Clifford

Clifford Jason Luebben was born at 2:20 early Friday morning on April 28, 1989. You were the first child I was able to witness being born.  This was such an amazing experience to behold; how can anyone ever doubt that there is a God who witnesses the wondrous miracle of birth?  I will never forget that amazing night; or rather, early morning.  You were such an observant, and calm little one; the Lord was gracious to allow my first baby experience to be a baby such as you.  You had a great big smile, and seemed to take-in everything going on around you from your earliest months.
 


You were an easy child to raise: didn’t fuss much; slept through the night early on; were not inclined to get into trouble; had a great imagination; loved learning; playing with your siblings; thoroughly enjoyed your family.  You were also such a great big brother to Josiah, Micah, and Elizabeth; and close friend to Josiah during your pre-teen years.


It seemed that it was in your sophomore year of high school that the Lord really grabbed ahold of your heart in a new and powerful way.  You had always seemed to love and follow Him; but sensed Him calling you to be a missionary, and after your first short term mission trip to Guatemala, began living such a sold-out life for our Lord.  And now, about seven years later, you have traveled and served our Lord in a handful of countries; quite an amazing experience for such a 23 year old.

College brought another person of interest into your life from your very first month; and now that person of interest, Jennifer, is not only your wife of one year, but is carrying your first child.  Clifford, my first son, you have been such a sold out servant of our Lord.  You were such a pleasure to raise; and now you and Jennifer will be raising your own child, WOW!  We know that you two will raise our newest granddaughter in the love and admonition of our Lord.  This gives your mom and me a joy that you cannot imagine – and yet, if the Lord tarries, we trust that this is a joy that you, too, will someday experience. 

Calan Construction Update

The following update on Calan Nazarene School construction was written by Jillian Finkbeiner, who helps with the sponsorship organization, teachers conferences etc.

Undeniably Bigger Than I Can Imagine

Posted: 13 Jul 2012 04:02 PM PDT

When you think of the possibilities of what God can do, do you doubt? do you fear? do you become mute? do you refuse to move?These past two weeks have not only demonstrated, but proven the immense love and unlimited possibilities of God.  He is not some being that sits in the heavens with disregard for us.  He is not just a good example to possibly follow.  He is GOD, the KING of kings, the LORD of lords, the ALL-POWERFUL, the ALL-KNOWING, the ONLY GOD!  If we choose to follow Him, NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING can separate us from the love of God.As our second work and witness team departed this morning, I reminded them of their eternal impact and blessings they have given to the community of Calan.  They might just think they laid a concrete floor, but GOD will use that new floor to allow hundreds of children to play and learn on, and to hear about His grace, peace and love for them.  On that very floor, the Escuela Nazareno students will be reminded that NOTHING, not Satan, demons, drugs, alcohol, prostitution, sex trafficking, sickness, death, can EVER separate them from the love that is Christ Jesus.  Because, if God is for us, who then, can be against us?Below are the progression of images of the Tri-Cities Work and Witness Team's work, on the new 3rd grade classroom, that was completed in just 8 short days.  Photos also include the installation of new gutters to prevent flooding and a new ceiling in the church sanctuary for relief  from the brutal heat.  As you look at the photos, be reminded that God is limitless...and He will use those who are willing to serve Him...

Day 1: laying rebar for footing

Day 2&3: laying CMU foundation walls; this is Aaron...a very good Honduran worker

Day 4: laying CMU in the middle for support wall

Day 5: ground is level and ready for concrete slab

Day 6: concrete slab is being placed by Honduran and USA volunteers

brand new concrete slab in place

New ceiling in church

New gutters to prevent flooding

After witnessing this work accomplished.... God is undeniably bigger than I can imagine....

Josiah

Edward “Josiah” Luebben was born around 4:30 on a Sunday afternoon on July 14, 1991.  Josiah is our second son, third child.  We had intended to make his first name Josiah, but my dad thought it would be kind of neat if his first name was Edward, so that his first three grandsons with the “Luebben” last name would be the same as his first three sons.  So, his first name became Edward, but we have always called him Josiah.

