Brands plucked from the fire

I am continuing to meet with my 16 year-old inmate at the Regional Justice Center and I considered being sure I answer the first major question he asked me on Thursday. Who is God and who is Jesus? Is Jesus a prophet?

Later, I actually spoke to a 17 year-old young man, Roy. These young guys just tug at my heart He wanted to repent and come to Christ, right then. He is beginning his new journey. I suggested he read John 10, 14, and 15 and start a Bible study called a new beginning. Joseph Njonge remains in D unit and goes up and down. He hasn't slept for two days. I gave him a book, "Hinds feet in high places," and suggested he memorize Scripture. He chose the subject of petitions.

My contact, Jerry, is 16. He didn't finish ninth grade. I believe he could be a 3.5 or higher student with the significantly different support and influences. He is facing serious time and will be brought up on charges as an adult. I have a compassionate love for him.

Today, I brought in some short chapters on God and Jesus Christ from J. I. Packer's book, "I want to be a Christian," a sequel to his "Knowing God."
My inmate was tracking but we needed to move slowly so we covered God the Father as the Almighty Creator.

Then, we read together Zechariah 3:1-5.
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?”

3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments.

4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”

5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.

I ended with a clear description here of what I am rejoicing to learn as "The Great Exchange"--God taking away all our sins and placing them on Jesus, covering us with His saving righteousness, and washing us with His blood. The next time we meet, if possible, I hope we will read through part of short chapters on the Person of Jesus Christ. To be saved, he needs to come to Jesus, repent of his sins and receive the forgiveness of his sins forever. Will he be a "brand plucked from the fire?"

I left him with understanding he is a "brand." He can be plucked from the fire. I told him the question remains, who does he think Jesus is and how will he respond to the Creator Almighty God of the universe.

What is your response to Jesus?

I am continuing to read through the book of Colossians and a book by Sam Storms with 100 mediatations on that epistle called, "The hope of glory." My experience in the Word and the companion studies in this book are wonderful. I just started the section on Colossians, chapter 2, verses 1-3. Chapter 41 is titled, "Most fervent wrestle with the Lord," and is on struggling or agonizing in prayer. The word for struggle or agonize in the Greek is "to wrestle," from the word gymnasium.

Sam quotes David Brainerd from Monday, April 19, 1742, "God enabled me to agonize in prayer, that I was quite wet with sweat, though in the shade, and the wind cool." Here is the line that really touched me: "My soul was drawn out very much for the world; I grasped for multitudes of souls."

I began to gymnasium pray as I was in the Regional Justice Center and picked up a kite requesting I visit with Javez, a 16 year-old, being held in J unit. Yes, 16. That means he is being held for very serious or even heinous crimes. Normally, inmates at the adult facilities are 18 and older.

Going in to visit with him, he is fully aware of what he has done and that he could be facing more than 20 years. My first step was to read through the lyrics of two hip hop songs by Lecrae called, "I did it for you," and "Don't wanna waste my life," also by Dwayne Tryumph.

He got it. He is a very sharp young man, considering he's spent significant time in Maple Lane before coming to the RJC and didn't finish the ninth grade. He even explained some of the language to me. He reads very well and understands what he is reading. I complimented him. He said I did a great job of hip hop, with a smile.

He is being influenced heavily by a Muslim group in his unit who told him Jesus is a prophet and Allah is God. He immediately wanted to know if Jesus and God are the same. I told him, he can change his life even if he is in prison. (The picture of the inmate is NOT the one I am meeting with.)

The question is always what he will do with Jesus.

We also read through Spurgeon's testimony and a careful visual description of the Trinity and read together through Luke 12:13-21 and 15:15-22, John 14:6, 1:12-13, 3:16-21, 36; 5:24, and 6:35-40. Who is Jesus? What did he say we must do in response to Him? I left him with what he will do with Jesus, right now, and a page with a prayer and verses to consider. I will follow-up, as the Lord leads. I suggested he read John 10, 14, and 15 and left him with a paperback NIV Study Bible that happened to be in the room.

