Harry S Truman was the President of the United States of America from 1945 to 1953. Truman once observed:
"A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities, and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties."
Which one are you?
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Friday, July 30, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Felices Fiestas Patrias!
"Felices Fiestas Patrias!" to all of our friends in Peru who are celebrating that nation's pair of Independence Days today and tomorrow.
Psalm 33:12 (TNIV) - "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord ...."
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Psalm 33:12 (TNIV) - "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord ...."
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Please Pray For Josh Gonzalez
Please continue to pray for our friend, Josh Gonzalez, who is suffering from cancer in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA. Josh recently underwent surgery for testicular cancer, but now his doctors have found a new type of cancer in his gastrointestinal tract and in his lungs. Josh also has bleeding in his lungs. He has been moved back into the Intensive Care Unit in Lynchburg General Hospital, and there is a grave concern that he may soon have to go on a life support system. Your prayers are urgently needed for Josh Gonzalez at this time.
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Monday, July 26, 2010
Foolishness & Wisdom & Weakness & Strength
In 1 Corinthians 1:25 (TNIV), Paul writes to the church of God in Corinth that "the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength."
Do you really agree with Paul's statement?
Or does your seminary degree or your Gold's Gym membership get in the way?
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Do you really agree with Paul's statement?
Or does your seminary degree or your Gold's Gym membership get in the way?
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Wedding Anniversary
Today Dorcas and I celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary!
We'll be celebrating at the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World where, 7 years ago today, we were married at the Grand Floridian Wedding Chapel.
Proverbs 18:22 (TNIV) - "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord."
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
We'll be celebrating at the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World where, 7 years ago today, we were married at the Grand Floridian Wedding Chapel.
Proverbs 18:22 (TNIV) - "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord."
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Friday, July 23, 2010
Museums & Hospitals
A church is not a museum for saints.
A church is a hospital for sinners.
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
A church is a hospital for sinners.
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Josh Gonzalez
Please join us in praying for our friend, Josh Gonzalez, as he recuperates from surgery for testicular cancer. Josh's doctors also are investigating spots on his lungs and his brain. Thank you in advance for your prayers for our friend, Josh.
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Facing The Giants
There are times in life when the enemy just pounds away at you. A left upper-cut. A right hook. A quick knee to the groin. Sometimes life and ministry can be like an ultimate fighting match, and you've got the scars to prove it.
As a result, there also are times when all you want to do is throw the towel into the ring.
It's at times like these when it's good to go back and watch the movie, "Facing The Giants", and especially the famous "death crawl" scene, when one underachieving high school football player carries a teammate on his back, while blindfolded, the entire length of the field.
The underachieving player, since he is blindfolded the whole time, has no idea how far he is going up the field. All he knows is that he is dog-tired and can't go much further. But the entire time that he is crawling up the field on his hands and feet, with a 140-pound teammate on his back, the coach keeps exhorting him to go just a little bit more.
"Keep driving!" the coach tells him. "Don't quit! Give everything you've got! Give your very best! Keep going! Don't stop! Even when it hurts! Even when it burns!"
The player finally collapses in sheer and utter exhaustion.
In the end zone.
This scene from "Facing The Giants" is a classic, and it also serves as great motivation during those times and seasons in life and ministry when we are totally exhausted, overwhelmed, discouraged, worried, and feeling like we've been totally smacked down by the enemy.
God is exhorting you today: "Keep driving! Don't quit! Give everything you've got! Give your very best! Keep going! Don't stop! Even when it hurts! Even when it burns!"
God is exhorting you in this way today.
Because He knows how close you are to the end zone.
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
As a result, there also are times when all you want to do is throw the towel into the ring.
It's at times like these when it's good to go back and watch the movie, "Facing The Giants", and especially the famous "death crawl" scene, when one underachieving high school football player carries a teammate on his back, while blindfolded, the entire length of the field.
The underachieving player, since he is blindfolded the whole time, has no idea how far he is going up the field. All he knows is that he is dog-tired and can't go much further. But the entire time that he is crawling up the field on his hands and feet, with a 140-pound teammate on his back, the coach keeps exhorting him to go just a little bit more.
"Keep driving!" the coach tells him. "Don't quit! Give everything you've got! Give your very best! Keep going! Don't stop! Even when it hurts! Even when it burns!"
The player finally collapses in sheer and utter exhaustion.
In the end zone.
This scene from "Facing The Giants" is a classic, and it also serves as great motivation during those times and seasons in life and ministry when we are totally exhausted, overwhelmed, discouraged, worried, and feeling like we've been totally smacked down by the enemy.
God is exhorting you today: "Keep driving! Don't quit! Give everything you've got! Give your very best! Keep going! Don't stop! Even when it hurts! Even when it burns!"
God is exhorting you in this way today.
Because He knows how close you are to the end zone.
