So often in the scriptures we see the people of God ascribing love for God but don’t have love for each other or for the least and hurting among them. We know that the Word says, “now abided in these three: faith, hope, and love but the greatest of these is love. There is no true love apart from knowing God for He is Love. Praise God, that while we were yet sinners that the perfect Holy Son of God gave his life for us and paid the penalty of our sin through his death on the cross. The Word also says there is no greater love than this, a brother laying down his life for another. I often ask myself the question, why many of us do not see as Christ sees, serve as He served, or sacrifice as He so willingly sacrificed? The only answer that comes to my heart is the issue of love. Do we truly love God with all our heart, soul, and mind? If we answer yes, this radical love for God should radically change who and what we love today! Gone will be the days of loving only those who are like us, or who can help us in our careers, or give us the things of this world. Our love for this world and the temporal will be transformed to loving others and the eternal. These are the markers that will authenticate our stated love for Christ.

 Last week while in San Antonio dropping off Daniel,our son, at UTSA, I had the opportunity to meet Charles. Charles is a man who lives in the Housing Development where H.I.S. BridgeBuilders works in San Antonio with my brother Mel. Charles began to share his testimony and it broke my heart. When Charles was three, he and his brother were abandoned in the streets. He was put into foster homes and abused severely. He then went to an orphanage where, he said, “Every race was there and I never experienced racism because we were all poor and fatherless and just had to take care of each together in order to survive.” Only when he left the orphanage did he experience this horrible sin called racism. He then went into the military where he was honorabley discharged and began the destructive habit of drinking alcohol. He said he never had a father to love him, or show him how to live under authority, maintain a job, or be a leader of a family. Later he would become sober to only to start selling drugs. He said without Jesus in his life, “I would just become a sober and more evil sinner.” The Lord miraculously intervened in his life through the testimony of a former drug user of how Jesus Christ had saved her and set her free from sin and gave her eternal life. This good news of God’s love captured Charles’s heart and he gave his life to Jesus Christ. Now Charles is volunteering in our BridgeBuilders’ computer lab in the inner city of San Antonio. Mel says he watches Charles pick up young children, place them in their chairs, and helps them learn to use the computer in the same way he hoped someone would have done for him. He said as I left, “Mike, when people see me, I hope they see a man who wants to have a family, a job, and a home!”

 I praise God for the love of Christ in Charles that has transformed him and is enabling him to be a father to the fatherless. If Charles can love God and others, then prayerfully we who have been blessed beyond words would love as he loves. It is time to match our walk with our words, if we truly love God, we will love others more than ourselves.

 We praise God for the 53 individuals who have committed to be a part of BridgeBuilders’ 300 who are praying for our complete healing and giving $100 a month to support this work of God in the cities. You can also be a part by donating online here or calling Mary Anderwald at 214-377-1551.

 The need is great but our God is greater.

I started taking Tarceva (an oral chemo medicine) almost 2 weeks ago. The expected rash on my face and chest have started but none of the other possible side effects. The dermatologist says the rash is a sign that the medicine is working (praise God). We go to the oncologist at Baylor next week and will keep you posted. Please pray that God will use this medicine to eradicate any cancer.

 If you love me…love the least and the lost so that they too may have hope for today and forever.

             “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.  They shall mount up with wings like eagles;  they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint  “ Isaiah 40:31.  When this scripture speaks of waiting on the Lord, it means those who expect in God.  For 20 years, we have invested in the Bonton community expecting in God to work a miracle of transformation for His Glory.

                Yesterday was a tremendous witness of the goodness of God to us and to our ministry.  We broke ground on our 30^th Habitat for Humanity home in Bonton.  These homes have been built by 1000s of volunteers and incredible sponsors like Prestonwood Baptist Church, Highland Park Presbyterian Church  and Concord Missionary Baptist Church, Guaranty Bank, Park Place Motors and many others.  Miracles are taking place through these homes every day.  Karen Alston, our dispensary technician, was our first Habitat homeowner.  She lived in the Turner Court housing development years ago when it was very violent.  She was a single mom of young children who needed someone to help her. Velma reached out to her.  She and her children slept on the floor of their apartment for six months because of drive-by shootings.  I remember when my wife and staff told me about this and they asked that we help move Karen out of Bonton.  I prayed and the Lord clearly told me no because Karen was to stay and take back her community for the Glory of God.  By faith, she stayed and five years ago we planted our first family in a Habitat home, Karen’s home.

