TRUTH + LIFE Magazine Oct/Nov 2016 by Back to the Bible Canada

OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

THANKFUL HEARTS

April 24-May 5, 2017

Journey to the land of ancient Greece and discover the location where the gospel of Jesus Christ first launched. Space is almost filled, so register now! HOSTED BY BACK TO THE BIBLE CANADA AND LAUGH AGAIN, JOIN US FOR THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME. FEATURING BIBLE TEACHER DR. NEUFELD, LAUGH AGAINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PHIL CALLAWAY AND MUSICAL GUESTS THE WIEBES.

SOLD OUT CALL PREMIERE JOURNEYS AT 1.877.277.2122 TO GO ON THE WAITING LIST.

OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

ARTICLES 4

WHAT THE REFORMATION TEACHES US ABOUT BIBLE STUDY BY DR. JOHN NEUFELD

BRIDGE OF JOY BY PHIL CALLAWAY

INCREDIBLE FAITH IN WRETCHED CIRCUMSTANCES BY ISAAC DAGNEAU

WHAT DOES GOD REALLY WANT? BY ISAAC DAGNEAU

TABLE OF CONTENTS OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016 Welcome to this month’s edition of TRUTH + LIFE Magazine. In this issue, we explore the theme of gratitude, learn the importance of the Protestant reformation and pay tribute to our co-worker Rebecca Krahn. Enjoy articles from Dr. Neufeld, Phil Callaway, Isaac Dagneau and a special interview with war veteran Peter Røed. Also, get the most up-to-date information on the Laugh Again Christmas Tour and new events with Dr. John

FEATURES 2

NEW TESTAMENT GREECE TOUR BY LAND AND SEA

BIBLE READING PLAN BY DR. JOHN NEUFELD

IN LOVING MEMORY OF REBECCA KRAHN

LAUGH AGAIN CHRISTMAS NOV, 25 - DEC, 8

TRUTH + LIFE Magazine is published bi-monthly by The Good News Broadcasting Association of Canada, Box 246, STN A Abbotsford, BC V2T 6Z6. All content is copyright © The Good News Broadcasting Association of Canada unless otherwise indicated. BACKTOTHEBIBLE.CA

OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

WHAT THE REFORMATION TEACHES US ABOUT BIBLE STUDY DR. JOHN NEUFELD

THE YEAR WAS 1514,

and the experience has often been called “The Tower Experience.” Martin Luther had been chosen as a professor in the small seminary in Wittenberg, Germany. He was charged with teaching the Psalms and the book of Romans. He would spend long hours in the “Tower Room” of an Augustinian cloister, where he sat before his open Bible, trying to understand its contents. He had started in his study of Romans and was immediately struggling with the meaning of

the phrase “the righteousness of God” found first in Romans 1:17. The Roman church taught that this phrase always referred to God’s justice in punishing sinners and in rewarding those who did what was right. But the more Luther grappled with how the apostle Paul used that phrase in Romans, the more convinced he became that the church’s definition must not be correct. Romans 1:17 says, “For in it (the gospel) the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

faith.’” As Luther pondered that sentence, he found it difficult to imagine that the “righteousness of God” as found in that sentence had anything to do with the condemnation of sinners. After all, that sentence said that the “gospel” – or the best news one could hear – was a revelation of the righteousness of God. But how could that be so? For years now, Luther had been overwhelmed with the enormity of his own sin. And yet, as he began his study of Romans, he simply couldn’t get beyond the declaration that the best news any hell-bound sinner would ever hear was the glad tidings of the righteousness of God. Luther determined to press on. He would solve this riddle, find out how the Apostle Paul used the term and determine why this was good news. Eventually he realized that the “righteousness of God” related to Christ’s work on the cross, found in Romans 3. God presented Jesus as a propitiation, or a wrath bearing sacrifice for our sins. In the cross, God demonstrated His righteousness through the meritorious work of Christ. The sinner could rejoice, for Christ had been substituted in his place. All that was left then was faith, or a confident trust in what God had accomplished on the sinner’s behalf. The blinders had OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

come off and Luther now saw with absolute clarity what the gospel was and how he with his sins could be accepted by the righteous God. Three years later – and almost 500 years ago now – on October 31, 1517, Luther would nail his 95 theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg, demanding that the Roman church renounce its reliance on indulgences. He proclaimed that Christ alone – not the church of Rome – could save men and women from their sins. The Reformation of the church was born.

What was learned through this is that we are saved by grace through faith, and that Christians must learn how to study the Bible! Ours is not to let random spiritual thoughts well up from within, believing God has “spoken to our hearts.” Instead, serious Bible study is the pathway whereby we can know God. Let’s not let the lessons of the Reformation ever be forgotten! DR. JOHN NEUFELD is the Canadian Bible Teacher of Back to the Bible Canada, and is well known both nationally and internationally for his excellence in expositional Bible teaching. Dr. Neufeld is passionate about bringing the truth of God’s Word to life across Canada and beyond.