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Friday, July 16, 2010
Faith & Sight
In 2 Corinthians 5:7, Paul writes to the church of God in Corinth, "We live by faith, not by sight."
Can you say the same?
Do you truly live by faith, or is it more by sight?
The vast majority of Christians seem to come from Missouri - you know, the Show Me State.
Would you be able to walk on water if Jesus beckoned you, or would He have to say, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Living by faith means keeping your eyes on Jesus.
Living by sight means keeping your eyes on the wind and the waves of life instead.
How you live, and your level of faith, are determined by where your eyes are focused.
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Can you say the same?
Do you truly live by faith, or is it more by sight?
The vast majority of Christians seem to come from Missouri - you know, the Show Me State.
Would you be able to walk on water if Jesus beckoned you, or would He have to say, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Living by faith means keeping your eyes on Jesus.
Living by sight means keeping your eyes on the wind and the waves of life instead.
How you live, and your level of faith, are determined by where your eyes are focused.
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Explore. Dream. Discover.
American author and humorist Mark Twain:
"20 years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
"20 years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Christ & Christians
Indian political and spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi once made the following observation about Christ and Christians:
"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
That should be a jarring statement for any Christian to hear. It should not be a statement to resist or to argue with, but rather a statement to ponder and to reflect upon.
Unfortunately, too frequently Gandhi is correct. Unfortunately, too frequently there are Christians - everywhere - who are so un-Christ-like. And that's what leads non-Christians such as Mahatma Gandhi to make such poignant and telling observations.
Are you a Christian?
Are you like or unlike Christ?
Sometimes it takes a non-Christian to point out the difference.
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
That should be a jarring statement for any Christian to hear. It should not be a statement to resist or to argue with, but rather a statement to ponder and to reflect upon.
Unfortunately, too frequently Gandhi is correct. Unfortunately, too frequently there are Christians - everywhere - who are so un-Christ-like. And that's what leads non-Christians such as Mahatma Gandhi to make such poignant and telling observations.
Are you a Christian?
Are you like or unlike Christ?
Sometimes it takes a non-Christian to point out the difference.
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Monday, July 12, 2010
Champion
Stop being a spectator.
Stop being a cheerleader.
Put on a uniform jersey.
Get in the game.
Be a champion, not a spectator!
Psalm 19:5 (TNIV) - " ... Like a champion rejoicing to run his course."
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Stop being a cheerleader.
Put on a uniform jersey.
Get in the game.
Be a champion, not a spectator!
Psalm 19:5 (TNIV) - " ... Like a champion rejoicing to run his course."
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Kidnapping Attempt
Today is the 5th anniversary of a kidnapping attempt against me in Lima, Peru.
On Friday night, July 8, 2005, at about 9:15 PM, I was walking home after teaching an English class at a Lima language institute. I was just a couple of blocks away from our home, on a dimly-lit side street, when a man stepped out of a late-model sedan about 15 feet ahead of me. The man was well-dressed, wearing a leather jacket and dress pants, and he was talking on his cell phone.
All of a sudden, the man hung up his cell phone, put it in his jacket pocket, and then pulled out a gun and pointed it directly at me.
Just seconds after the man pointed his gun at me, a second man put his arm around my throat from behind me, where he had been hiding in some bushes, and pointed a gun at my head.
The man in front of me began ordering me to get in his car, where a third man was waiting as the driver. I said no. Lima, unfortunately, has lots of kidnappings, and the one thing I had learned from the various TV news reports about prior kidnappings was that you did everything you could to avoid being taken away.
The man in front of me began swearing at me in Spanish, and waving his gun at me, and ordering me once again to get in the car.
Once again I said no.
"If you're going to shoot, you'd better shoot now," I yelled at him in a moment of God-ordained boldness, "because I'm not getting in that car!"
At the same time, in another act of God-ordained brazenness, I began to elbow the man behind me in the ribs. I could hear him grunting as I hit him again and again in the ribs.
Suddenly, the man in front of me grabbed for my light-blue backpack. He assumed that, as a gringo, I probably had a wallet, money, credit cards, a laptop, or other items of value inside.
He was dead wrong.
My English students had just taken an exam, and so all I had inside my backpack was a stack of exam papers that I needed to grade.
The man in front of me began to fight with me for my backpack, and all of a sudden the backpack strap broke. The man grabbed the backpack and ran back to the waiting car as I stumbled backward. The man behind me, seeing that I was unsteady, and also seeing that a car was coming down the street toward us, suddenly grabbed me and threw me into the street in front of the speedily advancing car. At the last second I rolled to the side of the road, narrowly avoiding being hit by the speeding car.
The three attempted kidnappers sped away in their car. I assume they were none too happy when they opened my backpack, only to discover a bunch of English exams inside, and nothing else of any value. Maybe they all speak English now.
