Archive for the ‘Rich’ Category
Podcast 34 – Behemoth & the Gospel
My son Graham had a special request. He has a bearded dragon named Behemoth. The name was taken from the book of Job. He wanted podcast on that passage and he wanted it put on CD so that he could listen to it again and again. So I took it on as a challenge, and Ken and I shared with him as well what he needed to know about life and the good news of Christ as well. It is a great gospel message and takes the gospel back to its roots. It is not just for Graham but for everyone. I hope that it challenges you and encourages you.
Podcast 33 – What… bear your cross?
One of my friends requested that Ken and I do a podcast on what it means to bear your cross. It has been a while in the making. But I believe that it will be worth it. It will definitely give you hope.
Podcast 32 – 1 Corinthians 15, Death and Hope
Do you have friends and family members with serious life threatening medical conditions? Have you thought about your own frailty and mortality? Ken and I look at some verses to give us hope. My father-in-law is in Intensive Care right now and it has been life and death for the last few days. That, and with Easter, looking at Christ’s Death and Resurrection really got me thinking. As always, I hope this encourages and challenges you.
Rich
Previously I mentioned Spire Comics — Got a Link!
http://www.carpsplace.com/spire/spire.htm
I mentioned some of these before. Spire Comics are Christian comic books from the 70s. Available are some biographical ones like Hiding Place and God’s Smuggler. Not every comic has been converted to .pdf. But some of them have, and you can download them for free. Enjoy.
Rich
Podcast 29 – Jesus asleep in your boat.
Today Rich and I discuss the passage in Luke Chapter 8 starting in verse 22 where Jesus and his disciples are crossing the sea of Galilee in a boat when Jesus lies down to take a nap and a storm suddenly comes up. As the disciples began to freak out it becomes a wonderful illustration for us on how we are to trust Christ when the storms rage in our own lives. After recording this podcast I was encouraged and Rich and I hope that you will be encouraged as well.
Wow! Thank God for the Finnish!
Ken and I are into music. The song that leads in and out of the Don’t Blame Jesus episodes is actually a worship song called “King Jesus” that Ken wrote.
So anyway, Ken was recently me showing a Christian Eurotrance band called “G-Powered” that comes out of Finland. Just beautiful. “With You” by G-Powered
And while I was looking around on youtube for other Finnish Gospel music, I came across two songs by a band called “HB” that I had to share. Got to love some good Christian Finnish Metal
It amazes me that so many of “Christian” bands in the States seem to be saying less and less with their lyrics. I am glad to see that bands out there in other countries are proclaiming the good news boldly.
First HB video here is “It Is Time.” Challenging people to take advantage of the Gospel offered to them right now!
I have included the lyrics to this second song below. Wow!
HB “God Has All Glory”
When I was reborn, you gave your sign to me. The cross was the way and it says you’ll be with me… Day after day. I Heard you calling and felt that I had to seek you! And I finally realized. That your ways are so much higher than mine.
You know everything. Your wisdom and power exceeds all limits
God has all glory, power and honour! He came to save us. He gave His life for us! God has all glory, power and honour! He conquered death and brought us salvation.
You forgave all the things that were sin against You. It was so outstanding -- my dark heart is so clean -- You love me so! Now I want to serve you. Whatever You want, I will do. You have all the power thats why I can trust in You. Jesus. My Lord!
My life belongs to you, you promised to lead me and never leave me.
Richard
Podcast 25 – Philemon
Ken and I finished this podcast this afternoon. We both agree this is one of our favorite books. What an excellent story of friendship and redemption. I also love the book because it is HILARIOUS! Hope that you enjoy!
Rich
No Sliding Backwards!
I was messing around on youtube recently and came across some Christian Punk that I used to listen to my first semester in Bible College. The song is called “Sliding Backwards” by Pat Nobody. The album was called Nobody Special.
Pat Nobody, if I understand correctly, is Pat Taylor, the younger brother of Joey Taylor of Undercover. For those that don’t know Undercover is one of the favorite bands of Ken and I.
I used to be into RC car racing and I had cut vinyl graphics across of hood of one of my cars saying, “No Sliding Backwards!” which had to do with this song.
Anyway men, we want to be moving forward with our faith and not sliding backwards.
You might also want to check out some of the other songs by Pat Nobody, like Burnt, Aint That Hard and Get Off The Air.
Richard
Hurts, Habits and Hang-Ups!
It seems like so many of friends are going through difficult times right now. Well, let me share something that helps me and others. There is a great book called “Life’s Healing Choices” by John Baker. I think that many of you know about the recovery ministry that I ran in Weed, California. The program that I ran there was a chapter of the ministry that John Baker started, called “Celebrate Recovery.”
Some of you know some of the issues that I am dealing with, having to deal with hurts, and forgiveness, and I found the sixth chapter in “Life’s Healing Choices” really helpful. I have given out lots of copies to friends and had lots of comments from people about how the book is helpful.
Why is it helpful? Mainly because it gives you verse after verse of Scripture on how to deal with your hurts, habits and hang-ups. It also has great testimonies, of people who God has put their lives back together.
I don’t know how to recommend this book highly enough.
Welcome Friend — You know who you are.
A couple of days ago I was chatting with one of my friends on the phone. He just got a new computer and he is back on line now. This is all a big deal for him, as he is a grandfather and can use this to keep in touch with his daughter and grandkids.
This friend of mine and I go back about 4 and a half years (something like that). At that time I was an associate pastor at a small church in Northern California, and I had just started a new program called “Celebrate Recovery” at our church. You can check out the ministry at www.celebraterecovery.com.
I met him like a day or two after he had been released from prison. (I think you said that you had been inside for 17 years, with maybe 30 days out from time to time on parole.) He had been Special Forces in Viet Nam, then in a motorcycle gang and then in a notorious prison gang. I must admit he was the scariest man I ever met.
He had come to Christ inside prison, but was still super rough around the edges. Heck, today he is still a little rough around the edges, and we joke about it.
There were times as we were going through the program together that he would get unbelievably angry about certain people, and there was a real risk of violence. BUT, He also had a love and respect for God. Times when I had to stand up as tall as I could and confront him with the word of God to get him to calm down. If I had just tried to calm him down with my own opinion or philosophy, I really don’t believe for a second it would have worked, bad things would have happened and my friend would be back in prison.
He’ll tell everyone “Man, you know it is God, you and the program that has kept me out of prison.”
He gave me a lot of sleepless nights as I was praying to God about what to do. But also I learned more than I ever thought possible about the grace of God. It doesn’t matter what you have done, and it may have been a lot, but if you give it to God, He will forgive you. God’s grace is sufficient for all the sin of the world, if people will just respond to the forgiveness of His son, Jesus Christ.
We walked together to get through the program, all those Bible verses and letting those effect our lives.
I ended up having to move to another church in Oregon to continue ministry. While my friend stayed in that area and tried to disciple anyone that was willing.
So 4.5 years or so out of prison, and a year or so off parole. Instead of the 30 days that he would get, when he was running his life his own way, doing all the same things that got him into prison.
No, now he has found freedom in Christ that he never knew before. Now we talk about Jesus, fishing, and his family that he gets to know.
So my friend I am glad that I met you. You are a trophy of God’s grace. God is willing and can change the lives of anyone.