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NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

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2 Corinthians 6-9 2 Corinthians 10-13 Romans 1-3 Romans 4-6 Romans 7-9 Romans 10-12 Romans 13-16 James 1-4 James 5 | Acts 21-22 Acts 23-25 Acts 26-28 Colossians 1-4 Ephesians 1-4 Ephesians 5-6 | Philemon Philippians 1-4 1 Timothy 1-4 1 Timothy 5-6 | Titus 1-3 2 Timothy 1-4 1 Peter 1-4 1 Peter 5 | 2 Peter 1-3 Hebrews 1-4 Hebrews 5-8 Hebrews 9-12 Hebrews 13 | Jude | 2 John | 3 John 1 John 1-4 1 John 5 | Revelation 1-3 Revelation 4-7 Revelation 8-11 Revelation 12-15 Revelation 16-19 Revelation 20-22

FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH. AND THIS IS NOT YOUR OWN DOING; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD.

EPHESIANS 2:8 OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

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DR. NEUFELD’S DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN

DEFINING MOMENTS OF OUR FAITH 500th Anniversary of the Reformation SCRIPTURE CALENDAR 2017

Back to the Bible Canada celebrates the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Each month of this 2017 wall calendar focuses on a unique location and event that shaped the Protestant church. The calendar beautifully illustrates picturesque scenes across Europe, and the history and significance behind each location. It contains a one-year Bible reading plan, along with key scriptures and inspirational quotes and insights from Dr. John Neufeld.

First copy is FREE [Additional copies are available for $10 each + shipping & handling] To order, call 1.800.663.2425 or visit our web store at backtothebible.ca

OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

BRIDGE OF JOY PHIL CALLAWAY

A FRIEND OF MINE LIKES TO REMIND ME OF HOW BAD THINGS ARE. He likes to say, “If the world didn’t suck we’d all fall off.” He’s right. This planet is a troubled place where tough times visit us all. In the midst of it, I’m fascinated by those whose lives are marked by contagious, outrageous joy. I’ve heard it in the laughter of inmates who have found God’s love and forgiveness, and in the smile of a friend facing bone cancer. His is a laugh that circumstances can’t limit. When I was 10, two famous people visited our home. The first was an internationally recognized speaker. During a roast beef dinner in our home, he groused for one whole miserable hour about the squeaky-bed hotel they had put him in, how bad the weather was, the

fact that his expensive watch had stopped. He picked at the roast my mother had laboured over as if she’d pulled it from the compost. A few months later someone else showed up. I was asked to abdicate my room so this skilled surgeon would have a place to stay. I wasn’t pleased because I would miss my Styrofoam bed. I had no idea that a movie was being made about her life and her books were selling briskly. But Dr. Helen Roseveare gratefully gobbled a meager ham sandwich at our table and thanked me repeatedly for her humble accommodations. A 10-year-old kid rarely attends church willingly, but her story so captivated me that I skipped football with friends to hear her speak. Raped twice during the Simba uprising in Africa’s Congo, Dr. Roseveare had survived unspeakable horror, yet her words and attitude OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

brought laughter to our home. She showed me the key to learning to laugh again: simple gratitude. It’s a discipline that must daily replace my desire to grouse and whine. Thankful people would rather accept than analyze, they’d rather compliment than criticize. Helen Keller thanked God for her handicaps. “Through them,” she wrote, “I have found myself, my work, and my God.” One of my favourite chapters in the Bible is Psalm 100. It was written as a song of thanksgiving. It says, “Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before Him, singing with joy…Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His

OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.” Such an attitude brings joy to our lives. Like magic, thanksgiving turns a ham sandwich into an extravagant feast, a Timex into a Rolex, and a small boy into a lifelong fan. When I got my room back from Dr. Roseveare, two gifts sat atop my pillow: A kind note I kept for years. And two bucks - a veritable fortune for a 10-year-old kid.

PHIL CALLAWAY is the host of the hit radio show Laugh Again, and an award-winning author and speaker.

“

THAT’S ME THERE, AND THAT’S MY BROTHER, AND THAT’S MY SISTER,

an older gentleman said as he pointed out his siblings in an old family photo from 1937.

