Here is a link to the new Grace School of the Bible channel on YouTube. The videos are from our TV program--I look much younger on them! Hope you enjoy this access to some of the teaching ministry. Go to GSBChannel here. Audio studies--both radio programs and Shorewood pulpit ministry--are also available at GraceImpact.org.
One of the facinating things about this type of Internet site is that I don't actually have to do these things. In fact, I'm wasn't even aware of this particular YouTube channel until someone sent me an invite to join it! It is exciting to see the grace message get a grip on folks and then watch them getting busy putting the message out! You can never fully measure the ingenuity of grace believers! Its amazing!
I finished my taxes yesterday...bummer. This was a welcome "cheer-up"!
Maranatha!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
A Busy Day
We had a busy day yesterday. Our morning meetings were planned for our folks to bring friends/family to hear the gospel. We had a number of lost folks in attendance and I had the opportunity to share the gospel not only in the message but also personally with three adults, one of whom indicated they trusted Christ. PTL!
Afterward, we took Jody, Heather and the girls to lunch and enjoyed a great meal together at a restaurant Cynthia really likes. Then it was back to the church building for me to finish up our taxes and her to fill cd/dvd orders. The evening meeting was well attended too. We needed to sleep in today--but didn't! They are coming today to put in our kitchen counter top! Maybe we'll have a kitchen again by the end of the month! Patience is a virtue. Romans 5:3-5 is true.
Maranatha!
Afterward, we took Jody, Heather and the girls to lunch and enjoyed a great meal together at a restaurant Cynthia really likes. Then it was back to the church building for me to finish up our taxes and her to fill cd/dvd orders. The evening meeting was well attended too. We needed to sleep in today--but didn't! They are coming today to put in our kitchen counter top! Maybe we'll have a kitchen again by the end of the month! Patience is a virtue. Romans 5:3-5 is true.
Maranatha!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Told ya!
Told ya he was a cutie! Took a grand kid's picture for me to figure out some of this techy stuff! Motivation!!
The "no shirt, no shoes" thing comes from his other grandpa.
Maranatha!
No Hole
We got great news yesterday: Our newest grandson, Noah, was released by the heart doctors because the hole in his heart has completely closed. He was born with a heart murmur and the day after his birth it began to worsen. He has responded to the treatment and is now fine! PTL!!
Today is Noah's dad's birthday. David is now 32 years old. Hardly seems possible. He is the same age I was when we moved to Chicago and also has three sons--his brothers both had twins, so he and Stacy did something different! He wanted a riding lawn mower for his birthday--a sure sign he is over the hill! He's a great dad and if I could figure out how to download pictures to this site I could show you!
Happy birthday, David, even if you don't have time to read this!
Maranatha!
Today is Noah's dad's birthday. David is now 32 years old. Hardly seems possible. He is the same age I was when we moved to Chicago and also has three sons--his brothers both had twins, so he and Stacy did something different! He wanted a riding lawn mower for his birthday--a sure sign he is over the hill! He's a great dad and if I could figure out how to download pictures to this site I could show you!
Happy birthday, David, even if you don't have time to read this!
Maranatha!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Snow, Birthdays and Bikes
Well, for the second time in a week we awoke to snow! Three inches, no less. About the same as last Sunday.
Actually it started last night. When we left church the ground was already covered. A group of a dozen or so went to a local restaurant for a time of "food and fellowship" and by the time we left there (about 10 p.m.) it was torturous driving. Heavy, clinging snow everywhere. It is a beautiful winter wonderland (BUT it ain't winter)! Since we're on the spring time side of winter, I don't think I'll shovel it. It should melt off by tomorrow. Hey, it gives us something to talk about!
Today is our oldest son's birthday. Hard to believe but Rick turns 39 today! Bob Hope used to say he was the "space age"--39 and holding! "You don't want to get older than that," Hope said. You do begin to be conscious of your own limitations when you pass 39, so Cynthia and I want him to have a great day today while he can still feel young! He is a wonderful son, dad and family man, who makes us very happy--and doing an outstanding job in the ministry there in Mesa. We thank God for you, son.
Also, we just learned that Little Rick (our oldest grandson; Rick's son) had his bike stolen on Saturday. It was his prize and joy. He had picked it out after a long search, earned the money to purchase it and was enjoying the excitement of riding in various bike parks. To loose such a prized possession is a bummer for a thirteen year old--his first real experience with a bad happening.
After the incident, he got a ride home from the responding police officer. Now he is the talk of his neighborhood, having arrived home in the back seat of a police cruiser! Inquiring minds (and nosy neighbors!) want to know!! He is handled the experience well, it seems, even though now he is walking again. Double bummer.
I go to Detroit for TV taping tomorrow so today is a busy day getting ready for that as well as catching up on some things left from yesterday. Forgotten Truths moved to 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays over DirectTV (Ch: 367) and the response to the earlier time has been very good. What an opportunity! It has been amazing to see how the Lord has used this program--and how He has used His people to supply its needs. This has proven to be the "little program that could" and we thank God for those who are helping to make it a reality!
Maranatha!
Actually it started last night. When we left church the ground was already covered. A group of a dozen or so went to a local restaurant for a time of "food and fellowship" and by the time we left there (about 10 p.m.) it was torturous driving. Heavy, clinging snow everywhere. It is a beautiful winter wonderland (BUT it ain't winter)! Since we're on the spring time side of winter, I don't think I'll shovel it. It should melt off by tomorrow. Hey, it gives us something to talk about!
