1621 - 2016

A study in contrasts that requires few words. 

A.D. 1621

Today: A.D. 2016 

Help us, O Lord! Help our nation. Help our people. 

Oh how we need You! Oh how we need to be SET FREE!

Friend, would you like to be encouraged? Watch & listen to these 2 short videos....

The Thanksgiving Proclamation of President Abraham Lincoln

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and in honor of this year's occasion, here is the proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln that created this holiday, an invitation to we citizens to join him in a national "...day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens." It was a humbling experience to transcribe this historical document of our nation, and a much needed reminder...a wake-up call...for us individually and corporately as nation.

I plan to take him up on this invitation, once again, and I hope you will join me.

Washington DC - October 3, 1863

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except for the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well as the iron and coal as of our precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the county, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the diving purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused this seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 3rd day of October, A.D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

Abraham Lincoln

By the President:
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving." 

Psalm 69:30

Finishing with Joy

Luke writes in the Acts of the Apostles that Paul's desire, despite his sufferings for Christ's sake, was that he might finish his course with joy (Acts 20:24). Today that part of scripture really hit me. I said to myself, "Me too." I really, really want to finish my own course here on planet earth with joy.

I want to finish well, with joy, though I know that joy and trials just seem to go together in living for Jesus Christ. It did for the Lord in his earthly ministry (Hebrews 12:2); it did for Paul (above), and Peter writes of it (1 Peter 1:6-9).

And not only that. I want my wife Mary and my children to finish well, with joy. I want my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ to finish well. I preach the gospel open-air and witness to friends and neighbors, because I want them to be found on THAT DAY safely in Jesus Christ, so that they will finish well. With joy!



So much in scripture speaks of encouraging and helping one another, reaching out with a helping hand to pick someone up when they've fallen; to challenge one another to press on through the promised trials and tribulations of this life (2 Thessalonians 1:4-5, for example), because of the promise of the life that is to come. Just ahead for the believer is joy unspeakable and full of glory!

That's the reason for this website. Whatever circumstance in life this finds you, I hope what we publish here is a helping hand, an encouragement, or a challenge to live more fully for Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, until we go to be with Jesus, or he comes to catch us away. Let us know if we can help or pray for you in any way. Maranatha!

The "Cancer" of Sin in the Soul of Man & the Cure

Made it out to the Farmers Market on Saturday (10/8/16), and Chuck from Des Moines met me down there to help pass out tracts to our friends and neighbors on a lovely Fall day in Iowa

View from north-east corner of Court Ave. and 3rd Street

As October is breast cancer awareness month, I used our experience with Mary's cancer diagnosis & treatment as a springboard to speak on the "cancer" of sin that we all have: how the Holy Spirit used the word of God to diagnose our condition, the cure found in the person & work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the need for everyone to take this information and make an informed decision.

Here is the audio:  LINK

Afterwards: taking a break under a tree by the Walnut parking ramp

Oktemberfest 2016

The Lord gave us good weather last weekend, and we were able to go out in our little city of Marshalltown, Iowa, to pass out gospel tracts and witness to our friends and neighbors at the annual Oktemberfest festival on the city square.

Vendors setting up in front of the Court House on Friday, 9/22/16. The rain was just letting up, and the weather was warm & dry for witnessing later that evening.

I was able to finish a project I had thought about for a long time, but never got completed: a light-up witnessing cross to use in the evening. I found some 10-foot battery powered LED mini-lights, and I made some small boxes from scrap wood. I cut some Lexan for the faces, sprayed the back side with frosted glass spray, and had my local sign shop make the "JESUS" and "SAVES" from translucent vinyl. I mounted this all on my largest witnessing cross, and it all came together just  in time for Friday evening.

On Friday eve, Nathan Sleyster and his 9-year-old daughter came from Des Moines, as well as our Farmers Market friend Chuck, but Frank Chirco was not able to make it for the first time since we started going out, and I was very bummed!  Aquila Sletten and his friend, Blake came out, and David & Anna Leigh Heckart, all from Marshalltown. We were out from 6:30 - 9:00, and then came to our house where Mary had a huge victory meal waiting for us. On Saturday evening, Mary & I went out, and we had some great gospel conversations with both fellow believers and lost folks. Mary gave out just a ton of tracts...I thought she was taking too many when we parked the car, but turns out she had to go back for more!

