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  Dear Everyone May 18, 2018




Dear Everyone

There is more to life than I have lived so far. There is more to life than you have lived so far. Learning to live our lives to their fullest potential is my prayer and my petition. This is a dangerous prayer, a very dangerous prayer. We need God’s help so that we won’t chicken out when push comes to shove. All of us do.

Jesus, God’s Son, lived his life to its fullest potential. It cost Him his life. The apostles lived their lives to the fullest potential. Except for the apostle John, they paid with their lives because they followed Jesus. Many heroes of the Faith were martyred. Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King were assassinated. Today they are celebrated heroes and a part of our national holiday calendar. They were martyred. They were killed because they took an uncompromising stand. They did and said what angered the world and the devil. They could not do otherwise. You and I cannot do otherwise. Jesus was martyred. Today He is both celebrated and hated around the world.

So far Jesus has kept us hidden in a small mountain community in Southwestern Colorado; but it might not always be that way if I am willing to live my life to its fullest potential. I have ventured out on a limb with some of my thoughts, beliefs and activities that have earned me a place on the front-page of our local paper on several occasions; and many years ago earned me a title in a mental institution. I know that heaven celebrated when I was unwilling to compromise my beliefs. Please read my latest story again. In it I have summed up what really matters to me. My story will help you decide if you want to team up with me. Pull up this link again: What’s New? – What’s Next?

We heard that you are at a juncture in your life, wondering what life, what God has in store for you next. According to the world’s definition of success, you have scaled Mt. Everest and made it to the top academically and professionally. Everyone who watched you scale such heady heights marveled and applauded. But then you crashed and your fan club vanished overnight.

Jesus’ fan club vanished overnight. One day the crowd cheered for Him, the next day the crowed jeered at Him. I also know what that feels like and you may too. I crashed but by the grace of God, did not burn. You may have crashed, but by the grace of God did not burn. It took a long time to reassemble my life and keep what was worth keeping and trash the rest. As I look back, I see my crashing as God’s amazing grace. It’s the only way He



could get my attention to let me know I was heading in the wrong direction.

My “good education” did not cost me as much as it may have cost you because I had the GI bill that paid for it. I am glad I went through the discipline required to get the degree. I had to prove to myself that I could do it; and I did it. Jesus, though, was never a part of my worldly success story. I took all the credit. Neither was Jesus a part my arduous two years of being a soldier during the Korean War. It’s something I had to go through to be who I am today. God was in charge of my life even though I was not aware of it or acknowledged Him. In fact, I earned six credits toward my degree by being a soldier. I am still in school at age 85. It’s called the school of hard knocks.

I see myself today as the richest man in the world; not because I have a degree or a fat bank account, but because I have Jesus and Jesus has me. I have burned my degree and other worldly accolades and don’t have a fat bank account. But I am debt-free because Jesus paid for all my sins and I know it. Jesus told me if I want to be a part of His team, I have to willing to wear the mantel of humility. That’s been tough. I really enjoyed flashing my worldly credentials.

At age 37 I decided to do business with God rather than the world. I tried the world and the world spit me out. A little later I tried the church and the church spit me out. I became well acquainted with the word “rejection.” It was a tough word to get acquainted with, but eventually it became my buddy. In fact, I feel honored that the world and the church spit me out. Jesus warned us that this might happen; and it did.

All the hurts and hurdles in my life built a heart of compassion in me for others who are on a similar quest. All the battles made me into a fierce warrior. I also learned that the world, the devil and my ego are cruel and deceptive taskmasters. I also found out that I am not a saint and need God’s amazing grace to make it from day to day.

Today my life is intoxicating and full of surprises. I no longer have to go out into the world to seek adventure. Adventure knocks at our door. It comes via mail and e-mail and also arrives via the telephone. I prefer to stay in my robe and pajamas and greet visitors in that attire. I am writing these words to you today while sitting in the Rocking Chair of God’s Heart in the Upper Room. I am in my robe and pajamas. Try out “That Chair” for size and see if it fits you.





God bless you. I locked you into my heart the moment you walked into my life. You were only 17 and I was 40 and had just been kicked out of Egypt like Moses was. I am 85 today and ready to hand you the baton to carry on and finish the race.

The most exciting and most meaningful years of your life and mine may still be ahead of us, waiting to happen. It’s time to get excited. It’s time to strap on our war boots and scrap everything that slows us down like guilt, condemnation, fear and unforgiveness. You are in God’s army. Let's march and go to war together. Like King David, let us whip and waste the enemy. Like King Jesus, let us heal the broken-hearted and do it all in Jesus' name and for His glory.

Whether I am on this side or the other side of the Jordan, I will cheer for you and will keep on challenging you. And know this, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper”.

Your friend Peter in
Pagosa Springs, Colorado




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