Pray for Your Neighbors

June 11, 2010 at 4:53 pm | Posted in pray | Leave a comment
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This assumes that you know your neighbors by name. I know that is not always easy to do, but we Christians need to know who our neighbors are. We also need to know about some of their needs. We need to ask them questions and listen intently to the answers. It would be good if we could come away from the conversation with them looking forward to our next time together.

So I ask you Christian reader, “How well do you know your neighbors?” If you don’t know them what practical steps will you take to get to know them? Are they saved or unsaved? Do they attend a church, synagogue, temple, mosque or nowhere? Are they married, divorced, or re-married? Do they have kids and if so what ages? You get the idea of the types of questions you should know the answers to. Now go get relational.

But here is one more piece of advice. Go as a learner. Ask questions and listen to answers. When you feel like telling them what to do, stop yourself and ask some more questions. Someone once asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Who is your neighbor?

Let’s pray for:

1. Christians in churches all over America to have a godly desire to get to know their neighbors.

2. These same Christians to learn how to ask questions and to practically get to know their neighbors.

3. These Christians to live out their faith in such a way that their unsaved neighbor would want to ask them for a reason for the hope that they have.

4. You and I to be creative in reaching out to our neighbors

5. You and I to be able to lead some of our neighbors to come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

6. You and I to help disciple some of our neighbors that come to Christ.

7. God to help us do this ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit.

8. To help us have a Christ like compassion for the lost neighbors around us.

9. Local churches to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and by their desire to see the people around the church come to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

You see, I have included myself in this prayer. I need your prayers too so that I will get to know my neighbors and share my faith in God and Jesus Christ with them. God bless you as you go out as His representatives in your neighborhood.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13; Luke 10:25-37, 15:1-32

Prayer Conference for Revival

June 8, 2010 at 4:58 pm | Posted in prayer, revival | Leave a comment
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If you are interested in the simulcast of a prayer conference on revival taking place in Vancouver, B.C. you can get there from here: http://www.sermonindex.net/. This site is great for listening to sermons from men of God who are now in the presence of the Lord. There are sermons from men of God who are still alive and serving the Lord and His Church today too. This is a very good site.

It started June 8 and goes through June 10. I have been blessed and challenged by the little I have been able to listen to. God bless you.

Pray for Veterans, part 2

May 7, 2010 at 1:33 pm | Posted in prayer, Veterans | Leave a comment
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As we get ready to celebrate Memorial Day we need to remember that it is much more than a day off from work. It is much more than an extended weekend. Now, too some people that is all it means to them. It’s just time off from work or time to put the garden in or time to go to the cookout with family and friends. It is also a time to remember the brave men and women who served in the military of our country and who gave their lives in the call of duty.

I shared last week about my family’s tradition of going to Bedford Cemetery to stand and watch the parade go down Broadway. They would put flowers on the graves of family members who died. I’ve wondered who will carry on that tradition when my uncle dies. You see he puts the flowers on graves now and I’m not sure who will do it when he dies. Will the tradition die then? I don’t know.

What I do know is that some traditions are worth keeping, like the singing of the National Anthem. When I attend sporting events and the National Anthem is played I put my right hand over my heart when I sing. That is the way I was taught and it is tradition. I’ve been in the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium when about 80,000 people were singing the National Anthem. I am a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan, but that is another story for another time. Thousands of people would cheer and clap at the end of the song. It is a moving experience to me.

These are some of my thoughts as I get ready for Memorial Day Weekend. For some reason this year more than past years my thoughts are on showing practical appreciation to our veterans. Is there a veteran that you can personally say “thank you” to? If so, do it, don’t wait, do it as soon as possible. Is there a veteran that you can pray for now? What about praying for their family? If so, pray now. They may not know you have prayed, but God knows when you pray and He answers prayer. Let’s pray for:

1.      Their protection, spiritually, emotionally and physically.

2.      Their family’s protection and for God’s provision in their lives.

3.      Many to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

4.      The many godly chaplains to do their ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit.

5.      The families that have had loved ones die to experience God’s comfort, mercy and presence as they grieve (2 Corinthians 1:3).

