Hebraic Musing – What does it take to Get the Lost Saved?

 Hebraic Musing – What does it take to Get the Lost Saved?

If a lost person cannot see the Light, what does it take to open their eyes?  Simple answer – PRAYER.
Let’s start by identifying the three things that should bring us to our knees in prayer for them:

1. LOVE – Prayer is defined as “Love on our knees”!   Jesus tells of a man in Hades pleading for his five brothers.   “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, ‘for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’”  Luke 16:27-28 NKJV   
Another example of the importance of “Love” is the welcome sign for new believers at the famous Chicago Garden Mission - “MOTHER’s PRAYERS HAVE FOLLOWED YOU”.  We are told 10 times in God’s Word to “love your neighbor as yourself.”  That’s a lot of love!   What’s the most loving thing you can do for someone?            A - To usher them into Heaven instead of letting them default into Hell?

2. FAITH is another important Biblical reason for praying for the lost.  Remember – “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23   Faith was the basis for four men bringing their paralyzed friend to Jesus and “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you.’” Mark 2:5.   Note that Jesus reacted when He saw the faith of the four men! 

3. POWER of Prayer is underestimated by too many Christians.  How powerful is prayer? 
“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16  
Did God place Praying for all men as a priority in our lives?  “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy.2:1-4

Here are more BIBLICAL EXAMPLES of praying for the lost:

·      Let’s start with an OT prophecy of Jesus in Isaiah 53:12  “…And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”  And this prophecy was dramatically and lovingly fulfilled when Jesus was suffering on the cross for us and said – “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”  Luke 23:34  (Note that the singular “sin” is the sin of unbelief!)

·      Paul makes a compassionate appeal – “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.”  Romans 10:1

·      Jesus’ words - “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”  Matthew 9:37-38

·      “… far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you;…”  1 Samuel 12:23

·      Apostle Paul made a compassionate appeal when he recognized Jesus’ role as the unchangeable priesthood – “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

I’ve always taken it personally when I read 1 Peter 2:5 - “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”  You and I are assigned the role of a priest, an intercessor between God and man.  As “Born Again” Christians we don’t need an intercessor, BUT the lost person(s) desperately need an intercessor.  Peter gave us that role and responsibility.  I sure would hate for someone to go to Hell because I shirked my responsibility.

Points to ponder

Prayer has been defined as “Love on our knees”!

Remember how “on fire” you were right after your salvation experience, and…
you wanted to tell everybody?    What happened?

Are we to follow the Biblical examples of praying for the lost?

Are you praying for your neighbor?  Who is your neighbor?

Be inspired to pray for the lost as never before.

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      January 25. 2022

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings” http://insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

Note – Inspired by & excerpted from “Praying Effectively for the Lost” Chapter 2 - Lee E. Thomas

Musing – Why Lost People Cannot See the Light?

 Hebraic Musing – Why Lost People Cannot See the Light?

Fact, the Lost cannot be saved unless someone (we) pray for them.  It is our responsibility to pray for them; it won’t happen unless they are being prayed for.  Why?  They are under the authority of Satan, their father.  “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”  John 8:44 NKJV   Satan is deliberately blinding the eyes and minds of the lost to keep them from understanding the Bible and the Good News.

Do you remember how blind you were to the Gospel message before you were saved?  Especially after years being in the world and fending off the “goody two-shoes Christians”.   “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”  2 Corinth.4:3-4 

My testimony – my wife and children kept pestering me to “get saved” and I did not know why.  I was not drowning; I didn’t need a life jacket!  Those were my thoughts and reasons for rejecting their pleas.  I could not comprehend their reasons.  I was incapable due to the condition of my mind.
At the age of 39 when I was on a retreat week-end (not realizing I was being bathed in prayer) I fell to my knees and said through tears “Jesus Christ, you are real and I need to learn more about you.”  Only then did I understand what my wife and kids had been saying to me. 
BTW - Notice that unbeknownst to me, I was being bathed in prayer!

Lost folks see the Gospel message and teachings as moronic, stupid, nonsensical and a hindrance; not my words, but Paul’s – “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14

Lost people are POWs in the strong man’s house.  “No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.” Mark 3:27   We are called to spiritual warfare to bind Satan, the “strong man”, and free the lost person to make an unhindered decision.

