Why Didn’t I Ask the Question?

Most recently, I learned that a good client passed away suddenly. He appeared to be healthy and in better shape than I am in. And yet he died suddenly. Many people will ask why did God allow him to die as opposed to someone who has chronic health problems? The answer to that is unknown until we get to heaven ourselves. But this is not the question at stake. The question at stake is “Why didn’t I ask the question?”

Many are probably wondering right now, what is the question that I am talking about? I will get to that in a few sentences. Before I do that, let me just say that we take for granted that we have time. Time is on our side and that we can do whatever we want. As a non-Christian who may be thinking, “I want to enjoy life and not make a God commitment until I sow my oats!” Or the family member whom you have spoken with and he laughs in your face and tells you, “I have time!” Time? Do we really have time? Is time really on our side? My friend, although in great shape, had a brain aneurism and died. He was one year younger than me and yet he died.

When I found out about my friend, as I was speaking with his wife, I could barely talk for fear that I would start weeping as I was so sorrowful of her loss. Not only was I sorrowful, but I had never asked the question. There were five questions that I should have asked, but never asked. Was it because I feared rejection? Was it because I did not want to offend anyone? Was it because that I did not know how to communicate my question to him? Was it because we did not have time to discuss such a subject matter? Was it because I disobeyed God by not asking these simple questions? Was it because…..? And the list of why’s go on!

I could have asked five simple questions in conversational form. But as a believer in Jesus Christ; as a person who “proclaims” that he loves God with all his heart, soul, and mind; as a person who believes what Christ said that we are to “love our neighbor as our self;” I did nothing! I say that I love my neighbor, but my actions do not prove that to be true because if I truly did love my neighbor, I would have asked those simple five questions. But I didn’t and now I have to live with what I did not do! I will have to answer to God when I die and go to stand in judgement. I can hear Him asking me this question, “Why didn’t you ask the question?” I will stand guilty of being silent and unloving. Guilty of not loving my neighbor as myself!

What is the question I should have asked? If I am to love my neighbor as myself, I should have cared more about his spiritual life as opposed to his business life. I should have loved him as my own brother as opposed to keeping silent about spiritual things. I should have asked him, “Do you have any kind of spiritual belief? To you, who is Jesus? Do you believe there is a heaven and a hell? If you died right now, where would you go? If heaven, why? If what you believe were not true, would you want to know it?” The last question is if they do not have a belief in Jesus Christ. Now here is the rub. Not asking these questions or questions like them will never allow you the opportunity to show your love as well as the love of Christ to your neighbor. Who is this neighbor I am speaking about? It is anyone you know and do not know. It could be a friend, relative, next door neighbor, customer, or an unknown person. The direct question I should have asked was, “Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal savior?” But those five forms of questions ease one into conversation about faith.

Fortunately for me as well as for him, he did know Jesus Christ as his personal savior. He was a believer and he was a Christian. How do I know this? Because his wife told me that they have joined a bible believing church and that they were involved and that they both believed. Praise God for my friend’s salvation and that he is with Jesus right now. But that does not excuse my silence! We are all called to share our faith and yet we sit on the sidelines and do nothing! We go to church, sing and praise God, read Scripture, listen to a powerful and motivating sermon, have the benediction, go out to eat after church, then go home to rest. Then we go to work on Monday through Friday, without ever opening our mouths to tell someone about Christ. I say we because I am part of that group. I failed miserably at what I so much talk about and yet I never asked him the question. Lucky for me that when he died, he was a believer in Jesus Christ! But that did not negate my responsibility to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Many will say, “Don’t be that hard on yourself!” I will tell you that if God is bringing this to my mind as a teaching tool, then whoever is reading this blog should also be aware that God will hold us all accountable for not obeying Jesus Christ’s commandment that we are to take the Gospel throughout the world, even if we never leave the comforts of our own town. We are to open our mouths and tell someone about the saving grace of Jesus and His salvation. Don’t use the excuse of not being comfortable about speaking to someone. Jesus Christ was not comfortable at all when they arrested him, beat him, flogged him to where his skin was so mangled and his blood flowed down. They tried him and placed a crown of thorns on his head. They mocked him as they made him carry a heavy cross to the place where they then crucified him. Before he was crucified, he had to willfully crawl onto that rugged cross. His hands and feet were nailed to that wooden rugged cross. They used nails like railroad spikes. It was a gruesome and cruel way to die. And yet our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ did that for us, so that our sins would be forgiven. He died a most horrible death and yet we cannot even experience a little of uncomfortable talk to a friend or a client! Fortunately for us, Jesus died for our sins and transgressions. He was in the tomb for 3 days. On that third day, he arose and lives forever with God the Father.

