John McCranie's Blogs

A Jesus She Never Knew  5-9-2010

   Jessica met us a year ago on a trip here with her boyfriend, Wes, a close friend of the family who lives in California. I immersed Wes in the Pacific five years ago. Wes had been showing Jess my More Than This DVD series and going through the accompanying study guides. She discovered a Jesus she never knew growing up in church and later decided to leave. 

   My conversations with Jessica were especially strong and blessed by the Holy Spirit. She was receptive but cautious. After returning home we continued to study by phone and she realized she wanted to give her life to Jesus but needed more study.

   I suggested her and Wes come out to Gilbert which they did and again we had more powerful sessions in the Word and in prayer. She desired God's blessings but was unsure if she could live up to the standards of the Christian life. I assured her that we don't make ourselves Christian and then become Christian. Only the Spirit of Christ can do that.

   

   On May 2 following our worship celebration, Jessica was baptized for the remission of her sins as heaven and church members rejoiced. She recently texted me and said she is doing great, studying the Bible daily and journaling about her new journey in Jesus.

   Father our Redeemer, you have made Jess a new creation. She has trusted You for her salvation and the gift of Your Holy Spirit. By surrendering to your love and lordship you have set her free. Thank You for all of our releases! From the enemy's dungeons of depression You have liberated us. For that we will serve Christ joyfully and always. In His name. Amen.

<>< John

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Death Grip  Easter 2010

When I was a boy, I had a paper route in a poor part of N. Sacramento. It was my experience that underprivileged people can have very contemptible canines. And these dogs often felt little compulsion to remain on their properties so, it made sense they called them “Rover.” Author Richard S. Wright was a paper boy also in one of the poorest sections of his town. I love his account of the following.

     “I discovered that rather than go around the whole block, I could ride through the back alley and throw the papers to the houses on either side. Thus, I covered the area much quicker. There was one drawback. In the alley there was the biggest, fiercest old black Chow dog I had ever seen. We did battle every morning. I carried rocks, clubs, sprays and anything else that would help me overcome my fear of his daily attack. Every day that Chow would come charging out at me, but I knew where he would come for him and would be going fast and just lift my legs and coast out of harm's way.
     One dark morning I started through the alley with my papers and a club, but the enemy didn't appear. I relaxed, threw down my club and was about to exit the alley when, at that precise moment, the hairy monster came roaring out from under the porch of the last possible house. Before I knew it, he had fastened his dreadful huge jaws on the smallest part of the calf of my leg. You can imagine my fear when he bit down with a powerful crunch. You cannot imagine my sense of relief and joyful laughter when I realized that the old Chow dog was harmless--he didn't have a tooth in his head! From that day on that old back alley was a different place. It no longer held terror for me. I had been delivered from all my unfounded fears.”

Richard’s story reminds me of Paul’s proclamation in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Where do we gain that victory? In the resurrection of Christ.

Thank You Lord that on Easter morning, by delivering Jesus Christ from our final enemy, You removed all the bite out of that old dog, Death. Free us from any terror we may have of dying. In fact Father, set us free from the terror of our terrors. Replace that with the hope that one day we will be perfected because we are in Christ. In Him. Amen.

Let me close with Benjamin Franklin's original epitaph:

Happy Resurrection Day!

<>< John

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Happy Birthday Steve  3-11-2010

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Fear of the Lord  2-26-2010

“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord” (Acts 9:31).

    God is not my buddy. He is God. He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End. He always was, He always is, and He always will be. He is fire and thunder, wind and wave. He is the judge of the living and the dead. He sits on the throne in heaven with the earth as His footstool. He is the Creator of all who spoke everything into existence through His powerful Word.

    Speaking of the Word – Jesus is not my pal that I can throw my arm around and hang with. He is the Lamb that was slain who now rules as King of Kings. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah and holds an iron scepter in His hand ruling completely and sovereignly. He is holy, righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure. He is my Redeemer, my Savior, and He is my Lord who rightly rules my life!

    In our society, egalitarianism has pressured us to believe that no one person is superior to any other nor should anyone be subordinate to another. All are completely equal solely because that’s the way the egalitarian wants it. Any words that denote otherwise are to be avoided at all costs. Words like, “authority,” “rank,” “position,” are being erased so we can feel better about ourselves and not think so highly of others. This is the stuff of Ivy-League philosophers that has little bearing in the real world. In fact, young Americans duped by this idealism eventually find themselves shocked into reality by people with titles such as, “supervisor,” “manager” and even occasionally “judge.”

    Speaking of which, the last thing I would ever do if in called before a court of law is swagger in and look at the judge and say “Hey, Bud! What’s up? Lookin’ perty nice up there stylin’ with your robe and all. What can I do for ya, dude?” You see, I understand that the man behind that bench is my superior. He, by the effort of earning a degree, passing muster and being appointed with vested authority, is higher ranking than I. He is rightly to be referred to as “Your Honor.” Even if I were to enter the courtroom of my friend, the Honorable John Belcher, I would address him in the way in which his prestige dictates.

    Egalitarianism is removing our fear of the Lord. Although He is the Christian’s heavenly Father and loves us intensely, we still must fear Him because of his infinite awesomeness. We would do well to remember that the Bible says that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:31). It must also be noted that being accepted by such an important person shapes not only how we feel about ourselves but convinces us that we are loved. This humility will determine how we conduct ourselves when tempted to behave offensively.

    Some boys were tempting a friend to pull a prank with them. The three young men taunted the other boy: "Come on, do this with us. Nobody will find out." Finally, the boy mentioned his father. So they taunted him even more. They said, "Oh, you're just afraid because if your father finds out he might hurt you!" And the boy looked back at the others and said, "No, I'm afraid if he finds out, it'll hurt him."

