Pastor and missionary in Costa Rica

Hi, everybody. Just a quick update for those of you who prayed for Joel and Irene’s wedding on Saturday morning. Everything went great! There were over 100 people in attendance, many of whom were not Christians (or else were those kind of “Christians” who don’t act like Christians). The ceremony was about 30 minutes long, and I had the wonderful opportunity and privilege of preaching the gospel clearly. I spoke at length on the Law of God written upon the hearts of all men, and the fact that we have all broken that moral Law. Then I talked about the coming judgment and God’s perfect provision of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ and His work on the cross.

Joel and Irene are happily married and on their honeymoon. And the gospel was preached to the lost.

Thank you all very much for keeping us in prayer!

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [Luke 24:46-47]

Tomorrow (Sat., 06Feb10) I have the great privilege of marrying Joel and Irene, a young couple from my church. I would like to ask all who pray for us to keep us before the Lord both today and tomorrow because I will be speaking to the people during the ceremony about the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Joel and Irene are faithful members of Eastside church and have both been out on the streets witnessing to people about Jesus Christ (Joel, Irene and Irene again). They have a heart for God and they are committed to following Him in their marriage. So, they’re starting out on the right foot by using their wedding as an opportunity to witness to lost family members and friends.

Please pray today (Friday) for us as we pull together the final preparations. Joel and Irene are busy with all the details of the ceremony and whatnot; I will be finishing up the message I’ll be preaching (using Ephesians 5 to speak of Christ in the context of marriage, and then explaining the gospel beginning with the Law, then explaining the cross and man’s required response of repentance and faith).

The wedding will begin around 9:00am tomorrow. Thank you for praying for us!

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. [Ephesians 6.18-20]

Evangelicalism Needs a Man-Up Call [mp3, 1:20]

I was listening to the free, 15-minute podcast (January 19, 2010) of Wretched Radio the other day and couldn’t help but say “amen” to what Todd had to say. For some reason Mr. Friel thinks most of the guys singing on the Christian radio today are a bunch of sissies and that evangelicalism needs a “man-up” call. Maybe (hopefully!) some of you guys out there feel the same way…

It’s a minute and twenty seconds long, if you want to hear it for yourself.