This IS the gymnasium for the multitude of souls, one-by-one, I was praying for after reading Brainerd's quote, this morning. We are messengers of His salvation. The Holy Spirit does the convicting to bring someone to come to Christ and repent of their sins. God does the saving. He is mighty to save!

Yakima hot box

Jim Dixon, Wayne Orendorff, and I traveled to the Yakima County Jail for our Prisoners for Christ concert. It was 97 degrees outside and much hotter than that in the covered yard where we presented for 80 men and women from their Biblical Instruction Units.

I preached on "training for maturity" from Titus 2:12. I answered the question I presented to the men and women for right now, where we are--What does maturity as a Christian look like? The revealed truth trains us with details. We renounce and walk away from old ways. We turn and live to please God amidst the circumstances we are in.

"training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age"

We got there early so we'd be settled and had brunch at Mel's Diner, adjacent to the YCJ.

I will be at the Regional Justice Center in Kent during this coming week and then will go to Olympic Corrections Center in Forks with Jim Dixon on Saturday, August 1, as one of our monthly trips.

Previously, I wrote about attending court to support Joseph, at the RJC. The case has been in the news. Recently found "guilty" and sentenced to 18 years, Joseph consistently maintains his innocence. More evidence is "in discovery" so he remains in Kent. His lawyer filed an appeal. These things take years to unfold, often. I meet with Joseph a couple of times a week to encourage him and walk alongside him.

Clinging to Him

This year, I am using the Robert Murray McCheyne Bible reading plan along with D. A. Carson's book, "For the love of God," devotions connected to the McCheyne readings.

I am in the opening chapters of Jeremiah dealing with God's reasons for sending Israel and Judah into exile. Amidst these chapters are incredible stimulation to stand firm in the Lord.

Jeremiah 13:11 says, "For as the loincloth clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the Lord, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory, but they would not listen."

In God's incredible love and mercy, He makes His people cling to Him. We cling to Him that we might be for Him a people, name, praise, and glory for Him. So, God's purpose for my life is to rejoice in clinging to Him. My daily response is to listen to Him, or obey His commands and leadings of the Holy Spirit. Friday, I heard a great line from Randy Alcorn--never postpone obedience. Listening to the Lord requires prompt obedience.

This Sunday, I will join Wayne and Jim in a concert at the Yakima County Jail. We'll be in a covered outdoor facility that could be really hot. Once before, it was sweltering and yet the Lord blessed richly. The men and women have been remarkably encouraging to us.

I'd love to hear about the blessings you are receiving in your Bible readings.

positive responses to the gospel

I am serving this week at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center and enjoying numerous outstanding contacts with the men.

Andrew was just transferred to work release but will be released this weekend. I am praying for his transition back to his wife and son. He is such a blessing to me as he constantly invited other men into Bible studies in the units where he was serving. He has a gift of inviting. He needs a solid men's group where he can exercise his gifting and be held accountable and encouraged.

Andrew and others like him will need to find a solid church, get established in a job, and stick to the expectations of the community corrections officer. Any alcohol will cause serious trouble.

Another contact is Jon, just 19, who should be released this weekend. He was brought back to the RJC for a first violation and will have spent 17 days at the RJC. We had an awesome visit on Wednesday about where he is really at with the Lord. He lives with his Mom who is struggling spiritually and in other ways. The only Bible he has is the one he will take with him from the RJC.

Charles Spurgeon, with his wonderful God-given combination of confidence in God and tender compassion for his sheep, put it like this:

I am occupied in my small way, as Mr. Great-heart was employed in Bunyan’s day. I do not compare myself with that champion, but I am in the same line of business.

I am engaged in personally-conducted tours to Heaven; and I have with me, at the present time, dear Old Father Honest: I am glad he is still alive and active. And there is Christiana, and there are her children.

It is my business, as best I can, to kill dragons, and cut off giants’ heads, and lead on the timid and trembling. I am often afraid of losing some of the weaklings. I have the heart-ache for them; but, by God’s grace, and your kind and generous help in looking after one another, I hope we shall all travel safely to the river’s edge.