               Yesterday we saw the fruit of Karen’s faith not to flee from her test or trail but to stand with God and believe Him to be her all in all.  Now Clifton, who begins building his home Saturday with his wife and four children, will continue to take back Bonton house to house.  Clifton once lived in Rhodes Terrace near Bonton, separated from his wife and children, taking and selling drugs.  By God’s grace, he entered our GED class in the Turner Courts multipurpose center and received a GED.  Later that year he prayed to receive Jesus Christ through the witness of one of our ministry associates, Ronnie Goines, who was at seminary at the time and is now a dynamic pastor in the metroplex. Clifton says when he would begin to wander that Velma would speak a strong word of love and admonishment to stay on the path and pursue all that God had for him.  Our son Michael formed a relationship with Clifton several years ago and today their friendship continues to be a great example of how we can encourage each other to be all that God has planned as we join together from diverse cultures and backgrounds.  Clifton also followed the example of Rodrick Yarbrough, another man set free from drugs, who is now working for us in the community.  After receiving his GED, Clifton went through our lens lab training and is now working at the lab training others and making eye glasses for his community.  Clifton has already committed his home to the Lord and to reaching his community for Christ.

                I reflect on all this to say how awesome our God is to have brought our wonderful Mayor Tom Leppert;  Janet Huckabee, wife of Governor Mike Huckabee and board member of Habitat for Humanity International;  Scott Begin, Executive Director of  Habit for Humanity-Dallas; Mike Buster, Executive Pastor of Prestonwood; Brian Carter, pastor of Concord; and many others to celebrate this continued miracle of God.     Praise God for this expectant faith in God from all who are working with us in the work of HIS BridgeBuilders.  Let me challenge each of you to expect God to move miraculously as you obey daily.  We often limit God by our unbelief because we can’t see results in our timing.  Twenty years is a fourth of a vapor to God and we rejoice that even now we are expecting our great God to continue to help us fulfill His amazing purposes for urban center here and internationally.  Much like the expectant faith of Karen and the many others in our ministry to trust God that He is working even though we can’t see it, we must keep believing and obeying. 

                This week we began treatment by taking a drug called Tarceva.  They will do a scan in two months to see what effect it has had on the tumors.  What a blessing to wait on God ….or better said to expect in God to use this drug to stop and shrink these tumors.  There is no evidence that this is happening that we can see but we serve a God who works in ways we cannot see or understand.  Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean God hasn’t already sent the answer from heaven and is moving in miraculous ways to provide for your every need.  How blessed we are to wait on God.

Through these past weeks we have prayed for God to be glorified and the gospel to be advanced through our cancer.  In each of our cities, souls are coming to Christ and lives and communities are being  transformed.  We thank God for the 30 BridgeBuilders 300 who have already signed on through our website www.hisbridgebuiders.org or contacted Mary Anderwald at 214-377-1551 to pray believing for our healing and give $100 a month toward the ministry’s financial needs.  These first 30 have brought me to tears of thanksgiving that the light and momentary trial of cancer is bringing about the eternal blessing of salvation and hope for the hopeless in the heart of our cities.  I write today from MD Anderson reflecting on the testimony of the people who have said “I have been awakened by God to help you and HIS BridgeBuilders.”  These words were spoken by a dear friend of mine, Brad Clark, “we have watched you and affirmed your ministry but have not joined you by faith to be a part of this movement of God.”  The story of Jerry, the man from the streets coming to Christ , is no more miraculous than the blessed saints of the church being awakened to walk among the poor, make disciples, and give the necessary resources to help extend our reach to the forgotten of our cities.  God is seeking to do a new work in his time.  There is a spirit of repentance that is refining my life, our ministry, and those who are walking with us on this journey.  I am reminded over and over again of Isaiah 58:3, “Why have we fasted and you see it not?  Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?  Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure and oppress all your workers.  V. 6. “Is not this the fast that I choose? V.7 “to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him and not to hide yourself from your own flesh.”

