Testimony Tuesday: Skip Swiger of Hawaii

How can you stop a dandelion?

In the past couple of weeks I have seen the incredible similarity that dandelions can have to love. My kids love to pick dandelions and blow on them while we watch the feather-like seeds fly off in every direction. My kids would dance and swirl through the yard, mimicking the seeds in their flight pattern. Some of the seeds landed nearby in obvious places while others lifted high into the air, never to be seen again. Whether you run them over with a lawn mower or hit them with your foot as you walk through the grass there is no stopping them; off they will go to a new home, a new birth, and create more dandelions.  

Our family recently moved to Hawaii for work but quickly found ourselves in a strange predicament. We had moved into a friend's guest house while we were looking for our own place, but were told that we had to be moved out by January 28th because other people would be moving in.  The rental market in Hawaii is very tough at this time due to the high demand that snow-bird season brings, but after four weeks of searching our family finally found a place. But this new home came with a small catch: it would not be available until February 12th, so we had to figure out what to do for those two weeks. Our solution: camp on the beach at a state park. My wife and I have four kids between the ages of one and nine, and we are not really the camping type, and so we admitted from the beginning that this was going to be quite the adventure for us all. We knew that the following weeks would require much love and unity if we were going to make it work, and before we knew it, we had bought our gear and set up camp. While living in the state park our family had no ulterior "Christian" motives, and weren't doing anything out of the ordinary for us (except living in a tent). We weren't having bible studies or pumping worship music through the boom box, we were simply living our lives in the same way that we might anywhere else.

As we were loading up to leave on the last day, two seemingly obvious bachelors that had been partying pretty hard at the campground asked if they might help me load my stuff. Having my four kids and all the new gear still needing to be packed, I thankfully accepted. With the extra hands the task went quickly but what happened next caught me completely off guard: The man that had helped us load looked into my eyes and his whole countenance softened as he said, "You are a really good dad. I've been watching you all week and up to this point in my life I have always said that I never wanted to have kids. But seeing you and your family together has caused me to reconsider." I was overwhelmed with countless emotions and could only bring myself to say, "Thank you," as he leaned in for the manly one-armed shoulder-bump hug. Our family was then off to our new house.

As I reflected on our trip, I realized how much our love is like a dandelion. It goes dancing in every direction, landing in some very obvious places but also some very unexpected ones. You simply love in all directions, not always knowing or understanding the distance that your love will sail off to; but the seeds of love will fly and plant and then produce more love.

I could have told you about the family that crashed their GoPro helicopter camera into a tree above our tent. We became such good friends with them that they brought our kids gifts the next day. I could have told you about the Mexican family that invited us to their kid's birthday fiesta because of our warm smile as they walked by. Or I could have told you about the Canadian family that grew emotional as we shared a conversation about how we parented our kids with extreme love. There were dozens of these little feathers of love floating around that were landing in obvious places, but one of those seeds of love floated far from the camp and planted itself in the heart of a partying bachelor, who will never be the same again.

To follow Skip Swiger's blog visit: FamilyFaithandFlipflops.com

Testimony Tuesday: Jordan Onia of Sacramento, California

My name is Jordan Onia.  Everyone desires to burn with passion, change the world, and to be radical – I believe this is the heartbeat of our generation. Being radical is so appealing, but I believe that in our pursuit, this generation has forgotten this lifestyle’s heavy price. This life will require the sacrifice of your personal preferences, and everything that you think you deserve will be given up for the sake of knowing Him more. It will cost you the luxury of comfort, and the paths that seem wisest to the world will often be left behind in pursuit of that which is greater. This can mean going without, that another may be blessed. This lifestyle is uncomfortable because we elevate our rights.  While Christ was on earth, He set His rights aside for the sake of love and knowing The Father. Love requires the sacrifice of everything you were never made to own. Love costs your selfishness.  But my heart is to show you the beauty of these heavy costs. 

I graduated from Harvest School of Missions in Sarasota, Florida this past April. It was such a beautiful time, but little did I know, the experiences I had were only the first of many great adventures I would have while following the Lord. This was also my first encounter with a situation that if God had not shown up I would look like a fool. As the last day of Harvest School rolled around I had no money for gas to get back home. I called my parents, but they showed no interested in helping me.  After getting off the phone, the students that were still left decided to go out to eat as one of our last times together. I remember specifically locking my car doors before climbing into a friend’s car and heading to lunch. I had made no mentioned of the conversation between my parents and I, or even my need for money; but after returning from our fantastic lunch, I witnessed the impossible.  I walked past the passenger side of my car and glanced in to find an envelope that read, “Gas Money”. After opening the letter, I discovered the exact amount I needed to return home. I began considering all the ways the envelope could have been placed in my car, but while I mused, God spoke to me, “If your parents would’ve given you money, how would I have received the glory for getting you there and back?”

