God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)
We don’t teach our children to fear a kind grandfather or Santa Claus, do we? Why then would we teach them to fear God? First of all, the comparison of God with grandfathers or Santa Claus is degrading nearly to the point of slander. As [D.A. Carson] notes, “The sentimental view generates a deity with all the awesome holiness of a cuddly toy.” Second, fearing God is not the same as being afraid of God. The person who fears God in the biblical sense is maintaining a humble reverence for His glory, majesty, dominion, and authority. The person who fears God recognizes that He is not only the Giver of all good things, but also the Lord of the universe and the Judge of sinners. He is the One who creates, and He is the One who has the power to destroy. He is the One who rewards, and He is the One who disciplines. Fearing God, in other words, is the sobering recognition that He is not to be trifled with.
Here are three emergency prayer requests we ask you to bring before the Lord. Pass this on to everyone you possibly can.
1. By now most people have heard that Saddam Hussein has been captured outside his hometown of Tikrit in Iraq. I find myself with mixed emotions . . . . joy, of course, over his capture and the assured end of his dictatorial tyranny over the lives and minds of the Iraqi people; elation over the future possibilities of expansive and even explosive proclamation of the Gospel; and yet sadness over seeing another man discover so late in life that his hopes and dreams of happiness and a future have come crashing down around him. I don't need to ask you that we pray for this man's repentance and salvation, and that truth and justice will permeate all that transpires from here on.
2. Pray for James and Jean Wootton and their little daughter, Joy. James is pastor of a church in Metterich, Germany. For several months Joy, about 5 or 6 years old I believe, has been battling cancer. Recently a tragic error was made by the medical staff at the hospital when they injected her with a medication that was to have been taken orally. If the doctors are correct, it has fatally damaged her spinal cord resulting in progressive and irreversible paralysis that will result in Joy's death. I beg you, my friend, to lift this young family up to the Father. Jo Ann and I raised four daughters of our own, and the thought of something like this happening is crushing to my spirit. If you would like to write them a word of encouragement, you can do so at
3. Pray for us at IBC as we focus on Christmas. We are awed by the spiritual ignorance in this place regarding the birth of Christ ---- "Emmanuel", God with us. Therefore, our entire focus of the next four weeks is on what the birth of Jesus means. Though a little late, here is the schedule we have:
Dec 07 ---- Bob preached on Isa 7:14 ---- "Emmanuel, God With Us".
Dec 14 ---- Bob preached on Isa 9:2-7 ---- "Bright Light For Dark Paths". Jo Ann shared some American Christmas traditions. Vitaly spoke on Heb 4:14-16 on "Jesus, Our High Priest".
Dec 21 ---- Bob will preach (subject undetermined), Jo Ann will share another American Christmas tradition, Son-in-law Kevin will speak.
Dec 23 ---- All Tuesday ESL and Bible study groups will watch The Jesus Film to be shown both in English and in Russian. Pray!
Dec 27 ---- Annual Christmas party with songs, games, skits, etc. in Russian, Ukrainian, English, Spanish, and other languages.
Dec 28 ---- Christmas celebration service with carols, special music, skits, scripture, and candlelight. Pray!
Jan 04 ---- Final Christmas emphasis in preparation for Orthodox Christmas Day on Jan 07. Guest speaker.
More and more people are attending our services. Pray that God will open their hearts to the truth about Jesus. There is so much spiritual bondage here created by superstitions, traditions, and unscriptural teachings. Only the Holy Spirit can break those chains and set people free to really know Him.
Here are three emergency prayer requests we ask you to bring before the Lord. Pass this on to everyone you possibly can.
1. By now most people have heard that Saddam Hussein has been captured outside his hometown of Tikrit in Iraq. I find myself with mixed emotions . . . . joy, of course, over his capture and the assured end of his dictatorial tyranny over the lives and minds of the Iraqi people; elation over the future possibilities of expansive and even explosive proclamation of the Gospel; and yet sadness over seeing another man discover so late in life that his hopes and dreams of happiness and a future have come crashing down around him. I don't need to ask you that we pray for this man's repentance and salvation, and that truth and justice will permeate all that transpires from here on.
2. Pray for James and Jean Wootton and their little daughter, Joy. James is pastor of a church in Metterich, Germany. For several months Joy, about 5 or 6 years old I believe, has been battling cancer. Recently a tragic error was made by the medical staff at the hospital when they injected her with a medication that was to have been taken orally. If the doctors are correct, it has fatally damaged her spinal cord resulting in progressive and irreversible paralysis that will result in Joy's death. I beg you, my friend, to lift this young family up to the Father. Jo Ann and I raised four daughters of our own, and the thought of something like this happening is crushing to my spirit. If you would like to write them a word of encouragement, you can do so at
3. Pray for us at IBC as we focus on Christmas. We are awed by the spiritual ignorance in this place regarding the birth of Christ ---- "Emmanuel", God with us. Therefore, our entire focus of the next four weeks is on what the birth of Jesus means. Though a little late, here is the schedule we have:
Dec 07 ---- Bob preached on Isa 7:14 ---- "Emmanuel, God With Us".
Dec 14 ---- Bob preached on Isa 9:2-7 ---- "Bright Light For Dark Paths". Jo Ann shared some American Christmas traditions. Vitaly spoke on Heb 4:14-16 on "Jesus, Our High Priest".
Dec 21 ---- Bob will preach (subject undetermined), Jo Ann will share another American Christmas tradition, Son-in-law Kevin will speak.
Dec 23 ---- All Tuesday ESL and Bible study groups will watch The Jesus Film to be shown both in English and in Russian. Pray!
Dec 27 ---- Annual Christmas party with songs, games, skits, etc. in Russian, Ukrainian, English, Spanish, and other languages.
Dec 28 ---- Christmas celebration service with carols, special music, skits, scripture, and candlelight. Pray!
Jan 04 ---- Final Christmas emphasis in preparation for Orthodox Christmas Day on Jan 07. Guest speaker.
More and more people are attending our services. Pray that God will open their hearts to the truth about Jesus. There is so much spiritual bondage here created by superstitions, traditions, and unscriptural teachings. Only the Holy Spirit can break those chains and set people free to really know Him.