To get the lost person saved we need to bind the attempts of the “strong man” who is distracting the lost person.  Actually, our persistence might even stir up, embolden and activate the “strong man” in which case we need more prayer, back-off and come back another day.

In any case, the Souls for which Jesus died are too valuable for us to give up and quit.

Points to ponder

Do you remember how blind you were before accepting Christ as your LORD?

Might it be your prayers that will keep someone out of Hell?

What does it mean to “love your neighbor”?  What’s their greatest need?

Are we to “love our neighbor” by praying for their eternal salvation?

Who prayed you into the Kingdom?    How did you come to see the Light?

♫  I saw the light, I saw the light. No more darkness no more night.
            Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight.  Praise the Lord I saw the light...  ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      January 18. 2022

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings” http://insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

Note – Inspired by & excerpted from “Praying Effectively for the Lost” Chapter 1 - Lee E. Thomas 

Musing – Suffering? How to Keep it in Perspective.

  Hebraic Musing – Suffering?  How to Keep it in Perspective.

Here’s an almost unedited prayer request from a friend* undergoing suffering.  I appreciate his perspective!

“I just wanted to thank EVERYONE for all the prayers & to update you on my situation. I can’t stand or walk without pain and the strain from just moving from one room to another is so tiring that I have to sit down & relax before I attempt to walk again. I believe God has a purpose for everything and I want to reassure everyone that this doesn’t shake my faith because I see it from an eternal perspective.”    He goes on…

It’s unfortunate that the false teachings of the “health and wealth” prosperity gospel have deceived and influenced the Body of Christ and have shipwrecked the faith of many.  Instead of picking and choosing verses to OUR LIKING, we need to look at the whole counsel of God.  There is nothing in the Bible that says all Christians are exempt from life’s struggles.  Our God doesn’t always answer the way we want and when we want it; however, FAITH is trusting HIS perfect will and being content with whatever it is.

The other day I watched a secular movie, USS INDIANAPOLIS, MEN OF COURAGE, about the naval ship torpedoed by a Japanese sub near the end of WWII.  Imagine having a leg or arm bitten off by a shark and enduring such pain while in a raft, floating in the ocean for five days before being rescued.  I thank the Lord because what I’m presently going through is NOTHING compared to what those men endured.  Though we live in a cursed creation, I praise God that as Christians our peace and joy is IN HIM and not in our circumstances!

What does God’s Holy Word say about Suffering(s):

James 1:2-4 NIV  “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 ESV  “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  But he said to me, ‘My grace is SUFFICIENT for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, THEN I AM STRONG.”

Hebrews 5:7-8 ESV  “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.  Although he was a son, he learned OBEDIENCE through what he SUFFERED.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 ESV  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who COMFORTS us in all our affliction, SO THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO COMFORT those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”

Romans 5:1-4  NIV  “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, … we also glory in our sufferings, BECAUSE WE KNOW that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Romans 8:35-39 ESV “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? …   No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Job 13:15 ESV  “THOUGH HE SLAY ME, I WILL HOPE IN HIM;…”

Points to ponder

How do we define Faith?   How do we exercise Faith?

Might these Biblical perspectives change how we pray about our needs, wants & desires?

♫  Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                             January 11, 2022
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of Christian  faith”
“Biblical Marriage by Yosef”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   http://insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

*  Copied & edited from message by Jun Renegado of Bethany Christian Center in Stockton, CA

Musing – Does God Choose the Weak for Amazing Assignments?

 Hebraic Musing – Does God Choose the Weak for Amazing Assignments?

And in doing so, God sometimes shames the strong, and instead He uses weak and unlikely people!  There are many examples of strange and unlikely choices God made when He picked people for important jobs! 

Might some of these encourage us?

Moses – In Exodus 4:10 he tried to excuse himself from leadership because “I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” He stuttered!  But later he confronted Pharoah to “Let His people go.” 

Abraham – He was 99 years old when the LORD told him “And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.”  And we know that  ♫  Father Abraham had many sons, many sons had Father Abraham. I am one of them and so are you, so let’s just PTL. ♫      

Samson – He chose a wife from the Philistines in defiance of his parents’ instructions.  He became a Judge in Israel and every child knows Samson and what he did!

