Book Review- "Billy Graham in Quotes"

When I saw the offering of this book I was excited. As a Christian man who grew up in some of the most popular televised crusades of Billy Graham's career, this book is pretty much made for a man like me. I am in full time ministry and often find myself wanting the insight of men of God from days gone by. I enjoy quotes from Spurgeon, A.W. Pink, C.S. Lewis, and many more preachers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The book is well organized with Billy Graham's thoughts and insights on dozens of topics. I especially enjoyed the quotes regarding evangelism, Jesus Christ, and others that mix Scripture with the experience of years walking with and serving the Lord. As I have grown in my knowledge of God's Word and become an evangelist myself, called by God's grace to equip others in sharing the Gospel, I have found that Mr. Graham and I do not agree on all issues. Nonetheless, this book is packed with wisdom from God's Word and you can never go wrong with that.

This book would make a great addition to your nightstand, and could be a good reference for many occasions. I highly recommend it and would welcome additional editions of this book and others like it. Buy your own copy through the link below and support our ministry with your purchases. Thanks you!

We reviewed this book for Booksneeze.com and received a free digital copy of the book for review purposes.

Biblical Patriarchy- responsibility for the father/patriarch

I found this article online recently and wanted responses from folks. This is in relation to the recent discussion on men standing up to the call of God to be spiritual leaders. I believe the author wished to remain anonymous, but I felt the content was important enough to share. I know the last article ruffled a few feathers, but again I wish to stress that what we are considering is the responsibility of men in the spiritual realm. We are not attacking women for any reason, but hoping to encourage and help them. Our goal is to see the family live up to what God planned in all things, for His glory. ~ Mark Cowperthwaite

The Patriarch's Teaching Responsibility
It is the responsibility of the patriarch to teach his family the Scriptures. No one else has been given this responsibility. It is a responsibility that he cannot delegate to others. He is the divinely appointed head of the home, and he alone is responsible for the spiritual welfare of those under his headship. This is a God-given responsibility that cannot be surrendered to anyone. This is a serious matter before God.

This, by the way, relates directly to the truth of "the church in thy house." A home, with extended family and guests, led in ministry by the head of that home - the husband and father. As a general principle, other family men may from time to time be there - ideally on a temporary learning basis, until they too can or will learn to take on their own God-given family responsibility. The primary teaching place is home. That is the standard of Scripture.

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).

"The father to the children shall make known Thy truth" (Isaiah 38:19b).

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).

"And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up" (Deuteronomy 6:7).

"And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home" (I Corinthians 14:35).

James Wesley Stivers (Restoring the Foundations) writes concerning the truth of these verses:

"Can a pastor do this for your family? Can your child's Sunday School teacher? No. It is impossible. What God is describing in this text is a live-in spiritual tutor. One must live with the person he is discipling [training]. Jesus lived with His twelve disciples for three years. They ate and slept in His presence. All this talk about church discipleship is fantasy. So is the concept of home cell groups. These are phony substitutes.

"There seems to be something lost in a relationship between a parent and a child, if it is the decision of the parent to commission a third party to provide biblical instruction and spiritual nurture to the child in his stead. I argue that it is a dereliction of duty. Parents are to disciple their children. It is an immutable part of the vocation of parenthood.

"We naturally suppose that the 'institutional church' is the primary agent in proclaiming the Gospel and teaching the Word of God. That is the primary role assigned to the 'church' in our day. But it has not always been so. In early America, as it was in the earliest church, the Christian home was the spiritual center.

"It is impossible to provide the basis for Christian character and spiritual experience in one or two hours a week. Constant contact with a Christian leader is necessary. That is why the 'discipleship movement' was so popular in recent years. It recognized the inadequacy of the 'institutional church' to provide even the basic spiritual foundations in a persons life.

"Some people believe, as I was prone at one time, that if one wishes to do anything for God, one must do it within the confines of the 'church' apparatus that God's work is done primarily at 'church.' Actually, the family is the chief agent for the passing-on of the Christian faith from generation to generation.

"Even the work of evangelism, once thought to be the principle purpose of the pulpit preacher, is better done through the home. The most effective evangelist, as many men and women with tender emotion admit, is that of a godly mother or father. Better than three-fourths of all conversions come through the work of family and friends.

"It is a personal faith which must be transmitted, not an abstract and institutional one."

Well Equipped Ambassador- evangelism website

Our new website is designed to bring together resources from all over the world wide web for the purpose of equipping Christians to share the Gospel. It is called "Equipped Ambassador for Christ" and can be viewed at http://www.equippedambassador.com/

Please bookmark this site and check back often for audio, video, and printed Gospel materials along with information on free speech, recommended resources, and encouraging quotes from God's Word and faithful witnesses from ages past. There is plenty to find here, and we hope you will share the site. 

We also have an attached Amazon Store to purchase associated resources through our affiliate program. All purchases through ads on our site will help support the ministry. Thank you.

When to stop preaching the Gospel

I thought that title might turn a few heads, especially since I am known for encouraging people to share the Gospel in all places, at all times, and to all people. I read an article today that reminded me of many experiences I have had when proclaiming the Gospel. That situation is when one is sharing the message of hope, love, grace, and mercy from God's Word and is met with hate, insult, and mockery, even hate speech and blasphemy. Should we spend our time reaching out to those who are humble and willing to listen, or those who spit in our faces? We know that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble and that may hold the key in all this.

It isn't that we should run away from persecution, but that we must discern between when someone is hearing the message and when the swine are gathering. We are told not to cast our pearly before swine, and the message doesn't end there. Jesus goes on to say that swine tend to turn on you and devour you if you hang around them too long unless you are going to give them what they want. Here's a hint: They don't want you to stay clean, nor do they want to eat of the fruit of righteousness.

