Effective Witnessing 101

THE GRAPHIC COMPOSITE BELOW reminds me of our conversation last night, as Dory, Lana, and I were driving to Bible study.  We were discussing how to witness to someone who is not a believer, or to someone who is involved in one of the world religions.

I suggested that we should never begin witnessing to that person by telling him (or her) that he is wrong, or that his religion is wrong.  Why not?  Well, the moment someone tells us we are wrong, our natural human tendency is to defend that belief, to stiffen our backs - and that makes it ten times harder to win the person to your point of view.

Example:  Many years ago, in the late 1960s, I was trying to sell computers into a government sponsored educational project in a state which had a large number of  blue collar families.  The goal of the project was more from asociological perspective rather than having an academic goal.   This was a predominantly blue collar area, where most of the young people would not attend college. 

Yet, realizing that computers were fast becoming a major presence in our daily lives, the goal of that project was to help these young people become familiar with computers so that when they were in their adult daily work world, they would not have an overpowering sense of "big brother" watching them.

The lady in charge of that project had previously worked on a project with a college professor who had a government grant to develop a computer and software for the middle school and high school educational market.  She had helped develop the computer I was competing against for her project.

Obviously she felt a level of "ownership" toward that computer.  So, how do I convince her that mine was better for her project?  As we were eating lunch, I began to tell her why my computer was the best for her project.  Right away I sensed her back stiffening - and in the wrong direction.

Mentally I stopped and decided on a different approach.  I looked her in the eye and said, "You are right.  That computer is the best one for your project."   She thought for a minute - and then, out of a sense of fairness, she began to offer her thoughts about the good points of my computer.  I said nothing, just listened.

To make a long story short, she bought eight of my computers and none of the other.  Did I trick this lady?  No, she was much too intelligent for that.  Did I lie to this lady?  No, she would have caught that right away.  I let her go through the mental process of sorting out all the pros and cons - and she chose what she decided, from that process, was the best solution for her project, my computer.

Over the years, as I have watched mature believers witness to non-believers - I have seen them, instead of quoting or reading Scripture verses to the other person (often seen as "beating them over the head with my Bible") - instead show them the Scripture verses in the Bible and LET THEM read it themselves.  Let them do the mental process of deciding pro or con - just as my Project Director lady had done.

Often, after reading the Scripture verse or passage aloud themselves, that person will have questions.  That is the time you can help him focus in more detail on the message God has caused to be written in His User's Manual, the Bible.

To summarize:  Don't Confront!  Lead by walking beside the person, as together you both explore the wonders of God's Word.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge:

Forget Football ~ Are "YOU" Ready To Vote?

One of the most important Elections since the 1980s is happening on November 6, 2018.  By now my California Friends should have received their General Election Voter Information Guide via snail-mail.  For my Friends in other states, I am sure you have also received your Voter's Guide. 

But the really big question is:  "Are YOU ready to vote?  Have you taken the time to research and understand all the candidates, propositions, and issues on this 2018 Ballot - and are YOU ready to vote to leave a strong Conservative legacy for your family?"

I realize that everyone is busy just trying to get by and do all the things on your "Honey Do List" every day.  And that is why I am providing this information - to make it much easier for you to take a break, read what these Conservative Researchers have prepared for us, take a few minutes and mark your Voter's Guide so that when you walk into the Voting Booth on November 6 - you are ready to make YOUR vote count.

The following three Conservative Researchers are people I have trusted over the years and sincerely believe they offer good information and suggestions.

So, now, paraphrasing the old Mission Impossible television show, "Your mission, my Voter Friend, should you choose to accept it, is to go to your Polling Place on November 6, 2018, and VOTE CONSERVATIVE." 

Let me share a wee bit about my three favorite Voting Consultants:

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Nancy Sandoval ~ NancysPick (dot) Com
http://www.nancyspicks.com/votepicks.php?view=detail&id=35

About Nancy Sandoval:  She tells us - I am a CONSERVATIVE and a CHRISTIAN and spend a lot of time researching the CALIFORNIA ballot.  Because of this, I'm often asked my BALLOT RECOMMENDATIONS and started, many elections ago, to record my choices, which led to this site in 2004.  The criteria I use in making selections are described in the following paragraph. If you agree with my criteria, you will probably like my choices.

The following ballot choices are the BEST, in my opinion: (1) To uphold strong family values, (2) To oppose the senseless killing of innocent pre-born children, (3) To oppose granting special minority status based on sexual orientation, (4) To provide parents with educational choice, (5) To protect our National Security and secure our borders, (6) To protect community standards of decency, (7) To reduce the size of government and control government spending, and (8) To perform the job successfully based on good character qualities and office qualifications.

The selections are made from personal knowledge, interviews, research, various voter guides, voting records, candidate statements, testimonies of reliable secondary sources, and various news media.

THIS SITE WILL BE AVAILABLE AT EVERY ELECTION (Lord willing!) I will post “as I go” and should be complete AT LEAST 2, but usually, 3 or 4 weeks before an election.  However, I do updates, and add details / comments right up to an election.  My goal is to recommend for ALL OF ORANGE COUNTY (Bill Gray Note:  She offers very good advise on all state candidates and issues).

