An Update for Summer 2026

 Its well up over 100 degrees the past few days so we know that summer is upon us with all its burning heat.  For many of our congregation its time to get out of the heat.  Summer time is for, especially us desert dwellers, a time to get way from the overly warm days in Bullhead City.  For many of us, and rightly, summer is a time to get away from the hustle and bustle of our normal lives and rest.  When looking at Jesus ministry we see him occasionally getting away by himself.  Most of the time its to spend time with the Father.  His example is a model for us.  Sometimes we just need time to get away and relax. Jesus words in Matthew 11:28-29 need to be heeded:  28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

 Maybe its spending time with your lounge chair at the beach or on a boat.  It might be time spent in a cabin in the mountains or camping out for a few days.  We need time in our lives to reflect on how God is working in us.  How can we better wake up each day and get what God wants us to do.  

Summer has a way of surprising me. New faces drift in—pilgrims guided by the Lord or circling back from a long-ago connection. Young people return from camp changed. A traveling evangelistic team lifts our hearts with the Word. And sometimes, Jesus simply does something unexpected and beautiful. However the attendance looks, God’s work doesn’t take a vacation.

Will you pray with me for God's work to go forward this summer at Trinity Baptist Church.  Will you seek the will of God for your life these next few months to find your role in the team work of our small church?  

Take some time and reflect how you can better serve Jesus through the ministry of Trinity Baptist Church this summer.  

My Yearly Blog Post!

 So, another year has passed and I'm blogging here.  In my last post a year ago I talked about video blogging-which I still think makes more sense and would save time.  But, I haven't had the time to make it happen.  Maybe this summer we can put it in place.  I checked myself out from my teaching job for the 2nd to last time as next year I'll be retiring from teaching.  

What about this year-what impressions can I leave here at our church blog.  We have had a really good year of solid growth in numbers but also in encouragement and believers getting to know Christ better.  I have to thank a few of our newest members who have donated many hours to making our facility look better, but also encourage the different outreaches and ministries that we are involved in.  I'm blessed by folks who even though they are getting up there in age want to serve God with their time talents and energy.  

Looking forward to the summer as I'll be involved in encouraging some of our youth to raise money and then head to camp in two weeks.  Its challenging to have the energy to do the things that I started back when I was barely 30 years old when I moved to BHC and started working with young people.  30 years have made it more challenging to continue to motivate and inspire our young people to work hard to raise the fund for camp.  

We also have had several health challenges amongst our people.  Let's pray that God would make this year a healthy one for many of us.  Our God is the true healer and is in control of our lives.  

May we be like Joshua this summer from Joshua Chapter 1:   8" This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Praying for good success that God promises to His faithful!  

Is Written Blogging Still a Thing and Living with a Christian World View?

 This may be my last time to post-I think instead I'll start doing video blogging but still post those videos here.  I started this blog way back in 2009-about the time I had heart surgery.  Can't believe over 15 years has passed.  I praise God for giving me 15 more years.  God is always good and He is always working in the lives of those who seek and find him.  Our church looks a little different then it did in 2009-but just like last summer-God is working in lives and doing His work amidst the faithful at Trinity Baptist.  I wrote last year at this time and we had just had an influx of attenders.  Many of those new ones are still worshipping with us.  Its pretty cool how God has worked in these new ones this last year.  Yet, we seek to continue to share the Gospel.  It seems Satan is doing everything he can to cloud the Gospel.  More and more peopel are adopting modern unbiblical values and lifestyles.  It is difficult.  People are establishing their lives around feelings, emotions and whatever seems right to them.  Instead of adopting a Christian World View-people are adopting a Me World View.  It is definttely a "whatever feels good do it" mentallity in todays world.  The Biblical Worldview is all based on the standrad of God's Word.  There is so much less uncertainty and anxiety in a life that has already established the absolutes in life.  A life of obedience towards God and a reliance on the Gospel gives believers a great confidence in their purpose in life and an assurance of an eternal life with God in heaven.  Praise the Lord this is the foundation of the believer in today's world.  I pray that those that we love at Trinity Baptist Church will come to Jesus.  We've seen some of our former faithful ones retreat from the Word of God-may they follow truth and seek the only way in Jesus! 

