HighwayNewsOnline04-16
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HighwayNewsOnline04-16
I G H W A Y N E W S H G N O AND OOD EWS NLINE 24-HOUR TRUCKERS PRAYER LINE 1-877-797-PRAY (1-877-797-7729) Inside: ~ Zambia Report ~ “He was one of a Kind” ~ Seeing Double Transport For Christ, International www.transportforchrist.org April 2016 Facebook.com/Transport4Christ Our Readers Write Had a chance to fellowship in East St. Louis with pastor Kevin. There was plenty of room for the Spirit of God to move! Awesome ministry! God bless, in Jesus’ name! Benjamin Via Facebook Attended the Antioch [Nashville] mission and met chaplain [John] Welcome. What a blessing to meet a true man of God! Thank you for all you do. GOD BLESS YOU! Jim Via email God Bless you guys for reaching out to our hard working drivers. Mark Via Facebook Excellent way for truckers to attend services when they are out on the highway for weeks at a time....I pray that there will be more TFC chapels across North America (particularly Canada). Sadly there is only one TFC chapel here in Canada’s Maritimes, located in Salisbury, NB. Michele Via Facebook LETTER POLICY We appreciate your signed letters. Letters may be edited for clarity and length. All materials become the property of Transport For Christ. Highway News and Good News PO Box 117 Marietta, PA 17547-0117 You can write to us via e-mail: A Word from Scott Appropriate for the Time Russian Nobel Laureate Alexander Solzhenitsyn once recalled that as a child he heard “…a number of older people offering an explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: ‘Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.’ Since then I have spent well-nigh fifty years working on the history of our revolution; in the process I have read hundreds of books, collected hundreds of personal testimonies…if I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible the main cause for the ruinous revolution that swallowed up sixty million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat, ‘Men have forgotten God.’” I remember an eighteen-hour train ride across the desolate Russian countryside east of Moscow on our way into Tartarstan, listening for hours to our interpreter, Vitaly Petrov. He told story after story of the persecution of his own Christian family as they struggled to survive in a land where God had been forgotten. As Americans, we have had little direct experience with religious persecution...until today. This isn’t Russia and I certainly am no Alexander Solzhenitsyn, but it doesn’t take a Nobel Laureate to see that in our country today, men have forgotten God! We can see reflections of moral and ethical decay at every level of our society—from the highest offices in the land to the lowest predatory and parasitic activities like human trafficking, pornography, and substance abuse. On a more subtle level, children and their parents think it's okay to lie to teachers and not say the Lord's prayer in school, as we used to. Activists have insisted we take down the Ten Commandments from public buildings while political leaders lie and are self-serving...men have forgotten God! Today, in the United States of America of all places, people who publicly claim to believe in the Bible and proclaim Jesus as Lord may be ridiculed, slandered, and even persecuted in some way. And, dare I suggest, we haven’t seen anything yet! Yes, this kind of treatment of Christians has existed to a degree, but, like an army massed in the distance and advancing, the closer they get, the bigger they look, the faster they appear to move, and the more clearly the details of their actions can be seen. That is exactly why Paul’s words in his second letter to Timothy are so important: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:12-13). Christian, be wise, be watchful, draw near to God and stand firm. “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm...Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” (Ephesians 6:10-11,18 NLT). Our world, our country, is changing and we must be wise and strong for the time in which we serve. Safe journey and God bless, [email protected] 2 HIGHWAY NEWS AND GOOD NEWS ONLINE Facebook.com/Transport4Christ HIGHWAY NEWS and Good News Online VOLUME 61 NUMBER 4 APRIL 2016 Features 4 Departments A Word from Scott .............................. 2 Chaplains’ Logs .................................. 14 Good News ......................................... 15 Drivers Wellness Focus....................... 21 Rambler.............................................. 22 Green Onion....................................... 23 Executive Editor Scott A. Weidner Managing Editor Inge Koenig Copy Editor Patti Olson Photographers for This Issue Doris High Donald Hollinger Inge Koenig Josiah Scott Contributing Writers in This Issue Jeff Batzer Jane Evans Donald Hollinger James Mann Rev. Gary Nussbaum Rev. David Roberts Kevin Scott Scott Weidner Chaplain Learns God Used Him in Truckers’ Lives... ...when he had no idea they were listening! 5 A Trucker’s Prayer Journeying with God 6 A Word from the Word ...to encourage you 7 “He Was One of a Kind!” A tribute to Bill Rumpf 16 Seeing Double Revisiting the Yoder Twins 18 It’s a Bible Quiz! Mark April 29 in your calendar and visit the TFC Facebook page for a chance to win a TFC mini-chapel! 