In This Month's Report:
* Editorial - What I'm Learning
* Health Update - Amazing Grace
* Feedback - Terminator?
* July Ministry - Impacting the Northeast and Beyond
* News and Resources - Moviegoers Favor Clean Movies
* Products - Four Exciting Resources (see link below)
* Partnership - Invest In God's Program for the Northeast of America
* God Thoughts - Nothing Fails Like Success

We would love to hear from you; please send us your feedback today. Don’t forget the ever-popular 'GOD THOUGHTS' at the end of this report. Enjoy! JB

INTRODUCTION

When your life is interrupted by the unwelcome guest of cancer, and what you thought would be a two month hump turns out to be nine months and counting, many well intentioned folks ask questions like: "What is God teaching you through all this?" and "You must have learned so much about yourself...?"

Why I didn't title this article "What I Have Learned" is because it is an ongoing process, and whether I am sick or well, there is never any end to the educational process of life. It goes on as long as you are breathing.

CRUCIAL TO SURVIVE

For someone used to travelling in ministry on a weekly basis for the last 20 years, it has been a challenge to be at home for most of this year. The debilitating effects of chemotherapy (I always thought therapy was supposed to be something pleasant, as in therapeutic) affect every part of your being - physically, spiritually and in your soul. The strength of His Word, His amazing grace, the prayers of the saints and your own resilience are crucial to survive this kind of trial.

So what am I learning? In the past nine months, I have had to live out every scripture that I used to preach about. Here are a few.

DAY BY DAY

The first thing I am learning in this situation is you literally have to take one day at a time. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matt. 6:34). When you wake up every morning wondering if you are going to have enough strength to get through the day, your focus is just that day. You're not thinking about the next week or month. Everything is more immediate.

WALKING ON WATER

The next thing I am learning is to completely trust God, not just for a few things or to satisfy a current need - but I mean for everything! "But this made us stop trusting in ourselves and start trusting God, who raises the dead to life. God saved us from the threat of death, and we are sure that he will do it again and again" (2 Corinthians 1:9-10). When a doctor says you only have six months to two years to live, there is a fine line between denial and faith. When I was told that earlier this year, I had to come to a place of peace that, even though I believed He would not let me perish, I would be just as happy if He decided that it was time to take me home. That is a point not easily arrived at, but I got there.

I have preached for years that only a true Christian has the win/win hope that whether I live or die, I just can't lose for winning. "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). Over the past nine months, I have had to literally live this verse.

INNER STRENGTH

"The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness..." (Proverbs 18:14). During one of my many hospital visits over this year, a nurse once said to me, "I've seen a lot of people come and go in your condition, and I can always tell which ones are going to make it and which ones won't... and I know you will!" A resilient inner strength of spirit is a crucial commodity to survive the negative reports that will come from heaven and earth. When I say heaven, I don't mean the highest heaven where God's throne dwells, but the lower spiritual realms of dark influence. The battleground is the human mind, and you must stay positive.

LIFE JACKET

"...I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11). The challenging changes I've experienced over this last year have had some disastrous results for others, both financially as well as physically. In all of this, the above scripture has been a life jacket in an uncertain sea. The support that the Lord has provided through His Body has been more than enough to relieve us of the stress associated with the loss of regular income from ministry and preaching. Dealing with the stress of the disease is enough without having to be concerned about support.

TIME TO REFOCUS

Apart from all that, there's a time and season for everything, so as I said in our last Health Update, "I am forever thankful for God's amazing grace to get this far. It has been confirmed by so many that there is much more for me to accomplish before my God-given assignment is completed. With most of my focus being on my health all this year, it's now time to refocus and concentrate on what the Lord would have me do up ahead.... The way I figure it is to start by just getting up and moving again. As I move in the right direction, things will become clearer as I go!"
 

That's what I am learning!

I am so grateful to all of you who are responding to our appeal for prayer and support after the diagnosis of cancer in my esophagus at the beginning of this year.
 

I have now completed the last round of chemo, praise God! The treatment over the last eight months has been a long haul and I am tired of feeling half dead, sick and weak all the time. Now I have to concentrate on recovery. Please believe with me that I can regain my strength quickly.

In a few weeks, I will have another scan to see how this last treatment has worked. I hope you will stand with me believing that no further cancer will be found.

The medical authorities rate my chance of survival over the next five years at 70-75%, with the first three years being crucial. If I add in the amazing amount of prayer and faith expressed by you and thousands of others on my behalf, then those odds must increase dramatically.

I am forever thankful for God's amazing grace to get this far. It has been confirmed by so many that there is much more for me to accomplish before my God given assignment is completed.
 

I will send you an update with more details and prayer points in the next week or two.

"Hey Pastor Jeff! Remember me? Fabian from Christian Life Center (Sydney, Australia) at that time when Frank (Houston) was pastoring. I had classified you as the TERMINATOR, 'cause when you prayed for people you'd place your foot over them. I used to think to myself, 'careful, here comes the terminator.' But man, when you prayed for me, the power of God flowed and blessed me with such peace... so hopefully you'll remember me. Anyway, so good to connect with you... been so long. Your kids must be all grown up and probably married. God bless, Pastor Jeff, Fabian, Australia"

"Dear Jeff, I’m sure that this, as an email, is a drop in a bucket of love and well-wishers, but I wanted to add my faith to theirs... and yours. Know that Rainne and I pray for you, for your health, yes, but also for the power of your testimony when this is just a memory and you are once again ministering in humility, power and authority. Know the blessing of God in this time of need and know that the body of Christ is holding you high in prayer. I for one am holding up the good works you invested in my life in the years of Sydney, petitioning my Father for your healing, total & deep. Love you Bro, Pete Wallis, Australia"

"Dear Jeff, Your courage and faith are an inspiration to the body of Christ and proof of His grace coming on you and your family. Our prayers are with you during this time! Rich Brink"