   Father, how often have we hurt you? How many times have we tested your patience by our sin? We know that there is a limit to your relationship with us. There are places we can go where your holiness will not allow You to go. It’s terrible to hurt those you love and no one is hurt more by us than You. You have revealed that fear is the beginning of wisdom. We understand it is to our benefit to have a healthy respect for Your majesty and authority, someone to be reckoned with and our greatest ally if we are faithful. In Your Son’s prestigious name. Amen.

   Blessings,

   <>< John

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Half Empty or Half Full?     Feb. 7, 2010

 [One of the souls we have enjoyed seeing spiritually renewed is Paul Prichard. I know you'll be blessed by reading his testimony. - J.M.] 

No doubt you have heard the philosophical expression, “Is the glass half empty or is it half full?” As they say, your answer depends on how optimistic or pessimistic you are. It has taken on an entirely different meaning in the realm of my Christianity. Not long ago I would value my Christianity as being only half full in that I had faith in Christ but, I was still lacking something. I didn’t know what, but I knew it must be something as I felt half empty.

I was raised in the Church of Christ and was baptized as such. I attended church services regularly, attended youth devotionals and their activities. I occasionally served the Lord’s Supper, led prayer, and once I even gave a congregational devotional on a Wednesday night as well as a host of other miscellaneous facets like Vacation Bible School and bus ministry. I taught Sunday school for a year. Yet, even then I seemed to be lacking something. . . but, what?

I never had a happy childhood, by the time I was a senior in high school I had started drinking and using drugs to ease my pain and loneliness. Afterwards, I then enlisted voluntarily in the US Navy to “run away” from my problems rather than face them head on. BIG MISTAKE! I soon found myself continually empty and broken, more so than when I left home. I began to drink more as a means of escape from my despair and eventually quit going to church altogether as it no longer had any meaning in my life.

After being honorably discharged, a friend of mine reached out to me and I soon found myself back in church at his request. I came to know the Lord again, the One I left behind so long ago. I started to feel not so empty anymore. For at least a few years I grew spiritually and our friendship flourished. I had finally found a brother in whom I could rely and trust. My life was beginning to change for the good. After he received his A.A. degree, he decided to pursue his Bachelor’s out-of-state. From there we lost all contact from each other. My spirituality again collapsed and I once more turned to drinking and drugging to numb my pain and by the second DUI, it seemed too late.

Nonetheless, I came to my senses and once more stopped my drinking, drugging and erring ways and at the urging and begging of my mother began to attend church again. I found the Lord the second time and eventually got married and gave up drinking and drugs altogether. For once I was truly happy in the Lord and my life. Yes, once again my life drifted only this time drifted without alcohol and drugs. I think by the fifth year this is where my marriage and family life began to falter. Long story short, I am now divorced.

I was hospitalized for chronic depression and on the day of my discharge I called John McCranie for a ride home, he agreed on the condition that I had to listen to what he had to say on the way home. I reluctantly agreed. I was reluctant due to the fact that I wanted very little to do with the church at this time because I felt they or the Lord himself wouldn’t take me back for “all I did and thought.” Little did I know a “seed” was planted that day. John told me that the church can’t save me but only God. He opened my eyes that the path to happiness is to discover Jesus for myself.

Six months ago, I was invited twice to attend a new church that John was planting. I still had my doubts because of trust issues with the Church of Christ. I think the third time he invited me I decided I would attend. Wow! Finally a church and Christians that take me as I am and love me like no other. Its hard to find words that describe my change of attitude and how I am now blossoming spiritually. I love this church and its people as they are sincere, compassionate in their acceptance of others and looking to help others who like myself. I have also found an awesome small group. It is here that I learn even more of God’s love for me as a Christian and how I can share that blessing with others. I now know what it means to have a Spirit-filled Church with Spirit-filled Christians. I can truly say my glass (my life) is now getting fuller and fuller.

I may have lost my good paying job, laid off twice, divorced, barely making it financially and have a sordid past, but, the Lord has since blessed me with a new job and has once more given me yet another lease on life. He has never given up on me. I will never give up on Him again. He is my Rock and Salvation. It is like the Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

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Worth the W.A.I.T.   Jan 20, 2010

Sunday, Jan. 17,  The Gathering held a very special worship service that included a “True Love Waits” ceremony where nine singles vowed to God to remain sexually pure until their honeymoon. It was a sacred moment filled with singing, Scripture reading and prayer. All of us were inspired to see these young people sign pledges and put on purity rings. Here are some thoughts I shared in the message before the ceremony.

In the Bible the number one thing God commands is to worship Him alone. The number two thing He says to do is avoid sexual immorality. So, it begs the question, “What does it matter to God what we do in the privacy of our own beds?" Its about fidelity! Both commandments against idolatry and sexual immorality are about being faithful, true to God and true to our spouse. The love between a husband and a wife represents God's love between He and us. So, just how does one navigate this aggressively over-sexualized culture and remain celibate until wedded? Victory lies within the word, “wait.”

 “W”stands for Worship God. By placing worship as a priority in your life you make real your intimacy with the Lord and empower your purity because at the heart of all sexual sin is a misplaced passion. By being intimate with Christ, He fills our soul with contentment and then the Holy Spirit quenches the fire of sexual desire.

“A” stands for Accountability. Few things in life would ever get done without some kind of accountability. People don't develop into spiritually mature persons by doing what comes naturally. Neither do they grow in Christlikeness by being left to themselves. Even the strongest Christians were never meant to go it alone. God’s Word reinforces this. Pro 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” and James 5:16, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Accountability to a spiritually mature confidant is crucial to victory over sexual immorality. 

“I” stands for Involved in God’s Mission. Singles, who answer God’s call to reach and teach people for Christ, have the greatest resolve in staying pure. Why? Because they are denying self and reaching outside themselves by alleviating people’s suffering, sharing the good news about salvation in Christ and building up faith in other Christians. The Spirit grants special power to those who seek first the kingdom and are fulling the Great Commission (Mark 16:15-16) in their lives. 

