Sunday, June 7, 2026

On May 16, 2026, I Asked You To Pray For My Very Dear Friend/Brother, Jun Quintans

On May 16, 2026, I Asked You To Pray For My Very Dear Friend/Brother, Jun Quintans ~ That our blessed God would bring Jun through his upcoming Triple Bypass Surgery.  Many of us prayed and the Holy Spirit was there in the OR with Jun, bringing him through the operation. (Which actually was a Quadruple Bypass Surgery).
 

We received the following prayer request from Rachel:  "Jun is going to have Triple Bypass Surgery on May 21.  He also was diagnosed with cancer of the prostate.  More test needs to be done so they can figure out the right treatment plan for him.   Please pray for healing, if possible (that God will) remove the cancer, because this is an aggressive one.  We are praying it is not a high stage cancer. Thank you."

That day I posted I am asking YOU to cover my dear Friend and Christian brother, JUN QUINTANS, and the whole Quintans Family with faithful prayer of protection and healing - as Jun goes into surgery on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

To All My Friends And Anyone Reading This Post ~ Please cover Jun and the Quintans Family with prayers of healing and protection - and please share this prayer need with all of your believing and praying FRANs (Friends, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors) and ask them to do the same. 

I know that this beautiful Christian family with be forever grateful for each and every prayer. . . .  I know that Jun and all the Quintans Family will thank you, and I thank you.  God bless and thank you, Bill

To help you share this post with non-Facebook Friends, it is also posted on the Bill & Dory Gray Christian Ministries blog on Saturday, May 16, 2026, as:  "Allow Me To Share A Short Story And An Urgent Prayer Request With You"


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On May 17, 2026 I posted:
 
Hi Jun, I just forwarded a message to you from Sister Madelyn Gonzales.  I am sure you remember her and Ted from our Corona Fil-Am church, CICF.  But just in case I did not forward it properly, I will repeat it here

"Bro. Bill, Read your post re: Bro. Jun’s forthcoming surgery.  I just sent him an email.  He might not be opening his messenger but please if you can tell him, I would appreciate it much!

Ted was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018.  He underwent
Brachytherapy, which was less invasive and without side effects.  He was declared cancer free after three years or so.  His PSA became normal just after less than a year after Brachytherapy."

Jun, Love you, my Brother, and Dory, Lana, and I are keeping you in prayer.   God bless, Bill

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On May 27, 2026, 8:59 am, Jun posted in Messenger:

Hi everyone.  I arrived home yesterday around 5 pm.  This picture was taken today 8:45 am.  Beng wipe me up and dressed me.  God Answered Our Prayers.  He was with me, by my side.  Thank you for All your prayers and care.  I'm taking it easy, little by little.  Doing my 5 minute walking every hour and breathing.  I'm (down to) 153 lbs.

On May 27, 2026, 1:43 pm, I responded:

HAPPY TO SEE YOU STILL HAVE THAT WONDERFUL "JUN QUINTANS" SMILE!  And very happy to see that you look slim, trim, and almost ready to go jogging!  Like me when I got my Pacemaker last October, you slimmed down a wee bit, but looking very good. 

I had been trying for years to get back to 200 lbs or less - and never got close.  But one week in the hospital, lots of diuretics, and a new Pacemaker was all it took.  I lost 30 lbs and broke that 200 lbs barrier!  Keep smiling, my brother, we have been praying for you.  God bless, Bill, Dory, Lana


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Update from Sister Rachel:

Hi Lana, Bro Bill, and Sis Dory, Thank you for asking.

1. He had his
Quadruple Bypass Surgery on 05.21.26.  He is now home and recovering well except for his swelling feet, especially the right foot where the artery was harvested.  We will see his heart doctor tomorrow.

2. Jun is also diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and is Stage 4, because it reached his bone, but not the spine.  We met his Radiation Oncologist doctor for his Prostate Cancer today.  Can't start Chemo or Hormone Treatment until he is fully recovered from heart surgery.

In the meantime, we are awaiting authorization for Firmagon Injection shot from Jun's insurance.  Firmagon will help suppress the spread of cancer while Jun is recovering from his heart surgery.  The doctor said to not worry much, as Jun has time to wait for the treatment since the Prostate Cancer cell is slow growing.