6.      The general public to appreciate what these men and women do to serve their country.

7.      The healing of broken bodies and emotions because of what they have gone through.

8.      That no matter what the circumstances they have experienced, they would turn to God and not away from Him.

9.      However else God may lead you to intercede for someone.

Thank you for praying. Your prayers make a difference and they are important. Someone may not know you are praying for them down here, but Almighty God knows you are praying. God responds to His people’s prayers. Stay faithful and hopeful!

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13; John 15:7

A “veteran” – whether active duty, discharged, retired or reserve – is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to the “United States of America,” for an amount “up to and including his/her life.”

–         Anonymous

–         Daily Strength for the Battle, p.12.

____________________________

“The nation that makes a great distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools.”

–         Thucydides

If I Knew Then by Brian Willis, p. 59.

Real Hand to Hand Combat

May 3, 2010 at 3:55 pm | Posted in encouragement, pray, warriors | Leave a comment
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The picture below is from the front of a t-shirt and sweatshirt that I have. I really like wearing them and I think they sum up my feelings about prayer. Below the man is written THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD, BUT MIGHTY THROUGH GOD. (2 COR. 10:4)

 These are two of my favorite pieces of clothing. I used to wear them when I went to karate classes. One of them was a gift from my youngest son.

I used to like studying and practicing martial arts. I am a little rusty now and not as practiced as I used to be. I like the combat arts the best. Some of you know what I’m talking about, the real stuff. You see, for me there is a difference between martial arts and martial sciences. To me there is a big difference between sport karate and functional hand to hand combat. Spiritually there is a difference between asking God for something for ourselves and interceding with God for someone else. To me intercessory prayer is one of the most unselfish ministries we can be involved in. You see, real disciples learn to be unselfish.

When I was a little younger there were times I would get antsy. I needed a good workout, a good fight. My wife would tell me to “go fight with Bryan. You need to fight.” I love my wife; she knows when I need a good fight. As for Bryan, he was my sensei and friend. At times he would call me “the fighting pastor.” I can’t beat him and he sure knows how to fight. I have to admit, I miss fighting with him and working out with him. He hit me so hard one time; I literally saw stars, little silver things shooting in at me from all directions! Man, I miss working out with him. I can’t go back there, but I can still get a good fight – on my knees in prayer!

But that brings me to this. Those martial arts workouts were just physical and fun. There were rules for each participant’s safety and development. In spiritual warfare our enemy doesn’t play by the rules. But there are Kingdom rules that can defeat him. Almighty God wants you and me to grow spiritually and develop as prayer warriors. People and churches need us to do battle in prayer. Intercessory prayer is spiritual and necessary. People are dying and going to hell. Sinful lifestyles are destroying lives and families. Many churches have quit looking for the return of the Lord and have quit sharing the Gospel and making disciples.

Prayer is the first work. Prayer is the important work. The work of the devil, our sworn enemy is to keep us from praying. Will you take up the challenge and develop into a prayer warrior? Will you make the time or take the time from your 24 hours to become a prayer warrior? God the Holy Spirit will empower you (Romans 8:26); God the Son will intercede for you (Hebrews 7:25); God the Father will answer you (Jeremiah 33:3). With all that help and the Word of God as your manual how can you lose? You will be victorious and more than a conqueror! To God be the glory!

There will be more to come on prayer. Stay faithful and hopeful! Keep fighting the good fight!

GRACE and peace to you,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13; John 15:7

“All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on Him being with them.” – J. Hudson Taylor

“The self-sufficient do not pray, the self-satisfied will not pray, the self-righteous cannot pray. No man is greater than his prayer life.” – Leonard Ravenhill

“For decades we Christians have boasted in sermon and song that our God is great, the He loves us, that He answers prayer and that there is nothing too hard for Him. Isn’t it high time to prove that with some-down-to-business-prayer?” – Lyle Eggleston

(3)For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. (4)The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (5)We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  

(2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Pray For the Unemployed

April 9, 2010 at 6:11 pm | Posted in men, pray | Leave a comment
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There are a lot of people who are unemployed or in danger of losing their jobs. Recently I saw a news report that 44% of adults have been experienced unemployment. I hope I heard that wrong. The other report that I heard was that the majority of the unemployed, about 70% are men. Most of these men who are unemployed want to work but can’t find jobs. If they find jobs they don’t make as much and/or they don’t get a job that they are qualified for.