David – When Samuel was to anoint a new king, he asked if there were any more sons.  Jesse answered -- “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” 1 Sam.16:11.   Even children learn accounts of David’s growth and development to become more than a King, the forefather of Jesus!

Isaiah – When called during a heavenly visitation (Isaiah 6), he responded “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.”  Can you identify?

Rahab – Inn-keeper, or prostitute in those days, to a role in Jesus lineage!  

Mary – As just a young virgin, how could she know God’s plan for her?  Reminds me of the song --  ♫  Mary did you know that your baby boy would someday …  ♫   

John, the Baptist – Although known as a weird guy (clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey) did the Public Relations job for the Coming Messiah!

Matthew, AKA Levi  – Was sitting in his Tax Collector office when Jesus said “Follow Me” Luke 5:27.  So as a known sinner, Matthew became author of the first Gospel in the canon!

Zacchaeus – He was the chief tax collector, also a known sinner.  Yet Jesus called to him and said “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” Luke 19:5.  From crook to host!

Peter – He was an impetuous, unstable, “foot in mouth” kind of guy; and he’s known for his reply when asked if he knew Jesus – “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Luke 22:60 NKJV.  How could such a man become the Leader, first pope, Rock of the Church?!?!

Points to ponder

I wonder how God might use you and I?

Does God see each of us as “Treasures in Earthen Vessels”?  2 Corinthians 4:7

Maybe God has a critical role for each of us in His Kingdom!?!?

Jesus said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  Mt.19:26

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      January 4. 2021

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings” http://insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/

 

Musing – Who Was Jesus? Who is Jesus?

 Hebraic Musing – Who Was Jesus?   Who is Jesus?

This is a critically important question, as demonstrated by this recent FaceBook meme.  Our culture deals with a variety of mis-understandings of who Jesus is; and there’s a “Hollywood-ization” of who Jesus is/was.  Meanwhile we have worldly and cultish teachings permeating doctrines!  Does the public understand who Jesus really is? 

Did the Jews whom Paul encountered in his travels understand who Jesus was?  Paul was invited to speak at Antioch in the synagogue service in Acts 13:13-14.  He begins by explaining how God's work in history culminated in Jesus.  He is speaking to both Jews and interested Gentiles.  Paul starts with a succinct recap of a thread through their Torah & Prophetic writings which we can read in Acts 13:16-23 – this historical recap contains a series of familiar Covenant promises which the Jews would readily understand!   “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:  The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it.  Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness.  And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, …. After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.  And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul ….  And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’  From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus—”  NKJV 

In this purposeful recap of God’s Covenant promises to His people from Israel's history, Paul notes a series of important, covenantal events which the Jews would readily understand. 

·      Adamic Covenant in Gen.3:14-24 – Sin is committed and God begins to define the need for a redeemer.

·      Noahic Covenant in Gen.9:1-18 is unconditional, God’s promise to never again to destroy all mankind.

·      Abrahamic Covenant in Gen.12:1-3 – To Abram: “…  I will make you a great nation; … I will bless those who bless you, … And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

·      Mosaic Covenant is in the commandments, ordinances and judgments which condemned man, but expired on the cross when Jesus died for the sins of men, which started the "New Covenant."

·      Davidic Covenant was an unconditional promise of an eternal dynasty with three everlasting components: a Throne, a King; and a Kingdom.  David's lineage was traceable to Jesus Christ, a descendant of David.

After reminding his audience of these well know Covenants, Paul then declared that Jesus was that Promised Messiah.  “But God raised Him from the dead.  He was seen for many days by those … who are His witnesses to the people. And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus.” Acts 13:30-33

Paul then clarified three known but ignored statements in the TaNaK that had always puzzled the Jews:
 - “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” Psalm 2:7     God’s Son has now been revealed!
 - “I will give you the sure mercies of David.”  Isaiah 55:3       As David received mercy, so can we!
 - “You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” Psalm 16:10    Jesus is that sinless Son!

Did everyone accept Paul’s message?   Gen. 13:42-44 tells us “…the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.”       “…many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul… to continue in the grace of God.”      “next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.”  
BUT in vs.45 “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.”  Doubters and nay-sayers will always be with us.

Are people today like the 1st century Jews with cultural and societal concepts of gods whom they recognize and/or worship, instead of understanding and accepting Jesus for who He really is? 

