Good Tuesday morning to each of you Bishir Blog readers. Praise the Lord for the change of weather here in Northeast Indiana. It has been so hot and humid the last month. Yesterday the humidity left and it has been so nice. Sunday eve after church Karen & I went home and opened the windows and turned off the air. It is good to hear the night noises and to enjoy a little of the Lord's air conditioning. Around 3 a.m. this morning we were awakened to the sound of a BIG tree falling in our side yard. I couldn't see where it was until morning but I knew it was big and thanked the Lord it didn't hit the house and those of us inside, including Cooper. As I was heading west this morning to meet a fellow in Converse I saw the tree on my west lot. It was one of our large walnut trees. First I thought to myself that I have a job, to get it cleaned up, then I thought the Lord must want me to have a little "firewood," then I thought it reminds me about life, that one day each of our lives will end on this earth. 

This tree was once only a seed and the seed fell into the ground and took life and began to grow. It was once just a little twig and a leaf. It persevered and grew into a young and budding tree. It withstood storms and drought, winds and hail. It endured and enjoyed many springs , summers, falls and winters. It has seen bright sunny days and dark depressive scenes. This old tree was on this property long before this tenant showed up. It was mature long before my entrance into its appointed place of life and purpose. It has provided shade and windbreak for this sojourner and temporary landowner. It has been faithful to fulfill its purpose in this world. It was created to be a tree in God's creation. It was created to live and one day to die. 

In the end it was not the elements that took it down. It was not the wind, it was not a storm. It did not succumb to the attacks of ants , bugs or disease. It fell to age only. It simply lived as long as it could and in the middle of a beautiful, calm, 65 degree evening it gave up to the weight it carried for so many years. It fell full of fruit and green leaf.  It fell to the ground with one last resounding cry as if to wake and remind it's sleeping neighbors that we would one day fall as well. That this earth was temporary.

2nd Samuel 1:25 "How are the mighty fallen in the midst of battle!" Today I am asking the Lord to help me learn fro this faithful old tree. May I "stand having done all to stand." May I remain faithful at the purpose HE has called me too. May I "Be like a tree planted by the rivers of water." Like that old tree may I shed seed through the years from youth to senior and see many other trees gain life from my faitful sowing. May I provide shade and protection for many.  May I withstand the storms of life, the elements of attack and may it be one peaceful evening when my work on this earth is done, that I fall to the ground for the glory of God.  

Yesterday at Liberty in the morning service the Lord led me to speak on the subject of "Witnessing About Our Faith." I spoke from Psalms 126:5-6. The message was especially for me as the Lord refreshed my memory that we have a Holy Task of sowing Holy Seed. We must get the Gospel out to our world. 

Have you ever considered the basic convictions that motivate a soul-winner to be faithful? Convictions are power that keep the faith of a Christian alive and going forward. Biblical convictions regarding the souls of men and women move us forward in reaching the lost for Christ.

URGENCY

Perhaps the most basic conviction of the soul-winner concerns the urgency of the harvest. The prophet Jeremiah was a man who understood this urgency. In Jeremiah 8:20 he mourned over those who delayed responding to God's message: "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." 

Imagine that you're the farmer surveying your fields on a hot late summer day. Your harvest is ready to be gathered, but the weather forecast is great storms are heading your way in several days. Damaging hail is expected. Although you may have machinery needed repair and errands demanding attention, your highest priority would be gathering the harvest before it was too late. At this point, the harvest is the most important priority. It is URGENT. So it is with soul-winning and witnessing. The urgency of the harvest moves us to action.

ETERNITY

Every human is born with an eternal soul that will never cease to exist. The Bible clearly teaches that those people who do not trust Christ as Savior will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire ( Revelation 20:15), and those who receive Christ's gift of salvation will spend eternity in Heaven (1st Peter 1:3-5). 

SALVATION

Acts 4:12  teaches us that salvation is ONLY through Jesus Christ: "Neither is there salvation in any other." May we never forget that every person we come into contact with has an eternal soul and they're only answer is Jesus! There are many who will trust Christ if we share the GOOD NEWS! Some may be waiting for you at work, at school, in the neighborhood, to tell them about the Cross and the offer of GRACE. 

We so easily become sidetracked from the task Christ has given us. Life is so busy, and if we are going to obey the Lord's command to share the good-news we must prioritize this task until it become the habit of life. These convictions will help each individual Christian's and each local church to purposefully make soul-winning a central purpose. If we really believe and remember these truths concerning urgency ,eternity, and salvation, we will be passionate to tell others of Christ. These convictions will carry us out to the harvest field. 