I don’t want to get into gender issues, but men need to work to really feel like men. A good man wants to work and earn a living if he is physically and mentally capable. It’s part of being a man. A working man, whether white or blue collar doesn’t want to collect unemployment, he wants to work and provide for his family. He will even take a job where he is underemployed and undervalued just to work.

You may know some men like this. They may be discouraged and tired. They may be close to being depressed thinking the situation will never change. If you watch the news the job outlook is not too good. But there is a God who created men with a desire to work and to provide and He knows the problem and the answer. So let’s take the time to pray for men to be able to find jobs so they can provide for their families. Let’s join our faith and intercede with for:

  1. These hard economic times to help us humble ourselves before God (1 Pet. 5:6-7).
  2. Good jobs to become available in spite of this bad economy.
  3. Men who want to work to find good work so they can provide for their families.
  4. Families of the unemployed to overcome difficulty and grow in hope (Rom. 4:17, 20-21).
  5. The Church to step up and view these times as opportunities to minister in tangible ways.
  6. Men who do not want to work to come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
  7. All of God’s children, the employed and unemployed to be thankful (1 Thes. 5:16-18).
  8. God’s children to give generously and joyfully whatever their circumstances (2 Cor. 8:1-9; 9:8).

There have been difficult times in the past and there will be difficult times again in the future. But God is faithful! Let us be faithful also. Let’s pray and trust God to do what only He can do. Thank you for praying, it does make a difference.

Much grace and peace to you,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13

(Psalm 50:23) – He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.

Pray To Be Disturbed

March 5, 2010 at 3:15 pm | Posted in pray, Quotes, revival | Leave a comment
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Before I begin to read a book in-depth, I skim through it and read parts of it. Recently I received your church is too small by John Armstrong to both read and review. On a quick glance one of the things I like about it is the quotes. I’m a lifelong collector of quotes. In about a week and a half I’ll post a review of it. But for now, here’s a good quote.

“Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, when we arrive safely because we sailed too close to shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess we have lost our thirst for the waters of life; having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity; and in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. We ask you to push back the horizons of our hopes, and to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love.”

–         Attributed to Sir Francis Drake, 1577 (p. 190)

Did that quote speak to you? It spoke to me. I have been trying to give Friday as a day to be reminded to pray for something in particular. Today’s prayer may be a little difficult for some. Let’s pray that the Lord Jesus Christ would disturb us in ways we need. For those of us who say we know Him through grace and faith, let’s ask ourselves the following questions and pray:

  1. Do we still love Him more than anyone or anything else? (Rev. 2:1-7)
  2. Do we live and pray with faith? (Rom. 10:17; Heb. 11:6)
  3. Do we still love attending and serving through one of His churches? (Eph. 3:10-11; Heb. 10:19-25)
  4. Do we share our knowledge of this personal relationship in both word and deed? (2 Cor. 5:14-21)
  5. Do we still come boldly, humbly, confidently and consistently to the throne of grace? (Heb. 4:16; Phil. 4:4-7)
  6. Do we honestly redeem the time He has given us with Spirit filled lives? (Eph. 5:13-18)
  7. Do we walk in step with the Holy Spirit? (Gal. 5:16-26)

I’ll try to stop here even though I could go on. Specifically, I’m thinking of Romans 12:1-2.

(1)Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. (2)Do not comform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then yopu will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.  (NIV)

Maybe we don’t understand “surrender.” Maybe the battle between the flesh and the spirit never stops. Maybe we have discounted the resources and power of Almighty God like we have to so many things and people around us. Maybe we need a personal revival. Maybe our family’s, our churches, and our community’s need us to have a personal revival. Maybe we are too comfortable or afraid to be disturbed. Only we and the LORD really know the answer to that! Please disturb us Lord.