“T” stands for Turn Off Temptation. With hormones raging and Satan bombarding us with sex we cannot but be tempted with lust. Can one remain celibate? Is abstinence possible? Of course, or God wouldn’t command it. But with this command are promises like 1 Cor. 10:13, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” Let me stop here and ask; do you truly believe the Lord on this? Another powerful instruction is found in Romans 13:14, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” Do not allow this sin to feed its need. Sever any conduits where this temptation can pipe in its passion; be it the internet, entertainment, romance novels, etc. Deny this beast its food and it will eventually weaken and atrophy.

Is it worth the wait? Persons I have counseled say yes! By abstaining until your wedding night you please your heavenly Father, your clear conscience makes for a fantastic honeymoon and you avoid the countless heartaches that come from giving in to this destructive sin.

Blessings,

<>< John

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The Choice

Due to this stressful season and the challenging year ahead I have composed a prayer adapted from a chapter called "The Choice" in the book. . . 

     Lord it's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is black. The world is still asleep. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.
     For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.
     I choose love . . . No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. Father, I choose love. Today I will love You and what You love.
     I choose joy . . . I invite You Lord to be the God of my circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical, the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by You, Lord. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see You.
     I choose peace . . . I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live. I vow to be a peacemaker reconciling relationships and reconciling people to You.
     God, I choose patience . . . I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank You for a moment to pray. Instead of shaking my fist at new assignments, I will face them with courage.
     Great Shepherd, I choose kindness . . . I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how You have treated me.
     I choose goodness . . . I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose moral excellence.
     I choose faithfulness today, Lord . . . I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My spouse will not question my love or fidelity. And my children will never fear that I will abandon them.
     I choose gentleness . . . Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only both hands clenched together in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.
     God today I choose self-control . . . I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only with You, Holy Spirit. I will be sober-minded and clear in thinking influenced only by what I’ve been taught by Christ alone. I choose to have You control my emotions and behavior.
     Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these traits I commit my day. If I succeed bearing fruit, I will give thanks. If I fail to crucify my flesh today, I will seek Your grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.
     In Jesus’ perfect name. Amen.

Blessings,

<>< John

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The Best Gift Yet

I’m one of those pesky family members that try and find out what is in a wrapped present before I open it. I shake, shift, listen and test for weight distribution in my scientific approach to guessing what it is. Due to my uncanny accuracy in guessing the prize, I have become unpopular in the family this time of year. My normally sweet wife, Becky, has had to resort to some very despicable measures to throw me off. Here are a couple dastardly examples: One year she sealed the real gift in a water tight canister, then placed that canister in a container filled with water and then placed all of it in an oversized box stuffed with newspaper and finally wrapped it. Then she had the audacity to write on the gift in a large felt-tip font, “DO NOT SHAKE!”

I’ve gotten used to a finding completely useless rocks, bricks and packing peanuts along with the actual gift. My two sons have at times resorted to the completely unfair practice (which they claim is inspired by Scripture) of the technique they refer to as “Seek and ye will find,” After ripping off the wrapping and opening the box, I didn’t find my present but instead a piece of paper with a clue on it. Which when followed led to another clue and another and so on. One year, I had to locate ten clues all over the property before finding the ‘buried treasure’, all to their gleeful delight from setting me on a ‘wild goose chase’.

There is something exhilarating in knowing that something is already ours, and yet we haven’t fully enjoyed it. I’m sure it’s the kid in me that delights in the anticipation of future events; namely, the unveiling. The glories that await Christians often defy human comprehension. What we can grasp about them, however, fills us with great expectation. We look longingly to that great day when we will enjoy heaven in all its fullness. The writers in the Bible had a very good sense of the “already and not yet.” They truly relished in the anticipation of Christ’s return and their inheritance in heaven. Yet, to them, it wasn’t all future tense. They knew that we don’t have to wait for the unveiling to enjoy the blessings associated with it.

Jesus taught that eternal life wasn’t so much a quantity of time as it was a quality of life. The Word of God states that the moment someone comes in contact with the cleansing blood of Christ they receive eternal life right then and there. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24 NIV). The tense of His verbs make clear the gift of salvation is not just in the future, “Whoever . . . believes. . . has eternal life. . .he has crossed over. . .”

So, remember not all presents opened on Christmas morning are surprises. You had a good hunch what you were going to get. And so it is with Christianity, you can enjoy the thought of what heaven will be like before you get there and that can sustain you through very difficult times. By the way, there’s a Bible word for all of this, it’s called “hope.” My all time favorite passage on hope is Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

So, grab your Bible and shake it, sift it and press your ear close to it and listen carefully. Bet you’ll guess what the best gift yet is.

Blessings,

<>< John

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A story of disillusionment, depravity, duty, suffering, surrender, and ultimately unparalleled joy

    [Below is the moving testimony of Meriam, one of our new members. This truly is a season of giving thanks to God! <>< John McCranie]

    I was raised in the Church of Christ but somewhere during my early teen years I became disillusioned with the hypocrisy of “the church.” Hindsight being what it is, I take responsibility for the lie that I was telling myself, and anyone who asked, to cover up the selfish and lazy reality that I was “having fun in my sin and depravity and God could wait.” I stood on the faith alone philosophy for many years while denying Christ publicly. Over the years my sins multiplied and I moved ever further from His light.

    My mother however never gave up on me and eventually nagged me into a commitment to go to the Mesa church with her on Sunday mornings. So, for a few years I sat in the pew refusing to hear, certain that if these people really knew me they would scrape me from their shoes like used chewing gum. But the Lord and my Mommy were slowly chipping away at me and one day God called me to accept the invitation John McCranie gave at the conclusion of his sermon, and I walked up the isle knowing that I was making the most important commitment of my life with tears of release pouring down my cheeks.

