Be Ye DOERS of the Word!

James 1:22
But be ye DOERS of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

A man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration, as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up.

He took her to the police station where she was searched, fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a holding cell. After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.


He said, 'I'm very sorry for this mistake.. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him.' I noticed the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'Follow Me to Sunday-School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk; naturally...I assumed you had stolen the car.'

¿Habla usted español?

It's here!!! The Way of the Master Basic Training Course is finally available in Spanish!!!! YAY!! Check out the new Spanish Living Waters site!




Our pal Mary has received her package and is ready to go! She is preparing to go into full time ministry as a missionary. She wants to get this training going here in Florida and then take it down to Peru. We are praying that Spanish speaking people will come alongside of her to help. Go Mary!






Gio and Christine live in Bloomington, Illinois with their beautiful daughter, Isabella. I met Gio when he came out for evangelism on Constitution Trail. They attend my Dad's 'Sowers Class' at Calvary Baptist Church. Gio played professional soccer in his home country of Guatemala. When I learned they spoke Spanish I was really excited, but to tell you the truth I didn't know if he and Christine would be willing to teach the class. You see, they have been through one of the hardest years of their lives. Earlier this year they lost their young son, Emilio to cancer. How do you survive something like that? They are graciously allowing God to have full control of their lives. They estimate that there are about 5,000 Spanish speaking people living in and around Bloomington.

Please pray for both of these classes. May the Lord bless all involved.

Why Friendship Evangelism Is Neither Friendship Nor Evangelism

Why Friendship Evangelism Is Neither Friendship Nor Evangelism

Not long ago, I received the following message from a friend on Facebook. While it is a topic I've tackled many times in the past, I thought the way my friend honestly asked her question accurately expressed how many Christians feel about sharing the gospel with their friends. Her words also helped to reaffirm what I have believed for a very long time. "Friendship Evangelism" (as it is most commonly taught and practiced by Christians) is neither friendship nor evangelism.

With my friend's permission, I would like to share her note with you; and then I will answer her question.
I have made a lifetime of friends, and up until about 6 years ago, I was a partier and not walking with the Lord. Since become a Christian, I have made myself known to all, but not gone out of my way to share the gospel. I know my friends "think" they know what the Bible says and I also know that they don't want me to preach or share. I have hoped that Facebook would encourage them to ask me, but they don't.

I watch like a voyeur, their lives on FaceBook and I hate it. I see them post pictures of nights on the town, glazed eyes, draped over a different guy in each shot. Today I read as they talked about spending money frivolously and obnoxiously. I see so much "selfism" and today it really started to hurt.

I keep thinking that, by example, they might want to know more or ask...instead I see them avoid my page and my comments. They never address anything I say regarding our Savior, God, or the written word, and only comment on the "regular" things I post.

Most of my "friends" from the past, I still DO care about their salvation. I'm certain that my approach will mean the end of life-long friendships. Should I just keep exposing the Lord to them? Our Christmas cards and small other things are about all the contact we really have. Should I just go for broke and risk turning them off completely? I know it would mean the end of friendships in most cases.

Part of me knows that losing these friendships shouldn't matter. I'm more concerned that is I can keep the door open, they might ...might...someday come to repentance. I want the door to remain open.

I need some advice. I'm pretty sure your going to tell me to go for it...but I thought you might have a perspective or a way that I should use as an approach . . .

[P.S.] I'm thinking of how to approach evangelizing them. I know the approach that Ray uses, letting them convict themselves through the 10 Commandments (which really works) and you too have mastered it. I have also been told tho have them read the word themselves because the word has power. As a chicken, I was hoping to be "non-confrontational" and send it in a letter. A letter of love, and a pouring out of my heart for them. But that leaves them with the ability to not answer, or reply. I know that God would use me MUCH better if I had the nerve to deliver my (HIS) message in person. I want to engage their minds. I've never been a "chicken." I don't want to fail God. I want my (HIS) words to pierce. So...praying and waiting for His inspiration and His way to lead me, and maybe your words will help push me into the world. I'm NOT ashamed of Him, I'm afraid of them, so to speak. I know if He is with me, who can be against me? Why...do I struggle? Oh, the flesh.
Before I answer my friend's questions, it is important that I preface my commentary with a few clarifying remarks. First, my commentary is not a critique of my friend--of neither her love for Christ nor her love for people. I do not question her salvation or the genuineness of her desire for her friends to be saved. My commentary is, however, a pointed critique of what I believe is a profoundly effective tool of Satan--"Friendship" or "Relationship" evangelism.

I believe many Christians practice "Friendship Evangelism" with sincerity. But sadly it is a sincerity most often born out of ignorance--an ignorance of the Word of God in general and evangelism in particular. At the same time, I feel no such obligation to charity toward authors, pastors, teachers, speakers, and movement leaders who propagate this spiritual fraud upon followers of Christ--both true and false converts. Theirs will be a stricter judgment (James 3:1).

Now, let me take a moment to answer a couple of baseless objections to my position before I even articulate my position. I do this in advance of making my case because I know for some Christians "Friendship Evangelism" is treated like a sacred cow, an essential evangelism tradition. I use the word "tradition" since there is no biblical support for this methodology and philosophy for ministry. And it's traditions like this one that are evidence of the sad reality that evangelicalism, especially the American variety, has yet to completely break free of Rome.

Allow me to make it very clear that Christian evangelists are called by the Word of God to be both friendly and relational. "If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:3). To be opposed to "Friendship Evangelism," as it is most commonly practiced, is not to be opposed to friendship or relationships. But a godly and biblical Christian will put God and friends before and above friendships. More on this later.

Secondly, a common objection to an argument against "Friendship Evangelism" is, "There are many ways to share the gospel and friendship evangelism is one of them." Not so. There is only one way to communicate the gospel, which can take but a few forms--the Bible's way. Any methodology that is extra-biblical (meaning: the Bible neither commands nor condemns the activity), the method should be approached and applied with extra care and caution. The spurious fruit and the measurable harm done by "Friendship Evangelism" is evidence the American Church has thrown caution to the wind and has operated carelessly when applying this extra-biblical, faux-evangelistic methodology.

With the above in mind, I will now address my friend's questions and concerns.

My friend wrote:
"I have made myself known to all, but not gone out of my way to share the gospel."
In a sentence my friend summed up one of the great deficiencies of "Friendship Evangelism." With fewer than 5% of all professing Christians sharing the gospel with a single person in a year's time, it's pretty obvious that most Christians practicing "Friendship Evangelism" are part of that indefensible number. Why? Because in "Friendship Evangelism" the Christian spends far more time making themselves known to their friends than making Christ known to their friends.

Many Christians who practice "Friendship Evangelism" have been led to believe that it is evangelistic to live a perceptible Christian life in front of unbelievers or to say to openly admit to unbelievers that they are Christians. There is nothing remarkable about such an admission, especially in America. The majority of the American population will indicate on surveys and censuses that they are Christians. Many Christians will answer the "What religion are you" question with "I'm a Christian" for no other reason than they are not Jewish, Muslim, or Atheist. To check the Christian box is the default position or most Americans. But many are no more Christian than the Jew, Muslim, or Atheist.

Part of the evidence that "Friendship Evangelism" is not evangelistic is the practice makes the Christian known but it all-too-often fails to make Christ known.

My friend wrote:
"They [her friends] don't want me to preach or share."
Modern evangelicalism has wrongly placed an unregenerate sinner's felt needs over their very real need of salvation. This is not to say that we shouldn't address a person's felt needs. In doing so, one can often discover that the root of a particular felt need is sin; which then presents the opportunity to share the Law and the gospel with that person. However, where evangelicalism has woefully dropped the ball is in the practice of trying to meet felt needs and stopping there, as if to address felt needs is the same as evangelism.

More to the point regarding my friend's assertion: of course the unregenerate doesn't want their Christian friends to proclaim the gospel to them. Why? They hate Jesus. They love their sin and they hate God. Cockroaches don't run to the center of the floor and square dance when you turn on the kitchen light. They flee to the dark regions underneath the cabinets and appliances. They hate the light. And so does the unregenerate sinner. Their love for the darkness of their sin is so great that any holy light brought to bear in their lives is not only uncomfortable and unpleasant. It's detestable.

Sadly, modern evangelicalism has responded to this reality by doing everything it can to engage lost sinners in their culture and according to their felt needs without ever bothering to flip the light switch of the gospel. Evangelicalism has allowed how lost people feel about "the light" determine whether or not it shines the light. Frankly, it doesn't matter what the lost person wants. What matters is what they need. And what they need is salvation by the grace of God alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. What they need, whether they feel it or not, is to to repent and believe the gospel.