Thank you for all your concerns and prayers!  Bro Bill - Please send our thanks to ALL those who prayed for Jun through your blog!  We appreciate it very much.  All your prayers strengthened and held us together.  Please continue praying for his healing.  Thank you!
  Thank you for all your concerns and prayers!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

To all my Friends, from the bottom of my heart, I ask you to keep praying for full healing for my Christian brother, Jun Quintans - and for the Peace and Comfort of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for all of the Quintans Family. 

James 5:16 (esv), ".  .  .The effective prayer of a righteous person has great power.  .  ."

God bless and thank you, From the Quintans Family,

And from me, Bill 
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Saturday, May 16, 2026

Allow Me To Share A Short Story And An Urgent Prayer Request With You

Allow Me To Share A Short Story And An Urgent Prayer Request With You ~ About a family which has played a special role in my life over the past 25 years.  Looking back to 1999 Dory and I were relatively new members of the Filipino-American Church in Corona, California, where I met this very special family.  And it all started through a Bible Study Group.

I have long believed that two of the most powerful tools God has given us are:  Prayer and Interactive (Discussion) Bible Studies. 

1. A Biblical Prayer Life consists of corporate, family, and personal prayer (Eph 6:10-20).  Satan has no chance against such a strong prayer shield.

2. A Family Home Bible Study is a powerful tool for reaching and sharing with family, friends, and acquaintances.  Many will come to a home study group, who might be reluctant to "go to church" for a Sunday Worship Service.

There are different types of home Bible studies, from the relaxed discussion group to the more formal sermon styled meeting.  From personal experience I can testify that the discussion group was how I became a believer and, I believe I can say, how the Quintans family became a believing family used mightily by God.

But which is most effective in reaching those people whom God has put in your path and on your heart?  As a child of 12 I was exposed to an extreme Pentecostal revival preacher who forced and shamed me to my knees so his group could pray over me - and that drove me away from God until I was 50 years old.

But praise God, He
used a prayer warrior wife, Dory, and a Godly pastoral couple, Pastor Sam & Ida Lacanienta, in a Filipino-American Baptist church - who took me by the hand and showed be the Path to the cross.  Through the Fil-Am Church of Irvine (FACI) and their Family Home Bible Study, after attending those Bible study discussion groups for six months and getting to know Jesus better, I became a believer.

Dory and I moved to Riverside County about 1998/99 and became members of the Fil-Am Church of Corona where, while finishing his graduate studies at the Talbot Seminary of Biola University, Ed Dacio was our pastor.  

What I liked about our new Corona church was that u
nder the guidance of Associate Pastor Pat Ballesteros, members could attend our Wednesday Evening Prayer Meeting, devoted only to prayer, both corporate and personal.

Then we had our Friday Evening Family Bible Study, devoted only to reading and discussing Scripture expositionally, led by Pastor Ed Dacio.  Without sacrificing the effectiveness of either, our church offered members both ministries - to accomplish God's plan for our fellowship.

Why this rather long intro?  Because that is how, about 25 years ago, I met and have been embraced by a very special Christian family - the Quintans Family.

Circa 1999-2000, Rachel Quintans, with her two young sons, Nash (about 11) and Michael (about 9), began faithfully attending our weekly Friday Night Family Bible Studies.  For about one year, they were active members of our Bible study group - but seldom, if ever, did they attend our Sunday Worship Services.  The reason on Sundays they went to the Roman Catholic church with dad Jun.

Then one Friday evening, Pastor Ed changed our format for the evening.  After the Bible study, he had an altar call, inviting anyone in the group that evening who had not yet committed themselves to Jesus Christ, asking Him to be their Lord and Savior - to stand if they wanted to make that commitment that night. 

Why this evening and not at all of our Bible studies?  I would strongly suggest that God had put that time and place on Pastor Ed's heart, especially for that evening.  And the beauty of that moment was that, about six people stood to make a commitment to follow Christ.  Three of them were the Quintans family - Rachel, Nash, and Michael.  Point of interest Nash has now finished seminary and is an Associate Pastor at a church in Redlands, California.

This was an unusual change in our Bible study format.  In all the years I had been attending Bible studies - in our Fil-Am churches in Corona, Irvine, and San Clemente/San Juan Capistrano - we had never had a formal altar call invitation.  This was typically done at our Sunday Worship services - but in hindsight - there is no time nor place, when inviting a friend or family member to receive Jesus Christ, that is not appropriate.

The next Sunday their dad, Jun Quintans, came to church and received Christ as his Lord and Savior.  Later Jun told me how his two young boys, Nash and Michael, came home that Friday night and began to witness to their dad, and God worked another miracle that night - Jun followed his boys and wife into an eternal life with Christ.

