Here are a few pictures from our visit to Davao City, our time with Pastor Zamar, and our ministry at Bukidnon Seminary. Derek took most of the pictures. …
“I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). This is the story of the dying thief who believed in Jesus and was saved at the very last second.Was any man ever in a more desperate situation? Brutally crucified, the is dying in agony for sins he had committed, crimes he had done. He is a guilty man jus…
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). It is enormously significant that the first word from the cross is a word of forgiveness. These words teach us that Jesus came to establish a religion of forgiveness. He is at heart a man of forgiveness. He came into t…
There are two things that perplex us about Judas. First, why did he do what he did? Second, after he had done it, why did he feel so guilty? He was so evil that he sold the Lord Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Later he felt such remorse that he committed suicide.Over the centuries there have been many different reactions to his story. Many peopl…
At the moment it is 10:55 PM in Valencia, Bukidnon Province, in the Philippines. I am sitting in the hotel lobby balancing my laptop so I can give this quick update.We are dead tired pooped tonight. We left the hotel at 7 AM and spent the entire day at the Mindanao Ministers Conference. I knew going in that I would be preaching four times. When I g…
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32).These words must have seemed strange to Peter, coming as it were out of the blue. It has been well remarked that Peter in many ways is the most huma…
Good morning from the Philippines. Today is a huge day for us. I start speaking at 7:30 AM and speak four times, the last one being at 7 PM. Pray for stamina and for clarity and anointing and for my voice to hold out. We had fine start to the conference last night. I introduced my series on “Beyond Denial: Seeing Ourselves in Peter’s St…
“I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15). Genesis 3:15 is the first mention of the gospel in the Bible. You might have missed it because the name Jesus isn’t in the text, but he is there nonetheless…
We started the weekend in Manila, then we flew to Davao City in the southern Philippines where we were greeted with great kindness by Pastor Antolin Zamar, his wife Nenita and the good folks of Heritage Baptist Church. This morning we traveled by bus to Bukidnon in the central highlands of Mindanao Island. We’ll be here through Thursday noon …
Why didn’t Jesus fight back when he was arrested? Losing is not a popular idea today. It’s definitely not a very American concept. As George Patton famously remarked, “Americans love a winner. America will not tolerate a loser.” We all want to be on the winning team. That’s why millions of people fill out their March M…