Evening, Morning, and Noon

Evening, morning and noon
I cry out in distress,
and he hears my voice.
Psalm 55:17 (NIV)

The psalmist spoke about crying out to the LORD "in distress" at all times of day. The hour of day doesn't matter. Evening? It doesn't matter. Morning? It doesn't matter. Noon? It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what time of day that you find yourself in trouble. What matters most is that you know who to "cry out" to in that time of need. You need to call upon the name of the LORD. What is sure in that time is that the LORD "hears my voice" as the psalmist says to us plainly. It is key that the LORD hear from us in whatever hour we find ourselves in need.

And a Child Shall Lead Them

I must admit that I can be frank about what I am about post here. I believe it to be true. Search back over the years. Most of our "revolutionary" thinkers have come out of the generation's youth. Now, as we look at our youth today, let us not forget what was truly revolutionary about some kids from the "wrong side" of the Sea of Galilee; Simon and Andrew, James and John, and that carpenter's son from Nazareth.

A Child Shall Lead Them

Have you heard?
There is something different going on.
(Yeah, Mary had that baby, didn't she?
I knew it wasn't his)
You know that there are some who've been waiting,
Praying that this revolution would take off like an explosion.
(They always want something new. Ain't nothing new happening 'round here)
You haven't heard?
You didn't get the word?
(What? I missed something?)
This Him who the prophets proclaimed long ago.
He's been born to a virgin over in Bethlehem.
(Who? What prophets?)
See hear. Look upon the scroll.
His name shall be called Immanuel.
He will be called Counselor, Wonderful, and even Prince of Peace.
(Why so many names? What's that all about?)
No, never mind that.
Look at what He will do.
Salvation is His for Jews and Gentiles.
A voice in the wilderness will come before Him,
Calling out:'Prepare ye the way!'
(Oh, I heard about that wilderness. Moses and Aaron was kin to my great-granddaddy.
We knows about some wilderness.)
Yes, He will come and make the crooked ways straight and wash their sins as white.
Yet, He will go as a lamb to the slaughter and by His stripes they'll be healed.
He'll be bruised for the many iniquities of the people.
He will hang upon the tree and become accursed for them.
(Really? Who is He?)
He is the Son of Man born of a virgin.
He is the Christ, the Anointed One.
He is the Messiah.
He is the one written of by the prophets of old.
He is Jesus of Nazareth.
(Aw, man, that's cool. Is he a warrior or a king?)
He is the Lion of Judah,
The Son of David and the King of kings.
He was in the beginning as the Alpha,
And He'll be at the end as the Omega.
Despite all of who He is and what He will be
Isaiah shared what He will do for us.
Isaiah recorded the message of God for us,
Saying:'And a child shall lead them.'
(What?)
He wrote: "Unto us a child is born."
He even wrote that "A son is given."
What he said that was most profound was:
'And a child shall lead them.'
(Oh, Lord! I- I can't believe it.)
Come with me
To see a child from Galilee
Born of a virgin mother
As the son of the living and true God.
(But He sounds so holy!)
Come before Him with thanksgiving,
For His name is: "Jehovah is salvation."
(Praise the Lord!)
Enter into His presence as a child
And worship this child with me
Who sets all men and women free
To live as free as newborn babes.
Amen
(Amen.)

Inspired by Isaiah 11:6
August 21, 2008

Bible Tract Strategies for You & Your Ministry

Some time ago, at Bayview Baptist Church, we started an additional component of our evangelism ministry that incorporated distributing Bible tracts at local transportation stations for the bus and trolley in San Diego. Below you will find a list of recommendations for usages for Bible tracts.

10 Things You Can Do with Bible Tracts

*Insert a tract in birthday cards to family & friends.
*Give a tract with a thank you card to your doctor, mechanic & pharmacist.
*Leave a tract with your tip at a restaurant.
*Mail a tract to someone on your 10 Most Wanted list.
*Insert a tract in your monthly bills.
*Put a tract in a gift for a friend.
*Provide a tract to a friend who you have in your community.
*Share a tract with your beautician or barber.
*Give a tract to your child’s friends who come over for special occasions.
*Mail a tract to someone you haven’t seen in church for a while.