My friend wrote:
"I keep thinking that, by example, they might want to know more or ask...instead I see them avoid my page and my comments."
Part of the evidence that "Friendship Evangelism" is not evangelistic is the practice of "Assisi-ism."

Francis of Assisi is far-too-often quoted as saying, "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words." There are two problems with this quote: 1) it is unbiblical; and 2) Assisi never said it. Catholic scholars have methodically and exhaustively searched the extant writings of Assisi and cannot attribute the quote to him. These days, this is common knowledge. Yet Christians continue refer to the mythical quote and worse, apply it in their lives. The quote also has a modern-day translation. It goes something like this. "Live your life in such a way that people ask you why."

While it is true that our good works, when performed for the glory of God alone, can cause lost people to glorify God (Matthew 5:16); that is not to say by living a Christian life in front of lost people that they are going to see Jesus in you. Why? The reason is simple enough. Unregenerate sinners are spiritually blind.
"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned" (I Cor. 2:14).
The gospel is a spoken message--meaning it is communicated in verbal and/or written formats.
"How then will they call on him of whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!' But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?' So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:14-17).
With 150,000 people dying every day, and the vast majority of them facing God's judgment (Matthew 7:13-14), it amounts to depraved indifference to wait for the lost people around us to see something special in us and ask what's different about us. We are commanded by God's Word to go (Matthew 28:18-20) and preach (Mark 16:15) the gospel to as many people as we can, whenever we can, as often as we can. Time is far too short to wait for spiritually blind people to see Jesus in Christians who are still clothed in sinful human flesh.

My friend wrote:
"I'm certain that my approach will mean the end of life-long friendships."
The tragic result of "Friendship Evangelism," as it is most often practiced by Christians, is that friendships often become more important than the soul of friends. Christians have been wrongly convinced that they must take time (often lots of time) to cultivate relationships with people so that, someday, they may gain the lost person's permission, to "earn the right" to share the gospel with them. So the Christian invests time, energy, and resources sincerely trying to establish loving and caring relationships with people. Is it wrong to do that? No. But the all-too-often tragic result of the practice is that if the Christian every gets the courage or desire to share the gospel with their lost friend, they won't. Why? The reason: the Christian doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize the relationship they've worked so hard to build. So, again, the friendship becomes more important than the soul of the friend.

Upon closer inspection, this is really selfish behavior. Does the Christian believe that they are so valuable that their lost friend can't live without them? Or is it that the Christian derives so much pleasure out of the relationship, from what their lost friend does for them that they don't want to ruin a "good thing?"

Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). If Christians truly love their lost friends they will give up everything, even their very lives, certainly their relationships, so that those same lost friends might have eternal life. Or do Christians really want their friends to be with them more than they want them to be with Jesus?

My friend wrote:
"Part of me knows that losing these friendships shouldn't matter. I'm more concerned that is I can keep the door open, they might ...might...someday come to repentance. I want the door to remain open."
No Christian can close a door God wants open. No Christian can open a door God wants shut. God is sovereign. And He doesn't need our help. The gospel alone is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16). God, by His grace, chooses to use His children to communicate that life-saving gospel to a lost and dying world. No one goes to heaven because we've made friends with them. And no one goes to hell because we've failed to establish relationships with people.

In closing, let me reiterate that Christians should be friendly with people. We should speak the truth in love. Evangelism isn't a game. It's not a sport. It is what God has called every follower of Christ to do. Evangelism is a lifestyle--not that the way we live our life is evangelism; but rather our verbal proclamation of the gospel should permeate every aspect of our life and impact every relationship we have.

My friend understands all of this. She knows what she must do. She acknowledged as much toward the end of her note. And I hope I've answered her questions, and maybe some of yours, too.

Team Yale: Mission Accomplished

Posted: 20 Nov 2009 06:09 PM PST
To give you a quick overview, I got this from Wikipedia:
Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut, and a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Yale has produced many notable alumni, including five U.S. presidents, nineteen U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and several foreign heads of state.

Incorporated as the Collegiate School, the institution traces its roots to 17th-century clergymen who sought to establish a college to train clergy and political leaders for the colony. In 1718, the College was renamed Yale College to honor a gift from Elihu Yale, a governor of the British East India Company. In 1861, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences became the first U.S. school to award the Ph.D.

Yale College was transformed beginning in the 1930s through the establishment of residential colleges, 12 of which now exist (but with two more planned). Almost all tenured professors teach undergraduate courses, more than 2,000 of which are offered annually.

The University's assets include a US $16.3 billion endowment, the second largest of any academic institution, and more than two dozen libraries that hold a total of 12.5 million volumes (making it one of the world's largest library systems). Yale and Harvard have been rivals in academics, athletics, and other activities for most of their history, competing annually in The Game and the Harvard-Yale Regatta.

When I first heard of the opportunity to lead the team at Yale University I was a bit anxious. I didn’t know what to expect since I hadn’t seen anyone in that area for 25 years.

I prayed as the Lord formed the team. One by one they came…but not as many as I’d hoped. Since I live in Florida and the event was in Connecticut, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and was dependent on the Lord each day for the details. He brought Stan Gucwa and his wife, Donna along. They kindly took delivery of the boxes and moved their cars over. My old friend, Pastor Steve Baker and his wife Colleen joined the group and even dragged their nephew, Wayon to the event. Stan spoke to his home group and Chand and Roberta Ahuja got excited and involved-they were also kind enough to invite me to 'Hotel Ahuja". Tina Carlson was all about this project and was able to provide details about the campus we desperately needed. Then LW sent me an email from some guy named James Harriott. After giving him a hard time and making sure he was who he said he was, he joined the group. We are so thankful that he did.

We had our lone meeting Monday and put our heads together over a campus map. Then we did some role-playing. We had a great time and as the Lord saw fit, a bond formed between family. Donna made sure no one went away hungry!

We used the folding crates from Staples as suggested and they were fabulous. Just what we needed since we didn’t have a very large group. We needed to get in there and get those books out since we didn’t have an official invitation onto the campus. There is no free speech area either at Yale. This is probably a requirement for a censored education.

On the recon trip that Tina and I took 2 days before the big event, we spotted an area rather like a quadrangle. We hung out and saw that it had the best traffic of any area.

Wednesday 8:30 am: We met in the parking lot and drove to New Haven to the street we had agreed upon. Stan had organized everything and even pre-packed the folding crates before loading the cars. All we had to do was take them out and GO!

We spread out to different points. Students trickled by this morning. The books went pretty easily and after we had about half of them distributed, Stan walked in and told me he had just run into a guy who ‘wigged out’ when he saw what Stan was passing out. He said, “Hey, you’re not supposed to be here until tomorrow!” The student had jumped off of his skateboard and was now making phone calls furiously. Within minutes, he was joined by two other people. The young man, named Ashok was almost embarrassed to be surprised by us. One of the other young men had a box with papers, which he was furiously stapling together. He would staple some together and then try to distribute them along side of us. But he had to continually run back and staple some more together. Seems they were not prepared-even though they thought the event was less than 24 hours away.


Among the comments heard were:

-One professionally dressed woman (50’s) hugged it, raised her fist and said, “I’m with you-the gospel of Charles Darwin!”
-some said-”This is deceitful!”
-most people said, “Thanks!”
-after a quick review of intro, one very angry atheist said to me, “You are a transitional form-when you’re dead!!”
-another disturbed man brought it back and opened the book pushing it towards me and said, “How could you write this garbage?”
-Yale has many old churches and I was stationed outside one. A woman staffer came out and I offered her a book. She refused. When she returned I offered it again. She told me that she believed in God. I told her we did, too and asked her to read the intro. She gave me an odd look and took the book. In a few minutes her co-workers began to come out and ask for their own copy.

-Comments from SSA representatives:
- “Oh man, you’re supposed to come tomorrow!”
-“I wish I could get Ray to sign mine. This is going to be a family heirloom!”
-Stan told Mike from SSA that when Mike was judged on that day, he could not blame Stan for not telling him the truth. Mike replied with a laugh, “Yeah, that’s the one bad thing about being an atheist, we won’t get to say, “I told you so!”

-I did not have anyone profess to be a Christian

Tina found this article today.

http://www.yaledailynews.com/crosscampus/2009/11/18/creationism-vs-secularism-showdown-cross-campus/


FOX Reports:
Northern New England surpassed the Pacific Northwest as the least religious region, with Vermont reporting the highest share of those claiming no religion, at 34 percent. Still, the study found that the numbers of Americans with no religion rose in every state.



I am so grateful to the Lord for putting together such a wonderful team of people-right where He wants them.

Continuing down the narrow path-

The gospel is waiting by John Fischer

The gospel is waiting. It is waiting not to be spoken, but to be lived. The gospel is waiting to be believed and to be put to use in your life and mine. It's not just a static message; it's a living testimony. The gospel needs much more than paper to be printed on; it needs a life it can imprint.

"Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God" (2 Cor. 4:1-2).

The success of the Gospel in our present age does not depend on how attractively it is packaged, but on how honestly real Christians are living out their lives in the world. It's not just the Gospel that does it. It's not just a message. It's the gospel in you and in me. Nothing needs to be done to the gospel except to be lived.

Nothing needs to be done to the Gospel. Everything's already been done. But there is much that needs to be done in our lives by the Gospel. And this is the every day walking in faith that even the strongest and longest of Christians must do, too. There is hope to be expressed, sin to be confessed, forgiveness to be embraced, suffering to be endured, glory to be shared, love to be received, and love to be given. It is the presence of all this happening in our lives that we are to commend to someone else.

If the Gospel is alive in me and I introduce myself to someone, I am introducing them to the Gospel. If it is not alive in me, no amount of dressing it up is going to convince anyone; but, on the contrary, it will mask the real truth.

The issue, therefore, is not how to present the Gospel, but how to make certain it is living in me — a much more difficult proposition. It means deep questioning, soul-searching, and observing myself continually in light of the truth. "Undressing" would be a more appropriate expression of this process than "dressing up."

Dressing up, if it protects us from having to be honest, is nothing more than cover-up. That's a message you simply cannot dress up, especially if you tell the whole truth about yourself.

No need for deception. We won't draw people into a net and then surprise them with the Gospel. We set forth the Gospel plainly through words of truth and words of honesty from our lives. We trust God, the Great Designer, to handle His own image.

1 Chronicles 29:11-13 (KJV)

"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.

Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name."

I Pray that you all had a tremendous week spending time with family and that you made it home safely!


REMINDERS:


1. Our Sowers Class Brunch is set for THIS SUNDAY, December 6th! Can you believe our fantastic Christmas Brunch is already this next week?
Please plan to bring a delicious dish to pass!

2. Our Sowers Class is planning on going to dinner at Soplados in Springfield on Saturday, December 12th. We will leave at 4:15 from the church.
Babysitting is available. Please contact Glennie if you are planning on going!

Mr. Good's Lesson:

RAPTUREOUR BLESSED HOPE

MANY SAVED PEOPLE CONTINUE TO HAVE QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE "RAPTURE" OF THE CHURCH AND ITS OBVIOUS CONTRAST WITH THE "SECOND COMING" OF JESUS CHRIST.
IS THE TERM "RAPTURE" EVEN IN THE BIBLE?
THE HARP/RAPEO
THE MYSTERIOUS EVENT KNOWN AS THE RAPTURE IS MOST CLEARLY PRESENTED IN PAUL'S FIRST LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS, IN WHICH HE ENCOURAGES THE GRIEVING CHRISTIANS THAT, AT THE "GREAT CATCH," THEY WILL BE REUNITED WITH THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN CHRIST BEFORE THEM.
1 THESS. 4-13-18
[13] BUT I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU TO BE IGNORANT, BRETHREN, CONCERNING THEM WHICH ARE ASLEEP( HAVE DIED), THAT YE SORROW ( GRIEVE ) NOT, EVEN AS OTHERS WHICH HAVE NO HOPE.( CONFIDENCE )
[14] FOR IF WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, EVEN SO THEM ALSO WHICH SLEEP ( HAVE DIED ) IN JESUS WILL GOD BRING WITH HIM.
[15] FOR THIS WE SAY UNTO YOU BY THE WORD OF THE LORD, THAT WE WHICH ARE ALIVE ( SURVIVE ) AND REMAIN UNTO THE COMING OF THE LORD SHALL NOT PREVENT ( PRECEDE ) THEM WHICH ARE ASLEEP.
[16] FOR THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, AND WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD: AND THE DEAD ( DEPARTED ) IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST:
[17] THEN WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS, TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR: ( ATMOSPHERE ) AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD.

[18] WHEREFORE COMFORT ( ENCOURAGE/CONSOLE )ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.

IN VERSE 17, THE ENGLISH PHRASE "CAUGHT UP" TRANSLATES THE GREEK WORD HARP WHICH MEANS "TO SEIZE UPON WITH FORCE" OR "TO CATCH UP."
THERE ARE THOSE WHO CLAIM THAT THE WORD "RAPTURE" ISN'T IN THEIR BIBLE. THAT'S BECAUSE THEY AREN'T USING THE LATIN TRANSLATION:
...DEINDE NOS QUI VIVIMUS QUI RELINQUIMUR SIMUL RAPIEMUR CUM ILLIS IN NUBIBUS OBVIAM DOMINO IN AERA ET SIC SEMPER CUM DOMINO ERIMUS..
1 THESSALONIANS 4:17 (LATIN VULGATE)
THE LATIN EQUIVALENT OF THE GREEK HARP IS THE LATIN VERB RAPIO, "TO TAKE AWAY BY FORCE." IN THE LATIN VULGATE, ONE OF THE OLDEST BIBLES IN EXISTENCE, THE APPROPRIATE TENSE OF RAPIO APPEARS IN VERSE 17. (RAPTUS IS THE PAST PARTICIPLE OF RAPIO, AND OUR ENGLISH WORDS "RAPT" AND "RAPTURE" STEM FROM THIS PAST PARTICIPLE.)
AT THE RAPTURE, LIVING BELIEVERS WILL BE "CAUGHT UP" IN THE AIR, TRANSLATED INTO THE CLOUDS, IN A MOMENT IN TIME, TO JOIN THE LORD IN THE AIR.
THE PROMISE
THIS WILL BE THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE WHICH OUR LORD CONFIRMED AT THE LAST SUPPER:
JOHN.14
[1] LET NOT YOUR HEART ( SOUL ) BE TROUBLED: ( FEARFUL ) YE BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME.
[2] IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS: IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU.
[3] AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO.
[4] AND WHITHER I GO YE KNOW, AND THE WAY YE KNOW.
[5] THOMAS SAITH UNTO HIM, LORD, WE KNOW NOT WHITHER THOU GOEST; AND HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY?
[6] JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE: ( ZOE ) NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.

THIS PROMISE WASN'T GIVEN TO EVERYONE, ONLY TO HIS BELIEVERS. (JUDAS HAD ALREADY LEFT BY THEN.)THIS APPEARS TO PARALLEL THE PROMISE OF THE BRIDEGROOM IN THE PATTERN OF THE ANCIENT JEWISH WEDDING, WHERE, AFTER THE KETUBAH, THE ENGAGEMENT, BUT BEFORE THE HUPPAH, THE FORMAL CEREMONY, THE GROOM DEPARTED TO PREPARE A NEW HOME FOR HIS BRIDE, USUALLY AN ADDITION TO HIS FATHER'S HOUSE.
THE BRIDE WAS KEPT IN A STATE OF EXPECTANCY PENDING HIS RETURN-OFTEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AS A SURPRISE.
(THE HUPPAH, THE WEDDING CEREMONY, WAS FOLLOWED WITH A SEVEN-DAY CELEBRATION, ETC.)
THE PROCESS
THE ANTICIPATION OF A BODILY RESURRECTION AFTER LIFE ON THIS EARTH PERVADES THE ENTIRE BIBLE. IN THE OLDEST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, JOB DECLARES:
FOR I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH, AND THAT HE SHALL STAND AT THE LATTER DAY UPON THE EARTH: AND THOUGH AFTER MY SKIN WORMS DESTROY THIS BODY, YET IN MY FLESH SHALL I SEE GOD: WHOM I SHALL SEE FOR MYSELF, AND MINE EYES SHALL BEHOLD, AND NOT ANOTHER; THOUGH MY REINS ( INTERNAL ORGANS ) BE CONSUMED WITHIN ME. -JOB 19:25-27
YET, WHEN OUR LORD COMES TO GATHER HIS CHURCH, THERE WILL BE A GENERATION ALIVE AT THAT TIME. IN HIS DISCUSSION OF THE RESURRECTION IN HIS FIRST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS, PAUL AGAIN DEALS WITH THIS ASTONISHING EVENT:
BEHOLD, I SHEW YOU A MYSTERY; ( SECRET ) WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED, ( TRANSFORMED ) IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING( NANO SECOND ) OF AN EYE, AT THE LAST TRUMP: FOR THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND, AND THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE, AND WE SHALL BE CHANGED. FOR THIS CORRUPTIBLE MUST PUT ON INCORRUPTION, AND THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY. SO WHEN THIS CORRUPTIBLE SHALL HAVE PUT ON INCORRUPTION, AND THIS MORTAL SHALL HAVE PUT ON IMMORTALITY, THEN SHALL BE BROUGHT TO PASS THE SAYING THAT IS WRITTEN, DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY. O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING? O GRAVE, WHERE IS THY VICTORY? -1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-55

THE IMMINENT GATHERING
CLEARLY, THE BIBLE TEACHES US TO EXPECT HIM AT ANY MOMENT. THIS IS CALLED THE DOCTRINE OF IMMINENCY: IT IS NEXT ON THE PROGRAM AND MAY TAKE PLACE VERY SOON.
IMMINENCY EXPRESSES HOPE AND A WARM SPIRIT OF EXPECTANCY, WHICH SHOULD RESULT IN A VICTORIOUS AND PURIFIED LIFE. BELIEVERS ARE TAUGHT TO EXPECT THE SAVIOR FROM HEAVEN AT ANY MOMENT.


