Trusting God in an uncertain economy

When has the economy ever been certain? That is a good question.

My family and I get strange looks when we tell people that we are moving out of state, and that we are not sure exactly where we will go, or what job I will have, or how we are going to sell our house in this time when most folks are hunkering down to wait out the storm.

I usually answer their questions and strange looks with the certainty that God is moving us on, and that He isn't concerned with the economy and He knows what plans He has for us.

It is a relatively new place for us to be in as a family, but I think we are coming to terms with having a greater trust in Jesus day by day.

Although we have had quite a few people come and look at our home for only listing it FSBO on Craig'slist for about a month, we have no offers or real interested parties at the time. We are trusting however that in His perfect timing, God has the buyer all lined up.

As we began reading the book of Job as a family in our devotions this morning it became obvious that our ability and need to trust God is so small compared to what it could be. I'm not asking for disaster to strike, but I am asking for God to break us of our dependence on ourselves or the world, or money, or any other thing that would keep us from trusting Him more.

The big things in our lives are really so small to God. There is so much to be said for perspective.

God please give us your perspective of our small lives and what you are accomplishing in us. Teach us what trusting You is really all about, and how far we have to go.

A new step of FAITH

Having Faith vs. Exercising Faith

After 17+ years of serving our brothers and sisters and our community here in Black Canyon City, my family and I are being called by God to relocate to Texas. We will be settling outside of Houston actually and have so many conflicting emotions that we are still coping with sorting them all out.

God in His infinite wisdom, is moving us to new places not only in location, but in our walk with Him. I have communicated our plans to my pastor and to the congregation we have served together all of these years, and although all of us are filled with sadness at the prospect of moving many miles away from such a close knit family, we are also excited at the thought of what adventures God has for us down the unknown road.

It is one thing to say that we have faith, and another thing altogether to exercise that faith by stepping out into the unknown. I will be leaving my assistant pastor position here at Calvary BCC and we will have to sell our home before we can move. I have no idea what kind of employment opportunities God will orchestrate for me, and we know almost no one where we are going. I know that God is wanting to get us to a place of surrender, where we can trust in nothing and no one except Him for our provision and strength.

At an age (43) and time in my life where most husbands and fathers are seeking security and stability and finding it for the most part. God is leading us to an unknown place of vulnerability. The funny thing is that we are okay with that! Evangelism remains a main priority in our family life, as does serving Him through training our children in righteousness and leading by example when it comes to following Jesus on a daily basis. (God please help us!)

From the streets of Phoenix, Prescott, and Black Canyon City to the streets of Spring, Humble and Houston.... the mission remains the same, just the scenery and the souls will change. We are so looking forward to all God has in store for us as we leave our familiar home, and also for those we leave behind.

May God be the center of our lives and get the glory for His work in us.

Expedition Bible

Awesome Video Resource (Atheists and Bible doubters welcome)

Please check out the compelling evidence presented in this short video for the historicity and reliability of the Biblical record. Very well done!

An e-mail from a friend (not your usual forward)

How would you Introduce Christ to a room full of people?

I received an e-mail from a friend today named Rob-Roy. He is a frequent evangelist on Mill Avenue and and saint who's heart aches for the lost of our troubled times. I am not going to comment on his post, but simply allow you to see it as it was sent. It is powerful and worthy of our attention. Please make sure you read his comments after watching the video. I hope it affects you as it did me.

Friends,

I have had a video of Steve Harvey sent to me by multiple people as a “forward” that has become very popular in Christian circles. I appreciate it being sent my way by brothers and sisters in the Lord I love dearly. Perhaps you have seen it? The emails that have been forwarded have introductions from other people at the bottom of the forwards to the video such as:

“Remember this is not a church audience that this comedian (Steve Harvey) is addressing and there is nothing comedic about this.... Just amazing & powerful. WOW!”

Or

“WOW!!!!!!!!! This was totally awesome!!!!!!! Not only the intro but the crowd reaction!!!!!! This is Steve Harvey, a comedian, addressing a secular audience. The subject is: "How Would You Introduce Christ to a Room Full of People?" It's hard to imagine that this is a comedian and not a preacher, and this is an audience and not a congregation. It must have been at the end of his routine, because...well, you'll see.”

