ACT Ministries Blog

Absorbing God’s Word

“He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.” Acts 11:24

Applying God’s Word

Most of us can count the number of close friends we’ve had on one hand, but most will never have a friend like Bob Schumacher. Bob died at 10:50am on September 23, 2020. His love for Jesus, his wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, relatives and friends never wavered throughout his life; even during his courageous fight with Parkinson’s.

Bob would have turned 79 this last week. He was 51 weeks older than me, which meant we were the same age for one week. Although we met once or twice a week for 30 years, he liked that one week because I couldn’t tease him about being older. There was never a gift exchange, because we both realized that our gift to each other was our incredible friendship.

I could list all the amazing reasons Bob was a best friend, but the ones that stood out are “The Three T’s”; Truth, Transparency and Trust. Thank you, Bob. I love you. Thank You, Lord. I love You, too.

Accounting of God’s Word

Have I ever experienced “The Three T’s” with another person?

Absorbing God’s Word

“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:16

Applying God’s Word

Today is my seventy-eighth birthday. What does a 78 year old need/want for their birthday? Nothing materialistic. I really wish I had an uninterrupted hour with each of you. Probably because the most precious gift we give to anyone is “TIME”.

What have I found to be one of the most challenging things in life? Facing the TRUTH about who I tried be verses who God created me to be. Another personal challenge has been sharing those TRUTHS with you each week.

One of God’s greatest gifts to me has been the many accountability partners I’ve had over the years. Sadly, most have passed away. God never fails to send me new ones though. One of the newest is Mike Schmitz, the Chaplain at The University of Minnesota, Duluth. I wish I had an uninterrupted hour with him as well.

Below is the link to last Sunday’s sermon by Fr. Mike. He’s open, transparent, real, relatable and funny. I’d like to share it with you and I promise not to ask if you watched it.   

Accounting of God’s Word

Thank you for your friendship. You’ve blessed me more than you’ll ever know just by being a part of my life.

Absorbing God’s Word

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Applying God’s Word

“It’s Impossible”! That was my reaction to the above scripture the first hundred times I read it. Surely the apostle Paul was out of his mind when he wrote it, right? Actually, Paul wrote it because his experience of praying continually brought him great joy and an attitude of gratitude.

Does praying continually really work? I know that it does. Even though I’m still a student of praying continually, I’m incredibly thankful for the immeasurable amount of God’s joy that comes from prayer. My prayers give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to open my spiritual eyes to what God is asking of me. In other words prayer is my spiritual antenna. If it’s not extended I not only miss out on God’s joy, I also miss out on the signals and promptings from God’s Holy Spirit.

Accounting of God’s Word

Do I practice praying continually? Is my spiritual antenna picking up God’s signals?

Absorbing God’s Word

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3 John 1:2

Applying God’s Word

John is writing to Gaius, a beloved friend and disciple. He’s expressing a great measure of gratitude to Gaius for His dedication to Jesus. I extend that kind of gratitude to each of you for joining me on this incredible journey and also for your dedication to our Lord Jesus.

In a few days we will all have an opportunity to be like Gaius to our families, friends and even strangers. We need not smother them with our knowledge of scripture or pressure them into believing everything we believe. We need only allow Jesus and the Holy Spirit the freedom to love them all through us.

Upon reflection about being thankful this past week, I wrote down, “I am thankful that my life hasn’t turned out to be all that I thought it should be. Instead, I’m thankful that my life has turned out to be far more than I ever imagined it would be.” I thank God for that!

Accounting of God’s Word

Blessings, love and Happy Thanksgiving from Louise and me. We all have plenty to be thankful for.

Absorbing God’s Word

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

Applying God’s Word

My life as a dancer began at an early age when I tap-danced my way through the fourth and fifth grade. I attended “Betty May Dance Studio” at 1052 Guerrero Street in San Francisco and loved it. I was the only boy in the dance class, which brought about some bullying/teasing at school. I didn’t know back then how impactful the gift of dance would be in my life, but God did.

Although, the God-given gift of dancing never won me an abundance of popularity growing up, it did help win the heart of my late wife, Joanne. It’s also the gift that God used to introduce me to my present wife, Louise. It’s one of the those gifts from God that has brought incredible joy to my life.

It’s only by the grace of God that at age 78 I’m still dancing, doing so in the name of the Lord Jesus and giving thanks and praise to God the Father through Him.