20 More from the Frontlines How God is using TFC chaplains to impact lives Highway News and Good News (ISSN 1077-0267) is published monthly by Transport For Christ, International. Copyright © 2016 by Transport For Christ, International. Reproduction of any kind is prohibited without written consent. All scriptures are from the New International Version (1984) unless noted otherwise. The opinions expressed in this magazine may not necessarily be those of Highway News and Good News or of Transport For Christ. TFC International Office: PO Box 117, Marietta, PA 17547-0117 (717) 426-9977 TFC Canada Office: 6242 Route 105 Lower Brighton NB E7P 1B3 (506) 375-4841 www.transportforchrist.org On the Cover: Trucks at the Chirundu Border Crossing; drivers are gathered under a tree for their lunch break. Photo by Josiah Scott. Transport For Christ... Leading truck drivers as well as the trucking community to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith APRIL 2016 3 Chaplain Learns God Used Him in Truckers’ Lives When He Had No Idea They Were Listening! By Kevin Scott TFC ministry in Zambia is flourishing, as reported in the Overseas Ministries recent newsletter, from which this report is excerpted. It is just one among many, many stories of lives changed by the power of God at the Chirundu and Kazungula crossings. The past year was one that saw much pain for our chaplains and teams overseas, but God has been faithful and the changed lives we’ve seen make it all worthwhile. Our chaplains have learned once again that God never abandons, not during health crises, not when tragedy strikes and those far too young pass away, and not when they meet opposition to the work to which God has called them. Chaplain David tells of being visited at the Ministry Center in January by two drivers, Joshua and Peter (pictured on left with David). David did not remember meeting these men before, but they remembered him well. They had been at the border crossing two years ago, and while they were there they heard David sharing the Gospel message with drivers. They did not get out of their truck to talk with him, but listened intently. They were also able to get a copy of the New Testament and a Highway News from other drivers after the visit. What they heard sparked a hunger inside of them, one that was not satisfied until they read through the New Testament and asked God for His forgiveness. They found churches near their homes and became active members. Both their families are now saved as well! This was their first trip back through Chirundu since that time and they wanted to share with David that God had worked through him without David even realizing it.i Chaplain David interacts with drivers at the Chirundu border crossing. Truck lines at the Chirundu border (left) and Kazungula ferry crossing (right) mean that truckers often have to wait for many hours, giving Chaplains David and Maybin and their teams a “captive” audience for sharing the Gospel. 4 HIGHWAY NEWS AND GOOD NEWS ONLINE Facebook.com/Transport4Christ A Trucker’s Prayer By James Mann O Lord, Thanks for the ride. Your road signs were a big help; they kept me going in the right direction. And, since You were riding "shotgun," You were able to show me the lane changes I needed to make. Yes Lord, I got a little tired at times; but You pointed me to still waters where I could pull over and rest for a while. Now Lord, I'm on my final run. I'm not as strong as I used to be, but I think I can make it Home in one piece. I'll be coming around my last curve any minute now. I'll be seeing you shortly. Again Lord, Thanks for the ride! Your child, Trucker Jim www.transportforchrist.org APRIL 2016 5 6 HIGHWAY NEWS AND GOOD NEWS ONLINE Facebook.com/Transport4Christ “He Was One of a Kind...” ~ A Tribute to Bill Rumpf ~ week prior to this magazine going to print, we received sad news at the International Office: Bill Rumpf, a longtime TFC friend, supporter, and volunteer, had gone home to be with the Lord (news sad for us but certainly not for him!). A “I can still remember the first time I meet Bill Rumpf, shortly after I started with TFC seventeen years ago,” says Scott Weidner. “He was crouched on top of a new chapel under construction. I remember thinking I had just met a one-of-a-kind character. Bill was an amazing combination of engaging fun, loving warmth, and steel-reinforced commitment, will, and faith. He shared his skills and insights unreservedly with TFC. Whether it was a phone call or meeting face-to-face, Bill always had sage advice and wise words of encouragement along with a quick wit and a hearty laugh.” www.transportforchrist.org APRIL 2016 7 “He was a great guy to work with,” says Director of Chapel Construction Cerwin High (on the right, with Bill at the chapel construction shop). “He was dependable and knowledgeable, and also fun to work with, and not above playing tricks on his coworkers!” Ted McCoy (photo below, on right) worked on chapel construction with Bill for thirteen years, until both had to retire for health reasons. The International Office had a party honoring them for their extraordinary con- tribution to TFC. Scott Weidner presented Bill and Ted with an album chronicling much of what they accomplished in the many years they volunteered for TFC (some pages of that album are reproduced on pages 10-13). Of his years working with Bill, Ted says, “He was an excellent guy to work with, friendly, cooperative; with a degree in engineering, he could figure just about anything out!” 8 HIGHWAY NEWS AND GOOD NEWS ONLINE Facebook.com/Transport4Christ Bill started volunteering with TFC in 1994, helping with the construction of the first Russian chapel. “I remember Bill as having a great sense of humor and always a big smile,” says Director of Overseas Ministries Murray Scott. “He loved the Russian people and was thrilled to know that truck drivers were giving their hearts to the Lord. He was a vital part of Overseas Ministries, as a prayer warrior and a supporter, for more than twenty years. He will be greatly missed.” Bill kept a detailed record of every chapel he worked on—a total of nineteen!—and only stopped when his health no longer made the two-hour drive possible. On the right, part of a page of his first log notebook, showing the early stages of the Russian chapel construction. i Bill was an amazing combination of engaging fun, loving warmth, and steel-reinforced commitment, will, and faith. He shared his skills and insights unreservedly with TFC.” ~ Scott Weidner ~ www.transportforchrist.org APRIL 2016 9 10 HIGHWAY NEWS AND GOOD NEWS ONLINE Facebook.com/Transport4Christ www.transportforchrist.org APRIL 2016 11 12 HIGHWAY NEWS AND GOOD NEWS ONLINE Facebook.com/Transport4Christ www.transportforchrist.org APRIL 2016 13 CHAPLAINS’ LOGS True Stories of God’s Amazing Grace Excerpts from the daily logs of chapels across North America. See page 15 for a list of chapel locations. f Truckstop employee sees a need and calls for the chaplain Our service was interrupted by a truckstop employee asking me to come and pray with a man that just got word