by Ingrid Schlueter
As a part of the job that I do in Christian radio, I have to fight my way through a blizzard of catalogs from Christian publishers across the nation. I also get a number of secular catalogs as well. There is one predominant theme now from both non-Christian and Christian publishers alike and it cannot be denied. That theme is spirituality and how to experience an authentic spiritual life.
The New Agers, or “transformational teachers”, as they now prefer to be called have books filled with the theme of finding personal peace through various methods. Five steps to this, ten steps to that. Each individual guru has his or her own path for you to follow that they claim will help you achieve “authentic” spirituality. Millions around the world are buying into each new offering from publishers who promise the ultimate spiritual answer.
It is no secret that like its secular counterpart, Christian publishing is largely a money-making business. Without a constant flow of new books that capture the imagination of the evangelical public, publishing houses would quickly grind to a halt. This reality, however, is often at odds with what is best for Christians in their spiritual lives. The publishing world and Christian media have created an array of celebrities who are looked to as spiritual experts upon whom we must depend to hear from God for our own lives. How many Sunday school classes today rely not on the Bible itself, but on the latest books about the Bible from the current raft of authors and teachers put forth from Zondervan, Nelson, Word, Intervarsity, and so forth? Many “Bible” classes today are taught by authors and celebrities on DVD, rather than a humble member of the church who has immersed himself in the Word of God.
Compounding this problem is often the content of the books themselves. One mainstream Christian book catalog I received offered all kinds of ways to find the right kind of spirituality. Here are some of the book titles they are promoting: The Path of Celtic Prayer: An Ancient Way to Everyday Joy, Spirituality Old & New: Recovering Authentic Spiritual Life, Flirting with Monasticism: Finding God on Ancient Paths (this is an evangelical publisher!), Fasting: Spiritual Freedom Beyond our Appetites, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us, Sacred Rhythms: Arranging our Lives for Spiritual Transformation, and The Deeper Journey. Like the medieval Roman church prior to the Reformation, finding God and experiencing Him is accomplished through a variety of methods and practices, not opening His Word, the Bible.
The conservative Christian publishers are at times no better. Here are a few titles offered by a more conservative publishing house. 30 Days to Taming Your Tongue, The Sassy Girl’s Checklist for Living, Loving and Overcoming, Take Back Your Life, Prayers for Emotional Wholeness, 30 Days to Taming Your Stress, 15 Minutes Alone with God. There are thousands upon thousands of books like this that hit the market every year, and enough people are buying them to keep Christian publishing a lucrative business. While some of these books may have good things to say about given problems in the lives of believers, the real question is this: If the Bible truly contains what we need for life and godliness, why are so many evangelical Christians seeing the Bible through the eyes of someone else? If the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth through His Word, than why are so many Christians looking for ten steps to freedom from this or that spiritual problem, or 30 days to being a better person? In short, why are billions of dollars a year going into supporting Christian publishing when we have the whole counsel of God in our hands?
Christians down through the centuries had nothing but the Scripture and their unquenchable faith in the Lord. They didn’t have the kind of celebrity media culture of today where we are told over and over that we need to buy this latest book or DVD to really understand how to encounter God. Yet those Christians of old were the ones who faced lions, fire, the sword, imprisonment, torture and the loss of every earthly comfort for the sake of the Gospel. How did they manage to do all of that without stacks of self-help books, guidance manuals and elaborate seminars on how to achieve real spirituality? The answer? They had something far more powerful than Christian publishing. They had the power of the Holy Ghost in their lives and utter confidence in what God had told them in His Word. That was enough.
This kind of deep Christian faith is not achieved by reading the Word through another’s eyes or adopting the practices or methods of the evangelical celebrity of the hour. It is discovered by delving into the vast riches of God’s Word for ourselves and by seeking God in earnest and prevailing prayer. It is astounding how we can spend our entire lives reading about the Bible, reading about a deeper spiritual life and a deeper relationship with Christ and yet never achieve it. Even those in ministry who are out fighting false doctrine and spiritual error can sadly fall prey to this. This kind of virtual Christianity is why our ministries and churches are so often full of carnality and flesh and lacking in spiritual power. Only a spiritual walk with God through daily immersion in His Word and faithful prayer will keep us from this state.
There is a place for solid Christian literature, without doubt. I have been greatly helped by the writings of faithful and godly men and women, past and present. But when the writings of others become the primarysource of our spiritual food, we are missing out on what God has to say to us through the Word, directly. There is also no substitute for time away from the noise and clamor of our commercial culture (that includes much of evangelicalism as well, sadly) and time with the Lord Himself.
Our souls are restless, as Augustine once wrote, until they rest in God. Our souls are hungry, and they are only satisfied when they are in fellowship with our Creator. That will not come by learning how to chant mantra prayers, or clutching prayer beads or burning candles or listening to some expert on “spiritual formation.” It will also not come by listening to every new emerging teacher to produce a DVD on the ultimate whiz bang way to encounter God or by reading yet another author’s take on what God has to say to us. The Scriptures tell us that He who has begun a good work in us will be faithful to complete it. (Phil. 1:6) That’s why our eyes need to be on the author and finisher of our faith, and not on the hot new release from profit-driven Christian publishing. The old gospel song says it best:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
in the light of His glory and grace.
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Articles
Mission Mexico Part 38