Summer 2023-Enjoying the Mild Temps and the Holy Spirit's Work

 Haven't blogged in so long.  In fact, pretty sure the next blog will be a vlog-or what some might call a podcast.  It just takes less time and you can reach so many more with the video tool these days!

So, yes it is amazingly mild in Bullhead City these last really 6 weeks.  We have had below average temps-with very little really hot days so far.  In fact I continue to spend time in my outdoor office enjoying the really, dry, warm and comfortable weather.  Right now it's almost noon and it is barely above 90 which for us desert rats with no humidity is really the perfect weather.  

God has given great weather and some great things going on at the place of the Gospel, Trinity Baptist.  We have seen a person repent and believe in Jesus with several others seeking and wanting to follow Jesus.  Out of nowhere God sends people that need Him.  What should we do? Do the work of the ministry and reach out to all that need the Gospel.  God is also challenging many of us to read and study the Bible intensely.  I'm enjoying counseling some of our young people about their future goals and paths.  We recently challenged four high school seniors to go out and serve Jesus with thief lives.  June 2023 might be an important marker for many under the ministry of Trinity.  Let's pray for the Work to make a difference in our community!  Let's pray for our young people to rise up and take on the responsibility of sharing the Jesus walk!   

Healing Prayers Needed

May God bless all of you in this new way of living.  The world is in quarantine mode and many of us are probably feeling a little claustrophobic.  It is such a different mentality.  I'm waking up and acting like a Pastor.  Being a pastor of  church is like having your own business.  You make your own schedule in most cases and seek God as you take care of tasks needed for the believers.  Although, I'm continuing teaching, I'm in such a different mode.  I have much more time to think, pray and not be busy. 

During this time may we all be in prayer for those struggling with this disease.  You might have heard the questions-"do you know anyone that has the COVID-19 Virus."  I've heard that question posted over and over again.  Up until last night I didn't know anyone.  One of my niece's friends Dad died two weeks ago to COVID-19.  That was as close as I have come to actually knowing someone with the disease.  Last night a childhood friend and her family I found out are all infected.  My family grew up with a missionary family to France as one of my parent's best friends.  We used to send cassette tapes and our moms would talk for at least an hour-just visiting with one another.  On those tapes we talked with our counterparts.  The Bittner family had kids that were almost the same age as all of the Evins 5 kids.  Malea was the youngest of the Bittner's.  She followed in her parents footsteps and ministers to the French speaking part of Belgium.  We heard yesterday that their family has all come down with the Virus.  Malea is suffering with strong symptoms.  Let us stop and pray for Malea and Ted Winston and family.  They are involved in youth evangelism in Belgium.  Another related person, Valerie, who is the niece of Malea and daughter of our Trinity Baptist Missionaries, Mike and Melanie Webster also has the virus.  Let us pray that God would proved healing and comfort for these our friends.  May God use this situation for the Glory of God.  May we as believers trust Jesus and act with hope of heaven.  Let us be intentional in our witness in the isolation.  May these words from Colossians encourage your hearts:  James 5:

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Upside Down!

That's how I feel.  Do you?  Its truly a different world in just two weeks.  Its amusing to observe many of my teaching colleagues who have been teaching all of their lives and have sent their children off to school every day.  They now are in home school mode.  Well, many of us have been there and done that.  Right?  At least 50% of the folks in our town are now unemployed.  Some will be taken care of with the stimulus package.  But, we all have to start looking ahead on how we are going to survive this wild time.  Our God is good and He always provides for his own.  Today we were reading in Luke 6.  Such encouraging teaching from the Savior.  Luke 6 is all about Kingdom Living.  Living like sons and daughters of the King of Kings.  But we might be in for more of how the King lived while he walked this earth.  We are forced to live the simple life.  Jesus in these words teaches the Beatitudes, asks us to "turn the other cheek and produce good fruit.  Goals!  Yes, Goals for Coronalife 20.  We have more time.  We can now be intentional in living for the King.  Love, do good, be meek, and all the other humbling things that God asks us to do.  Hmmmm.  Maybe a slow down will make us more intentional in being a son or daughter of King Jesus!