of his daughter passing away, which I did after closing the service in prayer. Chaplain John f A special time of worship at Christmastime Arrived at the chapel to help Pavel and Paul set up for the Russian Baptist Church Choir coming out to lead Christmas carols. Attenders included truckstop staff. They were all amazed. We handed out gifts to all who attended and had great fellowship afterward. It was two hours of praise, worship, and sharing the story of Christmas from the Word of God. Chaplain Rick f Non-truckers spot a chapel and take time to thank TFC for being there A number of members of a family getting money from this location’s ATM came over to talk, and thanked me for being here. Chaplain Joe f Jesus saved a driver from drug addiction – Praise the Lord! Driver Michael stopped by after he saw me walking the lot. He attended the service, and we were both greatly encouraged by the Christian fellowship. Michael is a believer and shared about his past struggles as a drug addict and how Jesus rescued him! Chaplain Geoff f Loss of a spouse takes time and God's love to heal Driver George, a believer, lost his wife this past August. He was bitter with God but is working hard to maintain his walk with Him. I challenged him to stay in the Bible. Chaplain Doug f Families back home are often remembered in prayer at the chapels Dexter, from Michigan, came in to ask for prayer for his entire family; we prayed together. Chaplain Dwayne f A husband and wife drive together and praise God together A man-and-wife driving team came in to visit. We talked about the Lord and the Scriptures, and also prayed together. We had a great fellowship time. Chaplain Jerry f Drivers take time to reflect on God's many blessings Barry and Richard stopped in for the Bible study tonight. We had a great time in the Word and seeing how it already has been applied to their lives and mine. It was a blessing to see how God uses people who love and care and allow the Holy Spirit to convict and draw us to the Father. Chaplain Gary f A new work relationship begins with prayer for God's provision A driver from Atlanta stopped by. He has just changed to another company and wanted prayer that everything will work out well with the new company. Chaplain Ed f Down time can be filled with biblical reading materials from chapels A driver came in looking for Christian reading materials. He was raised in a Christian home but fell away. He is now driving truck and trying to get his life together and wants to be closer to our Lord and Savior. I gave him an Our Daily Bread devotional, a Bible, and some tracts, and we prayed for strength, guidance, and the Lord’s hedge of protection around him and the truck. Chaplain Don f Ask the Lord, and He will show the way Steve is seeking the Lord's direction, mainly in the area of work. About four years ago he contacted a soothsayer and testified that everything kept getting worse afterwards. He is free from that and now is longing to know the Lord's presence and direction. From scripture and my experiences, I tried to encourage him. We closed with prayer. Chaplain Allen 14 HIGHWAY NEWS AND GOOD NEWS ONLINE Facebook.com/Transport4Christ GOOD NEWS FOR YOU Running On Empty? By Jeff Batzer Have you ever had that feeling of emptiness even when you are in a large group of people? Let me tell you that you are not alone. I had a friend in school who had a loving family and a happy childhood, but in his senior year in high school an emptiness began to creep into his life. He was doing okay in his classes and was a success as an athlete, but that was not enough to drive out an increasing feeling of depression. He began searching for meaning to life, fulfillment, and, most importantly, a sense of hope. As they became acquainted, this fellow athlete introduced my friend to a Christian organization called Athletes in Action and he started attending their meetings. There he began to recognize what was missing in his life that was causing such emptiness. At a weekend retreat, a pastor met with him and led him to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He was filled with the peace and meaning in life that he had been seeking for so long. And my friend was led to it by someone not afraid to reach out and share his faith with others. My friend went on to college, still searching for personal contentment. As he got to know the other students, his attention was drawn to another athlete, one who was a known leader and popular for his physical achievements but who did not have an inflated ego like so many winning athletes. In fact, he was often seen talking with the more unpopular students at mealtime in the cafeteria. He never appeared to make fun of them or to talk down to them, and he had a peace about him that intrigued my friend, who decided he wanted what that guy had! If you have that same feeling of running on empty that was plaguing my friend, and you long for the same peace and meaning he found in Christ, it is within your reach! The Bible says, “...believe in the Lord Jesus...” and you will receive forgiveness for your sins and gain eternal life in Christ (Acts 16:31). Then let us all live in such a way that others may be drawn to Christ as my friend was. Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” i Jesus Wants to Fill Your Life with His Peace R Believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and for eternal life. R Confess Jesus as your Savior and Lord and turn from your sins. R Pray this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner. I believe that You died on the cross and shed Your blood to pay the penalty for my sins. Please forgive me and come into my life. You are my Savior and Lord.” Easier said than done? Stop by a TFC chapel (listed on page 15), call a chaplain for more guidance, or call the toll-free prayer line, 1-877-797-PRAY (1-877-797-7729). R On the back of this magazine is a coupon to send to us if you have prayed this prayer. We will send you a Bible study designed for truckers, to help you in your new walk with Christ. www.transportforchrist.org APRIL 2016 15 A Highway News Classic Worth Reading Again Seeing Double: Double Revisiting the Yoder Twins I f you ever see two rigs