Ichthyology is the branch of zoology that deals with the study of fish. From our passage [Matthew 4:18-22] we derive that the focus of the call is “I will make you fishers of men.” The focus is not on success; it is not about materialism. He does not propose the establishment of educational facilitates which will present a philosophy of successful living. He is not suggesting a successful career in the ministry. The establishment of a prestigious church denomination is not the goal. They are to fish for men.

If you accept this statement, the ultimate goal of the formation Jesus wants to accomplish in your life is to make you an evangelist. The ultimate purpose of His death is not to get you to heaven, but to enable you to win souls. His resurrection was not so you can live comfortably in mansions in the sky; it is that you might rescue people. He did not come to bring peace but to wage war for the purpose of snatching the prisoners of war from the hands of the enemy (Matthew 10:34). Jesus stated His purpose for coming when He said, “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

Written By: Stephen Manley – from his upcoming commentary on Matthew 3-4 (chapter entitled: “A Call to Formation”)

Set Apart Girl Magazine

If you haven’t already read the March-April edition of the Set Apart Girl magazine, it is time to do so. The new May-June issue is soon to appear so you won’t want to miss these great articles, thoughts, studies, and musings on what it means to be a woman of God – delightfully bundled within an enchanting design. As a man, I cannot recommend a resource for young (and older) ladies any higher, truly a must read. Read the current issue at: www.SetApartGirl.com

Cross Style Connection

The latest edition of the Cross Style Connection has recently been released (April-June) and is now available for free download. Contained within its pages are studies, Bible saturation/study helps, articles, recipes, schedules, and a host of other material to draw you deeper into the person of Jesus. You can download your copy at: www.CSConnection.org

I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies. (Psalm 18.1-3)

Do you realize and live as if this is true in your life? This is not some feel-good statement found in the Bible, to be placed on your refrigerator and forgotten. This is the living reality of an individual who is found in Christ.

• Jesus is our Rock. 

He is our solid foundation that is unchanging and unmovable. We can stand secure and confident upon Him.

• Jesus is our fortress.

• Jesus is our deliverer.

• Jesus is our strength.

• Jesus is trustworthy.

• Jesus is our shield.

• Jesus is our salvation.

• Jesus is our stronghold.

• Jesus is worthy to be praised.

If these are all true, can you stop yourself from lifting your hands and shouting praises to Him? Oh He is most worthy to be praised! If these were not merely facts upon a page but became living Truth in your life, you couldn’t stop yourself from giving Him the glory and honor and praise and adoration that He so rightly deserves. I dare you, just try to stop yourself. On second thought, don’t try, just worship.

The book of Hebrews is a tremendous book. The writer gives example after example how Jesus (New Covenant) has become all that the Old Covenant looked forward to (i.e.: Jesus is the perfect sacrifice, the true High Priest, the mediator between God and humanity, etc). As you read the first four verses of chapter one, you can’t help but be overcome by the reality of who Jesus is and what God has done.

As you get into chapter twelve (following on the heels of the great “faith chapter” – Hebrews 11) you find this passage:

. . . to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12.24)

Read that last phrase again: blood speaks. Having been one to always assume blood was that which came out when you cut your finger, I never realized it talks. But it does. And there are two times recorded in Scripture in which blood speaks – the blood of Abel and the blood of Jesus.

If you remember back in Genesis, Cain and Abel (the sons of Adam and Eve) both offered God a sacrifice. Cain offered fruit from the ground and Abel offered the firstborn from amongst his sheep. It says that God accepted the sacrifice of Abel but rejected that of Cain’s. Not long after, Cain and Abel were in the field talking when Cain, in his anger, killed Abel. When Cain was confronted, God said: “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground” (Genesis 4.10).

What was the blood of Abel crying out? It was crying out for vengeance, revenge, cursing, retribution,  and recompense against Cain. “Murder!” it declared.

But this speaking blood is contrasted with that of the blood of Jesus. Hebrews tells us that the blood of Christ speaks better than the blood of Abel. What does the blood of Jesus speak? Oh it declares love, hope, peace, and forgiveness! Found in the death and blood of Jesus is everything you need for the removal of sin and the access for deep intimacy with Almighty God.

As odd as it may sound, the blood of Christ is crying out on your behalf. You, a sinner who deserves all that Abel’s blood cries for, receives that which Christ’s blood offers. You don’t have to live in condemnation, defeat, and despair. You can have hope, His Name is Jesus! You can have victory, it is found in Him! You can live like you’re suppose to live, as He lives His life in and through you! You can be filled with His love! You can have unwavering peace in every situation! The blood of Jesus has purchased your freedom and given you forgiveness!

Oh why would you not embrace Him tighter today? The blood of Jesus is speaking. Will you listen and respond?

– Charles Trumbull –

I arrived home late yesterday after a full day of ministry. I walked in, set my stuff down, and turned on the lights. I glanced at the calendar and realized that it was time to turn it to a whole new month. It is amazing how fast time flies. Several years ago I said the same thing to my dad to which he responded: “it only goes faster the older you get.” How can it get any faster than it is now when it’s pushing light speed?

For the last two years, I have made a picture calendar for my family that contains snapshots of each of us – each month usually highlighting the individual to whose birthday month it is. On the off months, there are crazy and fun pictures that we have taken over the years. It has been a constant joy to see pictures of my parents, my brother and his family, my grandmother, and favorite aunt staring at me throughout the year. Throughout October, a beautiful picture of my mom dazzled from the side of my desk where the calendar hangs.

November is the month of my dad’s birthday so the calendar picture for this month contains several amusing and heart-warming pictures strewn together in a collage-type fashion. As I turned the calendar to the new month, I saw the pictures (which I haven’t seen since I made the calendar last Christmas) and gasped “ohhhh how I love my dad!” It brought a great smile and tremendous joy at the end of a long day.

The thing about calendars is that they often yell at us about how fast time flies and how busy we are. Honestly, two not so good things. Why are we so content to live in a myriad of craziness with little time to rest and focus on what really matters? It truly is the Tyranny of the Urgent.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been attempting to keep my blog updated, to no avail. It is not that I see it as unimportant – in fact it pains me to NOT post – but with the current ministry schedule I’m in, it has been near impossible. But for any who wish to see more posts, don’t fret, they ARE soon on their way. I’ve gained some divine insight into the structure of my blog and the direction it needs to start moving toward in relation to the deeperChristian sites. But until the middle of November, it appears that there will be posts few and far between, to which I apologize in advance. Until then, may you fall more and more in love with our precious Jesus!

But the measure of a life is greater than one event, and Shadow of the Almighty serves as a riveting chronicle of how one of these young men, Jim Elliot, passionately threw himself into a life of faith, creating in his twenty-eight short years a legacy that continues to ripple through countless lives.*

Containing portions of Jim’s own writings, Elizabeth’s insights, and a beautiful gripping story, Shadow of the Almighty captures Jim’s life and testimony of “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

This books has changed and challenged countless lives since it was written, read it and let it do the same to you.

*taken from the back of the book