Transforming Moments for September 30 2006

His name, as found in the Greek New Testament, was Theophilus. He’s mentioned twice in the Bible, once in the opening verses of the Gospel of Luke, and again in the inaugural verses of the Acts of the Apostles. His name means “Loving Friend of God”. Theophilus. To this day, Bible scholars are divided over whether he was an actual person or an invented one, a literary device; an imaginary person Luke designed to represent every person for whom he wrote his Gospel or the Acts. Well, we may not know who he was, but we all ought to want to be who he was: loving friends of God. You see, people like that are the ones who get the most out of the Scriptures. Luke literally wrote his Gospel for “God loving hearts”. Having such a heart is the first requirement for the Bible to deeply mark your life. Has Bible reading been a bit dry for you lately? Well, how’s the love level in your heart for God?

Transforming Moments for September 30 2006

His name, as found in the Greek New Testament, was Theophilus. He’s mentioned twice in the Bible, once in the opening verses of the Gospel of Luke, and again in the inaugural verses of the Acts of the Apostles. His name means “Loving Friend of God”. Theophilus. To this day, Bible scholars are divided over whether he was an actual person or an invented one, a literary device; an imaginary person Luke designed to represent every person for whom he wrote his Gospel or the Acts. Well, we may not know who he was, but we all ought to want to be who he was: loving friends of God. You see, people like that are the ones who get the most out of the Scriptures. Luke literally wrote his Gospel for “God loving hearts”. Having such a heart is the first requirement for the Bible to deeply mark your life. Has Bible reading been a bit dry for you lately? Well, how’s the love level in your heart for God?

Transforming Moments for September 28 2006

For many, the greatest English language version of the Bible ever translated is the King James Version of 1611. The beauty of its wording, even to today’s unschooled ears, is unsurpassed. “Ask, and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find…ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free…Lo, I stand at the door and knock.” All these are timelessly eloquent. But did you know that none of these phrases originated with the King James Version? They actually were translated three hundred years before, in the first English language version of the Bible ever translated. The man responsible was John Wycliffe, and he translated that Bible under fear for his life from an angry Catholic church. Finished in 1380, many of his phrases were so beautiful and accurate to the Greek that they were simply adopted, unchanged, into the King James translation in 1611. John Wycliffe was pursued until his death because of his brave translation that put the Bible into the hands of the common man for the first time in a thousand years. Next time you open your Bible, think of him, and give thanks.

Transforming Moments for September 27 2006

As he leafed through the newspaper one Wednesday morning in the fall of 2006, Police Chief James Cavallo thought there was something awfully familiar about the bank robbery suspect pictured in a grainy surveillance photo. Studying the suspect’s slender build, the way he carried himself, the red baseball cap he wore, Chief Cavallo came to a terrible conclusion: the young man who had robbed the bank was his own son. And so, as painful as it was, he turned him in. Police arrested James Cavallo Jr., who confessed to the robbery. In one transforming moment, a father had to do the unthinkable to his own son in order to satisfy the law he had sworn to uphold. 2000 years ago, our heavenly Father faced the same kind of transforming moment when He turned from his own son and sacrificed Him on a cross to pay the price for our lawlessness. Only Jesus could never confess His own guilt. He had none. But He did carry mine. And yours. Aren’t you grateful?

Transforming Moments for September 26 2006

His name was Phillip Bliss, and he is the second most famous hymn writer in American history, followed only by the brilliant blind songstress Fanny Crosby. Some of the hymns he wrote that we still sing today are greats like Hallelujah, What a Savior, Redeemed, and Wonderful Words of Life. Bliss also wrote the melody to It Is Well With My Soul. Dedicating his life to the ministry at a revival service, he left a prosperous business behind and was known around the world at age 38. Phillip Bliss boarded a train on the night of December 29 1876. That train ran off a trestle in a snowstorm at midnight, and both Bliss and his young wife plummeted to their deaths. The next day, his luggage arrived at his destination on another train. In it was the last hymn he ever wrote. It began, “I know not what awaits me. God kindly veils my eyes.” Phillip Bliss didn’t know death awaited him that night, but he lived with such focus that, when the time came, no verses in his life song had yet to be written. Could the same be said about you and me?

Transforming Moments for September 25 2006

His name was Ignatius, and he lived and ministered as a pastor in the early second century. He is known to many as Saint Ignatius today, but he would have honestly been a bit embarrassed at such a title. You see, he was actually a disciple of the Apostle John, who wrote the Book of Revelation in the New Testament. Ignatius, along with another early church leader known as Polycarp, is the only directly discipled follower of any of the original apostles that we really have a record of. How incredible it must have been for Ignatius to spend long hours learning at the feet of someone like John, who had literally witnessed both the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus. What a way to appreciate the Passion of the Christ. Maybe that’s why Saint Ignatius was known to often say “The crucified Christ is my only and entire love.” Who are you passing on your passion for Christ to these days?

Broadcast Begins This Monday Sept 25

Transforming Moments hits the air as a twice daily short form feature this Monday September 25 at 8:59 AM and 2:59 PM PST on AM 710 KFIA. I hope you'll be able to catch the programs. Here is the promo that began airing this week. The website referred to will link to this weblog. BTW each day's broadcast will be featured here in full form.

Hi, this is Joe Pursch. For years, you knew me as the host of Real Talk here on KFIA. I enjoyed bringing you commentary every night that focused on the transformation Christ can bring to people and to culture. Now I’m bringing that same message of transformation twice daily here on KFIA as the host of Transforming Moments. Transforming Moments is a daily commentary featuring the stories of people from church history, both past and present, and how they encountered the transforming power of Christ in their daily lives. Every day’s broadcast is original, and designed to encourage you in your Christian walk. Transforming Moments airs twice daily on KFIA at 9AM just prior to Jay Sekulow and again at 3PM just prior to The Bible Answer Man. Together, we’ll take a journey into transformation. That’s Transforming Moments at 9AM and 3PM daily, right here on KFIA. For more info, log on to transformingmoments.com. I’m Joe Pursch, and I look forward to you joining me.

Thanks to those of you who have encouraged this project, and many thanks to Steve Gasser at KFIA for a masterful job of producing the music and recording the shows.

Further News on the New Broadcast

transformingmoments

The plans for the new feature on KFIA entitled "Transforming Moments" continue. Two daily air times have now been agreed to, 9AM and 3PM PST. The feature will begin airing Monday September 24. Please continue to pray for this developing ministry.

Transforming Moments Debuts

Welcome to theTransforming Moments blog page, the online blogging home of "Transforming Moments", the daily inspriational radio ministry of Joe Pursch.

Check here beginning September 18th 2006 for daily versions of the radio program, other writing by Joe, as well as updates on Joe's ministry schedule.