the Christmas Miracle continues

I received an email from Frank Maguire last week:

"LaVon and Don

Saw your fascinating web-site (blog).

I am sure that the publication of God at work in the Dickens matter will touch some folk. This is how the Lord works. There was a celebration of life service held for Joan on the beach at Carlsbad, CA. I wrote Celebration of Life and sent a number of copies to Michael Dickens to dispense. He promised me that he would. Michael, who has not been in contact with (his brother) Greg since the murders, conviction, and incarceration told me "I'm going to Arizona to visit Greg."

God heals, often in a way that we can't understand.

Hope to see you before you depart Quail Run, and hope, also, that all is going well.

grace and heart-peace,
Frank and Helen

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A Celebration of Life

by Frank Maguire

People often say “What a wonderful book,” or “Isn’t that song beautiful?” This is so common that we give no conscious thought to what is really being said. If we were challenged, we would surely say that by “wonderful book” we mean “a wonderful work of writing by the author.” And, “the composer was surely inspired when he produced that music.” In other words, we admire the creation, but we wisely give the credit to the creator.

Today is, specifically, a Celebration of the Life of Joan Dickens, but a celebration not limited to the life of Joan Dickens. Joan Dickens knew, and all who know the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, know, that the very reason Life is of value is that it is sacred, and should be revered and celebrated because God is the author…the composer…the Creator. It is the sanctity of each human life that is to be celebrated.


Better than most persons, Joan Dickens knew that her life was not of superior value relative to the life of others. She knew that all mortal souls are created by God, and that all fall short of perfection in this world.

There are those who reject the absolute sanctity of life, “If life has ended,” they might suggest, “should we not be celebrating death--the great release from worldly punishments?” Others could suggest, “We really are celebrating the life of Joan Dickens because she was a good person. So, we celebrate the good things that she did in her life.” It is not, they propose, what one is, but what one does that should be the cause for celebration. There is no intrinsic sanctity of human life, some insist, there is only relative utility, and it is measured by the quality of the life—by how valuable the life has been to its cultural and economic environment. But Joan Dickens knew better than that. She knew that each life has equivalent value because God is the author, and composer, of that life. God, she knew, is the eternal Judge, not men.


So, today, we are honoring Joan Dickens in a Celebration of Life. It is appropriate, for there are few persons who understood the sanctity of all life more than did Joan Dickens. All life! The innocent and the guilty! The sinner and the saint! The weak and the strong! The Jew and the Samaritan! Joan Dickens understood because she had within her the heart of her Lord and Savior. Yes, perhaps in this great universe Joan Dickens’ life might be thought of as a tiny rock cast into this expansive ocean…creating but a seemingly negligible ripple. But the ripple produced by the life of Joan Dickens will continue without end. For an eternity! Upon rocks thought negligible by the World, Jesus Christ built His church.



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A beautiful poem by Frank:





Surpassing Understanding (verse one)

By Frank Maguire
© July 12, 2006


The weighty heat of day relents,
And of the burdens it has laid upon us,
Even God’s worn Earth repents.

The life of this day’s sun,
Consumed by saw-toothed mountains in the West,
The crimson spread attests
That day is done.

‘Tis then we see Earth’s life in glory
With golden halo, Heaven’s clouds reflecting
One more day of poignant story.

A cool angelic zephyr sings
While angel faces dot the night;
And Earth, no more within our sight,
We soar away to Peace on Heavenly wings.


Surpassing Understanding (verse two)

By Frank Maguire
© July 24, 2006

The weighty heat of day relents
And of the burdens it has laid upon us
Even hostile Earth repents

The life of this day’s sun
By God ordained to ebb beyond its crest
Penumbra spread attests
That day is done.

Then, we see Earth’s life in glory.
Gold and crimson halo, Heaven’s clouds reflecting
One more day of poignant story.

“Come be with Me,” the whispering!
While angel faces dot the night,
And we, with Earth no longer in our sight
Are drawn to Paradise on Heavenly wings.

Sunday's Coming

Good morning, it is that time again. I pray you are well and safe.

We continue to stay busy. Just yesterday, a lady in the park fell early in the morning. When we received the call, LaVon ran to her and stayed until she was taken to the hospital. After her Bible study we went to the hospital and praise the Lord, no broken bones, an answer to prayer.

So you see life here is like it was in the church back home, people need the love of Jesus and fellow Christians. My sermon this week is on telling others about Jesus even if you have to use words.