passing by and observe that not only are the rigs identical, but the drivers as well, you are not seeing double or hallucinating. You probably saw the Yoder twins. Identical twins, Bruce and Brian Yoder grew up on a dairy farm in southern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. As they grew older they decided they didn’t want to milk cows seven days a week for the rest of their lives and truck driving fever got a hold of them. The 38-year-old twins have been trucking for about fifteen years. They bought their own rigs five years ago when their employer, Four Seasons Produce, decided to sell their overthe-road trucks. The twins bought the trucks they were driving at the time. But, in the last year, they both purchased new Peterbilts. Brian’s ’96 model has a 500 Cat, 18-speed trans- mission, 355 rears and a 270-inch wheelbase. The sleeper is fully equipped with bunk beds, TV, refrigerator and microwave. Bruce’s is nearly the same, but a ’97 model with a 550 Cat under the hood. They pull twin trailers, 1988 models 48foot, 102-inch wide spread axles. Making one trip to the West Coast every three weeks usually gives them eight to ten days at home between trips. They haul processed eggs west and produce east for Four Seasons Produce, working the same schedule and running together as much as possible. However, because of differing delivery points, they often get separated and this would have several people confused at their designated truckstops until “they came to find out there was two of us.” For many years it looked like both twins were confirmed bachelors. However, as Brian stated and Bruce agreed, “The Lord works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform.” Brian was the first to be married three years ago. It all started on a trip to Washington state. He had a carriage loaded for British Columbia, but was asked to unload it at Dottie’s home instead. Dottie and her twin sister Deb Kreider grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania only three miles from the Yoder twins. Dottie married many years ago to a man she met while attending Ecola Bible School in Oregon and they moved to Washington state. Brian had some knowledge of the Kreider twins, but never knew what happened to Deb. He was surprised to find out she had never married. So after the delivery was made, Dottie handed Brian a note for Deb with orders to deliver it personally and the rest is history. Deb, who was a Federal Express delivery driver, is now Brian’s co-driver. She says taking her CDL was the hardest thing she did apart from giving birth to baby Chad, who also rides along these days. Brian says Chad’s probably one of a few babies that’s been to the west coast three times at age four-and-ahalf months. Deb also gets to see a lot more of her twin sister with all those trips out west. Bruce and Brian have always been the best of friends, living and working together, and even 16 HIGHWAY NEWS AND GOOD NEWS ONLINE Facebook.com/Transport4Christ had their own language as little tots. So when Brian and Deb were married, some friends felt sorry for Bruce losing someone so close. However, he was quick to assure them the opposite was true: “I gained a friend when Deb became a part of the family and it was a real blessing.” Miraculously, it was only a few months after the wedding when a friend played cupid and introduced Twila Good to Bruce. Eleven months later they were married. Twila’s dad, Ezra, owns a fleet of trucks and she still works as a secretary for him. Twila does ride with Bruce whenever possible and by the time you read this, there is a good possibility that Bruce and Twila will also be parents. As far as marrying later in life, they all very much believe that when the time was right the Lord brought them together. All four grew up in the Mennonite faith, but today they worship at Christian Fellowship, a fastgrowing nondenominational church near New Holland, Pennsylvania. The twins and their families live only two miles apart, just east of Lancaster. So, if you meet these twin doubles on the road someday, crank up the old CB and give a shout for Yoder One and Yoder Two, but I’m still not sure who is who! i Editor’s Note: Authored by Donald Hollinger, this story was originally published in Highway News in 1997 and was one of the most popular features published in the magazine up to that time. A couple of years later, the family faced a heartbreaking tragedy that revealed the depth of their faith and trust in the Lord. Look for a reprint of that story in a future edition, along with some further updates about the family. Still Seeing Double Today! Bruce sold his truck in 2010 but remained in the trucking industry, working for a time as a mechanic and shop foreman. However he is back on the road, hauling heavy equipment for Brubacher Excavating, out of Bowmansville, Pennsylvania. Brian sold his truck in 2005 and went to work as an appliance repairman for J. B. Zimmerman, but also loads trucks two or three evenings a week for STBI near his home in Paradise, Pennsylvania. Asked if he misses trucking, he said he does sometimes, and wouldn’t rule out the possibility of going back on the road in the future. Identical twins that they are, it seems that even their health follows similar patterns: they both had open heart surgery two years ago. They both testify that they are feeling better than ever and they praise the Lord that they survived. (Want to see these kids when they were just tots? Check the online edition for family photos of years ago.) www.transportforchrist.org APRIL 2016 17 Bible Visit our Facebook page on Friday, April 29th, and participate in our Bible Quiz. Those who answer our quiz correctly from noon till midnight will be entered in a drawing to receive a free gift—a TFC mini chapel. One winner will be randomly selected. To be eligible for this gift, entrants must like and share the Bible Quiz post, answer the question correctly, and message their full name and mailing address (messaging keeps your contact information private). You will receive a confirmation letter of your entry and a follow-up letter when the drawing has been completed, along with information on a shared interest. Your contact information will be kept confidential and will not be sold, shared, rented, or traded with any other entity. You can view our privacy policy on our website on the Privacy Policy page. i Can You Guess This Truck? 