Lots of amazing teaching here:  Luke 6  20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

Jesus Pronounces Woes
Love Your Enemies

24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.

“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic[b] either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

A Coronavid 19 World

Its like nothing most of us have ever experienced.  Over the last 10 years there have been scores and scores of movies telling of a post-apocalyptic world where disaster strikes and the life of the citizens of the world becomes very difficult.  Unless you are nearly 90 and lived through World War II you probably haven't experienced anything like what's going on this last week.  This is nothing like a nuclear disaster or what some people in this world are experiencing as they try to survive bloody wars.  Americans have been asked to sacrifice.  Sacrifice their freedom's, entertainment, jobs and other hugely important things.  Las Vegas is dark tonight.  Really?  These days are immense-are they not?  What is our response?  What should we as believers do?  How are we to respond.  Let us be peacemakers, let us be "the light" as Jesus would be.  Let us not fear but speak of hope.  

Hoarding is one of the most selfish actions that I have seen in this last week.  This behavior demonstrates a lack of community and caring for others.  If you are one of Jesus' I hope this is not you.  I hope you would ignore those who have become the most immediate problem for many.  In fact, the right response is to give away anything that you have robbed from others in hoarding.  

What words give the most comfort in this week like none other?  Its the words of Paul from Philippians 1-3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,[d] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.  I love these brothers in Philippi.  They lived in perhaps the most difficult times of all the early believers, yet they were the greatest of all.  They lived genuine lives of grace, humility and love.  They lived without fear.  Paul shows his gratitude for all they did for him and also shows the example that he demonstrates in difficulties in these verses.  May we be like the Philippians and Paul during these perilous and difficult times! 

Finally Found My Blogs!

Today is March 18th, 2020 and its been a long time since I posted a blog here.  For some reason I could not find my blog in searching for my google account over the last almost 3 years.  Not that I was posting all that much-but its good to capture my life in both my blogs-this one for the church and the one I posted for Caleb's journey with Leukemia.  This week has been a crazy one and I want to leave my thoughts at out newly designed website with a link to this blog.  The next post will be my thoughts on The Coronavid 19 World.  Its earth shattering!  But, so glad I have my blogs back!

God is on the Throne in 2016

2015 has come and gone.  It has been a year of change for our church.  We have seen more graduates leave our church and city to pursue college goals. They sure are missed-but God is continuing to work in the lives of our children, youth and families.

This year has brought some troubling change to our society.  What God tells us is right has been challenged by our government-so that right is now wrong and wrong is right-according to our government.  Thankfully we have a sure foundation in God's Word.  The absolute truth of Scripture never changes.  May our country never take away our freedom to practice the truth of God's Word.  Unfortunately, there may be more attacks on truth in the years ahead.  May all of us who know the truth take a stand for what is right when we can.  May we seek God's Word in 2016 so we know it well.  May we search the scriptures so that we may know the hope that is within us.

This year I am encouraging everyone to be intentional in their walk with God. Do you have a plan for studying and reading God's Word?  Would you like to read through the Bible in a year or two?  Would you like to focus on a short devotional plan?  There are many options and some great encouragements in the electronic world.  Below I've listed a few websites that might help you plan out an intentional plan to meat with God on a daily basis.  God is on the throne and he will be there for us through thick and thin.  We must reach out to him through His Word.  We can also be intentional in our fellowship with the believers.  We need to commit to being there with the believers in 2016.  I mean attending church regularly.  Just be there.  In Hebrews it tells us to no forsake the Assembly!  That is the church.  May we follow God's way with an intentional plan to get to know Him better in 2016.  He is on the throne no matter what the wold thinks is happening.

I'll end with a verse that we  looked at on New Year's Eve at our house.   This verse is a great encouragement and blessing to me as I look ahead to 2016:  On New Year's Eve we looked at a few scriptures that are great to consider for the New Year.