 Tonight at Liberty I will be preaching a message entitled "Five Minutes After Death." For every unbeliever it will be the most shocking time of their life. What a transition, what a radical change of environment. For those who did not believe in hell they will believe five minutes after death. One of my purposes for this evening will be to help someone repent and receive Jesus as Savior. That they would see the righteousness and justice of a holy God, and that they would see how much God loves them that He has provided a way to escape this place called hell. My primary purpose for tonight is to be used of the Lord to motivate believers to get a burden for the lost as we see the stark reality that awaits them after death. When I study this very real doctrine it always moves me to preaching the gospel in a more intense and passionate way. 

Sunday morning I believe the Lord has led me to preach from Psalm 126:5-6. This is the soul winners psalm. " They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." If ever there was a time to be giving out the gospel it is now. Sharing Jesus today, this hour, now! "To love Jesus is to Share Jesus." One of the biggest lies the devil has brought to our generation is that Pastor, and Christian leaders are the witnesses and the rest are the watchers , the spectators. That is not true. God has saved us and wants to do such a work in our hearts that we become His witnesses. When the Lord is working inside us as He wants to we will have a yearning a burden for the souls of people. The reality of hell will captivate us and we will begin to be burdened to share the truth the only truth that will rescue them from this place. That truth is Jesus and His gospel. The truth that " People Perish" but Jesus is the answer, will motivate us to get the seed out of the barn and the salt out of the shaker. 

Hell is a reality but God's love is a reality as well. Both motivate me to GO and tell people of God's love. How "He is not willing that any should perish but come to repentance." People do deserve to perish, people will perish without repentance, but God has provided a way to repent and to find forgiveness in Christ. 

Psalm 126:5-6 gives us the TASK which is to Go. Go with the Gospel. Don't wait till they come to us for the Gospel. We are to go where they are. We find the importance of going with TEARS. Great people of God have always had tears. God gives us tears, for the souls of lost people. God has tears for those lost. We find the TREASURE we need to share the Gospel. It is the SEED, the Word of God. We find the TRIUMPH of sharing the Gospel, there will be fruit, souls will be saved. It will happen, God has promised when we work in the fields that are white as unto harvest He will produce a crop of converted souls. Count on it souls will be saved. 

I will be sharing these principles and others tonight and Sunday. May each of us be asking the Lord to give us a God given burden for the souls of lost people! May we have tears like never before. May we step up to the task and may we use the treasure in order to rejoice in the triumph of the greatest work on earth. The work of the harvest of souls. 

 Service is a theme that runs through the Bible from cover to cover. It is filled with countless examples of ways in which God served people, ways in which people served God and others. We need to continually remind ourselves if we are being like Jesus we are servants. God requires us to be faithful servants and the only way we will do so is to die to our self life. Jesus said , " A servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" ( John 13:16-17). We must serve. And we must delight in it. We will be the one who reaps the most from our service. Let me share a few thoughts concerning service.

1.The Principle of Volunteerism.

A true servant doesn't wait to be asked. He or she discerns a need and acts decisively to meet it. A servant has a sensitive heart and a willing spirit. A volunteer is motivated by love and prompted to action by the presence of a need. Those who say " someday I will get involved" are offering lame excuses. If you are waiting for a convient time to serve , you will never serve.

2. The Principle of Without Comparison.

A true servant doesn't compare his level or type of service with that of any other servant. Service is not hierarchical. There is no top floor or corner office. 

3. The Principle of No Exclusions.

If a person offers to join your service to others find a way to include them. No one is ever to young or to old to help you serve. Ask the Lord how anyone who offers to serve can do so and do so with you. 

4. The Principle of Commitment.

Regardless of the degree of commitment or lack of commitment you have had in the past you can make a new start today. Ask God to forgive of past failure in commitment and if you have been faithful ask God to give you new areas to serve in today. We should always be expanding areas of service not depleting in them. 

5. The Principle of The Outcome Is God's.

You are not responsible fully for the outcomes related to your service. Your responsibility is to serve God and others to the best of your abilities, with the full force of your love, energy, and talents. What happens as the result of your service is God's responsibility. 

Thoughts worth thinking about! 

