http://www.ourrescuer.com/news/ en washfeet@gmail.com Copyright 2012 2012-01-26T20:34:38+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/marks_made..._part_2 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/marks_made..._part_2#When:16:06:57Z Last week, I mentioned that just over 10 years ago on January 15, 2002, my life and hopes were shattered... Last week, I mentioned that just over 10 years ago on January 15, 2002, my life and hopes were shattered when my first wife died and my skull was fractured in the horrible car accident that occurred.  So in these blogs, I'm explaining the 3 most significant ways I've been changed over this past decade as we stand at the 10 year mark of that life-changing event. Today's is a particular shift from SELF-reliance to GOD-reliance... ...which I now believe is literally one of the main reasons for our times of suffering, or sort of a "why answer"... i.e. why a good God lets us suffer -- to cause us self-reliant people to depend on Him more. You see, between the apostle Paul's two letters to the church in Corinth, they suffered (and so did he), which is why 2 Corinthians 1:9 says, "In our hearts we felt the sentence of death.  This happened so that we might not rely on ourselves but on God who raised the dead." A very, very tough lesson to learn, but oh so valuable. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”   2 Corinthians 12:9a 2012-01-30T16:06:57+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/marks_made..._part_1 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/marks_made..._part_1#When:20:34:38Z Just over 10 years ago on January 15, 2002, my life was shattered when my first wife died and my skull was fractured in the horrible car accident that occurred. As a preacher, I shared with our church's congregation 3 of the most significant ways I had been changed over this past decade, as we stand at the 10 year mark of that life-changing event.  I'll do my best to explain them over the next few blogs here. The first one is the character point of PERSEVERANCE (endurance) that grew significantly in me.  In the original Bible text, perseverance means to "endure under pressure," like a warrior in battle with a shield, pressing on toward the enemy while under attack.  Scripture says that trials produce perseverance (James 1:3).  In our words, it simply means "never quitting," "never giving up," or "always pressing forward." More to come... And that's not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. The strength to go on produces character. Character produces hope.   Romans 5:3-4 2012-01-26T20:34:38+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/life_coaching http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/life_coaching#When:01:49:53Z Friends, given what I've been thru (& now that I'm a pastor) I am often asked to be a "Life Coach." Friends, Given what I've been thru (& now that I'm a pastor) I am often asked to be a "Life Coach." So on Saturday, 1/21, at Westminster Christian Academy (1:00-3:00) I'll be speaking for 2 hours, & then open for more individual Life Coaching times.. TELL ME IF YOU WANNA COME ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE!!! http://www.facebook.com/events/224073124340730/ Description: Almost 10 years ago, Jason Mirikitani endured a tragic car accident that killed his wife & almost took his own life. Now, he is an Assistant Pastor, an author (http://www.MileMarkerBook.com), & a speaker, who frequently offers hope and points to God's grace with special insights... (http://www.ourRescuer.com) In this Christian Life Coaching Seminar, Jason will explain from life and pastoral experience what it means for a person to be God-reliant in several different aspects of life rather than self-reliant, and how that affects us as parents, spouses, and professionals. He will close by offering to extend his Life Coaching services in an individual way to attendees beyond this group seminar. 2012-01-10T01:49:53+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/happy_new_year_2012 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/happy_new_year_2012#When:21:36:42Z It seems that certain things traditionally happen at the start of every New Year... It seems that certain things traditionally happen at the start of every New Year... People set forth New Year's Resolutions. They look back and reconsider the past year's highs and lows, and perhaps ways to learn from mistakes. They celebrate wonderful moments from the previous year and try to forget the worst ones. As I personally trace back over 2011, I think I will always recall it with wet eyes. I will remember it as the year that our 4 year old son, JoJo, started wanting to help people out, and wanting to pray for people, having faith that God would answer his prayers. I will remember it as the year that our 11 year old daughter made several personal adjustments to be an amazing big sister to her 4 year old little brother. I will remember it as another year that Christe, my wife, often told me she loved me and was proud of me. And I will remember it as the year I got to write down a story with a tragic start that would point lots and lots of people toward Hope (www.milemarkerbook.com). All in all, 2011 points to yet another year of the workings of a faithful God in the midst of life's difficulties. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 2012-01-02T21:36:42+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/wrestling_and_perseverance http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/wrestling_and_perseverance#When:17:54:17Z This week I'll be back on the wrestling mat again; I am a referee now... This week I'll be back on the wrestling mat again; I am a referee now. I enjoy giving back to this sport that for many years of my life gave me so much:  fun, competition, and drive. In all my wrestling disappointments and successes, the #1 lesson I've learned is perseverance. In the Bible, the original word for PERSEVERANCE means to "endure under pressure."  