Home Bible Study Groups: Prioritizing The Savior Or Service First?

Q: Christian, which should come first, worship, Bible study, small group fellowship, or personal evangelism as we serve the Lord?

I'm kind of tired and it is getting late here in Dallas, but I'll try to be somewhat clear as I muse outloud here. I personally love this question above and I need to ask myself this regularly. I believe that our vertical worship of Christ must come first and thought we could discuss this a little. Now can you list any verses here (at the bottom) that make the answer to this question very clear or will basically refute this kind of thinking?

I believe that personal and mass evangelism; yes, both are to be the natural outgrowth of us sowing to the Spirit in all those other areas. We have a best Friend and we act like it because we love Him.

All discipleship should also be an outgrowth of time spent with Jesus alone and with His body. Our vertical relationship must come before our horizontal service. Duh.

Are you currently more like a Mary type of person or a Martha type of person? Admittedly, there have been times in my past experience with Jesus where I have gotten so distracted by all the busyness and have inadvertently become like a workaholic for God. I was basically ineffective in all my witnessing efforts for Jesus. Has that ever happened to you?

Hey gang, I know of course.. that you more than likely are already seeking the Lord daily and are pretty well-fed to boot huh.

I know that I feel so grateful inside and I merely want to stir up your pure thinking even more along these lines, to get some kind of edification and discussion going here. It just motivates me all the more!

I was just noticing the words of the Apostle Paul today dealing with serving. He said, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord" (Rom. 12:11). Now, I really like that order here and I've found that I have had a really hard time with serving the Lord in any way if I am not first fervent in spirit due to a lifestyle of full-on worship and fellowship with other on-fire growing Christians.

How about you?

So, what say you ..in this regard?

Maybe you desire to tactfully cast a net ..or a well baited hook.. in every opportunity you can without being pushy.. like in your neighborhood, or with relatives, or with coworkers, or with fellow students ..or politely with your social network connections?

I say we all boldly enlarge our circles of love for the purpose of including new and old friends for God's Kingdom! Your involvement with effective Spirit-led personal evangelism is vital! This stuff is for you and for me! Yes, it is God's will for every Christian, for every home Bible study group and for every local church. Paul said, "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor.5:18-20, nkjv).

When the church and home groups lose their evangelistic edge, the sentence is spiritual stagnation and death for many. No amount of study, acts of serving, sharing, or serving will save the church's future vision when then no longer include this ministry of personal evangelism. They will soon get inverted eyeballs, when there is a needy world desperate for our magnificent Message. This is the first priority for all Christian leaders. Jesus has reconciled us to Himself and privileged us to be a part of His world-changing enterprise so to speak, so we must all pray and do our part in going to tell others what He wants them to hear …from a basis of strength in Him.

Although we can use a wide variety of evangelistic methods and righteous bait if you will, our duty as leaders is to understand and teach those principles from God's Word that never change and are most suitable for our particular home group and church.

Sometimes people can become very defensive or angry when they feel guilty and are under conviction. Some of us were the same way, shortly before receiving Christ. They say you can always tell when someone casts a brick into a pack of dogs.. it's the one that yelps that got hit. You know people aren't literal dogs, but we can all yelp real loud and throw a fit when the Spirit is directly dealing with us (if they do yelp, let it be due to the truth in love spoken, and not be due to your callous insensitivity). Who wants to give up their beloved idols all alone ..until we clearly see what is offered to us by Christ and how much better it really is?

Witnesses shouldn't ever take it personal when they are mocked or attacked. It often takes some time for family, relatives, coworkers and friends to accept the idea of God changing them. Each home group can work as a team in prayerfully sowing seeds, in planting truth, in watering the seeds, in cultivate to get the weeds out with open people and then when the time is right, we reap.

To prepare for personal evangelism like say ..from the home.. to prepare to lead in this type of initiative overt evangelism.. to get empowered for any type of evangelism for that mattery, nothing helps more than to have regular, to-the-point, Christ-centered, non-gossipy prayer meetings where you earnestly call out to the Lord for His guidance and confidence. We pray for open doors, for prepared hearts, for favor, for the scales on the eyes to be removed, for God's wisdom, for real anointing, for genuine love and for a harvest. God wants to add to the church.. through you obeying Him!

