Happy New Year!
We had a wonderful Christmas...it seemed that it came so quickly...and was gone 
before we knew it. It was action-packed and so much fun! Our daughter, LaShawn, and her husband, Liam, along with our son, Donovan, drove i
n from Nashville, TN. LaDawn and her children, Dante' and Myanna, drove in from Minneapolis. The house was alive with laughter, story-telling, game playing and of course, much eating! We were blessed to all be together for four days. The grandkids loved making Christmas cookies, and playing Monopoly, Sorry and Catch Phrase. Of course, they so enjoyed having Uncle Donovan, new Uncle 
Liam and Auntie LaShawn here. The weather was bitterly cold so as 
they say, "We hunkered down"... staying cozy inside our warm home and sharing memorable times together. I tried to cook everyone's favorite dishes and we enjoyed consuming every single calorie! HA!
On Christmas Eve, we all went up to see my mother, 
Grandma Julie, and three of my brothers and their families. It is always a joy to have Grandma (92 years old) with us. She is such a pillar of joy and strength to all. There were four generations represented at that Christmas celebration. 
fast. I just wanted to rewind the clock and relive those four glorious days, BUT...life goes on and as the old saying goes, "I owe, I owe so off to work I go!" Thus is the reality of life, we must all go back to work. We will savor all the hours and precious minutes of this Christmas through moments stamped in our memories and photos until we all meet again.Well, here we are-at the threshold of another year. What a year 2007 was!
The year 2007 saw the estimated United States population eclipse the 300 million mark and the estimated world population grow to 6.6 billion. Other milestones were Bill Gates retaining his title as the richest man, the first baby boomer filed for social security, the death of Evel Knievel--the greatest daredevil in history, the strike of Writer's Guild of America, the housing market money pit, the US dollar value decline, several heroes of the sports world suspended for steroid use, oil prices jumped past $90 a barrel, the YouTube revolution, advances in medicine, and in the Midwest, the collapse of the bridge in Minneapolis, droughts, floods and the great political debate.
Yes, lots of life-changing events took place...good and bad.
What will 2008 bring us? Ready or not, 364 days stretch out in front of us. What will be the story of our coming year? 2008 is full of nothing but seconds, minutes and hours waiting to be invested. How will we invest it? Larry and I have chosen to continue the Great Commission stated in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." We still cherish our call and are anxious to "GO" and win the Lost!
We will put our trust in Him to lead and guide us through this year. We count on God to give us wisdom, peace in a strife-ridden world and strength when we are weary. I will hold on to Isaiah 26:3-4, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength."
Yes, you and I can trust Him for strength for each day of 2008. Snuggle up to Him through the Word, worship and prayer and you will glide through another year!
Gloria
LUNDSTROM SPECIAL!  Now available to the public! If you have followed the Lundstrom's through the years and watched the various television specials, you will enjoy these DVD's that have been reprodu ced on DVD. These specials have been viewed by millions on national television and here is your opportunity to have them in your home. Each volume contains four television specials on DVD. Go to our online store to order today! |
"A deeper Christian walk begins with the decision to spend more time with God."
"The best way to start a new year is by placing your hand in His."
-Charles Stanley
RESOLUTIONS FOR THE COMPUTER USER
*I will spend less than one hour a day on the net.
*I will think of a password other than "password".
*I will get up from the computer every 15 minutes so my legs don't cramp.
*I will be nice to people who forward messages, mushy sentiments that end with exhortations "Forward to 10 friends or you will have bad luck for all eternity." I will just delete the message and add the sender to my black list.
*I will stop checking e-mail compulsively. I will check it twice a day. Well, maybe four times and before I go to bed. And....
*GET THE "CAPS LOCK" BUTTON ON MY KEYBOARD FIXED!
EASY 1-2-3 VEGETABLE BEEF SOUP
5 c. water
1 1/2 lb. beef stew, cut up
1 (16 oz.) can stewed tomatoes
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen mixed vegetables
1/2 c. chopped celery
1/4 c. powdered onion soup mix
1 tsp. seasoned salt
1-2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/8 tsp. pepper
Dash Tabasco sauce
In 3 quart saucepan, combine water, beef and all dry ingredients and bring to a boil. Add tomatoes, frozen vegetables and all other ingredients and cook on low with lid on pan.