With that kind of set up watch the video and pay close attention to what is and is not said when introducing Christ.

Click here to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXmSHVoi7rI

Now that you have watched Steve Harvey do his introduction please allow me to step out on a limb. Almost everyone I know loves this video and is moved by it. What I am about to write puts me in danger of really turning people off that I care about. That is not my intention. My intention is to honor Christ and in that regard I submit the following observations to prayerfully consider.

First let me say that his introduction was very emotional and moving. Secondly, I think the question is an important one. How would you introduce Christ? Is there a wrong way? Is every introduction equally valid no matter what the content?

How we introduce Christ says a lot about us. Jesus asked "Who do you say I am". He also said if people do not believe He is who He claimed to be they will die in their sin.

Regarding Steve Harvey’s intro of Christ, like much of modern Christianity there was something very important missing. Did you notice what that was?

It was striking to me that the central accomplishment of Christ was not mentioned at all by Steve Harvey in his introduction. We should not leave out the most essential part of the first coming which was the Cross and the conquering of death and sin. Even the people of Jesus time cheered him for his miracles and accomplishments. But then crucified him within the same week.

The very reason that Christ came, the Cross, was missing from the long list of accolades in Harvey’s intro. It is also missing from many churches, many messages and many souls. May we never become distracted from the central message of Christ but be determined by His grace to preach the Cross and Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sin. Too much is at stake to leave out the most important part.

This may sound harsh but Satan hates the cross. And because it was missing from Steve Harvey’s intro of Christ I believe Satan was satisfied that Jesus ultimate work and demonstration of love was left unspoken. As Christ looked at the multitudes with compassion and emotion it is important to consider the same concern for a crowd on the video that hears of a Jesus that does not include the very reason He came to earth. To save sinners and call them to repentance at the Cross in demonstration of amazing grace. P

aul was determined to preach and know nothing but Christ and Him crucified. It is sad to see so great a salvation neglected and missing. And even more so that it’s disappearance has largely gone unnoticed.

I pray that in our proclaiming the name of Christ that we honor Him by never leaving out the purpose for which He came and the purpose for which He will return. Judgment day is coming soon and the Savior came that men would repent and have faith Him, that they would not perish in Hell but have everlasting life through Christ alone. Oh what a gift His grace is. And oh what a terror it is to die apart from His mercy and fall into the hands of the living God.

On that day when the second coming does occur He will be introduced by his Angels with the sound of a trumpet, flaming fire and in a robe covered in blood as every knee bows and tongue confesses Him to be Lord. Although for most it will be too late there is still time for those you care about that still have breath. Go share the words of life with them that they may have a real introduction to the only one who can save. Our Savior Jesus Christ who is rich in mercy, forgiveness and love. And whom will bring justice and judgment to those who refuse to turn to Him for salvation.

Love, Rob-roy

Michael Jackson's true cause of DEATH

I found this video clip and couldn't help myself. I had to post it.

Oh that people would wake up and be shaken when someone they admire dies. That it would cause them to think about their own mortality.

Please feel free to let me know what you think of this post, good or bad.

Project Ezra

There is a movement to uphold and read the Word of God in public that I am excited about.

It may sound weird to you, but I believe that is only because our country has lost its real reliance on the Word of God. We are commanded by scripture to do just that.

1Ti 4:13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. NIV

Please view this video of people doing just that reading God's Word in public places.

July 4th Witnessing Update

This isn't just a shameless plug for my kids blogs. Well, that and a testimony to my laziness. Okay, it is.

Rather than me blogging about our awesome time we had over the 4th of July in Prescott witnessing, tracting, open air preaching etc. I'll let my kids give you the update since they beat me to the punch on writing it all down. I know you'll enjoy their insight.

You can get all the details at either Kiah's site:

http://kiahsonlineodyssey.blogspot.com/

or

Isaac's site: http://i-mansarchives.blogspot.com/

Of course for Isaac's you'll have to scroll down a few posts as he is the most prolific blogger of us all. Way to go I-man.

Lord Bless you all as you proclaim Jesus.

Karl

Tracting leads to possible arrest

This isn't much of a witnessing story, but it is somewhat humorous, and who knows how it will end up.

