Great day in Cobán (central Guatamala). Got to teach 100 awesome Pokumchí pastors with hungry minds and humble hearts. I was also given one of the first Bibles in Pokumchí and delivered to them the first Jesus Film translated in their language. All in all, a wonderful day! Tomorrow we expect 300 K´kchí pastors and preachers on the new… district. Then I get to be with our team.

The hours are winding down until I leave my home and precious family. I love them so. Tonight I lay my head down in Ohio, tomorrow night, Latinta Guatemala. I am anxious to impart something that might help these pastors in the rain forest mountains of that part of Guatemala. I have such a sweet burden to help them. Help me Holy Spirit!

While we are greatly blessed to see two of our three adult children’s families on a fairly or even extremely regular basis, Thanksgiving has become the only time of the year when all 3 of the Dennis offspring along with their spouses and children are all under one roof. So obviously Debbie and I are extremely thankful each year that God has graced us with this huge blessing.

Many are having a difficult time being thankful this year, especially what with the current economic situation. Many have compared this crisis to the period of the great depression of the 30’s although I really don’t think that we are anywhere near it. Both my mother and my father lived through that period of US history, and my mother especially has shared countless stories with us of hobos coming to their humble farm home begging for a meal, and how my grandmother would turn no one away. This week we saw long lines at the cellular phone stores to get the new Blackberry phone, while in their day long lines formed for bread and soup . Jobs were scarce to non-existent in most places, with a nearly 50% unemployment rate. I don’t want to belittle the current situation at all, I’m just saying that we need to realize our blessings and not focus on our problems. I know that this is easier said than done.

I think this is what Paul meant when he said “In all things give thanks”. He didn’t say that we should be thankful “for” all things, but “in” them. I challenge you; I dare you; find at least 5 things to thank God for and start today!

It is difficult to deny it; The Church of the Nazarene is experiencing explosive growth outside the United States, while growth here is negligible to non-existent. Countries such as Haiti (considered to be “4th World”), Viet Nam, Brazil, and India have been growing at such a fast rate that church records people have had a difficult time tracking it. We now live in the time when more Nazarenes live outside the US than inside.

I have had the privilege to witness some of this modern-day multiplication with my own eyes. While serving as a missionary in Central America, I witnessed the “Alta Vera Paz” district divide into no less than 3 other districts and that trend has continued since we left. One pastor friend of mine had a congregation of 40, which sponsored two other church plants, one of which and and members of his church and family walked for over 8 hours to minister the Gospel and proclaim salvation and holiness to some of the poorest most destitute people knew. It is exciting to see small churches who just seem to have evangelism in their DNA. The sad fact is that while the growth is taking place in Haiti, the African Continent, in Asia and in Central and South America, the resources still remain with us in the West.

Jesus said, “To whom much has been given, much will be required.” Present economic circumstance aside, we still live in the riches nation on the face of the earth. I don’t belittle the struggle that people are facing in the recent economic downturn. However, I have been amazed over and over again at the joy and dedication of pastors and leaders who tirelessly proclaim the message of salvation in Jesus name to community after community.

We have been given much. Part of our responsibility is to send missionaries and share our resources and blessings with these in other poorer nations.