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We have some exciting news, Friends and Family!

Sirens began to blare throughout Dubuque, an urgent tornado watch had
just been issued. The 400 people attending the Emmaus Iron Sharpens
Iron conference were herded down into bowels of the school. The tornado
had touched down about 20 miles northwest of our town and was headed our
way (so said the news). As soon as I heard what was going on I knew
that all of Dubuque would be sitting on the edge of their seats and the
conditions would be prime for some serious evangelism. Once I had made
sure that Amy and the kids were safe I grabbed a friend and we went out
to do some door-to-door. As evangelists we must make the most of
current events… and this was really current!

My friend Mike and I went through the pouring down rain across the
street and knocked at the first house. A middle-aged angry looking man
with his two pit-bulls answered the door. I could see his TV in the
living room was tuned to the tornado watch and so I said, “Sir, as
you know there is a tornado headed our way and my friend and I are
interested in hearing what people’s thoughts are.” I continued,
“Are you a bit worried?” He said, “Yeah I’m worried.
Anyone that’s watching the news has to be worried.” Then I
asked, “If that tornado hits Dubuque, destroys your house and kills
you, where do you think you would spend eternity?” He gave me an
incredulous look and said, “A tornado is headed our way, you guys
are soaking wet and you’re knocking on doors talking about
eternity?!” I said, “What better time?”

After that we were able to fully share the gospel with this guy. He was
extremely open to spiritual things despite his appearance, and I’m
sure that the conversation would never have been possible without the
help of a tornado scare. Our time ended with the man being very
convicted, my friend and I being very wet and the tornado being very
gone.

And now on a very different note we are excited to let you know of our
upcoming plans. School is done and we are gearing up to go back to
Peru. We have decided to delay our trip 2 months and we’ll be back
in Peru after the baby is born, around the middle of September. In the
mean time I (Micah) will take a trip to Peru to teach at IBEM (the Bible
Institute) and also to find a house for our family to settle into when
we all arrive. In these next three months we will be working, packing,
wrapping up ministries and visiting the Portland, OR area. See our next
letter for dates and details. Please pray for us as we gear up for
these next few very busy months.

Micah for the Tuttle’s

Yesterday the evangelism team and I were able to go out, once again, to the Dubuque Kennedy Mall (our favorite fishing spot) to do some cold turkey evangelism. Before we headed to the Mall we spent some time in prayer that God would open up hearts ahead of time, and that is exactly what He did. By the end of the evening every one of the ten people who went out with me was involved in some kind of exciting spiritual discussion.

Normally when we go into the Mall our policy is that each evangelist is on his or her own. We act like we don’t know each other and each one looks for someone to share the gospel with. I usually like to walk around the mall for the first 15 minutes or so, scoping things out, seeing where people are gathered at, what kind of people are there, and assessing who looks like they have time for a conversation.

It was extremely encouraging yesterday as I was going through my routine assessment of the situation and as I walked by my friend Mark who was speaking to a young man all I heard was him saying: “Jesus said?.” Immediately after that, I walked past Hanna who was talking to a group of 4 college students and all I heard in passing were the words: “The Bible says?.” Less than 30 seconds later I passed by Josh who had engaged in conversation with three middle-aged folks and he was saying “God has spoken to us in His word?” I didn’t hear anything else from these different conversations but it was inspiring to hear each one of these evangelists basing what he or she had to say on the Bible.

I got so excited I walked up to a group of 5 High-schoolers in the food court and asked them: “If I buy you guy’s some Cokes would you let me sit down with you and talk about spiritual things?” They looked at me incredulously and asked “Are you serious?” I said: “Yeah what kind of Pop do you guy’s like?” One said “Sprite” another said “Coke” another asked for a Pretzel and the other two didn’t need anything. I bought the stuff, we all sat down at a table and we had an awesome conversation for about 40 minutes and cost me less than $4. Pretty good deal!

I opened up my little Bible and read from 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9. These verses speak of Jesus bringing vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel. I treated it just like a home Bible study (mall bible study) and asked I just asked them questions about the text. Every one of those 17 year-olds participated enthusiastically as we talked about Judgment day, righteousness and the gospel. It was great fun and at the same time it was of great eternal value.

After a while these three guys and two girls all wanted to know who I was. They said: “This is crazy, no one just walks up to random people in the Mall and offers to buy them Cokes so he can talk about the Bible. Who are you?” I was able to say that “I’m just a guy who reads the Bible and has a personal relationship with the Living God through Jesus Christ.” In the end they acknowledged that they needed to start reading their Bibles and get right with God while there was still time. I didn’t want to force any hasty decisions so I directed them to a good church and left them all with some quality tracts.

When all ten of us evangelists met back at the van in the parking lot we were praising God and filled with joy as we related our different experiences. There’s nothing quite so exciting as going out with a group of eager Christians to share your faith with anyone that will listen.