Then after praying together (and possible fasting if the Spirit leads you to), simply set a time and just go for it together. New believers can team up with humble experienced saints.

Go out there where the lost people are! It could be in the park, a skate ramp, or near any major event in your city where they will come together. Now go do your homework and get the permits if you'll need them to set up a table or whatever your plan involves. We always want to do things respecting the laws and city authorities, but the important part is getting started. Fear of failure and rejection must be overcome. It's a real joy; an exciting adventure!

Remember.. collectively and individually.. we never want to depend upon ourselves and witness in our own ingenuity or power. Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (Jn. 6:63). Unlike many TV preachers, speak Christ's words in a non-spooky or religious way. I've found that most unbelievers don't have a problem with Jesus at all. It's typically Christians or ministries they have a problem with.

Think back on how was it the Spirit using the Scripture as Saints read it to me ..and this truth will impacted anyone if they choose not to have a hard, cold, closed heart?

Do you remember the day when the Holy Spirit shined His light into your heart and showed you that you were a needy sinner? Were you a party animal just like I was?

Man, I was taken to a home Bible study group up the coast near Newport Beach and was hearings some sweet songs sung ..with a bunch of Spirit-filled, middle aged and elderly ladies when it happened to me.

Like me for the longest time, you probably thought that you were simply an "okay person," but suddenly you felt all convicted inside …of your sin and wickedness. You were also probably overwhelmed by God's love as He wooed you to Himself.

That conviction wasn't ever an ugly feeling to me ..like condemnation is. But it's far better than that. God know how we need to be convinced. Yes, perhaps the gentle Holy Spirit brought about that radical regeneration change in you with Bible stories you together were going over.

Where you changed the first time you heard the Gospel? Some people are, but others need to be witnessed to several times as Christians keep on praying for them. Jesus said, "'Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit'" (Jn. 3:5–6). Being raised in a non-Bible teaching church, this passage made a difference in my life.

Yes, it was literally the Holy Spirit who brought about the work of conversion in you and me—free of charge.

And then it was the Holy Spirit who gave you and me that inner assurance that we are truly believers. It's plays out just like it says in Romans 8:16, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."

Perhaps you are already a fan of devotions, prayer and of small-group evangelism.. and are now wanting to hear more on this important subject? More importantly… perhaps you somehow accidentally landed on this blog and are wondering what I am even talking about.. and aren't even sure if you are a real Christian in the first place.

Do you need some more instruction with this fishing stuff?

Here's Some Classic Suggested Reading…

A. The Master Plan of Evangelism, R. Coleman

B. The Universe Next Door, Sire

C. Say It With Love, Hendricks

D. Out of the Salt Shaker and Into the World, Pippert

E. Evidence That Demands a Verdict, McDowell

F. Encounter; Face to Face with Jesus, Heitzig

G. Christianity: The Faith That Makes Sense, McCallum

H. The Death of Truth, McCallum

I. A Passion for the Gospel, Greg Laurie with Chuck Swindoll

J. The Claims of Christ, Chuck Smith, Sr.

K. Witnessing Without Fear, Bright

So How's Your Fireworks Weekend Going?

Hope you are having a wonderful Fourth of July weekend with your loved ones.

Americans, don't you still feel so grateful to live in this unique Land? We indeed aren't better than those of other countries by any means and shouldn't be filled with pride like we somehow are, but we are so radically blessed! I never want to take that for granted. I always want to keep at it too, so that those who come after me can also know this kind of blessing here.

Q: Why have so many people tried to come to this nation (the USA) to live, work and raise a family ..rather than to say some country like, Cuba (and I'm not asking this to slight any Cubans in any way believe me)?

I think it's because of the foundation that was laid by our forefathers.

Have we no large issues to deal with here? Sure. Yeah, we certainly have got em after drifting away from God and the Bible, but grace and full cleansing via Christ's precious blood that still flows free of cost from Calvary ..is still available for all of us sinners.

And we saved sinners ought to walk in holy fear and indeed keep short accounts with God when we blow it ...I mean get up and run back to Him with true repentance quickly (See 1 John 1:9).