My NancysPicks are printable and, I may add appropriate NEWS POSTS of information that I have found.  If you wish to comment on any of my NEWS POSTS

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Robyn Nordell's Conservative California Election Website
Extensive Recommendations & Voter Guides
For the Tuesday, November 6, 2018 California General Election
https://robynnordell.com/

Click on:  All Counties button to select YOUR county voting information.

About Robyn: The Basis for Robyn's Election Recommendations in Each Election:

Robyn Nordell has been involved in elections and with legal/legislative issues for more than twenty-five years. She has taught seminars on political involvement, and has worked closely with legislators, public policy groups, and activists on multiple issues, such as education, parental rights, religious freedoms, life issues, traditional family values, etc. Robyn has worked on a variety of political projects, including having a major role in coordinating the fight against daytime curfews across California. She was the political liaison for a Southern California denomination of churches for several years.

Robyn has a passion for encouraging people to be intelligently involved in the political process, to stand up for traditional-family values, and to protect our precious constitutional freedoms. She values those candidates and legislators who operate from a pro-life, traditional values, and limited government perspective.

Visit Robyn's link for info on all Judicial voting info:

Robyn's JUDICIAL RECOMMENDATIONS For the November 6, 2018 California Election
https://robynnordell.com/assets/downloadable-judicial-recommendations-20181015.pdf

This Printable List includes recommendations for:

Justices of the California Supreme Court
Justices of the Courts of Appeal
Supreme Court Judges in counties which have judge races.

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A third trusted source of Voter Information over the years has been Craig Huey.  Unfortunately he has not yet posted his Voter's Guide.  But keep this link and look back in a few days. 

Craig Huey is a Conservative businessman who, for me, has been an accurate source for Conservative Voters in California for many years.

The Craig Huey Report
https://www.craighuey.com/voter_guide_coming_soon/#

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My Friends, I offer this information to you and sincerely pray that you will go to your Polling Place and VOTE.  Not just vote - but VOTE CONSERVATIVE.  Vote to help keep America strong.  Vote to help keep America free.  Vote to leave a legacy of freedom, positive moral values, and a great American future for your children and grandchildren.

Dory, Lana, and I have our Voter's Guides marked and ready to cast our votes to Make America Even Greater & Stronger.  See YOU at the polls.

God bless America and all True Americans,

Bill 

Click on image to enlarge: 

Forks Of Cypress Mansion ~ A "Type" Of Our Eternal Life?

Today on Facebook, a hometown Friend posted in the "Remember Tuscumbia" profile page an article telling the story of an iconic home standing in my hometown area of the Shoals of Alabama when I was a young boy.  It was the Forks of Cypress, built in 1830 and destroyed by a lightning caused fire in 1966. 

Over the years I have seen photos of the Forks of Cypress as it once stood in glorious splendor, photos of the fire that destroyed the beautiful 1830 mansion, and photos of the brick columns still standing today as a symbol of resilience.

Reading the article and looking at the photos of the Forks of Cypress today made me think of an issue often debated in Christian circles - Eternal Security.  

When, by grace through faith, we become believers and followers of Jesus Christ, adopted children of God - can anything we, or anyone else, do cause us to lose that eternal security given to us when we were adopted into the family of God?  Or will we live eternally in the glorious presence of Jesus Christ? 

For me, this Scripture passage clearly answers those questions:

1 Corinthians 3:10-15, "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it.  But let each one take heed how he builds on it.  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.  If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.  If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."

In all questions regarding our Christian faith, we must always go to the sole authority, God's Written Word, the Bible.  And those photos of the Forks of Cypress immediately made me think of that Scripture passage found in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, particularly verse 15:  "If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."

When you look at the photo below of the of the solid foundation and the brick columns still standing after the horrendously destructive fire - what does that tell you?  It tells me that, when we have a firm foundation, the wood and and weaker materials forming our lives may burn - but that solid foundation will still be standing.  For we who have put our faith in Jesus Christ, He is that Firm Foundation - which can never be destroyed.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11, "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it.  But let each one take heed how he builds on it.  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

That is the sense of eternal security - the sense of peace, even when the world around me is burning, that I was reminded of when I saw the brick columns of the Forks of Cypress standing in the photo.

This is the article which reminded me today that I am a Child of God, secure in His family:

Forks of Cypress (Mansion)
By Kayla C. Scott, University of North Alabama http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3867

Built for Irish immigrant James Jackson and completed in 1830, the Forks of Cypress mansion was situated on a plantation that encompassed 3,000 acres. Jackson purchased the land for his home from Cherokee chief Doublehead and would later gain renown for importing and breeding race horses.

The mansion was one of the earliest Greek Revival homes built in Alabama. It was designed by noted architect William Nichols who also designed the state capitol building in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa County, and the University of Alabama's original campus. It was located just west of present-day Florence, Lauderdale County, between the forks of Big and Little Cypress Creeks.

The building was a tourist attraction as well as a museum for a number of years but burned in 1966, leaving only 24 brick columns.

The Forks of Cypress house, completed in 1830, was built by planter and horse breeder James Jackson outside Florence, Lauderdale County.  The home was unusual for being surrounded on all sides by a colonnade. 

