ACT Ministries Blog

Absorbing God’s Word

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24

Applying God’s Word

Which is it, Jack? Do you love God or money? There was a time in my life when money and success were my God. I knew how powerful chasing money could be, but had no idea how powerful chasing Jesus could be. I hadn’t given Jesus a chance.

I decided to turn to daily prayer, reading the Bible and contemplating how the scriptures could be applied to each and every area of my life. About twelve months into that process, it became very clear to me that chasing money didn’t hold a candle to chasing Jesus.

The difference was that money brought instant gratification which quickly faded. Having an intimate friendship with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit is far more gratifying and important than anything else in life.

Accounting of God’s Word

Am I chasing Money or God? Which one do I give more of my time to?

Absorbing God’s Word

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands.” Psalm 91:11-12

Applying God’s Word

October 1^st  1995  is a day I will never forget. I was at the Oakland Coliseum with 50,000 men, but it wasn’t for a sporting event. We were attending a Christian Promise Keepers event where the men present were challenged to live a life committed to Jesus Christ. At one point, we were asked to close our eyes and be totally silent for one minute. Powerful! When I opened my eyes, I saw huge angels standing outside the stadium looking down at us. I looked around to see if anyone else saw them, but it seemed I was the only one. I’ve never shared it for fear of pushback.  

Sixteen years later, October 2011, a dozen pastors and ministers, including myself, were asked to pray with a survivor of a workplace shooting that took place at the Permanente Cement Quarry in Cupertino, California. While we were praying I saw the angels again, surrounding the quarry and looking down on us like those at the Promise Keeper’s event. Again, I remained quiet. Then, as our van exited the quarry, one of the pastors looked at me and asked, “Did you see the angels?”. I smiled and nodded yes.  

How big are angels? Evidently, they are big enough to lift us up in their hands. :>) 

Accounting of God’s Word

Do I have an angel story to tell? Am I afraid to share it

Absorbing God’s Word

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

Applying God’s Word

Do I have to be one of God’s sheep? No, but I get to. Do I have to know God? No, but I get to. Do I have to follow God? No, but I get to. Do I have to listen to God’s voice? No, but I get to. All I really have to do is tell God, “I want to follow You.” At that point all of the many times I said, “I don’t want to” become a lifetime of “I Get To”.

I’ve done some pretty remarkable things in the last 79 years, but nothing more remarkable than following Jesus. No day with Him is the same. I never know what He has planned for me, who He’s going to introduce me to or how my day with Him will play out. We go everywhere and do everything together. Scary? It can be a little unnerving at times, but then life is like that anyway.

Accounting of God’s Word

Do I have to follow God? Do I get to follow God?

Absorbing God’s Word

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

Applying God’s Word

Many people in the world will never accept Ephesians 6:12. If we talk about the spiritual realm or spiritual warfare they close their ears. Evil forces are hard at work these days and yet God’s grace and power are as well. We mustn’t lose sight of the fact that Satan will win some battles, but in the end he loses the war.

We lost a great young man a couple of weeks ago, Charlie Kirk. He wasn’t killed just because he was Christian. He was killed because he challenged the authority and power of those in the world operating under the banner of Satan. Jesus died for the same reasons.

Not everyone will have the courage and love for God to lay down their life for Him. We are all indebted to those who, like Charlie, have fought against the rulers, authorities, powers and spiritual forces of evil in this dark world.

Accounting of God’s Word

Have I personally experienced Ephesians 6:12?

Absorbing God’s Word

^“Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near.” Zephaniah 1:7

Applying God’s Word

Last weekend, I attended a two-day silent retreat at Mater Dolorosa Monastery in Pasadena California. The theme of the retreat was “Trusting In The God Who Waits For You”.

Initially, I was moved by the thought that God was actually waiting for me to experience Him face to face. I used to think that I was always waiting on God to fulfill my needs/wants. Instead, it’s God who is always waiting for me to fulfill His needs/wants.

As the weekend progressed, I understood that God is waiting for me to fulfill His purpose here first. In an attempt to fulfill His purpose for my life, I realize that all I ever really need is Him.

Accounting of God’s Word

Do I trust in the God who waits for me? Am I excited to meet Him? Am I still making Him wait for me to fulfill my purpose here?

Absorbing God’s Word

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:6

Applying God’s Word

“Potential Without Discipline Is Tragedy”. That was the title for a sermon I heard recently. Surprisingly, it described my early adult life. I was passionate and had potential, but I had no discipline. In other words, I would have had a better chance of realizing my potential had I been disciplined. The most important thing about following Jesus, was and still is, the discipline of spending time with Him in prayer. It’s something I wasn’t “IN THE HABIT” of doing, forty-years ago

At the end of the sermon, the preacher said, “A disciple is a person willing to change their schedule to follow Jesus.” This quote is a truism that each of us is called to implement by placing Jesus at the top of our list. Has changing my schedule to have a disciplined prayer life with Jesus been worth it? There are no words to describe it.

Accounting of God’s Word

Do I really love Jesus? Am I “In The Habit” of meeting with Him every day?

Absorbing God’s Word

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” – 1 Peter 3:8

Applying God’s Word

In the summer of 1987 my friends, who managed a local retreat center, asked for my help replacing 100+ mattresses and box springs at the center.

When I arrived, I was introduced to and paired up with Francis. We shook hands and went to work. As we worked, I tried to engage Francis in conversation, but he just nodded and smiled. When we finally stopped for lunch, Reverend Francis Dorff broke his silence saying, “I’m sorry for not speaking. This is my first day back in the outside world. I’ve been cloistered in silence for the last seven years.”

It was a humbling experience, but I’ll never forget how kind, understanding and compassionate Rev. Fran was with me. He gave me one of his published books titled “The Art of Passing Over”. I’ve read and referenced that book multiple times. Reverend Fran passed away in 2017 at age 82, after a fulfilling life of teaching contemplative prayer.

Accounting of God’s Word

How many times have I been silenced by the holiness of others? 

Absorbing God’s Word

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Applying God’s Word

Last week our entire family went on a long awaited vacation to Oahu, Hawaii. It was planned originally in August of 2014, but cancelled due to my late wife Joanne’s sudden death.

The vacation was wonderful for a number of reasons, but one of the highlights was our attendance at St. Rita Church last Sunday. This is a tiny church nestled in the middle of a small town named Nanakuli (population 12,000). It’s Pastored by Rev. Paulo Kosaka and supported by a congregation of loving people.

After finding a seat, we were welcomed by smiling parishioners who placed shell leis around our necks. We experienced the presence of God in the warmth of hospitality, through the worship songs sung in beautiful Hawaiian melody and in the joy-filled sermon from the Pastor.

Accounting of God’s Word

Do I make an attempt to attend church when I’m in another city/town? Is my church at home, hospitable?

Absorbing God’s Word

^“Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15

Applying God’s Word

This scripture makes each of  us look in the mirror and ask, “Does my life consist of an abundance of possessions?” That question challenges me to a deeper personal reflection about how/what God is calling me to share in the days to come.  

The next convicting question that comes to me is, “Am I a good steward and generous with all that God has given me?” I’m trying to be. I’m not wealthy in comparison to those who are, but I am wealthy in the eyes of many who are poor. In 2015, I gave away almost every possession I had acquired over forty-five years and started over.

I’m still working at age 78. God continues to use my time, talent, money and possessions for His work. Some days, I’m really good at it and other days I’m not.  

Accounting of God’s Word

Am I greedy? Am I working for God or for myself?