 NOV.
2004 |
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Volume
2, Issue 21 |
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New
Building
-- Ray Comfort
 In
early November, Kirk called and suggested that
we start coffee bar outreaches (similar to Starbucks)
called The Way of the Master "Fishing Holes."
I loved the idea and immediately went out to
search for vacant buildings in our city of Bellflower.
I found one that was 5,500 square feet. As I
looked at it, I toyed with the idea of bringing
all of our ministries under one roof. At the
moment the three locations are spread out--about
100 yards apart. Earlier that week we had been
seriously considering renting an additional
building because we are so short on storage
space. A 5,500-square-foot building would be
incredibly convenient and give us ample storage.
When I returned to the ministry, I explained
to Sue what I had found. Fifteen minutes later
she dropped a note on my desk and said, "You
may like to check out this building."  I
drove about half a mile and found a building
in Bellflower for lease that literally took
my breath away. It was incredible. It looked
like the White House. I called the realtor and
learned that it was 8,500 square feet. The building
has more than 15 rooms (one is the size of a
house) and four bathrooms--perfect for a growing
ministry. We finalized the negotiations today.
The owner, a Christian, is excited about our
ministry and anxious for us to move in. Please
pray that everything continues to run smoothly.
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| 3
Excellent Christmas Gift Ideas
We
will send out an email blast as soon
as these publications
are available--hopefully around the
first week in December.
The
Evidence Bible: New Testament, Psalms,
and Proverbs (the original
edition) is coming out in a low-cost
paperback version--perfect for giving
to new Christians or for entire youth
groups (and adults) to use in a study.
It can be used along with the "Evidence"
video.
What
Hollywood Believes is
being released in paperback--great
to give to the unsaved.
 Behind
the Scenes: "The Way of the Master"
is now at the printer. This high-quality,
full-color publication takes you behind
the scenes of the filming of our show.
There are more than 500 photos that
will give you an educational (sometimes
humorous) look at the people--in front
of and behind the camera--who make
this reality TV show a reality. It's
more than just photos. The book contains
commentary on the filming, highlights
of various episodes, original scripts,
and viewer questions, as well as evangelistic
teachings and personal comments from
Kirk and me. The book's articles and
insights will reinforce the witnessing
principles taught on the television
program, encouraging you to reach
out more effectively to this dying
world. This interesting book also
makes a suitable gift for the unsaved.
We
will send out an email blast as soon
as these publications
are available--hopefully around the
first week in December.
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|  Please
remember to pray for Lev's surgery
Kirk's sister, Candace, and her husband,
Val, have a four-year-old boy ("Lev")
who was recently diagnosed with an
ear infection called "cholesteatoma."
Below you'll find a letter from Candace
to all who have been praying:
Thank you all for your prayers,
helpful information, referrals and
support for our son Lev. His surgery
has now been scheduled for November
30th. We wanted to do our research
and feel comfortable with the doctor
who's care Lev will be in (although
we know with certainty that God is
aware and in control of the whole
situation). While it seems like such
a long time down the road, we ask
you to continue to pray for the doctor's
hands during this delicate surgery
and that Lev's hearing will be fully
restored as well as no other complications,
hearing loss, or facial paralysis.
I will gladly keep you updated on
this situation, and again, thank you
all for your concern and prayers for
our son.
In Christ, Candace Cameron Bure
(Above,
Lev is pictured with his dad, Val.) |
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| Best
Icebreakers in the Workplace!
This one
sent in by Robert B., Benedict, FL
 I
just wanted to write and tell you
about an unexpected use I discovered
for the
new Ten Commandments coins! I
have learned how wonderful the coins
are for discussing the things of God
in the workplace! Normally, passing
out tracts would not be tolerated
while at work and would be "offensive"
to some people; so the company doesn't
allow it. I always have tracts on
me and always keep some interesting
ones at my desk so people pick them
up and read them on their own. However,
since I received the Ten Commandment
coins, I have made sure to keep a
few in my pocket at all times and
when I get up from my desk to go to
the bathroom, retrieve something off
the printer or consult with colleagues,
I "flip" one of the coins from my
thumb and catch it in my palm...over
and over again. Anytime I'm up, I'm
flipping one of the coins -- even
on the elevator. When I'm talking
to co-workers, I'm flipping a coin.
Realizing that the coin is not a quarter
or other U.S. - minted coin, people
have been asking me what I'm flipping.
Some ask right away, though a few
have been wondering for more than
a week and said they finally "just
had to ask." I say, "Here...," I hand
them the coin and continue, "It's
a coin with the Ten Commandments on
one side and a short Gospel message
on the other. There's even a couple
of Scripture passages squeezed in
around the border...how cool is that?!
You can keep that one." By that time,
I've already pulled another coin out
of my pocket and have begun flipping
it. They now feel no obligation to
hand the coin back, as I've told them
they could have the one I gave them
and I've clearly got another one to
flip. Those coins are on the desks,
in the pockets and being "played with"
by people in my office who would never
have taken a tract before! A few conversations
regarding the Ten Commandments have
also been initiated by the receivers
of the coins, which I dutifully steer
into a "do you consider yourself to
be a good person" conversation. These
Ten Commandment coins are GREAT!
I regularly hand out or leave tracts
almost everywhere I go. However, until
now, I have not been able to do so
at work. I have been pretty certain
that even "sneaking" such a thing
would get me in trouble, as it would
not be difficult for most in the office
to have known who would've left the
tract. But with the Ten Commandment
coins, peoples' eyes light up, they
ask for the coins, they keep the coins
and they tell others where to get
one of their own, (from me). These
coins truly are the best ice breakers
in the workplace since the pressed
pennies! Thanks!