    I was baptized by John that day and I was God’s, but I was still in the same atmosphere, virtually alone in my walk with God. Over the next year and a half I lost several jobs, my fiancée, my home, and my daughters decided to remove themselves from my life. My walk, as I had expected, was filled with pain and shame over my past with little hope for anything but having to suffer the consequences for my sins in the future.

   I found myself literally prostrate on the floor wailing in agony to the Lord "God, I want with all my heart to live my life as you command but I cannot bear it. If this is your will then I will endure but I am begging you spare me and take me to be with you now.” In that moment I wholly and completely surrendered all of myself to God.

    Instead of striking me down the Lord sent me a couple emails from John as he invited me to come worship with the Gathering Church of Christ which he recently planted. I have found in the Gathering an atmosphere of acceptance like no other I've ever experienced. Where love shines like a floodlight from every member and flows so unquestionably from their love for Christ our Lord to everyone they meet. Being surrounded by the Gathering I have forgiven myself for my past as He forgives me. With this unfailing love and support I have found peace, boundless joy in my Lord and Master, and the freedom from worldly concerns that allows me to make my walk with God the center of, and everything in my life. My hunger for God has only increased but now it springs from a place of beauty, light and fulfillment where before it was generated from darkness and desperation.

    I hope that my story in some small way touches you. God is with you always. In Love and His service, 

    Meriam

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What About Holidays?

10/30/09

Toward the end of the year people ask questions about the church’s position on observing holidays since Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s are on their minds. Let me share some thoughts on what the Bible says about holidays and the Christian’s participation in them. My hope is to put some of this controversy in scriptural context. Let me first place things in historical or chronological context. The holidays on our calendar were created after the New Testament was written, so naturally it does not mention, condemn or condone them by name. Nonetheless, there is biblical teaching on the subject of special religious or civic days.

When it comes to the church and holidays there is very little Scripture addressing the subject. Some of the references made to "special days" are by Paul to churches being pressured by Jewish false teachers demanding the Gentile converts keep the OT calendar observations (see Gal 4:9-10). Other passages clearly show that Paul is teaching all Christians that the observation of religious days is a matter of individual Christian liberty.

If a Christian decides to abstain from certain kinds of food and drink, or set aside certain days for special observance, good. If a Christian decides not to participate in a holiday or to consume certain foods, then they are not to let anyone sit in judgment over them about these practices. In Colossians 2:16 it states, "Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day." And again in Romans 14:5-6, "One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God."

In light of what the above verses teach, the church cannot compel its members to observe any holidays nor can it restrict its members from observance of these holidays. In Romans 14 the apostle warns of injuring the conscience of a "weaker brother" by exercising our freedom in celebrating certain festivals or eating certain foods. Yet in Colossians 2:16 the same apostle tells the Christian to assert his liberty in the attempts to undermine it.

Each congregation of the Lord’s church must decide for itself whether to host programs or hold events that celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, etc. Each church’s leadership establishes protocol for its own membership and has no scriptural authority to determine for another congregation its stand on these "disputable matters." Preachers and elders are to study, discuss and pray about the church’s freedom in these areas. Many conclude that holding Harvest Festivals, Holiday Music Services and Easter programs are permissible. Many decide to refrain from holding such celebrations in their buildings. Based on the above passages my advice to those who disagree with holiday-centered services is to follow their own conscience by not attending such functions, but do not restrict others from doing so. I honor the tradition of speaking where the Bible speaks and staying silent where it is silent. It is that silent part that camps the church in tension. The solution is to know the difference in what is a matter of faith and what is a matter of opinion or liberty and desire that in all things the church does there are love and mutual respect.

Now as for Halloween, I personally do not participate out of conscience sake. I have researched what goes on that night and it is repulsive what is done in the name of Satan - drunkenness/drugs, sacrifices, kidnaping, witchcraft, the occult - in my opinion it’s represents the opposite of the Christian message. Jesus came to bring light, life and love. This night celebrates darkness, death and evil. I studied enough of very early Christians to know they would have nothing to do with it. In their day there were many Roman festivals that were very carnal and the Christians would abstain from them in fear of violating the command "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’

‘Therefore come out from them

and be separate,

says the Lord.

Touch no unclean thing,

and I will receive you.’

‘I will be a Father to you,

and you will be my sons and daughters,

says the Lord Almighty.’"

- 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

I do not judge any other person's practice. In fact, the other members of my family participate in their own way. It is my personal tradition on Oct. 31 to stay home, lights out, no candy giveaway and pray for the souls of those damaged or sucked into the kingdom of darkness that night.

Blessings,

<>< John

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"Worship without Walls"

10-12-09

Yesterday it sunk in that we in The Gathering truly are missionaries. What I mean is, we got to Tumbleweed Park, unloaded and set up the P.A. system in the pavilion. Hung some signs and balloons and Becky prepared the table for the Lord’s Supper. All was ready for our “Worship without Walls.” The praise team finished their sound check and everyone sang an opening medley of songs. But it was while I began preaching it dawned on me that I had done this kind of “open air service” before, just never on U.S. soil.

My very first sermon on my very first mission trip was in a city park in El Sofreno  on the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula preaching to Mayans. On my Operation: Safe Haven (Tsunami relief) missions in India most of our gospel meetings were held outdoors with huge speakers broadcasting to the whole area the message of Jesus. Last fall in Ghana, we had a tent erected just out of town where I would preach every night. So here I was standing in a park in Chandler, AZ preaching about Jesus and His Beatitudes to 36 worshipers under a ramada in perfect weather. Nearby, families were checking us out as they played & picnicked. People were strolling, stopping and listening and strolling on. One lady didn’t get what we were doing until she walked past our sign and then she had this huge smile.

