Blog Archives

CHANGE OF LIFE

12/30/2017

Ray Stedman, who was the long-time Pastor of Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, California, was also a very gifted communicator. In his book titled Authentic Christianity, he relates a story about a young man who was subjected to the mockery of his friends when he became a Christian...

"Do you believe in all those miracles of the New Testament?" they asked him. "Yes, I do," he replied. "Do you believe that one about Jesus changing water into wine?" they demanded. "Yes, I believe that," he said. "How could he do that?" they asked. The young man responded, "I don't know how, but I believe it, because at our house he changed beer into furniture!"

There is little doubt that each and every one of us could benefit by seeing God miraculously transform one or more things in our lives. What is more, the dawning of a new year might well be the perfect time for some honest self-reflection about just what all we might need to entrust anew to God’s wisdom and power.

The result of such an endeavor could prove quite a blessing, not only for us as individuals, but for all those we know and love as well.

SOURCE: Ray Stedman, Authentic Christianity (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Discovery House Publishers, 1996), p. 36.

AN ONLINE VERSION OCCURS HERE: https://www.raystedman.org/old-testament/nehemiah/let-us-bow-before-our-maker. NOTE: another, shorter version also occurs here: https://www.raystedman.org/thematic-studies/christmas-and-easter/when-grace-appeared.

SEE ALSO: https://www.raystedman.org/ and https://www.pbc.org/our-history.

A CHRISTMAS BLESSING!

12/25/2017

This being Christmas Day, I thought it appropriate today to post one of my all time favorite video clips. Like me, you have likely seen this many times before. But for a special blessing, pay careful attention to what Linus does at the very moment he says "Fear not!"

Did you catch it? That's right! He actually drops his security blanket at the very moment he recites the angel saying "Fear not!" In so doing, he shows us that he really does understand what Christmas is all about!

Because of Christmas, we no longer have to fear! Not the evil one, not our fellow man, and yes, especially not even our God! For in sending His Son Christ Jesus to us, He has shown us that He loves us enough to die for us! And if God be for us, then who can be against us?!

VIDEO SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxaG0ZrwJ5k.

NOTE: LINUS IS HERE QUOTING THE NEW TESTAMENT GOSPEL OF LUKE, CHAPTER 2, VERSES 8-14. Cf.: http://biblehub.com/kjv/luke/2.htm.

NOTHING SECRET ABOUT IT!

12/22/2017

I love the old story about a man named Jim who was leaving church after Christmas services when the Pastor greeted him and said, “Jim, it’s time you joined the Army of the Lord. We need to see you every Sunday.”

“I’m already in the Army of the Lord, Pastor,” Jim replied. “Then why do we only see you on Christmas and Easter?” Jim looked to the right and to the left, and then leaned over to whisper, “I’m in the Secret Service.”

In truth, my friends, there is no secret service for followers of Jesus Christ. For the Bible tells us (in the New Testament Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verses 8-14) that when Jesus was born into this world, on that very first Christmas, God Himself let the secret out about His Son:

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

So, you see, my friends, the secret is out! There is no holding it back! God wants it proclaimed to all of the people in all of the world!

Surely those of us who know Him as Lord and Savior can spread the good news of God’s Son, Jesus, who came to save His people from their sins – not only at Christmas and Easter, but all throughout the year!

STORY SOURCE: http://ministry127.com/resources/illustration/christmas-only-christians.
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: http://biblehub.com/niv/luke/2.htm.

WITH ALL MY LOVE!

12/18/2017

In his book, The Tale of the Tardy Ox Cart, famed communicator Charles Swindoll tells the following story…

A lady had a circle of friends for whom she really wanted to buy Christmas presents. Time slipped away and it was so busy at work for her she just wasn’t able to get to the store to purchase those gifts. Time was running out. So, not too many days before Christmas, she decided give up on the gift idea and just buy everybody the same beautiful Christmas card.

She went to the local gift store and hurriedly went through the now picked over stack of cards and found a box of fifty, just exactly what she wanted. She didn’t take time to reads the message, she just noticed a beautiful cover on it and there was gold around it and a floral appearance on the front of the card and she thought, “That’s perfect.” So she signed all of them, “With all my love!”