”

I will never forget sitting at a table in a little church library across from Peter Røed. I had the privilege of experiencing a glimpse into the story of a man and his family who had lived through so much, and now I would be given the greater privilege of sharing just a few scenes of great faith and perseverance with others. It became almost immediately

obvious that the testimony of Peter’s life has been one of incredible faith even in the most wretched of circumstances. And it was this same faith in his God and love for the Bible that kept him steadfast in his reliance on his Saviour. Peter was born to Salvation Army missionary parents in Indonesia in 1936. Six-year-old Peter and his family couldn’t have imagined what was about to happen, as the Empire of Japan would invade their country – finding themselves transported to separate Japanese concentration camps. With only his one brother and sister, Peter entered a camp in Halmaheira for women and children, and would mercifully, and by the grace of God, be joined by their mother soon after. And it was there they would receive the heartbreaking news of the tragic death of her husband and their father. Three and a half years later, living as prisoners, Dutch airplanes flew overhead dropping millions of pamphlets declaring their freedom. OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

INCREDIBLE FAITH IN WRETCHED CIRCUMSTANCES PETER RØED’S STORY BY ISAAC DAGNEAU

Life as they had known it would never be the same. Once liberated, Peter’s mother, now a single mother of four children, would courageously lead her family to a new life in Vancouver, Canada. The story of the Røed family has been recorded and published in a book entitled, “Joy in the Morning.” It is an in depth story of a family whose lives over a period of years was filled with tragedy and heartache, yet buoyed by a deep faith that would sustain their hope through it all. During our time together, three stories of God’s grace on him and his family stood out. The first brings testament to the statement, “God works in mysterious ways.” Upon arriving to the camp in Halmaheira, Peter’s younger brother, George, became ill. Because the doctor had no access to medicine, George’s body began to fail. With his family by his side, George lay bedridden. You might assume imminent OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

tragedy and lost hope, but this was not God’s intention. One day George perked up and mentioned his longing for shrimp. Now, most meals consisted of boiled rice and vegetable scrapings. His desire for shrimp was unusually strange and impossible to satisfy! Peter, in frustration, unable to satisfy his brother’s need despondently walked outside. Looking downwards he saw the unimaginable – three shrimp. He grabbed them and ran into the house to show everyone, only to go back outside and discover more shrimp. Inge, Peter’s older sister, cooked them and gave them to George. The family watched as he joyfully ate the shrimp that were miraculously provided. To their astonishment, George began to recover in the following weeks. Soon, George was up and out of his bed. Peter, along with his family, thank God as he recounts this story as an indescribable miracle. They “testified that God had heard their prayers and provided the shrimp that gave George the desire and CONTINUED...

the will to live.” Peter’s hope was strengthened. The second story takes place at the other end of the island, where Peter and his family had moved after their release. Now, after Japan surrendered there was an Indonesian uprising that proved to be quite dangerous to foreigners – presenting a very real threat. Peter and his family were held safely in a hospital, crammed into a single room for an extended period of time. This led to 9-year-old Peter’s discontentment, leading him to escape for a little jaunt outside. While outside, Peter heard a rustling in a nearby bush. Before he could investigate, an Indonesian man lunged from the bush – dagger placed between his teeth. At an instant, Peter ran toward the entrance of the hospital. A soldier grabbed Peter and threw him indoors. With the door shut firmly behind him, Peter heard two gun shots and then silence. A moment later a soldier appeared and escorted Peter to a garage where a man lay dead, two bullet holes to his head. “Is this the man who tried to kill you?” he asked. “Yes,” Peter responded. “Well, he won’t be trying to kill anybody else now.” Through the trauma, Peter reflects back on the constant protection of a faithful God. The final story involves Peter and his family’s journey to Europe. Their hope was to get to Singapore – the final step before London. They were led with 150 refugees onto a military boat. The route involved transferring

to another ship mid-journey, which is what they did. The military ship then was to return to the island to pick up more refugees, while they would continue on the new ship to complete their voyage to Singapore. Upon arriving, they were greeted with clothing and food, but also with ominous news: when the military ship travelled back to the island, it had hit a mine and exploded. They were incredibly grateful for being on the first boat. The brief telling of these select stories don’t give justice to the reality of God’s provision, protection and faithfulness toward the Røed family. What I hope is that you will understand the incredible gratitude the Røed family sustained as they journeyed with their God through what we would think as the unimaginable. Most of us will never face torture and anguish that Peter experienced, yet if you met him, you’d recognize his steadfast trust in the God of whom he places his complete hope in for today and for eternity. At the end of my conversation with Peter, he said, “I thank God for all these experiences.” Not just the experiences of joy and freedom, but of pain and sorrow as well.

Evenden, Catherine E., and Ingebjorg C. Allan. --Joy in the Morning. Toronto: Salvation Army, Canada and Bermuda, 1992 1

OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

HOSTED BY

INDOUBT

FREE

ADMISSIO N

SPEAKERS

indoubt.ca

Clova Theatre 5732 176 Street, Sur rey Thursday, Oc tober 27th 6:30pm

DR. JOHN NEUFELD | Bible Teacher at Back to the Bible Canada DAVE JONSSON | Pastor at Ethos Young Adults STEVE KIM | Associate at Apologetics Canada |

indoubt:live is an event by indoubt (a ministry of Back to the Bible Canada)

PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA WITH

DR. JOHN NEUFELD Join Dr. John Neufeld at Promise Keepers and attend a LEGACY or QUEST Conference near you – designed to equip and encourage – helping you make a Godly impact that lasts. Promise Keepers Canada is a non-profit organization that has been working with churches since 1995 to minister to men across Canada.