TWO EVENTS
THERE ARE MANY THAT HOLD TO THE VIEW THAT THE "SECOND COMING" OF CHRIST AND THE "RAPTURE" ARE SOMEHOW THE SAME. YET THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INDICATIONS THAT THESE ARE DISTINCT AND SEPARATE.
IN CONTRAST TO THE IMMINENT GATHERING OF HIS CHURCH, THERE ARE NUMEROUS PASSAGES THAT DEAL WITH PRECEDENT EVENTS WHICH MUST TRANSPIRE PRIOR TO THE "SECOND COMING" TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM ON THE EARTH. SOME OF THE PASSAGES REFERRING TO THE RAPTURE AND THE SECOND COMING ARE SUMMARIZED IN THE TABLE BELOW.
RAPTURE SECOND COMING
JOHN 14:1-3 DAN 2:44-45
ROM 8:19 DAN 7:9-14
1 COR 1:7-8 DAN 12:1-3
1 COR 15:1-53 ZECH 14:1-15
1 COR 16:22 MATT 13:41
PHIL 3:20-21 MATT 24:15-31
COL 3:4 MATT 26:64
1 THESS 1:10 MARK 13:14-27
1 THESS 2:19 MARK 14:62
1 THESS 4:13-18 LUKE 21:25-28
1 THESS 5:9 ACTS 1:9-11
1 THESS 5:23 ACTS 3:19-21
2 THESS 2:1 1 THESS 3:13
1 TIM 6:14 2 THESS 1:6-10
2 TIM 4:1 2 THESS 2:8
TITUS 2:13 2 PETER 3:1-14
HEB 9:28 JUDE 14-15
JAMES 5:7-9 REV 1:7
1 PETER 1:7, 13 REV 19:11-20:6
1 JOHN 2:28-3:2 REV 22:7, 12, 20
JUDE 21
REV 2:25
REV 3:10


We need to fulfill these four things:

1. Proclaim the Truth
2. Defend the Truth
3. Instruct the Truth
4. Live the Truth

Jesus IS COMING AGAIN!
This world is NOT my home.
I am just passing through.

Are you telling others about how they can find peace and live with our Lord and Savior for all of eternity??
Tomorrow may be too late - don't wait!

*****Do you remember when Jimmy DeYoung was visiting and he talked about how Tony Blair could be appointed to help us sign a peace treat and is truly setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled in a future tomorrow?
Hmmmmmmmm . . . it could be happening soon. Check Jimmy DeYoung's website and learn more about this.
http://www.prophecytoday.com/

Check out this video about Tony Blair and New World Order: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMqUWFXdxBM&feature=related


The Bible is clear that in the last generation just before Christ's return, a Peace Treaty of 7 years will be signed to quell hostilities in the region of Israel & the Mideast.

Daniel 9:27:
"And he [Antichrist] will a make a firm cov- enant with the many [Jews] for one week..."

In Daniel's context, one "week" represents this final period of 7 years, not 7 days. At its signing, the final 7 years of Tribula- tion begin.
Prophecies in the News Today that confirm His nearness...
News articles about:
Major NEWS Headlines CONFIRM that the stage is set now for the signing of a Mideast Peace Plan. It will ultimately be negotiated by Antichrist with the End Time Jews of Israel. This will trigger the last 7 year period in history:


Have a blessed week and pray for those that need the Lord in their lives!
Send me additional prayer requests you may have throughout the week!
Let's be prayer warriors!

God Bless!

First Hand Look

Be sure to check out the video of the Origin into School: Team ISU project.


You might just spot someone you know!

Origin into Schools: Team ISU

We had a great time giving away free copies of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species, with a new introduction by Ray Comfort.

Many students were so glad to have their own copy! Our attitude concerning the information is "We provide-You decide", since an intelligent mind always considers all of the facts before reaching a conclusion.


Check it out!!

The B-I-B-L-E

The B-I-B-L-E
Yes that's the book for me.
I stand alone on the Word of God
The B-I-B-L-E.

The B-I-B-L-E
I'll take along with me,
I'll read and pray and then obey,
The B-I-B-L-E.

By F-A-I-T-H,
I'm S-A-V-E-D,
I'll stand alone
on the Word of God,
The B-I-B-L-E.

The B-L-O-O-D
That Jesus shed for me,
Cleansed me from sin,
I belong to Him,
The B-L-O-O-D.

Thanks so much for the fantastic time of food and fellowship today!

Reminder: Our Sowers Class Brunch is set for Sunday, December 6th!
Please plan to bring a delicious dish to pass!

Please pray about an upcoming opportunity to pass out 1,000 copies of Darwin's Origin of Species book.
Email me back if you are willing to do the Lord's work!

Praises:
-Gail's cousin, Cindy, is doing well after her breast cancer treatments.
-Please keep Mr. & Mrs. Good healthy and safe!

Prayer Requests:
-Lee, Anne and Ryan Niepagen need your continued prayers as they mourn the loss of their 18 year old son/brother, Jared, who died.
-Ken's dad met with a cardiac doctor and after countless tests, he has two options: 1. have a heart transplant or 2. get a pump that will work beside your heart
He will continue to have more meetings and will need to make some difficult decisions.
-Continue to pray for Alex, who is 12. He has been in Peoria for the past three weeks with H1N1. He has been in a coma and needs our prayers to be able to come out of the coma, with his recovery, as well as for his family.
-Please be in prayer for Cole, a boy in college, that fell, cracked his skull, and has a lot of bleeding in his brain. He is in St. Louis and unable to come back to Bloomington with his family.
-Be in prayer for all of our class members, health needs, unspokens, and our travels. May we have a wonderful week, where we tell others about our wonderful Lord and Savior, and come back next Sunday to share the blessings of our week!


BUDGET 101:

IMNOWHERE - What does this mean??
Did you guess, "I AM NOW HERE!"

MYOUR $ - Now, what do you suppose this means?
If you guessed, "It's not my money. It's not your money. It's OUR money . . . then you guessed it correctly!

Work together on a budget and you won't have to go from offense, to resentment, to bitterness, hatred, and then revenge.


Psalm 1: YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO MEDITATE ON THE BIBLE!

1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

2To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

3To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

4To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

5A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

6To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TIME-HONORED PROOF OF THE BIBLE.
USE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO US!


Proverbs 31:10-31 (King James Version) - A VIRTUOUS WOMAN

10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.


Proverbs 31: A Model for Today's Woman
You might be surprised at just how up-to-date the advice of an ancient king can be.
(Linda Elliott)

Imagine a busy woman running a household, rushing to work, making business decisions, juggling meal planning and shopping, and volunteering her time for worthwhile causes, while radiating cheer to her children and charm to her husband.

Sounds like today's supermom, doesn't it? Actually, this wife, mother and pillar of the community was described nearly 3,000 years ago in the Bible. Women have been struggling with priorities and time management for millennia. The advice in the 31st chapter of the book of Proverbs, which talks about this supermom of old, is just as relevant today as it was then, because wisdom from God is timeless.

This passage is not the description of a woman who has had it all together from the start, but of a woman who has grown in character and spiritual maturity through life's experiences. Wisdom is not just timeless; it takes time.

Timeless wisdom comes from God, not from talk shows and trash TV. To achieve happiness, right character and success, women need down-to-earth advice to help them learn concrete lessons; they don't need illusions. Charm and beauty tips abound, but to find real help-to be competent in home, community and business-there is no better place to look than the Word of God.
Applying wisdom


The ideal place to learn wisdom is the home. Whether we work outside the home or not, our home should be our haven, a place where we can practice what we learn in the company of those closest to us. (Of course, women learn wisdom from all aspects of life in and out of the home. Many women may have to manage a full-time career outside the home.)

Home and family have always been the foundation of civilization. Solid, successful, loving families build stable neighborhoods, towns and cities that in turn form strong nations. Yet in newspapers or television newscasts you will see evidence of the breakdown of society. Something is terribly wrong when divorce, family dysfunction and delinquency are so common that they make boring headlines. So what is the solution? Can government programs solve our problems?