Then Jun became the "paying it forward" evangelist.  First he brought his brother, Manny, and his family to our Fil-Am Church of Corona - where they became active members of our fellowship.  Then Jun and Manny brought their mother, Connie.  And in time, the whole Quintans clan became Christian believers.

My story of the Quintans family, then the Quintans clan, rather parallels the Biblical story which began in John, chapter 1, with John the Baptist pointing his disciples to the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.  And the story continued with Andrew bringing his brother, Simon to the Messiah. 

Like Andrew, a faithful mother in my story, Rachel, who with her two sons, Nash and Michael, was always present at our Bible studies - and they brought their father, Jun, to the Messiah.  And just as the Christian church began with Andrew bringing his brother Simon to the Messiah - eventually the Christian Quintans Clan began with two young boys bringing their father to meet Christ.


In John, chapter 1, we read about the cousin of Jesus, John the Baptist, sharing with his disciples, in John 1:33-34, "I did not know Him, but He (God the Father) who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'  And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God."


John 1:35-39, "Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.  And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, 'Behold the Lamb of God!'  The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.  Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, 'What do you seek?'  They said to Him, 'Rabbi' (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), 'where are You staying?'  He said to them, 'Come and see.'  They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour)."

John 1:40-42, "One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.  He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah' (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.  Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, 'You are Simon the son of Jonah.  You shall be called Cephas' (which is translated, A Stone)."


NOW BACK TO MY MAIN REASON FOR SHARING THIS STORY ~  I am asking YOU to cover my dear Friend and Christian brother, JUN QUINTANS, and the whole Quintans Clan with faithful prayer of protection and healing - as Jun goes into surgery on Thursday, May 21, 2026.

We received the following prayer request from Rachel: 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thanks Lana!  Jun is going to have Triple Bypass Surgery on May 21.  He also was diagnosed with cancer of the prostate.  More test needs to be done so they can figure out the right treatment plan for him.   Please pray for healing, if possible (that God will) remove the cancer, because this is an aggressive one.  We are praying it is not a high stage cancer. Thank you.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND ANYONE READING THIS POST ~ Please cover Jun and the Quintans Family with prayers of healing and protection - and please share this prayer need with all of your believing and praying FRANs (Friends, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors) and ask them to do the same.  I know that this beautiful Christian family with be forever grateful for each and every prayer. 

And do me one more favor - as you pray for Jun, please Like this request and let them know that you will cover Jun and the family with prayer.  I know that Jun and all the Quintans Family will thank you, and I thank you. 

God bless and thank you,

Bill 

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Sunday, April 19, 2026

Memories From The Late 1940s Shoals Of Alabama

With All That Is Happening In America And In Our World Today, America needs a good dose of Patriotism.  Thinking on that, my thoughts traveled back to my childhood.  I was born between World War 1 and World War 2.  In my birth year, 1937, the world was still recovering from WW1 as Hitler's Nazism, Mussolini's Fascism, and Japan's Imperialism were already busy birthing what became World War 2.

Hitler’s Nazism, Mussolini’s Fascism, and Japan’s Imperialism, i.e., the Three Axis Powers, three dominant, interrelated ideologies that sought to overturn the sensitive peace won in WW1.  Those three nations possessed unique national characteristics, sharing common traits of extreme militaristic nationalism, anti-communism, totalitarian ambitions, and a drive for territorial expansion to secure resources for their national growth.

While our world today has pretty much moved away from Nazism, Fascism, and Imperialism, we have seen the emergence of totalitarianism in North Korea, China, neo-totalitarianism in Russia, and the
theocratic totalitarian regime in Iran. In other words, our world is really no safer than in my childhood days, but leaders like President Trump and our MAGA Team will bring America, and to a great extent our world, back into a position of strength and national security.

IN THE LATE 1940s, when I was growing up in the Shoals of Alabama, my hometown was, in reality, Sheffield and Tuscumbia.  At that time Muscle Shoals was not a town in itself, but was more just an extension of Sheffield.  So while I lived in Sheffield and Muscle Shoals, I spent a lot of time in Tuscumbia, which was where most of my maternal family members lived. 

That is why I usually say that I grew up in the Shoals of Alabama.  Florence was the larger of the Tri-Cities and, at that time, considered Sheffield's main rival in sports.  But I have to give credit where credit is due, Florence had a lot of pretty girls.  Hmmm?  Wonder if that is why the boys of Florence were so protective of their side of the Tennessee River?