Soup should do a slow boil for 1 hour and then switch to simmer for another half to 1 hour, depending on size of beef cubes. Serves 4 hearty bowls or 6 medium bowls. Leftover vegetables can be added including diced potatoes.
HOUSEHOLD HINT OF THE WEEK
In a few short minutes, the ceremony began. Our son Donovan walked me up first and then Liam's father was ushered down to the sound of the bagpipes being played. Liam's family is from Irish decent. The bridesmaids and Myanna walked down to meet the groomsmen.
Everything was just so beautiful and memorable. We are so happy to have a son-in-law and we dearly love him.
message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity- hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory- because at the Father's will Jesus Christ became poor, and was born in a stable so that thirty years later He might hang on the cross." 
to leave so Larry insisted I stay home and rest up as our daughter's wedding is December 9th, and we didn't want to jeopardize this event we have been anxiously awaiting. Larry and I have hosted tours for over 42 years and this is the first one I missed...so I guess my running record is still okay! HA! I sure hated being left behind however. 
morning and headed off. Guests joined us from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Arizona. For many of them, this was a reunion tour as over 35 of them have gone with us before. After you have gone once, family bonds form and many desire to make it a tradition or annual event. 
The first stop was at the Bass Pro Shop in Springfield, Missouri, and they then journeyed on to Silver Dollar City in Branson. The next three days were filled with nonstop action and excitement consisting of attending Christmas shows including Baldknobbers, Pierce Arrow, Celebrate America, Daniel O'Donnell, and the tour climaxed with Dino's Christmas Extravaganza, America's premier pianist and showman. Sunday morning, the group met
in the hotel for a special church service with an hour of music, testimonies and a message by Larry. Sunday afternoon, the group motored to Carthage, MO, and visited the world-known Precious Moments Chapel. 
several cousins and other family members and friends. Of course, Connie had a delicious turkey and ham dinner with all the trimmings...and all the calories! That reminds me of a cartoon I saw a few days ago...Grandma is standing in the kitchen with her apron on preparing dishes for the big Thanksgiving meal and she says, "I love Thanksgiving, all the relatives come over-- we have four generations getting indigestion together." How true. Someone else said, "Thanksgiving is the home version of the 'all-you-can-eat buffet'." With Christmas coming up quickly, I'm sure it will be another repeat of that "all-you-can-eat buffet".
The Friday after Thanksgiving, the Christmas fun- or should I call it frenzy- shopping began. In Minneapolis, a few of the stores opened at 1 am Friday morning. Our daughter LaDawn had to be at work at 4 am, so she had to get up at 2:30 am to get ready to go. Needless to say that was an early morning start!
The season now is in full swing as everyone is preparing for Christmas. All of our calendars will be filled with parties, family gatherings, Christmas programs, shopping, etc. Each of us will come in contact with many, many people--saved and unsaved. It is our season, as Christians, to shine and let the world know where we stand. One simple way is by using two words - "Merry Christmas". Dozens of business and establishments forbid their employees to say these words, and inform them to greet customers by saying, "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings". We all know the true meaning of Christmas- the birth of the Christ child. With those who are fighting to remove Christ out of Christmas, remove the manger scene and the tree, we need to take every advantage we have to keep Christ in Christmas. I would encourage you this season that when you meet others greet them, "Merry Christmas", and if they greet you with "Happy Holidays" quickly and kindly respond, "Oh, it's Merry Christmas- the season of celebrating Christ's birth...isn't that wonderful?" Be a light in this dimmed world- it needs it. Let's not lose Christmas.
The highlight of this past week was celebrating my mother's 92nd birthday. What a gift it has been to have her a part of my life for all of my 63 years. Monday night, about 25 family members gathered at "Mom's" for her birthday. We had planned on having a potluck meal but she loves pizza so we had a pizza party instead. Larry commented to me the next morning, "Gloria, your mom is the happiest when the family comes home. I watched the expression on her face when she heard the siblings, cousins and mates laughing and interacting. Her greatest joy is having the family together." Another observation he made was, "Your mom is so loved by everyone in the
family!" (There are now nearly 110 of us in the immediate family scattered from coast to coast.) My mom has a unique gift of loving each of us personally and equally. Also, she prays every day for each one individually. We all know her deep love for God and we all agree, "When Grandma Brooks prays, all heaven is at attention!" Her great faith in God has been instilled in each one of us and has left a great impact on our lives. 
