From Tragedy to Triumph!

This book is dedicated to my darling wife, Snooks, who has been a source of encouragement and blessing to me. She has stood with me through many "hard" times in life demonstrating the faithfulness of her love to God and me. She is my best friend and a faithful co-partner in ministry. I love her very much.

Do you ever feel like life isn't fair? Do you constantly think, "If circumstances were different I would be much better off in life"? "Much better off" is usually defined as more money and more happiness.
The author, Bruce J. Bender, found himself in the same situation. Born in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Pennsylvania, losing both mother and father at the age of twelve, he definitely had many questions about the meaning and purpose of life.
Deciding to do something that he felt was "worthwhile" he entered the Marine Corps where he was disabled in Vietnam.
He met a lovely young woman and decided to live a life of happiness with her, only to find himself on the verge of a divorce five years and two children later.
Later on he was involved as a pastor of a church but found the pressure too overwhelming.
This is the story of how all these "tragedies" were overcome. The author invites you on a journey with him to learn some very important lessons in life. These lessons are not purposeless but are meant to take you from a life of tragedy to a life of triumph.

Bruce resides in the Tampa Bay area in Florida with his lovely wife, Snooks. They are the parents of three children who are now grown with families of their own. Bruce and his wife were involved as pastors in a number of churches in the past. They are founders of Anointed Rivers Ministries, Inc. They are involved in preaching, teaching, and ministering both in the United States and overseas.
Bruce is a graduate of Elim Bible Institute in Lima, New York, holds a bachelors of science degree in Christian Ministries from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia and a masters in theology from Life Christian University in Lutz, Florida.

Introduction

Growing up as a child in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Pennsylvania I never thought that I would be doing the things that I am involved in today. My wife, Snooks, and I have the pleasure of traveling all around the world sharing about God's great love. It is so wonderful seeing lives transformed out of a meaningless existence to ones of meaning and worth. What an awesome privilege!
I came from a family that was not overly financially wealthy. We were not the most respected family around. Matter of fact, I felt we were looked down upon by many of the "respectable" people that lived in the area. We had a reputation of getting into trouble.
As I grew up I didn't see myself as very handsome or talented. In my estimation, I was a slightly under average person. I thought that I would get a job working in a factory or going into the military when I was old enough. I felt like I really wanted to achieve something great in life and yet thought that I wouldn't because I had too many things against me.
The Vietnam conflict was going on at the time and so I joined the Marine Corps hoping to accomplish something in life. While in Vietnam I was injured and lost my right hand, part of my left hand, and partial loss of my left eye.
The injury caused me to have an even lower estimation of my self-worth. I felt that, now, I really didn't have a chance of doing anything that would be of great value. What I forgot to take into account was that God had a plan for my life.
He wanted to give me a life that was full and rewarding. He had created me for greatness. Although many circumstances pointed toward a life of tragedy, God wanted to give me a life of triumph. This is the story of how that transpired. May your life be enriched as you read this book and travel with me on that journey.

Will you go

James Calvert
Wesleyan Methodist Missionary
Missionary to Fiji Islands

On his way to The Fiji Islands,
the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, "You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages." To that, Calvert replied, "We died before we came here."

The Bible is the Word of God

Supernatural in origin,

Eternal in duration,

Inexpressible in valor,

Infinite in scope,

Regenerative in power,

Infallible in authority,

Universal in interest,

Personal in application.

Inspired in totality.

Read it through, write it down, pray it in, work it out, and than pass it on. Truly the Word of God changes a man until he becomes an "epistle of God." It transforms his mind, changes his character, moves him on from grace to grace,and makes him an inheritor of the very nature of God.God comes in, dwells in, walks in, talks through, and sups with him who opens his being to the Word of God.

Smith Wigglesworth

"Behold to obey is better than sacrifice" I Samuel 15:22

TRUTH THAT HURTS BUT HELPS.