My point is that I should have said something. I should have at least asked my friend if he had ever made a personal commitment to Christ? I never recall that I even asked him anything about his spiritual life. And I grieve that I never did. To love my neighbor as myself should mean that I also tell them about the greatest gift that has ever affected me and my life. My love for God and my love for Jesus Christ and the gift of salvation.

Look at the following Scripture:

Matthew 22:36-40 English Standard Version (ESV)

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

From now on, I will try to follow Jesus Christ’s commandments better and will love my neighbor by asking a simple five questions that can lead into a wonderful conversation about God’s saving grace. What about you? Do you want to see a friend or loved one die and you never asked them about their spiritual belief? Consider not making the same mistakes that I have made by not being obedient to God. Our faith calls all of us to action in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we say that we love someone, then if we really do, ask those simple questions.

Do You Really Have a Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ?

I am writing to the people who have said that they are Christians, but when you look at their life, you cannot tell them a part from unbelievers and evildoers. God loves you so much that He wants a REAL relationship with you! For years, I thought I was a Christian and I was going through the motions, but I ultimately came to the reckoning and enlightenment that I was a fake! I was not really living my life for Christ. God got a hold of me and showed me what I was really like and I hated it! I fell to my knees and prayed for forgiveness. I changed and had a real conversion.

My concern is for my brothers and sisters who are on the same track that I was on. You go to church, warm the pew, nod your heads to the sermon, then leave to rush to the restaurant, and then live the same way you have always lived throughout the week. It is like a ritual and you are part of the religious rat race in America.

God doesn’t want just a religious person, He wants a personal relationship with each of you. Do you pray? I mean really pray! Not just a one-minute prayer! I am talking about having a conversation with God. He does not want us coming to Him when we are about to have surgery or are in a crisis, and then the rest of our time, we never say hello to God! God wants us praying to Him. He wants us to pour our hearts out to Him. He wants us to have a REAL relationship with His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. How can we expect God to work in our lives if we NEVER pray and have a REAL relationship with Him.

Will Reagan’s Lyrics from “Break Every Chain” speaks it all for me! “There is POWER in the name of JESUS! There is POWER in the name of JESUS! There is POWER in the name of JESUS! To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain!”

Yes, friends! There is power in Jesus name. I know there is because I talk with him every day! If you pray and ask in Jesus Name, the evil one will flee. Satan wants to destroy lives and tear apart families. Don’t let the evil one destroy yours. If you at one time asked Jesus in your life and somehow, you have lost your way, Jesus is waiting for you to come back to Him. He loves you so much! John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Christ came to bear our sins and redeem us from our unrighteousness. God wants a personal relationship with each of us. It does not matter what social status you are in. It does not matter if you are a police officer, business owner, office executive, or pastor. Yes I said pastor. There are some who have never accepted Christ as their Savior, believe it or not. 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

God wants a REAL relationship with you as well as me. He wants us to study His Word and pray to Him daily. Mighty things can happen when we pray! It is only by God’s grace that we take our every breath. It is through His grace that He forgives us once we recognize that we need Christ and turn from our wicked ways.

I will leave you with this last passage taken from 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Joseph T. Lee, Copyright © February 23, 2018, The Lantern & Shield Times LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Can you hear it?

Can you hear it? Can you hear it? That still small voice. Is God speaking to you? I have heard that voice. I have heard His voice and I want to seek Him in all I do. As a Christian, we are ALL called to share our faith and share the Gospel of Christ to all who will hear. That still small voice will speak to you, open doors for you, if you are willing to TRUST in Christ.

I am currently 60 years old and am about to graduate in May with a Masters in Christian Ministry. I heard that still small voice years ago prompting me to go back to college and earn my degree. Graduating will open many more doors for me in business as well as in marketplace ministry. I hear that small voice saying to “trust me.” God has placed a burden on my heart to minister to people who normally would not attend a conventional church, but would be open to friendship and the sharing of my faith.