After our meal, Larry pulled out the ol' family slide projector along with slides that Mom and he had taken over 40 plus years ago of all of us kids. You should have heard the laughter filling the house when those old photos hit the screen. Of course, each sibling took their opportunity to tease one another about their hairstyles, clothes, expressions, etc. It was a very rich time spent together...there is just nothing like family! 
Greetings from South Dakota! Last Thursday we were in Phoenix, Arizona where there were temperatures in the 90s! As we were sitting outside eating lunch with a friend who was going to take us to the airport, Larry and I, simultaneously looked at each other and whimpered, "Do we really want to leave this beautiful weather and head back to the Midwest?" Even if we had a choice, we still would've left. You see, we had three good reasons to fly to Minneapolis...our daughter LaDawn, our grandson Dante, and our granddaughter Myanna. Those three were enough incentive to get us on the move back to the Midwest. 
arrived at the Minneapolis International Airport. We shuffled through the ever long halls from one terminal to another. Larry chided, "Well you like to walk...this will definitely fit your quota for the day." It did, especially when we were loaded down with laptop computers and carry-on suitcases. We claimed our luggage - four HUGE suitcases- at the baggage claim and headed off to the curb. What a wake-up call when that 32 degree air hit our face! But what a joy to see that little white car of LaDawn's pull up to the curb. There's nothing sweeter than to be greeted by loved ones at the airport. 
Many responded to the altar call and made decisions for Christ. That's energy to Larry and me! When someone comes to Christ it's like a blood transfusion to us; it just gives us new life
and determination. We love seeing couples like Kelly and Becky McCoy who recomitted their lives to Christ at the Gothenburg rally. We thank God for pastor friends like Rev. Randy and Deb Dilts that have a burning desire to see their community reached with the Gospel. Rev. Randy Dilts commented, 
said unto me. "Let us go into the house of the Lord." Psalm 
Before we left North Platte, NE Larry insisted on going and seeing the train yards. LeRoy Black was so kind to take him out and see them as he is employed by Bailey Yards. It's the biggest train yard in the U.S. and the second largest train yard in the world. It has over 400 tracks by which approximately 175 tracks are for sorting and they travel to destinations all over the U.S. There are freight cars, box cars, tank cars, refrigeration cars, flat cars, auto rack cars, plus many more! Bailey employs about 3,500 people. Needless to say, Larry was mezmerized by the endless web of tracks that headed every direction. 
bliss" as they say. But, Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the Way the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." You can't depend on the goodness car, the baptismal car, the confirmation car, the catechism car, church attendance car, tithing car, or the just believe car to get you to the right place. Jesus said that no man can come to the Father but through Him. We all have to aknowledge that we've sinned, confess our sins and believe in Jesus Christ. When you get connected to him by repentance and conversion and grow and mature in Him you can be assured you're on the right track going the right direction and ending up at the right destination, which is Heaven. 
Prayerfully, you are on the right track. If you're not sure you can pray right now and ask Jesus to come into your heart. He will meet you and He will give you the ticket to eternal life. That, my friend, is exciting! Have a great week!
Last weekend we drive to North Platte, Nebraska, for a weekend of ministry. What a sweet time it was! Again, we were greeted by a loving congregation and a kind and compassionate pastoral couple, Rev. and Mrs. Dennis Leitner. Everyone was so gracious and they came to church with anticipation of what God was going to do. If we just lift up Christ, He does the rest! Larry and I stand on the side watching God draw people to Himself. Awesome! All ages responded to the altar call with many recommitting their lives to Christ along with others who gave their lives to Christ for the first time. 
refreshing to hear the Gospel message emphasizing the Lord's call to the Lost. Our whole church body was blessed and ministered to by the anointed songs, testimonies and the Word. Many responded to the altar calls...both for salvation and rededication. Thank you, Larry and Gloria, for your ministry and friendship to Calvary."