Praise God that our basic laws are still biblical and were set according to the Judeo-Christian ethic. How cool is that for a nation! Of course our founding fathers never envisioned or desired that abortion would be made legal here. They never even intended for the Supreme Court to even make laws. That is and was for the Legislature to take care of.

But I love the freedom of worship that we can express and enjoy here too! Let Christ continue to be magnified!

Many unbelieving progressives (perhaps some with deep religion/church-hurt?) are fighting hard to have God removed from students in schools (who still pray before tests etc) and from everything, but we all can still sing of our love to Christ almost anywhere we want if we aren't disrupting others.

We had a great time today hanging with our friends the Stropes and the Gandias.. and also while teaching the Bible with zeal and inner passion. Want to do that more and more and more!

It was a blast!!!

And guess what.. no one got all up in my face to say, "Hey Kurt, you can't teach that part anymore. Hate crimes!" Listen, I love people. I only hate sin and Mr Lu Cifier for how they rip people off.

The Bible says, "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever" (1 Peter 4:11).

Let's all pray that the Gospel Message and teaching from all the counsels of God with power ..will continue to go out wisely in His love ..until all have heard and can choose on their own! We aren't responsible to choose for them, so we'll leave the results up to the Lord.

I want to thank you for your prayers for us! I like what Paul said, "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith" (2 Thess. 3:1-2). Keep on fighting the good fight of faith (in the Spirit not in the flesh) and have a great Sunday in Jesus!

Happy Independence Day!

Did they really sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4th? Well, only two people did. Most signed it on July 2nd. Who was the oldest person to sign it? Well it was Ben Franklin. Now what is the greatest freedom? Freedom from sin is the best kind of freedom there is. I know first hand--I'm a sinner. It's true! To be in Christ and under His control moment by moment is what true freedom is all about! I was once SO not free. What a drag that was. Sure sin is fun for a season, but then it gets real moldy fast.

Today many believe that they are free, but in reality they are just like a puppet on a string doing what another wants. They are literally bound as slaves of sin.

In my "BC days" (Before Christ), I used to tell my friends.,. "Yeah, yeah, I can quit that ole habit any time that I want", but then when I tried to, I actually found out that I couldn't walk free. The partying had a hold on me. That's when I started to investigate more seriously and started to appreciate old truth regarding this subject.

Yes, today I call this my Dependence Day! Every day I am free inside. I call it this because I wouldn't make it out there on my own, without being dependent upon the One who made me free in the first place. Sure I am deeply grateful for all the soldiers who fought and died to secure my security here in America. Thank you! Freedom ain't free. Someone has to pay for it.

Jesus was and is the ultimate soldier who fought in warfare for you ..and won! And we must not forget to thank Him directly.. and to seek Him according to His Word.

It was in 1776, that 13 colonies of Brits came here to North America to start a new life. That's when they all protested the limitations that the king of England had placed on them. You know the story well.

They found themselves in a struggle that gave birth to a brand new Republic here and they sought to be lead by Christ in how they did lived. And this nation soon adopted a famous document that we now know as The Declaration of Independence.

I'm so glad. I wonder if the people of Iran will keep on struggling for freedom. I sure hope so! I wonder if we blinded Americans (for the most part) who seem to be on some love affair with radical governmental leaders who are indeed leading us in the wrong direction to the hurt of our families, and our grandchildren.. will insist upon going back into deep bondage on many levels. Do we love spiritual and financial dept so much or will we take a stand and let our voices be heard?

Perhaps you want to taste the best kind of freedom and haven't yet. Some 2,000 years ago, a sinless Person named Jesus, who was nailed to a lonely cross between two criminals, cried out, "It is finished." He said that proclaiming the believer's "declaration of independence" from the capital punishment that we sinners deserve for breaking God's holy laws.. and independence from oppression, from a Christ-less eternity, and from all the non-merciful shackles of various addictions that can hold anyone of us fast unto permanent death.

