Light A Fire

In my message last Sunday morning, I said that most Christians, perhaps 95 percent, seem to have little or no concern about unbelievers on a path to hell. They are quick, however, to talk about the Lord’s return. “Come, Lord Jesus, take me out of this mess on planet earth, and take me to heaven. Rescue me, Jesus!”

But what about those without Jesus, all around us, who will not go to heaven when Jesus returns? Do you care about rescuing them?

If you misunderstand God’s heart, all your theology will be messed up. God’s heart is that all people everywhere be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Every day God yearns for the lost to come home.

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 2:4 NKJV

This is His heart. If you don’t feel the same way, then you don’t have His heart, and your Christian walk will be misguided.   

There are roughly 200 million hardcore unchurched in America, those who never come to church except for a wedding or funeral. The United States is the fifth largest mission field in the world. Statistics show that the American church is not reaching them.

Here’s a statistic that should shake you to the core: Out of every 100 churches in America, 80 are decreasing in size or staying the same. Twenty of the 100 are growing. Nineteen of the 20 get their growth by taking people from other churches. Only one church out of the 20 is growing by reaching the hardcore unchurched.

Bottom line, only one in 100 churches is reaching unbelievers on a path to hell.

Source: Ed Stetzer Comeback Churches (Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2007), 27.

If you know and understand God’s heart, you will have a deep compassion and concern for those all around who don’t know Jesus.

That’s something to prayerfully talk through with the Lord. I suggest you get alone with Him and let His unchanging love change your heart.

By The Grace Of God, My New Book Is Starting Some Fires

Feedback from my new book, Is This The End . . . Or Just The Beginning?, is very encouraging, to say the least.

Mike Mohs is a former classmate. We graduated together from Kelliher Highschool, about 45 miles north of Bemidji, Minnesota. Several years ago, Mike received Jesus as his savior after watching Billy Graham on television. Most of Mike’s family now follow the Lord. After reading my book, Mike called, very excited. “I couldn’t put it down!” he said. “I agree with everything you said in the book.” Mike plans to order two more books for his friends.

Keith is one of my former advertising clients. He called to say he had read through the book and he intends to read it again. His wife, Linda, is a teacher. She is reading through the book for the second time.

Jeff works for a very large grocery store. My book was lying on his desk when an employee picked it up and started reading it. She wanted to take it home. When she put it back down, a second employee picked it up and also wanted to take it home. She asked the first employee if she could take it. The second employee said that was okay. Jeff gave a second book to a customer, who was Catholic, but has given up on the Catholic faith. At this point Jeff was out of books. He came to our place to get two more.   

Doug gave his pastor my first book, Firestorm. After reading it, his pastor gave an altar call at the end of the service, for the first time.

“Did he do it as a result of reading my book?” I asked. “I think so,” Doug replied. Doug has now given his pastor my second book, “Is This The End . . . Or Just The Beginning?”

Dale has fixed my computers for the last twenty years. He and his wife De, have become our good friends. The following is Dale’s comment on my book:

“Is This The End . . . Or Just The Beginning?” is not only the author’s story, but is also, at its heart, a wake-up call, and call to action for Christian Churches here in America, and the Church as a whole. The necessity for neutral ground outreaches to young people and the “unchurched” is central to the book, where the alternative may be watching church attendance continue to dwindle, and the next generation unreached (or falling further away). It promotes cultural engagement in place of compromise to “woke” culture and the value of community-serving churches is well represented, as is the importance of Christian stewardship and accountability.

I’ve known George for much of the history covered in this book, and I’ve always felt his hope and prayer for reaching the upcoming generations for Christ. This book offers some seasoned insights into what we might do to turn the tide . . .  or even take part in the next great Spiritual revival of the Church.

George has a beautiful voice . . . Who knew, right? . . . You should really buy his CD album too! . . . the songs seem like love letters to Jesus.

I encourage you to order my book. We are making a special offer this month: Purchase my book, “Is This The End . . . Or Just The Beginning?” for $20, including shipping, and we will give you my music CD, A Brand New Song, FREE. This is a $35 value for just $20.    

You can order on our website georgeandlorraine.com, or send $20 to Rise Up America, box 41291, Plymouth, MN 55441. Orders will ship within one week.

Photos taken by Lorraine