I hear that still small voice telling me to get the training I need so that I can help others in the corporate world find faith in Christ through corporate or marketplace chaplaincy. God can use anyone willing to open his or her heart to Him and stepping out on faith to follow His leading. You don’t need to go overseas for ministry. Ministry opportunities are right in your own town or neighborhood!

For years, I have done what I wanted to do. I have ignored the calling. I have lived a Christian life, but was selfish in my own desires. But God has not left me alone. I still hear that still small voice and have finally yielded to it. God continues to place people in my path for ministry. I really do not have to go far to find them. I believe that God wants each of us to just be open to His calling and He will lead others to us in order that we may share our faith with all who will hear and is open to His Word.

Someone recently asked why I could not just skip Graduate School and do this? My answer is that I want to learn The Bible better and how to share my faith in a more accepting manner. I think that in order to do what I hear God calling me to do within the business world, I needed more training. I have a heart for ministry and for people. I go to sleep thinking about it. I wake up thinking about it. It is constantly on my mind. The question is this: “What have I really done for the cause of Christ?” As a Christian, I feel like I have wasted a good portion of my life in what I wanted as opposed to what God has been calling me to do.

At this time, nothing will change, as I am still an independent businessman, sharing my faith with others when the opportunity arises. I am still involved in my work, helping people to secure their financial futures with offering them the protection they need in the event of a disaster. I plan to continue working and running my business as my business is what opens doors of ministry. But the difference now is that I have heard that still small voice very clear and I have yielded to it.

“Can you hear it? Can you hear it? That still small voice!”  Yes, I can hear it! I hear it! My question to every Christian believer is “Can you hear it? Can you hear it? That still small voice!” If you hear it, then what are you going to do about it?

Joseph T. Lee, Copyright © February 22, 2018, The Lantern & Shield Times LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Who Will Vouch For You?

Last night, I had a very vivid dream. I was taking a class and had to take an exam. I drove my car to different parking lots to sit and study for the exam. I kept getting interrupted and was run off from several parking lots by the attendants. Then I finally found one and really started to get into the study. A security guard interrupted me and got me out of the car, took me inside, and called the police. The police arrived and were questioning me. It was then, I saw a pastor friend and I called out to him and said, “Pastor Jim (name changed as this was someone I really know), will you vouch for me?” He started to answer and then I woke up!

Not many dreams I remember, but this was so vivid, I thought about it for about an hour and then went back to sleep. While I was up pondering about what I had dreamed, it reminded me that when we die and stand before the Judgment Seat before God, who will vouch for us? I know that Christ will vouch for me because He already paid the price for all of mankind. He was falsely accused, interrogated, scourged, flogged, and beaten, tried without proof, sentenced to an unbearable and agonizing death on a rugged wooden cross. He died for both you and me! John 3:16-21 says “For God so loved the world, that He sent His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

So who will vouch for you at God’s Judgment Seat? Will God say, “Well done my faithful servant!” or will He say “I will cast you into the lake of fire because I never knew you?” You have an opportunity right now to get things straight with God. If you are reading this blog, you are alive and can still make a life changing decision. God loves us so much. He wants us to have a personal relationship with Him. You can pray this simple prayer right now from wherever you are. “Dear Lord, I am a sinner and I have done many things wrong in my life. I ask you to forgive me and help me to live a righteous life for you. I believe that Jesus was your Son and He was sent by you to die for our sins and our failings. I ask you Father to save me, forgive me, and live in me all the days of my life. In Jesus Name, Amen!”

If you prayed that simple prayer, I believe that God has forgiven you and saved you. The next step is to start reading The Holy Bible and also get involved in a local Bible believing church. Many have asked me which translation of the Bible is the best. I have always enjoyed the English Standard Version, New International Version, and the Holman Christian Standard Bible. The main thing is to buy a Bible that you can understand as a new Christian. Probably the Holman or the NIV would be best. Try to spend at time each day in the Word of God (Bible). When you become a Christian, God sends his Holy Spirit to come and help you through your walk. You will learn about all of this in your study of God’s Word.

Remember, God loves you so much! The answers to your questions can be found in His Word (Bible). I pray and ask for guidance and usually find the guidance through His Holy Scriptures. May God bless you and keep you!