As New Year’s came and she had time to go back to two or three cards she didn’t send from the stack, she was shocked to read the massage inside. It said, in a little rhyme, “This Christmas card is just to say, a little gift is on its way!”

This little story reminds me that Christmas is about showing our love for others, especially by providing gifts as a means of expressing that love. Indeed, many of us will spend this week finalizing our shopping for those we hold dear.

Of course, we carry on these time-honored traditions because God Himself, at that first Christmas, gave to us a little Gift that proved to be the greatest Gift anyone could ever give to anyone else: His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, in the Person of a little Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

For that little Babe would grow up to become the sinless Lamb of God, Who would provide the redemption we needed for our sins!

Long before this Gift came into this world, God sent us a message through the prophet Isaiah, who in the sixth and seventh verses of the ninth chapter of his Old Testament Book, penned this wonderful prophecy:

“6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”

In this prophecy, it was as if God was saying to all of mankind: “This prophecy is just to say, the perfect gift is on its way!”

STORY SOURCE:
Charles Swindoll, The Tale of the Tardy Ox Cart (Nashville: Word Publishing, 1998), p. 81.

AVAILABLE ONLINE AT:
https://books.google.com/books?id=Mm_U1VqZ9qoC&pg=PT72&lpg=PT72&dq
=%E2%80%9CThis+Christmas+card+is+just+to+say,+a+little+gift+is+on+its+w
ay!&source=bl&ots=BS_7UrtJHj&sig=C-vbIySCgmYC2VweeK_9Qa_1WkE&hl
=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjG3JTulZLYAhXB6SYKHX-gDTUQ6AEIKTAA#v=
onepage&q=%E2%80%9CThis%20Christmas%20card%20is%20just%20to%20say%2C%20a%20little%20gift%20is%20on%20its%20way!&f=false.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:
http://biblehub.com/niv/isaiah/9.htm.

SEEING CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS

12/15/2017

I have in previous blog posts referenced the website of Tony Cooke Ministries. His stated purpose is to strengthen churches and leaders. I, for one, am a leader who both benefits from and appreciates the material he makes available.

In particular, I find myself convicted this day by one specific illustration he shares. I want to post it here today. The piece is attributed to Melvin Newland.

One of my favorite Christmas stories is about the old shoe cobbler who dreamed one Christmas Eve that Jesus would come to visit him the next day. The dream was so real that he was convinced it would come true.

So the next morning he got up and went out and cut green boughs and decorated his little cobbler shop and got all ready for Jesus to come and visit. He was so sure that Jesus was going to come that he just sat down and waited for Him.

The hours passed and Jesus didn’t come. But an old man came. He came inside for a moment to get warm out of the winter cold. As the cobbler talked with him he noticed the holes in the old man’s shoes, so he reached up on the shelf and got him a new pair of shoes. He made sure they fit and that his socks were dry and sent him on his way.

Still he waited. But Jesus didn’t come. An old woman came. A woman who hadn’t had a decent meal in two days. They sat and visited for a while, and then he prepared some food for her to eat. He gave her a nourishing meal and sent her on her way.

Then he sat down again to wait for Jesus. But Jesus still didn’t come.

Then he heard a little boy crying out in front of his shop. He went out and talked with the boy, and discovered that the boy had been separated from his parents and didn’t know how to get home. So he put on his coat, took the boy by the hand and led him home.

When he came back to his little shoe shop it was almost dark and the streets were emptied of people. And then in a moment of despair he lifted his voice to heaven and said, “Oh Lord Jesus, why didn’t you come?”

And then in a moment of silence he seemed to hear a voice saying, “Oh shoe cobbler, lift up your heart. I kept my word. Three times I knocked at your friendly door. Three times my shadow fell across your floor. I was the man with the bruised feet. I was the woman you gave to eat. I was the boy on the homeless street.”

Jesus had come. The cobbler just didn’t realize it.

I trust this speaks to you as much as it does to me. Most any committed follower of Christ, reading this story, will surely have His words in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, chapter 25, verses 37-40 come to mind:

37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

As we each go through this busy Christmas season, I hope we will not be so busy that we fail to realize whenever we are being presented with a God-given opportunity for glorifying the Christ of Christmas by recognizing His presence in our midst.

