A Tennis Missionary remembers: November 2008

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November 2008

November 24, 2008

Celebrating 10 years 1998-2008

On September 15, 1998 the first newsletter was sent out. If you would like to read the first newsletter you may do so here. The mail list has grown from a few sent out monthly to today's 11,000 weekly and 38,000 twice a year and the name has changed to reflect the International aspect. The ten years and two and half months has gone fast...

My week in 2008 and your prayers are appreciated...

1. I trained two apprentices - a High School student and a young man who will focus full time on developing a website and sport/tennis materials for Chinese.

2. Planning the Australian Open trip - It will be an intense 30+ days.
a. Perth (The Hopman Cup and visit with Pastor Margaret Court, who is our advisory board member, and Victorylifecentre church) Sydney (Medibank Classic, I went last year and looked it over and decided to go this year for the entire week for working with the players and churches.) Melbourne (Australian Open and alongside wonderful Melbourne churches.)

3. My wife, myself and our children, Ashley who is 7 and Joshua who is 2 years old go to Hong Kong Disneyland for a family outing on December 29-30th.

4. Every Sunday...Our Church, Elim Full Gospel Hong Kong is wonderful, full of committed believers and nice people to be around. Our children love this church!

5. While I have lived in Hong Kong since 1992 and am a resident - I am still an American citizen. I wish all in the USA a Happy Thanksgiving Day - a wonderful family day!

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November 17, 2008

Weekly Verse - November 17, 2008

MONDAY: Consider Him (Christ). - Hebrews 12:3
You need to go back today and re-read Christ's teachings.

TUESDAY: You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend', and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy'. I'm challenging that. I'm (Christ) telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst...Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you. - Matthew 5:43-48
That's how Christ lived, and that's how He wants you to live too.

WEDNESDAY: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. - Psalm 66:18
Deal with it today!

THURSDAY: The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. - Joshua 7:10-12
There's a time to pray, and there's a time to stop praying and deal with the problem.

FRIDAY: There was a time when I wouldn't admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable... until I finally admitted all my sins to You (God)... all my guilt is gone. - Psalm 32:3-5
Nothing will change for you until you decide to deal with the situation and make things right.

SATURDAY: Then you will know the truth, and the Truth (Christ) will set you free. - John 8:32
If the truth can set you free, a lie can keep you bound. Are you bound by a mistaken belief system?

SUNDAY: I (God) guide you in the way! of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. - Proverbs 4:11-12
Do you believe that visions and victories are only for others? That miracles don't happen to your family? Are you so chained to a mistaken belief system that you don't even dare to dream?

November 11, 2008

Mentoring Matters

What is EASIER NOT to do, hard work and time consuming! The answer - mentoring other people.

BUT...I love to mentor people for all the right reasons.. the joy of seeing a person grow and knowing that I am passing on to another what I have learned through my successes and mistakes and ultimately the friendship that it builds..

The mentoring process can be described as...activities conducted by a person (the mentor) for another person (the mentee) in order to help that other person to be more effective to progress in their life and/or career. The mentor is probably someone who had "been there, done that" before. A mentor might use a variety of approaches, eg, coaching, training, discussion, counseling, etc.

Sometimes....the process works well and sometimes it does not work out. I have posted a few people that I am thankful for at Bob's blog - 'Work alongside such people'.

Mentoring is a great responsibility and joyful but at the same time humbling as you realize that you have reached this end stage in your own life and passing on to others.

This week I am been asked to mentor a 15 year old boy who wants to coach tennis and a 30 year old male tennis coach who is newly married.

Sometimes I wonder why I am allowed to just mentor such a small number, often only 2 or 3 at a time and have done so for a number of years. I really do not have the answer to that, but God does know that I have a desire to see larger numbers of tennis players mentored in one location at the same time and I am working in that direction believing that God can bless that...

2009 may be the beginning of this location and your prayers would be appreciated...

Paul the apostle also, spelled out mentoring as his leadership model very simply. “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.” (I Corinthians 11:1) “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me put it into practice.” (Philippians 4:9)

Daily Verse blog archive / Bob's Site Blog archive

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Work alongside such people

Jesus himself stated: “Who ever would be great among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 2:25-28) And, “The son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

The Daily Verse Blog has a blog (Mentoring Matters) written on who, what and why we should be a mentor to others...

Now to those whom I work with today, I admire, I learn from and I truly see serving others. I am truly blessed to work alongside such people.

Pastor Dennis Balcombe. Senior Pastor Revival Chinese Ministries International - RCMI blog.
Pastor Russ Barton. Senior Pastor Forward in Grace Ministries - Website.
Pastor Rob Keller. Senior Pastor Crossculture Church of Christ - Website.
Pastor Malcolm Kyte. Senior Pastor Queens Road Church - His blog.
Pastor Ron Lewis. Senior Pastor King's Park International Church - Website.
Pastor Steve Merrill. President of Everynation. I read these blogs weekly - His blog.
Pastor Paul Sarchet-Waller. Senior Pastor Elim Church Hong Kong - His blog.

Daily Verse blog archive / Bob's Site Blog archive

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November 10, 2008

Weekly Verse - November 10, 2008

Monday: Be strong and courageous...for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6
You are as young as your prayer, and as old as your despair.

Tuesday: Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10
Refuse to listen to those who've settled for second best and want you to do the same, too.

Wednesday: But God, Who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus. - 2 Corinthians 7:6
The company of friends around you will either lift you up or drag you down.

Thursday: Bear one another's burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2
When life kicks you, let it kick you forward!" Refuse to accept defeat! Today, ask God for the courage to get up and try again.

Friday: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:9
With God's help you can rebuild! Whatever happened yesterday is in the past.

Saturday: God's grace and mercy are new every morning. - Lamentations 3:23
Today God is saying to you, "You can start all over again, and this time I will enable you to win!"

Sunday: Consider Him (Christ) who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. - Hebrews 12:3
Jesus was criticized continually. They called Him a glutton and a drunkard. (Matt 11:19) They even accused Him of having a demon. (John 8:48) Yet He never once allowed bitterness or discouragement to defeat Him. To Jesus, every obstacle was an opportunity to demonstrate His grace.