Oh, how many have I had to part with there! I have stood on the brink, and I have heard them singing in the midst of the stream, and I have almost seen the shining ones lead them up the hill, and through the gates, into the Celestial City.

(from Spurgeon's Autobiography, II, 131)

Joining with His Gospel Singers at OCC

Jim Dixon and I joined "His Gospel Singers" at the Olympic Corrections Center outside Forks for a Prisoners for Christ concert Saturday night.

We leave about 12:30 pm and get home about midnight for me and 12:45 for Jim. We go through Tacoma, Olympia, Aberdeen and Hoquiam, and north up Highway 101. We take our time going and make a direct trip home. Its a 4 1/2 hour trip each way, with stops and meals.

Jim and I agreed to host these OCC PFC concerts in Forks together the first Saturday of each month. On some occasions, we will do the concert and preaching ourselves while other times we will host the other excellent groups that come. So, we return to OCC the first Saturday in August.

The highlight of the ministry at OCC is how the men, this time 15, respond to the worship songs as they actively join in with us. We just about always feel the distinct moving of the Holy Spirit so He has ministered to us.

Jim had one man approach him after the service for prayer to conquer lust. It was awesome contact and what happens as we continue to return to Forks months to establish trusting relationships.

I got to encourage and pray for Sean who has 44 days before his release. I am learning how critical this transition season from last weeks in prison to days before and after release to the first three and six months...So, what happens in this season prepares the man for successful life, led and empowered in the Spirit.

I preached from Romans 8:31-39 on the theme, "Nothing and nobody--not even me--can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus."

Jim followed with "His great love," another one of his awesome songs. His Gospel Singers sang and played with us, as we did with them. It was rich fellowship. We closed the service with "Amazing Grace" and a circle of prayer.

danger of altar calls

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the Altar Call



We are to preach the Word, and if we do it properly, there will be a call to a decision that comes in the message, and then we leave it to the Spirit to act upon people.

Early in the 1970s Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones was the speaker at a ministers' conference in the USA and at a question session was asked the following question:

Q During recent years, especially in England, among evangelicals of the Reformed faith, there has been a rising criticism of the invitation system as used by Billy Graham and others. Does Scripture justify the use of such public invitations or not?

A. Well, it is difficult to answer this in a brief compass without being misunderstood. Let me answer it like this: The history of this invitation system is one with which you people ought to be more familiar than anyone else, because it began in America. It began in the 1820s; the real originator of it was Charles G. Finney. It led to a great controversy. Asahel Nettleton, a great Calvinist and successful evangelist, never issued an "altar call" nor asked people to come to the "anxious seat." These new methods in the 182Os and were condemned for many reasons by all who took the Reformed position.

One reason is that there is no evidence that this was done in New Testament times, because then they trusted to the power of the Spirit. Peter preaching on the Day of Pentecost under the power of the Spirit, for instance, had no need to call people forward in decision because, as you remember, the people were so moved and affected by the power of the Word and Spirit that they actually interrupted the preacher, crying out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" That has been the traditional Reformed attitude towards this particular matter. The moment you begin to introduce this other element, you are bringing a psychological element. The invitation should be in the message. We believe the Spirit applies the message, so we trust in the power of the Spirit. I personally agree with what has been said in the question. I have never called people forward at the end for this reason; there is a grave danger of people coming forward before they are ready to come forward. We do believe in the work of the Spirit, that He convicts and converts, and He will do His work. There is a danger in bringing people to a "birth," as it were, before they are ready for it.

The Puritans in particular were afraid of what they would call "a temporary faith" or "a false profession." There was a great Puritan, Thomas Shepard, who published a famous series of sermons on The Ten Virgins. The great point of that book was to deal with this problem of a false profession. The foolish virgins thought they were all right. This is a very great danger.