18 HIGHWAY NEWS AND GOOD NEWS ONLINE Send guess to [email protected]. March’s “Guess Truck” (below) was a 1960 Dodge C-800. Facebook.com/Transport4Christ Don’t Be a Stranger! Join Us at a TFC Event! April 2 v Pass Lake Chapel Banquet: Italian Cultural Center, Thunder Bay, ON; doors open at 4:30 PM, dinner at 5:30 PM; for tickets and information contact Chaplain Sam at 807-707-4009. April 2 v Complimentary Truckers Appreciation Breakfast: Blenheim Baptist Church (rear entrance), Blenheim, ON; drop-in, 7:30 - 9:30 AM; information: Bill Terris at 519-676-1472 or Len Reimer at 519-536-6045. April 9 v Sherwood Park Chapel Banquet: Dow Centennial Centre, Fort Saskatchewan, AB; doors open at 4:30 PM, dinner at 5:30 PM; for tickets and information contact Chaplain Sam at 807-707-4009. April 14-16 v TFC Represented at Truck World 2016: The International Centre, Mississauga, ON; for details, check www.truckworld.ca. April 26, 6:30 PM v West Michigan Banquet: The Pinnacle Center, Hudsonville, MI; for information contact Dwayne Johnson at 616-745-1012. April 30 v Omaha Chapel Banquet: Westside Community Center, Omaha, NE; doors open at 5:00 PM, dinner at 6:00 PM; music by The Celtic Martins; for information contact Chaplain David at 402-661-0970 or 402-891-9306. IN HONOR OF TRUCKER JOE PLEASE CHECK ONE q I want to support the publishing of Highway News by my financial gift. Enclosed is $_________________. q I want to subscribe to the free electronic version of Highway News; send it to this e-mail address: ___________________________________ q I want to be a monthly distributor of Highway News. (Available for suggested donation of 45 cents USD/CAD per copy.) Enclosed is $_________ for ______ copies per month. You will receive a monthly donation statement. You may increase or change the number of magazines at any time by contacting [email protected] or 717-426-9977. Mailing address: Name:___________________________________ Street:___________________________________ City: ____________________________________ State/Prov: __________ Zip/PC:______________ Phone: __________________________________ E-mail: _________________________________ Shipping address (If different from mailing address) By Thomas L. Shope Name: __________________________________ IN MEMORY OF Street:___________________________________ CHUCKIE By Thomas L. Shope CARL GOSS City: ____________________________________ State/Prov: __________ Zip/PC:_____________ By Julia Goss JOHN PLATT By Spring Valley Fellowship Bible Study Class DONALD YOUNGLOVE By his wife, Rowena Younglove HOWARD & ANGIE MOSES By Doug & Ellen Kraus JAY BYERS In the United States, mail to: Transport For Christ, PO Box 117 • Marietta, PA 17547-0117 In Canada, mail to: Transport For Christ, 6242 Rt 105 • Lower Brighton, NB E7P 1B3 Complying with IRS regulations, contributions are solicited with the understanding that TFC has complete discretion over the use of all donated funds. Transport For Christ abides by the guidelines of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. By Sherry Manuel www.transportforchrist.org 04/16 APRIL 2016 19 MORE FROM THE FRONTLINES More True Stories of God’s Amazing Grace From the logs of the Frystown Chapel f A driver came in before service. He was dealing with some struggles at home and doubting his faith. We went through the Scriptures and I showed him God’s promises and that He is always with us. We had a time of prayer and he left with a new hope in the Lord. f One visitor today, Jeff from Memphis. He came into the chapel for Christian fellowship and prayer. He stayed for two and a half hours explaining his situation and was glad to have someone to talk to about it. We fellowshipped and prayed. It is comforting to know the Holy Spirit is present to help us. f We had two visitors today—first one was Tony, whom I met outside. He was walking up to me and had tears in his eyes. He said his dad just had a heart attack. They had given him shock paddles to get his heart started again. First I asked if he is saved and he said yes. Next, I asked him into the chapel. He came and we talked. I offered words of encouragement and comfort. We talked for some time until he had to go. f The next one was a driver with the nickname (handle) Gator, who came in with questions on healing. He said he put oil on his head this morning and wasn’t getting any better. I told him God answers prayer in His time, and that we can be confident that we are in the palm of His hand and we can trust Him. We talked for a bit till he had to go. f Four visitors today; the first one was Randall, who stopped in for fellowship while he was laying over at the truck stop. Then Will came in saying that the Lord has been speaking to him about his lifestyle. We talked about getting right with the Lord, looked into what the Scriptures say about it, then had prayer. Will said he will get serious about living for the Lord. I gave him a Bible, Our Daily Bread devotional, and some CDs. f Later Neil and Marcia came in. They were traveling to North Jersey to see Neil’s dad who was in the hospital. We had a good time of fellowship and prayer. f A driver came in looking for the [mechanic] shop; he didn’t stay long but thanked us for being here. f We had six in today. Mike came in early with his offering; later, Randall came back and stayed for quite a while; we even had lunch together. In the afternoon a driver came in to thank us for being here. He didn’t stay but for a few minutes. Then Dennis came in for fellowship (while Randall was still here); later Bobby joined us. I prayed with them all, especially for Randall’s situation. From the logs of the Hudson Chapel f Jamie was the only one who came in for the 11:00 AM service. She is not a driver but she’s riding with a man she thought would make her life better, but she’s hurting and confused. She was hoping to receive a blessing here today. She said, “I’m sure I’m going to hell because of how I’ve lived.” I assured her that God loves her because of what the Bible says. I read and studied with her several verses of salvation. When I asked if she wanted to pray and ask Jesus for salvation, she said yes and prayed with many, many tears. She hopes to get back home to Kentucky. f A driver from Pennsylvania was here today. He left a prayer request for his family. He is burdened by their “darkness.” There is a teenager with suicidal thoughts. He was thankful for some time to pray together. f Tiago, a trucker from Florida, came in. He is married and has two children. He has been through a lot in his life and was here to give God all the credit for his salvation and his new life as a trucker (he started trucking ten months ago). We prayed together before he left. f One other visitor came in from the restaurant because she saw the trailer with the Bible verse on the back. Her name is Carolyn, from Wisconsin. 