You've probably heard the old story of how men and women were set free. All of humanity was under the cruel tyranny of sin and death. That sounds kind of poetic in a way, but it took on new meaning for me in 1977 when I turned from my sin habits to start a friendship with Christ. Yes it was Jesus Christ, the only sinless human, who vicariously took our place on Calvary's tree and died for you and for me—for our sins to be forgiven. Having satisfied God's righteous demands—'cause He is totally just—He now sets people free for eternity if they want that. Do you? It's for all who choose to humble themselves, repent, and trust in Him.

The Psalmist prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy FREE spirit. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee" (Ps. 51:10-13). The Bible says...

"If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." ~John 8:36

"From every mountainside, let freedom ring!" ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Now are we free—there's no condemnation! Jesus provides a perfect salvation;
"Come unto Me," O hear His sweet call! Come—and He saves us once for all." ~Bliss

Don't we see how it's sin that separates people? It doesn’t free them—I hate it! When we see so many inequities and injustices in the world around us—so many huge challenges that are even far beyond us fixing.. we can feel like asking: “How long, Lord?”

How have we.. as a so called free people.. drifted so far away from the One who makes people free? May I be kinda blunt for a moment? When we see a great nation that puts an inexperienced man into the highest office of the Land ..a person who declares abroad on foreign soil that America is "arrogant" and so easily broad-brushes us all ..as he himself actually is, doesn’t it make you wonder?

How did we as a people.. elect a governmental official into power here who puts God out of our institutions of education for children, but has no problem at all with the Muslim teachings coming forth in our schools… a man who wants the killing of innocent little babies in their mother’s wombs to continue? Do the unborn and barely born Americans have any rights at all? Doesn’t that distress us at all? Who have we become?

Please tell me.. how did we as a people vote a man into the Oval office who has radical Marxist concepts in mind; one with a view of a redistribution of our people’s hard-earned wealth, so that the “lazy gimme, gimme crowd” can only be encouraged in their erroneous selfish ways ..a man who has aggressively sought to raise taxes on anyone who earns more than $150,000 per year and yet has changed this ceiling three times, that he countless times publicly has set starting when he first announced it in August ’09. Man, he’s broken his word so many times already and now our national unemployment rate is at 9.5% (a 25 year high)! How long before we see the “change” for the nation’s good as was promised our people? How long before he starts taking responsibility for this jobless situation, and ceases with his own Bush-blame-game?

Why would we want to willingly go along with the typical group-think and everything his man says without processing it for ourselves.. according to the Word of God? How can we accept this administration’s hypocritical spending actions? How can we keep from hurling as we here this man take credit for a war’s victory when he personally sought for us all to prematurely abandon it in defeat? He's now seeking to reduce our military by twenty five percent while radical Islamic and extremist nations are building nukes to shoot at Jews and our own people? North Korea shot off seven ballistic missiles just today ..to poke us in the eye on our holiday. And it's because they all know we have a weak educated but dim leader who just wants to sit down and chat with killers. What a reproach! He is our President, but he is a lot kinder to weird dictators than to the 53 million Americans who didn't vote for him but must fund his Airforce One dates/photo ops. I guess Hawaii, our leaders home state, can spend this happy day waiting to see if our defense missles actually work to protect against possible incoming skuds. Again, this isn't a repub or a dem issue, it's an American problem ..a financial blunder for several future generations of Americans if the Lord tarries before returning.

Indeed we should pray for this professing “Christian” but why are we so long-term infatuated with the teleprompter eloquence of this leader who sets our National Day of Prayer aside and advocates that illegal aliens receive equal benefits along with our hard working law abiding American citizens who have paid into it all their lives? Where is the justice for which our forefathers died?

How did we allow him entrance; this golden child of the drive by media.. this man who tries to force Israel to make unfair concessions and to give up more of their land to those who have vowed to murder them all by driving them into the sea? Is he rep-ing us well or does his words poorly represent our stance of loyalty with long time friends?

Americans aren’t flying red flags with hammer and sickle on em today and we need to keep it like that! Our leader's approval rating has been falling due to his policies, but it’s not fast enough for a man who cozies up to thug-dictators in our name and seeks to make friends with terrorist-supporting nations! We were each designed for freedom and heartfelt worship of God, not of a waring Allah!