I also don't believe that we are to pick and choose who is worthy of the Gospel by our own standards. Surely, all means all, and we are to go into the world and preach to all God's creatures, fulfilling the command of Christ Jesus our Lord, the example we emulate in preaching the good news. We are to preach to all, but when one is met with hatred and reviling, should we continue at length to debate with one who is surely set in their ways and pridefully so? Should we share with all, but spend our time more wisely, with those who are willing to have a discussion instead of a debate? There is a lot more to this topic, and I hope to start a discussion here. The comments section below is fine for conversation, and the linked thread on Facebook is a fine place to talk this over also.

Read the article mentioned at http://carm.org/profile-of-a-hatetheist for Robin Shumacher's insights also. There are many other great articles at CARM, so browse around there when you get time.

One Human Family- full message

This is a Gospel message I wrote when living in Key West. There was a shorter version of this message on a postcard sized tract, but I wanted to share this message here for those who have never gotten a chance to read it. I have never formatted this message onto a brochure type tract, and it is too long for any other format. I welcome input as to a good place or situation to pass this tract out.

ONE HUMAN FAMILY

God made everyone unique in many ways. We see diversity naturally in skin color, eye color, or height. We see our chosen individuality in things like food preferences, taste in clothing, and sexual preferences. Some of these things are not necessarily right or wrong, while others are specificallyagainst God's commands. While each person is unique, there are some things that are the same in everyone. Some things that unite us are good, some are bad.

We are all human, and we all miss God's mark of perfection, the Bible says that “There is none righteous, not even one.” This “missing the mark” is called sin. The Bible says that “all have sinned and fall short of God's glory.” No human being will ever be good enough to go to Heaven.

We have seen people calling themselves “Christians” holding signs that say terrible lies: “God hates fags” and “All fags go to Hell” I want to apologize to anyone who has been hurt by man's perversion of God's Word. God does not hate people of any sort. God is just, and will punish those that sinagainst Him, but He hates no man. We will talk more later about how much God loves everyone.

While considering God's love, we must also look at God's standard. As it would not be fair to sentence a person to jail without knowledge of the crime and adequate proof of guilt, so God has given us all a conscience that shows us right from wrong. I encourage you to read the following passage from the Bible. Here we read God's response to man's attempt to change His Word.

Romans 1:18-32 says:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.*

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”

Whether it is lying, stealing, adultery, idolatry, homosexuality, or any other sin, the judgment that comes from God is just. I am a sinner myself, so I have no reason to judge homosexuals any more than I should liars, thieves, or prideful hypocrites. All sin is the same to God. None of us can achieve God's standard of perfection. Not the priests, pastors, or any other person that we might think of as good. So, who could ever get to Heaven? The truth is nobody can.

That is the bad news, but there is good news, wonderful news! God loved the world so much that he gave His Son, Jesus Christ, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. You can find this verse in John 3:16 in the Bible. It is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible, but many people skip the rest of the conversation. I encourage you to find a Bible and read all of John Chapter 3 to see how Jesus told a seemingly religious man the only way to get to Heaven. Jesus told this man that he must be “born again”, which is a spiritual rebirth in Christ.

Jesus' sinless life and sacrificial death on our behalf paid the penalty for every sin: past, present, and future. He paid for all our sins, but to have that payment accepted on your account requires that you repent, or change your mind to agree with God about sin. Only then can we accept what Jesus paid for us. This is God's “good news”(Gospel) for the ages! Sinners can be saved from Hell and given eternal life because of Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf. This is the greatest love story of all time; a perfect Father who sent His Son to earth, who willingly gave up His life not for His friends, but His enemies.

Now that you have this knowledge, what will you do with it? You can deny it and go on with your life, but when the day of your death comes, God will judge you justly, and He will punish sinners with eternal Hell. Don't let this happen, it is not what God wants. The Bible says, “God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” Will you accept Jesus' death on your behalf, turn from your sinful ways to serve God, your Creator?

Email- onehumanfamily@live.com God loves you more that you could ever imagine.

God wants you to be part of His family, but first “You must be born again!”

Evangelism Friday- movie night

We have been blessed by many a Christian film, but most of the films produced with Christian themes have been produced for Christians by Christians. This is great for encouragement and edification, but with the rise of such films as Flywheel, Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and now Courageous we see that the Gospel can go forth through the medium of film. These films by Sherwood Pictures give a message of truth and challenge from God's Word.

I suggest taking the step that many have already taken, that is to put on a movie night at your home or church building with the intent to invite the lost to an excellent film that also includes a solid Gospel message. There are specific rules that govern public showing of movies like this, so be sure to check out this link before showing the film in a way that would require permissions beyond the simple purchase of a DVD.

See this link before scheduling a public showing to avoid any illegal public screening of movies. A warning from the site: ""When you purchase a regular DVD, the movie companies are giving you permission to view the film in your home with family members. The license provided with that DVD does not extend to a public showing of the film. This is true of all films." Whether or not you agree with special rules for public viewings, it is the law and Christians should go the extra mile to be sure to keep a good testimony before God and men.

With all that said, we suggest buying a copy of this DVD to show to your family, and maybe buy an extra copy to loan out or give to someone who would be blessed by this film. Use the link below to purchase from our Amazon store, or check the links in the right column of this blog to purchase from Christianbo

See this link before scheduling a public showing to avoid any illegal public screening of movies. A warning from the site: ""When you purchase a regular DVD, the movie companies are giving you permission to view the film in your home with family members. The license provided with that DVD does not extend to a public showing of the film. This is true of all films." Whether or not you agree with special rules for public viewings, it is the law and Christians should go the extra mile to be sure to keep a good testimony before God and men.

~Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature~

The Light of the world is Jesus

Click on the picture to enlarge

Sometimes late at night, when everyone is asleep, I just get to thinking about the Lord. I spend some time thinking about what it means to be a Christian man and what a blessed privilege it is to know the Light of the world is leading me in truth and wisdom. I looked at this verse in Psalm 43 and thought it fitting to put a visual reminder for myself on my Facebook page.

I enjoy using images of God's Creation (and often cool buildings) to present a Biblical truth, and it always serves as a reminder of the unique responsibility I have to serve the Lord my God as an ambassador for Christ, a husband who longs to be like Christ in my dealings with my wife, and a father to my children as God is the Father of us all. What a challenge, and one that I could never live up to without His light and truth which lead me to His holy hill and His dwelling. Some day I will be in the presence of God forever!