I'm sure glad I started to learn that trait as a kid! We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 3:3-4 2011-12-02T17:54:17+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/thanks http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/thanks#When:15:48:31Z Sometimes, because of certain reasons, it seems pretty hard to say, "Thank you." ... Sometimes, because of certain reasons, it seems pretty hard to say, "Thank you." When my sister-in-law was a kid, some teen-age boys were going around the neighborhood busting up jack-o-lanterns for fun... and they crushed Angela's, crushing her little spirit along with her pumpkin. As her mom hugged her, she reminded her of the biblical principal to "give thanks in all cicumstances" (1 Thess. 5:18). Her frustrated dad, meanwhile, was gathering the broken pieces and throwing them in his garden and in the compose pile. Well, the next harvest season... there were 24 pumpkins growing in that garden! 2011-11-25T15:48:31+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/a_lad_and_his_dad http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/a_lad_and_his_dad#When:19:50:40Z Just last week, JoJo was saying how much fun it would be to jump into some leaf piles… Just last week, JoJo was saying how much fun it would be to jump into some leaf piles. So I got my rake out, and the fun soon began one chilly afternoon in our yard - for our whole family! Later that night (when I warmed up a bit), something occurred to me: I bet the religious leaders of His day were offended that Jesus often referred to God as His FATHER (no one had ever called "the Holy One of Israel" that before!)... because a father or a dad is personal and familiar, is intimate in His loving care and compassion. Suddenly this unknown God was warm and friendly... and approachable.  God's Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father.   Romans 8:15   2011-11-11T19:50:40+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/wearing_masks1 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/wearing_masks1#When:17:22:22Z Our kids were adorable Trick-or-Treaters… JoJo was a “Pirate Pumpkin,” and Abby was “Maid Marian”... Our kids were adorable Trick-or-Treaters... JoJo was a "Pirate Pumpkin," and Abby was "Maid Marian"... not to mention Krypto, our Superdog!  And, I'll admit that I am excited about the one day of the year when no one thinks I'm (as much of) a nut for putting on a costume... so, yes, I was Superman, "The Man of Steel," and I frequently commended other adult trick-or-treaters for being "good citizens." I laughed out loud yesterday at a grocery store when I saw a Halloween sign that said, "No One Over 12 Years Old Allowed in Masks." (I think that was a serious sign, though.)  But don't most of us wear masks often in our daily lives?  We put forward a fake "front," we try hard to look better than we really are... Of course we do! Who wants the world to know how we really are?! At one point in the Gospels, Jesus really called out the religious leaders on this one, referring to them as "whitewashed tombs" (Matt. 23:27), pretenders who were really dead on the inside even though they were beautiful on the outside. Ouch. At first, stuff like that makes me not wanna read my Bible, until I remember that it was written by the One who loves me unconditionally in spite of all my mess... So my mask comes off (my secret identity is out! 2011-11-01T17:22:22+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/jojos_pear_tree http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/jojos_pear_tree#When:23:30:42Z Christe recently read JoJo a story about different types of fruit trees and how they grow… Christe recently read JoJo a story about different types of fruit trees and how they grow. He then became certain that he had to have one, and we chose a pear tree at the store. Planting it was a huge task for us (mostly me, of course), since the instructions said to dig a hole twice as deep and wide as our pot that held the tree. I was happy and confident, though, because of where I planted it... in the downhill corner of our yard where all the water would flow to help the tree... and then he prayed a blessing over it (!) with closed eyes facing up: "Jesus, make it rain to help my tree!" I expect JoJo's pear tree will be abundantly fruitful. "But I will bless any man who trusts in me... He will be like a tree that is planted near water... It is not afraid when heat comes.  Its leaves are always green... It always bears fruit."     Jeremiah 17:7-8 2011-10-18T23:30:42+00:00 http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/miraculous_mile_markers http://www.ourrescuer.com/site/miraculous_mile_markers#When:23:31:04Z I should admit some significant personal mile markers that the last few weeks included... that my family and I graciously celebrated: my wife Christe and I had our 5th Anniversary at the end of August, and my 40th Birthday was last weekend. At Kanakuk Kamps in the Missouri Ozarks, a Christian youth camp where I worked for many summers, we often tell kids on their birthdays, "I'm glad you were born!" Interestingly in my case, as you probably know, it's remarkable that I didn't die before either of these celebrations... that I made it past my birthday 10 years ago! So I walk today in humble gratitude to God for His miraculous rescue and gracious provision of my sugar sweet wife and my adorable children. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 2011-10-03T23:31:04+00:00