Kidnapping Update

I am happy to be able to report that Fabienne was released this morning. Lonnie came to school today very discouraged because the family had paid ransom last night and Fabi was still being held. Shortly after arriving, Lonnie got the news that the handover had taken place.

Thank you for your prayers.

please pray for this little girl, who was kidnapped in Haiti

Please pray for Fabi Desir. Fabi was kidnapped from her home on Friday (Jan. 19th) and is still in the hands of her captors. Francky and Tania Desir are her parents. Negotiations for Fabi's release are still in process. Please pray for wisdom as the negotiations take place and for God's favor in this situation. We sense God's peace and we have put this into His hands. Thanks for your prayers and support.

Everyone knows that the toughest appointment is to follow someone who has publicly fallen into sin. God bless Commissioner Bassett!

http://www.nae.net/

W. Todd Bassett Named Executive Director
W. Todd Bassett, former National Commander of The Salvation Army, has been named Executive Director of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE).
"Todd Bassett brings the highest level of leadership and experience to his new position as Executive Director of the National Association of Evangelicals,” said Leith Anderson, NAE President. “He is well known and respected among evangelicals and the broader religious community of America. I am thrilled to have him join our leadership team."
Bassett has served on the association's Executive Committee for four years, representing The Salvation Army, one of the organization's 60 member denominations. In his new role as Executive Director, he will oversee NAE's administrative, financial, and communications functions and help formulate and implement organizational vision and strategy.
"As former National Commander of The Salvation Army, one of the premier service organizations in the world, Todd will bring a wealth of experience to this new role," said Richard Cizik, Vice President for Governmental Affairs. "We all look forward to working with him. He's a man of great integrity and spiritual stature," Cizik said.
"I've watched first hand his handling of a national crisis, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it wreaked, and can say that the credit The Salvation Army received for its splendid response, can in part be given to his leadership. Moreover, Todd has a special burden for the poor and he'll be able to lend his commitment and experience to this aspect of our governmental affairs work," Cizik said.
Todd and his wife Carol were commissioned as officers in the Salvation Army in 1965 and have served in ministry for nearly 42 years in a variety of appointments. Their assignments have included youth ministry, the School for Officers’ Training, and divisional and territorial leadership. They also served for two years at the Army’s International Headquarters in London.
Bassett was appointed National Commander of the Salvation Army in 2002 and served in that post until April 2006.

God's will

Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother. (Mark 3:35)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8)

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

future (NIV)

PS 37:37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there is a future for the man of peace.

PR 23:18 There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.
PR 23:19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
and keep your heart on the right path.

PR 24:14 Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul;
if you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.

ECC 7:14 When times are good, be happy;
but when times are bad, consider:
God has made the one
as well as the other.
Therefore, a man cannot discover
anything about his future.

ECC 8:7 Since no man knows the future,
who can tell him what is to come?

JER 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

RO 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

future (SASB)

Seeds now we are sowing, each day that we live,
That must to our future its character give;
When God sends his reapers, our gladness or woe
Will spring from the nature of seeds we now sow.
Richard Slater (1854-1939)

Take my undivided being.
Thou hast bought me with thy blood;
All my sins thou hast forgiven;
Let my future be for God.
William Baugh (1852-1942)

There's a city of the future
Which the Lord will surely build,
Where the hopes of all the ages
Shall with glory stand fulfilled;
And the master builder calleth;
Hands are wanted, hear him say,
Youthful hands to build my city;
Who will offer them today?
Will J. Brand (1889-1977)

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.
Edward Henry Bickersteth (1825-1906)

I'm in his hands, I'm in his hands;
Whate'er the future holdsI'm in his hands,
The days I cannot see
Have all been planned for me;
His way is best, you see;
I'm in his hands.
Stanley E. Ditmer

For the far future I cannot see,
Promise your presence, travel with me;
Sunshine or shadows? I cannot tell;
You know I love you, all will be well.
John Gowans

In hope that sends a shining ray
Far down the future's broadening way,
In peace that only thou canst give,
For thee, O Master, let me live.
Washington Gladden (1836-1918)

If in mercy thou wilt spare
Joys that yet are mine,
If on life serene and fair
Brighter rays may shine,
Let my glad heart, while it sings,
Rise by faith's exultant wings,
And, whate'er the future brings,
Glorify thy name.
Lawrence Tuttiett (1825-97)

Speed the cross through all the nations,
Speed the victories of love,
Preach the gospel of redemption
Wheresoever men may move;
Make the future in the present,
Strong of heart, toil on and sing
Walter John Mathams (1853-1931)

Don't assume that God will plan for you no more,
Don't assume that there's no future to explore;
For your life he'll re-design, the pattern be divine;
Don't think that your repentance he'll ignore.
John Gowans

Though by darkness my future is veiled,
Here's my all, for thy love has prevailed;
I no longer will doubt thee,
I know thou dost save me,
My life shall be wholly for thee.
Richard Slater (1854-1939)