I can sum it up by putting it like this: I feel that this pressure which is put upon people to come forward in decision ultimately is due to a lack of faith in the work and operation of the Holy Spirit. We are to preach the Word, and if we do it properly, there will be a call to a decision that comes in the message, and then we leave it to the Spirit to act upon people. And of course He does. Some may come immediately at the close of the service to see the minister.

I think there should always be an indication that the minister will be glad to see anybody who wants to put questions to him or wants further help. But that is a very different thing from putting pressure upon people to come forward.

I feel it is wrong to put pressure directly on the will. The order in Scripture seems to be this - the truth is presented to the mind, which moves the heart, and that in turn moves the will.

block party and the Great Exchange

So, we conclude our Mega Sports Camp with a block party starting at 6 tonight, July 17. We'll have a car show, inflatable games, food, and fellowship. We pray members of our surrounding neighborhood join us, as well.

On Thursday night, we had 343 kids join us, up 14 from Wednesday. We shared the gospel with our small groups. I used the Sons of Thunder bridge video in PA's office and then shared about the Great Exchange using 1 John 5:11-12 focusing on God's very personal love for us. It was hot and the kids did an amazing job of paying attention. We had 7 of our 18 kids make first-time commitments to Christ and then we prayed in small groups with them to close.

The RJC ministry has been very fruitful, this week. So far, I've met with 20 men. I used our rich Romans 8:31-39 passage and meditated on being "more than a conqueror through Him who loved us."

On Saturday, July 18, Jim Dixon and I head back to Forks and the Olympic Corrections Center simply to host a concert. We agreed now to continue leading worship services there the first Saturdays of each month. We'll sing and preach the Word and host other groups that come some of the months.

On Sunday, July 26, Jim, Wayne Orendorff and I will do a concert at the Yakima County Jail Biblical Instruction Units for men and women.


"The Great Exchange"

First: "He knew no sin." This could be said of none of us, but it can be said of Christ. He perfectly obeyed, and knew no sin in word, thought, or deed. 1 Peter 1:22 says he committed no sin, to which Paul and John agree. The greatest testimony, though, is from Jesus' lips. In John 8, Jesus confronts self-righteous Jews and tells them that they are of their father, the Devil. And in that hostile environment, He dares to ask, "Which of you convicts me of sin?" (John 8:46). None could bring a charge that would stick.

Second: "He was made to be sin." See Isaiah 53, another favorite passage — it is the Gospel in the OT. It clearly depicts penal substitution: Christ bore our sin in His own body. 1 Corinthians 15:1ff says Jesus' death for our sins is of the essence of the Gospel.

Jesus asked if the cup could pass from Him. What was in the cup? Such passages as Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17, 22; and Revelation 14 indicate that it was the cup of the wrath of God. He was going to bear our sins. He'd long known it, and now it loomed. And drink it He did.

The word for that is propitiation, a beautiful and wonderful word. Every first-grader should know it, Bridges insisted. It means to appease. But Jesus did not appease God's anger, He bore it; He exhausted it. It was poured out in full strength on Him.

Third: "so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." As Jesus was not made a sinner in His character and conduct, so neither are we made righteous in character and conduct. That is not Paul's meaning. The exchange is the same. Our sin is transferred and credited to Christ, His righteousness is transferred and credited to us. That is the Great Exchange.


"Justified" is not "Just as if I'd never sinned." That is a great truth. But the reality is better: "Just as if I'd always obeyed." God has credited the very righteousness of Jesus Christ to every believer.

walking across bridges with unlikely heroes

Wow, this is our last night, well, before the block party for our 2009 Mega Sports Camp.

For Thursday:
Theme: Unlikely heroes use extraordinary power for God's special victories.
Biblical focus: the resurrection, Matthew 27:45-28:10
feeding 5,000, Mark 6:30-44
Captain presentation: share the gospel in small groups
Monday: 291
Tuesday: 329
Wednesday: 339
Thursday: likely quite a few more

Here are some awesome supports for presenting the gospel to our groups:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IaMGrPhRnk

http://www.navigators.org/us/resources/illustrations/resources/bridge.pdf

Some might not be sure what to do. A solid gospel presentation using the Romans 8 passage was supplied to us on an orange packet at one of our team meetings. Angie did an awesome job of sharing about this with us. Its got to be real. It's all about the relationships we have with our athletes.

absolutely nothing will separate us

Five questions are asked and answered from verses 31 through the end of the chapter.