It burned as a result of lightning in 1966 but had been fully documented in photographs and diagrams by the federal Historical American Building Survey in the 1930s. Those plans were later used to re-create the home as a bank building in Florence in 1982. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Historic American Buildings Survey)

My Friend, I pray that when you look at this Forks of Cypress collage you, too, will have that sense of eternal security in Christ - given to you the moment you received Him as Lord and Savior (John 1:12).

If you do not have that eternal security peace, if you have not yet surrendered your life to Jesus Christ - please, do it today.  For tomorrow is promised to none of us, today is our day of eternal life. 

There are no confusing hoops you must jump through, no great works you must do to receive His FREE gift of eternal life.  These Scripture passages, in sincere faith, can guide you into eternal peace and a life in Christ.

John 3:14-16, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but HAVE eternal life.  For God so loved the world (you, me, all people) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but HAVE everlasting life."

Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Ephesians 1:13, 4:30, "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,  .  .  .  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name."

Many folks say a prayer we call the Sinner's Prayer to receive Christ - but remembering that a prayer is really just a conversation with God - in your own words, in your own prayer - acknowledge Jesus Christ as YOUR personal Lord and Savior, ask Him to send the Holy Spirit to live within you for the rest of your life.  When you sincerely do that, YOU are a Child of God, permanently adopted into His Family.   Welcome to the Family of God.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge: 

Let's Talk About Hell ~ A Second View!

LAST SUNDAY WE HAD AN EXCITING SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS at IBBC-Riverside (International Bible Baptist Church of Riverside).

"Oh, really, Bill?  What was so exciting?  What did you discuss?"  Glad you asked.  First it was exciting because so many of us participated in the discussion.  We had folks all across the group commenting, asking questions, participating.

We were discussing hell.  Did I hear a pin drop?  Why am I hearing a loud silence?  Shouldn't a church discuss hell and how to avoid it?

Three very important questions were raised:

1.  Is hell real, is hell eternal, and where is hell?

2.  Since we are told that non-believers in Hades/Torment have their mortal senses - taste, feeling, hearing, sight - what kind of body do they have in Hades/Torment?

3.  What about heaven - will I recognize and know my loved ones in heaven?

1.  Is hell real, is hell eternal, and where is hell?

Since the existence of hell is important to all of us, we went through the typical Scripture verses and passages about Hell, Sheol, Hades/Torment, etc.

Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30, "And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Luke 13:28, "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out."

This of course led to a discussion of churches which teach false doctrines of hell.  Some mainline denominations teach that hell is a myth, does not really exist - even though Jesus, in the Bible, tells us hell is a real place.

Matthew 10:28, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

Matthew 25:46, "And these will go away into everlasting punishment (hell), but the righteous into eternal life."

In my young twenties, even though I was not a Christian believer, I felt the pull of God in my heart - but did not want to give up my secular fun.  I had a dilemma.  If I started going to church, how could I still enjoy my secular night life and fun?  For a long time I felt the tug in both directions.  So I looked for a church which would tell me there is no hell.  Good solution, right?  No hell, no punishment, just have fun all week and go to church on Sunday.  As a non-believer that sure had an appeal for me.

Since I was in the Air Force, I talked to a chaplain from a major mainstream Christian denomination which in later years I learned holds to other unbiblical teachings.  When I asked the Air Force chaplain about hell, he told me not to worry for hell is only a myth, it is not real.  At that time his words made me happy - for I could follow God's urging to attend church - and still party the rest of the week.  Today you and I know that chaplain was pointing me straight toward an eternal hell.

Other churches teach variations of no hell.  Some teach "annihilation" meaning that when a non-believer dies, he does not go to hell, he just immediately goes up in smoke, supernaturally cremated, totally destroyed never to live or know anything again.  Annihilationism is the belief that unbelievers will not experience an eternity of suffering in hell, but will instead just cease to exist after death.  No more pain, no more suffering, just nothing eternally.  Not what the Bible teaches.

There are churches which teach "soul sleep" meaning that when we die -  our soul, believer and non-believer -  just “sleeps” - oblivious until the resurrection and final judgment.  The concept of “soul sleep” is not biblical.  Churches which teach soul sleep include the Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christadelphians, Herbert W. Armstrong's Worldwide Church of God and its offshoot churches, Bible Students Movement (predecessor of the Jehovah's Witnesses), Christadelphians, and the various Advent Christian churches, etc.

And there are churches which teach "conditional immortality" or "conditionalism."   This is an unbiblical teaching that not everyone will be raised immortal.  Only believers will be resurrected immortally and live forever.  Non-believers will be annihilated.  Conditional immortality is an adjunct teaching supporting the false teaching of annihilationism.  In their teaching, the unsaved will suffer a second, irreversible death, perishing forever - annihilationism - and cease to consciously exist.

Then there is the other side of the "no hell" coin.   Universalism. 

Unitarian Universalists teach Universalism, the belief that everyone will be saved - that ALL people will eventually end up in heaven.  The Unitarian Universalist church (we have one in downtown Riverside) is a secular ecumenical organization which believes that all world religions, including atheism, can worship together.  So, if you believe in God, if you do not believe in God - if you follow Buddha or any other world religion deity - or if you are a "this life is all there is" atheist - that is okay, you can all join together in worship.  My question:  "In worshiping what or who?"

