Author: Arw27

Hi, My name is Alan and I have been in ministry, for many years. I started out at Grace Community Church in their sports ministries, in Softball, Basketball and Semi Pro Baseball team, where I coached, led devotions, and shared my testimony on the baseball team with other teams we played. After leaving Grace, My wife Kathy and I were at Simi Valley Community Church, where we were lay pastors, and also got involved in Parenting classes called Growing Kids God's Way. The church ended up splitting and were part of the original people that helped start Cornerstone Community Church with Francis Chan and Ron Wilson. During that time, we continued in parenting classes, couples bible studies, and small groups. I became a non staff Pastor/Elder some years back and did it till I stepped down on December 31st, 2019. Nothing bad, just felt that the Lord was calling me to do something else, after 25 years at Cornerstone. Presently, I joined a band with our Homeless Ministry (PADS) and we just started a group on Friday nights, that ministers to professing believers who are going through some type of recovery. My desire, is that there will be some type of home/small church that I will lead, based on what the Lord seems to be calling me to. It is a really big step of faith, at 65 years old. A couple other things to note. I was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa and left there when I was 20 years old. My passion was baseball, and my desire, was to play professionally. I gave my life to Jesus when I was a young teenager, but lack of a consistent fellowship and some family problems led me away. I also, started letting baseball be my God. I moved to California when I was 20, and works for an offshore drilling company for about 2 and 1/2 years and then went back to school and Cal State University where I met my wonderful wife in Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU). We were married in 1980 and Lord willing, look forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary in August. We have 3 daughters that all live close by, until my middle daughter just moved to Tennessee. My Career, had been since I got out of college, with a degree in finance, a combination of IT, consulting, Executive Vice President, RE Broker and Loan Broker, and a short time as a VP Senior Financial Analyst with Bank of America. Well, I hope that gives you a little glimpse into my life, and where I think the Lord is leading. Please feel free to write. God Bless Alan

There is a Time for Everything. Now is the time to Repent, for the Forgiveness of Your Sins. Jesus is Waiting, Patiently, that HE may Restore You.

August 22, 2024 Arw27

All credit to the John MacArthur Study Bible and to the Words of God.

3:18 announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets. Cf. Ge 3:15; Ps 22; Is 53; Zec 12:10. †

3:19 repent and return. See notes on 2:38; Mt 3:2. “Return” is a frequent NT word that relates to sinners turning to God (9:35; 14:15; 26:18, 20; Lk 1:16, 17; 2Co 3:16; 1Pe 2:25). your sins … wiped away. Cf. Ps 51:9; Is 43:25; 44:22. “Wiped away” compares forgiveness to the complete wiping away of ink from the surface of a document (Col 2:14). ‡

3:19–21 times of refreshing … period of restoration of all things. “Times” or “period” means epoch, era, or season. Two descriptions are given to the coming era of the millennial kingdom. This is clear because they bracket the reference to Jesus Christ being sent from God to bring those times. Peter points to Christ’s earthly reign (see notes on 1:7; cf. Ro 11:26). The period will be marked by all kinds of blessings and renewal (cf. Is 11:6–10; 35:1–10; Eze 34:26; 44:3; Joel 2:26; Mt 19:28; Rev 19:1–10).