Thought For the Week

Dear Friends, Today I send along a couple of short encouragements for prayer. They were both written by Lettie B. Cowman (1870-1960), wife of Charles Cowman, both missionaries to Japan and founders of the Oriental Mission Society. They had a heart for the Japanese people and wanted to reach as many as they could with the Gospel. Although they were making huge strides in their goals, Charles was not satisfied. So, he started “The Great Village Campaign” in 1913. His goal was for every person in Japan to hear the Gospel within the next five years. Teams of missionaries went to every town, village, and home throughout Japan, proclaiming the Gospel and distributing Bibles. The physical strain of this huge endeavor had a negative effect on Charles' health, and in 1917 he and Lettie were forced to return to America. In January 1918, they received news through The O.M.S. Standard that the Great Village Campaign was complete! About 60 million Japanese had heard the Gospel, as the tea...

Dear Friends, When I first started preaching, I was told by one individual, “You’re too theological, you need to be more practical.” I took the critique to heart but was a bit confused, since I find theology immensely practical, helpful, and life-sustaining! In fact, I chose this selection for today precisely because it’s an example of how “theology” can have its practical and life-changing effects on us. It’s from A.W. Tozer’s book, “The Knowledge of the Holy” – a book I would recommend as a ‘must read’ for those who like going deeper than just skimming the surface of things. This particular thought deals with God’s “unchangeableness” or as theologians prefer to put it, “God’s Immutability.” Give it a read and see if such theological and biblical truth does not offer real and practical help to those truly seeking it. Enjoy. Theological Truth: “For a moral being to change it would be necessary that the change be in one of three directions. He must go from better ...

Dear Friends, This week's "thought" has to do with an amazing move of God in Ireland between 1857 and 1860. It's a true account of what led to the "Ulster Revival" of 1859. Some of you have heard about it, others may not have, but I share about it through a portion of a devotional book I use, entitled: "The One Year Book of Christian History," by E. Michael Rusten and Sharon Rusten. I have also added facts from two other sources ( reformationsa.org and banneroftruth.org ). I send it along to encourage you to continue sharing the Gospel and to persist in praying for the church – never knowing how God may choose to use your words. Enjoy! "In the spring of 1856 an English lady by the name of Mrs. Colville (in no source could I find anyone who knew her first name!) came to Ulster, Ireland, from Gateshead, England. She began a program of house-to-house visitation with a view to winning souls for Christ. In November she returned to England ...