--Who can be against us? "God is for us"
--He gave us His Son; "how shall He not with Him freely give us all things?"
--Who will bring a charge against us? "It is God who justifies"
--Who is the one who condemns? "It is Christ who died, rose, intercedes"
--Who will separate us from the love of Christ? "Nobody, nothing."

"More than conquerors"

To conquer is to subdue; that is, to master, to overcome, in the sense of defeating as attack. To conquer tribu­lation would be to put an end to it; to conquer anguish would be to replace it by joy; to conquer persecution would be to turn it into patronage; to conquer famine would be to provide food; to conquer nakedness would be to provide clothing; to conquer peril would be to secure safety; to conquer the sword would be to destroy the sword.

In all these things Paul says we are "more than conquerors." This does not mean that, in the senses referred to, we conquer, and more. On the contrary, it may mean that we do not conquer at all, but that we do more, we wrest from defeat values that could never be gained by conquest.

Enduring tribulation, we are thereby brought, through patience and proving, to the hope that is not put to shame. Experiencing anguish, we are having fellowship with the suffering which saves. Bearing persecution, we are demonstrating the meaning of true godliness. Suffering hunger, we are proving that man does not live by bread alone. In nakedness, we reveal the beauty of spiritual adorning. Living amid perils, we are revealing the power of our Lord. Dying by the sword, we are demonstrating the weakness of the sword. This is more-than-conquering, and it is only possible "through Him that loved us."

(Morgan, G. C. Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible)

Wednesday coming at the Mega Sports Camp

Mega Sports Camp, Wednesday, July 15
Lesson: storms are not always predictable but never surprise God.
Scripture is Luke 8:22-25.
Monday: 291 athletes
Tuesday: about 330, according to Charity Plett. Don't quote her. I didn't
Wednesday: likely even more
Volunteers: 150? including our pastoral staff Gary and Greg

We'll also learn about Drew Brees, NFL QB.

When the New Orleans Saints signed sore-armed Drew Brees in 2006, eyebrows around the league were raised. No other team believed that the former Pro Bowl quarterback would return to the field as good as new. Oh, ye of little faith.

Drew proved to be a savior for the Saints, lifting the team to its first NFC title game. In the process, he became a symbol for a broken city’s comeback. By playing smart football, Drew inspired millions of fans around the NFL—and elevated himself to status of the Big Easy's most popular passer since Archie Manning.

more than conquerors

Our focus verses for the Mega Sports Camp are Romans 8:37-39. I am choosing to review these verses as I memorized them years ago. This is not the expectation of our program--it's what I am doing.

The first phrase is, " No, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. "No," is the first phrase. So, what is the context that requires a "no" answer? What question or questions do the previous verses present?

Who can be against us?
Who will bring a charge against us?
Who is to condemn us?
Who shall separate us from the love of God?


Verses 33-36 reveal the historical context for the readers of the great Epistle to the Romans. The church body is under oppressive suffering. They were facing condemnation, judgment, danger, and real death because of their stand for the Kingdom of God. Are we to submit to cruel pressure, be considered as sheep to be slaughtered, for no purpose?

In the midst of an incredible strategy to aggressively pull us away from the Lord, Paul presents remarkable verses about the finished and eternal work of Christ for every believer:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

With his hands raised in praise, in all these things, Paul shouts out "No...there is nothing that will ever separate us from His love. "We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." Conqueror is from the Greek hyper+nike meaning to conquer, overcome, carry off the victory.

Christian Conquerors recognize oppressive chains and gain the victory by being humbly surrendered to Christ at the foot of the cross. The conqueror repents. The conqueror knows God's purpose is to worship and praise his Commander-in-Chief.