Everything is relational. God does not reduce any portion of the gospel to petty methods for making our lives better. I want to encourage each one of you that if you desire a life that burns, a life that is set on display, position yourself to live from a place that if God does not show up, everything will fall apart. He tells us in Matthew 6:6 to seek first His kingdom; and the Greek word here for kingdom is Basileia.  Basileia essentially translates to ‘a kingdom that will fall apart without being constantly connected to the King’. God is calling you to a lifestyle in which He is the glue. A lifestyle that is impossible without Him. Thank you for the honor of sharing, and even more for reading. I pray God empowers each of you to dream your greatest dreams, and I pray that the fulfillment of these dreams would only scratch the surface of all God has in store for you.  

Testimony Tuesday: Alissa Crews of Fort Myers, Florida

Alissa Crews

The following story took place on Monday and although at first I wasn’t sure if I should share, I believe this is an issue that many people struggle with and God has been using this situation to really encourage me.

The other day, my friends Angela, Corey and I went downtown and made our way to a floating dock with a pavilion to sit down. Corey started playing his ukulele and the three of us enjoyed worshipping there for a while. As this was going on, a man came down the dock and sat a little ways off, looking out at the water.  I began to worry that we were being too noisy or disrupting him (even though we were there first, and he probably realized this before making his way down).  As he looked out, I felt a draw to him, despite having no idea as to what was going on in his life or the situations that he might be dealing with.  Honestly, I thought he might be homeless (we were down by the park and he was alone, so I don’t think that was a bad assumption).  All I knew was that in some way, I wanted to help this stranger.

I felt uncomfortable that we were being too loud and happy around someone who obviously shared neither of those attributes, and so I prayed that God would show me some way to tangibly help him, but the phrase, “What you’re doing now is fine,” was all I heard.  But I brushed off these words in the assumption that I was doing nothing at all.  

We finished up and I was disappointed that I hadn’t had the courage to approach this lonesome figure. As we stood up, the man came over and explained that he was very encouraged by our music, and that God had really touched him through it. He told us to, “Keep doing what we are doing.” We had sung, ‘Deep Cries Out’ and he described how the lyrics: ‘Jump, jump in the river’ reminded him of a song he wrote for his son. He had just dropped off this same son and began to tell us about the hardship he found in saying, “Goodbye,” to him.  It was because of that difficulty he had come downtown to the river.

As the man spoke, it was as if God was whispering, ‘See, I told you so!’ in my ear.  God has been teaching me to not worry about what others think (because my assumptions are usually wrong!) and to just live for Him! In doing this, everything else falls into place.

Testimony Tuesday: Simon Hudson (Melbourne, Australia)

We were in the Mozambican 'bush bush', and had just finished screening the Jesus film, which meant that is was now time to begin praying for people. Two young deaf brothers approached us and we began to pray for them. As we prayed, one brother began experiencing healing, and the other one - not! In what I confess was a difficult situation, I became frustrated, and to be honest: concerned at how this young guy was feeling, having just watched his brother experience healing, but not see it for himself.

During the evening, we'd done our best to love on this brother with hugs, kind words, speaking life, caring for him, etc. etc. and so the next morning, despite my concerns that he might be disappointed or angry at God, instead, he was happy! It was then that I knew: although praying for the sick is pure, holy, and very important to do, if you pray without love then it is a fail! Love never fails! Aside from this scenario, I have seen heaps of miracles, salvation, etc. but I enjoy when God speaks to us, and shares his heart for people, which, one might say, is love!

Testimony Tuesday: Chris Collins of Colorado Springs, Colorado

I was on a ministering trip with my bible college that brought us to Louisiana.  After the main speaker gave his message, the rest of the prayer ministers and I went upfront to pray with anyone that had need.  An older gentleman approached me in frustration. His discontentment was not at anyone specifically, but that he had not yet been healed of the cancer that was manifesting itself on his face in giant scabs. He explained that he didn't want to just be prayed for, but that he wanted to be healed. I said, "Alright man, let’s do this!" As I prayed, I knew it was not by my own power that this man could be healed but that it was all by the power and authority that God has given me to heal the sick and to raise the dead. So I commanded the cancer to leave in Jesus’ name.

We got off topic and talked about football for several minutes. It was nice to see this man get his eyes off of his situation and onto something that he loved. The man started smiling and lighting up. It was incredible. I finally stopped the conversation and asked, “Is there anything else I can pray with you for?” And he said, "Yeah my eye! My right eye went completely blind about 6 months ago. The doctor said it was a detached retina." he explained.  "Okay man, let’s go!" I prayed a 10 second prayer for this man’s eye; I didn't use big theological words or try to convince God to heal this man because I understand that Jesus has already paid that price, and realize the power he has given me! I simply released that healing power right into that man’s eye. After praying, the man thanked me and walked away.


About 20 minutes went by and I heard the man calling for me again as I packed. “Chris! Chris! Come here!”

"What’s up man? How are you doing?" I asked.

"My eye! I can see out of it!" He said.

This man had received a complete healing in his eye that night – 20/20 vision. He was so stoked about his eye! It was not because of me, or any wise words that I used in my prayer, but simply the love of God expressed through my life towards this man.  God wants all his children healed. It's not about some hidden formula; but comes in an understanding of the beautiful fact that our God is love.