FIVE ON FRIDAY - June 13, 2025

 

Five things that have inspired and encouraged me this week: 

1. BIBLE VERSE I'M MEDITATING ON

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.  Acts 20:24

This verse was highlighted for me when I read about a pastor who had this verse tattooed on his arm as a visual reminder to stay focused on his ministry to the end of his life. I'm not really a tattoo guy (though if I ever decided to get one, this verse would definitely be in the running), but I am committing this verse to memory. 

I think I may have some form of ADD of life because I get distracted so easily. It's usually good things that get my attention, but "good things" and "THE THING" are not the same thing. God called me to preach the gospel, and regardless of what else is going on in my life, I want to stay focused on that calling. I pray memorizing this verse will help. 

2. BOOK I'M READING

Prayer: Key to Revival by Paul Y. Cho 

Paul Cho was the founder and longtime pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea, the largest church in the world. He started the church in a tent with four other people, just after the Korean War. Today the church hosts services of some sort every day of the week, and has more than 800,000 registered members who meet in cell groups (LIFE groups) all over the city. Cho attributes the success of the church to one main thing - prayer. The church owns a mountain called Prayer Mountain and every morning at 5:00am thousands of people gather to pray. They have a 10,000 seat auditorium for corporate prayer meetings as well as some 250 "prayer grottos" where individuals can go to spend time with the Lord.  Prayer meetings continue in some form throughout the day. Though Pastor Cho passed away in 2021, the church continues to thrive and impact the world for Christ. 

Though I wouldn't agree with all of Cho's theology, I'm learning a lot from his teachings on prayer. From the cover of the book: 

"It has been historically true that prayer has been the key to every revival in the history of Christianity ... No man can schedule a revival, for God alone is the giver of life. But ... when the fullness of time has come and prayer ascends from a few earnest hearts, then history teaches it is time for the tide of revival to sweep in once more." 

Amen! Do it again LORD!

 

3. JOURNAL I'M TRYING OUT

 Moonster Leather Journal Refillable Notebook

I've been a "journaler" most of my adult life but I don't really have a regular, consistent way of doing it. Most recently I've just been journaling in Google Docs and printing them at the end of each month and putting them in notebooks (praying that after I am gone my family will want to know a little more about who I really was). But I've always like the feel of putting pen to paper, so I thought I would give this little journal a try. Been using it for about a week now and there are some good things I like about it: 

• It's compact - I didn't want a full size notebook, or a notecard sized one either. This is a good "middle of the road" size. 
• I love the classic look and the leather feel. It's soft, durable and comfortable in my hands. 
• It's refillable - this was the big thing for me. I've had leather journals in the past, but when you fill them up, you have to buy a whole new one. This one you can just replace the notebook inside, which is a pretty standard size. 

I'm looking forward to using it on our upcoming trip to Alaska

4. VIDEO I AM WATCHING 

 Speaking of the upcoming trip to Alaska, our mission team will be based in the village of Tok, Alaska. A couple of weeks ago I came across this video from "Backroads Buddies" who traveled to Tok and shared some beautiful pictures from the area around it, as well as some sights in the village. Check it out. 

5. DAD JOKE I'M DIGGING

Thanks for checking out Five on Friday. Read my other posts at my website. 

FOCUSED TO THE END

 

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy,  and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 

Acts 20:24 NKJV

Those words were spoken by the Apostle Paul as he was traveling to Jerusalem. He had been warned that trouble and suffering was waiting for him there, and many of his friends begged him not to go because of the danger. A prophet had even warned him that if he went, he would be bound and arrested. 

But Paul was a man of focus and he knew the Lord was sending him there, and for Paul, the most important thing in his life was doing what the Lord had called him to do. Nothing else mattered, not even his own life. 

That kind of focus is powerful and makes a difference! In my opinion, next to Jesus, no one else in history has done more for the kingdom of God than Paul. And God was able to use Paul in such a great way because he focused on the Lord and His call on his life. 

A famous quote that is often attributed to D.L. Moody "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him." This quote was actually spoken by Henry Varley to Moody. Moody then famously responded, "By God's help, I aim to be that man.” God certainly did great things through Moody, but he was following the example of the Apostle Paul who stayed focused on the task of preaching the Gospel of grace, to the end of his life. 

The above verse and Paul’s example of focus have been causing me to reevaluate my life and ministry. I know God has called me to “preach the gospel”; those were the words I heard, but I often allow myself to get distracted by other things, including “ministry” things. 

If you’ve read this far, I ask you to say I pray for me, that I may have the kind of focus to finish my calling of preaching the gospel for the rest of my days in this life. I want to be focused all the way to the end.