And the Christian Universalists profess faith in God.  But the God they worship is a God of Perfect Love, with His attribute of Perfect Justice laid aside.  We cannot lay aside ANY of God's attributes.  God's love and God's justice are equal and balancing attributes of the perfect God.

In their Statement of Beliefs, the Christian Universalist Association states:  "We believe in the law of justice by which actions generate consequences, whether to be manifested in this life or the life to come - and that love, grace and forgiveness ultimately overcome the law of justice."

Pastor Rob Bell, the nationally known former pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church, a non-denominational Christian megachurch located in Grandville, Michigan, taught a form of Universalism.

Finally there are the "seeker friendly" or "feel good" churches that just refuse to teach about sin and hell - for they do not want to offend anyone.  I doubt anyone ever heard Joel Osteen mention hell.  That would spoil his book sales. 

About ten years ago I wandered into the web site of a church in the Midwest, but could not find their Statement of Faith, or Statement of Beliefs.  Any time I find a new ministry or church the first thing I look at is their doctrinal statement - for if that is what they believe, that is what they teach.  Since I could not find this information on their web site, I sent an e-mail asking about it.  Shortly I received an e-mail telling me, "We do not post our Statement of Faith, for we do not want to offend anyone."  

Think about that for a moment.  A Christian church who will not tell you what they believe - because they do not want to offend anyone.  I responded, "Well, you most certainly have offended me.  And I have no doubt that you have offended God." 

Why do the "seeker friendly" churches not teach about hell and sin?  Because they do not want to offend anyone.  They want their pews filled and many viewers on television.  Why?  That is very obvious - MONEY!  The more pews they fill - the more money given in their offerings.  The more viewers on television - the more money sent to them. 

I have a Christian brother who used to work at the U. S. Postal Distribution Center in Orange County, California.  He told us about postal trucks filled with bags of mail - all mail going to Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN) headquarters in Costa Mesa, California - almost every day.  And, guess what was in those letters which filled the many bags of mail - CHECKS, MONEY!

That is why they will not teach about hell.

Since God teaches about hell in His Bible, I am sure He is not happy with anyone who will not teach about hell, or who will teach a different doctrine about hell.  God does not tell us about hell to scare us, but because He loves us and sincerely wants to save all people (2 Peter 3:9) - even though He knows, omnisciently, that many will refuse His "paid in full" pardon from punishment and condemn themselves to eternal punishment.

So, what do we know from the Bible about what happens at death and thereafter?

We know that, at death the mortal body goes into the grave - but the spirit does not stay in the grave.  The spirit of the dead goes immediately to one of two locations.  The spirit of the believer goes to be with the Lord in heaven.

Philippians  1:21-23, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.  For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better."

2 Corinthians 5:8, "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."

And we know that at death in this mortal body, the spirit of the non-believer goes into Hades/Torment to await resurrection for the Great White Throne Judgment.

Luke 16:22-23, "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.  And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom."

Next, we know that the believer is resurrected into our immortal bodies at the Rapture:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words."

And, glorified:

1 John 3:2, "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed (the Rapture), we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is."

When Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, He was in His glorified body.  And when He meets us in the air at the Rapture - we will be like Him - being in our glorified bodies.

What about the non-believers?  They are still in Hades/Torment waiting to be resurrected into their immortal bodies to stand before Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of the 1000 year Millennial Kingdom.

2.  Since we are told that non-believers in Hades/Torment (Luke 16:19-31) have their mortal senses - taste, feeling, speech, hearing, sight - what kind of body do they have in Hades/Torment?

We know that it is not a mortal body, for mortal bodies carry the Adamic Sin Nature curse of physical death and deterioration.  From an early age our bodies are in the process of dying, deteriorating - so that by the time we reach 70, 80, 90 - our bodies are quite different than our 20 year old bodies.

Many folks in Hades/Torment have been there for thousands of years.  Therefore they cannot be in their mortal bodies which would have deteriorated into nothingness long ago - and they will not be raised in their immortal bodies until after the 1000 year Millennial Kingdom.  Since the Bible does not really tell us we cannot be dogmatic.  But I would suggest that the non-believers in Hades/Torment are in some sort of spiritual body which has the same senses as their mortal body before they died.

Let's pause for a moment to address an often misinterpreted Scripture passage:  Revelation 20:4-5

This is how this Scripture passage reads in the NKJV Bible:

Revelation 20:4-5, "And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection."

And this is how I believe it was intended to be read:

Revelation 20:4-5, "And I saw thrones, and they sat on them (the church and OT saints), and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands (martyred Tribulation saints).  And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection. ~ But the rest of the dead (non-believers in Hades/Torment) did not live again until the thousand years were finished."