-Micah Tuttle

Reckless evangelism! As you go, scatter the seed wherever you are and with whomever you can. The other day I arrived home, after taking the evangelism team out, and the phone rang. When I answered the man asked for Doug and Beth Macentire. I told him that he must have the wrong number and that no one by that name lived here. He said he was sorry and was about to hang up but before he did I quickly said: “Hey, I know you didn’t mean to call me, but since we’re on the phone could I ask you a few questions about spiritual things?”

This wrong number caller said: “Sure, I guess so”

Me: “Have you ever told a lie?”

Ron Umber: “Well, yeah, everyone tells lies.”

Me: “What do you call a person who tells lies?”

Ron Umber: “I guess a liar.”

Me: “Have you ever stolen anything?”

Ron Umber: “Yeah, but just little stuff.”

Me: “What do you call a person who steals things, regardless of their value?”

Ron Umber: “A thief”

Me: “You’ve just admitted to me that you have broken two of the Ten Commandments: `Thou shalt not steal’ and Thou shalt not lie’. So far we’ve seen that you are a lying thief and there’s still eight more commandments to go. If God were to judge you on the basis of the Ten Commandments do you think you would be innocent or guilty?”

Ron Umber: “I guess we’ve seen that I’d be pretty guilty.”

Me: “Do you know where the guilty go when they die?”

Ron Umber: “Well, the Bible talks about hell.”

Me: “Do you know how you can avoid the hell that you deserve?”

Ron Umber: “No,?.. How?”

Me: “Have you heard the story about Jesus in the New Testament?”

Ron Umber: “Well yeah, he was a good man.”

Me: “Yes! He not only was a good man, He was God in human flesh who died and paid the price that you should have had to pay. Then He rose again giving us proof of His identity?.. Look, you’re a lying thief that’s guilty of breaking God’s commands. You deserve the penalty of hell, and it doesn’t matter how religious you might be, you still need someone to satisfy the wrath of God on your behalf. That “someone” is Jesus Christ. JESUS PAID THE PENALTY FOR YOU. Now it’s up to you to receive that free gift.”

Ron Umber: “I would consider myself a pretty religious guy but I’ve never heard this stuff before??. Just a minute I want my wife to hear what you’re saying.”

This man proceeded to put me on loud speaker and I was able to speak to the whole family for about 20 minutes. It was absolutely incredible as I got to fully share the gospel and then hear them promise to read the New Testament and investigate what I had told them. We ended the conversation agreeing that God had a reason and had pre-planned this exciting wrong number phone conversation.

-Micah Tuttle

I’ve been reading the book, “What’s so Amazing about Grace?” by Philip Yancey (Zondervan Publishing House, 1997).

This is so good.  

“Theologically, the Gospels give a straightforward answer to why God asks us to forgive: because that is what God is like.  When Jesus first gave the command, “Love your enemies,” he added this rationale: “…that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”

Romans says, “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”  - weren’t we enemies, when he gave up his life for us?  It even calls us sinners in this verse, “For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son…” 

We were God’s enemies, but he loved us.  If you haven’t trusted Christ, you are God’s enemy, but he loves you.  So much is his love for you and me that He gave his Son to die, paying the price for our sins, that we should have had to pay.

Deitrich Bonhoeffer wrote on loving enemies, while being persecuted by Nazi Germany…

“Through the medium of prayer, we go to our enemy, stand by his side, and plead for him to God.  Jesus does not promise that when we bless our enemies and do good to them they will not despitefully use and persecute us.  They certainly will.  But not even that can hurt or overcome us, so long as we pray for them… We are doing vicariously for them what they cannot do for themselves.”

Why did Bonhoeffer love his enemies and pray for his persecutors?  He had only one answer: “God loves his enemies–that is the glory of his love, as every follower of Jesus knows.” 

This is difficult.  Being like God isn’t something that is easy.  I sure am glad that this is the kind of grace God has for me, now if only I could remember to love those who don’t love me back!  That is the goal.

Amy

 

 

KJV vs. NAS, NIV

About Bible versions (we are not talking paraphrases here, but the mainline versions), there are several mainline versions that I am referring to: King James Version, New American Standard Version, New King James Version and New International Version* (which some would say is in another category itself).  Some people swear only by their particular version and will not use another.  In fact some go so far as to say that the King James Version is the only reliable version and that all other versions are “perversions.” 

I know that there are people on both sides of the debate about versions, maybe even more on the side of KJV than on the side of all the other versions combined (maybe…or maybe they just seem to be more outspoken).  I personally have a preference in what we use, but
I am not on one side or the other.  -What I mean by this is, I would NOT debate it… Micah might

This is a subject that can be fuel for a fiery debate.  Unfortunately, I think a lot of times when thinking about this issue, people lose sight of what is MOST important…

 …that people read their Bibles and apply it to their lives, regardless of what version it is. 