Hello! It’s time for all sides of the political and spiritual spectrum—the liberal progressives along with conservatives, the Jews along with nominal Christians to wake up and not remain silent! Do we really want the Cap-and-Trade to go through, raising gas prices, food prices, and our electric bill by $1000 to $3000 per year? Do we want Government into our light bulbs, cars, toilets and future doctor visits?

You know what, if we keep up this crazy-spending and continue to elect people like this, hey, God will let us. It seems like a built-in judgment to me, as we bring the troubles on ourselves and yet so many will remain mad at God.

You know, the silence of Heaven (for a time due to patience..) can be hard for us to deal with, but our longsuffering God who is wanting us to turn and learn.. does hear our prayers when we earnestly call out to Him. Will you?

I love it that the gift of true freedom is free (See Romans 5:16). If you know someone who is not yet free (as a believer), then go tell them today how to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ today. Everyone will eventually die and they need to be ready.

Christ died once and then came out of that hole in the ground. He said, "I am he who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death" (Rev. 1:18, nkjv).

Will you emerge from the turf unto eternal life with God? Sadly Elvis Presley, the King of Rock, is dead. James Brown, the King of Soul, is dead. Kurt Cobain, the King of Grunge, is dead. And now Michael Jackson, the King of Pop who won 13 Grammys and sold 750 million records, is sadly dead. Were any of them truly free? I want to know. Jesus Christ, the King of all Kings, is was killed but now He's alive forevermore! He rose from the dead to go live with the Father forever and wants you to join Him. Let's go tell others so they can experience true freedom and life today. Happy 4th!

Fish4Souls.org

Distressed? Receive Comfort In Christ, Instead Of Just Worryin' About It!

Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Your Word to Your servant. ~Psalm 119:76

Perhaps you've been feeling worried about all the changes that have been happening around you lately. Maybe you've lost a job. Does everything seem to be happening so much faster these days with all the communications technology--are you on info-overload? does it seem like hardly anyone has enough margin built into their cram-packed lives anymore? How can people even begin to process it all?

Do you remember Noah? He didn't have a 3G cell phone, but he was exposed to really huge and tragic circumstances in his day that might have made him feel overwhelmed at times. Who knows? But Noah could have opted to worry about things and stop his arch building. He could have literally worried himself to death if he wanted to.

After all, he went through a gargantuanly massive catastrophe with killer flood results ..far worse than any Tsunamis tidal wave destruction that we've seen. And he sure tried his best to warn the people back then ..in love, but they just wouldn't listen to the truth.

We know that Noah was a pretty strong and courageous man of character. After the fact, he could have been so beyond "traumatized" by that most violent catastrophe in all of history. I sure don't know how I could have made it through all those deep waters, seeing his floating friends who disregarded all his warnings. How sad! How could he handle all that distress?

Surely Noah must have known a bit about the paralysis that can come via fear or the rad-paranoia feelings that come to humans via worry during basic trauma. But he also knew by first-hand experience that the God of the storm ..is also the God of all comfort, the One who can be merciful and bring good to people after all the bad has arrived. He surely knew that God was able to calm his own fears, as he kept his focus firmly dead-bolted on God his stable loving Maker.

Today some of my friends are justifiably so tired of being overwhelmed by the media regarding the passing of Michael Jackson and Farrah ..in how they deal with it. They are passing right by other way important things happening too. Neither of those individuals were anything like Noah, but stuff like that can feel huge to many strangers to it (and of course is HUGE to family). You know how the biased media always hype everything that's Hollywoodesque ..into a monumental mountain for ratings and block other important stuff. How come the media didn't mention anything here about how Congress passed the Cap and Trade deal here this week, that Wall Street will probably clean up with? I personally haven't been watching the news reports and it's actually been better for me, but it is sad for me to see how hard some people around me are taking it. Whole lots..gobs.. going on these days.

It seems like high, low, and medium profile people are getting hurt, blown about.. and bothered by so many different things going on all around the world. Man, when will it all end? God knows.

Jesus feels for them in their pain, we can be sure of that. It was interesting to hear how Actress, Elizabeth Taylor, spoke of her love for MJ saying, "I can't imagine life without him... I'm going to miss him… I was packing up my clothes to go to London for his opening when I heard the news. I still can't believe it. I don't want to believe it… He will live in my heart forever but it's not enough. My life feels so empty."