I challenge those Christians who read this blog to remind yourself today of your right and responsibility to speak boldly about the Light that shines in darkness and the only One who can save a soul from darkness forever. Speak about this beautiful Light and remind yourself often that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. We have a blessed hope in Christ Jesus and I just never get tired of talking about Him, my Savior, Redeemer, and King.

I don't hate religion Nope, but I do love Jesus!

A Facebook friend shared this encouraging message with me. I wanted to share it with you all, as I believe I was not wrong to disagree with the video "I hate religion, but love Jesus" See below for my brother's comments.

"Mark, your review is correct and should get more visibility. Don't feel compelled to slack off.
If the poem said "*false* religion" every time he used the word "religion", he would be saying what the Bible says.

But by neglecting this one word, he creates confusion, further propagating the idea that all religion is bad. This is not good, and is certainly not Biblical. Furthermore, whether he intends to or not, he's also catering to the "iGeneration", where people think they can follow a Christ of their own imagination and ideas, and not be bound by the terms, definitions and practices of Scripture (aka, "religion").

Yet this problem is nothing new: people were doing that in Jesus' day! They didn't want the Messiah as revealed in the Scriptures (which is why He constantly said "Have you not read...?"), and therefore they didn't recognize Him as Messiah when He appeared - yet still claimed to be children of God! Jesus exposed all of them (not just the Pharisees!) for their *false* religion and false faith (John 8) while still telling people that they should emulate the correct practices of the Pharisees:

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. **These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others**. (Matt 23:23)"

Do you agree with this man, disagree, or are you just tired of talking about this? I appreciate your input, and look forward to sharing some of what the Lord does in our upcoming trip to Tampa area. We will be gone for a week or so, then home for a few days, then moving to Maine. Will try to keep up with blogging in the interim, but I can't promise anything. 

The whole Gospel and the whole church

We just got home from the meeting of the Christians at Henry Baptist Church here in McDonough, Georgia. It was good to see some friends from the community, we were greeted with joy and acceptance in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the music was joyful and very well done. These are some of the characteristics many people think about in a local church. Some are looking for fellowship in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, others have other motivations, but for me one thing stood out from this visit: the passion and accuracy of the Gospel message preached.

This month at HBC brother Archie Norman is preaching a series of messages concentrating on the Gospel. His text today was John 3:36. While I would love to dig deeper into this chapter, the summary verse reads as follows, the very words of Jesus Christ our Lord:

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life,

but the wrath of God remains on him."

Brother Archie drilled down on one point that, to me, is the essence of what is missing from many false gospel messages. So often, this last phrase is neglected. I have seen this phrase left out entirely, and even had a few explain to me why they leave it out. I was told that God's wrath abiding on a person sounds too heavy, too harsh, even cruel. So, they took God's wrath out and left it that "whoever believes has life, and whoever does not obey the Son misses out on life, but is still a good person generally". This is not at all what God's Word says, even the very Word of Life Himself, our Savior, said that God's wrath abides on every person who does not believe, and that they shall not see life.

In our family ministry, we have had the privilege to meet Christians from all backgrounds, many cultural and denominational convictions and beliefs. Here lies the heart of what we really have to worry about when we discuss with whom we should work: How is one saved, that is, passed from death to life? We see from this passage (and many others that were shared) that it is by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, by truly believing and obeying the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Human reasoning and intellectual belief in God will save no one. Belief in Jesus as a good teacher or prophet is not enough. God's Word says to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. This changing of the mind, turning from sin and self righteousness to agree with God and receive life through the blood of Jesus Christ is the true Gospel,  and this is what gives us fellowship with other believers. 

I have great convictions about many  things that I should obey. There are things in God's Word that we must agree on, and our fellowship in these things is in Christ. On the more practical side, I might not join this or other churches that we have visited, and we differ some on the practical out working of leadership, worship, or even the pattern of the meetings. Still, we have fellowship in Christ. We preach the same Gospel, we serve the same Lord, and we are commanded to have unity within the body of Christ. 

This unity is not the same as uniformity or unanimity. Some may prefer different music, give lengthier messages, or be called to different aspects of ministry. Some will meet in homes, others in rented buildings or large campuses, and yet we are to be unified  in Christ. Those who have been born again, saved, redeemed, bought by the blood of the Lamb, we are all one in Christ and will spend eternity together with Christ and all those who have called on His name  for salvation. Sadly, there are many who have "done church" for years, feel comfortable talking about the Lord, but have never truly come to obey the Gospel and believe on the Son in truth, passing from death to life, and becoming a new creation in Christ. My brother pleaded with such people to give up religion and give their life over to the Lord in truth today. This is the heart cry of every true Christian, that all would be saved. This echoes the heat of God, who is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Can we Christians unite under the Gospel, or will most continue to divide and refuse fellowship to those who rightfully deserve our love and would be a great asset in reaching the lost for Christ? I pray that we see more unity among Christians, and I know it will take great humility and patience with one another. Eternity is a long time to avoid talking with someone, and I personally don't think God will allow segregation and denominationalism in Heaven.

I just wanted to share this with you all today, as the message, music, and fellowship were a great blessing to our family today, but most of all the Biblical truth of the Gospel was preached and for that we praise God. We know the Lord's people gather in many places, by many names, and in many ways. Some are looking to the pattern of God's Word, some disagree on exactly what that looks like or feel that there is not a specific pattern to obey, some are looking to please the world and draw people in. I don't generally desire to point fingers at any, but rather to encourage those who I believe are true and faithful to what they believe according to God's Word. Let us find fellowship in the person and work of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, and walk in unity, laboring together for His name's sake.

