Mission Good Friday: April 14, 2017

We were able to get downtown in Marshalltown today around 12 Noon, for our annual "Mission Good Friday", where we read out in public the Bible account of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to pass out gospel tracts and have some conversations with our neighbors.

Rain was predicted, and it started to drizzle just after we got set up. But the Lord gave us a break in the rain, and I read Matthew chapters 26-28 in English, and just as I was getting finished, David and Anna Leigh Heckart showed up, and David read the scriptures in Spanish. Our young friend Aquila also joined us, and he walked down the block by the China Buffet, and gave out a lot of gospel tracts.

I used a small chalkboard on magnets to write out what we were doing out on the corner of Main Street & Center Street

Here we are on the street corner, in front of Zamora's Fresh Market in Marshalltown (Paul, David & Anna Leigh, and Mary)

David reading Matthew 26-28 in Spanish

A man named John stopped and listened while he was waiting for a court appearance across the street, and he shared that he was moved to tears as he heard again of the heroic love of the Lord Jesus, demonstrated by his willingness to do the Father's will, and go to the cross to bear our sins, so that we could have our sins washed away, and be given the gift of righteousness by God, and receive the gift of eternal life simply by trusting in the Lord Jesus. And to that I say Amen - I agree whole heartedly.

We pray that God would use us to encourage other believers, and to speak into the lives of those who have not trusted yet in Jesus Christ. It is our hope that they'll think about God's word, think about who Jesus is, and think of their own eternity. God wants all men to be saved, and has provided a mighty Savior who has finished the work of our salvation 2000 years ago. So make sure you go and tell as many people as possible about our Savior Jesus Christ, and the good news of the gospel. Let's take advantage of every opportunity to obey our Lord to go & to tell them:

Matthew 28:18-20 

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

A Challenge from Pastor Umar Malinde

Pastor Umar Mulinde was raised Muslim and trained to be a Da'i, which is an Islamic missionary that propagates Islam. Instead, he became a Christian pastor. In this Tel Aviv hospital interview, he recounts how he was burned with acid at the hands of Muslim persecutors. His scars and pain will endure, but his faith is greater than these. Nothing the world can throw at him or us will quench our love for Jesus.

Please watch Pastor Umar Mulinde tell his story in this short video:

Jesus says this to His disciples: 

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 

Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 

But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. 

John 15:18-22

Stay strong in the Lord, brothers and sisters, and boldly share the glad tidings of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the one-and-only Savior of sinners, and the one true God of the Bible, of whom to know is eternal life (John 17:3)

Good Days for a Little Maintenance

If your ministry is primarily out-of-doors, then January in the Midwest USA can be challenging. Now I don't let the winter weather get in the way of our outreach here in Iowa: we do plenty of "ice fishing", and just like the secular version, you just have to prepare for the cold (Carhartt insulated overalls & Hot Hands hand warmers, for example). Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are excellent times to point people to Jesus Christ, and I always try to get out on the street corner (in addition to getting out the decorated gospel tracts and books we make for this time of year.)

But there are days in January & February when its just better to stay indoors. This weekend was like that. Still, you can put these days to good use. Its a perfect time to work on new witnessing tools, or do a little needed maintenance on existing ones. My witnessing crosses get little wear and tear over the year. Here's part of my "Jesus Paid It All" cross (with "Are You Ready?" on the back side). I wipe them down with alcohol first, and then go over everything with a new coat of paint. I apply linseed oil and let them dry for a few days, and then wipe off the excess, and they are ready for another year.

If you're ever interested in how I make these witnessing tools, just drop me a line. And, if you are into woodworking and have the time & equipment to help, please give me a call! I lost my local lumberyard (Logs To Lumber) who used to cut, plane & notch the cross members to my specifications. I need to find a another resource for this so I can make new witnessing crosses. 

Is The Message of the Gospel for You?

Luke 5:29-32

(29) And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

(30) But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

(31) And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

(32) I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Why did the Lord Jesus call publicans and sinners, and eat with them?

It was true – that’s what he did. And the explanation is surely simple: he was a great physician. You don’t go around healing well people. He was healing the sickness of sin, and he came to minister to them.

The gospel is really for those who recognize their need. There are some people today that are too good to be saved…did you know that? That is, they think they are.

I want to speak very frankly: If you recognize that you have a need, then the gospel is for you; Christ can save you, and he will save you!

If you are self-sufficient, you recognize no need, may I say to you:

just go on your self-chosen pathway. It will lead to destruction. 

The message (of the gospel) is not for you. I’m very sorry; I wish I had a message for you, but I don’t have a message for folks like that.

Excerpt I made from the audio teaching of J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Radio, teaching on Luke 5.

Is God Good?

I was reminded today of this little 1-minute that addresses the subject, "If God is good, why is there evil in the world?" It has a lot of good answers packed into such a short video. If you've ever had questions about the goodness of God, you certainly can spare 1 minute now, can't you? Enjoy!