LEGACY QUEST QUEST QUEST QUEST

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER, VISIT PROMISEKEEPERS.CA

OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

WHAT DOES GOD REALLY WANT? ISAAC DAGNEAU

GOD IS MORE GLORIFIED

when I thankfully receive from Him than when I bring offerings to Him.

This came to me as I was reading Psalm 50. It’s a Psalm of Asaph in which he talks about thanksgiving. Asaph writes, “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon Me [God] in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” (Psalm 50:14-15)

You see, Israel struggled not with giving God sacrifices – they struggled with giving God sacrifices of thanksgiving. They got in routines of giving burnt offerings, peace offerings, Sabbath rules, prayers, etc. They were doing all the external sacrifices that God wanted. What they lacked was a heart sacrifice, a sacrifice of thanksgiving. A true thanksgiving that gives glory to God. How? Because they’ve recognized and appreciated God’s gifts and attributed them to Him. Anytime we genuinely say “thank you,” we’re admitting that someone did something for us. Maybe you OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

received a gift by surprise, a coworker took your shift, your boss raised your salary, or maybe it’s as simple as the barista giving you the drink you paid for. In all of these situations, we admit that someone did something for us whether we deserved it or not when we say “thanks.” But it’s hard to say “thank you” sometimes, isn’t it? We’re a proud people. Pride is the deep-rooted sin in all of us that makes you want to do everything on your own. So, when someone does something for you, saying “thank you” reveals that you recognize and appreciate the gift of the other. You see, more glory is given to the giftgiver than the gift-receiver. When a proud person sees this, their heart becomes hardened. Now, whether you’re stubborn and proud, never saying “thank you” but even rejecting the gifts of others, or happy to receive and say “thank you,” we’re all guilty of robbing God of His glory. Every time we don’t give thanks to God for the things that He’s done, we’re either attributing His glory elsewhere (most likely to ourselves), or ignoring it. Both are terribly, terribly wrong. Asaph again writes, “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

Me” (Psalm 50:23). God is making it very clear that He doesn’t care about our external sacrifices unless our thankful heart is the cause of them. I’m proud, you’re proud, we’re all proud. We struggle with thankfulness because it’s contrary to our sinful nature. Sure, we do a lot for God (tithe, serve, read, pray, etc.), but what really glorifies God is when we offer Him a sacrifice of thanksgiving. How can we apply this to our lives this fall?

Every time we prepare to offer God something [Bible reading, prayer, tithes, etc.], may we first stop, thank God for all He’s given us, and let that thankful heart be the cause of our offerings.

ISSAC DAGNEAU is the leader of indoubt, a ministry of the GNBAC that seeks to bring God’s Word into the lives of youth and young adults through creative media arts.

Our ministry team is grieving. In late August, Rebecca Krahn, our audio production manager at Back to the Bible Canada, was killed in a car crash on her way to work. She was 30 years old. Rebecca was the first person that Ben Lowell and Steve Biggerstaff hired when they began their leadership in this radio ministry. Rebecca quickly became more than a staff person; she was family, and she never stopped feeling that way. She spent hours with Dr. John Neufeld and Ben in the recording studio, performing her magic on her soundboard, pouring over every single word ensuring the quality and excellence of every broadcast. But there was another side. What drove Rebecca was an overwhelming love for Christ and His Word. So many stories of selfless giving, enthusiastically sharing the love of Christ, always in a way that displayed deep authentic concern, Christ-like love and compassion. Those who visited her home always remembered seeing a Bible open and encouraging words of scripture in clear view. Rebecca loved to minister, especially to young women; with her commitment to godliness and purity, she was truly a woman of God. The words “tragedy,” “loss” and “heartbreak” come so easily to mind. But there are other thoughts

as well, like Paul’s words in Philippians 1:21. “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” But it is the previous verse that captures the present hour well: “It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” Rebecca honoured God both in life and death. Recently we found ourselves contemplating over a picture of Rebecca in which she had been running in a long distance marathon. The photo was captured as Rebecca crossed the finish line, arms raised in victory, an enormous smile on her face. We stared at the picture understanding its symbolism. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearance.” Well run, Rebecca! You have run well, and we were privileged and so encouraged to watch you run! Now you see with your eyes that all the promises of Christ are true!

OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

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“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

COLOSSIANS 3:16-17

OCTOBER + NOVEMBER 2016

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