My wife and I were on our 18th anniversary trip yesterday. We were stopped getting gas and the pump across from us has an older pickup truck with a very drunk woman in the bed of the truck sipping on an open container of some sort of hard liquer. As I approched the truck I saw two other people in the cab in addition to the driver who was in the store picking up more alcohol.

I handed them all $7.00 bills and the drunk woman kept repeating how much she loved me.... so I headed back to finish pumping gas and head out.

That would have been the end of the story, however the truck pulled out on the mountain road directly ahead of me. As my wife and I thought of them potential danger, not only of HELL but also of DUI, killing someone else on the road etc. we passed a Hwy Patrol vehicle on the side of the road. My wife (somewhat joking) said, "hey, you should pull over and report them". That was all it took. Moments later the officer (who was wiping lunch off his face when I approched the vehicle) was speeding down the road in search of the truck.

The best part (I guess) is that we were on twisting mountain roads with really no way of exiting. As we were driving and wondering if we'd ever learn the end of the story, about 3 miles down the road, we caught up with the police officer and the truck.

Short end of the story is, we passed by them as they were being pulled off into a Circle K and I'm sure, shaking in their boots.

It isn't often that kind of thing works out so perfectly. I just pray that when they sober up (whether than ends up being in jail, or wherever) that they still have the tracts with them and put 2 & 2 together and repent.

The LAW is a funny thing sometimes.

Upcoming Witnessing Opportunity JULY 4th

Christian Soldiers, the war continues for the souls of men and women!

We will be meeting in Prescott for the annual Independence Day Parade at 8am.

The parade begins at 9am, and we will want to be on the square handing out tracts in plenty of time before the start of the parade. If you live in the Tri-Cities area and want to join local evangelsists on the streets engaging in biblical evangelism please join us.

This isn't a training session per se, however there should be some people there who are experienced that you can shadow if you are not comfortable on your own.

We will see how the day progresses and may end up at the fairgrounds for the rodeo. I won't be staying for the evening events or the fireworks display, but I'm sure the opportunities to share the gospel will be great in the evening as well.

Please pray for us as we take the Good News of Jesus Christ to the streets.

If you have questions or need more information about this event, please leave a comment, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Tony "The Lawman" Miano

Biblical Encouragement to Evangelize

If you frequent this blog then you already may be aware of Tony's Blog called The Lawman Chronicles. If you don't know who Tony Miano is, or have never been to his blog, I can't encourage you enough to check it out.

Tony is the director of the Ambassador's Alliance, a ministry under Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron's Way of the Master ministry.

I attended the evangelism training called the Ambassador's Academy back in July of last year. It was a life changing experience for me and one I will never stop thanking the Lord for.

The purpose of this post is not to bring glory to any man, but simply to point you to an awesome resource for news and encouragement in your personal evangelism.

Please take time to check out Tony's blog: The Lawman Chronicles

His blogroll is also on my site in the column to the right, and there is a banner link at the very bottom of this site.

God richly bless you.

Parade Day in Black Canyon City, AZ

Tracts Abound

Last Saturday was such a blast! My kids (Kiah & Isaac) are in a home shcool student council group called SALT (Servants And Leader in Truth). There were about 10 kids there all stocked with tracts. There were $3.00 bills, $7.00 bills, Millions, and even Billions.

Our church has an archery club that had a float in the parade and they were also walking in the parade and handing out tracts.

Between those two groups and others from the church tracting on their own, we were able to distribute over 1500 tracts in just under 2 hours. God is good!

I don't think I have ever received such great acceptance while handing out tracts. Not that I am judging the event by that, but I was surprised at how few folks turned down the Gospel tracts. In my opinion, the Obama Millions were the hit of the day.

In our mostly conservative small town, many were thrilled to get a Million Dollar Bill, and yet when they saw Obama's face on it they grimaced and turned it away. That is until I offered, "you can always use it for target practice". I did ask them to read the Gospel message printed on the back before turning it into confetti.

Here are some pictures of the event. The weather was perfect, and we had a great time working for the kingdom. I pray that all who received the Gospel in written form last weekend would be drawn by the Holy Spirit to a knowledge of the Truth.

Muzzleloader Outing

I apologize for being so behind on posting.

Carol and Wes Mason from Goodyear joined us for the afternoon at Ben Avery Shooting Facility. We enjoyed the sunshine and warm Arizona weather and the many sights and sounds from the 19th and early 20th century.

