Until!

Dear Friends:

A favorite quote of mine for Network211 is attributed to Mike Tyson, the former boxing heavyweight champion of the world, “Everyone has a plan until they get hit in the mouth.” We all want to determine our life paths. We have our customized definition of personal success and all of us strive to achieve that desired outcome. We want to be in control of our situation and master of our own world. Some people even revel in the fact that they will choose their god, manufacture their own boundaries and ethics, and even determine their own gender and personal pronouns. Their personal theme is like the old Frank Sinatra song, “I did it my way!”

All this is well and good . . . until. Until life happens. Until our personal control is taken from us. Until our world changes, often at a moment’s notice, and we are striving diligently to put back together the pieces of our lives. Until . . . a cancer diagnosis, death of a loved one, a personal betrayal, loss of employment, or an accident. Until . . . the consequences of our actions reaps their ugly head and the bill comes due. We remember that the devil is a thief who comes only to steal and kill and destroy (John 10:10a) so a negative outcome is inevitable.

People living outside the love of God seemingly have a season to enjoy their self-made personal autonomy until they get hit in the mouth. To whom will they turn to find help, hope, and rescue? Who will be there to provide a pathway to recovery and a blessed hope to live in victory? Increasingly the immediate reaction to a life dilemma is for people to search the Internet for an answer. For hope. For help. For rescue. Frequently, almost daily, I read how people consider suicide because they cannot find hope to overcome being hit in the mouth and they believe their only response is to check out of life.

It is at this moment that Network211, because of your partnership, can be online to share the hope and love of Jesus Christ. John 10:10b quoted Jesus’ teaching, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).
Jesus is the One who will journey with us in our trials. He is our Rock, our Foundation, and our Healer. He is our Friend. Jesus invites us to bring the entirety of who we are to Him; our hopes and dreams, our successes, and even our weaknesses, sins, and our failures. He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28, 29).

People are searching for answers. When they search online and discover a Network211 online interactive evangelism community they discover a new “until” moment. Their life trajectory was spiraling out of control . . . until . . . they connected with us and we shared with them the love of Jesus Christ. Praise God!

Please continue praying! Please continue to invest faithfully in the global outreach of Network211. Lord willing, in just a few days, we will reach the milestone of presenting the Gospel to 50 million individuals worldwide. And for this, we are humbled and grateful for the honor to share the greatest message in history and see Jesus transform lives in an “until” moment.

Blessings,
Mark

Dr. Mark Flattery
Network211 President