Bob Young Resources

Friday morning at Seminario Baxter

bro.bobyoung — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:10:19 +0000

Seminario Baxter is off a a great start. Attendance is significantly higher than in past years–about a 30% increase in registrations. (And that increase is without the presence of BICA students from Guatemala and Nicaragua this year.) Classrooms are filled, the upper auditorium overflows during the primary sessions.
Calvin Henry is doing a masterful job of handling this year’s theme which focuses on the importance and practice of church discipline. The classes are designed to meet basic needs in the churches–leadership, strengthening families, evangelism, and the study and preaching of God’s Word.
It is a privilege to participate, a blessing to know additional brothers and sisters in the Lord, a blessing to renew friendship in Christ.
Will you pray today for the advance of God’s kingdom work in Latin America? Will you add to your prayer list the churches of Central America and South America? God is at work–let us joyfully join him in the great work of taking the gospel into all the world!

Doors Opening, Opportunities Abounding

bro.bobyoung — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:54:31 +0000

God works through us in mysterious ways. We plan to do one thing, and God opens more and more doors. We set up a Bible study and an entire family is present when we arrive. We set up a Bible study with one person and there are 13 present for the study. We go to a place with a teaching and preaching schedule set, but once we are there we receive even more invitations to preach and share.
Today I am at Baxter Institute in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. I teach the first half of my seminario class today–four hours today, four hours tomorrow. When I finish with today’s class, I will go preach in a local congregation, answering an invitation I received only yesterday.
We are sowing seed, strengthening and encouraging Christians, sharing good news. The kingdom of Jesus Christ spreads because God’s kingdom people do what they are called to do in the kingdom. The growth of the kingdom is automatic (of its own accord, Mark 4:26-29) because God’s kingdom people do what kingdom people are called to do and be.
We cannot expect kingdom growth when kingdom people do not live out the reality of the kingdom in their lives. God opens doors so that we can walk through them. He opens doors to those who have seen and acted on open doors in the past. Opportunities abound every day. The question is not whether we have opportunities. The question is whether we see them and use them to God’s glory and the advance of God’s kingdom cause.

Onesiphorus: He often refreshed me and was not ashamed of me

bro.bobyoung — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:04:57 +0000

Paul’s description of Onesiphorus (2 Tim. 1:16-19) has been the subject of many articles, even of entire sermons. Paul describes Onesiphorus as one who had refreshed Paul’s spirit, was not ashamed of Paul’s chains, went out of his way to find Paul in Rome, and had also helped Paul in Ephesus.
As I reread Paul’s description of Onesiphorus, my mind turned to the “others.” Thankfully, Onesiphorus did the things Paul describes, but the text leaves various questions unanswered. Were there others who had the same opportunity but did not act? Were there others with the opportunity to visit Paul in prison and refresh his spirit? Were there others who could have sought out Paul but did not? Were some of those “others” ashamed of Paul’s imprisonment? Were there others with opportunity to help who did nothing?
Paul was grateful for the love shown by Onesiphorus, and he prayed God’s mercy on him. Perhaps Paul had also received help from others but mentions Onesiphorus because he was outstanding in his assistance and encouragement. But one can also wonder if Paul’s heart was perhaps breaking as he considered those who could have helped but did not.
You have perhaps known the hurt. The “friends” and “brothers” you thought were dependable turned out not to be so. Those you expected to stand with you deserted you. The refreshing word went unsaid. The encouraging visit never came. You expected that your friends and brothers in Christ would do for you as they would want you to do for them.
Praise God for Onesiphorus. Sometimes one positive can overcome a lot of negatives. It was so for Paul. Be a positive in someone’s life today–you can make all the difference.

Tuesday evening in Honduras

bro.bobyoung — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:29:52 +0000

Tuesday evening in Honduras, safe arrival, delightful beginnings. Most of the seminario guests will arrive tomorrow.
This evening is rainy and cool. I am enjoying the renovated Hospitality Suite on campus. There is still a little work to be done, but the accommodations are very nice and comfortable.
Calvin Henry also arrived today, delightful conversations, catching up, dreaming and sharing.
Pray for the work we can do to strengthen and build up churches, both in the seminario this week, and in the leadership seminar next week in Catacamas.

Ernesto Sanchez–An Opportunity to Serve in Jesus’ Name

bro.bobyoung — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:38:01 +0000

Saturday evening Jan and I attended a benefit dinner at the Park Plaza church facility. The purpose of the dinner was to raise funds for a heart transplant for Ernesto Sanchez. Some of Ernesto’s family is involved at the Iglesia de Cristo-Park Plaza in Tulsa. This is an opportunity to help with a life-and-death need, but by helping you can also communicate the love and spirit of Jesus to more of the extended family.
Here is a link to a flyer that describes the need: Heart Transplant for Ernesto Sanchez. [The flyer is also available in Spanish: Transplante de Corazon para Ernesto Sanchez.] Please help us get the word out and help with this need if you can.
You can go to the website of the National Foundation for Transplants to give online. On the NFT homepage, you will see a button to find the patient. You can enter the following information: Ernesto Sanchez, Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Using full names instead of first letters will help with the sorting process and take you to Ernesto’s web page more quickly.)
Even better, here is the link to Ernesto’s personal webpage where you can read his story and make donations.
Finally, we ask you to pray for Ernesto and his family–for physical life and health, and also for spiritual life and health.

It’s Sunday Again: “Sunday at the ‘Park’”

bro.bobyoung — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:03:17 +0000

Since I devoted this morning’s Mother’s Day blog to sharing memories of my mother, I am posting my Sunday reflections on Sunday evening.

Some of you already know that Jan and I have changed “church homes.” Although we had communicated our commitment to be members at Park Plaza last week, today was our first Sunday as members at the “Park.” Wow!
Mitch hit a home run with a special Mother’s Day emphasis in his continuing sermon series on God’s resurrection power. Keith Lancaster led our hearts nearer to God in song. The prayers, Scripture reading, and communion were led by some of the young men (teens) in the congregation. A highlight of the morning was the announcement that Francisco and Millie Davila will become full-time workers in the Spanish ministry as of July 1. We anticipate that the work will flourish even more with this decision. The shepherds’ prayers for Francisco and Millie, and for the Spanish work were especially touching.
Jan and I attended early service, and also attended late service as part of our extended family, sons and grandchildren, joined us. The grandchildren enjoyed Bible class, and since our youngest grandchild wouldn’t stay in class without Nana, Jan even got to assist a little with the 2-year old class!
We connected and reconnected with friends and acquaintances from our past, and with many new brothers and sisters in Christ. What a joy to see Vivien Dillman again! That goes back to the 1970s in Tulsa at Fifteenth Street!
Today will linger as a special memory in our spiritual journey. One brother’s greeting summed it up well when he said, “Welcome home!”

From my Mother: Wealth

bro.bobyoung — Sun, 13 May 2012 10:20:16 +0000

Happy Mother’s Day! If your mother is still living, count your blessings this day.

My mother collected little tidbits and sayings. She put them everywhere–in the textbooks from which she taught, in the multiplied books of poetry and inspiration she collected. I recently ran across one that I heard her cite on several different occasions. Unfortunately, I do not know the original author.

I have planted a garden, so I know what faith is,
I have seen birch trees swaying in the breeze so I know what grace is,
I have listened to birds caroling, so I know what music is.
I have seen a morning without clouds, after a shower, so I know what beauty is.
I have read a book beside a wood fire, so I know what contentment is.
I have seen the miracle of the sunset, so I know what grandeur is,
And because I have perceived all these things, I know what wealth is.