Isaiah 40:31  31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

These are encouraging words for this new year.

Here are few links in setting up plans to be in the Word in 2016:  

A great daily devotional by Chuck Swindoll-Biblical and Practical:
Chuck Swindoll's Daily Devotional

Bible Gateway's Reading Plans:  
Bible Gateway's Reading Plans

Spurgeon's 365 Day Plans
Spurgeon: Morning and Evenins

There are apps for most of these and you can have the reading emailed to you every day.  If you are wanting a hard copy version to order-Amazon is a great place to search.  You can find the above plans on Amazon.

If all of the above just confused you-talk to me at church and I'll order the tools for you to use.  Our church will take care of whatever the cost is to help someone study His Word.

A Week at Camp

If I had more time I would take it to tell of God's work at Ironwood over the last 20 years of our church.  This is God's place.  When you are coming in on the old Ironwood Cherokee Road and see the facilities for the first time it is breathtaking.  Most new wooders say things like how could a place like this be here in the desert.  There is only one reason-God did it.  God used a man named Walt Brock to have a vision for a place for kids and adults to get away from the things of the world to have chance to get to know the Savior and Creator of the universe.  Of folks from Bullhead City-I was the first person to visit Ironwood that first year as a counselor in 1983.  God worked in my life.  I grew more as a Christian that summer then perhaps any other except possibly since my days at Prescott Pines as a Junior High Camper when I dedicated my life to serve God!)  This is  God's place.

So the rest of this note is to our Trinity kids.  Many of us are praying that God would do a great work in your life and challenge you to serve God!  I pray that God would be real to you this week; that you would be open and honest with your counselors and the staff and that you would seek the answers to the tough questions in life-and above all listen to God working in your heart.  Have a great time, enjoy all the games-but listen to the Spiritual messages that you are hearing.

We all love you and are praying for you  earnestly!

A Great Perspective From a Pastor from Canada

What a tumultuous week for the church in America.  The Supreme Court ruling concerning marriage has seemed to have turned everyone into debaters and experts on the subject of marriage.  No matter what the SCOTUS has ruled we as believers must stand firm in the truth.  May we be strong in our faith and not be discouraged by the so-called  liberal experts on God's Word who despise those who believe in a inerrant infallible an inspired foundation(basically, this means that we believe all of God's Word is true, without error and comes from God Himself).  Our view of right and wrong is not changing like shifting sand in a Colorado River sand bar.  When it comes right down to it-one of the most important principles in this debate is if we are willing to say yes to the reliability and trustworthiness of God's Word.  I've been reading the liberals who would try to tell me that I believe my religious conviction about marriage between one man and one woman based on the book of Leviticus.  God gave us all of His Word for instruction-but thank God the law-based faith of the OT believers has been overtaken by the New Covenant and the gospel of Grace when Jesus came.  It doesn't mean I get no more teaching from Leviticus-but it does mean many of the practices of Leviticus are now done away with.  I seek out the New Testament story of grace for guidance.  I also look at the definition of marriage found in the very beginning in Genesis.  It is pretty clear-marriage is between one man and one woman.  Any other interpretation questions the true foundation that God's Word is.

With that being said-I'd like to share an article from a Pastor in Toronto.  Canada has been dealing with same-sex marriage for over a decade.  This pastor's perspective is encouraging and hopeful.  May we, the true Christian church in the USA, stay vigilant for truth no matter what obstacles our government may put in our way:

http://www.churchleaders.com/daily-buzz/257355-advice-sex-marriage-us-church-leaders-canadian.html

About Doubt

I'm currently reading my way through Tim Kellar's book The Reason for God.  To start off with I want everyone to realize that he has one problem and that is that he believes in the long day of creationism.  It does poke some holes in some of his reasoning-but generally he has put together some excellent arguments for today's skeptic of Christianity.  I've been trying to pull out his most quotable quotes to help us answer the hard questions about our faith.  The first is Keller's way of challenging questioners to really seek truth.  So many want to answer a question that doesn't jive with their own personal feelings.  Unfortunately, instead of really seeking truth, many just finish the discussion there.  Instead of truly seeking truth-they give up and let a simple doubt destroy their entire foundation.  Here is Keller's statement.