And just think about all those quickly-forgotten-by-many ..that got killed in the Iran protesting. Man, that really bugs me. We haven't even been able to see most of what is happening there ..due to the government's info-black-out.

Has something uber-rough in this life left you feeling worried, troubled, or majorly beat up, or simply worn out.. worn down, or even like Ms. Taylor feels.. left you recognizing how radically empty you really are inside?

Jesus Christ is still the only One who is meant to fill up that emptiness inside you! You were created for a warmhearted great friendship with Him with no sin-blockages.. and He longs to comfort you when you are hurting! Is He living on the inside of you? Are you allowing Christ to heal and minister to you? Let's refuse to be tossed about! Need Solace? The Bible says…

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.. who comforts us in all our tribulation." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4

"Therefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:18

"You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side." Psalm 71:21

I'm far from being a doctor who knows about this stuff, but recent medical studies have shown us that worry actually attacks people's central nervous system, attacks their circulatory system, and even their digestive system in their bodies. Charles Mayo, of the Mayo Clinic, said, "You can worry yourself to death, but you cannot worry yourself to a longer life."

We must stay focused on the Lord when we feel like being distracted... I mean really knowing the Lord when we feel like being too busy for Him. We can receive His comfort and choose not to worry as we trust Him today.

Visit Fish4Souls.org

Show Em While You Can!

You are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God's holy nation, His very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9, nlt

Do you remember when young Stephan was killed? What a no compromise bright and shining light! What a chosen and effective witness for Christ he was. Man, he seemed to make every day count for the Lord ..while he could. Who really knows (saint or sinner) when their gunna be done with it all early?

I bet it really shook the people up of that day when he was stoned in his youth; especially religious Saul the onlooker.

While the rocks where flying at Stephen, and the blood splattered upwards, he wasn't showing badness and vindictive anger towards his attackers trapped in darkness. No, he was showing them the goodness and love of God 'til the very end. He wanted them all forgiven so much it hurt. Hadn't his Lord do the very same thing? He had a good Example to follow like we do.

You remember the story and how he called out, "'Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!' Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, 'Lord, do not charge them with this sin.' And when he had said this, he fell asleep" (Acts 7:56-60).

The Scriptures don't say that he "died" 'cause we all know exactly where Stephen went—his soul and spirit went straight to be with his loving heavenly Father. God says "he fell asleep" for he knew that one day Stephen's physical body in the grave would explode outta there with resurrection life. Will yours? Who really needs to experience the second death--not Stephen?

Stephen is in Heaven today, he's going to live forever and we can one day meet and join him by getting right with the Lord today ..on His terms!

You know it doesn't always play out like it did with Stephen. People reach room temperature in a myriad of different ways ..unexpectedly. We're certainly not sure where some people end up (and they themselves are often not sure where they will go before they enter eternity, even though they could be if they wanted to.. beforehand. See 1 Jn. 5:13). But what an honor! Stephen took a stand for Jesus ..with his life and words and all, and then Jesus took a stand for Stephen. Will you do the same?

High profile people, low profile people, and many other people in the middle with equal value physically died this week—even today on the streets of Iran and here in the States. SAD! You know, I was standing only ten feet away from the same location today where I encountered Michael Jackson and his mom ..who was dressed all in white. It was back in the '80s. Michael was wearing a black fedora hat, sunglasses and no glove that warm sunny day. Yeah, but here's what's kinda weird, I was standing only eight feet away today from that spot when I heard that this same king of pop died ..the same age as I am now ..in a Los Angeles hospital.

I ever remember later that day giving him a hand written non-pushy, non-condemning Gospel tract that I wrote for him with key verses I felt were just for him.

Of course we didn't become buds or have some long conversation about spiritual matters. He was pretty much to himself, but a nice guy just the same. It didn't appear to "take" with him though (ya know, my tract), because he later joined up with some JW cult members here in Dallas to go out witnessing with them and with their false religious message. SAD!