Much grace and peace to you,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13; Psalm 138

“The only reason we don’t have revival is because we are willing to live without it.”

“There is a deeper life. It is as deep as a personal Gethsemane and as costly as a personal Calvary.”

“If Jesus had preached the same message that ministers preach today, He would never have been crucified.”

“Whatever else we say about revival we have to recognize this, that revival is an act of mercy in the sovereignty of God.”

–          All quotes by Leonard Ravenhill

_______________________

“You have longed for sweet peace and for faith to increase,

And have earnestly, fervently, prayed;

But you cannot have rest or be perfectly blest

Until all on the altar is laid.”

–         Hoffman

Learn To Tell Jesus

March 1, 2010 at 2:44 pm | Posted in cross-cultural, hymns, ordination | Leave a comment
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Yesterday evening my wife and were able to attend the ordination service of a young man preparing to go into a Chaplain’s ministry. We were invited by the pastor’s wife. My wife and she are friends. This was a cross-cultural experience because the church is a Korean church. The entire service is in Korean. My wife and I know very little Korean beyond a few simple phrases. The good thing is that the people like us and we like them. It makes crossing cultures so much easier.

The ordination service was different from most American ordination services that I have either attended or been a part of. It was not that long and I would say it was very traditional. There are great musicians and singers in that church so the music is always very good. One song that was played by the pianist during prayer was, “I Know Whom I Have Believed”. It was one of my grandmother’s favorite songs and always reminds me of her when I hear it.  In my mind I can see her with her hand up in the air singing to Jesus. Another one I really enjoyed singing was, “I Must Tell Jesus.”

There was a great quote on the cover of the bulletin also. It was called the Pastor’s Creed:

“I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me!”

– Martyred Pastor

I hope that quote is as encouraging and motivating to you as it is to me. Ask yourself, like I asked myself, “does that quote describe me and my life?” I ask myself regularly if I am totally surrendered to Jesus. Is He increasing and am I decreasing? What gain or accomplishment here can honestly compare with knowing Jesus and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings? – Philippians 3:10.

Some of my advice to any man preparing to be a pastor would simply be this: know the Word, study the Word, preach the Word, teach the Word, trust the Word, pray the Word and live the Word! You can know yourself, your community, your church, your culture, and you must, but you had better know the Word! Fight the good fight! Even when you are tired, discouraged, hungry or wounded, press on anyway! Others have fought the good fight before our time has come and others will fight the good fight after our time is over.

My other advice to any man preparing to pastor would be this: learn to pray and get someone to pray with you and get someone to pray for you. We cannot get too much prayer cover. We must learn to pray when we are healthy or sick, happy or sad, up or down, clear or confused, even when our hearts are full of joy or when they are broken and we’re sick to our stomach. We must practice consistently “casting all our cares on the Lord because He cares for us” – 1 Peter 5:7. Learn to tell Jesus, because He really does care.

God bless you as you serve Him,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13; Psalm 21:6

“I Must Tell Jesus”

by Elisha Hoffman

Verse 1:
I must tell Jesus all of my trials,
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
in my distress He kindly will help me,
He ever loves and cares for His own.

Chorus:
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

Verse 2:
I must tell Jesus all of my troubles,
He is a kind, compassionate friend;
if I but ask Him, He will deliver,
make of my troubles quickly an end.

Chorus

Verse 3:
Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior,
One who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share.

Chorus

Verse 4:
O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
over the world the victory to win.

Pray for Church Planters

February 19, 2010 at 8:13 pm | Posted in Church Planting, prayer | Leave a comment
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This week I spent some time talking about church planting and praying about church planting. So I thought it would be good for us to pray about church planting. I don’t have any one city in mind, but the northeastern United States could certainly use some prayer.