STORY SOURCE: http://www.tonycooke.org/holiday-resources/christmas_illu
strations/.
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: http://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/25.htm.
TONY COOKE'S WEBSITE: http://www.tonycooke.org/.

ANY WAY YOU SAY IT…

12/11/2017

Time for a little humor… As someone who has been in the ministry for over thirty years, I sometimes feel like I have seen and heard just about every illustration there is, especially during the holiday season. But I recently came across a new twist on an old story; and thought it worth sharing.

It seems particularly apropos for the overly litigious world in which we live these days. I hope it brings a little joy to you during what can sometimes be a frenzied time.

OFFICIAL AFFIDAVIT
RE: THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Whereas, on or about the night prior to Christmas, there did occur at a certain improved piece of real property (hereinafter referred to as the “House") a general lack of stirring by all creatures therein, including, but not limited to a mouse.

A variety of foot apparel, e.g., stocking, socks, etc., had been affixed by and around the chimney in said House in the hope and/or belief that St. Nick a/k/a/ St. Nicholas a/k/a/ Santa Claus (hereinafter referred to simply as "Claus") would arrive at some time thereafter. The minor residents, i.e. the children, of the aforementioned House were located in their individual beds and were engaged in nocturnal hallucinations, i.e. dreams, wherein vision of confectionery treats, including, but not limited to, candies, nuts and/or sugar plums, did dance, cavort and otherwise appear in said dreams.

Whereupon the party of the first part (sometimes hereinafter referred to as "I"), being the joint-owner in fee simple of the House with the party of the second part (hereinafter referred to as "Mamma"), and said Mamma had retired for a sustained period of sleep. At such time, the parties were clad in various forms of headgear, e.g., kerchief and cap.

Suddenly, and without prior notice or warning, there did occur upon the unimproved real property adjacent and appurtenant to said House, i.e., the lawn, a certain disruption of unknown nature, cause and/or circumstance. The party of the first part did immediately rush to a window in the House to investigate the cause of such disturbance.

At that time, the party of the first part did observe, with some degree of wonder and/or disbelief, a miniature sleigh (hereinafter "the Vehicle") being pulled and/or drawn very rapidly through the air by approximately eight (8) reindeer. The driver of the Vehicle appeared to be and in fact was, the previously referenced Claus.

Said Claus was providing specific direction, instruction and guidance to the approximately eight (8) reindeer and specifically identified the animal co-conspirators by name:

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen (hereinafter "the Deer"). (Upon information furthered received, it is further asserted that an additional co-conspirator named "Rudolph" may have been involved.)

The party of the first part witnessed Claus, the Vehicle, and the Deer intentionally and willfully trespass upon the roofs of several residences located adjacent to and in the vicinity of the House, and noted that the Vehicle was heavily laden with packages, toys and other items of unknown origin or nature. Suddenly, without prior invitation or permission, either express or implied, the Vehicle arrived at the House, and Claus entered said House via the chimney.

Said Claus was clad in a red fur suit, which was partially covered with residue from the chimney; and he carried a large sack containing a portion of the aforementioned packages, toys, and other unknown items. He was further smoking what appeared to be tobacco in a small pipe in blatant violation of local ordinances and health regulations.

Claus did not speak, but immediately began to fill the stocking of the minor children, which hung adjacent to the chimney, with toys and other small gifts. (Said items did not, however, constitute "gifts" to said minors pursuant to the applicable provisions of the U.S. Tax Code.)

Upon completion of such task, Claus touched the side of his nose and flew, rose, and/or ascended up the chimney of the House to the roof where said Vehicle and Deer waited and/or served as "lookouts." Claus immediately departed for an unknown destination.

However, prior to the departure of the Vehicle, Deer, and Claus from said House, the party of the first part did clearly hear Claus loudly state and/or exclaim: "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!" or words to that effect.

Sworn to By One:                      Mr. Clement Clark Moore, Esquire
As Having First Been Testfied to under the Original Appellation of “A Visit From St. Nicholas”

On the date of: December 23, in the year of Our Lord, 1823, Anno Domini

SOURCE: Available widely on the internet. See, for instance,
http://forums.off-road.com/jeep-short-wheelbase/99405-o-t-night-before-christ
mas-legalese.html.