Hey, this nobody (me), doesn't know about all the details of his controversial life and I'm not his Judge. Don't really care to know that much. Only God sees the inner heart of man, but I pray for his heart-broken family today. They must really be hurting like never before.

Way too many precious people died this week and they all seemed way too young to me. Man, when that happens, it just makes me want to shine the light of the Lord all the brighter. It makes me want to walk close with Jesus in holy fear, rather than with some kinda cheap grace mentality doin' my own thang in His Name. Too many people out doin't that!

Another man.. a homeless classmate of mine from Dana Hills High named Neil who sleeps under the stars.. and under a bench some 1500 miles west of me now is about to die. He and I were real party-animals through the '70s but now all that has sadly caught up with Neil. Neil thinks he's fine believing he's one heaven-bound Christian now, but he still likes to get drunk daily (See 1 Cor. 6:9-10 to see why I feel concerned). Sad; so much to do.. to say.. and so little time. I ain't no Messiah, but I need Him and want him to work through this ordinary run-of-the-mill Joe like me. Who will listen? Probably no one if I don't get down on my knees early!

I SO want Neil to go to heaven! My parents have even talked with him this week and really tried to help him, but he just turns em down. SAD!

That's the really hard part! We can show drunks and other needy folk the goodness of God repeatedly and lovingly share the Gospel with them, but it does them no good at all if they aren't open for this. Do you have a readiness about you. Are you sick and tired of bein' sick and tired? Some never seem to hit a bottom til they hit the bottom of that dug out hole, but then it's too late. There's no salvation beyond sucking air ..alive while here.. but if you live 100% for Jesus now, your impact and ministry influence can go beyond your short time spent here.

The Bible says, "By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain did… and by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead" (Heb. 11:4, niv). Abel's life, although cut short, was not wasted at all. It was because of his faith in the one and only living God, as was expressed through his daily verbal and non-verbal witness. Yup, that made the difference!

Perhaps there have been times when you felt afraid of rejection and couldn't open your mouth to tell someone the truth. You could have, but you felt paralized in a way. Maybe you've felt under-prepared before to witness for Christ out loud? Perhaps you've wondered at times what people might think of you if you "wax bold" and get right to the point about God's benevolent grace. Ever wonder what your legacy will be like, or what they'll say about you when you're gone? I don't mean to be macabre or anything heavy like that here, but have you ever considered what you want others to truthfully inscribe on your tombstone? I've got one friend who wants his to read: Jesus never fails (just like it reads on his Christian mom's ..and grandmother's tombstones)!

Ever prayed about, or thought about what your grandchildren would know about you? Liney and I so look forward to the time when we can meet our granddaughter, Abrianna, for the first time and we pray that we can be good consistent on-fire witnesses for her and our boys too.

Wouldn't it be amazing if, like Abel or Stephen in the book of Acts, you would be remembered throughout all the generations to follow as one who was a close friend of God.. one who lived by faith in Christ no matter the cost ..one who not only believed and spoke about Christ affectiontely and what the Bible says, but actually lived it? You and I aren't promised old age or a death bed. Many people aren't afforded such, but in a sin-cursed world ..that we made that way through disobedience.. even that kinda pain of illness and death.. doesn't make the Lord any less Good. Are you seriously hurting today or confused? He alone can bring good outta all the bad.

Abel probably didn't get it all in his day, but he passed the baton of truth that leads people to salvation ..on to the next generation.. which was represented by his younger brother, Seth. And it would appear that Stephen's obedience was also a factor in lost Saul later getting saved.

No matter your situation or weaknesses, you too can be instrumental in winning lost sinners to Christ and relaying the baton of faith firmly into their hands. Get close to Christ now! We all have our part to do as we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (See Matt. 6:33)! Wisely relay it to your own children if you have some, and if not ..just rejoice (and I don't mean to say that in some cavalier way)! Many feel acute pain because they've wanted children for so long.

You and I can simply relay it to someone else's children as well as to all those around us. Choose to be inclusive rather than exclusive. What a joy! That's how caring Jesus was (even though He never accepted their sins that hurt them). The possibilities are limitless ..though our time down here for this type of rescue-activity is not. People of all shapes and sizes depart from us without notice. Let's show em while we can!