Time4learning review

First, I would like to thank www.time4learning.com for the opportunity to review their program for 30 days.  It was a great opportunity for our family and came at a very good time for us as we adjusted to Daddy's new work schedule.  The weather here is still not great most days so it was okay for the kids to be inside.

We set Nathaniel up at 8th grade level to review skills.  Virginia did 3rd grade level for most subjects and I set her for 2nd grade in Math.  This did not matter much as she did not do much math.  Naomi started at 1st grade in all subjects except math which I did K.  I eventually changed Naomi's math level to 1st grade as the K was too easy for her.  She also excelled on certain subjects and moved up to 2nd grade level after completing 1st grade.

This program is a complete curriculum.  Every level we did had Math, Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts.  Virginia loved the Language Arts.  She is a reader and loved learning about point of view, fact versus opinion, and compare and contrast.  Nathaniel focused on Social Studies and Science.  It helped fill in some gaps in his mind of WHEN things occurred.  Naomi hopped back and forth between them all as she really liked the whole program.

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.

Love and Respect Experience Devotional - Review

We didn't plan for this, but today seems like good timing to do our book review of
"The Love & Respect Experience: A Husband-Friendly Devotional that Wives Truly Love"  by Emerson and Sara Eggerichs. My wife and I have never been too excited about holidays, and like to think that we express our love to one another often enough and well enough that we don't need a holiday to remind us. That being said, many folks do enjoy having a special day to celebrate, so if you are one that likes to give gifts we would suggest that you might enjoy this devotional book.

Sara and I have been reviewing this book from Booksneeze.com, having received a free e-copy for our Kindle for PC. As we recently watched the Love and Respect DVD series with a small group at our church, many of the principles and concepts were fresh in our mind. Some of the things learned during the DVD series have already begun to take root in our lives and the Lord has brought blessings from our understanding of Biblical principles and practical knowledge. We are learning together, and we praise God for our the materials along with our wonderful friends who introduced us to Love and Respect. 

The devotional is, in my opinion, true to the title. It is husband-friendly and my wife also loved it. With short devotionals that open up topics of discussion, we found it best to read the devotionals together. The author suggests that it may be well for husbands and wives to read separately, but our preference has always been to read things together and discuss. I believe either way would be beneficial, but as it is a marriage devotional it seems to make sense to spend this time together talking about your marriage and how you can work together to build it up in Christ. 

The Kindle version seemed especially appropriate, as folks tend to spend a little time before bed reading. This relaxed and uplifting material seems quite appropriate to read before bed, as making other time during the day or even once a week other than in the evening for us tends to become neglected, rushed, or muddled with the chaos of having 4 children in the house. We have enjoyed so far all the materials produced by Love and Respect Ministries and look forward to learning more about ourselves and our relationship as we practice the principles of God's Word and this material.

The link above is for the Kindle version, which is cheaper. That is what we preferred, using Kindle for PC which is free from Amazon. To buy a printed copy, use our Affiliate search tools in the right column of this blog. Thank you for supporting our ministry through your regular purchases. 

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!”

Hitler, God, and the Bible- the book behind the "180 movie"

The book "Hitler, God, and the Bible" was released today from Living Waters and Ray Comfort. You can buy your copy in our Amazon Store and through Christianbook.com links in the right column. I hope you continue to spread the word about the 180 movie and help inform people about the atrocity of abortion in our country and around the world.

In Hitler, God, and the Bible, international evangelist and best-selling author Ray Comfort, exposes Adolf Hitler's theology and abuse of religion as a means to seize political power and ultimately instigate World War II and genocide.

This fascinating study mines the depths of Hitler's beliefs and convincingly argues that without Hitler's misuse of Christianity, the Third Reich would not have had its legendary rise, resulting in the deaths of more than ten million innocents.

Highlighting Hitler's youth, his influences, and his path to seducing a nation, Hitler, God, and the Bible is a fresh, stinging reminder of the power of the cross and how its misuse led to the Final Solution.

CBD Featured Product "Courageous"

I won't go on forever with this post. I just wanted to remind everyone that if you have not yet purchased your copy of "Courageous" on DVD, they will start shipping January 17. Buy from our Amazon Store or Christian Book Distributors store to support our ministry through your purchases. 

