ACT Ministries Blog

Absorbing God’s Word

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” John 17:20

Applying God’s Word

It’s one thing to believe that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, but it’s another to proclaim it to others.

Our friend Aloysius Mugisa from Uganda stayed with us last week. We hadn’t seen him for about ten years. What a blessed time it was. When entering our home he smiled and said, “I could put my whole house in your living room.”

Nineteen years ago, Aloysius made the Christians in Commerce retreat in Fort Portal, Uganda. Then the power of the Holy Spirit led him and his friends to form Christians in Commerce in Uganda. CIC in Uganda is now called International Christians in Communion (ICIC).

Since taking the reins, God has used Aloysius and a team of 20 people to lead thousands of men, women, and children to the heart of Jesus. In partnership with a ministry called “Flowing Waters” CIC here in America has helped Aloysius dig wells in over 200 villages. Our ongoing support has enabled Aloysius to launch a Christian Radio Station that reaches 500,000 people each week. That radio program in turn feeds their ministries for the Workplace, Marriages, Families, Bible Studies, Christian Leadership, and Service to the Poor. The web page for ICIC tells more of the story. Talk about believing and proclaiming that belief in Jesus to others!

Pics/video of Aloysius, Louise, and Jack. Click link & scroll down to Palm Desert Picture. https://tinyurl.com/2025-Aloysius

Accounting of God’s Word

If you have a heart for ministries, you can trust outside of America, check out their webpage.  www.INTLCIC.Org

Absorbing God’s Word

“Praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe.” Psalm 150:4

Applying God’s Word

I have worshipped in numerous churches and at different Christian events over the years. In the beginning, I had a difficult time with worship. I wanted to trust the urging of the Holy Spirit, but was too concerned about my worldly image. We are raised to be in control and to not make fools of ourselves. Then the Holy Spirit comes along and says, “Praise the Lord with all your might, Jack.” Uninhibited worship requires a surrendering and letting go of control.

There’s a difference between showboating and worshipping due to the outpouring of God’s joy. I’m not always able to find a church that has great worship, but it doesn’t stop me from praising Jesus by singing and dancing at church and at home. It’s incredible.

Accounting of God’s Word

Am I inhibited when it comes to worshipping the Lord? Do I praise Jesus by singing and dancing at church and at home?

Absorbing God’s Word

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15

Applying God’s Word

Last Tuesday, my flight from Phoenix to Palm Springs was delayed. Instead of waiting one hour at the gate, it would be two hours. I raised my spiritual antenna and looked for a place to sit. Too many people in a small area and they all seemed to be hiding behind phones, air-pods, laptops or books.

The Lord directed me to a seat next to a gentleman staring out the window. As I sat down, I asked, “Is Phoenix home?” He smiled and said, “No. I’m hear on business and then home to Raleigh.” Wow! Someone who actually wanted to carry on a conversation. God had us talking about everything from soup to nuts; wives, kids, families, work and most importantly our faith in Jesus Christ. In the presence of God, we talked to each other with gentleness and respect.

Where did that two hours go? :>) As we stood up to say goodbye he said, “You really blessed me today.” I replied, “God blessed us both.”

Accounting of God’s Word

Am I too busy in my own world to talk with others? Do I talk with gentleness and respect?

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?