All to thee, my blessed savior. I surrender all.

2five

I have been alive 25 years. Thank you Lord for your sovereignty and how you have guides my steps over the last 25 years. Thank you for my parents, sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews. Thank you for my education. Thank you for my salvation. Thank you that I am a citizen of a free country. Thank you for the mentors you have put in my life: my dad, Tim Wallace, Matt Lantz, Kevin East, Chris Legg, and Andrew Bacon. Thank you for my friends. Thank you for my beautiful fiance who is going to be my wife in 30 days! Thank you for her. Thank you for all of my accomplishments and my failures. You have never stopped teaching me and guiding me in the path of righteousness.
"For you formed my inwards parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are you works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was not of them. How precious to me are you thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you." Psalm 139:13-18.
I was only going to write a small part of that but I had to keep going. How beautiful and wonderful is our God! I will marvel at your thoughts for me, Father! I will marvel at your purpose for my life! I was created and given life by HIM to know HIM and to worship HIM.

For His glory is our pleasure!

Father, be glorified.

We have an obligation...

There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings a fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home

So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Cause We are a family whose hearts are blazing
So let's raise our candles and light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest times

So Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hepeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Peace

Luke 1:76-79
"And you, child, [John the Baptist] will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
This is prophesied of John the Baptist.

Later when Simeon held the babe, Jesus, "he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen you salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
Luke 2:28-32

God's salvation is Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

...

Dogs have furr and they can't read.

http://www.facebook.com/#/photo.php?pid=31087446&id=79800959&fbid=523457934739

They shall know.

"They shall know that I am the Lord." I keep seeing this all throughout Ezekiel. Because of their whoring heart that has departed from him and their eyes that have gone whoring after their idols, God promises to pour out his wrath on them so that they shall know that He is the Lord.
I've also noticed that when Ezekiel falls on his face the Lord picks him up and sets him on his feet.

"Did you know that the voice that brings the dead to life
Is the very same voice that calls you now to rise" - Phil Wickham ("Safe")

He redeems so that you will know Him.

The Way

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the was is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Matthew 7:13-14

I remember noticing while I was in Israel that the roads that went into the pagan cities were wide and usually paved because of the heavy flow of traffic. But the way to life is narrow, rocky, difficult and with fewer travelers.
Screwtape told Wormwood, "Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts." -C.S. Lewis.

Brothers and Sisters, let us help each other on the narrow Way when the easy way seems so enticing.

Thanksgiving Feast

Psalm 105, 106, and 107 tells us to give thanks the Lord because of his wondrous works. These Psalms remind us how the Lord has worked in the lives of his people and our response should be to praise him. I kept seeing that Israel kept backsliding because they forgot. So don't forget! Remember what the Lord has done. Remember who he is. Remember who you are because of him. Remember. I remember:
How the Lord did not provide a way to go to Denver Seminary
How the Lord took me to the Forge
How the Lord has provided life-long brothers and sisters in Jesus...a family. Matt, Suzanne, Chris L., Wade, Andrew, Chris H., Micah, Ben, Adam, Stephen, Chance, Jimbo, Mallory, Britney, Haleigh, Mandi, Lauren G. and Lauren S. I love you all and am thankful for you.
How the Lord took me to ETBU with Matt one January night and I met my now fiance who I plan to marry in 44 days!
How the Lord has given me an awesome job to help me provide for my bride
How the Lord has given me wonderful future in-laws
How the Lord has allowed me to continue my education and succeed.
How the Lord has sustained me this past year with food, shelter, health, and life.
How the Lord has strengthened my faith through continual testing. Thank you Lord.

For all you have done, Lord, thank you.

"Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things."
Psalm 107:8,9

Maybe this is why we feast on Thanksgiving.

Remember

"But this I call to mind, and therefore have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. ...You came near when I called on you; you said, "Do not fear!" You have taken up my cause, O Lord, you have redeemed my life.

Lamentations 3:21-26, 57-58

This he has done so that we will know that He is the Lord. I called upon the Lord last night and He came near.

Sing David:
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord."

Piper said, "Our "pit time" is preparation for evangelism."

As you lament and wait on the Lord...

remember.

Jesus

"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. And He will fulfill the desire of those who fear."