For a list of churches where we have had the privilege to minister and have fellowship in Christ, see the Churches tab

Gospel Tract Friday

This week, I have been considering many aspects of the Gospel message. We have talked about redemption, grace, forgiveness, and mercy just to scratch the surface. I would like to continue to put together some Gospel materials that would be well received and even get people thinking, but I don't want to waste time reinventing the wheel. While I work on another Gospel tract of my own, I continue to enjoy the resources provided by others also. I know it is hard to catch people's attention nowadays, and I do so appreciate what others have labored over to share the Gospel. This week, I would like to highlight some Gospel materials by Living Waters.

The first is these curved illusion tracts. We have used these with kids for years, and they are always well received. Even if you have a hard time speaking to kids about the Gospel or fear what parents might do or say if you talked to their kid, you can share this tract with little interference.

The text on the back shares some trivia about how your eyes are easily deceived and a short Gospel message. We passed these out one Halloween and shortly after a family came back to us to talk. The kid had gotten no candy, as he was too busy showing his friends the trick. They all came back to get these tracts from us, all in all a pretty easy night's work in getting the Gospel out.

Another great tract from Living Waters is this "Ticket to Heaven" which is printed on paper that cannot be torn. It is also water and oil resistant, making for some fun when talking to teenage boys! I have loved watching people show off their strength with this one, get frustrated and humbled, and then often sit and listen to the Gospel message while they recoup their energy from the effort.

One reviewer writes of this tract: "Perfect for giving out after football games when guys are throwing the ball. "Good arm. How's your finger strength."

We hope these tracts get you thinking about sharing the Gospel, who the Lord has placed in your path, and what it is you would share with a lost soul if they were willing to sit and listen and talk with you. Be ready all the time, the Lord uses those who are obedient, prepared, and available.

"To save a life" review... reviewed

I have watched the trailer for "To save a life" as linked by some friends who have used this film as an outreach for unsaved teens and their youth groups alike. "To save a life" was in theaters 2 years ago, and came out on DVD 16 months ago. I have not seen the whole film, yet I felt inclined to write this post as it concerned me so much.

I find it sickening the lengths to which some people will go to try to "be real". This review from Plugged In online sealed the deal that neither I nor anyone I have guidance over will ever watch "To save a life". Reading the youth pastor/screenwriters comments about how he chose to use certain curse words (and hand them to someone else to quote) is disturbing to me. Plugged In often does a good job with movie reviews, but I feel their discernment is in error as they have ended up promoting some seriously sinful activity in the name of reaching people. Says the writer:

"We never really set out to make a Christian film," he says. "We said we wanted to make a film for teenagers that would never set foot in a church but would go to the movies—something that would reach them. … We wanted to make a movie that really mattered, and that empowered students to be able to reach out to their friends."
The Bible clearly states (Romans 1:16) that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. It is not by being relevant, making friends with the world, "being like the world to win the world" (see James 4:4-8) and promoting sinful activity out of one side of your mouth while decrying that Jesus has a better way out of the other side. This is not the Gospel, it is not true to Scripture, and if we want to reach sinners, we might want to examine God's Word for better tactics before venturing into the arena of "To save a life". I know many will argue this point, and I encourage Biblical discussion of this post.

The review writer found a way to promote this movie, but he had to add an awful lot of qualifiers to do so. The "positive elements" section starts out with: Suicide. Sex. Teen pregnancy. Divorce. Drugs. Cutting. Hypocrisy. That didn't do me in, though, as I have been involved in youth ministry for years and know well the issues that many teens and parents deal with in our society. For me, to see a youth pastor writing a script that has two young folks not married to one another taking off clothes, rolling around on the bed together has gone a bit too far. We all know that this type of thing happens, but we don't need to see it, nor encourage people (in this case, they were paid) to engage in such activity. Whether you call it acting or not, the fact is this activity is sinful.

This movie adds to its credit a laundry list of ways to commit suicide, which at the least could lead some viewers to try out such methods that they might not have considered before. Add in a few drunken, stoned, drug dealing pastor's kids and you have the evidence the world is looking for to say that all Christians really are hypocrites at heart. Be sure the world is watching as this film directs people to curse, play-act sex, and more.

From the PI review: [Youth Pastor] Britts says he felt it was important for the party scenes to feel authentic—to show that there's a reason why teens gravitate to them. But he admits they were hard for him to have filmed. "Two or three times in between takes I had to say, 'I have to remind you that this life leads to sorrow,' because they were looking like they were having a lot of fun," he admits. "It was hard for me as a youth pastor to watch, even though I knew they were acting."

The writer seems oblivious to the fact that many youth group kids have not yet been involved in many of these activities, and in a sense he is actually luring them with these things that "they looked like they were having a lot of fun" with. These same Christians will complain that the public schools promote such things, yet they bring kids to church youth meetings to pollute their minds with more sinful, dangerous ideas in an attempt to prove a point. I have been around a while, and never seen something like this turn out for God's glory.

In my years dealing with teenagers, drugs, alcohol, sexual activity, and suicide, I have never once gone to the levels this film does to supposedly help. God's Word, the truth of the Gospel, and the power of the Holy Spirit to change and make new the old, dead sinful man is what will do the job. We don't need more movies about sex, drugs, and suicide. We need more people willing to invest in the lives of teens, to get in the trenches and do the dirty work. We need people like Jesus who loved the unlovely, but who kept Himself from sin in the process. We need more people to live like Christ, parents to do their job in training and nurturing young people, and to hold each other accountable for such things. Some are trying to do this, and they are using the tools promoted by "Christian ministries" while neglecting God's Word on the matters of evangelism, though their desires are pure they are missing the mark by a mile.

We are so scared as a society to offend someone that we are willing to watch their children die in the world to avoid a little pain for ourselves. I have no idea how after reading this review and seeing the trailer, that the review can end with a positive note:

 "The final product is polished, professional and one of the best Christian films I've seen."

At least the reviewer woke up enough to end well with this comment:

And, more significantly, Christian audiences may be legitimately troubled by some of this film's grittier aspects: The language. The drinking. The dope smoking. The cutting. The suicide. And the scene that shows the lead-up to teen sex.