I spoke with this man briefly about the Gospel and we were able to hand out many tracts to participants and spectators alike.

All in all it was a fun family day, and one where we got to shine for Christ.

karl

Upcoming Event - National Muzzleloader Shoot at Ben Avery

My family and I are planning on going sometime this Saturday Feb. 14th to the National Muzzleloader Shoot at Ben Avery Shooting Facility located just off of I-17 at Carefree Hwy.

It is an all day event, and is free. We will be loaded with tracts and a desire to see the Gospel proclaimed to attendees and participants alike.

If you can join us for a day of witnessing and tracting please contact Karl. karl@calvarybcc.com

God has been so gracious in drawing us to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and we are burdened to share that message of God's salvation to all.

Come and join us!

God's Sovereign Hand in a Hopeless World

The following is an excerpt from a book by Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle in NY called Fresh Power. I read this story to my family in our time together this morning and I had to let my daughter finish reading it as I was unable. (Read the story and you'll understand why)

It is a beautiful picture of how God can use what seems like tragedy, pain, and situations that look so hopeless, for His eternal glory. It is fitting for this website because it is a story of one person's perseverance in preaching the Gospel no matter what.

I realize it is a little long, but I promise you you won't be disappointed that you took the few minutes to read it.

Back in 1921, a missionary couple named David and Svea Flood went with their two-year old son from Sweden to heart of Africa - to what was then called the Belgian Congo. They met up with another young Scandinavian couple, the Ericksons, and the four of them sought God for direction. In those days of much tenderness and devotion and sacrifice, they felt led of the Lord to set out from the main mission station and take the gospel to a remote area.

This was a huge step of faith. At the village of N'dolera they were rebuffed by the chief, who would not let them enter his town for fear of alienating the local gods. The two couples opted to go half a mile up the slope and build their own mud huts.

They prayed for a spiritual breakthrough, but there was none. The only contact with the villagers was a young boy who was allowed to sell them chickens and eggs twice a week. Svea Flood - a tiny woman only four feet, eight inches tall - decided that if this was the only African she could talk to, she would try to lead the boy to Jesus. And in fact, she succeeded.

But there were no other encouragements. Meanwhile, malaria continued to strike one member of the little band after another. In time the Ericksons decided they had had enough suffering and left to return to the central mission station. David and Svea Flood remained near N'dolera to go on alone.

Then, of all things, Svea found herself pregnant in the middle of the primitive wilderness. When the time came for her to give birth, the village chief softened enough to allow a midwife to help her. A little girl was born, whom they named Aina.

The delivery, however, was exhausting, and Svea Flood was already weak from bouts of malaria. The birth process was a heavy blow to her stamina. She lasted only another seventeen days.

Inside David Flood, something snapped in that moment. He dug a crude grave, buried his twenty-seven-year-old wife, and then took his children back down the mountain to the mission station. Giving his newborn daughter to the Ericksons, he snarled, "I'm going back to Sweden. I've lost my wife, and I obviously can't take care of this baby. God has ruined my life." With that, he headed for the port, rejecting not only his calling, but God himself.

Within eight months both the Ericksons were stricken with a mysterious malady and died within days of each other. The baby was then turned over to some American missionaries, who adjusted her Swedish name to "Aggie" and eventually brought her back to the United States at age three.

This family loved the little girl and were afraid that if they tried to return to Africa, some legal obstacle might separate her from them. So they decided to stay in their home country and switch from missionary work to pastoral ministry. And that is how Aggie grew up in South Dakota. As a young woman, she attended North Central Bible College in Minneapolis. There she met and married a young man named Dewey Hurst.

Years passed. The Hursts enjoyed a fruitful ministry. Aggie gave birth first to a daughter, then a son. In time her husband became president of a Christian college in the Seattle area, and Aggie was intrigued to find so much Scandinavian heritage there.

One day a Swedish religious magazine appeared in her mailbox. She had no idea who had sent it, and of course she couldn't read the words. But as she turned the pages, all of a sudden a photo stopped her cold. There in a primitive setting was a grave with a white cross - and on the cross were the words SVEA FLOOD.

Aggie jumped in her car and went straight for a college faculty member who, she knew, could translate the article. "What does this say?" she demanded.