Points to ponder

Can these Scripture references help people understand Who Jesus Really Is?

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”  Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                       December 28, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”    Weekly “Hebraic Musings”     insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

Note – Inspired by and excerpted from my Pastor Tom Hatley’s message “The Son of David”, Dec.26,2021 

Christmas 2021 to my Hebraic Musing Friends

 

^To      My Hebraic Musing Friends      

^From    Joe (& Irene) Brusherd     December 2021

Believe it or not, 2021 was even less normal than 2020.  Maybe that helps us realize what really matters in life.  We’ve all gone through another year of mandates, lockdowns, travel restrictions, masking, vaxxing and listening to stirred up divisiveness.  So let us begin agreeing to obey the mandate that Jesus Christ Himself gave us when He commanded “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” In Mark 16:15.  Both Irene and I have found ourselves focusing on that charge as the world around us becomes more & more challenging. 

The celebration of the birth of our Savior & Lord, Jesus Christ, takes on more significance as the beginnings of persecution are being felt this side of the pond, thus, all the more reason that …

We wish you a very Merry Christmas
    and many Blessings in the New and Better 2022 Year ahead!

The traditional greeting to all y’all takes on even more significance than ever before in our lifetime! 

Wishing our friends, and their families, a “Happy New Year” takes faith because our world seems to be changing.  But Our Lord is still on the throne.  As a friend said recently “Christian, what do you have to be afraid of?”  Let us hope, trust & pray that the “worldly” events draw us all closer than ever to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

On October 13^th we celebrated nine years of marriage.  Irene’s “Glass Orchids” jewelry has expanded into other flowers and helping our Daughter Beth with bug preservations in poly-resin.  She’s also involved in Immanuel Baptist Church’s Women’s Prayer Group.  Irene frequently comments about how the Brusherd family has adopted her, when actually she’s the one who adopted them.  One day Joe went alone to spend time with the GG’kids at John & Joy’s.  Their #2 Arabelle gave him real hugs & kisses and then Arabelle backed up a step and said angrily “Where’s Grandma Irene?”  It was cute!

Every week for 12 years now the Holy Spirit has provided Joe with Weekly “Hebraic Musings.”  Because of the times we are in, some issues have pointed out OT messages with applications to our world’s current affairs; thus some of the “Musings” have not been “Amusing”.  The Men’s Bible Study and the Saturday Breakfasts are Joe’s bi-weekly accountability sessions.  We still reflect on Pastor Mario’s statement “It’s about winning souls for Christ; it’s not about winning arguments!”

Thanksgiving season was topped off on Saturday with 18 family members, four generations, dining at Smokin’ Joe’s Ribhouse.  It doesn’t get any better.

In our frequent meals out, our favorite habit is to have our servers join us in prayer.  They always ask, “Is there anything else I can do for you?” and we say, “Yes, join us in prayer.”  Most often they do; and wonderful relationships develop, and on occasion there are salvation prayers and accepted invites to church!!!   We’ve also thanked them for their good service and ask, “I want to tell your boss.  Who’s your boss?” And they give a name or point.  Then we point up and ask, “Isn’t Jesus your boss?” That opens doors!

 

Our travel bucket list has not changed much from last year due to all the uncertainties in 2021:

·     Chicago area – Irene’s cousins; Joe’s family and many many more friends in the Chicago area.

·     Tucson – Granddaughter Julie and Irene’s GreatGranSon Darrel Mark and Randy & Jackie Rice.

·     California – Friends at Calvary Lighthouse in Escondido; Josiah & Briana; and more out West.

·     East Coast – Families of Joel & Liz & Caitlyn, Andrew & Jackson  in VA &  
      Jonathan & Courtney & Asana in NC

·     And we have friends all across the states and the globe we’d love to see.

We are really getting tired of being home-bound, that’s not normal for us seasoned travelers.  Please pray for our severe cases of Wander-lust, Stir-craziness and Cabin-fever!!! 

Meanwhile, why are we so blessed?

With their spouses  &  our Grand  &  our GreatGrand children,
  our immediate family has grown again to a total of 47!
(7 Children + their 5 Spouses + 22 Grandchildren + 11 GREATGrandChildren + Ourselves)

 

 

Why is Christmas the most important celebration of all?