In fairness you must doubt your doubts. My thesis is that if you come to recognize the beliefs on which your doubts about Christianity are based, and if you seek as much proof for those beliefs as you seek from Christians for theirs— you will discover that your doubts are not as solid as they first appeared.

Keller, Timothy (2008-02-14). The Reason for God . Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.        
In fact, your doubts should crumble amid solid reasoning and clear thinking.  I hope you will seek out this book and read it.  It will strengthen you if you are solid on your beliefs and it will clear things up if you are willing to confront your doubts with the truth.

Getting Up With God

This morning I got up at 5:00 am.  Age has brought me to early rising.  The best part is more time with God.  When we read of the great men of God of history, almost always they write of their early rising to meet the Savior.  I get it.  The best times in my quiet time is when I rise early with little distraction, in the cool of the morning.  God is there with me.  I also was blessed on a river bike ride just after my quiet time.  A

little exercise and being near God's great creation helps to make His presence even greater! Sleeping in can be nice-but I am always more refreshed in God's morning.  Today I've been grappling over Tim Kellar's "Reason for God".  My mind and Spirit have been reaching out for those answers for the tough questions.  Kellar does a great job of answering them with confidence and intellect.  If you are questioning this read is good. He does take the long day theory of evolution but holds on to a personal God and creator who is real, loving and just.  Looking forward to mornings this week. God use them so I can get to know you better!

Divine Appointment

Today right before we started Sunday School a young man called from a travelling singing group wanting to minister to our church on Sunday night.  Feeling a little pressure to help this group out I agreed sight unseen.  At 4:00 pm a large travel bus showed up at church and began unloading all this audio equipment and our small stage hosted a group of nearly twenty for some pleasant encouraging Spiritual music.  The group was very sincere in their presentation.  Probably the most impressive thing is when they came into the audience and each person prayed with a different one of our folks.  We were blessed and encouraged in the Lord.

It appeared that these young people had a sincere relationship with the Savior.  We praise God for touching our lives through this apparent Divine Appointment.

Summer Update at Trinity

It is hard to believe that three weeks have flown by in the summer.  With our ever decreasing summer vacations over the last several years at school-it seems that this high school teacher doesn't have enough time to catch his breath and act like a pastor for the summer.  Hopefully this summer will be different.  A couple of things are helping me to focus a little bit more on the ministry at Trinity Baptist.  One, we do have two more weeks for summer than last year.  Two, I have help doing ministry related things with our summer interns, Andy and Alex.  They have been such a great help in sharing much of the the things I normally do every week.  Trinity is investing in these two young men's lives this summer with the hope that they will be trained to share the Gospel with the incredible talents that God has given them.  So blessed by their willingness to be a help.

One of our biggest projects for the summer is the Musical/Drama Team Presentation.  The kids have put together an amazing selection of God honoring songs and challenging dramatic presentations that could be an entire church service for any churches that are looking for a fresh change for a summer Sunday night, Wednesday night or even a Sunday morning service.  Please message me if you are interested in us sending our young people ot minister to your church this year.  

Finally this summer we are doing some sizzling Bible Study on Wednesday.  We are studying "Walking in the Spirit" n Galatians and it has been a great time of growth and learning for all of us.  Wish everyone could be there on Wednesday at 6:00 pm.