I urge you to keep us in your prayers, that we remain healthy and that our needs are met. Thanks for your emails, phone calls and support. Know we could not be doing this without you.

I read this this morming from Adrian Rogers and wanted to share it with you. Enjoy and may God use you today in someones life.

Have a great day, love you pass it on, Don

BIBLE MEDITATION:

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." 1 Corinthians 1:27

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The people God chooses to do His work are plain, simple folks. All youhave to do is look at the twelve men Jesus chose to be His disciples.Fishermen, a tax collector, a "zealot." What a ragtag bunch! But theyended up "turning the world upside down." And those who watched them exclaimed, "Why, these are ignorant and unlearned men!" (Acts 4:13).

Maybe you didn't make the "Who's Who," or worse still, you made the "Who'sNot"! That's all right. God has a plan for you. God knows what He is doing. He turns the table on the world's idea of success. Wealth, fame, acclaim none of these are necessary for you to be used of God.

ACTION POINT:

What a glorious truth for you to share with someone today who may be feeling like they're not worth much. Ask God to lead you to that someone right now.

Sunday's Coming

Time seems to be going fast. I guess when you are busy and happy, time just gets away. I think it has a lot to do with our attitude, when you are doing what God wants you to do, you can't be anything but content.

Sunday, my topic was about discouragement and you know what happened, I got discouraged. God dealt with me and out of it came this weeks message, Forgiveness. You see when you get down the next thing that happens is you strike out at someone else. Now, you have to be about asking others for forgiveness. We need the right attitude in all situations. I read this this morning:

Rejoice in the LORD always. I will say it again: Rejoice! —Philippians 4:4
As you read it, remember the words of Paul in Philippians 4:11b, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances…”

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.
Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today ." So she did and she had a wonderful day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
"H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today . " So she did and she had a grand day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.
"Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.
The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.
"YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"
The road you are traveling may be difficult and even heartbreaking. These seasons of life are inevitable. Yet, how we respond makes a tremendous difference. We can ask for God’s strength to help us. We can choose the attitudes we live by, even on our darkest day.

Laugh for the day:
"Salesmanship"
During a magazine and newspaper subscription drive, our son Philip, a paperboy, learned about good salesmanship.
His supervisor had instructed the kids to maintain a positive attitude, even when turned down. One potential customer told Philip, "I've got papers and magazines strewn all over the place -- I don't need any more."
Philip's reply? "Well, how about a subscription to Good Housekeeping?"

Have a great day, love you, pass it on, Don

Sunday's Coming

Good morning,

I pray all is well with you. God is good, all the time.

He continues to show Himself here in our lives. Whenever we start to feel discouraged He shows us how we have been used here in someones life.

Just Monday, I was told of a man that was put in the nursing home from our park. I had had the privilege of spending time with him and sharing Jesus. My prayer is he really understood what we had talked about, but it encourages me to know God used me to talk with him.

We have befriended another couple that has never been to church and every Sunday they tell me how how God is talking to them.

Oh, I could go on but you see that even when I get down, God always lifts me up. Sometimes it's from people here and other times it fom hearing from you. Thanks.

"When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying."

Have a great day, I love you pass it on
Don

"Perspective"
A woman walks in a store to return a pair of eyeglasses that she had purchased for her husband a week before. "What seems to be the problem, madam?"
"I'm returning these glasses I bought for my husband. He's still not seeing things my way."

Sunday's Coming

Good morning,

It has been a while since I have written. Like you, this time of year keeps us very busy. I want you to know that you are continually on our mind and in our prayers. Some of you let me know what we need to be praying about. If you haven't and have a special prayer request, please send it to us. I woke at 3 this morning thinking of this letter and what to say and what came to mind was, we are all very busy some times too much so. God impressed upon me to take some time and slow down and spend it with him and I don't mean just a minute, but time to reflect and time to look upon what is relly important to you.

When I was reading devotions this morning I read this: Slowing Down for a Moment. This devotional was written by Robin Dugall

"God, my shepherd, I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction." —Psalm 23:1-3

Did you know that a study was presented to the USA Congress back in the 1960s that said we would become so technologically sophisticated before the year 2000 that we would have to work only 5 to 6 hours a day. The “experts” said that the big problem of the 21st century would be what to do with the extra leisure time. Right! Technology has served to speed up our pace of living. Today, most of us are busier than ever!

When was the last time you cherished a moment? When was the last time – you had the time – to simply focus on how you were going to be obedient and responsive to the will and heart of your God? When was the last time you spent time with God as a natural response to the moment – without any outside encouragement or guilt to motivate you? Right now, I encourage you to tell the Lord your God that you so desire the fullness of His presence in these moments.