Pick a city other than the one you live in and ask God to:

  1. Raise up men to go there and plant sound Biblical churches.
  2. Lead the church planters to the gatekeepers and to let them find favor with them.
  3. Lead the church planters to the persons of peace and to be able to lead them to faith in Christ.
  4. To protect them and their families spiritually, physically and emotionally.
  5. Raise up an intercessory prayer team for them, their families and the churches.
  6. To provide them encouragers for the rough times they will encounter.
  7. For the church planters to lead people to Christ and to make disciples and train leaders.
  8. For these churches to become strong and healthy and to plant other churches also.

(36)When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (37)Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. (38)Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.” (Matthew 9:36-38 NIV)

(6)No one is like You, O Lord: You are great and Your name is mighty in power. (7)Who should not revere You, O King of the nations? This is Your due. Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like You. (Jeremiah 10:6-7 NIV)

Trust God to do mighty things in answer to your prayers of faith. He delights to hear His children pray. Thank you for praying,

Bill (a fellow-laborer)

(Romans 15:13)

“He who lives without prayer, he who lives with little prayer, he who seldom reads the Word, and he who seldom looks up to heaven for a fresh influence from on high — he will be the man whose heart will become dry and barren.”

 – C. H. Spurgeon

“Oh! Men and brethren, that God would appear among us and do wondrous things here, as in the times of former generations.” – C. H. Spurgeon

“There is yet very much land to be possessed, and our plea to you is: ‘Come over and help us’ to possess it for our God and for the truth as it is in Jesus…The situation is more urgent and pressing than ever. There remain as many souls to be reached; the work has been increased in difficulty; and our time for its accomplishment is diminishing. When it is remembered, in connection with the foregoing, that a little time is necessary to fit new men for work, now is emphatically our time.” – J. A. Brunson (a missionary to Japan in the late 1800’s)

Pray for Our President and His Family

February 12, 2010 at 4:26 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
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“(1) I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – (2) for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (3) This is good, and pleases God our Savior, (4) who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (5) For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (6) who gave Himself for all men – the testimony given in its proper time. (1 Timothy 2:1-6 NIV)

When was the last time you prayed for our president and his family? They need our prayers. I am not going to rant or take sides politically right now. If for nothing else than respect for the office of president, let’s pray for him and his wife and his children. Most of us will never meet him, but we can pray for him. We’ll never meet his wife or children, but we can pray for them.

There are enough people criticizing him and his decisions. There is a place and time for that. There are enough people hoping to vote him out of office during the next election. Like him and his agenda or not, Jehovah God has allowed him to be the president of the United States of America. Almighty God raises up and He lowers down whom He wants to. We need to show the president some respect and pray for him.

Pray that:

  1. He, his wife and children will come to a personal relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior if they don’t now have that.
  2. He and his family will be protected from violence and harm.
  3. He and his family will be healthy and safe both physically and emotionally.
  4. He will be a loving husband and father.
  5. He will think clearly and make the right decision and not a politically correct decision.
  6. He will be a man of integrity, truthfulness, honor and courage.
  7. His closest advisors will come to know Christ as Lord and Savior.
  8. He will get godly counsel and follow it and that ungodly counsel will be thwarted.

He may never know we pray, but God does. Our God is an awesome God! Let’s pray according to Scripture like He is. Thank you for praying.

Be encouraged,

Bill   (Romans 15:13; Psalm 5:11-12)

 Awesome God

by Rich Mullins

Our God is an awesome God

He reigns from heaven above

With wisdom, power, and love

Our God is an awesome God

Fixing Our Eyes On Jesus

February 3, 2010 at 3:28 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment
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It’s the middle of the week and you may need a little pick me up. Sometimes when I get a little drowsy I will do some exercises or just get up and walk around. It usually makes me feel better and alert and ready to take on my task again. It may be connected to how God made us, but to exercise or physically exert myself helps me feel better and think better. It just helps me focus or refocus. For me its better than a cup of coffee or tea.

Spiritually speaking, getting on my knees literally and physically has the same effect. Humbly myself before God and casting my cares upon Him helps me feel better and alert and ready to serve again. Most of the people I know are busy people. We find ourselves sometimes with fewer hours and more tasks. But let us not forget the most important task, prayer and quietness before the Lord.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

If you are in need of a spiritual or emotional or even physical pick me up, maybe it comes from kneeling at the Master’s feet. Cast or literally dump all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7). I would like to leave you with words from a very good book that I read last year.