When we come to a place in our life or society where we cannot give or receive truth we are in danger. We are instructed not to tell others anything that might hurt their feelings. Yet many of those who are trying to control us with this type of thinking go about saying whatever they want. It is a devious work of the enemy trying to stop truth from being spoken.
The Bible states that there are times when friends may say things to us that may hurt our feelings but in the end it is beneficial for our own welfare. Proverbs 27:6b states "...but faithful are the wounds of a friend" NIV. Nobody likes to be wounded. It hurts. It is uncomfortable. But in the end we will benefit from the advice given to us if we receive it and act upon it.
I do not enjoy confronting others with words that I know might hurt their feelings but as a friend there are times I need to speak them. I will pray over the situation for some time before I would share with any individual.
We need to also check our attitudes when involved in such a situation. Ephesians 4:15 states that we need to be, "...speaking the truth in love" NIV. That means that when I go to speak to another person I will be patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not full of self-pride, not rude, not seeking my own selfish desires, not angry, and not going with a list of things that the other person did that was wrong. I will go with an attitude that seeks truth and not with rejoicing in evil. I will also go with an attitude that wants to protect the other person and trust them. I must go with an attitude of hope that will cause me to want to persevere so that the person or relationship can be restored. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). If we will do this, according to Ephesians 4:15, "...we will in all things grow up into Him, Who is the Head, that is, Christ" NIV.

A HOLY INSPIRATION!

I feel a holy inspiration to join the heavenly celebration.
With the heavenly host and the Holy Ghost.
Angels, heaveny creatures, saints, alive and dead gathered around the throne.
Worshipping and praising in a heavenly tone.
Bowing down in adoration to Father and to Son.
Thanking them for the complete victory they had won.

Suddenly a holy hush fills the entire place.
As all begin to gaze upon the Savior's face.
What is just a heaveny moment feels like eternity.
As all look upon The One that has set mankind free.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!!! All begin to cry.
Filled with holy emotions...All hands are lifted high.

WE LOVE YOU JESUS!!!
WE LOVE YOU ABBA!!!
by Bruce J. Bender July 11, 2010

Tale of Two Man

Some time ago there were two men. Both of them were taken advantage of by many people over and over again.
One of them continually thought of the abuse he had received and as a result grew angry and bitter. Because his thoughts were always on the abuse he had received he even began to believe things that were not true. He wanted to prove to everyone that he had been mistreated unfairly. He was so involved with trying to justify himself that he never accomplished all the great things God had prepared for him.
The other man was also treated unfairly at times but his attitude was different. Instead of accusing others of what they had done to him he tried to look for the best in them. When someone would inform him how he had been mistreated by others he would refuse to allow it to enter into his spirit and instead would make excuses for them and pray for the best for them. As a result he had a continual joy and peace about him that was a blessing to all who came around him.
Which man was blessed by God? " Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous - with life joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense),..." (Matthew 5:11,12 Amplified Bible).
All of us feel that we have been mistreated by others at times. Sometimes it might have been an actual deliberate attack against our character by someone wishing to gain power or achieve some other type of recognition to promote themselves. Other times it may not have been premeditated.
The important thing is how we react or respond in these type of situations. Our "flesh" wants to retaliate and "get even" but the scriptures state otherwise. If anyone had the right to defend themselves...Jesus did. But scriptures state, " He was oppressed, [yet when] He was afflicted, He was submissive and opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb (silent), so He opened not His mouth. " (Isaiah 53:7 Amplified Bible).
Some may say, " But that was Jesus. I am not Jesus! " That may be true... but the Same Holy Spirit that lived in Him and anointed Him to love and serve also lives within every believer. Scriptures state, " ...But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God." (Romans 8: 9b Amplified Bible).
That is why Jesus commanded His disciples, " ...Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44b Amplified Bible). He equipped us to be able to do that which is contrary to the "natural" unregenerate man.
Romans 5:5b states, " ...God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us." (Amplified Bible). Therefore let us all yield to the Word of God and Spirit of Christ and we will enter into a realm of God where the world will know we are Christians by our love to one another and the kingdom of God will be established in our lives and here on earth. " Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Amen.
Remember... God gives His love to us so we can give that same love to others.
Have a blessed week in Jesus, brother Bruce and sister Snooks