My prayer for you this morning is you take the time to talk to the Lord and then listen.

Have a great day, love you, pass it on
Don

A letter from CRM General Director

We received today a letter from CRM Director, Dennis Maloney. It's a wonderful insight into our heart and vision so we wanted to share it with you:

Greetings dear ones, and Happy New Year.

I give God all praise for the year that was 2007 and for all He has shown us during that time; for new friends; and new partners, for all the challenges of ministry He has presented us with. The coming year is an exciting gift lying unopened before us today. Will this be the year He returns for His church? Will the last new name be written down in the Lamb's Book Of Life during the twelve months ahead? God knows and only God, so we press forward to the high calling we have in Christ Jesus.

One of my favorite devotionals is "Streams in the Desert", compiled by Mrs. Charles Cowman, missionary to Japan, in the 19th century. I felt the ideas she included from the pen of N.L. Zinzendorf, for this days reflections, curiously representative of CRM International's position. Please allow me to share them with you.

Please read Deuteronomy 11:11-12.

Today, dear friends, we stand on the verge of the unknown. There lies before us the new year and we are going forth to possess it. Who can tell what we shall find? What new experiences, what changes shall come, what new needs shall arise? But here is the cheering, comforting, gladdening message from our Heavenly Father, "The Lord thy God careth for it." "His eyes are upon it away to the ending of the year."

All our supply is to come from the Lord. Here are springs that shall never dry; here are fountains and streams that shall never be cut off. Here, anxious one, is the gracious pledge of the Heavenly Father. If He be the source of our mercies they can never fail us. No heat, no drought can parch that river, "the streams whereof make glad the city of God."

The land is a land of hills and valleys. It is not all smooth nor all downhill. If life were all one dead level of dull sameness it would oppress us; we want the hills and valleys. The hills collect the rain for a hundred fruitful valleys. Ah, so it is with us! It is the hill difficulty that drives us to the throne of grace and brings down the showers of blessing; the hills, the bleak hills of life that we wonder at and perhaps grumble at, bring down the showers. How many have perished in the wilderness, buried under the golden sands, who would have lived and thriven in the hill country; how many would have been killed by the frost, blighted with winds, swept desolate of tree and fruit but for the hill ---- stern, hard, rugged, so steep to climb. God's hills are a gracious protection for His people against their foes!

We cannot tell what loss and sorrow and trial are doing. Trust only. The Father comes near to take our hand and lead us on our way today. It shall be a good, a blessed New Year.

Thank you for all you do. You make my life a joy. You are my friends!

Blessings!

Chaplain Dennis Maloney
General Director
Christian Resort Ministries International

The rest of the story

(Be sure to read the complete story in the post following this post.)

JOAN DICKENS and the Celebration of Life

At 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday January 2nd, my wife Helen received a phone call from
Anne and Warren Pearson.

“On Wednesday, Jan. 2nd 2008, at 7:30 a.m., Joan Dickens was taken ‘home’ to meet the Lord.”

Later that morning Michael Dickens, Greg’s brother, called the office of the warden at the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC). He advised them of his mother’s death, and asked that his brother Greg be informed.

Michael was told call back later—that they would arrange for Michael to speak directly with Greg. Michael and Greg did speak for a lengthy period, with no time restrictions placed upon the call.

Before the conversation ended, the person representing the warden asked to speak with Michael. She said, “Mr. Dickens, we extend our deepest sympathy to you and your family.”

Anne Pearson told Helen that on January 11th, at Carlsbad’s beach, which Joan Dickens loved so much, there will be a celebration of life service.

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Because I am in the early stages of some pandemic malady (a dramatic way of saying that I have a cold), I had been napping when Helen and Anne were conversing. When Helen heard me shuffling around, she called me to the phone.

Anne repeated the news, to me, and told me that two days before Joan’s death, she had been able to speak with her. Anne said that Joan seemed joyful, and spoke repeatedly about the fact that she was to be allowed to be with Greg. This thought brought her solace and comfort in her final hours.

The following day, Joan Dickens became comatose and died shortly thereafter.

“Oh death, where is thy victory; oh death, where is thy sting?” It tells us volumes about faith and hope that the service for Joan Dickens, who died suddenly from cancer, and whose son Greg sits on death-row at the Eyman facility of Florence State Prison, is to be a “Celebration of Life.”

The Joy of the Lord is our strength.
Frank Maguire