Joseph T. Lee Copyright © February 21, 2018. The Lantern & Shield Times LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Never Underestimate the Power of One: Billy Graham

February 21, 2018: Today, Billy Graham dies at age 99. Many may mourn that the greatest Christian Evangelist in our lifetime has died. But I can assure you that although his body has died, his soul and spirit has passed on into glory to be with Jesus.

Instead on reporting on his death, let us celebrate his life with the story of the power of one as told by Dave Earley and David Wheeler.

Never Underestimate the Power of One

One Samaritan woman testified to her town, and many believed in Jesus.

One man, Noah, built a boat that saved the human race.

One man, Moses, stood up to Pharaoh and delivered the Hebrews from Egypt.

One woman, Deborah, delivered Israel from the Canaanite oppression.

One man, David, defeated the Philistines when he killed their champion, Goliath.

One woman, Ester, had the courage to approach the king and see her nation spared from extermination.

One man, Peter, preached a sermon that led 3,000 to be saved.

One salesman and Sunday school teacher, Edward Kimball, led a young man named Dwight to Christ. Dwight Moody became a blazing evangelist who it is said, led one million souls to Christ in his short lifetime.[1]

Wilbur Chapman received the assurance of his salvation after talking with Moody and went on to become a noted evangelist himself. The drunken baseball player Billy Sunday was an assistant to Chapman before becoming the most famous evangelist of his day. One of the fruits of Sunday’s ministry was the forming of a group of Christian businessmen in Charlotte, North Carolina. This group brought the evangelist Mordecai Ham to Charlotte in 1934. A tall awkward youth named Billy Graham was converted during those meetings.[2] According to his staff, as of 1993, more than 2.5 million people had “stepped forward at his crusades to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior.”[3]Millions of souls trace their spiritual lineage back to the influence of one man, a simple Sunday school teacher, Edward Kimball.

Someone said, “To the world you may just be one person, but to one person you may be the world.” To this we might add, to you they may seem like just one lost soul, but to God that might be a soul who can shake the whole world.[4]

(Never Underestimate the Power of One quoted from Evangelism Is, 2010).

It is estimated that over 215 million people have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Billy Graham’s ministry through his live stadium crusades in over 185 countries.

Bibliography

Earley, Dave, and David Wheeler. Evangelism Is: How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2010.

[1] W.R. Moody, The Life of Dwight L. Moody, by His Son (New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1900), taken from back cover.

[2] http://www.wheatonedu/bgc/archives/faq/13.htm.

[3] “God’s Billy Pulpit,” Time, November 15, 1993, http://205.188.238.109/time/magazine/article/0,9171,979573,00.htm.

[4] Dave Earley and David Wheeler, Evangelism Is (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2010), 133-134.

The Lantern & Shield Times LLC.

Knowing God

Many people continue to ask, “How can I truly know God?” One of the devotionals that I recommend is Henry Blackaby’s “Experiencing God Day-By-Day.” This devotional is easy to understand and is written for a layperson. I have quoted some of his devotional in this forum in order to share with you how easy it is to have a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Scriptures:

John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Philippians 3:8-10, “8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”

According to Henry and Richard Blackaby, “Knowing God through experience is much different than knowing about God through a theological textbook. According to the Bible, you cannot say that you know Him unless you have experienced Him.”[1] In order to experience God, one must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, His one and only Son, whom He allowed to be sacrificed for the redemption of our sins. Blackaby wrote, “Biblical knowledge always involves experience.”[2] Without the experience of knowing God, one is missing out on the love that only Christ can bring. Blackaby wrote, “Jesus prayed that you would experience the depth and width and height of His love and that you would enjoy God’s full and unending love in the day-to-day experiences of life.”[3] Therefore, if there are any biblical truths that you are not experiencing, ask God to bring it into your everyday experience.[4] God will bless you with those experiences once you commit yourself and make the changes that need to be made in order for you to experience the fullness of God.

Bibliography

Blackaby, Henry, and Richard Blackaby. Experiencing God Day-By-Day: The Devotional and Journal. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 1997.

The Lantern & Shield Times LLC.

