CALL TO ARMS

Dear Fellow Workers in Christ,

As I was reading through 1 Kings today, I came upon Solomon's prayer of dedication after the building of the great Temple:

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven and said: "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today (1 Kings 8:23-24, NIV).

I know that when I look around my surroundings of run down apartment complexes and our old building and all the people we serve--many who don't appear to be much when it comes to the human idea of worth and value. And maybe some of you do some side ministry work such as jail ministry or reaching out to people where you live etc. And yet, I look back over the last few years as we have had the privelige to teach to Gospel to and baptize over 100 people--and have planted the seeds of the "Good News" to many more--I FEEL MORE FULFILLED AND BOLDER THAN IF WE HAD BUILT TWO TEMPLES THE SIZE AND MAGNITUDE OF WHAT SOLOMON BUILT!!!!!

I don't mean that in a boastful way at all--God gave Solomon what he needed to build that temple--and HE gave us what we needed to spread the Gospel as far as we have so far in Mesquite! God has not asked us to build HIM a building of bricks and mortar and steel. HE HAS ASKED US TO GO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT HIS SON!

THERE ARE MANY MORE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN YOUR COMMUNITY LEFT TO REACH! God has kept HIS promises to us just as HE did to Israel during the time of this prayer Solomon prayed. Let us show our heartfelt grattitude for HIS faithfulness to us--by helping many lost people come to know Jesus Christ!

Grace and Peace,
Bruce