The name "Josiah" was taken from a really cool Judean king towards the last days of their kingdom, prior to be conquered by Babylon.  When reading through the Bible in 1981, I became very touched by King Josiah, and his passion for our Lord; so impressed that I asked the Lord if He might someday bless me with at least two sons so that I could call my second son Josiah (read about Josiah in II Kings 22 & 23; II Chronicles 34 & 35, plus a prophecy about him in I Kings 13).  I wanted to name my first son after my brother, Cliff, who had went to be with the Lord back in 1975.  The Bible says about Josiah that no king, before or after him, turned to the Lord with their whole heart and with all his soul and with all his strength (II Kings 23:25), not David, not Hezekiah, amazing!

One decade after being so impressed with this Bible saint, the Lord allowed me to hold my second son, Edward “Josiah” Luebben in my arms.  The doctor commented on how strong Josiah seemed to be at birth, being able to arch his back when we were taking his measurements.  Josiah has was a rugged boy, and now is a rugged young man; but beyond his strength, he is quite scholarly (he is learning Latin, reading John Locke, Adam Smith, CS Lewis, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens, Homer...all for "fun"), musically gifted (guitar, bass, banjo, penny whistle, concertina, harmonica, and bagpipes likely in the near future), and has good business instincts (knows how to stretch a penny, and is keeping an eye out for property to buy and fixup) - our renaissance man.  Josiah has also always been very observant and protective of his family, particularly his younger sister and his mother.

Josiah is also a very hard worker, one summer working three jobs; and yet he also knows how to balance work and studies with fun and adventure.  Now,at age 21, he is taking college courses on-line towards business and accounting degree; yet still balancing plenty of fun with their band, and mini, inexpensive adventures along the way.  He has been taking college courses off and on since age 16.  In all of his activity, adventure, and studies, he has a passionate love of our Lord that is first and foremost in his life.  He recently he shared that he believes the Lord is leading him towards mission service (likely in an adventurous setting, knowing him).

Edward Josiah, son of my name, you are such a special and sensitive, yet rugged young man.  Mom and I pray that the Lord watch over you as you move into this next phase of life; knowing that the Lord has your heart means more to mom and me than anything we could ever imagine.  We love you son.

Micah

Micah Clay Luebben was born around 10:30 in the evening on July 2, 1994.  He was our fourth child, and our third son.  I, too, was my parent’s fourth child, and third son.  Micah is the “son of my birth order”.  Sally and I were preparing to go to an evening wedding on that particular Saturday when she shared that “it was time”.  So, we gathered our three kids, shared the news with them, dropped them off with my parents who were already at the church for the wedding, asked if they could watch them as we needed to go to the hospital.  My mom said she couldn’t focus on the wedding from that point on with the excitement of knowing that her newest grandchild was on the way!

Micah, especially as a boy, but even today is a master of disguises.  It only seems fitting that I would be dressed up and wearing a tie when Micah came into our lives.  I asked the doctor if I could cut the chord with this child, as I hadn’t had this experience yet.  The doctor did me one better and allowed me to deliver Micah (with his close supervision, and Sally’s approval).  So, in my white shirt and tie, I had the privilege of delivering this third son of mine.  By the time he was born, his two brothers, big sister, and Luebben grandparents were in the waiting room eager to hear the news, and see their newest family member.

Micah was not an easy baby, in that he didn’t sleep well at night for at least 18 months, didn’t like bottles, and didn’t like being strapped to a car seat.  He also decided at about 18 months that he didn’t like being ignored when we finally tried to let him cry himself back to sleep, and figured out how to get out of the crib and storm down the hall to our room.  Always, and I mean ALWAYS very independent, and comfortable doing his own thing.   

For years he wanted to be a policeman; and collected and studied all things police.  During his 6^th grade year, his oldest brother, who helped with Jr High youth, told me he thought Micah would not be a policeman, but perhaps a preacher. Cliff saw something that we would soon see, the Lord was grabbing a hold of Micah’s heart in a big way, and taking him in a direction none of us, except Cliff, would have imagined.

Now our youngest son is about to graduate high school.  I don’t know that he will be a preacher, but his passion for the Lord is something to behold.  He is quite gifted musically, and continues to be a leader.  We will see where the Lord takes him next.  In the meantime, he is leaning toward spending some time with YWAM, unless the Lord clearly points him in a different direction.

Micah, son of my birth order, you have been a wonderful blessing from the Lord to mom and me, we love you son, and we know that as long as you place the Lord first in your life, you will be in the right place, no matter what and where that place is.