven to hear me speak in Manila about having a Presidential prayer breakfast and faith - 1986.  (the unreachable) >  My Mother healed of terminal cancer and mental illness instantly after a prayer of faith and remains so twenty years later. - 1988 (miraculous) > China government arresting my staff and confiscating almost everything I own as I shared the Gospel message to the Chinese. - 1996 (provision) > In ministry I usually wear tennis shoes - Now. (joy)

God reaches the unreachable, offers protection, gives the ultimate sacrifice, provides provision, is miraculous and brings joy. 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. - 2 Corinthians 1:3

Some suggestions on how to deal with issues.  1.  Write it down and be specific! Until you can see it, you won't know the symptoms from the cause. 2. Divide the problem into parts. Take care of the part you can right away; now you're getting it 'down to size.'3. List people and ideas who might be able to help. It takes humility to say, "I don't know" and ask for assistance. But go ahead and do it. Don't let pride keep you stuck in the problem.  To read more about defining moments for athletes at 'The Daily Verse Blog'.

Defining moments in ones life.

All athletes go through issues in their lives, as all others do.  Issues such as suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, addictions such as gambling or sexual promiscuity, the breakdown of close family relationships and divorce are just a few areas that the youth of today face in increasing measure.

These are what I call defining moments in a person's life.  Issues such as these are destructive and can be fatal; they need to be dealt with before a person can start to move forward in life.  Once acknowledged and discussed, the healing process can begin.  For an athlete, these issues impact the ability to have sustainable peak performance in sports.  It is often overlooked that the emotional makeup of a person is part of what makes them human beings with feelings.

Sport psychologists tend to focus on achieving peak performances totally related to sports activities.  Psychologists tend to focus on mental and emotional issues unrelated to sports.  Spiritual advisers tend to focus on issues related to the soul and spirit.  It is very important to recognize that all three are important and must work together and in agreement.

In my personal opinion, what is most important is that a person has a goal of not only achieving peak performances in sports, but helping others with what you have gone through yourself.  In this way you are made stronger, contribute to a greater good than just yourself and continually reinforce positive aspects in your life.

The Bible teaches us that once you are healed and strong in those areas of your pain, you can help those going through similar situations.  Helping others with what you yourself have been helped with is a good 'target and goal' to shoot for.
 
He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. - 2 Corinthians 1:4

I have written about my own defining points at my personal blog at Bob's Site blog.  This allows you to understand one person's truth, honesty and healing in life.

Weekly Verse March 24, 2008

Read the Verse archive click here.

MONDAY:  Your (God's) people shall be willing in the day of Your power. - Psalm 110:3
When God is truly at work in your life, you'll find yourself willing to go and willing to give more than ever. It won't be a struggle, it'll be a delight.

TUESDAY:  And Moses spoke to all the congregation...saying...Take from among you an offering to the Lord: who is of a willing heart let him bring it...and they came. - Exodus 35:4,5,21
At the building of the tabernacle, the people brought so much that Moses had to tell them to stop.

WEDNESDAY:  Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. - Matthew 7:7
I wonder how many problems you have given up on just because somebody told you, "There's no solution"?

THURSDAY:  I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13
The important thing to remember is that when you fail - 'fail forward.'

FRIDAY:  A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. - Proverbs 15:1
You can't enter the next season of your life with integrity if you don't exit this season right. Close the door gently, for you just might need to walk back through it again some day.

SATURDAY:  Lo, I (Christ) am with you always, even to the end of the world. - Matthew 28:20
Close the door in God's timing. Go because He tells you to, not because somebody else does.

SUNDAY:  The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. - Psalm 37:23
Be encouraged today, you're walking a prepared path. When God closes one door, He always opens another.

The Websites:
http://dailyverse.multiply.com
http://www.tennisministry.org
http://bobkraft.multiply.com

Celebrating our 10,000th site visitor

I am so thankful to the precious souls who have visited the websites.   And I am thankful to the partners who have helped out throughout the years.  Now would be a good time for us all to take a look and celebrate together.

