Help Them See

I never heard of the Yahoo group before the other day when a welcome-to-the-group email arrived.

Complete your Yahoo! Groups account: Your email address has been added to the email list of a Yahoo! Group. To gain access to all of your group's web features (previous messages, photos, files, calendar, etc.) and easier control of your message delivery options, we highly recommend that you complete your account by connecting your email address to a Yahoo account. It is easy and free.

A second message arrived at the same time – a profile form for me to fill out and return. I ignored both messages. The next morning another profile form arrived to be filled out. Along with it came several other messages, some profiles of strangers and a few message postings from group members.

I reread the original message. I checked out the website, trying to find how to “opt out” without linking this Mercy And Percy email address to a Yahoo account. I wasted a lot of time trying to find out whether this was even legitimate. Email and web addresses can be faked. Finally, I decided to take Yahoo up on the abuse reporting policy stated in the email.

Report abuse: Because Yahoo! Groups values your privacy, it is a violation of our
service rules for moderators to add subscribers to a group against their wishes. If you feel this has happened, please notify us:

My privacy was definitely violated! I neither signed myself up nor was given any advance notification the group intended to add my email address. I went to the above Yahoo address and circled round and round the site, never able to find a means to report abuse without signing up to link this email address to a Yahoo account.

Now why would I want to give out a lot of personal information for something I did not initiate or approve? It would seem that if Yahoo enables the group to usurp email addresses and add new “members” without permission, then Yahoo should enable those “members” to report abuse without having to sign up for a Yahoo account.

I googled Yahoo abuse and found an email address. My message was returned with the notation they were the wrong department and I should go to this link that took me back to the same point where I went round in circles again. I gave up and there were no messages for a couple of days.

This morning there was a host of emails from the group, including another blank profile form. (I presently have 63 Yahoo group messages.) Again I went round and round Yahoo. Finally I was forced to do the last thing I wanted to do – I replied to the spamming “Christian” group, telling them to delete my email address. They kept sending back you-must-unsubscribe” messages and eventually that’s what I had to do. Unsubscribe to a group I never subscribed to.

I couldn’t believe it but they shot back a form sorry-you’re-leaving message and wanted to know why I was leaving. So I told them. And the message also asked what they can do to make their ministry better. They can stop hijacking email addresses and invite people to join or at provide a means to sign up voluntarily.

I do not want to give them publicity so I won’t name the group, (but you can connect the letters - h e l p t o s e e) but I’m writing this to make you aware Yahoo provides opportunity for groups to harvest email addresses and subscribe people without notice or permission and then makes it impossible to complain without giving out personal information for Yahoo to collect.

It’s too bad neither Yahoo nor the group will read this because it might help them to see – Yahoo, that there is a great weakness in their abuse reporting and group systems, and the group that their “Christian” sign-up system is seriously flawed.

www.mercyandpercy.com/

Born Without Limbs

After reading an email about a unique young man, I found his website, read a bit and watched a video or two. He has an amazing story and ministry.

Nick Vujicic was born without limbs. That alone makes him stand out in a crowd. Add to that his enthusiasm in service to the Lord and he is indeed unique. His motto is, “From life without limbs to life without limits.”

Visit his website, LifeWithoutLimbs.org, and learn more about this inspirational Australian. Be sure to watch his video, “Nick’s Home Movie.”

www.mercyandpercy.com/

The Bridge Collapse

It is virtually impossible to avoid reading or hearing about the collapse of the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis on Wednesday during rush hour. It is also impossible to not be emotionally affected by the extent of the damage and the number of people involved.

The Engebretsen family, Ronald, Jessica and Ann, have been interviewed several times. First, they were hopeful that wife and mother Sherry was rescued but unidentified, perhaps a “Jane Doe” in a hospital. Later, Ronald’s composure began to break as he talked about his missing wife. Hope was fading, but the family struggled to remain hopeful. Today, that hope is gone. Sherry is among the confirmed dead. You know that family is suffering. So are all the others who have either been notified their loved ones have died or are still waiting to hear the worst.