For those who read this blog for my two cents worth, take the time you would have watched this movie and use it praying for God to open a door to reach a teen in crisis. Then, go out and walk through that door, following the pattern of God's Word for reaching the lost. Don't ask the world, don't ask any ministry that promotes sex in order to condemn sex. Don't follow the trends of the modern church, but go back to God's Word and obey what you read.

Evangelism Saturday- 180 movie resources

We think the "180 movie" produced by Ray Comfort and Living Waters is a great tool for sharing the Gospel and dealing with moral relativism. The parallels between Hitler's Germany and abortion are astounding. Since the movie is approaching 2,000,000 views on Youtube, we thought it good to spotlight some related resources for evangelism. You can buy tracts, stickers, and DVD copies of the 180 movie at the Living Waters site 

Buy more than 10 DVDs for just $1 per DVD and give them out. Share the link via business cards, email, Facebook, and more and people can watch free online. This is one of the easiest ways to promote a life honoring, Christ glorifying Gospel message that has the capability of changing our culture completely. The main goal of this film is not to stop abortion or change laws, but to drive people to the truth of God's Word and salvation through Jesus Christ. You can read my previous review on the movie here, but we wanted to share the associated resources today and encourage you to start the new year with proclaiming the Gospel at the front of your mind and actions.

Pleases pray for us in this trial.

Many of our regular readers on this blog have known our family for quite some time. Others have known us primarily since we entered full time ministry in January of 2009, and thereafter. Many have heard the stories of trials and difficulties that have come our way. You have heard how the Lord has brought healing, comfort, strength, finances, and miracles of all sorts. We don't often publicize our trials until they are long since past, and then only to share God's goodness and mercy. Today I want to share with you a current need for prayer, as we are not sure how this will turn out. We are trusting the Lord and asking for your prayer on our behalf.

This Sunday(Christmas Day), after over 3 years since my (Mark) last seizure, I had four in an evening while we gathered for our church meeting. Two days later, two more in the evening. These seizures are known as partial complex or absence seizures. While having a seizure, I can hear and see most of what is going on around me, but I cannot speak or react. I lose ability to move for 30-90 seconds and when I awaken I feel very tired and groggy. I slur my speech and my face droops for 5-10 minutes, and then over the next 1/2 hour or so I will return to [as close as I ever get to] normal.

Some of  you remember from years past what this was like, what we went through with doctors, medications, and such. You will also recall that we believe it was God who brought healing for a time, which allowed us to fulfill the ministry to which the Lord was calling us. That ministry has continued, and we have no plans to quit even if some things may need to change. We may have to do less, or maybe more but in different ways. This is all new, and the Lord may remove this trial tomorrow. We are asking you to pray.

Part of our understanding the call to public ministry was after feeling the desire to go and praying about the leading, I was still having seizures from time to time. Would we be able to travel the country, spreading the Gospel, preaching and counseling, organizing outreaches if I could not drive or even be counted on to be capable of speech? Could we do what we felt God calling us to do if I was physically handicapped like this? We prayed at length, and the Lord took my seizures away for a time. August 2, 2008 was the last seizure I had until this past Sunday. We are asking for prayer, for wisdom and if it is God's will, healing.

We don't presume to know that the Lord wants me healed. We have examined our lives and asked the Lord to show us any sin that would be causing us to be chastened. In light of that examination, we have found nothing that should lead us to believe that is the case. From here, we trust the Lord day by day to continue to give His direction, strength, energy, and ability to do whatever He calls us to do. We presume nothing, but to continue on in His work as He has clearly shown us to do. If there is never another seizure, we will praise the Lord. If I have 20 a day for the rest of my life, I will praise the Lord! If God allows some other circumstance of health, no matter the cost, we will praise the Lord. He is good, His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. He is worthy of our praise no matter what difficulties come!

For those we will be visiting with and laboring among in the coming days, please understand if we have to back out of certain commitments, take a day off, or otherwise cannot do all that we have been doing in the Lord's service. We are not done serving, but we may have to take a lesser responsibility for a while. What tomorrow holds, we do not know. We ask that you make it a matter of prayer. Thank you for your continued support of our family and ministry. We love to serve the Lord and His people, and even if what we do changes, we will seek the Lord's guidance in what other doors He may open for us that can be done well despite circumstances that might get us down.

Mark for the Cowperthwaite family

Faithfulness and integrity

I recently spoke with a missionary friend. His family has labored for the Lord faithfully for years, serving his wife and children and all the responsibilities of any husband and father. Beyond those responsibilities, he has given his life to the proclamation of the Gospel and service to the Lord in many churches. The hours included in this man's work would outdo even the most fervent workaholic, but his labor is for the Lord and he wouldn't have it any other way.

One would never know from the outside appearance, but this man has missed eating more than one meal so that his family can eat instead. He has sacrificed many a night's sleep and rather spent it in prayerful petition to His Heavenly Father for today's bread, though it is actually well past midnight and tomorrow's bread is a current need. The prayer is one of desperation, knowing that there are scores of Christians who have the means to help support this faithful missionary's work and yet he will probably continue to scrape by and hope that nobody notices his family didn't bring any food to the last few fellowship dinners because they had nothing to share.

The worst part of this story is that hundreds of families and churches among whom this family has labored have promised monthly financial support to go along with their prayers. The rate of fulfilled promises of regular financial support is stagnant at 0%. That is not a misprint, as this man has NEVER received regular support from a single church or family that promised it in the amount or regularity they promised. Some have given at times, but only one person has given more than two or three months in a row, and then often trail off after a while. I believe people really think they will be faithful, but at least in this case, not one person has done what they promised over the long haul. I know of a few missionaries who have left the field to return to secular work due to this issue, and that makes me sad. We need more missionaries, not less.

In other cases, there are a few faithful ones who think of their missionary friends often and pray for them, even sending financial help, but the vast majority seem to forget too easily. I believe that the average Christian in the United States has never had to make the choices my friend's family makes every day and yet most would feel qualified to judge how and when it is acceptable to make his needs known. The often quoted "The Lord's workers never make their needs known to men, but only to God" lacks solid Biblical support.

