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Alan Buterworth Family Update
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Newsletters - click "Get Resource" to see complete PDF version with photos and more
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Entries from
March 2004
March 2004 Newsletter
Are You Out of Your Mind?
By Alan Butterworth
Are you out of your mind? I hope so. Unbelievers say this to us on the streets. After all, the Bible says, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those of us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Cor. 1:18.
In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul explains, “we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God, not from us.” In the next chapter, Paul continues: “We live by faith, not by sightÖwe try to persuade menÖIf we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of GodÖ for Messiah’s love compels usÖ he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” 2 Cor. 5:7-15.
When Ozzy Smith’s fly ball made it into the bleachers, and the Cardinals won the World Series, the late Jack Buck announced, “Go crazy folks. Go crazy!” Why do we reserve that kind of passion for our favorite sports team?
On January 24, I had an opportunity to renew an old friendship. Mike, who just moved to Phoenix, was my best friend in Jr. High and High School in the Bronx. As teens we were searching for the truth. Our search led us to places like the Society for Ethical Culture and a Buddhist Temple. Because we lived in a Jewish neighborhood, no one had ever told us about Jesus.
On April 26, 1970, God led us to Eugene, Oregon to a place called Shiloh House. There Mike and I heard the Gospel for the first time. I experienced being “out of my mind”. It was a lot like the flash and noise Saul heard on the road to Damascus. The scales fell off Mike’s eyes that day, and he has been a believer ever since. Although I was rocked to the core, I got up and ran. I ran for 15 years. I was afraid to listen to the Ananais’ in my life (Mike, my wife Pam and others). In 1985, I finally listened to Pam and I was baptized! Praise God!
You may have unbelieving friends, whether Jewish or Gentile. The Gospel may still be foolishness to them. Please, don’t stop praying for the salvation of your unbelieving friends. May we help you be an Ananais for friends?
I give thanks for the gift of faith God has granted Mike, Pam, you and me. I pray that we will always live, not for ourselves, but for Messiah, even if it seems like we are out of our mind! How is God calling you to serve Him?
In Phoenix, I was also privileged to lead a Jewish Evangelism Seminar. After a little training at Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, we went to the world’s largest classic auto auction.
By our second session Nancy said she was talking to her Jewish friend about the Hebrew Scriptures and she was amazed at how little her Jewish friend knew about “her own Bible”. I told Nancy,”“that’s very common, most Jewish people don’t know their own Bible.” She reaffirmed this by quoting her Jewish friend as saying, “If I have any questions about my Bible, I’ll just come to you (Nancy) and ask.”
By the end of our second session Nancy made a comment that pastor and I both picked up on. We were talking about what scriptures we would share with Jewish people and there was a bit of a debate about using something harsh that Jesus said versus something from the Old Testament. Nance spoke up and said, “I would think if I was sharing the Gospel with my Jewish friend, I would start with the Old Testament.” I looked at her and said, “That’s exactly what I do.”
How do you like that? Within two sessions from “I don’t like you because you say Jewish people need the Gospel,” to “If I were going to share the GospelÖ” Least to say pastor and I were both inspired.
Awesome things are obviously happening and we need your prayers even MORE!
Also, we have begun planning for this year’s Jesus Loves New York outreach. This year, it’s scheduled the week of June 24 – June 29, 2004. Please block out these dates on your calendar and plan to join us for a fun filled week of proclaiming the Gospel in New York City!
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF
JESUS’ PASSION? – by Steve Cohen
With the public release of Mel Gibson’s latest movie, The Passion of Christ, has come a flurry of debate, protests, dialogue and diatribes. In many cases, the reinforcement of historic positions presents more heat than light. Yet for Christians, perhaps this is one of the most unique times to surface the question for all to consider – not who killed Jesus, but “WHO IS JESUS?”
It has been nearly 2,000 years since his death and resurrection, yet still, 80% of the world’s gentile population and over 98% of the worlds Jewish population does not yet confess that Y’shua is King of kings and Lord of Lords. The primary reason is NOT that people have read and rejected the claims of the New Testament, rather it is that they have never honestly considered it. Perhaps with the release of this film depicting the last 12 hours before the death of Jesus, we might find a way to urge others to find out for themselves. Going to the movie will give a glimpse, albeit a very powerful one, into the overall picture of the life of the Messiah. The best case is still found in the scriptures themselves.
If you have a Jewish friend who is willing to consider the claims of Christ, we would like to help. We now carry the New Testament with Messianic prophecies clearly detailed and their fulfillment demonstrated. SEND US THEIR NAME, HOME ADDRESS AND PHONE AND WE WILL FORWARD A FREE COPY TO THEM!
HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO THOSE WHO CLAIM THAT THE FILM FOSTERS ANTI-SEMITISM RESURRECTING THE FALSE CHARGE OF DEICIDE: THE JEWS KILLED JESUS?
Dennis Prager, a prominent Jewish national media figure said, “... what Jews need to understand is that most American Christians watching this film do not see “the Jews” as the villains in the passion story historically, let alone today. First, most American Christians —Catholic and Protestant — believe that a sinning humanity killed Jesus, not “the Jews.” Second, they know that Christ’s entire purpose was to come to this world and to be killed for humanity’s sins. To the Christian, God made it happen, not the Jews or the Romans (the Book of Acts says precisely that). Third, a Christian who hates Jews today for what he believes some Jews did 2,000 years ago only reflects on the low moral, intellectual and religious state of that Christian. Imagine what Jews would think of a Jew who hated Egyptians after watching “The Ten Commandments,” and you get an idea of how most Christians would regard a Christian who hated Jews after watching “The Passion.” from http://www.townhall.com/columnists/dennisprager/dp20031028.shtml
In the March 2004 edition of Reader’s Digest, Mel Gibson was extensively interviewed concerning the film. I wanted to quote two excerpts:
RD: What are you trying to do with this movie?
Gibson: Well, what I see in this story – and there are no other stories quite like it – is faith, hope, love and forgiveness. And I think we are desperately in need of these things in the world.
RD: Give me the headline you want to see on the biggest paper in America the day afterThe Passion opens.
Gibson: War ends. [p. 94-95]
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