Individuals and churches across the nation are praying for those involved as well as their families. Whenever a disaster occurs, questions inevitable arises, such as, where was God and why did he allow this to happen?

John Piper of Desiring God wrote a touching story titled (click on link to read it) “Putting My Daughter to Bed Two Hours After the Bridge Collapsed; What Do Tragedies Like This Mean for Us?”

He has also posted a video with footage from the scene. The audio is from the messages “Where is God.” The video can be found on Desiring God or on YouTube.

www.mercyandpercy.com/

Inasmuch, Ron

There are those who talk, those that write, and those who act. Ron and Sue Bates have been among those who act for the street children, orphans, and homeless of Romania for over 15 years. Let’s face it, many of us who live in the United States are so spoiled by modern conveniences that we would rather “minister” via a website or blog than to get our hands dirty helping others or to pass on the love of God by hugging a homeless person.

For some, physical ministering is not an option and thus blog postings to encourage others are an act of service. But many physically able folks – in particular the younger generations – often have time on their hands (witness the rising crime rate among the young) and serving others would be not only practical but it would help them to grow in character.

Remember, one definition of “minister” is to attend to the wants and needs of others. It does not merely mean to preach. Sometimes it means listening to a stranger ramble or an elderly person recount the same stories over and over, or to work with those society has cast off and abandoned. Some folks don’t know how to be still and listen or to act; they only know how to “preach.”

There are many in Romania who have experienced the love of God through Ron and Sue Bates. Their Inasmuch Foundation is based on Matthew 25:40. Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these.....my street kids and orphans....you have done it unto me.

These are quotes taken from today’s Inasmuch Newsletter.

“Ron was, as we are, imperfect, but he always wanted his love for his orphan girls, street kids, blind people and the gypsy believers to be perfect. His greatest ministry was with the gypsies. Ron’s gift was preaching the gospel and expounding God's word. He loved God's word and always appreciated the hungry, open heart of the gypsy Christians. He frequented the village of Goloshei and because of his great love for them and their common love for the Lord Jesus he wants to be buried in that village, so Thursday we will celebrate his home going.

“Ron was born in Ft. Worth, Texas. He was saved when he was 16 and spent the rest of his life preaching God's word and learning more about the kind of God we really have. Our wonderful workers and I, Lord willing, will continue the work as Ron would desire. Perhaps someone will come here to work alongside us. I would like this to be my legacy, also to serve with the Romanian people for my remaining years.

“Ron and I were married October 7th 1961. We have spent four years serving in Japan as missionaries and the past 17 years in Romania, privileged to have served the least of these, making our lives happy and fulfilled beyond imagination.” (Emphasis mine.)

Ron Bates’ (August 10^th, 1939 - July 31^st, 2007) ministry in Romania has ended, but Sue intends to remain and continue their work. If you can spare a moment, you might send her an email of encouragement from the website.

Jeff Taylor has posted a tribute to Ron Bates on his blog Romania and Missions.

www.mercyandpercy.com/

Visit Patsy's Miracle

I read the story of the miracle of Patsy’s healing from herpes simplex encephalitis, a virus that attacks the brain, in the newspaper yesterday morning and checked out the website as soon as I sat down at the computer.

God does not answer every prayer for healing in the same manner. On some occasions a patient might be immediately and miraculously healed. Sometimes, despite prayers and everything that can be done medically, the patient will die.

At other times, the healing will be slow, with faith-testing crises and well-meaning friends and medical personnel shaking their heads and predicting imminent death or life as a vegetable. This was what Patsy’s husband Ron faced. His faith was tested as he trusted God to heal his wife. Ron’s faith that God would heal her was so strong that he ordered her a new car while she was still in a “death coma.”

Ron has put up several billboards in heavily traveled areas of Atlanta, Georgia, stating Jesus healed his wife and directing passing motorists to visit their updated website. (Not while they are driving, of course.)

I encourage you to visit their website and read the story of Patsy’s life-threatening illness and her recovery. The story will encourage and uplift you. Visit PatsysMiracle.com

www.mercyandpercy.com/