Ray Steadman stated, "The conqueror takes the worst that life can throw and uses that to become victorious...takes those things designed to destroy him, and they become stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks."

So, the genuine Christian life involves sometimes really dangerous warfare. The victories are gained "through Him who loved us." The stressed believer is loved, the focused object of God's deep care and affection.

I shared all these things at the RJC, today, and hope to communicate them at the church, this week.

airhead candy and Mega Sports Camp

Our Faith Baptist Church version of Vacation Bible School is called "Mega Sports Camp--undefeated," this year. The kids rotate around crafts, soccer, basketball, baseball, and cheerleading with athletic directors, coaches, and captains.

The program rocks on from 5:50 to 9 pm this Monday through Thursday.

Lori Heald oversees a huge block party with inflatables, games, food, and another awesome car show on Friday night.

Angie Swanson, our Children's Ministry Director, mentioned 136, maybe more, volunteers supporting this ministry. There were 200 pre-school to fifth grade student athletes pre-registered and perhaps 75 more who came the first night. We'll have more again each night. I'll get the exact figure for my next post on Wednesday.

The kids are broken up into four groups--the Angels, Braves, Chargers, and Defenders. We are part of the Chargers, led by Travis Allen. I am working directly with the incredible, awesome team of Sylvia Swanson, Lisa Wagner, and Jeremy Dillow.

In the middle of all this, we have a halftime presentation with skits around overcoming obstacles with victory in Christ. Topher Lindstrom, one of our youth ministry staff, is leading a group of high school students through the skits they will be using next week in an awesome Northern California ministry to rural communities and smaller churches.

Greg Sisley, our Worship Pastor, serving with the baseball coaches, shared with the kids about Earl Morrall, the Miami Dolphins back-up quarterback in 1972 who substituted for Bob Griese, and led the Dolphins to an undefeated season all the way to the Super Bowl. The theme of his message was, "Victory does not depend on the length of the battle. Victory depends on Jesus."

Tonight, we'll focus on Olympian Dan O'Brien, who overcame inner struggles. He was an adopted child in foster homes. We will learn that God can conquer inner problems.

Last year, a third grader gave me his Airhead candy. He's in the fourth grade now and he's back in our Chargers small group. After the big group picture on that Thursday night, he came up to me with a huge smile. He told Dean Peyton and me how much fun he had at the camp. He wanted me to have the candy because I was the best part of the camp for him.

Why? What did I do?

He said, You taught me so much about how to play basketball and I had fun."

I keep the candy on our bedroom bulletin board as a reminder about how important loving, caring about, and talking to kids is for the Kingdom of God.

More on Wednesday.

6 minute gospel presentation by Piper

I often share the gospel with the inmates at the Regional Justice Center in Kent in one-on-one and small group settings by sharing this sermon by John Piper. I provide copies for each member and we read around the group, as many as are comfortable reading. Then, I take questions and see where the Lord leads us together.

More often, I use the text ideas to share freely. The men respond to that the best because its coming from me. They need to hear from me. Others like to use this printed text to read themselves or share with others.

The inmates have believed in their hearts they have "gone too far" or keep failing so they can't be saved. They struggle with receiving forgiveness and then walking in forgiveness. A genuine Christian experience means we are supernaturally new creations because what He has done. Our changing lives prove our faith.

Pastor John Piper makes a huge point about preaching the gospel to ourselves.

The gospel in 6 minutes
By John Piper September 12, 2007 www.desiringgod.org

What's the gospel?
What’s the gospel? I’ll put it in a sentence.
The Gospel is the news that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all his enemies, so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe, but only everlasting joy.
That’s the gospel.

You can't outgrow the gospel
You never, never, never outgrow your need for it. Don’t ever think of the gospel as, “That’s the way you get saved, and then you get strong by leaving it and doing something else.”
No! We are strengthened by God through the gospel every day, till the day we drop.
You never outgrow the need to preach to yourself the gospel.