                Most of us have been hiding from the needs of the poor and lost around us.  Through our cancer this need has been brought into the light.  I rejoice in this and thank God that vs. 8 then says “then shall your light break forth like the dawn and your healing shall spring up speedily, your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.” V.12 “You shall be called the repairers of the breach, restorers of the streets to dwell in.”  We praise God that His word is true.  Pray and ask God if these verses convict your heart like they do mine that we need to repent from the love of self, our desire for comfort and the things of this world and open our blind eyes to the needs of the people all around us.  Oh God, forgive me for not seeing the hurt and the need as clearly as I do today. 

                When Laura and I entered MD Anderson yesterday we were in a sea of cancer patients of every age and stage of life, rich, poor, all looking for hope to defeat this disease.  People come from every nation to this place.  We had the joy of praying with many, of laughing and bringing the joy of the Lord to this place.  I ask the question of each of us, “when the world gets bad news where do they come?”  Do they come to us knowing that we will pray, give, serve, and love them to wholeness and wellness in Christ  Jesus?  Help us God to move out of our hospitals of wellness (the church) to walk among your broken and hurting people that they can know the hope that we have in Jesus and the healing power he gives over any disease and the eternal hope he gives through salvation in his name.  It’s time to be awakened and sent out to a lost and dying world. To restore our cities for Christ.

Today we went back to our oncologist at Baylor Hospital.  Each time I go I am reminded of what it must have felt like to men and women of faith through the ages to be imprisoned and yet still praise God.  For many, cancer is a death sentence but for the believer, it is an opportunity for God to work miracles and point others to Jesus.  Today I was reminded of the many times that Peter and Paul were  imprisoned but continued to praise God and see miracles of salvation as well as being set free. While having blood drawn today in the lab I asked the technicians if they knew any praise songs.  They began to sing an amazing song about making it through with Jesus.  I assure you I don’t like having blood drawn but I honestly didn’t feel a thing while we were praising God.  After they sang for me, I asked if I could pray for them and they said yes.  We stood and praised God and prayed in the lab of Sammons Cancer Center at Baylor.  What a joy it is for God to use us in new ways to extend encouragement to the saints and hope to the hopeless.

I have been taken care of by the best medical team, equipment and facilities available.  My heart however is extremely burdened by the thousands we serve in the H.I.S. BridgeBuilders optical and dental clinics.  These clinics allow us to share the gospel, give the best medical care available to the poor, and train residents from inner-city communities to work in our clinics as well as for employers in the optical and dental industry after completing our training courses.  Many of the trainees become a positive role model of someone who has experienced the life changing power of Jesus Christ from the streets to serving, from death to life, from drugs to discipling others.  There is joy in our clinics!  We are in the process of reopening our dental clinic and are prayerful that God will raise up a full-time dentist who is called to make disciples through medical missions.  I share this because H.I.S. BridgeBuilders is in great financial need.  Today while I was praying for our ministry, which has been hit hard by the economy and by my battle with cancer, the Lord reminded me of Gideon and his 300 men.  These men were prepared to battle and trust God with Gideon for a great victory against unbelievable odds.  I would ask you to fervently pray about being one of our 300 soldiers to pray for miraculous healing and to give $100/month to H.I.S. BridgeBuilders to help us fight the battle to reclaim our cities for Christ.  If the Lord leads you to be one of BridgeBuilders 300, please respond to this blog and someone will contact you or you can donate online at http://www.hisbridgebuilders.org.

The Lord continues to remind me that He is Jehovah Jireh, our provider, and Jehovah Rapha, our healer.   We praise God that the adenocarcinoma is a mutation (exon21) and is treatable with a biological drug called Tarceva.  Because the cancer has already metastasized, it is considered to be at stage 3B.  This means I am currently not a candidate for surgery.  The Tarceva is an inhibitor that can stop the cancer and even shrink it.  We will be going to MD Anderson, August 11^th and look forward to continuing our time of worship there.  Please pray about helping us help others in our city and becoming one of our 300 warriors who pray and give to sustain the ministry of H.I.S. BridgeBuilders in our time of need.

Thank you always for your prayers and love.  They sustain us daily.  God is working in miraculous ways.