 Great day at church yesterday. Both morning and evening services were filled with God's presence and it was evident that HE was here speaking to all of our hearts. God used Pastor RT Stringer as he spoke from 2nd Timothy on "Facing our Troubles." It was the perfect message for many, just at the right time. It was good getting to know RT and Karen and his children. Three precious red headed little girls. We are sensing the Lord's leading of this family to join our pastoral staff, please pray for guidance, especially this week. We had an adult man raise his hand at the end of the second morning service acknowledging that he had accepted Jesus as his Saviour. AMEN!  The evening service was so exiting. The place was packed. One of our best attended evening services of the summer. The Lord has been filling the church this summer and last eve was wonderful. The "Ministers Quartet" was with us and they moved our hearts to the Lord. Chuck Binkerd led us in worship and WOW, the congregation lifted their voices to the heavens. We spoke from Romans 13:7 and honored Pastor Ryan & Beth for 14 years of pastoral ministry here at Liberty. Afterwards we had a great fellowship honoring Beth & Ryan, Folk stayed for several hours as they fellowshipped one with another. GREAT SUNDAY at LIBERTY. 

We had a great evangelistic weekend as well. Friday eve at "First Fridays" one man was saved as hundreds had the gospel given to them by tracts and by mouth. Thanks to each servant who helps at First Friday. Also on Saturday we had others who visited bus routes and others who visited homes for the Lord. We each must remember to share the gospel as often as possible. We who know the Lord are the ones with the answer, the only answer, JESUS. We must get the seed out of the barn and into the fields. We must get the salt out of the shaker.

Today we are giving our parking lots at Liberty a good maintenance and facelift. Our entire lots are unusable for today and tomorrow. If you plan on coming to the office you will need to park in the COUNCILING CENTER parking area. It will difficult for a few days but it will be worth it. 

I need to go today but will blog first thing in the morning. Talk with you then. 

 It was great to be back at Liberty last evening. For me this church is different, it is special. It is God's will for me and that makes so much more for me then any other church. Now don't get me wrong I don't believe Liberty is the only church in the world. I don't think Liberty is the best church in the world. I don't think Liberty has something no other church has. But for me I think it is the only home church . For me I think it is the best church and for me I think Liberty has something no other church has. God's will is like that, it is that special place with that special peace. MAny ask me how can you know Gods will? It really has more to do with your heart then your head. It is pretty simple, live at the ALTAR. Stay on your knees and humbly listen to the Lord. Be willing to sacrifice your life for His will and when we do this it will become very clear. With all our heart, just cry out to the Lord by faith, Lord you know best, I want you to be in charge. Stay on your knees in a spiritual sense, humbly crying, humbly listening, humbly willing to obey. If that is our heart, God will take that heart and lead into HIS perfect will. It really is that simple. We won't have to find God's will it will find us. Think about it !

It was good to be back with my spiritual family. I sensed the Spirit and Love of the Lord. The Lord moved and spoke to each heart present. What joy and peace being in the center of God's will brings!

I have much to accomplish today so I need to be getting with it. Hope to see each of you this Sunday for a great day at church. Pray for the POWER of GOD to fall freshly upon us. 

 Good morning to each. Appreciated the comments posted yesterday and the days before. Carolyn, I like that little outline. May we be known for " What we flee from, follow after, fight for and are faithful to." The truth is that will define each person as to who we really are. It really makes me think about myself. Who am I ? I think I will commit this to memory and  begin to build a daily habit of asking  myself these four things. 

Tonight I will be preaching on "The Faith Of Abraham." What great lessons we learn from this GIANT of the faith. Tonight we will look at the times he faltered in his faith but always seemed to repent and return to the ONE he had faith in. There are many voices out there which seem to shake us at times from listening to our loving Lord. Non greater than our own fear and doubt. When we listen to the wrong voices we get back down into Egypt for a while and usually while there we pick up a few things that hinder our faith walk. We need to learn how to get out of Egypt as fast as possible once we realize we are there and get back to Bethel as fast as possible. Once there we need to learn how to build and altar. Two things Abraham did well in life, live in TENTS and build ALTARS. I want to learn more, how to live in tents and build altars. Hope to see each of you tonight as we open up God's Word and draw near to HIM. 

For all you Liberty folk don't forget that this weekend we have some special things going on. Pastor R.T. Springer and his wife Karen will be with us this weekend. They will be here with their 3 precious little girls. R.T. and Karen will meet with our Deacon fellowship on Saturday. And R.T. will preach on Sunday morning both services. We are seeking the Lords will concerning adding R.T. to our pastoral staff. Please be in prayer concerning this. Also this Sunday evening we will be honoring Pastor Ryan and Beth Frank for 12 years of ministry at Liberty. The Bible says we need to pay honor where honor is due. Hope you will be with us this Sunday eve. Also Sunday eve we will have the "Ministers Quartet" singing in our service. This is a great group of gifted and dedicated men who sing for one purpose, the glory of God. Don't miss it! 