Why do I suggest this reading?  Because the First Resurrection began with Jesus Christ when He rose from the dead.  And it includes believers, i.e., saints from the beginning of time until the Rapture - and the Tribulation saints.  Believers share in the First Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Second Resurrection begins when Satan is released from the abyss after the Millennial Kingdom.  He will be released from the abyss for one purpose - as a final "free will" decision given to all mortals born during the 1000 year Millennial Kingdom.  Will you receive eternal life in Jesus Christ - or will you continue to follow Satan? 

Out of apathy, many will still deny Christ and will become part of Satan's final army when he goes against Jesus Christ and the holy city, Jerusalem.  In that final battle of history, Satan's army will die from supernatural, i.e., God sent, fire and will join the other non-believers from all time past in Hades/Torment.  Satan will go into the lake of fire to join his Antichrist and False Prophet.

And then all of Satan' followers will be resurrected from Hades/Torment to stand judgment at the Great White Throne Judgment - and death and Hades will be thrown into the lake of fire, hell (Revelation 20:7-10, 20:11-15) for eternity.

3.  What about heaven - will I recognize and know my loved ones in heaven?

I suppose an adjunct question could be:  "If I die at the age of 90, will I always be 90 eternally?"  OR  "If a person dies as an infant, will that person always be an infant?"  These are questions commonly related to, "Will I recognize and know my loved ones in heaven?" 

We read of King David and his infant child which died, in 2 Samuel 12:22-23, "And he said, 'While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, "Who can tell whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?" '  But now he is dead; why should I fast?  Can I bring him back again?  I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."   God had obviously put on David's heart that he will see his child again.

In Luke 9:28-36, the Transfiguration of Christ, Moses and Elijah appeared with Him.  Peter, John, and James immediately recognized them and knew who they were, even though they had never seen them in this life.  How?  I believe that God, in all His glory and omnipotence, will give us a way to recognize the giants of faith who were long before us - and He will give us that same ability to recognize our loved ones and friends.

Another adjunct question which is often raised:  "Can my loved ones see me from heaven and know what I am doing?"  Would you really want them to see all you are doing in this mortal body?

OR

Folks will say, "My loved one appeared to me."  With no intention of hurting anyone, that cannot be true for they are in glorious, blessed heaven - in the presence of God.  Why would they ever want to return to this fallen world, even for a visit?

But before I was a Christian believer, at a time when I was playing Russian Roulette with my soul and was delving into the dark world of the psychic paranormal - there were several instances when I also thought my maternal grandfather had appeared to me.  Later I realized that it was not my grandfather, but demonic spirits trying to steal my soul.

Let me close with these thoughts I wrote in 2002:

Today, as I was ironing my shirts and levis, a male survival skill taught me as a youth by a wonderful mother, I was listening to a Good News Radio, a Christian radio station in Riverside, California.   The song they were playing, "I Bowed On My Knees And Cried Holy," sung by the Heritage Singers, really touched my heart.  The words spoke of meeting loved ones in heaven.

I thought of my mother who went home to be with the Lord in 1994.  A thought came to me, possibly the Holy Spirit, which made me cry.  Thought of those loved ones, especially my mom, who have gone on to glory and wondered if they know about me now.  I found solace and sadness in the fact that the Bible teaches us that there will be no more tears in heaven.  So my mother's pains, her unhappiness, her heartaches were left behind when she went home to be with the Lord.

As I pictured her in heaven, with Jesus, she is always smiling.  She is always happy.  Then I remembered the question that many have asked, "Will my loved ones, my mother, my father, my brother or sister, my wife or husband, my child - will they know what is happening to me here on earth, what I am doing, how I am living?  Will they know the many times I have failed to act and walk as a Christian should?  Would my mother be happy with who I am today?"  And I saw, what to me was the answer.

I see Jesus, every time I do something right, going to my mother and telling her what I have done that really pleased Him.  Oh, I know how happy that makes her.  But what about those times when I do things which I know will not please Jesus?  What does He tell my mother then?  The answer: He tells her nothing.  Because He wants her to be happy, so He tells her only the good things about me, the things I do which will make her happy.

That is when I cried.  Because I know that the things which He cannot tell my mother far outweigh the things He can tell her.   And I know then that, once again, I have made Him very sad - and once again He alone has carried my sins upon His wonderful, cross scarred shoulders.  Once again, He alone has borne my stripes.  That is why I cried.

You can see the fun, and great learning experience, we had in our Sunday School Class at International Bible Baptist Church of Riverside last week.  To all my Friends in the Southern California area, I invite YOU to come and experience our Sunday School Class yourself - and stay for our Worship Service.  I know you will be blessed.

International Bible Baptist Church - Riverside
5932 Challen Avenue, Riverside, California 92503.

* Morning Service is at 10:30 AM Main Worship Service is:

* Sunday School - 1:30 PM  ~  Join us in the sanctuary, for I know you will enjoy our study of God's Word.

* Worship Service - 2:30 PM  ~  Come worship the Lord with us.

If you are in the area on any Sunday, come join us for fellowship and worship.  The invitation is open and perpetually standing.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

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Talakag COTSR Fund Raiser And Prayer Support

LET ME INVITE  YOU TO A FUND RAISER AND PRAYER MEETING FOR A WORTHY CHRISTIAN CAUSE  ~  The Church On The Solid Rock (COTSR) in Lake Forest, California, is holding a Fund Raising and Prayer Service to benefit their sister church, Talakag Church On The Solid Rock in the Philippines.