I miss Jesus. I think the Lord is hammering out of me every bit of following him by feeling. Well keep hammering Lord because I want to walk by faith and obedience.

ZakariahBotros

This was on Joel Rosenberg's Blog and it is very exciting!

SEPTEMBER 9, 2008
EXCLUSIVE: AL QAEDA TARGETS ARAB EVANGELIST FOR PREACHING THE GOSPEL TO MUSLIMS


Father Zakaria Botros reaches 50 million Muslims a day

You have probably never heard of Father Zakaria Botros. But you need to know his story. He is far and away the most-watched and most-effective Arab evangelist reaching the Muslim world, and by far the most controversial. He is funny, feisty, brilliant, opinionated, and provocative, and he is preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. And his enemies do not simply want to silence him. They want to assassinate him.

Last week, I had the honor of interviewing Botros by phone from a secure, undisclosed location. He told me that he had just learned that an al Qaeda website had posted his photograph and named him one of the “most wanted” infidels in the world. The Radicals have even put a bounty on his head. The Christian Broadcasting Network reported the figure was as high as $60 million. Botros does not know for certain. But just to put that in context, the U.S. bounty on Osama bin Laden’s head is “only” $25 million.

Why are the Radicals so enraged by an elderly Coptic priest from Egypt who is in his 70s? Because Botros is waging an air war against them, and he is winning. Using state-of-the art satellite technology to bypass the efforts of Islamic governments to keep the gospel out of their countries, Botros is directly challenging the claims of Muhammad to be a prophet, and the claims of the Qu’ran to be God’s word. He systematically deconstructs Muhammad’s life, story by story, pointing out character flaws and sinful behavior. He carefully deconstructs the Qu’ran, verse by verse, citing contradictions and inconsistencies. And not only does he explain without apology what he believes is wrong with Islam, he goes on to teach Muslims from the Bible why Jesus loves them and why is so ready to forgive them and adopt them into His family, no matter who they are or what they have done.

If Botros was doing this in a corner, or on some cable access channel where no one saw him or cared, that would be one thing. But his ninety-minute program – a combination of preaching, teaching and answering questions from (often irate) callers all over the world – has become “must see TV” throughout the Muslim world. It is replayed four times a week in Arabic, his native language, on a satellite television network called Al Hayat (“Life TV.”) It can be seen in every country in North Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, as well as all throughout North America,Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. And not only can it be seen in so many places, it is seen – by an estimated fifty million Muslims a day.

At the same time, Botros is getting millions of hits on his multiple web sites in multiple languages. There, Muslims can read his sermons and study through an archive of answers to frequently asked questions. They can also enter a live chat room called “Pal Chat” where they are not only permitted but encouraged to ask their toughest questions to trained on-line counselors, many of whom are Muslim converts to Christianity who understand exactly where the questioners are coming from and the struggles they are having. ult, Botros – on the air only since 2003 – has practically become a household word in the Muslim world. An Arabic newspaper has named him Islam’s “Public Enemy #1.” Millions hate him, to be sure, but they are watching. They are listening. They are processing what he is saying and they are talking about him with their friends and family.

When Botros challenges Radical clerics to answer his many refutations of Islam and defend the Qu’ran, millions wait to see what how the fundamentalists will respond. But they rarely do. They prefer to attack Botros than answer him. Yet, the more the Radicals attack him, the more well-known he becomes. The more well-known he becomes, the more Muslims feel compelled to tune in. And as more Muslims tune in, more are coming to the conclusion that Botros is right and in turn are choosing to become followers of Jesus Christ. Botros estimates at least 1,000 Muslims a month pray to receive Christ with his telephone counselors. Some of them pray to receive Christ live on their air with Botros. And this surely is only the tip of the iceberg, as it represents only those who are able to get through on the jammed phone lines. There simply are not currently enough trained counselors to handle each call.

Many leading Arab evangelists I have interviewed for Inside The Revolution say God is using Botros to help bring in the greatest harvest of Muslim converts to Christianity in the history of Christendom. Botros refuses to take any credit, saying is just one voice in a movement of millions. But he is certainly excited by the trend lines. He does see more Muslims turning to Christ than ever before, and he told me he has cited my book Epicenter at least three times as evidence of the enormous numbers of conversions taking place. What’s more, he vows to keep preaching the gospel so long as the Lord Jesus gives him breath. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son [Jesus], that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” That verse – John 3:16 – is the verse that drives Botros. He believes passionately God loves the whole world, including each and every Muslim. He believes that “whosoever” believes in the Lordship of Jesus Christ – Jew or Muslim – will, in fact, receive eternal life.