20 HIGHWAY NEWS AND GOOD NEWS ONLINE Facebook.com/Transport4Christ ~ Drivers Wellness Focus ~ Let’s Talk About Financial Wellness Jane Evans ave you filed your 2015 tax return yet? Have you received your refund? Were you depending on a large refund to pay bills, buy necessary or discretionary items? Did you end up owing taxes instead of getting a refund? H These are all pertinent questions as we wait on the IRS to send us that (hoped for) financial blessing known as a tax refund. But stop and consider: is it really a blessing or is it a chance to blow a tidy sum of money on things that are not necessary? That tax refund is simply that: a refund on your overpayment of taxes throughout the year. Psychologically, people who receive a large tax refund tend to think of it as a reward and, as a result, spend the money differently than they would their paychecks. Receiving a check for a thousand or more dollars increases the desire to spend on things you wouldn’t normally buy. It’s okay to splurge a little; just be careful that your refund doesn’t disappear into the thin air of impulse spending so that you have nothing to show for it. Remember, you worked for that money! What will you do with your windfall? In a survey, Bankrate notes that 30% of Americans will use their tax refund to pay down debt. And clearing your credit by paying off credit cards is not only a great idea but also a good investment. If you can’t pay them off entirely, reducing the amount owed will certainly help you better manage your finances by reducing the interest you pay when you carry a balance. Another way to put your refund to good use is by applying it to your home mortgage principal; this will save you money on later interest payments. You can also use your refund to pay down student loans to reduce interest and pay off or pay down car loans. Just make sure the additional money you pay goes toward the principal amount owed. Other tips include purchasing a Certificate of Deposit or starting a special savings account. You can then keep adding smaller amounts to it throughout the year. This would come in handy during the Christmas holidays. Most people run up their charge cards during that time and then have to pay both the bills and the interest. For instance, if you have a credit card with a $2,800 balance, do you realize you’ll pay nearly $500 in interest fees if you make minimum payment each month for a year at 18% interest? Having a savings account made up of your refund can help you either pay cash for your Christmas purchases or pay off the entire balance after Christmas and avoid interest charges. An even better way to manage your finances would be to adjust your witholding and put that amount into a savings account; that way the money stays in your hands and it can grow interest, unlike when you let the government “babysit” it for you. If you’re not sure how to adjust your withholding , the IRS has a tool to help you, that can be accessed here: www.irs.gov/Individuals/IRS-Withholding-Calculator. The calculator works for most taxpayers. Have your most recent pay stubs handy as well as your most recent income tax return, and follow the online instructions. (However, if you owe self-employment tax, alternative minimum tax, or other taxes, you need to consult Publication 505, the Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax brochure.) In summary, choose to manage your tax withholding and/or tax return in a way that will be beneficial to you in the long run. Choose wisely and be a good steward of your financial resources. i Some people may think of a tax refund as a way of saving money through their withholding so they can have cash to splurge in the spring. However, if you adjust your withholding accordingly, you can take what would be withheld as taxes and put that money into an account that can grow through interest. For example, you could make a good start with this year’s refund by opening or adding to an IRA account. Another option is contributing to a 529 college savings account for your children’s future. www.transportforchrist.org APRIL 2016 Jane Evans is Director of Communications for Transport For Christ 21 RAMBLER by Gary Nussbaum Can They Tell? he other day, as Pearl and I were traveling into town, I chuckled at something and immediately commented that I just sounded like our son, Matt. Or should it be the other way around? T What are peoples’ impressions when they first meet us or relate to us on a daily basis? There are certain things that readily identify us as to our family of origin, where we live or have lived, or our people group. There are people who study language and can tell within a small radius where someone lives by merely engaging a person in a short conversation. It should be the same with us as believers—it should be easy for others to recognize that we are Christians by what we say and how we act. What was it that drew the Apostle Peter to Jesus and what was it about Jesus that changed Peter? Consider with me the man Peter became because of his encounter with Jesus. In Matthew 4:18-19 we read, “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” Have you ever been invited to do something and your reaction was an immediate “Yes, let’s just do it”? But shortly after or down the road, questions begin creeping in. That’s how it was for Peter. For the next three years, he