The Bible shows that the answers lie closer to home.
Pick your priorities

We all have 24 hours in each day. But we have different talents. Some of our strengths are obvious; others lie hidden. Wisdom applied properly can help us maximize our abilities.

Becoming an effective woman takes focused effort. Proverbs 31 can be a fundamental part of this effort, offering guidance to females who are single or married, have children, careers, or any combination of these.

Proverbs 31 helps the process because it clarifies our priorities for us: God, family and career or community. These priorities may sound simple, but they are not always easy to follow. If we lose sight of them, our lives quickly get out of whack. To exercise wisdom is to make wise and consistent decisions and properly balance sensible priorities.

What should be on our list of priorities? Let's get specific and see what this chapter of Proverbs tells us.

God, our Designer and Creator, should come first in our lives. Indeed, without His revelation we cannot even understand our purpose for existing.

To fulfill that purpose, first seek to become a woman of conviction, strong in character, who is striving to attain moral excellence. In other words, know and do what is right, even when no one is looking. Put God first and ultimately all else will fall into place. Neglect God's wisdom and things go wrong.

Remember, knowledge is of little value except as it is put into practice.

Build your family

A marriage is built on trust, loyalty and support, not arguments, nagging and criticism. Strong marriages are based on God's principles of love, respect, cooperation and teamwork. Take the we-are-a-team approach rather than following the 50-50, give-and-take arrangement that keeps rekindling the battle of the sexes.

Serving as an asset to your husband should not be demeaning. Stand by him, remembering that he is standing by you. Sometimes that isn't easy, and the world around us doesn't make it any easier. Instead of "until death do us part," society pushes no-fault divorce. Instead of 100 percent commitment, Hollywood sells the fantasy of temporary bliss and self- satisfaction. But a happy, lifelong marriage is well worth the effort.

Verses 10 to 12, 23 and 28 of Proverbs 31 depict a situation in which a solid marriage leads to success in and outside the home.

Strive to be diligent and hardworking, and don't panic over trivial matters. When you have to burn the midnight oil, pace yourself. Don't burn out; find a routine and level that work for you. Tackle tough situations as they come up, and handle them without complaint or panic. Verses 13, 18 and 21 describe a woman who is motivated, industrious and confident in the face of challenges.

Abundant practical advice

Be a smart shopper. Bargain-hunt. Make ends meet by following a financial plan for the household. Avoid impulse buying, shop with a list, and don't buy groceries when you're hungry. Experiment. Maybe coupon clipping is a good idea, but perhaps a home-shopping channel is not. Principles that apply are discussed in verses 14 and 21.

Use your time wisely. The easiest way to add more time to the day is to rise early (verse 15). Start the day with prayer and Bible study to put things in proper perspective. Plan the day, and make a little time just for yourself. Recharge your batteries with some peace and quiet. Don't let interruptions rule your life. Solicit help from the rest of the family. When Mom is relaxed and in control, the whole family benefits.

Working outside the home is a reality for most women. Balancing a career and family makes for stressful living. That is why it is so important to remember our priorities and constantly review them. Business acumen is vital. A Proverbs 31 woman deserves praise in her own right, for her own value and accomplishments, not merely as an extension of her husband (verses 16, 24, 31).

Another vital key is also mentioned in this chapter: physical fitness (verse 17). It's easy to resist hard work and getting enough exercise, but we need to take care of ourselves. The best way is to fit exercise you enjoy into your routine.

Hobbies are good stress relievers. Be creative. Try out new, enjoyable activities, either with the family or by yourself.

Volunteer as you are able. You'll be surprised at how much you can accomplish with relatively little effort and time. Just as important, teach your children the value of showing concern for others and helping them take care of their needs (verse 20).

Don't be obsessed with clothes, but be neatly and appropriately dressed. Our appearance speaks volumes before we ever say a word (verse 22).

A good sense of humor helps. Life is short; enjoy it and cheerfully take things in stride (verse 25). Avoid idleness; don't be a couch potato (verse 27).


God's wisdom gives us insight many other people do not have. We learn from each others example, so don't neglect advice from older women. We are known by the company we keep, so we need to surround ourselves with wise women of all ages. Let's share our hard-won gems of insight (verse 29).

It may seem difficult to maintain a high standard, but it's worth the effort. The instruction in this chapter in the Bible is priceless. It's universal, timeless advice that encompasses many of life's circumstances. God wants us to become the best we can be (verse 30).

Sound like a daunting task? Not necessarily, especially when we patiently move forward a step at a time. Proverbs 31 gives an outline of real priorities for becoming a complete, effective and successful woman. You may already have followed quite a few of the above principles; others may require major consideration and reorientation. Plenty of resources are available for in-depth study of this chapter, not to mention the rest of the book of Proverbs, but this brief review can get you started.

Who is the superwoman of Proverbs 31? With time and help from God, it could be you!

Have a blessed week and pray for those that need the Lord in their lives!
Send me additional prayer requests you may have throughout the week!
Let's be prayer warriors!

God Bless!

Our Father Knows

Jesus calls us to a way of living that gives no thought about tomorrow
and puts our future wholly into his hands: “Therefore take no thought,
saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal
shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:)
For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all
these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the
morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself”
(Matthew 6:31-34).

Jesus doesn’t mean that we are not to plan ahead or do nothing about our
future. Rather, he is saying, “Don’t be anxious or troubled about
tomorrow.” When you think about it, most of our anxieties are about what
might happen tomorrow. We’re constantly harassed by two little words:
What if?

“What if the economy fails, and I lose my job? How will I pay the
mortgage? How will my family be able to survive? And what if I lose my
health insurance? If I get sick or have to be hospitalized, we’ll be
ruined. Or, what if my faith fails me in trying times?” We all have a
thousand “what if” anxieties.

Jesus interrupts our “what ifs” and tells us, “Your heavenly Father
knows how to take care of you.” He tells us further, “You don’t need to
worry. Your Fathers know you have need of all these things, and he won’t
ever forsake you. He is faithful to feed you, clothe you and take care
to supply all your needs.”

“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap,
not gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them....
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither
do they spin…even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of
these.

“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and
tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye
of little faith?” (Matthew 6:26, 28-30).

We gladly give all our yesterdays to the Lord, turning over to him our
past sins. We trust him for forgiveness of all our past failures, doubts
and fears. So, why don’t we do the same with our tomorrows? The truth
is, most of us cling tightly to our future, wanting the right to hold on
to our dreams. We make our plans independent of God, and then later ask
him to bless and fulfill those hopes and desires.

Sowers Class Update November 1st

Praises:
Wow! What a fantastic week with the power team! What a wonderful outreach to our community!
May we be effective witnesses and have a long-term follow up with those that came to know Lord as their personal Savior.

Thanks to everyone that helped out and prayed for a wonderful week with the Power Team!


Prayer Requests:

-Ralph's grandfather is in the hospital with shingles and lost 15 pounds in the past couple of weeks.

-Ralph's Aunt Karen has pneumonia.

-Jill's mom is having a bad time with her knees and arthritis.

-Gail knows Brad and his family - be in prayer for them as they lost a baby last Saturday.

-Lori & Tim are dealing with children with behavioral problems.
Lori had the opportunity to witness to her childrens mom, who was able to come to every night of the Power Team!!!

-Glennie and Ralph were able to talk with several people and families that came to the Power Team event.
May we keep the Lexington football players in our prayers. Pray specifically for their growth and for follow up.

-Mike & Janean's son, Andrew, went forward on Wednesday. A friend went forward this week, as well as a friend of Janean! AMEN!!

-Brent had the opportunity to go out to eat with a friend and in turn, got him to come to the Power Team. He accepted Christ as his personal Savior and plans to bring his family! Hallelujah!

-Janean gave away 85 million dollars to trick or treaters!

-Jill had her federal student aide suspended and prays that her application can be reconsidered!

-Mr. Good's grandson had a nine-year-old friend that came to the Power Team and trusted Jesus as his personal Savior.

-Pray for Roberta, who will be in court as her husband filed for a divorce and her 13 year-old twin boys will be testifying against her.


Mr. Good's Message: Read Luke 14


1. The little things we do WILL have results! Do you believe that? Try it!

2. Everyone loves a committed person.
Pray! Pray for those that have trusted Jesus as their personal Savior! Pray to be an encouragement to others!
Pray that you will do the Lord's work and tell others about Him!
Be a prayer warrior!!

3. Mr. Good handed out a "Basic Quickie Budget" that you should complete with your spouse.
Working on a budget together will force you to be absolutely honest with your mate.