I wound up with a broken arm in the attempted kidnapping, the result of my arm smashing onto the pavement when the man behind me threw me into the street. I was in a heavy, old-fashioned plaster cast for over a month. I still have it today as a souvenir.
As I reflect on that night 5 years ago, I remember that all throughout the vicious attack I had a vision of angels and demons fighting each other in the dark Lima skies above us. I also think of various verses in Psalm 91:
Psalm 91:5 (TNIV) - "You will not fear the terror of night ...."
Psalm 91:11 (TNIV) - "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."
Psalm 91:14 (TNIV) - "'Because they love me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue them ....'"
Psalm 91:15 (TNIV) - "I will be with them in trouble ...."
Pastoral and mission work is not easy, and at times it is downright life-threatening. I know that all too well, and from vivid experience. But on July 8, 2005, even in the most of a life-threatening kidnapping attempt, I was dwelling in the shelter of the Most High, and resting in the shadow of the Almighty.
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
On Friday night, July 8, 2005, at about 9:15 PM, I was walking home after teaching an English class at a Lima language institute. I was just a couple of blocks away from our home, on a dimly-lit side street, when a man stepped out of a late-model sedan about 15 feet ahead of me. The man was well-dressed, wearing a leather jacket and dress pants, and he was talking on his cell phone.
All of a sudden, the man hung up his cell phone, put it in his jacket pocket, and then pulled out a gun and pointed it directly at me.
Just seconds after the man pointed his gun at me, a second man put his arm around my throat from behind me, where he had been hiding in some bushes, and pointed a gun at my head.
The man in front of me began ordering me to get in his car, where a third man was waiting as the driver. I said no. Lima, unfortunately, has lots of kidnappings, and the one thing I had learned from the various TV news reports about prior kidnappings was that you did everything you could to avoid being taken away.
The man in front of me began swearing at me in Spanish, and waving his gun at me, and ordering me once again to get in the car.
Once again I said no.
"If you're going to shoot, you'd better shoot now," I yelled at him in a moment of God-ordained boldness, "because I'm not getting in that car!"
At the same time, in another act of God-ordained brazenness, I began to elbow the man behind me in the ribs. I could hear him grunting as I hit him again and again in the ribs.
Suddenly, the man in front of me grabbed for my light-blue backpack. He assumed that, as a gringo, I probably had a wallet, money, credit cards, a laptop, or other items of value inside.
He was dead wrong.
My English students had just taken an exam, and so all I had inside my backpack was a stack of exam papers that I needed to grade.
The man in front of me began to fight with me for my backpack, and all of a sudden the backpack strap broke. The man grabbed the backpack and ran back to the waiting car as I stumbled backward. The man behind me, seeing that I was unsteady, and also seeing that a car was coming down the street toward us, suddenly grabbed me and threw me into the street in front of the speedily advancing car. At the last second I rolled to the side of the road, narrowly avoiding being hit by the speeding car.
The three attempted kidnappers sped away in their car. I assume they were none too happy when they opened my backpack, only to discover a bunch of English exams inside, and nothing else of any value. Maybe they all speak English now.
I wound up with a broken arm in the attempted kidnapping, the result of my arm smashing onto the pavement when the man behind me threw me into the street. I was in a heavy, old-fashioned plaster cast for over a month. I still have it today as a souvenir.
As I reflect on that night 5 years ago, I remember that all throughout the vicious attack I had a vision of angels and demons fighting each other in the dark Lima skies above us. I also think of various verses in Psalm 91:
Psalm 91:5 (TNIV) - "You will not fear the terror of night ...."
Psalm 91:11 (TNIV) - "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."
Psalm 91:14 (TNIV) - "'Because they love me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue them ....'"
Psalm 91:15 (TNIV) - "I will be with them in trouble ...."
Pastoral and mission work is not easy, and at times it is downright life-threatening. I know that all too well, and from vivid experience. But on July 8, 2005, even in the most of a life-threatening kidnapping attempt, I was dwelling in the shelter of the Most High, and resting in the shadow of the Almighty.
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Glue
US playwright Eugene O'Neill (1888-1953) - "Man is born broken. He lives by mending. The grace of God is glue."
2 Corinthians 12:9 (TNIV) - "But (the Lord) said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
2 Corinthians 12:9 (TNIV) - "But (the Lord) said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Friday, July 2, 2010
Freedom
It's the beginning of the July 4th weekend here in the USA, when Americans celebrate their freedom and independence.
It's also a good time to remember what God's Word tells us about nations and their freedom.
In Psalm 33:12, David sings, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord ...."
In 2 Corinthians 3:17, Paul writes to the church of God in Corinth, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
That's what true freedom is all about.
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
It's also a good time to remember what God's Word tells us about nations and their freedom.
In Psalm 33:12, David sings, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord ...."
In 2 Corinthians 3:17, Paul writes to the church of God in Corinth, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
That's what true freedom is all about.
www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
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