We are excited to see this movie, though we missed it in the theaters. If you have seen it, loved it, and want to share it, consider buying a copy just to loan out. We do this often, and have been blessed to see how the Lord uses such a simple thing to bless others. 

Courageous: Exclusive Collector's Edition, DVD Pre-order the latest movie from the creators of Fireproof! Police officers Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, and their partners are brave men well-equipped to deal with hardened criminals. But when they remove their badges, they face a more daunting challenge---fatherhood. As their children drift away from them, can these stalwarts find a way to defend and protect those nearest and dearest to them---and draw closer to God? Rated PG-13. Approx. 120 minutes. Special Features: The Making Of Courageous Commentary By The Kendrick Brothers Deleted Scenes Outrageous: Outtakes & Bloopers Courageous In 60 Seconds Heart Of Courageous The Story Of My Father Exclusive Collector's Edition Features*: Casting Crowns "Courageous" Music Video A Church of Prayer The Importance of Fathers Role of a Lifetime: Rev. Daniel Simmons Mark Willard: Ministering Through Music Erin Bethea: Serving Behind the Scenes Sherwood Pictures Retrospective Sherwood Volunteers Plus, Ministry & Resource Videos to Guide Your Next Steps! Languages: English 5.1 (Dolby Digital), Spanish Subtitles: English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, French, Vietnamese, German, Korean * Additional features available only on Collector's Edition

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.

CBD feature Wednesday

This week, our featured CBD product is the Faith Like Potatoes DVD. We have enjoyed this true life story of God's power and the trials endured by a man who fought God for far too long. When Angus Buchan came to the Lord for salvation, God began to use him for His glory. Along the way, Angus's faith was strengthened as he learned to rely on God for even the unimaginable. Click on the link below to purchase this DVD and a portion of your purchase will be given to support our family in ministry. Find other products via our CBD affiliate search engine in the right column of this blog.

Faith Like Potatoes DVD By Affirm Films Where there's love, there's hope. Adapted from the best-selling autobiography Faith like Potatoes, this inspirational film weaves together the moving journey of a man who, like his potatoes, grows his faith - unseen until the harvest. This powerful DVD includes God's Farmer, a gripping, 54-minute documentary on the real life of Angus Buchan. Rated PG. Approx 116 minutes. DVD Features: God's Farmer: The Angus Buchan Story (54-Minute Documentary) Making-of Featurette English, French and Spanish Subtitles Widescreen Closed Captions

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.

CBD feature Wednesday

Courageous is available for pre-order now, and will be shipping around January 17th for those who get their orders in soon. We are excited to finally see this movie, as we missed it in the theaters. If you have not yet considered purchasing this DVD, check out all the special features listed here in the Collector's Edition from CBD. Buy through this link and a portion of your purchase (no effect on price) will support our ministry. Also available in our Amazon Store. If you are shopping Amazon anyway, we would appreciate your supporting us with your purchases. We are excited to see this movie! The current price is $17.99 on both of our stores, which is the best price we know of right now.

Don't forget to share this and any of our featured resource links with your friends via Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ using the links at the bottom of this post. It only takes a single click, and linking our blog and affiliate stores helps us spread the word, to offer Christian resources that will build you up in your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Courageous: Exclusive Collector's Edition, DVD Pre-order the latest movie from the creators of Fireproof! Police officers Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, and their partners are brave men well-equipped to deal with hardened criminals. But when they remove their badges, they face a more daunting challenge---fatherhood. As their children drift away from them, can these stalwarts find a way to defend and protect those nearest and dearest to them---and draw closer to God? Rated PG-13. Approx. 120 minutes. Special Features: The Making Of Courageous Commentary By The Kendrick Brothers Deleted Scenes Outrageous: Outtakes & Bloopers Courageous In 60 Seconds Heart Of Courageous The Story Of My Father Exclusive Collector's Edition Features*: Casting Crowns "Courageous" Music Video A Church of Prayer The Importance of Fathers Role of a Lifetime: Rev. Daniel Simmons Mark Willard: Ministering Through Music Erin Bethea: Serving Behind the Scenes Sherwood Pictures Retrospective Sherwood Volunteers Plus, Ministry & Resource Videos to Guide Your Next Steps! Languages: English 5.1 (Dolby Digital), Spanish Subtitles: English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, French, Vietnamese, German, Korean * Additional features available only on Collector's Edition