How the gospel strengthens
Here’s an illustration, and I use it not because it’s any big deal to speak from my life, but because it’s what I walked through and where I most pointedly in the last year experienced the power of the gospel to make me strong. (Many of you are walking through things much heavier than prostate cancer—much heavier.)
Do you remember the verses that I shared with you back in February that were almighty for me? It was that moment right after the doctor says, “I think we need to do a biopsy,” when this stab of fear comes. It didn’t last long, mercifully.
And then came—what? 1Thessalonians 5:9-10. It’s just as pure gospel as you can get.

God has not destined you for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for you so that whether you wake or sleep you will live with him.
Settled. Peace like a river.

The Gospel Is Perfect for Your Needs
That’s just gospel—perfectly timed, perfectly applied, perfectly suited to my need. That’s why the Bible is so thick—because there are so many different needs that you have. And there are suitable places where the gospel is unfolded for you, so that if you immerse yourself in the whole book, always with an eye for what Christ has wrought for you and purchased for you in this thick, glorious history of God’s interaction with people, he will give you what you need.
Therefore, everything in me says, and I hope to say until the day I die, “Now, to him who is able to strengthen me, according to Paul’s gospel, to him—to that God—be glory forever and ever.”

God came into history in Jesus Christ; he died in order to destroy the power of hell and death and Satan and sin; and he did it through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

A Plea to Believe
I know that there are people reading this who are not trusting Jesus Christ, and therefore can only expect condemnation. So I’m just going to plead with you here at the end, lay down that rebellion. Lay it down. And simply embrace the gospel that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Righteous One, died for your sins.

He was raised on the third day, triumphant over all his enemies. He reigns until he puts all of his enemies under his feet. Forgiveness of sins and a right standing with God comes freely through him alone, by faith alone.

I plead with you, don’t try to be strong in your own strength; it will not be there when you need it. Only one strength will be there—the strength that God gives according to the gospel.
Don’t put it off.

Undefeated

I attended our packed and enthusiastic Faith Baptist Church Mega Sports Camp planning meeting Wednesday night. We had a very encouraging word from Pastor John Nagle as Angie connected with him with her cell phone so we could all hear. I sat with Greg Plett and enjoyed awesome fellowship with him.

Our camp is July 13-16 from 6-9 pm. The theme is "undefeated." Steve Blair led the meeting to get us ready for our Sunday night walk-through.

I am really looking forward to building relationships with some incredible 3rd and 4th grade athletes and all the staff. I'll be working with Lisa Wagner and Sylvia Swanson, is everything remains as planned.

I am praying we can share the victorious saving faith message of the Good News with the youth campers at our sports camp.

Often, they need us to give them genuine attention. Children absolutely understand the truth of the Christ-centered gospel just as any adult understands it when the Holy Spirit sheds the light and unlocks hearts.

Wednesday at the RJC was another privilege for me. I dropped into two units and asked the officers to announce I was available to meet with whoever was interested.

I never know what will happen. Often, nobody is interested and I move on to the next unit. This time, three men approached me and we had really fruitful conversations.

Ed came up and asked, "I need to know what I need to do to get right with the Lord." That is exactly what he said. He went on. "I've been in church and I was baptized...I am young but I know I could die and I want to be right with the Lord."

Just then, Timothy walked in our meeting room and said, "I know I need this, too."
Ed was very familiar with the Bible. Timothy didn't know very much. Both asked what to do in a previous Bible study meeting the night before. They asked the leader what they needed to do and they were told they needed to have faith and believe. They didn't know what to do. What is faith? The leader at that time didn't have time to answer or didn't know how to explain it. Often, people answer by saying you have to believe. OK, now what?

Several months ago, our associate pastor shared this:
Faith is not a blind leap into what we don't know but is "positive action responding to convincing truth." At least, that is what I recalled and it really helped me. So, what is the positive response?

I very productively started out by reading with the men the testimony of Charles Spurgeon based on Isaiah 45:22, “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other."