Go
here for an enlargement of the coin's
front and back.
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"Thank
You . . ."
This
one sent in by Colleen C., Maryland
God has changed my life through
"The Way of the Master."
If you would have asked me two
weeks ago if I were a Christian,
I would have told you (proudly)
that I have been one for over
15 years. It wasn't until this
week that I really, truly understood
that I am a sinner and that I
desperately need a Savior. I have
been born again. I have watched
your "Foundation Course"
and have just ordered your Evidence
Bible because my heart
is breaking for everyone out there
who, like me, thinks they are
saved, but in reality are not.
If it were not for you telling
me, I would have been one of those
who would have gone before my
Lord and said, "Lord, Lord,
did I not prophesy in Your name,
and in Your name drive out demons
and perform many miracles?"
Then He would have told me plainly,
"I never knew you. Away from
Me, you evildoers!" I would
have been cast into the lake of
fire. I am sitting here crying
right now trying to find the right
words to say "thank you"
and yet all I can think to say
is "thank you." In just
this short week I am talking to
everyone I know (and don't know)
and sharing with them the "real"
good news of Jesus. I always have
felt a burning desire to evangelize
but never felt adequate to do
it. Even though I have read my
Bible and studied for years, I
never felt equipped, especially
when asked hard questions. But
you have shown me it's not about
anything more than us understanding
(by using the Ten Commandments)
that we have broken the Law by
which we will one day be judged
and, if Jesus doesn't save us,
we will be condemned to hell.
It's so simple and non-threatening
(to me, too) that I am amazed.
I thought I had to be like Ravi
Zacharias in order to evangelize.
I don't. How cool. I, too, can
share God's news. By using God's
tools/methods of witnessing I
am seeing people's eyes and hearts
opened. It is miraculous and marvelous.
I feel empowered now, not weak.
Thank you again. I will pray for
you and I ask that you please
pray for me as I go forth and
share my faith the way Jesus did.
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Grab
a cup of coffee
and dig in. We
offer these stories
to encourage you
that ANYONE can
share their faith.
These are real
people, just like
you... if they
can do it -- you
can do it!
Life is
quick -- stay
focused.
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..::
A Window of Opportunity
::..
This one sent
in by Bud, (South
Dakota)
Let me start out
by saying, that
I heard about
your book Revival's
Golden Key
(now called The
Way of the Master)
from Todd Friel's
radio show "Talk
the Walk."
As I read through
it over the next
four weeks, let's
just put it this
way: I had problems
with what I read.
As I continued
to pray about
what I read, about
the fourth week
of your book I
told God that
this just can't
be right, and
God spoke to my
spirit with the
wisdom that only
God could speak
and said, "Okay,
find something
wrong with it
from My Word."
My response to
God was, "I
can't," and
God again said,
"You have
your answer."
So that's how
I started out
on what you would
call "The
Way of the Master."
I
pulled into a
gas station to
get some gas.
As I looked into
the gas station,
I saw seven or
so of the meanest
looking thugs
I think I saw
in my entire life.
The one thug looked
like he would
rather kill me
than talk to me.
So I prayed, "Lord,
if you want me
to witness to
these guys, please
open the door."
Little did I know
God would open
not a door, but
a thick bullet-proof
window.
As
I walked in to
pay for my gas
(you do have to
keep in mind that
I'm a hick from
South Dakota witnessing
in the big city)
. . . I said to
the meanest thug,
"Boy, I bet
this glass could
stop a bullet."
Then I noticed
that one window
slid open. I said
"Boy, with
this window slid
open, it will
never stop a bullet."
Then with a very
honest gesture,
I put my hand
in my pocket to
pay for gas and
for a bottle of
water. I had never
seen people move
that fast. Everyone
was yelling, "GUN!!"
I
turned around
and said very
calmly but bewildered,
"It is just
a buck for my
water." Of
course with this
opportunity staring
me right in the
face, I asked
them, "What
if this was a
real gun?"
I looked one guy
in the eyes and
said, "If
this was a real
gun, you would
be dead."
He was the closest
to me, crouched
on the floor.
Then I asked them,
"If you would
have died, where
would you have
gone?" They
said, "Heaven,
I hope."
There began an
hour-long witnessing
encounter. One
of the more interesting
things was that
they asked open
and honest questions.
Do you remember
the one who looked
the meanest? He
asked the most
sincere and honest
questions . .
. When one of
the guys would
pop off with a
condescending
comment, that
guy would say,
"Shut up,
and let the man
talk!" It
went on for an
hour. After that,
I gave them all
tracts.
As I began to
leave, my dearest
brother in Christ,
Satish, came in.
Satish is from
India, and boy
I'm glad God brought
him to the States.
I love him dearly
and as he came
in, we embraced
like two long-lost
brothers. I introduced
Satish to them.
I think the love
of God shining
between two brothers
really drove home
the gospel.
About a month
and a half later,
when I was at
Wal-Mart, I was
witnessing to
one of the guys
who was at the
gas station. When
I handed him a
tract, he said,
"Hey, I know
you. You're the
'gun guy'!"
I found out that
not only did they
talk about it,
but they talked
about the things
of God for many
hours after I
left.
Praise God for
using a hick from
South Dakota that
don't know much
about big-city
etiquette.
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Do
you want to contribute
your witnessing
experiences, tract
stories and creative
evangelism ideas
to the "Coffee
Break" column?
Send them to: share@wayofthemaster.com,
and maybe we'll
use yours!
(Please
include your first
name, last name,
and location, in
case we use your
story!) |
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New
Board Game