As I sit at my desk and prayer for tomorrow I am drawn to the songs for worship. I have been to the church and prayed over every chair in the worship center. My heart is ready and my mind prepared. Now I long to worship. Here is the song list for worship at NRN on Sunday August 12, 2012:
I am concluding the teaching series about Living like a True Champion with a message about being Part of a Winning Team. I feel this message is very current as the metal count in the 2012 Summer Olympics displays the US as the winning team for this years's Olympic Games in London. One important point of my message is to encourage everyone to live life together. We need one another. Here is an example of coming along side each other as demonstrated in a previous Summer Olympic Games:
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
An open letter from Billy Graham
July 24, 2012 - In a new prayer letter Billy Graham writes: "My heart aches for America and its deceived people. The wonderful news is that our Lord is a God of mercy, and He responds to repentance."
The farther we get from God, the more the world spirals out of control. by Billy Graham
She was probably thinking of a passage in Ezekiel where God tells why He brought those cities to ruin. “Now this was the sin of ... Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen” (Ezekiel 16:49–50, NIV).
I wonder what Ruth would think of America if she were alive today. In the years since she made that remark, millions of babies have been aborted and our nation seems largely unconcerned. Self-centered indulgence, pride, and a lack of shame over sin are now emblems of the American lifestyle.
Just a few weeks ago in a prominent city in the South, Christian chaplains who serve the police department were ordered to no longer mention the Name of Jesus in prayer. It was reported that during a recent police-sponsored event, the only person allowed to pray was someone who addressed “the being in the room.” Similar scenarios are now commonplace in towns across America. Our society strives to avoid any possibility of offending anyone—except God.
Yet the farther we get from God, the more the world spirals out of control.
My heart aches for America and its deceived people. The wonderful news is that our Lord is a God of mercy, and He responds to repentance. In Jonah’s day, Nineveh was the lone world superpower—wealthy, unconcerned, and self-centered. When the Prophet Jonah finally traveled to Nineveh and proclaimed God’s warning, people heard and repented.
I believe the same thing can happen once again, this time in our nation. It’s something I long for, and my son Franklin recently shared a vision for perhaps the greatest challenge in the history of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association—to launch an outreach called My Hope with Billy Graham that would bring the Gospel into neighborhoods and homes in every corner of America next year.
BGEA has already taken My Hope to more than 50 nations. We’ve worked in close partnership with local churches across each country, and those churches have reported millions of life-changing decisions for Christ. Carrying out a nationwide American version of this evangelistic outreach will be an enormous undertaking, but in my spirit I know God has called us to do this, and I pray He will stir your heart to join us in prayer and support.
Franklin will share more about the project with you as the planning develops. In the meantime, all this year Franklin and his son Will are preaching “repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21, ESV) at Crusade events across North America—from Texas to Canada—and God has blessed the work. Already tens of thousands have heard the Gospel, and many have responded, especially young people.
As I write, I am in the middle of a busy summer enjoying visits with many of my grandchildren and other family members, but also working hard on a new book that addresses some dangerous illusions about eternal salvation that are becoming increasingly accepted in many places. I want to point the world to what the Bible says.
Although age and health restrict my mobility and my stamina, not to mention my eyesight and hearing, I am thankful for the days God has given me, and I am humbled by His continued hand of favor on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The Lord draws people to Himself daily through BGEA’s various evangelistic ministries, and I am so deeply grateful.
The next Crusade event is August 18–19 with Franklin in Green Bay, Wis., followed by two in September, in Buffalo, N.Y., and Ottawa, Ontario. Please join me in praying for the power of the Holy Spirit on the preaching of the Gospel.
May God bless you,
Billy Graham
Thursday, August 2, 2012
A Happy Anniversary Wish
A HAPPY ANNIVERSARY wish to our daughter Stephanie and our son-in-law Josh. August 2, 2003 was one of the happiest days Sharron and I have have ever experienced. It was my privilege to walk my daughter down the isle and then stand beside Pastor Brian Trump as he pronounced Josh and Stephanie husband and wife
As I look at this picture taken on their wedding day my eyes tear as I remember the blessings from that day. Since Stephanie was a small child Sharron and I would pray in her ear each evening as we tucked her in for bed. We would always pray for her future husband. Tonight at bed time, as I spend a few minutes with their 5 year old daughter Alyse I will repeat this prayer in the ear of my grand daughter.
I want to express my love to Josh and Stephanie and wish them a happy wedding anniversary!
You can read more about their life together on her outstanding blog