I wonder why every other Christian attending a prayer meeting can ask for prayer about finances, the sale of a house, a new job or promotion, but this man would be chastised for "begging" so that his family can eat and have new underwear once every couple of years. People think I am being dramatic, but truthfully I am sugar coating this to some extent. Some have had their commendation revoked (still looking for a Biblical case of this) for daring to get a part time job to help meet needs, as if they no longer serve the Lord if they take a paper route. I am sure that some leave the Lord's service due to being led elsewhere, but more often than not the ministry goes undone because of lack of finances. Most men can go longer in need than his family could due to sheer strength and self sacrifice, but it gets hard after a while to explain to the kids why everyone else has more than they need while they eat discarded food that may not even be safe, let alone healthful.

I have to ask what it would really cost people to live up to their promise to that missionary who left your church 5 years ago, and has spent every day of the interim laboring without fail for the Lord? Did you promise to give $10 a month, or was it $25? When was the last time you sent that check? Would your phone, internet, or electric service keep working if you forgot about your promise to pay? People set reminders for themselves via email and bills that come in the mail for such things, and yet pledging to send a gift to the Lord's servant regularly is frowned upon as presumptuous in some circles. I think we have our priorities mixed up.

Let's just presume that people cannot afford, by their estimation, to send a gift. Times are hard, but does that mean the missionary doesn't need to eat today? What could you give up in order to support a missionary, maybe your Netflix account? Is God really in control of your life, or have you lulled yourself to sleep by the flicker of the new TV you got for Christmas while your missionary friend went without again?

I don't presume to know how much or to whom the Lord will lead you to give, but I know He has called us all (even missionaries) to give. Pray about it, ask the Lord what you should do, and then do it. James 1 carries a sobering reminder to "... be doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. " Will you delude yourself, or will you obey the Lord in whatever He leads you to do"

Out of the Comfort Zone review

In "Out of the Comfort Zone", Ray Comfort, founder of Living Waters, chronicles the events that brought him to his current ministry with Way of the Master and Living Waters. Ray's casual, witty, and yet spiritually deep and challenging biography shows the difficult and dangerous situations he has walked through in his desire to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From the inner city park filled with drug dealers to the streets where he preached, you will never be left bored or even able to put this book down. God has protected this man and given abundant fruit from the Gospel proclamation paired with genuine love for those to whom Ray ministers.

My one complaint with Ray Comfort's books is repetition. This book is not terribly repetitious in itself, but if you have read some of Ray's other books, you will find repeated content takes up about 1/3 of the book. Of course, this information is beneficial to consider more than once, as the repetitive sections are largely concerning how best we ought to share the Gospel. I greatly enjoyed the book, getting a look past the "Way of the Master" course and into the daily life of a man on fire for the Lord. I think any Christian would enjoy this book also, and highly recommend "Out of the Comfort Zone".

Below is the Publisher's notes on "Out of the Comfort Zone". Please follow the linked image to purchase the book from Christianbook.com. A portion of your purchases through this link will support our ministry.

Out of the Comfort Zone By Ray Comfort  Most of us have our own "comfort zone"---the place where we feel safe and satisfied. However, circumstances often drive us out from that area in which we feel most comfortable. Such was the case when Ray Comfort found himself being taken 7,000 miles from his homeland in New Zealand, to speak to the daunting residents of the most dangerous part of Los Angeles, California. MacArthur Park was infamous for being the home of murderers, drug addicts, thieves, pimps, prostitutes, and unfortunately, the destitute and homeless. At times, this fast-moving and true-life drama will make your hair stand on end as you enter the dark side of the supernatural. It will also encourage you and lift your faith as you learn how a celebrated Hollywood actor teamed up with Ray Comfort to bring an amazing message to America. Originally published as My Friends Are Dying! and The Power of Darkness. Includes the previously published Miracle in the Making.

Water on the fire

Yesterday, I posted a new gospel tract that I put together. Just a simple verse from God's Word and a short message on the back of this 2.5" x 3.5" card, but a message that needs to be shared. You may be wondering what this has to do with water and fire. There are a few ways in which we can allow water to put out our fire, so bear with me as I share some things that have been on my heart. 

One incidence of water on the fire happens when a Christian gets excited about sharing the Gospel. Those who are not obedient to the call of every Christian to go and tell the good news are sometimes guilty of watering on the fire. You have probably seen this before, or maybe even been guilty of it yourself. A believer has such a fire for the Lord, they want to see all their friends and loved ones come to Christ. I have to add that those faithfully obeying the Lord's call to share the Gospel should never become prideful in their obedience, but rather desire to serve the Lord and be an example, to encourage others to come along in the work. This is to be done in love and exhortation, not judgment.

Let's be honest here and admit that when someone else is excited about the Lord and we have become apathetic about reaching the lost, these fired up new believers make us feel guilty. And well they should! We ought never let the fire burn out in our hearts. Those with more years following the Lord should be serving as an example to the new Christians, teaching them to follow what the Lord commands. We should stand with Jeremiah the prophet in saying:

"If I say, “I will not remember Him Or speak anymore in His name,” Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it. 

~ Jeremiah 20:9 ~

Moving on , we see another way we can have water on the fire. We can also water down the Biblical message so that it will be more palatable to the hearer. While I have no desire to be offensive, and I have great love for those I wish to reach, I must see the importance of being honest to what God's Word actually says. The message of the Gospel is offensive to those who reject God, hate Him, or deny His existence. Not all are ignorant of God, and many unknowingly have placed themselves in God's place, deciding for themselves what is right and wrong for them. God's creation proclaiming themselves wiser than the Creator is offensive to God, and we ought to remember that we belong to Him, purchased with the blood of Christ.