The instructor summarized the story: It was about missionaries who had come to N'dolera long ago.... the birth of a white baby.... the death of the young mother.... the one little African boy who had been led to Christ.... and how, after the whites had all left, the boy had grown up and finally persuaded the chief to let him build a school in the village.

The article said that gradually he won all of his students to Christ... the children led their parents to Christ... even the chief had become a Christian. Today there were six hundred Christian believers in that one village....

All because of the sacrifice of David and Svea Flood.

For the Hurst's twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, the college presented them with the gift of a vacation to Sweden. There Aggie sought to find her real father. An old man now, David Flood had remarried, fathered four more children, and generally dissipated his life with alcohol. He had recently suffered a stroke. Still bitter, he had one rule in his family: "Never mention the name of God - because God took everything from me."

After an emotional reunion with her half brothers and half sister, Aggie brought up the subject of seeing her father. The others hesitated. "You can talk to him," they replied, "even though he's very ill now. But you need to know that whenever he hears the name of God, he flies into a rage."

Aggie was not to be deterred. She walked into the squalid apartment, with liquor bottles everywhere, and approached the seventy-three-year-old man lying in a rumpled bed.

"Papa?" she said tentatively.

He turned and began to cry. "Aina," he said. "I never meant to give you away."

It's all right, Papa," she replied, taking him gently in her arms. "God took care of me."

The man instantly stiffened. The tears stopped.

"God forgot all of us. Our lives have been like this because of him." He turned his face back to the wall.

Aggie stroked his face and then continued, undaunted.

"Papa, I've got a little story to tell you, and it's a true one. You didn't go to Africa in vain. Mama didn't die in vain. The little boy you won to the Lord grew up to win that whole village to Jesus Christ. The one seed you planted just kept growing and growing. Today there are six hundred African people serving the Lord because you were faithful to the call of God in your life....

"Papa, Jesus loves you. He has never hated you."

The old man turned back to look into his daughter's eyes. His body relaxed. He began to talk. And by the end of the afternoon, he had come back to the God he had resented for so many decades.

Over the next few days, father and daughter enjoyed warm moments together. Aggie and her husband soon had to return to America - and within a few weeks, David Flood had gone into eternity. A few years later, the Hursts were attending a high-level evangelism conference in London, England, when a report was given from the nation of Zaire (the former Belgian Congo). The superintendent of the national church, representing some 110,000 baptized believers, spoke eloquently of the gospel's spread in his nation. Aggie could not help going to ask him afterward if he had ever heard of David and Svea Flood.

"Yes, madam," the man replied in French, his words then being translated into English. "It was Svea Flood who led me to Jesus Christ. I was the boy who brought food to your parents before you were born. In fact, to this day your mother's grave and her memory are honored by all of us."

He embraced her in a long, sobbing hug. Then he continued, "You must come to Africa to see, because your mother is the most famous person in our history."

In time that is exactly what Aggie Hurst and her husband did. They were welcomed by cheering throngs of villagers. She even met the man who had been hired by her father many years before to carry her back down the mountain in a hammock-cradle.

The most dramatic moment, of course, was when the pastor escorted Aggie to see her mother's white cross for herself. She knelt in the soil to pray and give thanks. Later that day, in the church, the pastor read from John 12:24: "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." He then followed with Psalm 126:5: "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy."

Kicked out for singing

Well, vacation and family have kept me away from blogging for a spell. Sorry for that.

I wanted to post to let you know that we did go to the Deer Valley 30 that day, however the security booted us out after only a few minutes. The "Agents" got there ahead of us and were singing Christmas carols and handing out tracts to passers by.

So, we went down the road to a Walmart and had a great time handing out tracts to shoppers.

The store was packed, and for the most part people were very friendly and readily accepting tracts. We handed out so many that when we got up to the checkout and tried handing out more... most people already had one.

Sadly to say, we haven't been out on a planned witnessing trip since then. Tomorrow the real world rushes back after having some vacation time and just hanging with the family. It has been good though. Rest that we needed for sure.

Looking forward to the New Life Drama Company coming to our church for the 1st weekend in February. We plan to go witnessing the Saturday before that... I think it is the 31st of Jan. I'll post this week as we find a place to go and have more details.

Lord bless you all as you serve Him with all your heart.

Karl