TALAKAG COTSR FUND RAISER
Saturday, November 17, 2018 ~ 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM

An afternoon of prayer and fellowship to learn more about how the Lord is reaching the town of Talakag, Bukidnon, Philippines, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through the faithfulness of Pastor Sam Lacanienta.

VENUE:   Grace Hills Church, 24521 Moulton Parkway, Aliso Viejo, CA 92637

Please R.S.V.P. by November 9, 2018, to either Pastor Fernando Cinco at 714-747-4351 OR Lyn Lacanienta at 949-285-0313

Now let me tell you a wee bit more about the Talakag Church on the Solid Rock and the Godly couple God called home to the Philippines to establish that ministry, Pastor Sam & Ida Lacanienta.

I believe that Pastor Sam & Ida Lacanienta came to America in the late 1970s or early 1980s.  At first he was an associate pastor at a Baptist church in Santa Ana and later joined the Woodbridge Community Church in Irvine, California, as an associate pastor.  After a while he met and had Bible study in the home of Fred & Nattie Almeda.  From that beginning a fellowship of Filipino-Americans began to grow - and that is when Pastor Sam decided to plant the Fil-Am Church of Irvine. 

Woodbridge Community Church and the newly planted daughter church, Fil-Am Church of Irvine (FACI), are part the Baptist General Conference, a national family of autonomous evangelical Baptist churches.  After planting the Fil-Am Church of Irvine,Pastor Sam became Director of Church Planting for Filipino churches of the Southwest District of the Baptist General Conference.   In that position, while actively leading our FACI fellowship - he also planted nine other Baptist General Conference affiliated Fil-Am churches in Southern California - and was working with other Bible study groups in Washington and Arizona, looking to grow them into new Fil-Am church fellowships.

About 2005, Pastor Sam and Ida Lacanienta felt that God was calling them to return to the Philippines to do ministry in their homeland.  I remember Ida telling us that when they told the family, their young granddaughter, Bethany, asked her, "Will you still be my Lola?"  In a way I could have asked a similar question, for this Godly couple were my spiritual parents - leading me to the Lord in 1987 and they were my first teachers of God's Word.

In the Philippines, they began to operate the Word of Life Seaside Bible Camp for young people, accept speaking invitations, lead home Bible studies, counsel and disciple, and pastor a new church, the Talakag Church on the Solid Rock - a sister church of Church on the Solid Rock in Lake Forest, California, where Pastor Sam was pastor before making the decision to return home to the Philippines.  Also, because of Ida's teaching credentials, they were working on accreditation with the Philippine Department of Education for a pre-school they currently were operating for the young children in their area.

Each year, they returned to Southern California to spend the holidays with their family.  The day after Thanksgiving 2012, Ida became ill and went into the hospital.  At about 1:00 AM on the morning of December 10th, she went home to be with her precious Lord.  Pastor Sam returned to the Philippines to continue pastoring the church which Ida and her friends were instrumental in founding, the Talakag Church on the Solid Rock.  And today, in his 80s, Pastor Sam Lacanienta is still serving the Lord in these ministries which God established using him and Ida. 

Pastor Samis still very active in ministry as pastor of the Talakag Church on the Solid Rock, Talakag, Bukidnon, Philippines, and running a Christian camp at Cagayan de Oro in Northern Mindanao, Philippines.

So, with that background, if you can join with Pastor Fernando Cinco, Lyn Lacanienta (Pastor Sam & Ida's daughter), and all the many many folks in the Southern California area whose lives have been touched by this Godly couple - at the "Talakag COTSR Fund Raiser" - I know your love, fellowship, and financial support for Pastor Sam and the Talakag COTSR fellowship will be appreciated.

Also, if you do plan to attend the Fund Raiser, please R.S.V. P. to Pastor Fernando Cinco at 714-747-4351 - or - Lyn Lacanienta at 949-285-0313 - by November 9, 2018.

If you cannot be there in person, or send financial support to "Pastor Sam Lacanienta" in care of the Church on the Solid Rock, 22722 Lambert, Suite 1712, Lake Forest, California 92630 ~ then I ask you to please keep Pastor Sam Lacanienta and theTalakag COTSR fellowship in your prayers.   Thank you for your financial and prayer support.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

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How's Your Bible Study?

Being a slightly older Christian believer, I am always thrilled when I see our youth and young adults respond to God's call.  Especially when that call is to the pastorate.  Over the past 31 years Dory and I have been blessed to see a number of young adults called to be pastors and pastors' wives from our church families.

In the early 1990s, at the Fil-Am Church of Irvine, California (FACI), we saw four young adults answer that call:  Charles, Fernando, Freddy, and Mark.  And we saw May, Bernadette, Corine, and Audrey of our Fil-Am churches become their wives.

At the Church of Hope (COH) in Laguna Woods, California, we saw Ryan graduate from Biola Talbot Seminary and become a Navy/Marine chaplain.

And at Resolve Bible Church (RBC) in Norco, California, we have watched as John Nash Quintans, with the support of his wife, Rachel Marie, become an Associate Pastor while attendingThe Master's Seminary in Santa Clarita, California.

