January 18, 2008
I rushed in planning to make a quick stop.
Bob’s concentrated effort was focused on turning a page of the newspaper. His Bible was opened on the table. “Hi Bob,” I said while placing my hand on his shoulder and taking a seat next to him. No response. While sitting quietly next to him still unnoticed, it took me some time to switch gears from the fast pace I’d kept all day. After what seemed like several minutes, I pondered the pleasure Bob gets out of reading.
His career was spent in Christian journalism where he touched many lives for Christ. Yet while seeing His Bible opened on the table and watching him accomplish turning another page with his trembling 97-year-old hands, I found myself ushered onto holy ground. Prayer marks Bob’s life as a leader along with his love for God’s word and a tenacious obedience to step out in faith and take the next step. While sitting quietly in Bob’s presence I knew the presence of the Lord filled this place.
The grin on his face when he finally looked up was worth the wait. It was a grin of accomplishment combined with the grin of a dad to a daughter. Bob has prayed daily for me over the past 12 year. He can’t always remember my name but once we get on the topic of bikes he flashes me a knowing glance.
When he speaks I must place my ear close to his mouth and watch his lips move. Each word is a strain. His voice is quiet and his words are jumbled because his epiglottis is wearing out. If he’s not careful talking can cause him to have an earth shattering coughing attack.
“Alice, you must incorporate His Wheels International (HWI),” Bob told me in 2004.
When he shared how big he saw HWI getting I shook even more. Without Bob’s gentle yet stern words and daily prayer, I probably wouldn’t have ever started HWI.
Today I showed Bob our new DVD and shared some of the things I wanted him to pray about. With his large, warm, tremulous hand on my back, and hearing his prayers, I experienced the love of a mentor and the warmth of the Holy Spirit. When I left I realized I was blessed because I stopped. I was ushered into the presence of the Lord. Even though I couldn’t understand ever word Bob prayed, that wasn’t important. What I knew was the power of prayer and the working of the Trinity on behalf of HWI. I needed the reminder that this is God’s ministry and He knows all the activity going on in HWI. It’s not to big for Him and He’s provided giants in the faith whose present occupation is prayer to undergird His Wheels International.
I left singing, “We are standing on holy ground, and I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now. We are standing in His presence on holy ground.”
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Extreme Bicycle Enthusiasts
1/18/08
You judge for yourself! It’s 15 degrees outside and my mechanics claim it’s 20 degrees below zero in our unheated garage workspace. However, we’ve become creative and just bought a propane heater. Well due to the fact that it gives off Carbon Monoxide, we keep the garage door slightly open. We’re trusting our in residence fireman on the wisdom of this. So, again, you judge for yourself, bicycle enthusiast, dedicated volunteers or a group of us that are slightly out of our minds. As one mechanic stated, “We’re all here because we’re not all there.” Another mechanic said, “Does oil freeze?” with wonder in her voice. The answer is yes. If this sounds like fun, please join us, or better yet pray for space and for a missing component some refer to as sanity.
We definitely enjoy our times together. I think the crazier the experience the more fun we have. Our bike ministry continues strong thanks to this group of dedicated mechanics who’ve been faithfully coming weekly over the past 2 years or more.
A Cyclists Paraphrase: Hebrews 12:1-2
1/9/08
Therefore, since we are drafting off of those saints who have gone before
us, let's empty our panniers of everything we think we need, and instead
trust Jesus to meet our needs. Hold on to Jesus' wheel, who joyfully
sacrificed for us, and will lead us to the Father.
Jeff Messer, His Wheels International’s President shared this during devotionals. We trust it inspires you like it did our team.
Therefore, since we are drafting off of those saints who have gone before
us, let's empty our panniers of everything we think we need, and instead
trust Jesus to meet our needs. Hold on to Jesus' wheel, who joyfully
sacrificed for us, and will lead us to the Father.
Jeff Messer, His Wheels International’s President shared this during devotionals. We trust it inspires you like it did our team.
A Timely Christmas Greeting
1/3/08
“Maybe God is trying to tell us not to send the trike to Senegal today,” In frustration I blurted to Kevin, our engineer. Last night we were up late trying to get two 50lb boxes packed, keeping within the weight and size for airline regulations. The two boxes were to include a hand-pedaled trike prototype along with other equipment to travel on to Jeremy, who is already producing trikes in North Africa. By the time we ended the evening in prayer we looked at each other wondering, “What do we think we’re doing?” This makes our 7th trike we’ve sent off and we assumed by now it would be get easier.
