ACT Ministries Blog

Absorbing God’s Word

“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31

Applying God’s Word

A few weeks ago, I met a new neighbor. Initially, it was a smile and a wave back and forth. A couple days ago though, we walked toward each other to talk. During the conversation, he mentioned that he was out of work due to a shoulder injury. I empathized with him, we shook hands and said goodbye.

I was about ten feet away when the Lord said, “Didn’t you forget something, Jack.” I turned around and called out to Hector saying, “Can I pray over your injured shoulder?” He smiled and said, “Sure”. When we were done, he said, “Thank you. I receive it.” I commented, “Rarely do I hear folks say they receive it after a healing prayer.” He smiled.

There are many ways to love our neighbors like ourselves, praying with them and for them is one of the best.

Accounting of God’s Word

Am I praying with/for my neighbors?

Absorbing God’s Word

“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6-9

Applying God’s Word

There was a time when I didn’t believe stories like the feeding of the five thousand. Back then, I rolled my eyes at a lot of things in scripture. Now I get so excited when I see a miracle or experience what I call a “God-incidence”.

I attended a wonderful men’s retreat last weekend. There were men from all over the Western States and Canada in attendance. One of the men shared he was from Menlo Park, California. I told him that I have a granddaughter at St. Francis High School. He shared that his son-in-law teaches at St. Francis. It just so happens that my granddaughter is in the religion class that his son-in-law teaches. Small world, huh? Coincidence? No, there are no coincidences. There are only “God-incidences”.

Accounting of God’s Word

How has God surprised me recently with God-incidences?

Absorbing God’s Word

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

Applying God’s Word

Recently, Louise and I were reminiscing about our childhoods and I shared about how attached I was to my “Teddy Bear”. I took it everywhere with me. At some point, my parents started eliminating body parts from my raggedy old friend until all I had left was an ear. In time, even that disappeared.

God does the similar thing with me. He lovingly eliminates the things of this world that I shouldn’t still be clinging to. He really has given me a new heart and put a new spirit in me. He’s removed my heart of stone and replaced it with one filled with more compassion and love.

I didn’t like the way my “Teddy Bear” was eliminated, but I really appreciate the process God uses to eliminate those things in my life that separate me from Him.

Accounting of God’s Word

Am I allowing God to mold me and to eliminate the things that separate me from Him?

Absorbing God’s Word

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Applying God’s Word

Next weekend, I will be part of team presenting yet another Christians in Commerce/WorkLight men’s retreat. This one is in Palm Desert, California. Someone asked me how many of these men’s retreats I’ve gone on. The answer is, “A lot.” It has been a lot and all of them have been special because of the makeup of men attending.

Why this ministry? I have to say that God has definitely called me to this work. There have been times when I have wanted to quit, but those were times when I was struggling with a deep crisis of some kind. God’s mercy and love always draws me right back to His purpose for my life; to evangelize. There’s nothing more exciting, challenging and rewarding than working alongside God. Nothing!

Accounting of God’s Word

What’s God’s purpose for my life. Am I exited about the work He’s called me to do? “Why this?

Absorbing God’s Word

“So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.” Matthew 22:9

Applying God’s Word

The definition of cold calling is the solicitation of a potential customer who has had no prior interaction with a salesperson.

I began cold calling at a very young age. I went door to door selling newspaper subscriptions, magazines, vegetable seeds and even raffle tickets for one of my homemade cakes. Then there were my services to iron men’s shirts, babysit, mow lawns and wash cars. Those experiences eventually lead me to selling insurance.

My cold calling produced consistent numbers every time. If I made one hundred calls I averaged about 10 appointments and two new customers. I knew I would be rejected at least 90 times, though.

The numbers have been very much the same when I invite people to have a relationship with Jesus. Is it really worth it? You bet it is.

Accounting of God’s Word

Do I avoid asking others to have a relationship with Jesus due to my fear of rejection?  

Absorbing God’s Word

“When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other.” Ecclesiastes 7:14

Applying God’s Word

Do you ever have days where everything seems to be going sideways including your attitude? I had one last week. It made me cranky. So God sent an internet technician to straighten me out. This tech seemed a bit down himself, but I was too busy sulking to ask him how he was doing. God used Louise to ask him instead.