Well, I need to get to some other things this morning so I will go for now. God Bless each of you!

 It is Wednesday afternoon and we are finally back from vacation and are back in the work full force. We have spent most of the morning in making connections with many and scheduling the rest of the week. It will be busy and demanding but I am refreshed and ready to move forward in winning souls and disciplling the saints. The Lord has given me a new vision for the ministry here at Liberty and for the surrounding counties and the world. The Lord has given me a great burden to give my best and to motivate all our staff and congregation to do the same. This vacation was a great one to be with family. We enjoyed driving  through 9 states and many beautiful places. America is such a blessed nation with such natural resources and such beauty. Everywhere we went I kept thinking about the souls of people. Every home with people living there. Every car with human souls in them. Every vacationer, every worker, every child, teen, adult headed for eternity. As I had time to pray as we were traveling and after we got to our destination, it just kept coming to my mind, SOULS, SOULS. As I prayed I became very open with the Lord. Lord I want to represent you as best as I can! Lord, Where do you want me to be? Lord, What do you want me to do?  I spent time asking the Lord to give me more time in serving HIM, in working in HIS kingdom not my own. I have actually been asking the Lord to give me 20 more ( very profitable ) years of ministry. I also was very open to where He would have myself and Karen to serve. As we inched closer and closer to Grant County, Indiana the same throb in my heart began to take place as it has for over 37 years. I am asking the Lord to continue to bless the ministry of Liberty Baptist Church with manifold blessings. Not so we will be something but so He will be glorified and that souls will be saved and mighty disciples for Him will be taught and trained. So that another generation of saints will be produced from this ministry. I am asking that the Lord will give us many more years to train young servants of the most high God. To be used of the Lord to train Deacons, Preachers, Teachers, Missionaries, Laymen and Laywomen, Mothers & Fathers, Husbands and Wives for Christ. I asked the Lord if I still had something to offer, something to give. Should someone else take my place. Am I in the way of His work? He reminded me that I still am His, that I still have His call, that as long as I listen to Him, Lean on Him, and Learn of Him, He would use me as much if not more now then when I was young. With this refreshment I am ready to move to the future. I am also asking each of our congregation, each our staff, each of our lifetime friends to stick with us as we move to the future. We have much to do for our Loving Lord. Many souls hang in the balance. The Lord has reminded this preacher of how I am needed and how this church and congregation are needed as well. May we give all we have for His great work.

P.S.

I spent about 5 hours at the hospital today with my preacher and mentor Pastor Rickner. For most, you know this is my father-in-law as well. Karen and much of the family were also there. We received word today that he has a tumor in his colin that must come out. They will know in 5 days if it is cancerous or not. Nonetheless it must be removed ! He cannot have this surgery for several weeks due to strength and other things.  Pastor & Marceles spirits are strong and they trust in the will of their great God. I would ask special prayer to go out now for this very influential couple of me and many, many others. Please pray for the other family members as well, it would mean a lot. 

 We have had a great time on vacation. Thanks for all your prayers. We will start for home tomorrow morning. It will take us 2 days to return. Please pray for traveling protection. We will begin our regular blogging on Wednesday. God Bless. 

 It is Tuesday, July 27th. We left for vacation on Saturday and have been to the Mt. Rushmore and spent time in the Black Hills. Now we are in the Rocky Mountains  at Brekenridge, Colorado. We just got back from a 6 mile trail walk which the last half was in the rain as an unexpected rain fell. It was exiting. We got back to the mountain house and got in the hot tub and warmed up a little. We were supposed to have internet access here but when we got here the router was not working and they tell us it will be a few days to get it working. I am using something special right now and wanted to let everyone know we were doing well. It has been wonderful to again see God's great creation. What a wonderful country we live in. I have read a complete book on South Dakota and really enjoyed, it was relaxing. I have been studying the scriptures every morning. This morning was a very sweet time with the Lord. I am reading another book that I read years ago.,it is "Life On A Higher Plain."  This book is a classic on salvation and overcoming the old man in our life. I may develop a few messages on this when we return. Well, I need to go , hope tomorrow we will be able to spend a little more time updating you. Praying for each of you.  

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