The Gathering is metaphorically a church without walls. One of the primary areas of frustration in my years of ministry has been congregation’s fixation on their facilities. Which often leads to restrictive policies. Doing things “out-of-the-box” brings freshness to ministries. For instance, yesterday most of us fasted and prayed for the souls that use the Tumbleweed Park and Recreation Center, our neighbors who live nearby and petitioned for the Gathering's mission to touch people with God's love. After my message, John Gill brought a beautiful thought about hungering for God followed by inviting us to go up to the table Becky prepared and take pieces of large loafs she baked that afternoon. We also grabbed a cup of grape juice and returned to our seats. He led a prayer announcing the breaking of our fast and we literally had supper with the Lord. It was some of the best communion I have ever tasted.

When the worship celebration was over, we enjoyed a time of “picnic fellowship.” Conversations abounded, laughter shared, tears shed, hugs given. We stayed for an hour encouraging our guests to return. Why? Because we are on a mission. The Launch Team is made up of “domestic missionaries” belonging to God, loving all people and acting like Christ.

Blessings,

<>< John

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"Purpose"

10/8/09

Harold Bredesen wrote a fictional story about some scientists that decided to develop a fish that could live outside of water. So, selecting some healthy red herring, they bred and cross bred, hormoned and chromosomed until they produced a fish that could exist out of water. But the project director wasn't satisfied. He suspected that though the fish had learned to live on dry land, it still had a secret desire for water. "Reeducate it," he said. "Change it’s very desires."

So again they went to work, this time retraining even the strongest reflexes. The result? A fish that would rather die than get wet. Even humidity filled this new fish with dread. The director, proud of his triumph, took his fish on a tour. Well, quite accidentally it happened: the fish fell into a lake. It sank to the bottom, eyes and gills clamped shut, afraid to move lest it become wetter. And of course it dared not breathe; every instinct said no, yet breathe it must. So the fish drew a tentative gill-full. Its eyes bulged. It breathed again and flicked a fin. It breathed a third time and wriggled with delight. Then it darted away. The fish had discovered something wonderful . . . water!

With identical wonderment, men and women today are discovering there is a far better environment in which to live. These souls have been conditioned by our society’s scientists and experts to suppress the knowledge about God. They have been disciplined to reject biblical truth and to assume that anything taught by Bible toting, Scripture quoting Christians is archaic and even harmful. They would rather die than get wet from the water of rebirth (Titus 3:5).

But the Lord nudges his people into the wellspring of life. They somehow find themselves talking to a true child of God and encounter loving acceptance and rational thinking. As they sink below the surface of the gospel its kind of funny to see them try to hold their breath. But then there are those few brave souls who draw in hesitantly and find it delightful. God’s kingdom is not dangerous or delusional. It is actually ideal for people since they are made in the image of God. They discover who they truly are and what their true purpose in life is – to worship Christ and love others. They realize that in Him we live and move and have our being.

The Gathering is a simple church. Our uncomplicated purpose is something posted at the top of each webpage, “Belonging to God. Loving All People. Acting Like Christ.” Who are we? We are a gathering of souls that belong to God and have made Him our highest priority. What are we about? Loving all people. Accepting them, welcoming them. What are we out doing? Acting like Jesus. He went about caring about people, helping them, teaching them about the kingdom of God and preparing them for eternity.

Father, this school of fish wants to swim out of the harbor and into the open sea. But, it’s a bit overwhelming. Thank You for our purpose which gives us focus and directs our energies. Grant us the faith to follow what You, Lord, are doing in the world. Help us make a difference in other’s lives. Because of Jesus. Amen.

Blessings,

John <><

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Having Launch with God

9/22/09

Last Sunday I witnessed God doing one of the most phenomenal things I’ve seen in my life. He brought about the birth of a brand-new church. The Gathering had it inaugural public worship celebration with sixty-one in attendance. It’s a beautiful feeling as a church planter to see your countless prayers come to fruition as Christ launches His new congregation.

Everyone sung songs honoring the Lord encouraged by the Praise Team. During the welcome, John Gill suggested we take time to greet each other and I could feel the love of God in the room. Chandler’s Mayor Boyd Dunn offered us his blessing. My sermon was called “Real Happiness” as we began a foundational look at the Beatitudes. It feels great being back in the pulpit! The Cotton Room of the Tumbleweed Recreation Center was set up with round tables and chairs so conversation and communion take on deeper meaning. Guests, who responded to the letter we mailed to the neighborhood, reported on their communication cards they liked the friendly spirit of the church.

The launch team did an outstanding job of welcoming everyone. They were excellent at pulling off the service and I couldn’t be more proud to work with any group of Christians. Becky, my wife, is simply an amazing woman. That day she soared on her own wings. My sons were good at helping the setup/tear down. John led a thoughtful prayer at communion and Matt excelled at PowerPoint.

I was in such a fantastic mood, with so very many friends coming to be part of this special day. They came from all over. I really do have great supporters. There was one special brother who flew in to pray, witness, bless and guide - Scott Lambert, our Kairos coach, whom God has used to plant the seed of a new church in Arizona and bring this vision to reality. Thank you, Scott for your tremendous affirmation and insight. I just realized we actually had sixty-two at the launch for the very first thing we did was call upon God to come and take His rightful place as the Lord of this church.

People are looking for God. Jesus calls us to proclaim the news so good it must be true news. "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life" (Acts 5:20). Okay, Lord, here we go!

Blessings,

<>< John
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Hoping 

Becky & I have been looking for a meeting space for the Gathering since we’ve outgrown our home. I recruited Sister Joanna, a real estate agent, to look around in her network. I called area ministers, commercial lease people, stopped by clubhouses, restaurants and looked at hotel meeting rooms and everything was simply unaffordable. So, I informed my prayer paladins and hoped in the Lord. 

Having hope in God has become a hallmark of church planting. Lacking the systems and resources of established churches, we planters wait upon the Lord to provide what is needed to carry out His mission. Waiting upon or hoping in Christ is in no way passive. When we petitioned God in prayer for a meeting space, it was coupled with actively trusting that He would supply the ideal place where He wants us to serve the community. We energized our faith by networking and searching. Where did we learn this? “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” (Psalm 31:24).