COURAGE IN THE DARKEST OF TIMES

12/7/2017

Today being the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, I have been reminded of the great sacrifice of so many on behalf of this great nation in which we live. May we never forget that day of infamy! I have also been reminded of what is, for me at least, one of the most powerful moments in modern cinematic history.

The 2001 epic war film, Pearl Harbor, portrays the days leading up to Pearl Harbor, the attack itself, the immediate aftermath, and the response of America in her first few months into World War Two, culminating in the bombing of Japan by Doolittle’s Raiders.

At the risk of oversimplifying, Japan’s sweeping conquest of the Pacific was all but conclusive until they failed in at least two major objectives in the attack on Pearl Harbor. While America suffered terrible losses in life and among her battleships, the failure of Japan to finish off the numerous fuel reserves stored nearby and, even more consequential, to catch the United States’ Aircraft carriers at anchor in Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941 were blunders that would soon prove catastrophic.

Accordingly, six months after Pearl Harbor, on May 4-8, 1942, America essentially fought Japan to a draw in the first ever battle between aircraft carriers, each sinking one carrier of the other’s fleet. One month later, in the Battle of Midway, America won a decisive victory, sinking four Japanese carriers against only one carrier lost. Even more significantly, Japan had 248 aircraft destroyed and over 3,000 killed, many of whom were their most seasoned pilots.

From that day forward, barely seven months after Pearl Harbor, Japan was on the defensive as America began an island hopping campaign across the Pacific that eventually reclaimed all the territory Japan had conquered and ultimately led to the defeat of Japan and the occupation of her home islands.

But what I want to refer to here is the significance of leadership as displayed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in America’s darkest hour. In the months immediately after Pearl Harbor, he knew that his fellow Americans were struggling with fear, doubt, and the specter of defeat. As a leader, he understood that it was his job to find a way to inspire them.

And for this reason, he set his cabinet the task of finding some way to retaliate against Japan and give the American people the all-important boost in morale that they so desperately needed.

The result was a surprise raid in April, 1942, led by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle and consisting of Sixteen B-25B Mitchell medium range bombers that were launched without fighter escort from the U.S. Navy's aircraft carrier USS Hornet deep in the Western Pacific Ocean.

The bold plan called for flying over Japan, dropping bombs on major targets, and then flying on to China before eventually landing in non-Japanese occupied territory. Unfortunately, the US Fleet was sighted and the bombers had to be launched at a far greater distance than anticipated, thus limiting fuel supply.

Many planes finished the mission with little or no fuel, with most crashing far short of their desired landing spots and into Japanese occupied territory. After many harrowing experiences, all but three of the eighty crew members survived and eventually made it back home.

While the mission inflicted very little actual military destruction itself, the damage to Japanese psyche due to an attack on the homeland they had considered impregnable was considerable. More to the point, the effect on America’s morale was tremendous. The Doolittle raid, carried out by brave men, conceived by top brass, and inspired by a true leader was of incalculable significance to the outcome of World War Two.

I conclude by attaching a link to a short, but powerful video clip wherein President Roosevelt dramatically finds a way to inspire his war cabinet to break free from their miasma, galvanizing them to action in the process. What one sees here is leadership at its finest on display. I hope it speaks to you as much as it does me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFhY6IaUJ40

ANY WAY YOU LOOK AT IT!

12/4/2017

Candy Chand is a gifted author living in Rancho Murieta, California. She has published over a half dozen wonderful books, all of which are available online at leading bookstores.

One of her first published pieces was a work titled “Christmas Love” (sometimes alternatively titled as “The W in Christmas”), which first appeared as a short story in a magazine titled Clarity way back in 1999. It exploded across the internet and soon thereafter was included in the famed Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

In what can only be described as “God Moment”, the events related in this simple story perfectly encapsulate the true purpose for which Jesus Christ came into this world that very first Christmas.

Candy writes…

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. But once again, despite my plans, chaos prevailed. I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and yes, even the all American pastime, overspending. Yet, still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and, of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old filled with hopes, dreams and laughter. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production.

Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, just as I promised, on the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in 10 minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. The melodies were fun, cute and lighthearted, but nowhere to be found was even the hint of an innocent babe, a manger, or Christ's sacred gift of hope and joy. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love", I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row - center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her - a small, quiet girl in the front row who was holding the letter "M" upside down. She was entirely unaware, that reversed, her letter "M" appeared as a "W." Fidgeting from side to side, she soon moved entirely away from her mark.

The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at the little one's mistake. But in her innocence, she had no idea they were laughing at her as she stood tall, proudly holding her "W".

One can only imagine the difficulty in calming an audience of young, giggling students. Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.

In that instant, we understood -- the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

CHRIST WAS LOVE.

And, I believe, He still is.

SOURCES: In addition to having been reproduced in untold numbers of e-mails over the few decades, this classic piece is also available widely online: See, for instance:

http://www.hearttouchers.com/christmas_love_by_candy_chand

and

http://www.temcat.com/001-TC%20Letters/The-W.pdf

and

http://www.romeoumc.com/templates/System/details.asp?id=37949&PID=1024511

These are but a few of many postings. My own immediate source is the first one cited. It goes without saying that authors deserve proper credit and reward for their work. Please consider visiting an online book retailer and purchasing one of her wonderful books.

NOTE: This story has even been recorded as a song and has a posting with a video available online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-E6a5OR3xE.

Clarity Magazine appears to be online at: http://www.claritymag.co.uk/.

THE PRICE OF OUR FAITH

12/1/2017

An episode of the old Andy Griffith Show centers around an individual named Tom Silby, the deceased husband of a certain Anabelle Silby. When Sheriff Andy Taylor unexpectedly meets Tom on the street, he quickly escorts him inside the courthouse and out of public view.

Sheriff Taylor then proceeds to explain to Mr. Silby that as far as he and the rest of the sleepy little town of Mayberry are concerned, Tom has long been dead. It seems that his wife, Annabelle, had told everyone that he had been hit by a taxi in Charlottesville. Tom soon reveals that he hadn’t been killed at all, but had simply gotten enough of Anabelle's nagging and had left her.

It becomes clear that rather than admit she had lost her husband, Anabelle had pretended that he had been killed and proceeded to have a funeral for him. After visiting his grave, Sheriff Taylor passionately convinces Tom Silby to go home and patch things up with Anabelle.

I share this because being considered dead while still alive is actually a little more common than many of us, at least here in the western world, may realize. Let me explain.

This week is being devoted to the annual emphasis on International Missions by the 47,000 or so churches of the Southern Baptist Convention. At our own church, we had a man who had been raised in Kenya as the son of Missionaries to share a few of his memories.

As a part of his presentation, he shared that in that part of the world, it is not uncommon for individuals who embrace Jesus Christ to be written off as dead by their own unbelieving families. In many cases, these families will carry out an actual funeral and burial for the any family member who has converted to Christianity, counting this individual as dead.

The young man shared that he had actually been taken to graves by believers who showed him where they had supposedly been buried by their unbelieving families.

I share this simply to remind us that it can be a costly thing to become a follower of Jesus Christ. After all, Jesus Himself said (in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, chapter 16, verses 24-27):

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

Even more to the point, He also said (in Matthew, chapter ten, verses 35-39):

35For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - 36a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

I trust those of us here in the western world will never forget the tremendous price that so many other believers pay to have eternal life through Jesus Christ. I also trust that, if upon closer examination, we ourselves find that our faith is not costing us anything, that we might be prodded to ask ourselves why this is.

What has it cost you to be a follower of Jesus Christ? After all, I remind you that it was Jesus Himself Who gave up His own home in Heaven with His place next to His own Heavenly Father in order to come into this world and to give up His own life so that we are who were dead may in fact have life!

SOURCES: I have written many times before (12/16/2013, 09/03/2015, etc…) of my affinity for all things Mayberry. I am referring here in this blog post to Season 1, Episode 8. See http://mayberry.wikia.com/wiki/Opie%27s_Charity.

Our speaker, Kenny Duncan, has written a book about his experiences growing up in Kenya as the son of Missionaries. It is titled “Now I Can See” and is available for digital download through Apple iBooks.

SCRIPTURE SOURCES: Found at http://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/16.htm and http://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/10.htm.