Christians are called as ambassadors, to speak on behalf of the Lord, not to be politically correct in an attempt to please men. There is a reason that when Paul spoke in Acts 17, the result was mixed. Some mocked, others agreed to hear more. Of those who heard, not many believed. We must be honest in our proclamation of the Gospel. Paul spoke of God as Creator, of judgment, and of repentance. Note the text of the message I wrote: 

God created the Earth and all it contains. Some day He will destroy the Earth in judgment, by fire. Do you think God will save from judgment those who hate Him and deny His existence? Sin separates you from God and makes Him your enemy. God is just, and those who die in their sin will spend eternity in the lake of fire. Please humble yourself before God, for you, as all others, have sinned against Him. Jesus Christ took the judgment on Himself., to redeem those who will repent and believe. Only Jesus Christ can save you.

This was a hard message for me to write, even after all these years of preaching the Gospel. Why? Because in the flesh, I want to be liked, and I know that most will reject a message of judgment. I would like to have more space, more words to say, but if I only have so much time, what is the most important thing to say? Due to the watered down message so often preached, many don't believe God will judge anyone. It has been said by many that God forgives all by default, but that is not the message of the Bible. God will punish eternally those who die in their sin. God will burn up the heavens and the Earth, the elements will melt with a fervent heat! That is God's Word, and a warning to those who are attached to the material world and neglect God. 

God's Word says that being friends with the world is to make oneself His enemy. James 4:8-10 is a harsh passage, written to Christians. Proclaiming God's righteous jealousy when His own cross the line, going from seeking and saving the lost to dismissing sin, and God calls it adultery against Him in James 4:4. This passage does not paint a pretty picture, but rather speaks of the need for purity, mourning, weeping, and humility as we approach the Lord. 

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."

We don't find in the Bible anyone being led in a "sinner's prayer", telling someone to "just ask Jesus into their heart", or any such thing. The message of Jesus was "Repent, or you will all likewise perish" and "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Peter's message to the Jews was that they killed the Messiah. Stephen preached the history of the Jewish nation and pointed his  finger at those responsible for the murder of the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, I believe some have gone too far in the love movement and forgotten that sin separates us from God. Sin deserves the payment of death. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty of sin, and that is a just penalty for all, as all have sinned and fallen immensely short of God's glory. All have sinned, but not all have been saved. One must repent and believe.

I don't believe we should join the crowd who is crying "God hates you" or protest funerals, as some have done. I also don't think we should create crafty slogans and fun church services to attract sinners to attend, lulling them to a false sense of security if they indeed are headed for Hell. We must love the lost enough to show them the Light. We must do as Jesus commanded, to go forth, preach the Gospel, and live a life that is a living sacrifice as an example of what it truly means to follow Christ. In our desire to bring people to Christ, let us be careful not to lead them to water that will not satisfy, to a false sense of security for those who have not repented or trusted in Christ. They cannot just come to the church and try to clean up their lives in their own strength, they must come through Christ. 

I urge you to consider how you ought to share the Gospel in your home, workplace, school, and neighborhood. I am not saying the same methods will be used by all, but the message cannot be changed to make people accept it. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and is for all who believe. Let us proclaim the truth in love, and let God convict the hearts of the hearer. We must not attempt to do the work of God, or even worse, to subvert the power of God's Word in order to see what we believe to be better results. 

Custom Tract Friday

I wrote a short tract today using Gotprint.com's "Collector's Card" parameters. This 2.5" x 3.5" card is easy to keep in your pocket, and contains a short message on it. This one is Psalm 100:3 "It is God who has made us, and not we ourselves..." When we consider our lives in the grand scale of things, we can agree with God's Word, to see that it is just a vapor, which quickly vanishes away.

This tract pinpoints the issue of God as Creator and Judge, that His creation will be burned up in judgement. I know this is not the tract some were hoping for, but I believe we ought to balance the whole message. Often, the tendency is to share the grace and mercy of God through Christ, but sometimes that comes at the expense of the truth of God's righteousness, holiness, and the devastation that sin causes.

Download the PDF from our Google Docs page. 

Print using GotPrint.com and you can get 1,000 for just $14.44 plus shipping. The cost for 500 is nearly the same, so go for the larger order and give some to others to share. We recognize that this type of tract is not everyone's choice, but we will continue to create custom tracts for many occasions, in multiple formats, and targeting varying Scriptures. You can share this post or picture on your social media pages, or email folks the pictures.

Star of Bethlehem Documentary

It was a few years back when we were first introduced to the movie, "The Star of Bethlehem". This wonderful documentary film shares the true life story of an attorney who got serious about his search for the star mentioned in the Bible that led the Magi to Jesus's  home. There are many misconceptions about the Christmas story, and this film deals with a few of them.

The best part in my estimation of this film is how this man took seriously the prophecies of God's Word, and piecing them together with the history of the day, found what he believes is the star that has come to be known throughout the world as "The Star of Bethlehem". You can buy this video on our Resources page or using the linked DVD cover photo below. I hope you find this movie interesting, but more than anything that it draws you to consider the awesome wonder that is God's creation.

The Star of Bethlehem, DVD By Mpower Pictures For centuries, skeptics and seekers alike have pondered the star of Bethlehem. The Bible describes unusual or even impossible astronomical events at Christ's birth. Was it a miracle or mere myth? This compelling DVD - from producer Stephen McEveety ("The Passion of the Christ") - examines Scripture, ancient writings, indisputable astronomical facts and more. Learn nine specific features of the star recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, how it established a date for Jesus' birth and death . . . and its significance for you today! Running time is approximately 65 minutes.

Fishless Fishermen- video and review

I was sent this video by Way of the Master. Emeal Zwayne shares a cautionary tale with a very important point of obedience that should be heeded by every Christian. Please watch this short video (3 minutes) and see what we should be doing as those called as fishers of men by our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.



My experience tends to imitate this video. For some time I was passionate about sharing the Gospel. I had lots of experience and stories to share, and I praise God for the fruit He brings out of our faithful obedience to spread the seed, plant, and water. It is God alone who brings the increase.