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

Cherish today

Many of you may already know the story of Denise Sproul. The wife of author and pastor R.C. Sproul Jr. passed away last night after a battle with cancer. Leaving behind her husband, eight children, and many lives that were changed through her ministry, many across the country are weeping today as they get the news. One of which is Doug Phillip's family, who ministered together often. Doug writes about Denise's impact on his family and especially his wife. Doug writes a cautionary tale of how we ought to cherish each moment with those we love. Read the whole story on Doug's Blog. Below is a short excerpt:

Tonight, stop and take a really good look at your spouse. Next, look at each of your children. Look really, really long and hard. Take a moment and thank God for every whisper of a moment that God has given you with them. Thank God for the little kisses offered, the stories told, the tickles dispensed, the games played, the readings shared, the silent moments cherished, the victories experienced, the losses endured, the kind words presented , the songs sung, the glances exchanged.

Though we never had the chance to meet this precious woman of God personally, we feel like we have had a chance to see her life through the ministry of herself and R.C, as well as the wisdom shared in R.C.'s writing. A book we recently read and highly recommend is "When you rise up" We will be posting a review of this book soon on Sara's blog and our Cowperthwaite Family Resources site.  See our Resources page for a purchase link. 

Through the pain of loss, still we can see a brighter side to this story, in that a child of God has been ushered home, into the presence of her Savior. For this, we shed tears of joy, knowing that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. What a precious promise! We will be praying for the family, especially for R.C. and the children as they prepare for life without Denise, knowing  that the Lord will work mightily for His glory in all things. 

When You Rise Up: A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling By P & R Publishing Who should teach your children? What should they be taught? What is the goal of education? Drawing on Charlotte Mason's and classical methods and encouraging parents as God's chosen teachers, Sproul offers a biblical approach to learning that defines instruction as discipleship; and its purpose as seeing your children bear fruit, grow in grace, and become more like Christ. 152 pages, softcover from P & R.

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. 

Evangelism Saturday- opportunites abound

Often people ask how to get started in sharing the Gospel. I find that even in my own teaching on the subject, I might overlook some very practical things in regards to sharing the Gospel. We read books, took classes, and sought new and creative ways to get out in our community to share the message of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. Sadly, we had missed the forest for the trees. When we started to see all the interactions we have day in and day out, it became more important to discern which opportunities to take advantage of. Here are a few ways we have found that God often uses to speak about the Savior.

First of all we encourage you to be faithful to live the Gospel with your family, friends, coworkers, and classmates. These relationships are longer term and generally more productive in the long term. Once you have been faithful in your daily interactions with the unsaved, you most likely will want to extend beyond what you know and meet new people for the express purpose of proclaiming the Gospel. That is where these tips will come in handy. I hope you find one or two in the list below to prayerfully consider.

Internet and the Cowperthwaite family

Many have asked us why we are involved in Facebook and other social media. We find that we have been able to use our blogs and Facebook pages for the last 5 years to share the Gospel, teach God's Word, and let people know how to get some great Christian resources for themselves. We also have a chance to offer ourselves for prayer, services such as Gospel material production, and much more due to our web presence. Our blogs (linked at the right) only average a couple hundred or so views per day right now, but we are happy we have the chance to reach out to folks at all. Thank you for opening your lives to our family in so many ways.

Our Facebook page has over 1,100 friends, and the passages of God's Word we post adorn the walls of folks from all over the world, in churches of various denominations and practices. We think this is a good use of our time so long as it does not take too much time. Our Facebook page is the primary source for getting updates on our family, and the blog is becoming a blend of updates and things we think our friends will appreciate learning about. We will do our best to let you know the good and the bad about what we have been reading and watching. Please share your input via the "Comment" section at the end of each post.

The latest addition is the affiliate programs from some of our favorite providers. We buy books, DVDs, and much more from sources like Christian Book Distributors and Vision Forum. We buy diapers and other supplies at a huge discount from Amazon and have our own astore. We recently started reviewing Christian books, Bibles, and homeschool curriculum for a company online. All these have brought new experiences and learning to our family and given us many opportunities for fellowship. As we get more involved in reviews and internet commerce, we don't want folks to lose track of our family.