It Should Have Been Me

Today, as I think about what Jesus did for you and me, I had an image in my mind. It was of the pounding of spikes, like those nailed into railroad ties. As I closed my eyes, I could see Jesus crawling onto the rugged cross after being illegally arrested, tried in the middle of the night, and early in the morning, sentenced to die a horrific death. They beat him, scourged him with a whip with metal shards imbedded in the ends of the cat of nine tails whip. They beat him almost to death. Then they fixed a thorny crown of thorns on his head and marched him through the streets to the hill carrying that heavy rugged cross. Then that is when he crawled onto that cross and they nailed each hand into the cross beam. I can hear the pounding of the metal in my mind and his anguished screams. They then placed his feet on top of each other on a type of foot platform and nailed his feet together. That is when the Roman Centurions lifted the cross up and jammed it upright into its mount. Jesus hung on that cross for hours. It was a long day and he suffered from thirst as well as most likely congestive heart failure.

As he was dying, he spoke seven times. The first, he cried out to God. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Then a thief who was also being crucified asked Jesus to remember him. And Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). “Jesus said to his mother: “Woman, this is your son.” Then he said to the disciple: “This is your mother” (John 19:26-27). Then Jesus cries out again, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34)

Then Jesus, while suffering and in anguish spoke, “I thirst” (John 19:28). They placed a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished;” and he bowed his head and gave over His spirit (John 19:29-30). Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46)

As the Roman Centurion looked upon Him, a great earthquake occurred and the Temple Veil was torn into. The Centurion said, “Surely, this truly was the son of God!” Then I realized that the Centurion was me in my dream and I awoke thinking that I am unworthy to even carry Jesus’s sandals because I am guilty. He took my blame and my sin and yet I had been forgiven by His mercy and grace. I stand looking up at that cross weeping for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He took my place on that cross. It should have been me.

Copyright © February 12, 2018, The Lantern & Shield Times LLC. All Rights Reserved.

BREAKING: 116 People Injured, 2 Killed in Amtrak Collision and Derailment With CSX Freight Train

Breaking: Cayce, South Carolina. NBC News is reporting an Amtrak passenger train collision and derailment which occurred at approximately 2:35 AM, when it collided with a CSX freight train near Cayce, SC. Amtrak Train 91 was en route from New York to Miami with 139 passengers aboard when the collision occurred.

Sixty-two (62) people were reported to have been transported to Palmetto Health Care facilities. Two people were killed in the crash. NBC12 out of Richmond, Virginia reports “Officials with Palmetto Health are giving a press conference on the Amtrak train derailment that killed two people and injured about 70 others.” Video to the Press Conference follows below:

https://www.facebook.com/NBC12News/videos/1851752378169188/?notif_id=1517750617472420&notif_t=live_video_explicit

CNN reports that about 5000 gallons of fuel has been spilt because of this collision. CNN wrote, “Robert Sumwalt, the NTSB chairman, told CNN that an NTSB team will arrive in South Carolina Sunday morning to begin the investigation, which should take 12 to 18 months.”

Amtrak said in a statement that the Amtrak train’s lead engine derailed as well as some passenger cars. The train was carrying eight (8) crew members and approximately 139 passengers.

South Carolina Emergency Officials Press Conference: a total of 116 people have been transported to area hospitals for injuries. It was estimated that the train was traveling 59 MPH.

https://www.facebook.com/NBC12News/videos/1851797994831293/?notif_id=1517758074276206&notif_t=live_video_explicit

Sources:

NBC12 News

CNN

Fox News

Insurance Buyers Beware: How to Avoid Identity Theft

Insurance Buyers Beware: I received a phone call the other day from a person who had a very thick and heavy Middle Eastern accent. When I answered, there was a weird clicking sound, as if the call was coming from overseas. He asked for me by name and I answered, “Who’s calling?” He was trying to sell me insurance. I asked him if he were in the United States and he stated that he was. Then I asked him for his National Producer Number. When I asked him that, he hung up!

Folks, if you ever get a call from someone trying to sell you insurance over the telephone, always ask for their National Producer Number as well as their State Insurance License Number. If they will not give it to you, copy their telephone number down and then hang up.

Every licensed insurance agent that does business in every state has a National Producer Number. If the agent is a licensed agent, in good standing, they will gladly give you their number as well as their state license number.

Unfortunately, there are scammers out there that want to steal your money. If you receive an unsolicited call from someone claiming to offer insurance, just ask for their National Producer Number. If they will not give it, DO NOT give any of your personal info. Instead, copy their number down and report to your State Department of Insurance for investigation. Anyone trying to sell or solicit insurance to you must be duly licensed in the state you live in. If they provide the National Producer Number or license number, go to the department of insurance website and look up the number to verify them before doing business or providing your personal information.