Dory and I came to the International Bible Baptist Church of Riverside, California, (IBBC-Riverside) over two years ago.  And we were immediately blessed to see the quality of youth and young adults, male and female, in this fellowship, their involvement in the workings of the fellowship, and their desire to grow in God's Word.  Personally I have never seen a church fellowship with so much youth and young adult talent - musically and in sharing the Gospel.

When we first came to IBBC-Riverside, our pastor was on an extended missions trip to the Far East.  And to our surprise, we saw our young adults - Mark, Jahren, AJ, Philip, Paolo, Jonathan, Joezer, etc., - along with church elders Danny, Henry, Ben - and our young pastor-in-training, Paul - all taking turns leading the worship services, Sunday Schools, and Devotional/Prayer Meetings.  We were surprised, amazed, and blessed by the quality of church leadership which carried on at IBBC-Riverside when the pastor was away.

But, back to my reason for writing this blog.  Last night, once again, Dory, Lana, and I were blessed by the Bible study led by the young Associate Pastor, John Nash Quintans - a young man we have seen grow from being a youth in our church fellowship, into being a young man whose heart is so full of the love of God and God's Word, that he has to share it.

This morning I shared with Dory how, last night as we studied Psalm 119:41-48 - I was so impressed with John Nash's study leadership abilities.  I have long felt and shared my convictions that a Bible study should not have a "teacher" - but instead should have a "leader."

"Bill, what is the difference?"  Glad you asked.

Let me give you examples.  About 15 years ago Dory was on a business trip and I decided to attend a Bible study at the home of Friends.  They attend another church, but that should not hinder us from occasionally joining them for a study.  This night they were discussing the book of Revelation, with one man "teaching."  Several times I attempted to ask questions or make comments - and with his look, he made it very apparent that he was going to do all the talking - and he did not appreciate me commenting.  So, I shut up and never attended one of their studies again.

In another Bible study years earlier, our "teacher" was knowledgeable, but would not leave room for discussion.  It seemed that he had studied and had a script for each verse - and any comments or questions would make him lose his train of thought.  So, Bill Gray, sit down and shut up - was the feeling I got.  He was and is a Friend and Christian brother whom I dearly love.  But he was a "teacher" and not a "leader."

"Okay, Bill, so what is a 'study leader'?"  Great question.

As we read through the chosen Scripture passage verse by verse, or in short passages - a Bible study leader will encourage the person reading each verse, or short passage, to give us his or her thoughts on it, what did God mean by that writing, how should we interpret it?  And the leader will allow others to comment on that verse or passage.  In other words, we "discuss" the passage for that evening, verse by verse.  That is how we all learn and grow more mature in our knowledge of His Word.

So what is the good leader doing during the study?  First, he has good insight into the Scripture passage we are studying and using that knowledge he will get our study and group discussion started.  But, only God is 100% right.  The rest of us, even the leader, may be a wee bit off in our interpretation.  That is the benefit of having a Scripture discussion - to think about, discuss, chew on new ideas - and discard those which prove to not be aligned with Scripture.  Will we always agree with one another?  No.  There will be times when we will have to agree to disagree.  Yet we must always remain brothers and sisters in Christ and move on in Christian love and friendship.

Keep in mind that when we have 5, 10, 15 people, or more, who are not afraid to share, comment, and ask questions - the discussions can be very fruitful.  But the discussions can also wander off onto unrelated tangents.  Oftentimes one or two of those tangents may actually offer new insight into the verses being studied.  That is part of the job of the "Bible study leader" - to recognize when new thought is fruitful, and when it is unrelated.

The good leader will allow folks to discuss, comment, and offer their thoughts - even wandering off the path occasionally.  But he has to know when to bring us back on track and keep the Bible study moving forward.

As I shared with Dory this morning, last night John Nash did an excellent job of allowing discussions to be explored - and at the right time, bringing us back on track with the study.  For that, I give him a really big "ATTA BOY!"  

And, today, just by coincidence a hometown Friend and wife of a high school classmate, Bonnie, shared a graphic on Facebook which read:

I think we forget that when Jesus said, "Love your neighbor" ~

He meant your:  Democrat - Republican - Gay - Black - Muslim - Asian - The person you're mad at - Your waitress/waiter, The homeless, Your ex, Atheists, Addicts, Immigrant neighbors, etc.

God loves everyone, not just those who you get along with.

And I responded to her:

Wow, Bonnie!  We are in sync!  We talked about that very subject in our Tuesday Night Bible Study last night - using Psalm 119:41-48.  In our study I suggested that the "Greatest Forgiver" in history is Jesus Christ - who died to offer us reconciliation with the Father.  So can we do less for folks with whom we disagree, or who have hurt or harmed us?

We may not agree with their thoughts or lifestyle, but we do not have the right to NOT share the Gospel of forgiveness and salvation with them.  For Christ shared it with us when we were lost in sin.  Thanks for the reminder. 