One of those people is Clenda Krizek, the church administrator of Calvary. She is electric with the love of Jesus-and she definitely gives off a sweet aroma of Jesus. She had this to say regarding our time of ministry there,
through the trial, but I weary of the battle, the winds of discouragement; I just want a simple key to victory. However, it doesn't always work that way. Someone once said, "Many times we pray and ask God to remove the storms from our lives, but oftentimes God will allow the storms to rage and He will calm the man in the midst of the storm." Our key to victory is available and it is right there. Jeremiah 33 says, "Call on me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things." Jesus is the Key, but it requires time in the throne room to connect with Him. Our tendency is to be impatient wanting the answer now, in our time and how I want it. Robert Schuller said, "Within every adversity lies a slumbering possibility." Yet, I love what Jesus says in Mark 9:23, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible." 
awesome time of ministry in Minot last weekend. We have been coming to Minot, ND since the early 70's and over the years have made many friends...of which many still remain, but we have so enjoyed making new friends as well. Minot First Assembly of God is currently in a pastoral transition so Pastor Jack Glass and his wife, Coletta, dear friends of ours, are interning there for the next three months. We have ministered with Pastor Glass in several places so it was like coming back home. Pastor Glass had this to say regarding our ministry in Minot, 
We were welcomed by an enthusiastic congregation who were excited and anticipating God to do great things...and He did! In both morning services, several responded to the altar call for the first time, and many prodigals came home! How thrilling!
about the services, 
"It was great to see Larry and Gloria Lundstrom again. Our families go all the way back to the 1970's in South Dakota. The Sunday morning service was wonderful here. I still remember the words to the medley of Lundstrom songs. Undoubtedly, the best part of the service was the altar call. A classmate of mine from high school was one of the many that responded. Thank you, Larry and Gloria, for your dedication to reaching the Lost."
"Stone Cairn" that marks the geographical center of North America. The location was established in 1931 by a US Geological Survey. Quite a feeling overwhelmed me as I stood by the Stone Cairn with the gusty fall wind swirling around me and realized I was literally standing in the center of North America. I am sure it was a challenge for the survey team to determine the exact location amidst the changing seasons and extreme weather North Dakota experiences. I know I wouldn't want to be standing there between November and April due to the effects of the Midwest winter- inches of blowing snow, blizzard winds, subzero temps-you get the idea.
From Rugby, we drove over to Rolette, which is nestled next to the Canadian border. We set up in the high school gym for an evening soulwinning rally hosted by Pastor Gene and Jeanine Wilson and Pastor Joel and Emily Davis. We had a wonderful altar call where many responded. The Wilson's and the Davis's are young couples who carry a burden for the rural areas and they love people. 
at Lake Assembly of God in Powers Lake, North Dakota. This couple and their church worked hard to make the Harvest Festival really special. The church was beautifully decorated and they served a 
delicious roast beef dinner with all the trimmings after the service. Sunday morning, people filled the pews and we had a precious altar call. Among the many who responded was Danny, a young man who is a foreign exchange student from Germany. God really touched his life and he just beamed after he prayed the salvation prayer. Imagine the impact he can make on his friends and family when he goes back to Germany. 
Pastor Jeremy and Mandy are an exceptional young couple with zeal and enthusiasm to reach the Lost. They pastor two churches in this rural area, Powers Lake and Stanley. They have two wonderful congregations who love them dearly and we can see why! We so enjoyed our time of fellowship with them. Pastor Jeremy commented, "Larry and Gloria truly came to Stanley and Powers Lake with a genuine spirit to minister to the people. Their genuine spirit was not only a blessing to our congregation, but was also a blessing to my family.
God's kingdom was truly expanded through their ministry. Thank you so very much for your willingness to come to rural North Dakota.
On Tuesday, Larry and I reached the 42 year milestone in our marriage. We hadn't really 
planned on celebrating as we worked all day and held a rally in Stanley, North Dakota, in the evening. (We do plan to take a day off later this week.) BUT, at the end of a wonderful service, the church surprised us with a beautiful anniversary
cake. We enjoyed the tasty dessert, along with coffee and some wonderful fellowship. We did celebrate...not only our anniversary but we celebrated those who made decisions for Christ. There is nothing more thrilling than seeing people's lives changed. 