We thank the Lord for the opportunities he gives to reach out to those around us with the hope of the gospel, and are now praying for the many seeds sown at the festival. If the Lord gives us another year, and health & strength to labor in our little corner of his harvest field, I can't wait for next year! BUT...none of us is promised another day, so let us encourage - "provoke" - one another to the love & good works mentioned in Hebrews 10:24, to take advantage of every opportunity to point a lost world to the one-and-only Savior, the Lord Jesus. Amen.

The Gospel Proclaimed through USA Today...today.

If you've ever done any extensive traveling and stayed in some nice hotels, you  have undoubtedly received a free copy of the USA Today newspaper. This morning's paper was a rather pleasant one. As I was in a training class, my lab partner showed me the direct center of the paper. It was a full page ad sharing the entire gospel of Jesus Christ with the entire world. 

Most newspapers wouldn't touch this with a 10 foot pole, and I don't think any amount of money would have changed that. There was an web address attached to this ad: https:amen3053.org, to which it links a site called the Amen Missionary Church, and the entire page seems to be written in Korean. I don't know anything about this church. The gospel shared is totally solid. I checked the Watchman Cult List to see if they were in there and they were not. But I guess that's my cynicism talking.

This got me thinking though. Is it that easy to do? Think about it. This church gave probably a boat load of money to put this ad through. Nothing stopped them. They just did it. So seriously...what's stopping other churches from doing this? What's stopping churches from putting billboards up, running TV commercials, or radio programs on popular stations? What's stopping churches from pulling money together to share Jesus Christ with the world? For the most part...nothing. But we tend to think that it probably can't be done so why even try. Isn't that our problem most of the time? We think that it can't be done, so why try. "They're not going to listen to what I have to say so why bother."

We should look at this and be encouraged. We can turn our "cant's" to "can's" and our "why's" to "why not's". Let us put ourselves out there and just try something for the Lord. Anything done in the Lord's name, for the Lord's glory, will not be done in vain. So praise the Lord for this church. Pray many come to the saving grace of Christ. I hope many people in hotels read this and look up the verses in their Gideon Bibles in their rooms. How awesome is that!!! 

Do People Have to Get Mad When You Share The Gospel With Them?

The 18th century Methodist preacher John Wesley told his evangelism trainees that, "...people should either get angry or get converted." I often wonder if that is the correct way to win souls to the Lord.

I agree though that people should be uncomfortable with the Lord. There should be a level of uneasiness when it comes to the creator of the universe who has the power not only to end my life, but also cast my soul into hell (Matthew 10:28). Even more uncomfortable than if we met the President of the United States. Conviction goes along way. But I got to thinking, did Jesus feel the need to always make people mad or converted? From what I read in the scriptures that wasn't always the case. No. He didn't intend to make people mad, it just happened. The anger didn't come from anything that Jesus intentionally said, the anger came from the one who received it. Their hearts.

Just like Jesus, it's not the goal of the preacher to make people angry. Anger is just the reaction of the person listening to the gospel. When I share the gospel, open-air-preach, share one-on-one, I'm not intentionally looking around and saying, "Now who can I piss off today?" But anger is just one form of emotion out of many from people who hear the good news. Along with anger came offense (Matthew 15:12), joy (Matthew 13:20,44), sadness (Mark 10:17-22), thankfulness (Luke 19:1-9), etc, etc, etc.

Why am I saying this? Because I really don't want to piss people off. Why? Because I want the Lord to be heard and not be the one that keeps that from happening. This happened when I met with the two Mormon Missionary boys Elder Leavy and Elder Crook. You can read what happened in my meetings HERE and another time HERE. After I decided not to continue the Precept Inductive Bible Studies and to focus on evangelism and discipleship, I prayed that the Lord would show me what I should do next and these two show up on my doorstep 10 minutes later. But after talking with them I just wanted to love these guys and really care about them. I love talking with Mormons, but in the past I wonder if the missionaries in the past really listened. I don't know, and will probably never know. But what happened while I was meeting these guys for two months by just loving these guys in truth, and sharing truth in love.

• They shared me their first names (John Leavy and Chandler Crook). 
• They took tracts from me and read them. 
• They enjoyed being there, and knew that I cared. 
• They got a better and honest understanding of what Christianity is, and what belief in that looks like. 
• They know and can describe the Trinity better than any of their professors or Bishops. 
• They didn't freak out when I brought out my Quad (Mormon standard works in one book). 
• I gave them both a Gideon Pocket Testament, kept them, and read them. 
• We had a dialogue and it was not a monologue. 
• In the end I gave them my card with my email and phone, and hugged each other. 

But these things happen when we both listen. Yeah, there was an agenda. They wanted to make me Mormon, I wanted them to see what it really means to be a Child of God. But we moved past it (or at least I did). What happened? They have a new and honest view of what a Christian is, and maybe they will consider reading the bible more, the Book of Mormon less; learning more about Jesus, and less of Joseph Smith. They told me that Christians have thrown them off of their porch. Cussed them out, damned them to hell...and so on,..and so on. Jesus cared, even for the Pharisees. I need to be like Jesus. I need to care, and to love like He loves. And I hope they contact me. I really do. 

Fresh Bread

We are thanking our Father God for the batch of "fresh bread" - Bibles that we ordered to give away to our neighbors and travelers through central Iowa. Here at Iowa Seed Sowers, we believe there are still hungry souls that are looking for truth and for answers, and we know we have both in the Holy Scriptures. We want to get this latest delivery out in the streets and offer to those around us. Please pray for God to direct these people across our path in the days ahead.

We're encouraged by the Keith Green song, "Go To The Hungry Ones"....

Here are the words. May they challenge you to reach out to the lost for our Mighty Savior, Jesus Christ, while there is time!

Go to the hungry ones and fill them with His bread
They'll leave their darkness as you shine the light He shed
Point to His promises, believe in all He said
And His joy will be manifest in you
And the lost will be found as He works through you

Out on the highways, there's so many passing by
Step out in boldness and watch the family multiply
Pray up some miracles, let's open up the sky
And His joy will be manifest to you
And the lost will be found by the things you do

Oh don't you know that Jesus loves you
So let's go and spread His word
Redeem the time while there's still time
Let's share the call we've heard
Let's share the call we've heard

Is your house open to let strangers enter there
Give to the least of them, show them someone cares
And you may be entertaining angels unaware
And His joy will be manifest to you
And the lost may be found as He works through you
And His joy will be manifest in you
And the lost, they'll be found by the things you do

Read more: Keith Green - Go To The Hungry Ones Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

I Love My Wife!

I love my wife.
God truly blesses my life through her.
For example, I mentioned yesterday that I wanted some half-and-half to keep in the refrigerator at work. This morning, when I opened the fridge to get my lunch, I see this...and I just had to smile.

She had picked up what I wanted, and put a little love note on it. That blessed my socks off! What a wife. And since it was such a nice warm day here today in Marshalltown, Iowa, and since it is the 104th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we decided to meet downtown at lunch, and walk around giving out our Titanic gospel tracts from Living Waters.

Thank you, Lord, that you've given me a true and a wonderful "help-meet" in mi esposa, Maria.

The Weight of Glory.

The following is a section from a sermon entitled, The Weight of Glory, presented on June 8, 1942 to the Church of St. Mary the Virgin at Oxford, by well renowned author C.S. Lewis, who authored such books as Mere Christianity and The Chronicles of Narnia. In this message to the church, Lewis argues that there are no insignificant human beings, and no insignificant human encounters. That every single human being you meet will spend eternity in either suffering without hope or indescribable glory.

It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor. The load of weight or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken....It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities...that we should conduct all our dealings with one, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. 

 With that being said, should I as a Christian, "bear the weight or burden of my neighbor's glory on my back?" I don't think that Lewis regarded this entire burden to be placed on my individual shoulders. There are so many factors that come into play with a person's salvation. But if I were to ask him what he is getting at, I am pretty confident he would say he is trying to persuade the church to do the work of the ministry (  ). This should be one of the primary focus' of a Christian's thought, and motivation when gazing upon the human race; and gazing upon the Lord's glory when we are supremely focused on Him.

If you would like to download the whole sermon, you can find it HERE.

Season Opener - Des Moines St. Patrick's Day Parade 2016

March 18th marks the Evangelism Season Opener with the Des Moines St. Patrick's Day parade. I think it went rather well this year.

For starters I got there around 10 am and started conversations early before the parade started at 12pm. It was a good time of prayer and really seeking the Holy Spirit for His help in wisdom, understanding, and relating to the people who come. 

Nathan had come later with his new Pastor and another member of his church. It's really cool to see others be stretched and share Christ with the lost. They gave out  THESE TRACTS and kids as well as adults loved taking them. 

As for the conversations that took place they were pretty good this year. Of course the majority were with unbelievers and those who say they are Christians who claim Christ but could not articulate the gospel at all. One such conversation I was able to use my Tactics In Defending The Faith, which I taught my church a few months ago. This conversation I had was with two couples in which when I gave Lucky Bucks, they asked what it was. I told them it was a gospel tract, and one of the ladies threw it on the ground and backed away literally at least 10 ft and looked visually disturbed. She even said, "I don't want that sh**! I believe in God but I don't want that garbage." It was obvious that she had no relationship to the Lord, nor cared to even know. Her boyfriend, who was a rather tall man, was pretty blunt with me:

Heathen: "You shouldn't push your religion on other people. You shouldn't tell people what they should believe." 

Me: "Why not? Is that what you believe?"

Heathen: "Uh, yeah..." Taken back by what I said. 

Me:  "So why are you pushing your beliefs on me? How come you can push your beliefs on me but I can't on you? See the problem?"

Heathen: "Well, you should just let people do what they want."

Me: "I'm human and doing what I want. Honestly all I am doing here is sharing gifts. Someone shared with me this gift and I am sharing with others. But that's ok. If you would like to in your own time scan the back code with your smartphone it will take you to a YouTube Video and will explain it in your own time." 

 Some of the conversations I had went really well like THIS ONE with a young lady and her father. Even though the audio isn't all that great and I am as excited as Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh, it was a good conversation. I took it to show that you don't have to be an eloquent speaker to witness for Christ because He gets the glory anyway. It's my belief that I shouldn't just give the gospel, but encourage young believers with their walk, and to challenge them to share their faith. So many Christians out there need encouragement to grow and not be afraid to share their faith.I'm glad this father obviously invests the time in his daughter with her walk. We need more dad's like this, and it encouraged me to press on to the end. Thank you sir.

Towards the end Nathan and I were walking and watching the crowd. Men, women, and children were pawing, grasping, and screaming for useless plastic beads. Those same ones that rejected the gospel of life only found in Jesus Christ. They were pawing for useless beads and rejecting the precious pearl of great price. It was sad. Nathan turned to me and said, "It sounds like they are already in hell screaming in pain." Its true. In some ways they are, but that's why we are out here, so that we can save some (1 Corinthians 9:22). I knew what Nathan meant. A few years ago I was passing out tracts at the parade closer to the tall buildings. The screaming was deafening. It bothered me so bad that after I was done passing out my tracts I tucked myself in an alley, cried, and prayed for the souls of those who were there.

In the end I gave out all my 220 Lucky Bucks, Nathan gave out 800 and the other two 1,000. So we were just over 2,000 with 4 people. We were separated for most of the time until the end. Just imagine if we had more Christians with us who aren't afraid to share Christ with a lost world, and how much more area we could cover. We were able to cover an area from the start of the parade on MLK all the way up past Welmark on 12th St. Like my old Pastor used to say, "Many hands make light work.". We need more workers for the Kingdom. Consider coming with us.

New Video: Debunking the Palestinian Lie

In these last days, we should expect to see the fulfillment of prophetic scriptures leading up to the time of Jacob's trouble. To help people understand the history of the conflict in Israel, I've embedded a sketch video on the sidebar, "Debunking the Palestinian Lie."

I hope you watch this, and that it helps clear the fog regarding the history of  the Jewish people in the Promised Land. We have been,and continue to be fed lies by leaders of governments (our own, as well as others around the world), politicians, activists, school teachers & professors at University, and religious leaders as well.

Seems like everyone's ganging up on little Israel. Oh, that exactly what the prophet Zechariah wrote thousands of years ago:

Zechariah 12:3 

"And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."

Maranatha!
Paul

2015 Behind Us - 2016 Ahead

Well, the year 2015 is behind us. Mary and I spent some time remembering the Lord's faithfulness and provision for us through this last year, thankful for all he's provided. I got a chance to get out in the afternoon and wrap up 2015 with some outreach to my friends & neighbors here in Marshalltown, and then to worship the Lord in the evening with my brothers & sisters in Christ around the Lord's table.

I encourage you to look back and give thanks to the Father for all his goodness & grace this past year, and to seek his face for guidance & provision for the year to come, whatever that may be. We know the world is getting darker, and all that God has told us about the last days will be coming to pass, maybe sooner than later. Our brother's in Christ around the world are suffering for the name of Jesus, and perhaps that will be our lot in the near future as well. If so, rejoice & be exceeding glad! For...

"...all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 

2 Timothy 3:12

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

1 Peter 4:12-13 

Let's encourage one another to live godly lives in 2016 - bold lives for our Savior - growing in grace, growing in the Word & loving our brothers & sisters in the Lord Jesus, and reaching out to our fellow man with the love of God and the hope of the gospel. Maranatha!