4. Be sure to address these things first:
Giving, Food, Shelter, and Transportation

Working together as a team will help you stay away from this vicious cycle:

1. offense
2. resentment
3. bitterness
4. hatred
5. revenge


Have you passed out any Bible tracts this week?

YouTube video with Ray Comfort about passing out bible tracts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgNA8TdG8eU


Have a blessed week!

Cell phone vs. Bible

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing.
Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being
disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.

Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities? And no dropped calls!

Our Bible is up to date!

REMINDERS:

1. The wonderful annual Halloween party is on 10/24 @ 5:30 at Ralph and Glennie's house! The date was changed to accommodate the Power Team!
Do you have your Halloween costume yet?
There is a sign up by the back table for the party: name, phone number, and sign up for: finger foods, dessert, or 2 liters of pop.

2. Please check with Ralph if you could usher on any of the following dates: Wed., October 28th through Sunday, November 1st.
Sign up in the Welcome Center to be a Prayer Warrior for this wonderful event.

Prayer Requests:

-Power team will be here next week!

-Please help our friends and families stay healthy throughout the year, Lord! Be with us in each and every decision that we make and help us to live our life for YOU.
-Be in prayer about asking others to come to listen to the Power Team, being here yourself, and for salvation for those that come to listen.

YouTube Video Visited: 8 Reasons Why I Can't Share My Faith:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTyv1RwL3WM&feature=related

This week's message:

*The Apostle Peter tells us, “If God…spared not the old world, but saved
Noah…bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; and turning
the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes…making them an example unto
those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot…[then] the
Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations” (2 Peter 2:4-9).*

*Despite the severity of these examples, God is sending a clear message
of comfort to his people, as if to say: “I have just given you two of
the greatest examples of my compassion. If, in the midst of a
world-engulfing flood, I can deliver one righteous man and his family
out of the havoc…then can I not deliver you also? Can I not provide a
miraculous way of escape?*

*“If I can send down fire-and-brimstone judgment that consumes entire
cities at a time, yet I manage to send angels into the chaos to deliver
Lot and his daughters…then can I not also manage to send angels to
deliver you out of your trials?”*

*The lesson here for the righteous is this: God will do whatever it
takes to deliver his people out of fiery trials and temptations. Think
about it: It took the opening of the Red Sea to deliver Israel out of
the clutches of its enemy. It took water out of a rock to save those
same Israelites from their wilderness trial. It took miracle bread,
angels’ food literally sent from heaven, to spare them from hunger. And
it took an ark to save Noah from the flood, and “angel escorts” to
deliver Lot from fiery destruction. The clear point is that God knows
how to deliver his people, and he will go to any extreme to accomplish
it, no matter what their circumstance.*

*Peter’s phrase “God knoweth how to deliver” means simply, “He has
already made plans.” The wonderful truth is that God already has plans
for our deliverance even before we cry out to him. And he doesn’t sit on
those plans; he only awaits our cry for help. We may be entangled in the
struggle of a lifetime, wondering how God will deliver us, yet he is
ready all at times to put his plan into action.*

*We see this illustrated in Jeremiah 29, when Israel was in captivity to
Babylon. Here was perhaps the greatest trial God’s people had ever
experienced, yet the Lord promised them: “After seventy years, I will
visit you and perform my Word to you.”*

*“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”
(Jeremiah 29:11). The last phrase literally means “to give you what you
long for.” God wants us to keep praying so we’ll be ready for his
deliverance.

WE MAY BE HELPLESS, BUT WE ARE NOT HOPELESS.

KEEP LOOKING UP.

Wow, God has a plan for all of us and He, alone, will deliver us!
"Cast ALL of your cares upon Him, for He careth for you."
What an awesome God we serve!
Thank you, Mr. Good, for this reminder and lesson!
Get into the WORD this week and trust in our Holy Father!

Watch this to help give you ideas for passing out tracts! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNaMNJdheoc&feature=PlayList&p=0246E66ECE479013&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2
GO SHARE YOUR FAITH WHILE YOU STILL HAVE TIME!

Have you passed out any Bible tracts this week?
Mr. Good is always SHOWING us how easy it is to pass these out.
Watch a short clip on passing them out without even saying a word.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTAPHUX9rnc&feature=channel

Have a blessed week!

Was it the sound of salvation?

re-posted from Tony Miano - http://thelawmanchronicles.blogspot.com/


No audio. No camera. No video. Just me, my little PA, and a box upon which to stand.

It had been a very long week. A two-week re-piping of our home was completed, which left me with the task of repainting almost every room of our condo. I took a week's vacation, which is to say I used five vacation days so I could work on putting my home back in order. It most certainly was not a vacation. As many of my close friends can attest, I am not a handyman. But one thing I can do with marginal competence is operate a paint brush. So, that's what I did for six days--about ten hours each day. Paint.

During that time, my grandmother had not one, but two heart attacks--the second one in her doctor's office. She was rushed to the hospital where she underwent several hours of open-heart surgery. She is eighty-five and unsaved.

The surgery went well, with the surgeon saying that my grandmother's heart was the most beautiful heart he had ever held in his hands. Her recovery was going well enough for my grandmother to complain about the food at the hospital. Then something went tragically wrong.

One day, my grandmother began to coughing uncontrollably. As a result, she began to bleed. Within minutes she was in full cardiac arrest. Hospital staff heroically performed CPR for twenty-five minutes, until the surgeon arrived. She was rushed into surgery where the surgeon was able to repair the new damage to her heart. Unfortunately, while the CPR kept her alive, it did not provide enough oxygen to her brain.

My grandmother, although she can breathe a little on her own, will never come out of her present, vegetative state. Her sons and daughters are now tasked with deciding whether or not to stop feeding her and allow her to die. My grandmother made it clear to family members that she did not want to live in a vegetative state.

My relationship with my grandmother and my mother's side of the family has been estranged since I was about ten-years-old. The estrangement was the result of the divorce of my parents. But I care about her as a human being. Over the years, I had shared the law and the gospel with her on more than one occasion.

So, on top of the physical exhaustion from working on the house, there was the emotional stress of my grandmother's pending death and trying to be an encouragement to my mom and my sister. Needless to say, there was very little time for evangelism that week.

Tuesday morning was my first opportunity in more than a week to hit the streets. Jimmy, one of my regular fishing buddies, was studying for an exam at The Master's College. David, another of my fishing buddies was working and getting ready for the birth his daughter. All of my girls were busy with school. So, I headed alone to the North Hollywood Metro Station.

A strange feeling came over me as I placed my box in front of the palm tree, on the sidewalk, on Lankershim Boulevard (the place where we set up to preach each week). I opened the box and removed my open-air preaching Bible and turned to Luke 13--the passage I would read as part of my Project Ezra effort, and the passage from which I would preach the Law and the Gospel. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. Everything seemed loud: my breathing, turning the pages of the Bible, the traffic noise, people's footsteps--everything. It felt as though I was having a mild anxiety attack.

"I'm going home." I thought. "No one would know. The people here certainly won't care if I leave. I need a break. I'm tired. I don't feel like preaching, today. The Lord will understand."

"No." Another set of thoughts came. "I've got to preach. What would so many of my friends say at this moment?" I asked myself with a smile. "'Don't quit!' All right, Tony, get up on the box and preach!"

I read Luke 13 to myself as I waited for my courage to catch up to my conviction.

"Good morning, everyone. I would like to read to you this morning Luke 13..."

As is so often the case, once I started reading the Word of God aloud, the anxiety quickly melted away. The stress and fatigue from the last week meant nothing, now. All I felt was the excitement of preaching God's Word. "Thank You, Lord." I silently prayed as I read His word aloud to the people gathered there.

By the time I finished, I had been on the box for about twenty-five minutes. I offered those within the sound of my voice a free Bible. There were no immediate takers.

I started to pack up. My plan was to go home for a bit, and then head to Cal State University Northridge. Little did I know what the Lord had in store for me there.

As I put my PA and Bible in the box, I looked up to see a woman standing in front of me.

"I would like a Bible." She said quietly.

For the next fifteen minutes, the Lord blessed me as I got to reiterate the Law and the Gospel with a very nice lady. She confided that her boyfriend was a Christian and he read the Bible to her, from time to time. She admitted that while she thought she was a Christian, she wasn't sure where she would spend eternity.

Initially, I had given her a paperback ESV New Testament. Toward the end of our conversation I asked, "Do you have a Bible at home?"

"No. I've never had a Bible."

"Here. Let me have that one."

She seemed to pout as she handed me the paperback New Testament.

"I would like you to have this instead."

I handed her a leatherbound, compact-size ESV Bible. My pastor gives me a few of these beautiful Bibles from time to time, to use in my evangelism efforts. I reserve these special Bibles for folks who the Lord either appears to save while I am with them, or for those who seem genuinely contrite and interested (more than curious) in reading the Bible.

