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!!! 

Don't Be A Fat American Christian

For the past few weeks I have been teaching my Precept Inductive bible study in the book of Hebrews. While I'm at work I like to think about what I'm studying and really meditate on scripture.  Just the other day I am trying to get my preventative maintenance done on a few machines and I had a thought.  We are pretty fat American Christians.

This doesn't have anything to do with our physical size (though most Americans are overweight), but our spiritual fatness.  How does a person get fat?  Well, they eat...and eat...and eat some more.  They go to the buffet down the street and get their money's worth filling up two, three, four plates and walk out of there feeling like they won.  On their way home they stop at the store and get a gallon of ice cream and a case of pop on top of that.  And what do they do when they get home.  With clicker in hand, sit in front of the TV and flip channels.  No exercise, no activity, just laying around eating and eating, and eating till they feel sick.

But isn't that what most Christians do?  We go to church and listen to the sermon, we read our devotionals, we pray (mostly about what we need), we go to our bible studies or small groups.  We listen to our favorite teachers on our IPod's while we are working or jogging.  We are just taking in and eating God's Word till we burst.  You are probably thinking to yourself, "But isn't that what we are supposed to do, Frank?"  Yes...yes it is.  But the problem that I see (and myself included) is that we are taking in God's Word, but not exercising it out in activity for the Lord.  We get lazy and fat with knowledge, and not pour it out through service to God and our fellow man.  

Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."  So how to I accomplish that? Better yet, how to we start exercising to burn off some of God's Word to get lean and mean?  Well, here are some ideas on how to start.  

Do Something That Jesus Already Told You To Do. 

Alot of times we don't know what our calling is, or what we are equipped to do, especially if you are a new believer in Christ.  But while you are waiting on the Lord and seeking Him for guidance, do something.  Don't just sit and wait.  The most important thing is to start with what the bible says to do...love God, and thy neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40).  Here are some ideas that Jesus already told us to do. 

Matthew 25:31-40

• Feed the hungry. 
• Give water to the thirsty. 
• Give shelter to people who need it. 
• Clothe the naked. 
• Visit the sick and in prison. 

James 1:27

• Visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction (James 1:27).

Romans 12:15 

• Lend an ear and a hug to those who need it.  Rejoice and weep with those who need it someone to share in their triumphs and struggles.  

Well, you get the picture.  Seek God's word and pray about how you can serve and love others.  There are thousands of ways to love others already in the bible to choose from.  

Pray About Your Spiritual Gift. 

Earnestly seek to know what your spiritual gift is, what your calling is.  Pray and ask God to reveal areas in which you are equipped for service.  When I was a new believer someone gave me a Spiritual Gift Assessment to help me find my purpose and gifts God has given me.  You can find it HERE.  

Join Others In What They Are Already Doing. 

There are so many ministries and believers already doing the work of the Lord so there is really no need to start a new thing.  This is so beneficial especially with new believers.  When you're a baby Christian, new born, you have no idea what you are doing.  Joining others in what they are doing provides the necessary training and equipping they can provide.  Here are some ministries in the Des Moines area that are in need of help.

• Freedom For Youth
• Forest Avenue Outreach
• Saving Faith Outreach

Since new believers are unskillful in the word like babies and in need of solid food (Hebrews 5:12:13), the easiest way babies learn is by imitating (Hebrews 6:12).  Paul told us to imitate him as he imitates Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).  We are to imitate those that are good and not evil (3 John 1:11).

Is There A Need To Be Filled or a Person To Be Blessed?

Now that we know what we can do, lets do it.  But how?  When?  Where do I start and with who?  Lets face it, you are going to mess up.  You will make mistakes and you will probably piss someone off.  Start small.  Look for needs within your own fellowship and then branch outward.  Keep your ears and eyes open for ways to serve. But remember to grow, consistently get out of your comfort zone and try new things. Don't stop, keep going, don't be sluggish (Hebrews 6:12).

Exciting Times Lay Ahead For 2014

If you were to ask Paul, or any of my friends for that matter if I were an excitable guy, they would probably laugh.  When I met my wife she said that I reminded her of the Winnie the Pooh character, Eore.  I guess that stems from being dissapointed too much growing up.  I don't get excited about anything really.  Few have seen it to tell the tale.  So when I say that there are exciting times laid ahead for the coming year...it has to be big. 

My pastor whom I respect, has been the head of our church for over 6 years now.  During that time God has been grooming him, and equipping him for ministry.  He recently came back from the Calvary Chapel Pastors conference where the Lord really spoke to his heart through His word, and the teachings of different men.  He basically laid on his heart that it was time to ramp things up.  That my pastor was accountable for the people at Calvary Chapel Des Moines as thier shepherd.  We do some things really good, and others we pretty much stink.  One of those areas that we stink is in evangelism.  After a lengthy conversation, and an apology from him to me as not supporting me along the way (I've been feeling really discouraged for the past 10 years being the "Han Solo" at my church when it comes to evangelism) that he said things are going to change.  I can't get into the specifics of how that is going to look, but I will tell you this.  Every person that attends Calvary Chapel Des Moines will be involved in all 5 pillars of the church (Fellowship, Discipleship, Service, God's Word, and Evangelism/Outreach) on a quarterly basis.  I will be the head of the Evangelism/Outreach part of it, with an elder overseeing me.  Accountability will be key. 

This is huge being that I should be having regular teams (from my church) go with me to events, and sharing the gospel out on the streets.  Of course this will stir the pot at first, but we despritely need a healthy church and it's the only way to do it.  I will be scheduling outreach events and evangelism outings throughout the year, along with training sessions to equip and guide those who need it.  For years I prayed that the leadership would be more involved, and that my brothers and sisters in my fellowship would join me.  Praise God my prayers are getting answered.