Week Three Growing in Grace-Lesson 4 Homework

1. A Blessing I have received each day from reading the Bible.

      Day 1_________________________________________________________________

     Day 2 __________________________________________________________________


     Day 3 _________________________________________________________________

    Day 4___________________________________________________________________

    Day 5_____________________________________________________________________

    Day 6____________________________________________________________________

    Day 7____________________________________________________________________



2.  Miracles I found in the Bible

      Day 1---John 1  _______________________________________________________________

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     Day 2----John 2 _______________________________________________________________

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     Day 3---- John 3________________________________________________________________

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     Day 4----John 4  _______________________________________________________________

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     Day 5----John 5  _______________________________________________________________

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     Day 6----  John 6  _______________________________________________________________

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     Day 7----- John 7  _______________________________________________________________

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3.   Truths I learned about the Bible the Word of God from the reading this week

John 1________________________________________________________________________

John 2___________________________________________________________________________

John 3__________________________________________________________________________

John 4__________________________________________________________________________

John 5__________________________________________________________________________

John 6__________________________________________________________________________

John 7__________________________________________________________________________

Studying Through the Book of John Week 2 Chapters 8-14

1.  Promises I have found in John 8-14 that were a real blessing (list at least three)

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     2.  _________________________________________________________________

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2.  Truths I received from my daily reading of John 8-14 that I applied to my life each day:

      Day 1---John 8  _______________________________________________________________

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     Day 2----John 9  _______________________________________________________________

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     Day 3---- John 10________________________________________________________________

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     Day 4----John 11  _______________________________________________________________

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     Day 5----John 12  _______________________________________________________________

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     Day 6----  John 13  _______________________________________________________________

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     Day 7----- John 14  _______________________________________________________________

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3.   The verse I found in John 8-14 in which there is a form of the word believe:  

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PS I'll post week 1  later to if you are catching up

Never Stop Praying

At Ironwood this last week, many of us were blessed to see God answer prayer in the profession of faith in Christ by two of our really good friends.  In one case we prayed for four years to see one of our friends to be saved and in another we prayed for at least three years for another individual to be saved.  What a testimony to the fact that we can never give up on praying for our friends and loved ones.  We might have just given up on these two people.  Instead, many of just continued to pray.   God in his perfect timing worked in lives.

Ironwood is wonderful place to get to know our God better.  Its nice to get away from our electronic device, slow down and listen to God speak.  Our kids made many decisions for Christ.   It's our prayer that they'll be able to continue to keep walking with God.

Remembering the Land of the Free

It is the Fourth of July and as I proudly remember the birthday of the "land of the free and the home of the brave" I am also saddened at the passing of a great friend who enjoyed the freedoms we have in America.  But, this friend, being a Iranian-American of Armenian descent perhaps could more value the great blessing of the freedom afforded Americans in our constitution.

My friend Massis Avanessian passed from this life into the arms of his heavenly father on July 3rd.   He came to America in a near desperate manner.  As he looked at his life in Post-Shah Iran in the late 1970's, he realized that the freedoms he had before enjoyed were being stripped away as religious and racial prejudice became part of the new governments program.  One of the scariest aspects of this new perspective in Iran was that non-native ethnics groups were having their sons drafted into the army and sent to the front lines of the most dangerous and bloody war of the time.  Massis realized his young son would soon be sent to fight a useless war and most likely would not come back from the fighting.   That is when Massis made the plans to smuggle his son out of the country.  All of his family would eventually flee Iran and end up in the United States.  Here the Avanessians have enjoyed all the freedoms and liberties afforded all Americans.  They have made an outstanding contribution to our great land.  America is a better place because Massis came to the United States!  Thankfully, the message of Emma Lazarus' poem helped Massis and his family as they began to start a new life.  I wonder if the world still looks at America as the place of refuge?

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

All Things Work Together for Good ... For Them Who Are Called!

So after an adventurous and not so free from tribulation vacation we are back at home starting another week.  God is good and blessed us with a good preacher last week with Jim Sproul.  From what I heard and the comments of the believers he blessed, challenged and encouraged.  This week I continued on with Romans chapter 8.   We were challenged with the Glory of the Christian.  Glory is the ultimate excellent and blessed state that Christians can have when they are walking with God.   We have obtained Glory through Christ.  We can experience some glory on this earth but are looking forward to the glory in the future.  Our God working in hearts daily helps us to experience this every day.    We were challenged about the glory we can experience in prayer in the exercise of our faith as well as knowing that God is in control.  The culmination of Glory for believers today is found in Romans 8:28-"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose."