ACT Ministries Blog

Absorbing God’s Word

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Applying God’s Word

Most folks are done with Easter. Their decorative bunnies, eggs and baskets are all put away. As for us Christians, our Easter season continues until the day of Pentecost, which is June 8^th. This year, I’ve begun that 50 day process with Acts 1:8 by replacing the word “You” with my name, “Jack”. Acts 1:8 is screaming, “Can I get a witness?”

If I claim to be a follower of Jesus, I believe His Holy Spirit is in me, on me and with me. I also claim that I am one of His witnesses to the rest of the world and that I’m available for whatever He asks me to do. He may encourage me to assist others physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally and/or financially. He empowers me to share, among other things, His compassion, joy, hope, mercy and love.

Accounting of God’s Word

Have I let the Holy Spirit empower me to be a witness?  

Absorbing God’s Word

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3

Applying God’s Word

It’s said that the word “Easter” comes from an Old English word “Ēostre-monath,” meaning the month of April. Dating way back, bunnies, for Christians were associated with virginity and the Virgin Mary. In the twelve hundreds, Christians were forbidden to eat eggs during Lent. Therefore, they boiled and decorated the leftover eggs as symbols of Jesus’ resurrection and new life.

For me, Easter is about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nothing in history even comes close to a documented miracle of this magnitude. It makes me think of the transformation of the caterpillar into a butterfly. The caterpillar lives a hard existence, dies to its old self and is born again into an amazingly beautiful creation. Easter is a time that calls you and I to die to our old self so we can be transformed into our new self.

Accounting of God’s Word

This Easter, am I willing to die to my old self in order to become an amazingly beautiful new self for Jesus?

Absorbing God’s Word

“My son, the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Luke 15:31

Applying God’s Word

I love you dad! Today would be your 104^th Birthday. I honored you in a talk this morning, realizing that I should have honored you more when you were alive.

You asked three things of me before you died. 1) Get right with Jesus. 2) Take care of your mother. 3) Make the world a better place. You knew that if I got right with Jesus, He would teach me how to take care of mom and make the world a better place. I did get right with Jesus and I took care of mom, but God is still showing me how to make the world a better place.

I want to thank you for showing me the importance of doing things right the first time, for doing the best you could in raising me, for the times you didn’t yell at me, but instead listened. Thank you for hugging me as a boy and for continuing to hug me when I became a man, for making one sacrifice after another so that I could have a better life. Thank you for your example of daily prayer, your application of the scriptures to everyday life and for expressing your deep love for Jesus to me, our family and to so many others. “You Are Always With Me”.

Accounting of God’s Word

“Challenge” Do I take time to thank my parents and/or mentors for molding and shaping me into a follower of Jesus.

Absorbing God’s Word

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Applying God’s Word

I often tell folks that I don’t read the Bible. The Bible reads me. The Bible never made much sense to me until I invited the Holy Spirit into my life. After that, what once seemed like an entirely different language, became clear, relatable and applicable to every area of my life. The Bible has taught me so much over the last 38 years and yet I sense that I may still be at a primary grade level of understanding.

God’s word is banned in many countries. Even though it’s not banned in our country, not all of us appreciate the incredible gift that it is. It constantly teaches, rebukes, encourages, corrects and shapes us into disciples of Jesus. Picture being face to face with Jesus someday and having Him ask, “What did you think of my best seller?”

Accounting of God’s Word

Have I read God’s best seller? Have I allowed it to read me?

Absorbing God’s Word

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” Romans 8:35

Applying God’s Word

Nagasaki is one of two communities in Japan that were hit by an atomic bomb in August of 1945. It’s also a region synonymous with Christianity/Catholicism. From 1549 to 1579, in the Nagasaki Valley, the Jesuit missionary St. Francis Xavier, converted some 200,000 Japanese to Christianity.

In 1614 the Japanese government banned Christianity outright, forcing believers to practice their faith secretly. The Christian faith was passed on underground from one generation to the next for over 250 years. Those who were caught practicing their faith were killed, but the Christian faith persevered.

Below is a link to a 30 minute sermon by Fr. Mike about Nagasaki. Disturbing yet moving!

Accounting of God’s Word

“Challenge” What kinds of risks have I taken or am I taking to live out my faith?

Absorbing God’s Word

“My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” Luke 15:31

Applying God’s Word

The above scripture comes from the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32). It’s one of my favorites, because I relate to both sons in the story.  

Like the older son, I thought I had to earn my parents love and acceptance. I thought I had to earn God’s love and acceptance as well. Like the younger son, I left home at an early age, joined the Navy and left all the Christian values I was raised with, behind.

The father in this parable is God. He’s merciful, kind, loving and forgiving. He waits patiently and prays that all of His children (You & I) will wake up and return to Him. When we do, God will be there to assure all of us that everything He has is ours, especially His love and forgiveness. When I finally made my return to God, my entire life changed for the better.

Accounting of God’s Word

Have I humbled myself by allowing God the Father to love and forgive me or is He still waiting for my return?

Absorbing God’s Word

“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” Philippians 1:23

Applying God’s Word

I just read a quote from Matthew Kelly. He said, “The last four things most folks think about are Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell.” He may be right, but I think about those four things now more than I ever have.

At age 78, I’m at the tail end of my last quarter of life. Anything beyond age eighty is a bonus. :>) I do think about my death and I see it as a win/win. I know Jesus now and I will know Him even better in Heaven.

Life is full of ups, downs, laughter, tears, successes, failures, etc., but death is inevitable. A 2023 Gallup poll found that only 74% of folks believe in God, 67% believe in heaven and 59% believe in hell. Therefore, I continue praying for the people in my own family and others wallowing in the darkness of unbelief.

Accounting of God’s Word

How much thought have I given to the Last Four Things? How well do I know Jesus?

Absorbing God’s Word

“But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 10:17   

Applying God’s Word

In writing the “Challenge” each week, God asks me to be honest, transparent and share stories that glorify Him. I try my best to do that in a way that is not self-seeking but rather in a way that gives God the credit.

Every morning for years, I have prayed, “I am available to pray with someone today, Lord. Use me.” God has answered that prayer every time I’ve prayed it; with family, friends, customers, strangers, the homeless, on the phone, over email, in jacuzzies, hotel lobbies, elevators, airports, on airplanes, in stores, at sporting events, restaurants, on golf courses, in churches, parking lots, gas stations and even in line at the grocery store. God sets up all those appointments and does all the work. I just follow His lead and avoid getting caught up in the results. I’ve been blessed every time!

Accounting of God’s Word

Am I available to pray with God’s people and do I give God the glory?   

Absorbing God’s Word

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17

Applying God’s Word

God gave me today’s scripture after learning from my daughter, Jackie, that our friend Father Kevin passed away. Father Kevin loved Jesus and was a man of deep prayer. He was like a walking lightbulb with his face aglow and a smile from ear to ear.

Fr. Kevin lived a holy existence through prayer and meditation. His intimate friendship with Jesus and deep faith in God were always accompanied by action. Over the years Father Kevin was assigned to many different parishes in the San Jose area. He was also a professor at St. Patrick’s Seminary and gave numerous teaching seminars on meditation and prayer.

Thank You for the time I had with Father Kevin, Lord. The world needs more mentors just like him.

Accounting of God’s Word

Is my faith accompanied by action?

Absorbing God’s Word

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24

Applying God’s Word

Finding truly reliable friends is not an easy task. Louise and I have been blessed abundantly with incredible friendships. Some friends live close enough for us to see regularly and others do not. Distance doesn’t change the love and trust we have for one another, though.

My brother-in-law Pete and his wife Sue (Louise’s sister) happen to live in Wisconsin. Pete is a great artist. A few years ago, he and I were talking about the different artistic portrayals of Jesus face. God put on Pete’s heart to draw a different image of Jesus face. Pete was obedient to what God showed him and I was blessed when he gave that original to me. I fell apart at his incredible thoughtfulness. See Below. Thank you, Pete. See Below.

Accounting of God’s Word

“Challenge” Who are my reliable friends that stick closer than a brother or sister.