"Ohhhh!" She gasped. "Thank you so much."

I gave her my business card and encouraged her to call me if she had any questions about either our conversation, or what she read in the Bible.

She walked away, and I finished packing up and headed to my car. I praised God for his faithfulness and thanked him for the opportunity to preach His Word and to talk to the lady who now had her first Bible.

Fast-forward to Wednesday afternoon.

I walked into my office at Living Waters to see the customary solid red light on my desk phone. I had at least one message waiting for me.

"Hello." The message began. "My name is Jane (not her real name to protect her anonymity). I'm here with my sister. You gave her a beautiful Bible the other day. It's beautiful. Thank you for talking to her. I think I would like to talk to you, too."

She left her number with a request that I call her back. I dialed the number. And for the next two days I waited to hear from her again.

This morning I got into my car to head to Staples to buy a new memory card for my camera. As I pulled onto our street, my cell phone rang. I immediately recognized the number to be that of the Jane.

"Hi, this is Tony."

"Hi, Tony. It's Jane."

"I'm so glad you called."

"I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. It's been a busy week."

"No problem at all."

Jane told me that she was a Christian who was struggling with a failed relationship.

"Jane, since we don't know each other, I would like to ask you something. It will give me an idea as to where you're at, spiritually."

"Okay."

"Let's say you're a Christian and I'm not. You learn that I only have three minutes to live. I believe there's a God out there, and I'm scared. What would you tell me?"

"Well (a momentary pause) I would tell you to believe that there is a higher power. And I would tell you to repent and pray a prayer."

"Why do I need to repent?"

"Because we're all sinners."

"Yeah, but I think I'm a pretty good guy. I've never cheated on my wife. I love my kids. I pay my taxes. Won't God take all of that into account?"

"Um. That's a good question."

I let Jane stew on that for a moment or two.

"Okay. Let's switch roles, now. I'm the Christian and you have three minutes to live. Here's what I would say to you.

"Jane, in just a few minutes you are going to stand before Almighty God; and He is going to judge you according to the perfect moral standard of His Law. If you've ever lied, He will see you as a liar. If you've ever stolen anything, He will see you as a thief. If you've ever taken His name in vain, He will see you as a blasphemer. If you've ever had a lustful thought about someone other than a spouse, then God will see you as an adulterer. If you've ever hated anyone, He will see you as a murderer.

"God is holy, righteous, just, and good. He must punish sin. And the punishment God has ascribed for sin is eternity in hell. And that's what you face in about two minutes, unless God does something."

"This is what God did. Two thousand years ago, God the Father sent His Son to earth in the person of Jesus Christ--fully-God and fully-Man, and without sin. Unlike you and me, He never once violated the Law of God in thought, word, or deed. He was perfect in every respect."

"About thirty to thirty-three years into that earthly existence, He voluntarily went to the cross. He suffered and died, shedding His innocent blood--taking upon Himself the punishment you rightly deserve for your sins against God. Then, three days later, He rose from the dead, forever defeating sin and death. He is alive today and He will return at a time of the Father's choosing.

"What God requires of you, Jane, is that you repent. God commands that you turn from your sin and by faith, and by faith alone, receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. He is your only hope.

"In just a minute or so you are going to stand before God. Unless He saves you, you are going to spend eternity in hell. My hope is that instead of receiving what you deserve for your sins against God, you will receive what you and I don't deserve, which is grace, mercy, and the free gift of eternal life. So, please, repent and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior while He has given you time.

"Does that make sense?"

There was a moment of silence on the phone.

"Whoa!" She said. "How did you do that?"

Jane's response was almost humorous; but I believe, more importantly, it served to reveal the condition of her heart. Jane thought she was a Christian, but was likely not saved.

"Jane, I was able to do that because I know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior."

"Ohh." She said with a somewhat downcast tone of voice.

"Jane, what I'm about to say to you may seem kind of hard. But even though we've never met, I care about you as a person. So, just know that as you listen to what I'm about to say."

"Okay."

"What do you do for a living?"

"Well, I'm going to school right now."

"What do you want to do when you finish school?"

"I would like to be an alcohol treatment counselor."

"Jane, what if I told you I know everything there is to know about alcohol treatment. You're curious, so you say, 'Okay, Tony. Tell me everything you know about alcohol treatment.' And I say, 'Well, people who drink a lot get drunk. And if they get drunk a lot it's hard to stop. So, I think people should stop drinking.'"

Jane chuckled.

"Would you believe I know anything about alcohol treatment?"

"Well, you might know a little bit."

"But would you come to me for counseling?"

"No way."

"Good. Neither would I."

We both laughed.

"Now, Jane, I'm going to ask you a tough question. And again, I'm asking because I care about you."

"Okay."

"Jane, why should I believe you are a Christian when you can't tell me how to become a Christian?"

"You're right. I guess you shouldn't."

Jane and I talked for another half-hour. We talked about the difference between saving faith and religion. We talked about the difference between grace and works. We talked about the forgiveness of God, as seen in the story of David and Bathsheba. We talked about the difference between real and false assurance. We talked about the biblical understanding of adoption and how not everyone born to the human race is a child of God. We talked about what it meant to be "born again."

"Jane, is there any sin in your life (and you don't have to be specific with me) that you love so much that you are willing to spend eternity in hell so you can enjoy that sin in this life?"

Jane thought for a moment. "No. There is nothing in my life worth going to hell for."

"Then, again, I want to encourage you to cry out to God in repentance and faith. If He saves you, if He causes you to be born again, then He will take your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. You will begin to love the things that God loves and you will begin to hate the things that God hates. You will begin to love to read His Word. You will begin to love having fellowship with other followers of Christ. And there's another thing you will love to do."

"What's that?"

"Can you remember a time when you couldn't wait to share news with people?"

"When I found out I was pregnant with my daughter."

"How old is your daughter?"

"She's twelve."

"I have three girls: 22, 20, and 15."

"Nice."

"Remember how you couldn't wait to tell people that you were pregnant?"

"Yes."

"Remember how easy it was for you to talk about it, and how often you talked about it?"

"Yes."

"Well, that's the way it is with people who know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They are so grateful for the free gift of eternal life God has given them that they can't wait to tell people what God has done for them; and they can't wait to tell people how they can come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior."

"Oh. I see what you mean."

"Jane, many people misunderstand what God did through His Son, on the cross. Let's say you and your daughter were in court one day. You decided to take your daughter to court as a civics lesson. You wanted her to see a court trial.

"Well, as it turns out, the day you decide to go to court is the day of a murder trial. The judge finds a man guilty of murder and sentences him to death.

"Just as the judge is about to have the man taken away to be executed, he turns to you and says, 'Jane, I will let this convicted murderer go if you will allow me to execute your daughter in his place.' Would you do it?"

"No way!"

"Neither would I. There is no way I would sacrifice one of my daughters so that a convicted criminal could go free."

"That's right."

"But Jane, do you understand that's what God did. 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.' God the Father allowed God the Son to be executed in the place of convicted criminals like you and me. So great is God's love that He sent His Son to die for sinners."

"That's beautiful."

"Yes it is. It's beautiful, Jane. It's a miracle. And it's a miracle I hope God will allow to take place in your life. We may never meet in person, but I hope one day when I'm standing before God's throne and worshiping Him that I will turn to my right or my left and see you there, too."

"That's what I want."

"Well, I think you need to spend some time examining yourself and talking to God."

"You're right. That's what I'm going to do. Thank you so much for talking to me."

"I'm really glad we had a chance to talk."

"Can I come to your church?"

"Of course!"

I gave Jane directions to the church and information about the time and format of the service.

"My wife and I will be praying for you and your sister, today."

"Please do." Jane paused. "I might want to talk to you again. Would that be all right?"

"Absolutely. You have my number. If you have any questions or if you just need some encouragement, don't hesitate to call."

"Thank you."

"You have a blessed day."

"You have a blessed day, too."

"Good-bye."

"Good-bye."

I hung up the phone and immediately began to praise God, lifting my hands in thanksgiving to what He had just done. And then I thought to myself, "Did I just hear the sound of salvation? Did God save Jane during our conversation?"

Only God knows. But that is certainly my hope. Her voice was humble from the very start of the conversation. If anything, her voice became even more humble as our conversation progressed. Her response the the gospel--to the atoning work of Jesus Christ was, to use her word, "beautiful."


Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
Oh Lord, is that what I heard this morning? Was it the sound of amazing grace touching a human soul? Was it the sound of salvation?

Oh Lord, for Your glory, may it be so!

Posted by Tony Miano at 9:54 AM

Saint Nicholas

Lately, I've been feeling a great deal of spiritual pressure. This week, I talked to both my Mom and Dad about it. They independently gave me the 'get back to basics' talk and so this morning I did exactly that.