When I heard him say that he had a thirteen year old daughter in a wheelchair due to a orthopedic birth defect, I joined Louise and him in conversation. His daughter had told him she didn’t want to go through the corrective surgery that may allow her to walk. Hearing this, all of my troubles faded away. We embraced the moment by encouraging him with prayer and God’s love.

Accounting of God’s Word

Had a bad day lately? Ask God to send someone your way that is really has problems. 

Absorbing God’s Word

“When his family^[a] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” Mark 3:20-21

Applying God’s Word

Jesus was accused of being out of His mind regularly. As His followers, we can expect to be accused of being out of our minds as well. 

It reminded me of a retreat I had planned to give a number of years ago. Usually, we reserved 20-25 rooms for a weekend retreat. Two weeks prior to the event only four men had signed up along with the four men presenting the retreat. We were accused of being out of our minds for proceeding with the weekend for such a small group.

As it turned out all four of the men attending the weekend had very transformative experiences.

Accounting of God’s Word

Would giving the retreat to only one person be worth it? When have I been accuse of being out of my mind for Jesus?

Absorbing God’s Word

“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.” Psalm 107:29

Applying God’s Word

Recently, some friends of mine were caught off guard by a rogue wave. They were standing on some rocks looking out at the ocean when out of nowhere they were facing a wall of water. They tried to outrun it and barely escaped it’s powerful grasp. Frightening!

I survived a number of rogue waves during my days in the Navy. The ones that impacted my life even more, though, have been emotional, physical, mental, financial and/or spiritual in nature. They caught me off guard as well. Why is that?

I/we have an enemy who is a thief who comes only to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10).

Accounting of God’s Word

Have I been caught off guard lately by any rogue waves? Do I recognize the culprit?

Absorbing God’s Word

“As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” John 9:3-4

Applying God’s Word

A few weeks ago, I wrote about praying with a young man on a flight from Idaho. The same day of that writing, the young man decided to join the Monday WorkLight prayer call. He shared that a man had prayed with him on a flight from Idaho to California. Then a good friend of mine who was also on that prayer call, sent me an email telling me that the young man I wrote about in the “Challenge” had joined the prayer call. Incredible!

The Lord has asked me to pray with and/or for loads of people, but I don’t expect to hear back. I’m just doing the work He’s sent me to do. Sometimes He asks me to plant, other times to water or harvest. Sometimes He asks me to do all three.    

Want to join the weekly prayer calls? Dial 612-699-2818, or on your computer by clicking this link.

Mondays at 9:00am Central (7:00am Pacific) Fridays at 11:00am Central (9:00am Pacific).

Accounting of God’s Word

Am I doing the work of the one who sent me?

Absorbing God’s Word

“I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” Psalm 119:15-16

Applying God’s Word

Louise and I just finished “Catechism of the Catholic Church In A Year” podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz. Our concern back on January 1, 2023 was that it would be boring and dry. A few words that describe our thoughts now, are: Anointed, Moving, Challenging, Powerful, Truthful, Amazing, Deep and Impactful.

The catechism presents Catholic doctrine within the context of the Church’s history and tradition. It consists of 2,865 paragraphs and over three thousand footnotes. It includes Sacred Scripture and liturgical texts that blessed us beyond measure. Written in a very positive style without an apologetic or argumentative tone, it’s divided into four major parts called the “Four Pillars”. The Pillars are the Creed (what the Church believes), the Sacraments (what the Church celebrates), the Commandments (what the Church lives), and the Our Father (what the Church prays).

Would we recommend the podcast “Catechism of the Catholic Church In A Year”? Yes. It will give any adult, Christian and/or Catholic, clarity about the Catholic Church and it’s teachings. Fr. Mike does an in depth summary of each section every day for 15 to 20 minutes. Please consider it. 

PS. I’ve read the Bible a number of times and have been in a number of Bible studies over the years. Louise and I are just beginning “The Bible In A Year” podcast with Fr. Mike. It’s a new year. Jump in!

Accounting of God’s Word

What is God asking me to study this next year that will draw me closer to Him? Happy New Year!