My Friends, I pray that all of you are involved in a corporate Family Bible Study in your local church fellowship.  In doing that, we all learn from one another and that helps each of us grow toward more maturity in God's Word.  For, as we learned in our Bible study last night - to be an effective witness for Him, we must continue to study His Word and be prepared for the time when a Friend says to you, "Can I ask you a question about.  .  .  . ?"

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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Tuesday Bible Study, October 9, 2018 ~ And Pistol Pete Maravich!

In our Tuesday Night Bible Study last night, led by my young Friend, Associate Pastor John Nash Quintans, we continued our study in Psalm 119:33-40, a discussion about our perseverance based upon the promises of God. 

In that Scripture passage we saw how God will teach us (v33) - give us understanding (v34), help us to walk in His commandments (v35) - incline our heart toward Him and not to covetousness (v36) - help us to keep our eyes on Him and not on worthless material things (v37) - establish His Word within us (v38) - turn away our reproach, i.e., shame, that our witness of Him will not cast doubt in those who are weaker or who are not yet believers (v39) - make us sincerely long for His precepts, His guiding commandments, that we might grow in His righteousness (v40).

Dory suggested this this passage in Psalm 119, perseverance based upon God's promises - seems to parallel the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:1-12.

And while looking at verse 36, "incline our heart toward Him and not to covetousness" and verse 37, "Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless (or foolish) things, And revive me in Your way" - the discussion turned toward our habits of working to attain greater and greater material things - often to neglect of our more important spiritual life.

Those two verses made me think of a  documentary video I had watched the previous evening about the life of Pistol Pete Maravich - possibly the greatest basketball player to ever walk on the court.  That is not just my judgment, but reflects the thoughts of many of his basketball peers.

One man who played professional basketball against Pete Maravich said this, "Take all the talents of all the Harlem Globetrotters, put them into one man - and that man would be Pistol Pete Maravich."  That is a powerful statement.

In the documentary video, it told how Pete's dad, Press Maravich, who had a brief career in professional basketball before turning to coaching - seemed to dedicate Pete Maravich's life, almost from birth, to building the perfect basketball robot, master of the game of basketball.  And, he almost succeeded.  But at what cost?

Pete Maravich starred on the high school varsity basketball team - when he was still in the eighth grade.  He went on to even greater success in college basketball.  In his college basketball career at LSU he averaged 44.2 points per game - and that was before the 3-point rule (adopted in 1979) which would have made his number far greater.  And he averaged 24.2 points per game in his ten year professional career.

Yet with his finely honed, practice-perfected basketball skills which had been drilled into him almost from birth by his father - Pete Maravich had problems relating to people, even his teammates, and I would guess his family.  On the basketball court, according to his teammates, it was as though he was always alone.

He began searching, seeking, peace via many avenues - even science fiction.  But it always eluded him, for he was seeking peace everywhere except in the only source of true peace, God.

After he was forced by injury to retire from basketball in 1980 - he turned his intensity toward seeking that peace.  In this video, Wayne Federman, Maravich biographer, tells how after being forced to leave the only life he had ever known, basketball, Pete went through two years of extreme darkness and depression.  In the video Pete shares how, one evening as he was getting ready to go to bed, he heard the call of God on his life.

Finally Pete did find peace in God.  Then he used that same intensity which had always driven him in basketball - turning it toward sharing and speaking about God to all who would listen.

At the age of forty, in 1988, Pete Maravich was in Pasadena to be interviewed for a Christian radio program.  Before the interview he was playing in a  pick-up game at the First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena.  Dr. James Dodson of Focus on the Family was on the court with him.  Dr. Dobson tells how he turned away for just a moment - and turning back he saw Pete collapse.  On January 5, 1988, Pistol Pete Maravich, 40 years old, died of a heart attack in the arms of Dr. Dobson.

In a way that was ironic.  Pistol Pete Maravich died doing the two things which meant the most in his life:  (1) playing basketball and (2) getting ready to share and talk about his Christian faith.

Now think back to why these two Scripture verses from our Bible study I felt paralleled the life of Pistol Pete Maravich.  We read in verse 36, "incline our heart toward Him and not to covetousness" and in verse 37, "Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless (or foolish) things, And revive me in Your way."

Pete Maravich had let his desire for basketball greatness, his desire for crowd adoration, his seeking fame and fortune in the worldly game of basketballguide his life - instead of seeking the more important goal of spiritual maturity in Christ.  But praise God, before he died prematurely - he did find eternal life in Christ and he used the gift of sharing which God had given him, to spend the rest of his short life as an ambassador for Christ.  In that sense, his life truly was successful.

Pete Maravich ESPN Sports Century
https://youtu.be/FNTtYNU9rKc

Many of my Friends are not old enough to remember Pistol Pete Maravich.  But to me, it seems only yesterday that I was watching him putting on his basketball clinic in every LSU game he played.  And I remember wondering how he kept from tripping over his floppy gray socks that always seemed to be drooping over his basketball shoes.

In our Tuesday Night Bible Study discussion of Psalm 119:33-40, I could not help but remember Pistol Pete Maravich - and briefly shared with our group about his life and death.  It is a great reminder that no matter how great and successful we are in this life - if we do not have Jesus Christ front and center in our life - we are a failure, a spiritual failure.

God bless, have a wonderful blessed day,

Bill

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