What’s in Your Pocket?

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have...” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

Sharing your faith is the heart of evangelism.  The Pocket Testament League (PTL) believes so and they will equip you with free evangelism training and tools so you’ll always be prepared.

But wait....what is evangelism?  Do I knock on doors or hand out tracts on a street corner?  You can, but PTL’s vision is deeper than that: their goal is to equip believers for a lifestyle of evangelism.    PTL’s simple mission is three-fold:  Read, Carry, and Share the Word of God.

Read the Word of God
PTL wants people to develop a living relationship with Jesus Christ through daily Bible study and prayer.  PTL members receive a free daily devotional every weekday via email.  Members have access to the free 21-Day Challenge to learn more about Jesus Christ by reading and reflecting on the Gospel of John.  PTL’s online guide to Bible verses will strengthen your faith and help you share the Good News with others.

Carry the Word of God
PTL equips members with evangelism tools: pocket-sized copies of the Gospel of John, available in English, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese.  These pocket testaments are available in different Bible translations and come in a variety of  attractive designs so you can take them anywhere and share them with everyone.  There’s even an illustrated Gospel for children.

Dedicate a pocket to the Lord and carry a Gospel there to give away each day.  Carry a Gospel in your purse, diaper bag, briefcase, backpack...(you get the idea).

PTL’s evangelism ministry is supported through donations for each Gospel copy ordered by members, but members in financial need may receive support from sponsors.  No one who wants to share God’s Word will be turned away.

Share the Word of God
PTL’s evangelism ministry puts free copies of Scripture into the hands of others, so that they can read it for themselves, perhaps for the first time. PTL members plant the seeds and the Holy Spirit helps them grow.

Members receive free evangelism training through a self-paced 7-part Evangelism Boot Camp that prepares you to share your faith. 

Visit PTL’s website to find over 100 creative ways to share the Gospel with others: on the go, on the job, even from home.

Community of Believers
The Pocket Testament League is not just an evangelical ministry, it’s a community that encourages each other and shares prayer requests and stories.  You’ll find a thriving PTL community on Facebook.  There’s even a mobile app.

Find out more or register online for a free membership (including free daily devotionals and evangelism tools) at the Pocket Testament League’s website.

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.  (John 8:32 NIV)

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(This is a promotional review for the Pocket Testament League.)

Mountaintop Finish, Mountaintop Beginning

We've reached that point in July where I've watched so much cycling that I start dreaming about cycling--with Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin providing commentary. Long mountain stages lately, with me alongside the rider in the Polka Dot Jersey. Yep, me and Franco Pellizotti, the King of the Mountains. Franco doesn't have much to say.

As I'm writing this at midnight, it's early morning in France on the biggest mountain stage of the Tour--Mont Ventoux. For much of the tour the teams have worked together. Teammates have looked out for each other--whether pacing their leader up a climb or leading their fast man into the sprint at the finish. On Mont Ventoux many riders will have to face the mountain alone. Experienced riders, like Lance Armstrong and George Hincape, don't fear the mountain. They know what's coming. The new guys are a bit anxious. They all want to make it to the top, which is said to resemble the moon: barren and rocky, high altitudes robbing the air of oxygen.

It's difficult to climb to the top of the mountain.

There are 13 pages of results for "mountain" at BibleGateway.com. Scripture compares God to a mighty mountain; the mountains bow to him; he can hurl a mountain into the sea. But I only found 1 mountaintop finish--Moses' death on Mt. Nebo.

Often the mountain is only a beginning:

Mt. Ararat

Mt. Sinai

The temptation of Jesus

The Mount of Transfiguration

The Great Commission

What's your mountain? Is it a difficult climb that drains your strength and leaves you breathless as you claw your way to the top? Or is it a challenge to grow closer to God who meets you on the mountain and reveals himself to you?

Shalom, y'all

Shiny New Coin

I'm continually surprised and delighted when I read or hear a passage of Rabbinic writing that illuminates scripture for me.  Pastor Miller paraphrased a saying from the Talmud in today's sermon and it shed some light on a passage I wrote about for Monday Manna awhile back.

"For if a man mints many coins from one mould, they are all alike, but the Holy One, blessed be He, fashioned all men in the mould of the first man, and not one resembles the other..."  (Babylonian Talmud: Sanhedrin 38a)

Every Roman emperor minted coins bearing his own image.  During the minting process, each coin was stamped so that the resulting coins would all look alike. 

God created Adam in His image and has been minting new men and women ever since.  Though there may be some close resemblances between family members, no two of us are exactly alike.  There are no limits to the number and diversity of "coins" that God can create.  Thus God displayed his supremacy over the rulers of the earth.

So when Jesus pointed at the coin and said "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" (Mark 12:17), his audience might have been familiar with some other rabbi's teachings. Every coin belonged to Caesar, but God put his own divine stamp on us.

I like the thought of God minting me like a shiny new coin, stamping me with his hand, and assigning me value.

Shalom, y'all.