As time went on, many figured that my passion for sharing the Gospel was the gift of evangelist found in Ephesians chapter 4. Sadly, I believe that though God granted much grace and fruit from this ministry to the church, I am not truly gifted as an evangelist. I do know a few who truly have this gift, and I am happy to share names and contact information for those seeking this ministry for their church. The gift of an evangelist is, according to my understanding of Scripture, a divinely given desire and ability to share the Gospel in truth, to labor hard in the field of harvest, and to equip others to do likewise. Many believe that a true evangelist  will also have great fruit to show from his labors, but this lacks certainty from God's Word in specific.

Partnering with a true evangelist, a brother we still minister in partnership with today, we took the job seriously of not only sharing the Gospel but also equipping others to adequately do the work. Time was spent teaching from God's Word what the true Gospel is, sharing tips on how to start conversation for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel. I still often encourage and teach others in the work of evangelism, and have written custom Gospel literature for many outreach situations. I plan to put together a new tract each week and post it here on the blog. All these tracts are free for download, though you will have to pay printing costs for whatever you would like to have printed. We do this because we love the Lord, we love God's people, and we love to help any way we can in the proclamation of the Gospel.

What saddens me most as I think about the difference between a faithful witness and an evangelist is that most every time I see a young man or woman who is passionate about reaching the lost, they are told they have the "gift of evangelism". I have not yet found such a term in the Bible. Instead, Jesus commands all His followers to preach the Gospel faithfully, to be true fishers of men. There are those who are gifted as evangelists, that is what I believe we see in Paul's words to the church at Ephesus. For those who are scratching their heads as to the difference, let's look at God's Word.

And [Christ] Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. ~Ephesians 4:11,12 NKJV

Let us all be careful not to relegate the spread of the Gospel to those who are often called "evangelists" but take up the work of spreading God's truth and the message of eternal life ourselves. It is the privilege and responsibility of every Christian to share in this work. The evangelist is doing that work, to be sure, but also helping to equip others to do their part by God's grace in the work of fishing for men.

I hope this short message was an encouragement to think more and then DO more about your desire to share the Gospel. Truly James was correct when he said the following:

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." ~James 1:22-25 ESV

May we all be doers of God's Word, not leaving the work for others to do, nor spending all our time talking about what we ought to do. Prayer is necessary in preparation for Gospel proclamation, and planning is needed when putting together a large outreach, yet the day to day interactions with your friends, neighbors, coworkers, fellow students, and family members are often the most fruitful times of evangelism. Be faithful to not only hear, but to obey God's Word. Great blessings are in store for those who love Him, and remember that Jesus said "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

Thanks for listening, until next time, may the Lord bless your faithful service for His glory.
Mark Cowperthwaite

Leaving the war zone not leaving service

I remember when my brother was in Iraq. The fear that gripped the hearts of so many friends and loved ones when their sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers left their homeland to fight in a foreign land filled with danger and unknown struggles. Being the apolitical type, I don't get terribly involved in the policies of war, nor do I have passionate arguments about who is winning or losing, whose fault it is, or when the troops should come home. Still, I rejoice in knowing the last US troops are leaving Iraq after many years of war, which resulted in the death of many soldiers and civilians alike.

I am not naive enough to believe that there will be no more conflict in Iraq or anywhere else in the world, nor do I think that there are not a hundred more places to which many of these soldiers will be sent. We continue to pray for the soldiers and their families as they serve their country, along with those responsible for leading and making decisions. My oldest brother, Bruce, will retire from the United States Marine Corps on January 13, 2012. Just less than a month from now, this man who has given his life to the protection and service of his country will be without a job for the first time in years. However, leaving the active service does not mean forgetting what you live for. Of all the former service members I have met in my years, I have never met a "former Marine". I am reminded of a friend's grandfather, in his late 80's. Ed still flies a Marine Corps flag at his home, and decorates his vehicle, hat, and much more with the USMC insignia. Ed is not a former Marine, though he served over 60 years ago. Ed is a Marine until the day he dies. 

On a more spiritual note, I don't believe that soldiers for Christ ever really retire either. Sara and I read a book last night written by Jim and Sharon Fleming. This couple served the Lord for years overseas and now live back in the United States. This very helpful book shares how people on the home front can be involved in the work of the Lord, in prayer and correspondence, and many other ways. On the specific side of missions, there are tons of great ideas for your family, small group, or the whole church to put some thought and effort into getting to know the needs of a missionary family. You could take most of these suggestions for encouraging missionaries and also apply them to encouraging soldiers who are far from home

This book is just 64 pages, with quite a few of the chapters/ideas being 2 pages or so, a quick read during your family devotional time. Most of the suggestions in this book, updated in 2009, are either free or very inexpensive to implement, yet can impact lives across the world from the comfort of your home. The publisher's description of the author confirms that a soldier never really retires, as this couple who faithfully served the King of Kings still have a heart for those in current service, and in fact are serving the Lord still today. I might add to the publisher's introduction that Jim and Sharon Fleming will be soldiers and ambassadors for Jesus Christ until the day they die. I pray that each one of us maintains the outspoken loyalty for our Savior that Ed has for the Marines.

An Evening in Mingouwee By Jim Fleming & Sharon Fleming / ECS Ministries Jim's current ministry is that of International Coordinator for Emmaus Correspondence School, a division of ECS Ministries, where he has the goal of seeing these Bible study courses used to give Bible training to even more people around the world. In 2008 they relocated to Dubuque, Iowa from where they continue the international Emmaus correspondence school work with frequent trips overseas. Although their hearts and minds remain on the mission field, they believe that, for the time being, God’s purpose is for them to be close to parents and college-age children.

Buy this wonderful little book by clicking on the book cover above or go to our Resources page. It might change your family's life, and implementing the ideas found within the pages will impact the lives of many others.

We were not paid for the review of this book, nor have we received a free copy of this book. When we review a book that has been offered to us free for purposes of review, we will note that. Our reviews are offered as a free service. If you want to support our family ministry, buying from the above link or any links on our Resources page will earn affiliate revenue for us. For those seeking to send direct support, find our Paypal link in the left column of our blog site. Thank you for your encouragement and fellowship. All glory to God the Father through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.