While sitting on bleachers at the Lincoln Day Pow Wow at Simnasho on the Warm Springs Reservation, I watched a give-away. Many, many gifts were being distributed and given to honored elders. A child was coming back to the dance circle after a year of mourning for his father who had been killed in a car accident.

I noticed the uncle who was doing the gifting was coming my direction. I looked to the side and then behind me wondering which elder of the tribe was going to be honored next. As I look forward again, he was coning right my direction. He stopped and gave me a very beautiful blanket. It had a horse design on it. I was so in amazement, all I could do was say thanks!

That is what you do at a give-away - say thanks.

So it is with Christians. We were all from the "lost tribe" when Father-Creator sent His Gift - His only Son. This season we need to say thanks to a loving Heavenly Father.

• The warriors currently wearing the Air Force uniform as part of American Indian Heritage month past and present honored American Indian warriors. A gathering of two cultural committees, the Multicultural Awareness Committee of Ellsworth Air Force Base played host to the Rapid City Cultural Diversity committee, the event was to honor American Indians and the contributions they have made to the country.
• By training American Indian teachers and librarians to use modern technology, professor Susan Penfield and her assistant Phillip Cash hope to encourage younger generations to learn and preserve languages that are in danger of disappearing. America's indigenous languages have dwindled to only about 150, flickering out one by one as aging tribal elders fluent in the languages complete the circle of life. "By the year 2050, there are expected to be only about 30 indigenous languages in this country that are still spoken," said Penfield.
• President Bush signed into law a bill that raises the loan guarantee limit for a U.S. Housing and Urban Development loan guarantee program to 95 percent - up from 80 percent. This move encourages banks and other lenders to extend mortgage loans to Native Americans, which will increase homeownership in Indian Country.
• Seven public schools in South Dakota are participating in a new project that will bring Lakota values to the classroom. "We Are All Relatives" will use stories and legends to focus on the four Lakota values of bravery, fortitude, generosity and wisdom. These are tied in with a national program called Character Counts. A $120,000 grant from the Bush Foundation in St. Paul will help bring the program to schools with a large Indian student population.

Walking the New Path
(Part 5 from Lesson 2: Light for the Path)

Memorize at least one of the following for your next meeting with your discipler:

Revelations 1:8 - "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty".

Jeremiah 32:27 - "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me"?

Psalms 139:7-10 - "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast".

Psalms 145:17 - "The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made".

Psalms 102:25 - "In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands".

Walking the Path - Before you meet next time with your discipler talk with your Father-Creator (pray):

1. Praise the Lord for Who He is. (See notes pages 1-3)

2. Thank the Lord for what He has done. (See notes pages 3-5)

3. Ask your Father-Creator for what you need.

Talking to My Father-Creator - Suggested prayer:

Dear Father-Creator,

Thank you for being the Creator of this earth and the heavens above. Your creation brings me such joy and I am so happy that I can enjoy it – the rivers, mountains, oceans, the stars. You did this to show me that you are God and that you love me. Thank you for loving me so much.

Thank you for caring for my needs and those of my family. Even the small things I need matter to you. I find peace and harmony when I depend on you instead of worrying about the details of my life. I know that you will never change your mind and that I can always depend on you. I once again turn every part of my life over to you because I know you are trustworthy. Thank you, Lord.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

• I"Please pray that my husband Frankie will accept Christ into his life. Please pray that he will be filled with peace, love and happiness that comes with that dedication to follow Jesus. I love my husband and want to live with him in heaven some day. Thank you so much. God bless you". – Meredith, Chumash/Apache
• "Please pray for evangelistic outreach to the Quinault reservation coming up July 14-16 2005. Three Navajo families coming to Taholah for singing, testimonies, counseling, preaching. Pray for God to prepare the way for them and for souls to be saved on the Quinault. God bless WFC ministries".– Frances, Navajo
• "Please pray for my brother Jason, his two young boys were killed in a house fire on my mom's birthday this year. My nephews were 9 and 7 and very loving kids. My concern is for my brother for his health is failing after this terrible accident. He ran back into the burning house 3 times before the police held him down to keep him out. He needs all the support and pray possible to help him through this. Please pray for his health both mentally and physically. He needs healing. Thank you" – Melissa, Piqua Shawnee
• SPECIAL REQUEST from Amos & Josephine Grass: "Pray for the financial situation Amos & Josephine have encountered. The situation is fairly complicated, with serious consequences for them if they do not receive immediate help in prayer and finances. Not only will this situation affect Amos & Josephine personally, but also it could leave Navajo Mountain Alliance church without a pastor. Thanks"

• Praise the Lord! We have finished the writing of "Walking the New Path." Please pray that we will have wisdom and discernment to rightly define the Word as we edit and type the lessons.
• We are in the process of applying for grants from Christian foundations to print and distribute "Walking the New Path." Please pray for funding of this next step of ministry.
• Warriors for Christ is in the process of getting ready to move to the Sequim, Washington area. Please be praying that we will be able to get a good price for our current headquarters and that the Lord will guide us to just the right place in Sequim.
• Please pray that the Lord will send staff for WFC.

"THE PRAYER CIRCLE" - Those that have committed at least once a week, to pray for spreading the Gospel,  to effectively reach American Indians, for discipled native leaders, and the Warriors for Christ staff, Board and regional Directors. We will send you emails of prayer requests as we receive them and will ask you to join WFC staff to pray for these needs, and the ones posted on the WFC prayer board.  To join send us an email at warriors@warriorsforchristonline.org

"WARRIOR COUNCIL" - Those that have made a monthly pledge of financial support to WFC.  Just go to http://www.warriorsforchristonline.org/donations.htm to reach our "help page" on the web site and let us know that you want to join with us to help reach our Host people with Christ's love.