Following the advice of Scott Lambert, our Kairos coach, I headed to City Hall to inquire about places we could meet. On the way I prayed for guidance, once there I located the directory and noticed “Community Development Division” which felt right and headed for the elevator. At that office I met Jessica who liked what we were doing and suggested I take a look at the Tumbleweed Recreation Center. I called John & June Gill and coordinated a time for Becky, me and them to check it out. When we pulled up, we were impressed with all the cars there, the number of families coming and going and young people going in to work out. Once inside we were in awe of how beautiful and big the complex was. 

The Tumbleweed Recreation Center (TRC) located in S. Chandler at McQueen/Germann was opened last year. This $12 million state-of-the-art facility has an indoor gymnasium, lap track, fitness center, racket ball courts, lounge, “game pod” for playing video games, meeting rooms and classrooms. At the front desk we explained we were a church plant looking for a space to meet in. We were soon shown The Meeting Room which seats up to 45, has a projector & screen built in, whiteboard, pegboards and a large conference table. All four of us knew this was ideal for our present needs. Our excitement grew as we were shown The Cotton Room. A multipurpose space that can seat hundreds, complete with stage, podium, a projector/screen and built in wireless sound system. We asked the woman in charge of rentals, Ashley, about chairs and she said, “Oh we set them up in whatever configuration you’d like.” By this time I was ready to pop from excitement. God was providing us the place we are to launch.

The great news came when we found out that the price for The Meeting Room is $25 per hour and the Cotton Room rate is $70 per hour! But it gets better . . . Ashley told us if we could show we are a nonprofit corporation with a Chandler address we qualified for half off! Two days later I had the application, copies of our articles of incorporation and Federal Employee Identification Number in her hands. I secured The Meeting Room for July 26 at 5:00pm for $25! Amazing.

When I shared this with Scott Lambert, he giggled with delight (if you know Scott then you know this giggle). He was quick to point out that the TRC was in an ideal region of new growth, an ideal community hub, and unheard of price. The Launch Team members are rejoicing at God’s providence and eager to meet in our new space. But it was my church planting mentor and good friend, Tom Riley, who put a powerful perspective on this. “John, we pay $2,900 per month to use the elementary school we meet in. Even though you don’t have a sponsoring church yet nor the matching grant money you have prayed about, the Lord has given you a grant worth $30,000. And, you don’t have to buy a projector, screen, P.A. or set up your own chairs!” After saying this I felt empowered and amped for the work ahead. Where did that come from? Isaiah 40:31, “Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength . . . ”

Thank You, Lord, Thank You. I knew deep in my heart that You would provide the place where You wanted us to launch. You have surpassed our prayers which means The Gathering and her friends have been praying too small. May we be a blessing to the TRC. Use us to help those who attend there. Help our efforts to touch people and families with Your love. Thank You for Ashley and her help in securing the room. Most of all, we are humbled by Your generous grant. Our gratitude is indelible. For Jesus. Amen.

Blessed,

<>< John

P.S. Wanna see our new church building? Here you go . . .

http://www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=781

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Redemption

After moving to Chandler, Becky & I invited Stephanie (our favorite teen in a previous church we served in the 90's) to join our Launch Team and she tearfully accepted. Within a month her husband of 4 years, Jeff, began to attend our meetings. Jeff, a civil engineer, grew up in a non-churched, moral home and had become a sceptic about the Bible & church but not about God. Jeff really liked the casual & loving atmosphere of The Gathering. He also noticed that Stephanie was blossoming spiritually and much happier.

In time, Becky & I had them over for dinner and afterwards I asked Jeff to go for a walk around a nearby park. I asked him to tell me the “Jeff Story” and while he did I interviewed him on his spiritual journey. When he was finished, I reciprocated. When I got to the part of me being a young adult and an atheist Jeff stopped me and said “Really? I’m surprised!” I replied, “Yes. I was a serious and studied athiest denying there was a god of any kind and I saw Christianity as a sham.” I told him how I became a "theist" and then details of my conversion. Afterwards I looked at him and said, “Jeff I have real reasons for my faith. My trust in God’s Word is based on compelling evidence I have discovered. Would you be interested in getting together and letting me share my reasons for believing the Bible? He hesitated and I assured him there was no pressure just offering proof for the Word. He accepted my offer. We began 2 weeks later.

We went thru my lessons on the unity of the Bible and archeological support but it was fulfilled prophecies that truly impressed him. After a few sessions, he shared that he now believed the Bible was inspired and reliable as God’s Word. I then suggested we study the resurrection of Christ since Christianity stands or falls on this. He eagerly studied this lesson and at the conclusion I asked Jeff, “Do you believe that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead?” he said “Yes!” “Well,” I said, “then that proves there is a God, Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6) and the Bible is inspired since Christ said it was. He agreed.

Jeff was truly enjoying our studies so I proposed we look more closely at the One whom God raised. We began to go through my More Than This study guides (www.morethanthisdvd.com/guides.html ) It was at the end of the 3rd lesson, Jesus: Right Now (the lordship of Christ), that the final question on the guide asks “Are you willing to give Jesus all authority in your life?” and to my surprise Jeff said “Yes!” I felt we would be studying a while longer before he might surrender but the Holy Spirit had been moving in his heart. I knew the next question to ask. “Jeff, since you're willing to make Jesus your Lord, what then does Jesus want you to do?” Jeff somberly answered “He wants me to be saved. He wants me to get baptized.” I suggested he do it that night to follow the examples in Acts and also because Stephanie’s parents, church members who work oversees, were in town and it would be powerful for them to see the son-in-law they love give his life to Christ. I suggested he pray about it and let me know. On my way home he texted me and said he made his decision and would be at my house in 30 minutes. I called Becky with the news and to get the pool ready!