BROTHER JUAN IS BLAZING A GOSPEL TRAIL
FYI, Biblesinbulk.com (Reina Valera 50% off) case of 36 for $90 ($2.50 each)
TODAY a man named Juan was ministered to, He is born again and on fire. We fellowshipped best we could as I had interrupted his work. As I walked by, a man (Juan) was carrying food into a cafe and he dropped some bottled water. So I grabbed the bottles (plastic) that were dropped and ministered Christ to him. He immediately responded by speaking God’s Word. He does delivery work to restaurants and cafes and so he sees lots of people daily. Brother Juan took a stack of the JESUS tracts and he’s passing them out today!!! He just sent me this….. looks like I will have to be supplying him from now on, we hope right.
Juan just texted me and said “Brother, I visit the prison, and my brothers need Bibles. God’s Word never returns back to Him void (Isaiah 55:11)!”
Juan is also asking me to go to the prison with him to preach and distribute the Spanish Bibles and JESUS tracts.
So we will be supplying him with Spanish JESUS tracts and the Reina Valera Spanish Bibles (only). RVR Reina Valera is the King James Bible equivalent in Spanish.
>>>> FYI, Biblesinbulk.com (Reina Valera 50% off) case of 36 for $90 ($2.50 each)
Any RVR Spanish Bibles you mail here to TX will be forwarded to me:
Todd Tomasella
220 N Zapata Hwy Ste 11
Laredo, TX 78043 – 4464
*Thank the LORD for the 5-7 people who are financially supporting this ministry outreach monthly.
Can you believe more Christians aren’t taking advantage of this opportunity!? Wow. Okay just a thought.
God is good for sure.
The LORD says He orders the steps of His people. Psalms 37:23 amazing.
I was going to walk down another street actually, but went that way, the way, the street whereon I met brother Juan.
And as I was passing Juan the water bottles fell to the ground
So naturally I stooped, picked them up and handed them to him
Begin speaking the Word to brother Juan.
Handed him a JESUS tract.
And he immediately lit up.
He is a Holy Ghost filled saint no doubt, evangelizing daily.
The Holy Spirit in action through His body and Juan….
Here are but 2 of the people Juan is ministering to this week, within 24 hours of us meeting.
Brother Juan is ministering the Word of our LORD and passing out more JESUS tracts today. Juan just sent me this:
“Brother, they’re asking me for a Bible. Glory to God, some of us need big print Bible ” Juan
RESPONSE:
For now have them download the Reina Valera Bible in the play store on their cellphone. I can get you more Jesus tracts soon. And we have Spanish Bibles in print on the way, in the mail.
Saints, I am going to give brother Juan at least hundreds of the JESUS tracts. This guy is on fire for Christ. Holy Ghost filled. Acts 1:8 Thank you for supporting by prayer and giving. Meeting our brother Juan was a divine connection 100%. I was actually going to talk down a different street just before meeting Juan yesterday. God says He orders the steps of His people and this is one of those times He did such. The LORD made it so easy as the water bottles Juan was carrying, some of them (2-3) fell to the ground right near my feet. Those bottles were picked up and handed to Juan and the ministry began and Juan lit up and has been ministering boldly ever since as it seems he was already doing in his daily life. Yet now that he has our support, the support of the body of Christ, he is even more fervent and diligent in ministering to others!!!!
Here’s a picture below of two of the people Juan ministered to in the last 24 hours. Here’s a picture below of two of the people Juan ministered to in the last 24 hours! Juan is blazing abroad the matter of the Gospel – just as did the leper whom Jesus healed! Leprosy represents sin and when Jesus cleanses our sin, we began to “blaze abroad the matter”, telling others the Gospel.
“But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.” Mark 1:45
Let’s roll saints.
Send Reina Valera Spanish Bibles here and they will be forwarded to me:
Todd Tomasella
220 N Zapata Hwy Ste 11
Laredo, TX 78043 – 4464
Give support here. Many options:
Brother Juan, whom we met 48 hours ago, is blazing a trail (Mark 1:45). He just sent me this. A man he ministered to today.
Indigenous Gospel laborers is a part of ultimate spreading of our LORD’s Gospel.
Bibles in Bulk page:
https://biblesinbulk.com/biblia-rv-1909-enc-r-250-stica-rv-1909-bible-paperpack-case-of-36-9781586609733.html
2 new ministry videos for your edification in Christ, our coming King.
NEW ministry videos.