“God have I done something wrong that everything seems to be going wrong?” I wondered as I hit my pillow last night. God met me in my question. The truth is things are probably going God’s way and Satan isn’t happy. However, knowing that didn’t answer my questions about how to proceed with sending the trike.
I awoke early this morning to find the latest baggage regulations from the airlines but found it near impossible to locate a phone number for the airlines. We seemed to be facing one obstacle after another. Finally ready to say forget it, pieces seemed to fall into place. God’s amazing confirmation came through a Christmas card I received that morning from friends in Dakar, Senegal.
“Dear Alice,
“Holiday greetings to you from Dakar, Senegal! We hope you are well as we are fine…We hope everything is going well at His Wheels International. May your season be filled with the joy that comes from knowing and serving Jesus Christ!”
The words may not be profound, but God’s perfect timing through this Christmas letter was amazing.
We found out when the team returned that the trike flew without problems for $150.00. God again showed us He has a plan and a way to fulfill His plan. Our job is to follow with tenacious obedience.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Five Star DVD Rating
1/16/07
“OH MY GOODNESS!! ALICE!! Your DVD is WONDERFUL!! What a sweet
feature of Anika! I can hardly wait to show her!” her mom wrote.
Here’s the script, of the DVD referred to above, but you need to see the DVD
Are there any dreams left for His Wheels?
The answer is yes. Our trike prototyping is taking another turn and allowing us to dream about the possibility of one day forming a hand-cycle racing team.
How can we get there?
Anika, a nine-year-old adopted paraplegic from Belarus melted Kevin’s heart. Anika rode our prototypes for 8 hours at Joni and Friends retreat. “She has Olympic potential,” stated a physical therapist. Anika gave birth to the dream to make a pre-racer hand cycle. This hand cycle is aerodynamic, high tech, multiple geared and will allow Anika to work towards her ultimate athletic potential. Afterwards with Anika in mind Kevin named it Scirroco, which means “African Wind”. He said, “I have found what I was created to do.” Anika rode around singing “I’m having so much fun.”
His Wheels International will never stop dreaming.
For those of you who haven’t seen our first new DVD, you can view it on our website at www.hiswheelsintl.org
“Anika hasn't had a chance to ride her pre racer hand pedaled cycle for some time
because of the cold weather. However she goes out and checks on her cycle
every so often! When I showed Anika the video, she loved it! As soon as it was done, she declared that she wanted to ride her cycle! I figured since it is a blazing 35* out there, what the heck! So she is our running circles in the driveway!” Dawna, Anika’s mom.
“OH MY GOODNESS!! ALICE!! Your DVD is WONDERFUL!! What a sweet
feature of Anika! I can hardly wait to show her!” her mom wrote.
Here’s the script, of the DVD referred to above, but you need to see the DVD
Are there any dreams left for His Wheels?
The answer is yes. Our trike prototyping is taking another turn and allowing us to dream about the possibility of one day forming a hand-cycle racing team.
How can we get there?
Anika, a nine-year-old adopted paraplegic from Belarus melted Kevin’s heart. Anika rode our prototypes for 8 hours at Joni and Friends retreat. “She has Olympic potential,” stated a physical therapist. Anika gave birth to the dream to make a pre-racer hand cycle. This hand cycle is aerodynamic, high tech, multiple geared and will allow Anika to work towards her ultimate athletic potential. Afterwards with Anika in mind Kevin named it Scirroco, which means “African Wind”. He said, “I have found what I was created to do.” Anika rode around singing “I’m having so much fun.”
His Wheels International will never stop dreaming.
For those of you who haven’t seen our first new DVD, you can view it on our website at www.hiswheelsintl.org
“Anika hasn't had a chance to ride her pre racer hand pedaled cycle for some time
because of the cold weather. However she goes out and checks on her cycle
every so often! When I showed Anika the video, she loved it! As soon as it was done, she declared that she wanted to ride her cycle! I figured since it is a blazing 35* out there, what the heck! So she is our running circles in the driveway!” Dawna, Anika’s mom.
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