All of this is leading up to my time in the late 1940s when as a young boy, and during World War 2, I often went to the movies.  In Sheffield we had the Ritz Theater and the Shoals Theater.  The Ritz was the older and its decor, to me, had more an early 20th century look - while the Colbert Theater was more modern, 1950s modern. 

Since the Ritz was older and sat on a side street, it attracted more of a "we watch our budget" audience and drew them by showing double feature movies - mostly older movies and westerns.  The Colbert showed the latest movies, musicals (very popular in the 1940s/50s), and newer released movies.

Why the long introduction?  It is to tell you about an amazing "as close as Hollywood can be true" musical about T
he Four Cohans, a late 19th-century American vaudeville family act that brought 20th-century Broadway legend George M. Cohan to show business.  They were Jeremiah (father), Helen (mother), Josephine (older sister), and George Michael Cohan, only 8 years old when he began to tour and perform with them.

George eventually left the family act to become a famous composer, producer, playwright, and performer on Broadway.  America had been drawn into World War 1 in spite of Democrat President Woodrow Wilson's campaign promise to keep America out of the war.

George M. Cohan gave us American theater patriotism in the early 20th century, with musical hits like "Over There" - "You're a Grand Old Flag" - and "The Yankee Doodle Boy," bringing patriotic musicals to Broadway.  America did not want to be in WW1 and Cohan's songs and musicals were instrumental in keeping the patriotic spirit of America alive until our boys would come home for good.  This led to Cohan becoming the first, and I believe the only, theatrical artist to receive a Congressional Medal



God bless you and your family,
And God bless America, Bill

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Wednesday, February 25, 2026

What Would Jesus Do - Tract

"What Would Jesus Do - Tract" - Initially Posted August 2016:

Since I have long loved to read, and since I am not as rich as many folks I worked with in the computer industry (Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Paul Terrell, etc.) - it has been my habit to search for written treasures in more economical locations such as "Friends Of The Library" and other used book stores.  In early 1998 I found a real treasure, "In His Steps" written by Charles M. Sheldon in 1896 and long out of print.

After reading the book, I was inspired to write a Christian tract challenging folks to consider the question posed in that book:  "What would Jesus do if He were faced with the decisions you have today?"    I wrote the tract in 1998 for our local church bulletin and I sent it out to all the folks in my Friends Ministry eNewsletter mail list - at that time between 800 to 900 people around the world.

Fast forward about a year and I started seeing that book appearing in the Christian Discount Book monthly catalog.   And, then I began to hear about a WWJD Movement across America.   Looking into it, I found these on the internet:

A youth group leader in Holland, Michigan, named Janie Tinklenberg, began a grassroots movement to help the teenagers in her group remember the phrase; it spread nationwide in the 1990s among Christian youth, who wore bracelets bearing the initials W.W. J. D.


When Christians began wearing bracelets with the acronym for "What would Jesus do?" in the 1990s, the phrase was a reminder for them to attempt to act in a way that personifies Jesus' teachings from the Gospels. 

So how did this get us to the 1990s (and beyond) W.W.J.D. bracelets and other product?  Janie Tinklenberg read Sheldon’s book in 1989 and had taken the message of “What would Jesus do?” to heart.  She decided to use it in her job as a youth leader at a church in Holland, Michigan, where she encouraged her students to keep it in mind as they went about their daily lives.

As a way to make sure the kids didn’t forget, Janie decided to emblazon the slogan on something wearable, settling on wristbands, since “At the time, 1989, beaded friendship bracelets were popular.  I figured a bracelet was perfect:  They could wear it all the time and it was even kind of cool.” 

However, since the phrase “What would Jesus do?” was kind of awkward to fit on a bracelet, she opted for the abbreviation W.W.J.D.   Along with looking neater, this was also doubly ingenious since it prompted others to ask what W.W.J.D. meant - thereby spreading the message a little further and giving an opportunity for her students to evangelize. 
www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/06/origin-jesus-slogan/

This is the Christian tract which I published in 1998:
 
What would Jesus do?  Have you ever considered what an effect it would have on your life if, daily, before you make any decision which will affect your personal life or your business life, you asked yourself that question - and then made your decision based upon your honest judgement of "What would Jesus do if, today, He was faced with this decision?"