Antonio came back again today….
We had an excellent time listening to the Bible in Spanish on audio, talking, and ministering to him. Antonio also got some new clothes and this week I am going to order him some shoes he asked for. He told me he wants to look more presentable because he’s looking for work. He received some coin and coffee too with his eggs and potato breakfast. God is good and thank you for praying saints. Oh and he asked for shoes. Yet he wears a different size than I have and so I am going to order a pair in his size from Amazon today. Anyone is welcome to support the mission to these wonderful people.
Thank you for lifting beloved Antonio in your prayer. He’s been coming by regularly and is responding more and more to the love and Word of our God. Due to your prayers and support he’s received coin, clothes, food, got cleaned up, and some new clothes. Ordered some shoes he needs for working…. God is good.
Thanking God for those who do and also those who will pray for Mission Mexico …. support is a blessing. https://safeguardyoursoul.com/mexico-mission/
TODAY, beloved Gillermo received God’s love from Christ’s body, in the form of the spoken Word, the written Word (JESUS tract), and he asked for some food. Gillermo was hungry. So, we took him to get a very nice warm meal, egg breakfast, pastry, etc. God is good saints. Jesus is coming. You are invited to lift a prayer for the precious people of Mexico.
Your prayers and support help this and much more to be accomplished. 1 Corinthians 3:9
Jose’ and I had a lengthy talk a few days ago. He reminded me that I had ministered to him in the past. He is really searching and gladly received more ministry, Scripture and the exhortation to repent and receive Jesus. Matthew 6:33. He took another JESUS tract also and said that his daughter is now saved.
You are invited to lift a prayer to our Father in the name of our LORD Jesus for beloved Jose’ and his family.
Because you care, Clara has been receiving regular groceries and also her cell phone bill was paid, etc. God is good.
Give support Mission Mexico here. Many options:

Articles
“Let the Redeemed of the LORD Say So” [video]

“Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;” Psalms 107:2
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Support Mission Mexico here. Takes seconds.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
Mission Mexico – See more here.
Download. Read. Print out your supply of the JESUS tract – English and Spanish.
Articles
THAT SUBTLE SERPENT SATAN – NIV and Modern Bible Versions Exposed

Check how they completely removed the words of Jesus in Matthew 17:21 and chopped Romans 8:1 in half, and removed the BLOOD from Colossians 1:14? Acts 8:37 was also deleted and this is not even scratching the surface of the corruptions in the NIV.
BEWARE: The “rapture ready” website is run by a person or persons who state this following error:
“Some people are so fanatical about the exclusive “truth” of the KJV that they would doubt your salvation if you were saved by reading another version. The New International Version Bible is probably the most attacked of all the modernized versions, but any errors it might contain are subtle ones. Other folks believe other translations are the Mark of the Beast.”
FACT: The NIV removed 64,000 words and that alone makes it in violation of the severe warning of Jesus recorded in Revelation 22:18-19 … oh and the NIV is published by a division of zondervan which publishes the satanic bible and other perverted books such as “the joy of gay sex.” Oh and the NIV committee included Virginia Mollencott, a life long atheist and lesbian. See below.
As you take in some of this information, perhaps ask yourself: Could it possibly be the Holy Spirit of God leading someone to read the NIV?
The answer is a resounding NO!
Also, ask yourself: If a pastor isn’t exposing these counterfeit “bibles”, why not?
Bible Versions Issue | The Only Begotten Son of God [podcast]
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