Of the hundreds of versions out there, there are the versions known to be more scholarly and those whose translation is known to be less than dependable.  I know that everyone can have their opinion about which one is most accurate, which is most understandable, etc.  And these opinions are often backed up by study (on both sides of the argument).
But the fact is, among the main versions (NKJV,NAS,even the NIV), the differences are small enough that you are not going to be displeasing
the Author if you choose one and put it into practice in your life.
It is living and active, sharper than a two edged sword.  We are to be as workmen approved knowing how to correctly handle the word of truth, as in… apply it to our lives.
When we belittle someone (intentionally or not) for the version they choose, that IS displeasing to the Author.

This post is not intended to even enter into this debate, but just to clarify something that probably most of us would agree upon, the importance of Bible study, putting aside the fiery-ness of debate over which Bible to read :) 

So let us commit ourselves to the study of the holy Scriptures, which are able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 
Amy

 

See my other blog April 6, 2006 for the reason for this blog entry.

So, Micah and I have had one or two in our marriage, our kids are in a state of almost perpetual disagreement, it happens all the time in churches, between believers, … no big deal right?!

“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united together in mind and thought.” 1Corinthians 1:18

Look at this, he pulls out some serious authority there in the first part: “…in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.” I mean you know what I mean when I illustrate this, statements would just lose some of their effect if you were to say in the name of Amy Lynne Tuttle I appeal to you. People would be like, uh…WHO? But if you say, “I’m saying these things in Jesus’ name, on his behalf, you know… the One who made blind men see, lame men walk, lepers clean… yeah, he’s the One were talking about… “, well the appeal suddenly has a little more weight.

His appeal is interesting as well. He asks them to get along. Does this sound familiar to anyone…? For our kids at least, it is a request with a repetition rate of about every 30min or so. “Could you guys please get along?” “Can’t we ALL just get along?”

“I appeal to you, brothers… that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

This pretty much excludes even petty arguments, and promotes complete unity as far as in mind and thought. Don’t you wish this were a reality in the church today? Among believers? Our disagreements are so secondary and our purpose so large that it leaves no room for disunity. It was Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20,21 & 3

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” “And this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

This is something close to Jesus’ heart, and because of that close to mine also. Let’s stop wasting time on the things that don’t matter, stop thinking so much about what we want, and more about what Jesus wants. If we want the world to see and believe we best be about the habit of getting along!

There I was only two months ago looking like a lost child in this world of blog. But I guess I found my way, because I’ve started another blog. As I put it to a fellow blogger, this one continues for my more serious readers. The other is more everyday, lighthearted, more homeschool-ish in nature. So, if you really want to go overboard on reading my blogs, look HERE. They both go by the same name to really confuse you, but take it from a more experienced blogger, you’ll catch on. haahahahaaha

Okay, so maybe I’ve lost it, or… maybe I’ve found it… the place that I belong, the blog. hehehe. All joking aside, I am going to try to keep this updated now that we are settled for a time (however short it may be).

Thanks for reading, and make your comments with all confidence that I will read them.

I read tonight with the boys starting in Genesis 1:1. God created the heavens and the earth, the light and darkness (”And God said, let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good and he separated the light from the darkness.”). He created sky, land, seas, plants, and trees. Then, he created the lights in the sky to separate day from night and to separate light from darkness.

Wanting to key in on the light/darkness contrast I decided to go to another passage and reinforce at the same time something we’d been discussing earlier today… Javen had been asking “How do we know that God exists?” and “How do we know that Jesus is God?”. I decided this could not be overlooked! We talked about it earlier but, tonight we had to read it again. John 1:1-14, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” We read ’til verse four where it says “…that life was the light of men”, Javen said, “Well, we are like candles and the people all around are in the dark and we have to tell them about the light so that they can see.” (after a little re-direct about who was the light, we went on… sometimes we adults think we’re so smart and have to correct everything 8)) Then it says “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it”. I asked what that meant? Cullen said, well Jesus was good, and the people all around are bad (right on, buddy!). Then Javen, prompted by this said, “Now I know! Jesus is the match! He lights us on fire and we want to tell them all about him so that he’ll light other people’s candles too!” I told them that we are like candles and Jesus is the match. If we tell others about Jesus he’ll light them on fire too, so they can help us light more candles! There are a whole lot of candles that aren’t on fire, and we’re the ones giving them light so they don’t stub their toes, trip over the couch, run into walls, step on legos… (you catch my drift) because that’s what happens when people stumble around in the dark. They get hurt!

Isn’t it amazing how a child’s perspective can make things new again and so much more fun!

“From the lips of infants and children you have ordained praise”. Thank you God.

hmm… hmm… what shall I write? Is our life that boring? No, it’s just too busy to think…

Micah and I began reading “Islam and Terrrorism” by Mark A. Gabriel, last night.

It is written by a guy who was a professor in the top Muslim university in Egypt. He converted to Christianity and is now writing the book to expose Islam for what it is.

The first two chapters are very engaging. I’m sure we’ll finish it quickly. So far, highly recommended for a true introduction of Islam written from a guy who knows.

“So we make it our goal to please him… For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ.” 1Corinthians 5:9