"Turn to me," or "look to me" speaks of repenting. I change my mind or turn away from my sin and look to Jesus to forgive my sin and then follow Him the rest of my life. It's never saying a "sinners prayer." That may be a start and says I did something to earn my salvation. Scripture says in forgiving me, Jesus took all my sin upon Himself on the cross and in exchange, a great exchange, gave me His righteousness forever.

I turn from my sin and follow Jesus.

Acts 26:20 says Paul's consistent message in the churches was to "turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance."

I also read Isaiah 55:6-7, “Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."

Charles Spurgeon said, That happy day when I found the Savior, and learned to cling to His dear feet, was a day never to be forgotten by me . . . . I listened to the Word of God and that precious text led me to the cross of Christ. I can testify that the joy of that day was utterly indescribable.

I could have leaped, I could have danced; there was no expression, however fanatical, which would have been out of keeping with the joy of that hour.

Many days of Christian experience have passed since then, but there has never been one which has had the full exhilaration, the sparkling delight which that first day had.

I thought I could have sprung from the seat in which I sat, and have called out with the wildest of those Methodist brethren . . . "I am forgiven! I am forgiven! A monument of grace! A sinner saved by blood!"

My spirit saw its chains broken to pieces, I felt that I was an emancipated soul, an heir of heaven, a forgiven one, accepted in Jesus Christ, plucked out of the miry clay and out of the horrible pit, with my feet set upon a rock and my goings established . . . .

Between half-past ten o’clock, when I entered that chapel, and half-past twelve o’clock, when I was back again at home, what a change had taken place in me! Simply by looking to Jesus I had been delivered from despair, and I was brought into such a joyous state of mind that, when they saw me at home, they said to me, "Something wonderful has happened to you," and I was eager to tell them all about it.

Oh! there was joy in the household that day, when all heard that the eldest son had found the Savior and knew himself to be forgiven.

Back to Yakima

Jim Dixon and I will be returning to Yakima County Jail for a concert and message for the inmates in the Biblical Instruction Units, pictured here.

We look forward to a rich worship time with the very receptive and enthusiastic men and women. They clap, sing, and rejoice with us!

Jim and I will be heading over to the Olympic Corrections Center outside Forks on July 18, as well.

My ministry at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center continues faithfully. I meet with Joseph regularly, as he awaits sentencing later this month. You may recall I attended several of his trial activities in June.

I just met Michael, who struggles with worry and stress as he deals with the ravage consequences of alcohol and drugs. Recently, we had a great time considering John 15 and Matthew 6:25-34.

Ministers to those we influence

As we move into the 4th of July weekend and we think about serving through our church and in and around our community, these thoughts by Missionary William Carey really speak.

Our church family is as community outreach focused as you and I take steps to be.

What are your responses to Carey's quote? Is he asking too much?

“A Christian minister is a person who in a peculiar sense is ‘not his own’ (1 Cor. 6:19); he is the ’servant’ of God, and therefore ought to be wholly devoted to him. By entering on that sacred office he solemnly undertakes to be always engaged, as much as possible, in the Lord’s work, and not to choose his own pleasure, or employment, or pursue the ministry as something that is to subserve his own ends, or interests, or as a kind of bye-work.

He engages to go where God pleases, and to do, or endure what he sees fit to command, or call him to, in the exercise of his function. He virtually bids farewell to his friends, pleasures, and comforts, and stands in readiness to endure the greatest sufferings in the work of his Lord, and Master.

It is inconsistent for ministers to please themselves with thoughts of a numerous auditory, cordial friends, a civilized country, legal protection, affluence, splendor, or even a competency. The slights, and hatred of men, and even pretended friends, gloomy prisons, and tortures, the society of barbarians of uncouth speech, miserable accommodations in wretched wildernesses, hunger, and thirst, nakedness, weariness, and painfulness, hard word, and but little worldly encouragement, should be the objects of their expectation.”

— William Carey, An Enquiry into the Obligation of Christians to Use the Means for the Conversion of the Heathens