Never, ever be ready to disclose your name, social security number, or even driver’s license number to someone who calls you unexpectedly, without you first checking them out to see if they are duly licensed. It is a crime in all states for a person to solicit, make an offer, or even speak with you about their insurance product, unless they are licensed in the state that you live in.

Agents that are in good standing with their state Department of Insurance have attended licensing classes and have taken a test for their license. They complete either 16 hours of continuing education for a Property & Casualty license or 24 for both Property & Casualty and Life & Health Licenses. If they are not current in their Continuing Education, their licenses will be suspended for failure to maintain their CE Requirements.

In closing, whatever you do, protect your personal information. Once your identity is stolen, it will be very hard to secure it. My own identity was stolen due to a data breach. There is not much one can do when a company’s data is breached, but you can certainly avoid verbally giving your personal information out to a stranger over the telephone by practicing safe conversations and checking out the caller before attempting to do business.

If you feel your identity may have been stolen, one way to find out is to purchase credit monitoring through either your bank or credit union. If it is detected that someone has tried to obtain credit in your name, the monitoring service will assist you in how to resolve your identity theft. A police report should be filed as well as a letter be written to all three credit bureaus. Make sure you also report your identity theft to the Federal Trade Commission as well as your Attorney General’s Office. Once you have been issued an Identity Theft Passport, DMV will be notified. The Federal Trade Commission will notify the IRS, Social Security, and Medicare. Therefore, it is very important to safe guard your personal information.

Copyright © February 3, 2018, The Lantern & Shield Times LLC. All Rights Reserved.

 

Introducing Acoustic Truth

This week, we are highlighting an up and coming Christian group called Acoustic Truth. The members are Sarah and Ryan Knott of Chicago, IL. They caught my attention on Twitter announcing their newly released album, “Impact” which was recently debuted Nov 7, 2017 on iTunes. You may listen to their new album here.

https://itunes.apple.com/album/id1286890279?ls=1&app=itunes

Their vocals are pure and songs are original, felt from the heart. They sing about life and how Christ can change hearts through His Love and immeasurable Grace. “Unchanging” is their Official Video and one of my favorite songs on the album. I highly recommend Acoustic Truth.

 

I reached out to Ryan and asked him to tell me a little about himself and his wife Sarah. I asked how they met and began a Christian ministry together. Here was his response:

“Sarah was born into a Christian family, volunteered at soup kitchens, visited nursing homes, and sang at church with her family, always having a big heart for others. She has always loved Jesus and really took her faith on her own shoulders in college. It was there that she, disappointedly didn’t make the basketball team, but used her heart for Jesus and athletics to re-launch a branch of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She was blessed with an amazing mentor from an intervarsity group she was a part of who helped her plan for the Bible studies she would lead with the athletes, all while getting closer to God herself. She had a dear friend pass away during college and that also helped her dive further into the loving promises of Scripture, especially with regards to everlasting life with Jesus.”

“Ryan grew up with dreams of being a baseball player. He was throwing 95 MPH in college at Duke University where he unfortunately suffered a career ending injury that shattered two offers to play professional baseball. He became angry, especially with God. He thought he knew who God was but was in store for a lot more. It was suggested to him to do an internship in Chicago for kids with special needs where he would teach them baseball. It was there that he would meet the basketball counselor- Sarah. Yep a curve ball from God; no pun intended!
“Ryan and Sarah hit it off at camp and became friends. Sarah reintroduced Ryan to Jesus and they began creating music with one another. Sarah helped show Ryan a different side of the love of Jesus. He had grown up thinking God didn’t need to waste time on him and that He was a harsh God that kept a scale of good deeds and wrongs he had done. Seeing this other side of God, diving deeper into the Word, and beginning to play music with Sarah’s family at their church helped Ryan come to truly know and love Jesus.”
“We both want to spread the love of Jesus to the world and feel that God has given us the words and music to do that.” ~ Ryan Knott.
Here is a little information about their album:
Album accolades:
Debuted Nov 7, 2017
Hit No. 3 on Christian Gospel charts on iTunes
Hit No. 23 overall on iTunes
Most recent music Video: Unchanging
To learn more about Acoustic Truth, here is their website:
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