The Clark Family

photo credit: Evelin Aavik

14. jaanuar

An Estonian folk calendar holiday, which dates back to the period before Christianity, is taliharjapäev (Jan. 14, the day when the backbone of winter is broken).

elections in Estonia are revolving around the question, "what is happiness?"

http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=131047&speeches=1

http://www.worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl/hap_nat/findingreports/RankReport2006-1d.htm

http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/z_sys_PublicationDetail.aspx?pid=193

http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/

http://www.worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl/

lambs and sheep

The LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers. He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land--your grain, new wine and oil--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land that he swore to your forefathers to give you. You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless. (Deut. 7:12-14)

All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock--the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.
You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. (Deut. 28:2-6)

He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young. (Is. 40:11)

Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
we will recount your praise. (Ps. 79:13)

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Ps. 100:1-5)

What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. (Matt. 18:12-14)

The sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice…. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. (John 10:3-4, 14)

Tuesday Schedule

The corps schedule for today, Tuesday 9 January, is:

17:00 England Trip rehersal
18:00 Corps Cadets
19:00 Praise Band

See you there!

today is Chris's birthday!

http://chrischronicles.blogspot.com/2007/01/im-17-agh.html

happiness is not in money!

Tallinn Kopli Corps Praise Band

I stole this picture from Chris's blog!

Andrus (our translator), Captain Clark (on bass guitar!), Elis, Eero (on electric guitar!), Anneli, Evelin (on keyboard!), Chris (drummer).

Come to the corps at 11:00 tomorrow, Sun. 7 January, to see and hear them in person!

Is God waiting for you to respond?

http://www.inwardoutward.org/?p=273

chastity is more than "just say no!" and applies to both the married and unmarried

http://www.familylife.com/familyroom/article.asp?aid=562&code=FRJAN07F1&cat_id=192&DCMP=EMC-TFR+January+2007&ATT=562C

Mary Christmas

"The free agency of man is a cardinal truth accepted by the whole Church. We are all free to accept or reject God's plan for us. The whole Bible proves this. Mary is no exception to the rule. Mary might have refused…. The angel Gabriel was sent, not only to make the annunciation, but to gain Mary's concurrence or consent to fall in with God's will."
Commissioner Evangeline Cory Booth

New Year's Resolutions?

from http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article10-43.html

"I have come up with a personal lifestyle manifesto, this is an extension to my soldier’s covenant and I would urge others to adopt this or come up with their own. This list is by no means comprehensive but it is at least an attempt to respond to God in a practical way:
• As long as people are hungry I will eat only the minimum required to remain healthy.
• As long as people go thirsty I will drink only water.
• I will not waste or mince my words while there are people who remain deaf to God's word.
• I will not abuse my freedom in Christ but will use it to release those who are bound by sin and addiction.
• In a world of increasing leisure and dubious entertainment I surrender all my spare time to God to reach the distracted.
• In a world of increasing materialism and consumerism I will embrace poverty (as much as I practically can) and surrender my money to God to reach the dissatisfied and sell all personal possessions, which are not essential to my mission.
• In a fragmented world of broken relationships, where individuals are increasingly marginalised, I will not forget my own family in my enthusiastic efforts to welcome the excluded. • I will remember that rest is a command and obey it even though to do so is against the grain.
• In an environment damaged through the apathy of greedy industry and lazy humanity I will use the minimum of both natural resources and energy. Practically, I will wash only with cold water, walk (where possible instead of drive) and where I can travel by public transport.
• In a world of political, economic and social oppression I will fight for social justice, champion the cause of the forgotten and bring those out of sight into mind. I will make myself aware of, and join in, campaigns for social justice, I will use any purchasing power that comes my way to shop ethically.
• In a world of political correctness and Christian hypocrisy I will hate and oppose the sin but adamantly refuse to hate the sinner - I will love the unloved as Christ loves me.
• I am a resource in God's hand made freely available for him to spend as he wishes. I give myself totally and without any reservation to God and the Salvation War.
These are resolutions not regulations and as such are about purpose and motive rather than legality. Sometimes obedience to God may require me to break them, sometimes I may be allowed to enjoy times of God-ordained celebration when to keep them would be self-righteous and exclusive. They are simply a framework within which I believe my witness will be more effective and my limited resources better utilised."

Today's schedule

02 January 2007

Our corps schedule today is:
15:00--Prayer meeting
17:00--England trip meeting
18:00--Corps Cadets
19:00--Praise Band

Be sure to join us!

Uus blog!

http://armastaneestimaad.blogspot.com/

Pray With Us!

This week, the Kopli Corps is having a 24/7 week of prayer, and we would like you to join us. From 1-7 January, we want to have someone praying. We have a schedule posted at the corps with three hour time slots (midnight-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, etc.), but the schedule is not full. Will you please pray with us?

We especially need people to pray in the overnight time slots. So if you are in America where the time is seven hours behind Estonia, you will still be awake when we are sleeping and can join us then. If you are going to sign up to join us, please comment on the blog or email us at evelynclark@juno.com or timothyclark@juno.com.

Thanks for being a partner with us in prayer!