My 200th Post! (Do you hear or listen?)

Good Morning World!  WOW!
This will be my 200th post!  I decided a few years ago to stick with this blog, and even though I have changed it twice, and taken a couple sabbaticals from writing it is still here for the world to read and hopefully enjoy a fresh breeze of truth, and a small amount of wisdom.  (That was a long sentence!)
Now we are celebrating 200 bits of information, wisdom, advice, suggestions and sermons - it doesn't seem possible!  Thank You!

Today by way of celebration I am going back a few days to a conversation I had with a couple of my local banks tellers.  They were in the middle of a conversation when I arrived at the wicket, and knowing them as well as I do I made a smart remark; at which they all laughed.  However, because of the comment we started talking about the difference between listening and hearing.

They are both action words, but one is passive and one is active.  Passive means you can do the action without any real effort or action on your part.  Active means that there is a direct action that must be included or follow the use of the word.  So, we have Hearing.  This is a passive word.  This word can be done without any action required.  Listening on the other hand is an active word, and requires action on the part of the doer.  I might hear what my mother is saying, but I do not listen to what my mother is saying!

I have written 200 posts now, and I have had over 4,000 people read these posts, however, I wonder ho many of those people actually listened?  As preachers we are not interested in people who just hear the gospel, but we are trying to find people who will listen to the gospel.  Not very often have I directly preached the gospel in these posts, but almost every post has had an element that will lead you to Jesus if you will listen.  Too, often we just peruse the blogs in our list, but we don't actually digest this soul food and find a why to implement it.  I have a book on my shelf that is just over half finished because I am trying to put into action what is requested in the book. (This reminds me I need to check in the book and see how I am doing!)  I have just started the book of Proverbs, and decided to take it one chapter at a time, even though I memorized about 16 chapters of it as a youth, it still holds great and powerful truth that I will now try to instill into my children!

So, next time you read, or are required to hear something; listen!

Yours for Christ
Pastor Fred

The Muddy Puddle Question!

What is it about a muddy puddle that makes a child drawn to it? What is it about the muddy puddle that is like a magnet, and a child just has to step in it and dance!?

This question really struck me Thursday evening as my son, Ethan, and I were going into the Church for Bible Study. It had been a snowy, sloppy, warmish kind of day, and between the van and the Church was a rather large muddy puddle. As we passed, Ethan began to position himself for the big plunge! As I was on hand his impulsive desire to jump was quickly thwarted, and this question crossed my mind. Then in the few seconds before we entered the Church for Bible Study I realized that the Good Lord had just given me food for thought and sermon material!

We need to be like that muddy puddle! Not in respect the the muddy or even in respect to the puddle, but rather we must be like magnets that people feel need to jump into! As a Pastor and a Preacher it can be difficult at times to convince people of their spiritual needs, but if I could become like a muddy puddle I wouldn't have to convince people they would just want to jump in and get their spiritual needs met!

Everywhere Jesus went the crowds just happened. He was like a crowd magnet. He didn't have to announce His arrival into town. He didn't have to put up posters or make radio announcements! Jesus found some needy people and began to minister. The result: shortly afterward a huge crowd would begin to form, and He would have a congregation to preach to! Oh, to be more like Jesus! Oh, to be less like myself!

So my challenge this morning, evening and noon is that you change whatever needs to be changed in your life so that you are a magnetic muddy pool of spiritual desire! You get Jesus so He overflows and people will want the part that is slopping over!

Yours for magnetic Christianity,
Pastor Fred

PS. Enjoy my online Radio at the top of the page! Press the continuous button so the music will continually loop.

Jesus is Looking for Just ONE!

The other day I was listening to the radio (www.klove.com), and one of the short programs came on. I don't remember who the guy was or what the program was, but I do remember what he said. As a matter of fact I incorporated it into our Thursday night Bible Study lesson.

Ezekiel 22:30
30And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

God doesn't want to pour out His wrath upon us, and is search, yea looking for ONE to stand in the gap, and intercede on behave on a nation, the continent, the world!

Did you know or realize that every major revival in the Bible and in this world since the early church has started with ONE person getting ahold of God, and spreading the message to another ONE, and another ONE!

If we would stop focusing on reaching EVERYONE, and just get out and reach ONE we can and will bring Jesus to the Whole World in a matter of years!

Back to our radio program. The announcer was talking about our current rate of evangelizing the world, and that it would take an impossible amount of years to reach the world. However, he went on to describe a method that can reach the entire world in just a matter of years!
(This can also be proven through math give or take a couple years)

If ONE person would go out and reach another ONE person. Then, he/she would disciple that one person for one year, so that they knew Jesus, His Word and had a relationship with Him. After that year the two would go out and reach another ONE person each; that would be four people. Those two new ones would be discipled for ONE year. Next those four would go out and reach out to another ONE person each; that would be eight! ....and this process of reaching the lost and discipleship would continue every year ONE person to effectively start the ball rolling that would reach the entire population of planet earth in approximately ................ (guess)...........
..................................
................................
32 years......!!!!!!!!

Isn't that amazing! So get off your rear end, and get out and just find ONE! If every true Christian and child of God would do this, we could effectively evangelize the world in a matter of years!

I did the math for my community, and in 5 years I could help 100 people find Jesus, learn to know Him and love Him. In 10 years we could reach 3,200 people which would be everyone in my community. Within another 3 years we could reach the rest of the Green Bay Area! And to top it off within 18 years from now we could reach over 819,000 souls. That is more people than who live within Newfoundland and Labrador! All because ONE person stood in the gap and reached out to another ONE!

Be THE ONE!

Yours for reaching the world,
Pastor Fred

PS> It sure feels great to be back in the saddle! It's been a crazy summer so far, but God has been real good. I'll tell you about it sometime!

Holding Hands...`

Have you ever went for a walk, or just been with someone you truly care about, and hold their hand? It is something very special and precious! I remember the many times I hold my wife's hand. I feel so close to her even when we aren't really talking much. Even when we are in the van driving we often hold hands, and it almost feels like we are sitting right next to each other! (Even though there is a large space between us!)

Well, today that is how I feel with Jesus! Like we are walking hand in hand! No, I haven't been praying for hours, or singing praises for a long time. No, rather I've been working all day long! As a matter of fact I am still working! I have 3 jobs to work today! 9-5, 6-9 and 9-until I'm done! Not much time to talk to Jesus, but if you begin to live what Galatians says: "We walk by faith and not by sight", and "If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit!" Then, our relationship with Jesus becomes one of lifestyle, and not of convenience. So, throughout the day I talk with Jesus. I've brought needs, praises, and wants before Him as we walked together through this day together. I has been wonderful!

I've noticed something. We often preach and talk about the need to set time aside for prayer. Yes, this is very important, but what about in between these times? I am beginning to realize that it is very possible, fulfilling and important to walk with Jesus every moment of every day! Let His presence be with you all the time. Don't be afraid to worship, praise or talk to Him anywhere or anytime! "For, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For, It is the power of God unto Salvation!" What person is more important to be "saved" than you!?

Make time to walk with Jesus all the time! I dare you!

Your for Jesus Christ,

Pastor Fred