scripture
Matthew 15:3, 7-9
To the Pharisees Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? …
“You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “’These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’”
quote
Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
scripture
Psalm 28:6-7
Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy.
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
quote
There is no place like the feet of Jesus for resolving the problems that perplex our hearts.
G. B. Duncan
blog
scripture
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
quote
As I look back over fifty years of ministry, I recall innumerable tests, trials and times of crushing pain. But through it all, the Lord has proven faithful, loving, and totally true to all his promises.
David Wilkerson
blog
scripture
Matthew 22:34-39
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
quote
The things that we love tell us what we are.
Saint Thomas Aquinas
missions
Pete’s daughter, Micah left on June 11th for Tanzania. She’ll be there for five weeks doing mission work. She asked for prayer that she could be used by God to share the love and gospel of Jesus.
scripture
Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
quote
Conversion is a complete surrender to Jesus. It's a willingness to do what he wants you to do.
Billy Sunday
funny
scripture
Luke 18:9-14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself:
'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said,
'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
quote
If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer--His grace sufficient, His promises unchangeable.
John Newton
lyrics
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
John Newton, Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779) - Slave trader who came to faith and began treating his slaves with kindness and later challenge human trafficking.
scripture
Matthew 11:28-30
Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
quote
God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him.
Hudson Taylor, missionary to China
picture
Church sign north of where 152 crosses 165 in Los Banos.
scripture
Matthew 9:1-8
Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, "This fellow is blaspheming!" Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.
quote
There is no place like the feet of Jesus for resolving the problems that perplex our hearts.
G. B. Duncan
missionaries
My parents are leaving Bakersfield for Kabul. <see attached>
The Good Person Test, that was sent out yesterday, is to be used to show a person that they are a sinner. Once a person comes to this realization it is then needed to explain the consequences of this state.
scripture
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The bad news comes first: the result of sin is death.
The good news is that spiritual birth can happen if we receive the free gift of eternal life which God has offered through Jesus Christ.
(rebirth: John 3:1-21; en Espanol)
scripture
John 3:16-18
Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.”
Most people think that they are good people. A simple way to help someone come to the realization that they are in need of a redeemer can be done with a few questions.
Thank you Ray Comfort for this simple way to break it down and reach people with the grace of God!
Good Person Test
Have you ever told a lie, even a white lie?
Yeah.
What does that make you?
A liar, I guess.
Have you ever stolen anything regardless of its value?
Yes.
What does that make you?
A thief.
Have you ever been angry at someone?
Oh yeah.
Jesus said that being angry toward someone is committing murder in your heart. If that is so then what does that make you?
A murderer.
Have you ever looked at someone with lust?
Of course.
Jesus said that if you look at someone with lust then you commit adultery with them in your heart. If that is so, then what does that make you?
An adulterer.
Therefore, on your own confession you are a lying, thieving, murderous, adulterer at heart. Now, if you stood before God and gave an account for you life, would He accept you based on your deeds?
I don’t think so.
Stay tuned for how to follow up this conversation starter with “Jesus is our Redeemer”.