I met Nicholas this morning in the nursing home. My friend Allyson, stood outside his room to pray for him as we talked. He explained to me that he was from Boston and that he moved into this facility after retiring two different times. We talked about Boston and about his family. He told me that he and an older sister were the only ones left now.

"Now what happens, Nicholas? You know, after we die."

"You know, I've always been curious about that. Some people say that's it and some people say there's something more." he said.

"What do you really think? Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?" I asked.

"Well, yes I do. I think there is a Heaven and a Hell." he answered.

Nicholas was under the impression that as a 'good christian man' he would go to Heaven automatically. We went through some of the 10 Commandments and Nicholas soon saw that he had grieved God by breaking His Law.

"So you see, Nicholas you are actually destined for Hell. You know Jesus talked more about Heaven than He did Hell...He was trying to warn us to stay away! People will be in so much pain that they will gnash their teeth. The fire will not burn out. I've never seen anyone in so much pain that they gnaw on their tongue but I have heard of it. What a horrible place to spend eternity!" I said.

"I don't want to go to Hell!" Nicholas stated adamantly. Then he said, "I don't think God would send me to Hell for these small things I've done."

"No liar will be found in Heaven...'all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone'. God said that there is 'none righteous-no, not one...' and that includes you, Nicholas." I explained how our sin is against God-not just each other.

Nicholas conceded that he was headed for Hell. I explained that Jesus came to take our sins upon Himself and pay for them. Nicholas listened carefully.

"Does this make sense to you, Nicholas?" I asked.

"Not exactly." he said. I stopped and prayed that the Holy Spirit would open his ears to hear Truth. Salvation is of the Lord.

I gave Nicholas the illustration of a courtroom where he would stand, guilty of manslaughter after running over a small child. He could apologize but not be let free on that basis. When presented with the fine of $2M he was unable to pay it. After a neighbor stepped in to pay the fine for him, justice was satisfied and he was free to go!

"Does this make sense" I asked again.

"Yes, it does. You know you're the first person who's ever told me this!" When he said this the expression on his face said everything. He looked as though he had barely missed being run down by a truck.

After explaining repentence and faith in Jesus Christ as the only way, I asked him if he thought this was important enough to take care of today.

"Yes!" he said.

I told Nicholas he could just pray to God right there if he wanted to. He seemed very hesitant and I thought maybe he was a bit embarrassed to pray with me there.

"You don't have to pray with me here."

He still hesitated. "Ahhh...I don't know how to pray. I can't say as I've ever done that."

"Well, just talk to God, He already knows everything. He's been waiting a long time to talk to you, Nicholas."

Nicholas was quiet, but then said, "God please forgive me for sinning. I don't want to go to Hell-I want to follow Jesus!"

After we talked a bit more I asked him to read a couple verses from the book of John. He read out loud and smiled afterwards.

"Does it make more sense now?" I asked him.

"Yes, thank you for this book."

"I'll bring you a Bible soon so you can read every day, OK?"

"OK. Thank you for coming to tell me." he said, without looking up.




John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes on Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.

Using Common Sense to Debunk Evolution

Make every moment count.

On the way to the nursing home I stopped to get some flowers for a friend. I went in to the shop and noticed that it was completely remodeled. After asking the gal to help me with an arrangement I told her I really liked the new look. She told me that there was a new owner-just out of school.

"We are excited about the changes."

"I really like it. Much less cluttered." I said.

She began to arrange the flowers in a vase and I watched her. "You really are good at this." I told her.

"Thanks, I like doing this."

Suddenly I came out of my stupor! What was I thinking just standing here???

"The friend I am getting these for is very ill. She probably won't live long."

"Oh, I'm sorry." she said.

"Well, were all going to die one day, right?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"What do you think happens when we die?"

"Oh, I don't know, Heaven I guess." she speculated.

After asking her some questions Gaylen became very quiet. She finished the arrangement just after realizing why Jesus came for us.

"Have you ever heard that before?" I asked her.

"No, not presented like that."

I paid and handed her a Good Person booklet. "I hope you will take time to think about this Gaylen."

"I will definitely give this some thought."

Psalms 103:15-18 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

Origin Into Schools

Hope of Heaven

The team from the Sowers Class arrived early Saturday to set up a table with gospel tracts and cold water.

Jim was having a great morning, riding along the Constitution Trail. The temperature was perfect at about 65 degrees AJ got him to stop with an offer of free water. I asked Jim if he believed in an afterlife. "Sure" he said.

Heaven and Hell?"

"Yes."

"Where are you going?"

""Heaven, I hope." Jim said. Man, if I had a new tract for every time I get that answer I probably wouldn't be running out of them right now!

Jim considered himself to be among the 'good people' inhabiting this earth. "I wonder if you'd let me test that theory, Jim?"

"Sure, why not?" he said.

When I asked Jim to review his life and give me the number of lies that he's told, he hesitated. Finally he said, "Quite a few."
.
"Me too, Jim. I couldn't even give you a number. Have you ever used God's name in vain? You know, OMG?"

"Yes, I've done that."

"Blasphemy is really serious. God said, He won't hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain-did you know that? What about adultery? Ever done that?"

"No, I've never done that!" he exclaimed.

"The seventh Commandment says, 'Don't commit adultery but Jesus kicked it up a notch when He came. He said, 'Whover looks at another person with a sexual or immoral thought is guilty in their heart.' Ever looked at another person that way Jim?"

Jim was silent for a moment and then quietly nodded to the affirmative.

"If God judged you today, Jim would you be guilty or innocent of breaking His law?"

"Guilty."

"Heaven or Hell for you?" I asked.

"Well, I still think I would go to Heaven...I believe in God."

"So do demons Jim, are they going, too?"

"Well...no they aren't."

"It's not enough to 'believe' Jim. You've got to repent and put all of your faith in Jesus Christ. He's the only way in. John 14:6 says I am the way, the truth and the life-no man comes to the Father but by Me."

By now Jim was getting antsy on his bike and I could tell he wanted to leave. "Please take this little booklet and read it before you go to sleep. This is so important!"

"I will. Thanks for the conversation."

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Making millionaires by sharing the good news of riches in Heaven

I found myself back at the same grocery store with six more million dollar tracts in my purse. Before I got out of the car I folded them in half. I placed two in the seat of the only carts in the parking lot cart corral, three in carts inside waiting for incoming customers and the last one I put in the cart I'd used as I returned it - waiting for the next shopper. Next time I may leave some around the store on the shelves as I do my shopping - making millionaires by sharing the good news of riches to be found in heaven and the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ Our Savior.
JMB

Be a Blessing to Others

The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the
finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never
missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to
make fun of him, like so many others had done before.

"Leave me alone," he growled... To his amazement, the woman continued
standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in
dazzling rows.

"Are you hungry?" she asked.

"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the
president.. Now go away."

The woman's smile became even broader.
Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. "What are you
doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.

Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to
get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"

The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture
around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"

"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him
something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."

"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go
in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up.

"Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything.."

"This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it."
Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer
got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner.

It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had
already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived.

The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table.

"What's going on here, officer?" he asked."What is all this, is this
man in trouble?"

"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.

"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that
here is bad for business."

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if
you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place"

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their
weekly meetings here."

"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these
weekly meetings?"

"What business is that of yours?"

I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."
"Oh.."
The woman smiled again.. "I thought that might make a difference."
She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a laugh. "Would you like
to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"

"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."
"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"

"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice."

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel. "I'll get your coffee for
you right away, officer."
The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his
place," he said.
"That was not my intent... Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She
stared at him intently.

"Jack, do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so --
I mean you do look familiar."
"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out
more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through
that very door, cold and hungry."

"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that
such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.

"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city
looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down
to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment.. I
walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and
nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that
I could get something to eat."

Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind
the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for
something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."

"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast
beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told
me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you
would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over and saw you put the
price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything
would be all right."

"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.

"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I
started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered.." She
opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are
finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the
personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm
certain he'll find something for you to do around the office."
She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a
little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to
live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door
is always open to you."

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he asked.

"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. He led
me to you."

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the
entrance before going their separate ways.. "Thank you for all your
help, officer," she said.

"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle
today, something that I will never forget. And..And thank you for the
coffee."

Have a Wonderful Day. May God Bless You Always and don't forget that
when you "cast your bread upon the waters," you never know how it will
be returned to you. God is so big He can cover the whole world with
his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart.
When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go.
Only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall,
or He'll teach you how to fly!

The power of one sentence! God is going to shift things around for
you today and let things work in your favor. If you believe, send it.

God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close.
If you need God to open some doors for you...send this on.
Have a blessed day and remember to be a blessing to others.