observed the life of Jesus, all the while assuming he knew the role and purpose of Jesus and how he must somehow fit into His plan. “After all didn’t He invite me to follow Him?” After hearing Him teach and over the better part of two years, people were wondering who this Jesus really was. One day Jesus took the opportunity to ask His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They repeated what others were saying, such as John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. But Jesus made it personal by asking them, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” We read about this in Matthew chapter 16. As 22 months go by, we see that Peter still does not know the purpose for which Jesus had come and the invitation given to follow Him. Peter did not understand what Jesus was saying, not then, and certainly not in the days ahead. He did not comprehend the kingdom to which He was referring. When Jesus was eventually arrested and put on trial, the other disciples conveniently got lost, leaving Him. But to Peter’s credit, he hung around, maybe hoping to get some answers to his questions. It was at this moment when reality began to set in. Up to that time he had committed to standing with Jesus no matter what. As he observed the treatment of Jesus by the Pharisees, he remained on the perimeter of the crowd. But when he was questioned as to being a follower of Jesus, he denied it. Peter was invited by Jesus to follow him. By the Holy Spirit he confessed who Jesus was—the Son of God. Yet having sat under Jesus’ teaching for three years, he still denied knowing Him. Then he witnessed Jesus’ resurrection, and soon after, empowered by the Holy Spirit, he understands the kind of kingdom of which Jesus was speaking: one not of this world. In Acts chapter 12, we then see Peter jailed for his teaching. It was noted by those who listened that he and his companions “had been with Jesus.” How about you? Can people identify your lineage by your speech and actions? Can people say of you, “I can tell that you have been with Jesus”? i Gary Nussbaum is Director of Follow-up Ministries for Transport For Christ HIGHWAY NEWS AND GOOD NEWS ONLINE Facebook.com/Transport4Christ GREEN ONION by David Roberts Finding God in Quiet Solitude ey, Green Onion,” said Hog Caller, “last night I dreamed we fell overboard while we were on a Caribbean cruise. I was rescued, but you were marooned alone on a desert island for five years. When we finally found you, we were surprised by the beautiful house you built from bamboo. Then the captain asked you why did you build two churches if you lived there all alone? ‘We had a church split,’ you replied.” H Even Robinson Crusoe and Tom Hanks were talking to themselves and going half-crazy on their solitary, fictitious islands. Solitary confinement is one of the greatest tortures. In 1971, I spent some time with Richard Wurmbrand, founder of Voice of the Martyrs and author of the book Tortured for Christ. He survived fourteen years in prison, much of that time in solitary confinement. He said he yelled and screamed at God, asking “Why? Why?” like Job, Habakkuk, and many other saints before him; but God was silent until He was ready to speak. Our problem often is that we want to know too much when God just wants to love us and strengthen us and enjoy fellowship with us. The story is told of a father who went to see his sick son who was in an isolation ward at the hospital. The father gave the nurse a toy truck to give to his son. The boy became so enamored with his new toy he never lifted his head or waved to his father who was knocking on the glass. We often are like that boy, focusing more in the benefits and blessings of God instead of on God Himself. How many good and wonderful things have been given to us in trust from our Heavenly Father? When Job was suffering on his ash pile and wishing he had never been born, God finally came to him, not with answers but pointing his attention to the wonders of creation. All Job could do was shut his mouth in silence and awe of God, who was not silent after all. War, taken to Manchuria, and put in a box for more than six months, with a light bulb going off and on. After Ben was released and returned home, late one night I shared Jesus Christ and his love for him. After we prayed together and Ben invited Jesus into his heart, he said, “Kid, nothing could break me down as a Marine, but what you said about Jesus has broken me and changed my life forever.” You see, those are the times when we cannot be silent. We must be ready always to share Jesus. We are sent to others whom God has prepared to receive eternal life. A man searching for God went to an elderly, godly man and said, “Old man, can you help me see God?” The old man replied, “I cannot help but see God.” Today there is too much noise, too much information, too much nervous, restless energy. We need quiet time and solitude with Jesus to worship and praise Him and thank Him for all He has done and is doing and will do. We need a quiet, sacred place away from the noise and the human race until we feel His grace and see His face. Now a word from God’s Word: “From there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all our heart and soul, you will find him” (Deuteronomy 4:29 NLT). And from Jesus, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). Will we wait in quiet solitude until we hear Him, and then get up and share His grace and love with others? i At the time I first became a believer, Ben, a friend of mine who was in the military, was captured in the Korean www.transportforchrist.org APRIL 2016 David Roberts is Chaplain Emeritus with Transport For Christ 23 CHAPEL LOCATIONS CANADA ALBERTA: Sherwood Park, Roadking Travel Centre, Yellowhead Trail & Broadmoor Blvd., Chaplain Heinz 587-988-1539 Calgary, Roadking Travel Centre, 4949 Barlow Trail BRITISH COLUMBIA: Chilliwack, TransCanada Truck Stop, Lickman Rd. & Hwy #1, Exit 116, Chaplains Paul & Gerrit 604-217-2197, 604308-4225 NEW BRUNSWICK: Salisbury, Salisbury Big Stop, TCH Route 2 & Route 112, Exit 433, Chaplain Paul 506-866-1737 ONTARIO: Woodstock, 230 Travel Plaza, Hwy 401, exit 230, Chaplain Len 519-539-2137, 519-536-6045 Pass