Accounting of God’s Word

What gift/gifts has God blessed me with? Am I using them in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ?

Absorbing God’s Word

“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James 1:25

Applying God’s Word

Becoming a hearer or a doer of God’s word is no easy task. As a young man, I was too caught up in myself and my worldly image to hear anything God was trying to tell me. The more I strived to be a winner in the world the further I drifted away from God and His purpose for my life. I was more focused on being a loser in the eyes of the world than a winner in the eyes of God.

Last week’s election seemed to label people in our nation winners or losers based on who they voted for. Not so! We are all winners if we look into the perfect law of liberty, persevere, and are not a “hearer who forgets but a doer who acts” out of love for Jesus Christ.

 Accounting of God’s Word

Am I a winner in the eyes of the world or in the eyes of God?

Absorbing God’s Word

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” Revelation 7: 9

Applying God’s Word

What was more important to us on Friday November 1^st? Was it how we celebrated Halloween the day before? Unfortunately, Halloween overshadows All Saints Day, which is celebrated by many Christians the day after Halloween. That’s the day we celebrate the lives of some of the most holy people that have ever lived; St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Teresa and St. Catherine to name just a few. I’m pretty sure the saints are some of those among the great multitude that Revelation 7:9 refers to.

At one time or another every saint was a sinner and yet, they will find themselves standing “before the throne and before the Lamb”. The good news is that God invites us to join them. Unfortunately, there’s a tendency to think we are not worthy. This is incorrect. That would be like saying God is not capable of qualifying the unqualified. He’s more than capable.

Accounting of God’s Word

Am I already one of God’s SAINTS? Fill In The Blank. My name is Saint __________!   

Absorbing God’s Word

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Absorbing God’s Word

Recently, I had an appointment across town which is normally a 20-25 minute drive. I hit every green light and it was smooth as silk. At times I wish life was like that, but unfortunately, there are days when I seem to hit every red light.

The last week has been crazy. We lost a few large trees this last summer and spent some money replacing them. One of the replacement trees only made it a week. The pool equipment got tired and decided it needed to be replaced, too. Then I lost the keys to our house which meant locks and keys had to be replaced.

There were moments when I wasn’t exactly rejoicing or thanking God for this season of character building. The good news is that I never stopped praying for patience in and through my circumstances.

Life is filled with stop signs, red lights, bumps and turns. Most of them are God’s way of molding us into the person He created us to be.

Accounting of God’s Word

Have I hit any red lights lately? How did I handle them?

Absorbing God’s Word

“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:15

Absorbing God’s Word

Recently, I listened to a challenging sermon on Matthew 16:15 where Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”

Jesus asks each one of us to answer that question. Do I believe Jesus is God because there’s written evidence that He fulfilled something like 333 prophesies? Maybe I believe He’s God because He performed hundreds of miracles and was resurrected from the dead.

Psalm 22 which was written in 1000 BC or the 1947 discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls written in 600 BC are pretty convincing, too. In fact, the book of Isaiah chapter 53 is the same in the Dead Sea Scrolls as it is in the Bible.

At the end of the sermon the presenter said, “If I say Jesus is God, I am challenged to live differently.” In other words, saying I believe is one thing and living what I believe is another.

Accounting of God’s Word

What’s my answer? Is my belief in Jesus evident in the way I live?

Absorbing God’s Word

“This is the law of the temple: All the surrounding area on top of the mountain will be most holy. Such is the law of the temple.” Ezekiel 43:12

Absorbing God’s Word

Ezekiel emphasizes the holiness of the temple area, particularly the mountaintop, which highlights the importance of a sacred place of worship. The Prince of Peace Abbey in Oceanside is such a place. It’s inhabited by twenty-one Benedictine priests and brothers who are also the caretakers of the property.

Having been blessed to stay at a number of beautiful retreat centers over the years, I have to say that this one was very special. It made me think that the placement of so many retreat centers on mountaintops is not a coincidence.

Arriving a few hours earlier than the rest of the retreat participants gave me time to walk the perimeter of the property, enjoy the breathtaking views and bathe in the silence of their sanctuary. Have a look. https://princeofpeaceabbey.org/

Accounting of God’s Word

Have I made any arrangements to make a spiritual retreat in the near future?