Today is our oldest son's birthday. Hard to believe but Rick turns 39 today! Bob Hope used to say he was the "space age"--39 and holding! "You don't want to get older than that," Hope said. You do begin to be conscious of your own limitations when you pass 39, so Cynthia and I want him to have a great day today while he can still feel young! He is a wonderful son, dad and family man, who makes us very happy--and doing an outstanding job in the ministry there in Mesa. We thank God for you, son.
Also, we just learned that Little Rick (our oldest grandson; Rick's son) had his bike stolen on Saturday. It was his prize and joy. He had picked it out after a long search, earned the money to purchase it and was enjoying the excitement of riding in various bike parks. To loose such a prized possession is a bummer for a thirteen year old--his first real experience with a bad happening.
After the incident, he got a ride home from the responding police officer. Now he is the talk of his neighborhood, having arrived home in the back seat of a police cruiser! Inquiring minds (and nosy neighbors!) want to know!! He is handled the experience well, it seems, even though now he is walking again. Double bummer.
I go to Detroit for TV taping tomorrow so today is a busy day getting ready for that as well as catching up on some things left from yesterday. Forgotten Truths moved to 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays over DirectTV (Ch: 367) and the response to the earlier time has been very good. What an opportunity! It has been amazing to see how the Lord has used this program--and how He has used His people to supply its needs. This has proven to be the "little program that could" and we thank God for those who are helping to make it a reality!
Maranatha!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Losing To Win
Losing is not a popular idea. It's definitely not an American concept. As General Patton famously remarked, "Americans love a winner. America will not tolerate a loser." That's no doubt one reason the current economic/political confusion is so perplexing. We seem to be losing--losing something tangible and intangible at the same time.
But God's grace teaches us that it is in our weakness that His strength is made perfect. In fact, II Cor. 13:4 declares that Jesus Christ "was crucified through weakness"--but not that He couldn't take care of Himself!
He did not die because He could not help it, He did not suffer because He could not escape. All the soldiers of Pilate's army could not have taken him, if he had not been willing to be taken. They could not have hurt a hair of His head, if he had not given them permission.
Truth be told--and what a blessed truth it is--He didn't want to be rescued. What seems to be the cluttered rush of events turns out to be the plan of god unfolding to bring salvation to the world. When evil seems to be winning, Christ calmly submits, knowing that in the end, God's will must be done.
And thus grace teaches us that in losing our power, our significance, our place in the lights, our fame and fortune and all that we hold dear, especially our reputation in the world, in giving all that up, our "losing with God" (as an old hymn puts it) wins for us a blessing the world can't match and does not understand.
Paul describes our ministry when he says of his own, "as unknown, and yet well known...as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing and yet possessing all things" (II Cor. 6:9, 10). I have often said that our influence far out weighs our apparent size!
Maranatha!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
A Full Day
Yesterday Cynthia and I were in downtown Chicago so I took her to one of her favorite hangouts for lunch. Ed Debevic's has great American style food and even greater circuses. I won't say much about the latter because if you come visit us we'll probably take you on our "Chicago tour" which definitely includes Ed's. Don't want to spoil the surprise(s). We had a real nice lunch together. You can see her picture here. Mine is here.
Last evening I attended the graduation ceremony for one of our friends who graduated from the Greenawalt Learning Center and Master's Touch Program sponsored by Wayside Christian Ministries. It is a program for men whose lives have "gone over the cliff," as Brother Reynolds used to say. What a exciting time to see 19 men whose lives have been rescued and transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. They gave testimony to the victory that is available only in Him.
For me it was like a throw back to my early years in inner city mission work. How I loved those days! Sharing the gospel with dozens each day, preaching on the street, in bars and pool halls, teaching converts the message of grace and seeing the truth take root in their lives. Those were formative days in my young life--their impact still with me.
One interesting thing also happened last evening: at least half a dozen people asked me if i was on television! They see our programs, listen to our radio broadcast and through Don have been studying some of our DVDs. Never know where things go--or who is watching! The good news is that the Body of Christ belongs to Him! He takes care of His own. We just labor in our small part of the field.
So, yesterday was a full day. Today promises to be the same. Praise the Lord!
Maranatha!
Last evening I attended the graduation ceremony for one of our friends who graduated from the Greenawalt Learning Center and Master's Touch Program sponsored by Wayside Christian Ministries. It is a program for men whose lives have "gone over the cliff," as Brother Reynolds used to say. What a exciting time to see 19 men whose lives have been rescued and transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. They gave testimony to the victory that is available only in Him.
For me it was like a throw back to my early years in inner city mission work. How I loved those days! Sharing the gospel with dozens each day, preaching on the street, in bars and pool halls, teaching converts the message of grace and seeing the truth take root in their lives. Those were formative days in my young life--their impact still with me.
One interesting thing also happened last evening: at least half a dozen people asked me if i was on television! They see our programs, listen to our radio broadcast and through Don have been studying some of our DVDs. Never know where things go--or who is watching! The good news is that the Body of Christ belongs to Him! He takes care of His own. We just labor in our small part of the field.
So, yesterday was a full day. Today promises to be the same. Praise the Lord!
Maranatha!
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