 

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman,
    born under law, to redeem those under law,
        that we might receive the full rights of sons.
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
    the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”   Galatians 4:4-6 NIV

 

   Irene   &  Joe  Brusherd

Joe & Irene Brusherd

710 Summit Loop, Rogers, AR 72756

479-644-5262    Brusherd@cox.net

479-531-6081    GlassOrchids@cox.net

Musing – Do You Realize the Power of Your Testimony?

 Hebraic Musing – Do You Realize the Power of Your Testimony?

Sharing your own personal testimony is the most powerful tool in you Soul-Winning toolbox. 
Three parts – Life before; What happened the moment you accepted Christ; What’s life been like since. 
Here’s mine; hoping you will bless me by sharing yours back to me; and that’ll sharpen your Soul-winning tool.

Hi, my name is Joe Brusherd; I’m a retired CPA, International consultant, CFO/COO for a variety of companies.

Some 80+ years ago I grew up in Cicero, Illinois, as the oldest of eight children.  After college, my career started as a CPA.  My first wife and I raised six children which has since multiplied to a growing family of well over 40!

During the first 37 years of my life I had a limited understanding of God and never tried to figure out His purpose for my life despite the Three questions & answers from my first grade catechism class that always bugged me:

Q. – Who made me?                          A. – God made me.
Q. – Who is God?                              A. – God is the Supreme Being  …  who created all things.
Q. – Why did God make me?           A. – God made me to worship Him; and to praise Him forever.

During those years my selfish ways, my anger, my unclean thoughts plagued me; and in desperation I agreed to go on a Marriage Encounter weekend to enrich our marriage, which desperately needed enrichment.  After that experience in 1976, I became a curious seeker of the God I had known as a child.  I enjoyed fellowship with other couples and there was one couple I especially admired and respected.  Bill and Mary Blessing had something I wanted; and they frequently referenced their “Cursillo” experience. 

On a Thursday in August 1977 friends of Bill Blessing drove me the 80 miles for a three day “Cursillo” retreat.  As I got out of the car I asked, “Aren’t you coming in?”  They answered, “No, we were just giving you a ride” and they drove off.  That act of sacrificial love was just the beginning.

On the second day a priest, Father Tony Tascheta, spoke and his message and presentation style was awesome!  I kept thinking that he missed his calling; he should’ve been a VP of Sales.  I was in a daze, so we went to the Chapel.  As we walked into the Chapel, I saw Father Tony Tascheta on his knees praying and thanking Jesus for all the words Jesus gave him for “the men out there.”  My knees gave out and I found myself kneeling, crying crocodile tears with pools of tears on the terrazzo floor and saying almost out loud “Jesus Christ, you are real.  I need to learn more about you.”  

At that moment I knew I would never be the same.  My inner peace was unimaginable; no more feelings of desperation from knowing I was a sinner and, most of all, that I had been hiding them from God, my Creator.

At the closing ceremony we entered big hall and I saw Bill and Mary Blessing there; they cut their vacation short in order to be there for me.  I fell apart.  As part of the closing ceremony we each were to stand up as the Spirit led to tell what the week-end meant to us.  Eventually I went to the podium, froze, fell apart, finally blurted out “I talked to Jesus!”  That’s all I could say!  Not much of a speech but it meant volumes; I was never so choked up in my life.

Very late Sunday night the Blessings gave me a ride home and I immediately woke up my wife and said, “Peggy, guess what happened to me on the week-end?”    She said “What?”     I told her “I talked to Jesus”.   And she said “Does that mean you’re ‘born again’?”    I answered “I don’t know what you call it, but all I know is that I talked to Jesus. … And I want you and all our kids to experience what I experienced.”   She replied, “Too late Joe.  We already have.  We’ve all been praying for you.”  (And she could have added “…for 10 years.”)

I found out why Jesus told Nicodemus “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”    That’s how Jesus came into my life.     

How did Jesus come into your life?     What’s your testimony?

Points to ponder

On August 25^th, 1977, I was 39 years old so…
I know how blind a man, a husband, a religious non-believer can be.

Never stop praying for loved ones who do not yet know Jesus as their Lord
and don’t underestimate the leveraging power of prayer.

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” 1 John 5:11 NIV.

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      December 21, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings” http://insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/