On March 11th, 2008 the website (www.tennisministry.org) passed its 10,000th individual site visitor since October 26, 2006. The site was set up in 1998 and a visitor counter began in 2006.

The top ten nations/cities with the number of individuals reading the site...
Nations - USA: 4,776; China 1,910; United Kingdom 513; Australia 394; India 242; France 208; Canada 193; Cote D'Ivoire 134; Philippines 92
Cities - Hong Kong 845; Beijing 388; Washington DC 168; Los Angles 63; Houston 61; London 60; Sydney 58; New York 40; Paris 39; Hyderabad 39

The 10/40 countries...
China 429; India 242, Pakistan 90; Thailand 22; Israel 17; Malta 15; United Arab Emirates 14; Turkey 11; Iran 9; Vietnam 9; Saudi Arabia 8, Senegal 8; Indonesia 7; Cyprus 6; Oman 5; Lebanon 5; Liberia 5; Morocco 4; Gambia 4; Bahrain 4; Kuwait 4 ;Jordan 4;   Ethiopia 4; Bangladesh 3; Myanmar (Burma)  3;   Nepal 3; Benin 3;  Algeria 2; Tajikistan 2; Qatar 2; Sudan 1; Mali 1; Syria 1; Macao 1; Afghanistan 1; Sudan; Macao 1; Afghanistan 1; Sudan 1

Often these people from these nations do not have the opportunity to hear/read/see the message of Christ even once their lifetime.  Our site offers the opportunity in the native language.  Read more on the 10/40 here.   

Other interesting information...
3,335 visitors to Bob's site

7,653 visitors to The Daily Verse site

Sites set up October 22, 2007

 If you would like to you me and become a partner in anyway for the furtherance of this Gospel, please feel free to send me an email  at tmi@tennisministry.org

Weekly Verse March 17, 2008

Read the Verse archive click here.

MONDAY:  Able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us. - Ephesians 3:20

Ask God to give you a vision of who you are. Then ask Him to show you who He is.

TUESDAY:  Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you. - Genesis 13:14-15

If you can 'see it' God will give it to you. He didn't say it would be easy or cheap, but if you're willing to pay the price, it can be yours!

WEDNESDAY:  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear to myself.  - Acts 20:24

Why do some people with huge problems whistle through life, while others with smaller problems are constantly in despair? Because your problem is not your problem - your attitude is!

THURSDAY:  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. - 2 Corinthians 4:8

If you're looking for a problem-free world, forget it. It's the battles that produce the victories and the victors!

FRIDAY:  And He (Christ) laid His hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day. - Luke 13:13-14

When God delivers you, don't stop what you're doing to answer your accusers or expose yourself to their moods and allow my attitude to be influenced by negative opinions or spirits. Just keep praising Him and you'll come out on top.

SATURDAY: Although He (Christ) was a son, He learned obedience from what He suffered. - Hebrews 5:8

Two people looking through prison bars, one can see vast emptiness, the other vast expanse of the stars.  Your attitude can change and transform a miserable experience into a highly rewarding one.  Ask God to help you with your attitude today!

SUNDAY:  Casting all your care upon Him; for He (Christ) cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7

If something is important to you, it's important to Him.

The Websites:
http://dailyverse.multiply.com
http://www.tennisministry.org
http://bobkraft.multiply.com

My vocations, a 'great ride'.

I arrived back from Australian Open in early February and had to organize my tennis classes.  A lot of pressure to get it all set up in a short period of time.  Having done this for almost 40 years, I am aware of how to do it and the length of time that I have to work with.  Every year since 1972, I have had full classes.

Ministry is something like this.  The more years that you have been involved, the more you know what to expect.  You have developed contacts, you know "time frames" to get things done and you are not surprised by the unexpected.  I have had a 'great ride' in ministry.

In a sense I have had two careers, both successful.  I have been blessed.

I just returned from the USA from a short trip.  Working on combining these two great vocations together.  1.  Developing contacts for a future student ministry for tennis players (and possibility golf players).  2.  Developing the land acquisition for this.  3.  And spending time with Mother, Sister, Aunts and Uncle and a few touring pro tennis players. I have been blessed.