The Saviour Can Solve Every Problem

by Rev. Oswald J. Smith; music by B.D. Ackley (1932)

  1. The Saviour can lift every burden, The heavy as well as the light;

His strength is made perfect in weakness, In Him there is power and might.

(chorus) The Saviour can solve every problem, the tangles of life can undo;

There is nothing too hard for Jesus, There is nothing that He cannot do.

2. The Saviour can bear every sorrow, In Him there is comfort and rest;

No matter how great the affliction, he only permits what is best.

3. The Saviour can strengthen the weary, His grace is sufficient for all;

He know every step of the pathway, And listens to hear when we call.

4. The Saviour can break sin’s dominion, The victory He won long ago;

In Him there is freedom from bondage, He’s able to conquer the foe.

5. The Saviour can satisfy fully, The heart that the world cannot fill;

His presence will sanctify wholly, The soul that is yielded and still.

From The Work God Blesses by Oswald J. Smith.

(Marshall, Morgan and Scott, Ltd.: London. n.d) p. 6.

 

One month has passed since I have started blogging. It has been both a good learning experience and creative outlet for me. I want to thank everyone who has visited the site. I will try to blog something at least three times a week. Some posts will be longer than others. Some blogging may just be adding to specific pages. Some ideas I have are just for fun and not about the Bible or theology. Hopefully that is o.k. because I think I am a well rounded man. And I don’t mean weight….(that’s a joke!). When you think of me pray for wisdom, discernment, the ability to communicate clearly and good time management. And as I usually tell people, any other way that God may lay on your heart. Here’s a little of what I have in mind.

Words You Should Know:

Next week I will start putting one doctrinal word or phrase on this page. I will give a definition, a Scripture reference and an application. The first pharse: verbal, plenary inspiration.

Book Reviews:

      I am going to try to write two to four reviews a month. Academically I have had to use three different formats: review, summary or report. They are all a little different. Not too long ago I read: “The Holy Spirit in Vietnam” by Orrel N. Steinkamp. I may go back through it and review it because I think it is worth encouraging people to read it.

 I am also attempting to read through “Systematic Theology” by Wayne Grudem as part of my devotional reading. If I read three pages a day I’ll finish it in a year. It is an excellent book. I am currently reading “The Power of Mentoring” by Martin Sanders. I will post a review on it next week. I am also reading “The Spark” by Heward and Bacon.

Lord willing, next week I will start reading “Organic Leadership” by Neil Cole and “Groundswell” by Li and Bernoff. I will post a review on Cole’s book. I have some other reading planned after that also.

 I also allow for flexibility in my reading time, because you never know when someone will recommend something very good. For example, I just read an article in Oncology Times, January 25, 2010, Vol. 32, No. 2 titled, “The Gullible Decade” by Joseph V. Simone. It was short and interesting.

I will pass on to my readers what I have read that I think is worth their time to read and/or purchase. Speaking of that I would like to recommend The A. W. Tozer Electronic Library to you. There are 57 Tozer books, 12 A. B. Simpson books and 12 other Bible References on the disc. If you like Tozer it is well worth having. If you have never heard of Simpson or read any of his material this will be a good introduction for you. You can purchase it here: www.echurchdepot.com.

 Links:

Links from my blog will be added but it is hard to say when. I would also welcome links from other blogs or organizations to my blog as well.

Men You Should Know:

There are men from history that we should know about. They may have impacted the Church in different or crucial ways. I will post on a monthly basis, men I think you should try to know something about. I will trust you to look them up and learn about them

Quotes:

I have collected a lot of quotes over the years. I wrote some new ones down today. I will post quotes whenever and as often as I want to. I will try to find a better way to organize them.

Thanks again for taking the time to read either the posts or pages on this blog. I am grateful and humbled. I hope this blog brings glory to God by teaching and encouraging the saints and by introducing the sinner to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To God be the glory.

GRACE to you,

Bill  (a fellow-laborer)

Romans 15:13; Psalm 21:6

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