Lake (Thunder Bay), Flying J Travel Plaza, 3200 Hwy 11/17 @ Hwy 587, Chaplain Sam 807-707-4009 QUEBEC: St-Liboire, Irving Big Stop, Hwy 20, Exit 145, Chaplains Jacques & Claude 819-817-6679, 450-924-1382 UNITED STATES CALIFORNIA: Ontario, TA Travel Center West, I-10 & Milliken Ave. Exit, Chaplain Michael 909-390-3617 Sacramento, 49’er Travel Plaza, I-80 & I-5, W. El Camino Exit, Chaplain Rick 916-568-6320, 208-720-1498 COLORADO: Denver, Sapp Brothers Truck Stop, I-70, Exit 278, 720-810-0430 FLORIDA: Ocala, Pilot Travel Center, I-75, Exit 358, Chaplain John 352-286-5494 Breaking News: Chapel on site now! Wildwood, The Chrome Shop, I-75, Exit 329, Chaplain Doug 262-751-1002 (Ministry inside the store) GEORGIA (both locations: ministry inside the truck stop): Brunswick, Flying J, I-95, Exit 29, Chaplain Joe 912-2226922 Brunswick, TA, I-95, Exit 29, Chaplain Joe 912-222-6922 ILLINOIS: East St. Louis, Pilot Travel Center, I-55 & I-70 at Exit 4B, Chaplain Rick 618-610-9131, 618-604-3647 Rochelle, Rochelle Travel Plaza, I-39 & Hwy 38, Exit 99, Chaplain Jay 815-562-2563 INDIANA: Gary, Petro, I-80/I-94, Exit 9 (Ministry inside the truck stop) Chaplain Ken 219-308-9679 Indianapolis, Whitestown TA Travel Center, I-65, Exit 130, Chaplain Ken 219-308-9679 MARYLAND: Elkton, TA Travel Center, I-95, Exit 109B, Chaplains Jim & Tom 410-392-9496 Elkton, Flying J, I-95, Exit 109A, Chaplain David 443-9076310 MASSACHUSETTS: Shrewsbury, Flynn’s Truckstop, US 20 & MA 140, Chaplains Earl, George & Mark 508-757-1781 MICHIGAN: Grand Rapids (Byron Center), Mobil 76th Street Truck Plaza, Hwy 131, 76th St. Exit, Chaplain Chad 616-583-9056 Holland, Tulip City Truck Stop, I-196, Exit 49, Holland, Chaplain Daniel 231-944-5085 (Chapel inside the truckstop) NEBRASKA: Omaha, Sapp Brothers Truck Stop, I-80 & Hwy 50, Exit 440, Chaplain Dave 402-891-9306 24 NEW JERSEY: Bloomsbury, TA Travel Center, I-78, Exit 7, Chaplain Dick 484-226-6338 (Ministry inside the truck stop) NEW MEXICO: Albuquerque, TA Travel Center, I-40 & I-25, Chaplain Jerry 505-290-7240 (Sunday services in upstairs lounge) NEW YORK: Buffalo (Pembroke), TA Travel Center, I-90 East, Exit 48A, Chaplain Jack 585-599-4167 NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro, TA Travel Center, I-85/I-40 & Hwy 61, Exit 138, Chaplain Tony 336-399-9799 OHIO: Beaverdam, Pilot Travel Center, I-75, Exit 135, US 30, Chaplain Dave 419-230-3294 Beaverdam, Flying J, I-75, Exit 135, US 30, Chaplain Dave 419-230-3294 Lodi, TA Travel Center, I-76 & I-71 at Rt. 224, Exit 209, Chaplains Jason & Gary 330-769-2196 Toledo, TA Travel Center, I-280 & Turnpike I-80, Exit 71, Stony Ridge, Chaplain Wayne 419-837-5832 PENNSYLVANIA: Frystown, Flying J, I-78, Exit 10 (PA 645), Chaplain Jake 717-269-9441 Harrisburg (Manada Hill), Wilco Travel Plaza, Routes I-81 & 39, Exit 77, Chaplain Chris 717-947-8800 SOUTH CAROLINA: Columbia, Columbia 20 Travel Plaza, I-20, Exit 71, Chaplains Ted & Clifford 803-691-4444, 803-413-1725 Columbia, Flying J, I-20, Exit 70, (Services in lounge Sundays) Chaplain Ted 803-691-4444 SOUTH DAKOTA: Sioux Falls, Flying J Travel Plaza, I-29, Exit 83, Chaplain Ryan 712-444-0986 TENNESSEE: Knoxville, TA Travel Center, I-40 & I-75, Exit 369, Chaplains Hank & Ronald 865-690-9449, 423-618-1955 Nashville, Antioch TA Travel Center, I-24, Exit 62 (Rt. 171), Chaplain John 931-607-0450, Ralph 615-278-6802 TEXAS (both locations: ministry inside the truck stop): Houston, Flying J, US 59 & Hwy 242 (23412 Hwy 242), New Caney, Chaplain Don 832-403-5963 Laredo, TA Travel Center, I-35 & Beltway Parkway, Laredo, Chaplain Nicolas 956-774-5341 VIRGINIA: Wytheville, TA Travel Center, Exit 72 off I-81, or Exit 41 off I-77, Chaplain David 717-557-5256 WASHINGTON: Seattle (North Bend), Seattle East TA Travel Center, I-90, Exit 34, North Bend, Chaplain Tom 425-888-5258 WISCONSIN: Hudson, Twin City East TA Travel Center, I-94, Exit 4, Chaplains Tim & Kevin 715-386-7207 Racine, Highland Petro, I-94, Exit 333 (Hwy 20), Chaplain Mike 773-706-7198 OVERSEAS ZAMBIA: Chirundu Border Crossing, Chaplain David and Ministry Team +260198723 Kazungula Ferry Crossing, Chaplain Maybin RUSSIA: Moscow: Kashirka, Chaplain Alexander Moscow: Varshavskoye, Chaplain Vladimir BRAZIL: Paranaguá Port, Chaplain Marcelo & Ministry Team HIGHWAY NEWS AND GOOD NEWS ONLINE Facebook.com/Transport4Christ DO YOU KNOW YOUR ABCS? If you were to die today, where would you spend eternity? You can know for sure. A B C DMIT YOU ARE A SINNER. “... as it is written, ‘There is none righteous, not even one ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’” (Romans 3:10, 23). ELIEVE IN JESUS FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS AND FOR ETERNAL LIFE. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). ONFESS JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD AND TURN FROM YOUR SINS. “... if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved ... for ‘Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved’” (Romans 10:9, 13). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). FIND NEW LIFE IN CHRIST To give your life to Christ, read the “ABC” Scriptures above and pray the prayer below. Let us know about your decision. We will send you a Bible study designed for truckers. Come to Jesus Christ today and trust in Him alone for your salvation. Pray this prayer: “Lord Jesus, I know that I’m a sinner. I believe that You died on the cross and shed Your blood to pay the penalty for my sins. Please forgive me and come into my life. You are my Savior and Lord.” o I now put my trust in Jesus Christ. o I now rededicate my life to Christ. o I previously put my trust in Christ and would like a Bible study. CITY:_______________________________________ ST/PV:_____________ ZIP/PC:__________________ In the U.S., mail to: Transport For Christ • PO Box 117 • Marietta, PA 17547 In Canada, mail to: Transport For Christ • 6242 Route 105 • Lower Brighton, NB E7P 1B3 04/16 U.S.A. Return Address: PO Box 117 Marietta, PA 17547-0117 ADDRESS:_____________________________________________ Canada Return Address: 6242 Route 105 Lower Brighton, NB E7P 1B3 NAME: ________________________________________________
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