Stephanie, her parents, our family, Matt’s girlfriend, and June Gill (Launch Team member) witnessed Jeff's confession and me immersing him in our pool at 9:00pm on May 28. Tears and hugs were shared while the angels rejoiced around the throne. Jeff and I continue to study and his growth is remarkable. He and Steph are now part of a brand new Small Gathering and have friends they have invited coming.

Blessings

<>< John

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Actuate 

In my previous blog called Entropy, I mentioned that God is doing something new in the kingdom. He is planting new congregations that are fired-up to glorify His name by loving Him, loving their neighbors and teaching them the good news of Jesus Christ. These young, missional churches are prayerful. Like all congregations, they ask the Father to heal their ill and provide jobs for loved ones out of work. But they offer petitions that are rarely heard in churches these days. These supplications are not for the sake of self, they are the prayers of servants, “Lord, what can we actually do to help people? How can we connect to those hurting souls praying to You for help?”

Young churches sincerely desire to be as much like Jesus as possible. They study the gospels and see that oftentimes before Christ taught someone He touched them. The Savior healed to give hope then shared the Word to build faith which led people to love God enough to give Him their life. These new congregations today are driven to do the same in their own capacity. They pray to love people enough to do something about it.

The church plant that I lead is called The Gathering Church of Christ. Our mission field is S. Chandler, AZ. The launch team has been involved in hours of study and training as we prepare for our public launch in October. We have been telling God we don’t want to merely learn His Scripture but we want to live it out to the benefit of others. We are intentional about being students who actuate what He reveals in the Word. Let me share what we are about to do and ask you pray for us as we do it.

Our Kairos coach, Scott Lambert, suggested that we study the launch of the church in the Book of Acts which is turning out to be a great idea. Recently we studied our way through the end of the second chapter and had break out sessions about the impact the first church had on itself and the city. Several members pointed out that these members were so close that they sold some of their possessions in order to provide for anyone who had need (see verses 44, 45). We then decided to actuate those verses ourselves!

So, this weekend we are having a rummage sale of stuff from our launch team. The proceeds will go to someone we care about who is struggling financially. During the yard sale we’ll use the opportunity to tell people what we are doing this for and that we are a church plant. If given the chance, our members will ask what they would look for in a brand-new church. Why? Because that will reveal the answers to our prayer questions, “Lord, what can we actually do to help people? How can we connect to those hurting souls praying to You for help?”

Father God, its very touching to see stuff piling up in my garage to be sold this weekend. Things that Christians have donated to help somebody distressed. Thanks for the great inspiration from Your Holy Bible. We are actually becoming an Acts 2 church! Lord, as we talk with our neighbors at the sale remind us to listen and look for opportunities to touch, perhaps even heal with words of faith, hope and love. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

Blessings,
<>< John

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Entropy

Have you ever heard of the Second Law of Thermodynamics (also known as entropy)? In physics the definition of the law is complicated, nevertheless, it can be easily remembered by understanding that all things in motion eventually slow down and hot things, in time, cool off. Christian apologists like Dr. Kent Hovind use the law to prove that the universe has a finite beginning. We call it creation as recorded in the Book of Genesis. Scientists call it the “Big Bang.” No respected expert denies that our universe is expanding slower, getting older and getting colder.

Congregations with long histories are prone to entropy as well. What I mean is, they tend to slow down and lose their fire. Statistics show that the older a church becomes the less growth they experience. In fact, research shows, when churches reach their third decade their evangelism evaporates. Why? Their focus is no longer on the mission but on the members. The outsider’s need for salvation pales in comparison to the demands of the insiders. In Church of Christ congregations today, it would appear that Bible study, worship and fellowship have trumped that great commandment of loving our neighbor (outsiders). What we do inside our buildings is significant to God and exceptionally important to church members but not to the exclusion of neglecting the needs of those not in our facilities.

In Luke 10, a man asks Jesus what he must do to go to heaven. Christ answers by asking him what the Bible says about that. The man says “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Jesus says he’s right and tells him to do it. But wanting to justify himself the man seeks a loophole by asking, “Who is my neighbor?” The Lord answers the question with the Parable of the Good Samaritan. At the end of the story there is an exchange, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Bible students, worshipers and fellowshipers let me ask you, who are your neighbors? Those needing mercy. Those beaten down by the world, those traumatized by sinfulness. Are you going as commanded? Are you loving your neighbor? Are you relieving their suffering by attending to their needs?

Church movements also degrade into a state of being inert. The once dominant denominations bustling with growth and expansion are witnessing millions of members leaving their ranks. They are having to sell their church buildings and close their schools. The recent Christian Chronicle article (www.christianchronicle.org) confirms statistically what church leaders have known for years. The Church of Christ in America is not growing nor on a plateau but is in real decline.

How is it that God is working in the church of Christ to remedy the entropy? He is doing something new. He is planting new congregations that are fired-up to glorify God by loving Him, loving their neighbors and teaching them the good news of Jesus Christ. Being young, these missional churches are innovative and adaptive. Being churches of Christ they are serious about Scripture – all of it. Compelled by the love of Christ these new congregations seek out those not saved. When someone has been released from their angst and guilt, they are used of God to fire up His church not just warm a pew. Transformed to transform. They want to be part of a movement to help others experience not only truth but the freedom it provides.

Father in Heaven, the time is now. It is at this divinely appointed hour that You are calling for new congregations to reach those untouched by the old and cold. Thank you for ministries such as Kairos that work tirelessly to plant new churches of Christ for new people. Thank you, Lord for calling my family to be part of this beautiful movement. We entreat You for Your energy. We call upon You for tear-filled eyes to see the harvest. We ask that You abundantly bless those domestic missionaries seeking to bring Your kingdom into their communities. To the praise of Your glory. In Jesus. Amen.