I read a very inspiring book, "In His Steps" by Charles M. Sheldon.  This is a fictional novel which is based upon that premise, that question: "What would Jesus do?"  The book was written in 1896; yet the question is even more relevant in America and in our world community today.

In the First Church of Raymond, Dr. Henry Maxwell, pastor for eleven years in this affluent church, was just finishing his Sunday sermon when an unkempt, unshaven, but not offensive man rose from a rear pew and walked to the front of the sanctuary.  The man was an unemployed printer whose wife had died of starvation, malnutrition, and exposure in a New York City tenement.  He had to leave his young daughter with a friend while he searched for employment.  The man turned to address the congregation.


"I'm not an ordinary tramp, though I don't know of any teaching of Jesus that makes one kind of tramp less worth saving than another.  Do you?"  He put the question as naturally as if the whole congregation was a small Bible study class.  "I lost my job ten months ago.  I am a printer by trade.  The new linotype machines are beautiful specimens of invention, but I know six men who have killed themselves inside of a year because of those machines.  Of course I don't blame the newspapers for getting the machines, but, what can a man do?  This is the only trade I know.  I'm not complaining, just stating facts."

"As I sat in the back of the church, I was wondering if what you call following Jesus is the same thing as what He taught.  What did He mean when He said, 'Follow me!'?  Your pastor said, 'It is necessary for the disciple of Jesus to follow His steps, and he said those steps are - 'obedience, faith, love, and imitation.'  But I did not hear him tell you just what he meant this to mean, especially the last one.  What do you Christians mean by following the steps of Jesus?"

"I've tramped through your city for three days looking for a job; and in all that time I've not had a word of kindness or comfort except from your minister, who told me he was sorry for me and hoped I would find a job somewhere.  I'm not blaming anyone, just stating facts.  I understand that you cannot go out of your way to hunt up jobs for people like me; I'm not asking that.  But, I am puzzled; what is meant by following Jesus?  What do you mean when you sing, 'I'll go with Him, with Him, all the way?' "

"Do you mean that you are suffering and denying yourselves and trying to save lost, suffering humanity just as I understand Jesus did?  Somehow I get puzzled when I see so many Christians living in luxury and singing,

'Jesus, I my cross have taken, all to leave and follow Thee,'


- and remember how my wife died in a New York tenement.  Of course, I don't expect you people can prevent every one from dying of starvation and lack of nourishment, but what does following Jesus mean?" 

"I understand that Christian people own a lot of the tenements.  A member of a church was the owner of the one where my wife died, and I wonder if following Jesus all the way was true in his case.  I heard some people at a prayer meeting singing,

'All for Jesus, all for Jesus, all my being's ransomed powers, all my thoughts, and all my doings, all my days, and all my hours,'


- and I kept wondering what they meant by it.  It seems to me there's an awful lot of trouble in the world that somehow wouldn't exist if all the people who sing such songs went and lived them out.  But what would Jesus do?  Is that what you mean by following His steps?"


As he finished speaking the man clutched his chest and collapsed; three days later he died from exposure.  But Dr. Henry Maxwell's life was changed forever.  The next Sunday he made a proposal to his congregation.  He asked for volunteers from his church who would pledge themselves, earnestly and honestly, for an entire year - not to do anything without first asking the question, "What would Jesus do?"  And then to follow Jesus as exactly as he or she knows how, no matter what the consequences.

The effects caused during the following year by a small group in that church making that pledge, and then living up to it, changed the whole town of Raymond and eventually spread across the state and then the country.

Yes, this is a fictional story; but what would happen in your church, in your town, in your life - if you honestly made this pledge and lived up to it for one year?


1 Peter 2:21, "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps." 

Matthew 16:24, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'" 

If Jesus Came To Your House
by Lois Blanchard Eades

If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two -
If He came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do.
Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored Guest,
And all the food you'd serve to Him would be the very best,
And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there -
That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.

But when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly Visitor?
Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in?
Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they'd been?
Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard?
And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loud, hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?
And I wonder - if the Savior spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing the things you always do?
Would you go right on saying the things you always say?
Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep up it's usual pace?
And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace?
Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read,
And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?
Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you'd planned to go?
Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends?
Or would you hope they'd stay away until His visit ends?
Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?
It might be interesting to know the things that you would do
If Jesus Christ, in person, came to spend some time with you.

Food for thought:  Have you ever considered that question: "What would you do if Jesus came to your house today?" 

I think the best response would be, "He lives in my home every day!"

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,  Bill

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