He does not believe all Muslims are Radicals, but he does believe all Muslims are spiritually lost, and he wants desperately to help them find their way to forgiveness and reconciliation with the God who made them and loves them. “I believe this is the hand of God,” Botros told me. “He is directing me. He shows me what to say. He shows me what to write on…the web sites. He is showing me more and more how to use the technology to reach people with his message of redemption.”

[Please pray for Father Zakaria's safety and continued effectiveness as a minister of the gospel.]

ForgeUpdate

Happy New Year to all of you,
I hope this letter finds you well. First of all, let me just again thank you for
your support prayerfully, as well as financially while I am here in The Forge. How to
sum up this last semester in one letter seems near impossible but I shall try my
hardest.
Well, where to begin? I guess I’ll start from the beginning...it’s a very good
place to start according to Fraulein Maria [Sound of Music]. September 6th I
moved into a house to live with nine guys for eight months. I have never lived with
that many guys. I grew up with one sister in the house and, in college, the most I
ever lived with was five guys and we came and went as we pleased so I was
nervous about how this living situation was going to go. Having lived in this
community, the Lord has brought a lot of character flaws to the surface for me to
see and confront. He has used this community to teach me how to love others, and
not just those others I choose to love, but those I am commanded to love. Had I
had my own choice, I would have picked nine guys like me to live with. That would
make living with other people easier and more comfortable. But the Lord has put
nine guys with nine different personalities together to live, to sharpen each other,
and to grow together. I am learning a ton about how to live with and love people
who aren’t like myself.
The Forge is rightly named. I am definitely being refined and when I think
the refining is over, I get put back in the fire to be refined some more. When
people ask how The Forge is going I usually can only respond by saying, “It hurts,
but it’s good [Hebrews 12:11].” The greatest realization I have had is that I am no
better than anyone else. We are all sinners saved only by the same grace of Jesus
Christ. Jesus has brought sixteen people together and it is through spending every
waking moment together that we are being refined. Community means that we
have everything in common. I am constantly learning this.
This semester mainly focused on learning how the Lord has designed me. I
am learning about my personality type and how to relate to other people’s
personalities. I am also learning that the Lord has given me certain gifts to be used
for Him. Knowing my spiritual gifts is huge while seeking how the Lord can best
use me after The Forge. God has given many different gifts to many different
people for only one purpose, the glory of God. “For as in one body we have many
members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though
many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having
gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them...Romans
12:4-6” This semester I have also got to surround myself with amazing men of
God. He has also used them to refine me and show me great examples of what a
godly man looks like.
Let me wrap up this update by saying, “Thank you.” Thank you for your
continued support and prayer. I honestly could not be in this program if it wasn’t
for your generous support. I am honored and privileged to be in this program. I
am part of the few who get the amazing opportunity to take a year out of the
busyness of life and focus solely on their relationship with the Lord. I am learning
so much about myself and the Lord and sometimes it is overwhelming. Like I said,
“It hurts, but, it’s good.” I still lack $2,764.64 for the cost of the program and
would love for you to consider continuing to invest in my time here. I am not
worried about raising the funds or if I am being prayed for. The Lord is faithful and
he is using you! Thank you! I ask God’s blessing on you in return for your
investment in His kingdom. I hope 2009 is a great year for you and once
again...Thank You!
Peace,
John Rogers
P.S. I would love to send you email updates throughout this next semester. Email
me at johnfifteen@gmail.com so I can have your email address. Thanks.
If you would like to give online:
Go to www.pinecove.com
click on Forge Leadership Training
click support a student
under designated giving, choose a fund and select support a Forge
Student
then follow the directions from there. Itʼs easy!


I apologize for what I said in my last blog about Seminary being for people who can't do anything else. I refute this statement and am sorry if I offended anyone. After dwelling upon this statement I have come to find it ridiculous. I have seen some of the most gifted men and women come from seminary and I hope to follow in their footsteps and get the experience of seminary. So I ask forgiveness.

His grace is sufficient for us all,
John