Blessings,

<>< John - church planter

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Selfless 

Saturday, April 11, 2009 early in the A.M. my wife Becky was groaning with abdominal pain and I gave her something to alleviate the pain and drifted back to sleep. But she didn’t. Unbeknownst to me, she got out of bed, went downstairs and suffered, for hours. When I woke up at 7:00 she was hurting terribly and told me she had to see a doctor. In an amazing act of selflessness she had paced and cried alone just so I could rest. We got cleaned up and headed to the ER at Banner Desert Medical Center.

In about an hour we were seen by a M.D. who ordered tests and an ultrasound suspecting it was the gall bladder. Mercifully a nurse administered a morphine shot and Becky’s pain subsided. 50 minutes later she was wheeled upstairs to radiology for the ultrasound. I could see the technician snapping shots and marking areas with and “X’s” which I surmised were gallstones. Back to the ER we awaited a meeting with the ever busier doctor. A Saturday in a hospital emergency room is a very rough place to be. It’s hard to watch as people writhe in pain, vomit, cough and cry. I was moved by two things that afternoon. The selflessness of the nurses and doctors as they navigated miserable people to relief. The other was my wife’s tremendous strength and courage. Although the morphine wore off quickly and her stomach would be on fire with pain she would tell me how much she loved me and appreciated me being there. She thanked the nurse for being so caring. It’s impossible to not love a person like Becky.

Our dear friends, John and June Gill, continued to call and offer to come and sit with us. They were willing to give up their day to comfort us. I assured them the ER was no place for such comfort but once we got a room I called them and they brought our son Matt and some much appreciated dinner. Our oldest son, John, was at work. We called our sweet sister in Christ, Lynn Gates while in the ER. Being a retired RN, she’s become our advice nurse over the years. After explaining the choice of removing the gall bladder or medicating it until the attack subsided, she suggested I talk with Bob, her surgeon son, who was home for the holiday. When she put Bob on the phone I immediately realized how God was guiding us and my anxiety dissipated. Bob was giving up family time to counsel us. He was very caring and even spoke to the ER doctor on my cell phone. His suggestion was to remove it since Becky would surely have recurring episodes the rest of her life.

A call to a local surgeon, Dr. Leber, to see if he was willing to perform the cholecystectomy on a Saturday was made. Although he did not know us, he graciously agreed. So did the anaesthesiologist. Before long Becky was whisked off to surgery. The Gills, Matt and I prayed in the waiting room. Amazingly the laparoscopic procedure took only 45 minutes! Dr. Leber reported all went well and we rejoiced! Becky came home the next afternoon, Easter Sunday.

Our church plant, The Gathering, had decided to celebrate the risen Selfless One at sunset from the top of South Mountain here in Phoenix. To make it possible that I, John and Matt could attend, one of our launch team members, Wendy, volunteered to stay with Becky. Her husband and their kids witnessed an inspiring view as we all worshiped God. We will never forget our sister’s selflessness.

All of these wonderful people live out the axiom “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:3,4). Through the altruism of others Becky’s pain was removed. Through the self-sacrifice of Christ our suffering can be alleviated. No wonder the next verse in Philippians 2 says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus . . . ” (v.5).

Lord, we give You full credit for Becky’s improvement and strength, which we recognize was also brought about by prayers offered in compassion. The example of those mentioned in this blog inspires us and we ask that You grant a very special measure of kindness to each one. May we never weary of well doing and continue to become more and more like Christ as our love is evidenced by action.

Blessings,

<>< John

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Broken, Blinded & Birthed

During last Thanksgiving my family had the privilege to visit a congregation I served in the nineties. It was moving to see the wonderful members of this small rural church. My sons, John and Matt, were just starting school when we lived there and it was fun seeing the wide-eyed looks of those who were stunned at how they have grown in twelve years.

What was truly stunning, as I was hugging and greeting, I saw Jim. Now Jim is the husband of Terri, one of the faithful members. Jim hadn’t been to worship on Sunday in 30 years. I shook his hand and told him how great it was that he was there. Others lined up to welcome him. After my message and the closing prayer, Jim came up to me and asked if we could talk and I said, "Of course!" So as the congregation filed into the fellowship area for some food & fixins, Jim & I stayed in the auditorium. I asked what was on his heart and he started by sharing how my sermon seem directed straight at him. Jim began to describe what he had been going through for the past weeks. He realized that he dreaded what kind of man, husband and father he had become. He wept as he openly confessed. It’s a powerful thing to witness the Holy Spirit convicting a soul (John 16:8).

"John, I don’t think God can forgive me because of the terrible things I have done." I replied, "Let me tell you about a man in the Bible named Saul. He was a self-righteous man who persecuted the church and imprisoned Christians." We then turned to Acts 22 and I showed how Christ confronted him on his way to Damascus. "Why do you think Jesus blinded Saul, Jim?" "I’m not sure" he relied. "Because he was already blind wasn’t he?" I asked. I related how Saul spent three days praying without food or water realizing what he had become and mourning over it. Then, how Ananias came to him and restored his sight because Saul could truly see what kind of person he was to God. "Jim, the same thing has happened to you, hasn’t it?" "Yes! But what can I do? How can I be forgiven?" I placed my finger on verse 16 and asked him to read it for us. "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name." "Jim" I asked, "What does Jesus want you to do?" He thought for a moment and tearfully said, "He wants me to be baptized." I replied, "That’s right! In order to have your sins washed away." Then we prayed and called upon the name of the Lord.

I left him to meditate while I went to get Terri and tell her the great news. She and Jim spoke privately while I returned to the fellowship hall and had it announced. Everyone left their plates at the tables and came into the auditorium. I asked Jim to share with the church why he was getting baptized. It was a powerful confession that lasted five minutes. Afterwards we stepped into that cold water and when my new brother was raised from his watery grave he and the church wept with joy.

Lord God, thank You for Jim’s salvation. How many prayers were answered that day? Only You could possibly know. But this I do know, the effectual fervent prayer of a godly wife availeth much. In Jesus name. Amen.

Blessings,

<>< John