All posts tagged: Merlin Gonzales

The Next 10/40 Window

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The next 10/40 Window is just around the corner…look around

A few days ago, my wife and I had a lunch with a long-time friend. He is fired up for the Lord, which brought him to the Army and was deployed in Afghanistan in the past. During our conversation, he mentioned about the mortality of the soldiers in the battlefield, which keeps them prepared at all times. He also mentioned that the first three months and the last three months of deployment have the most casualties in the troops. They learn that complacency kills; apathy is not tolerated in the war zone.

We have heard a saying that when you become a Christian, you are automatically drafted in the army of God. In a sense, we are in a war zone all the time. Jesus said in John 17:18, “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” Jesus was actively engaged in the Kingdom expansion. He knows the urgency of preaching, teaching, discipleship and to bring the tangible love of God. He models how a Christian should live their lives. He was in tune spiritually with God and He also knows how to reach out to the world. He operated in the spiritual and in the physical realm simultaneously.

My passion for the Kingdom of God to be tangible in our own lives propelled me to write the book, The Kingdom in Our Midst. Here’s an excerpt from the book: “The next 10/40 window is not hard to reach—it’s the absence of passion in the Christian world that prevents the Gospel from reaching our own backyards. This 10/40 window could empower governments to formally or informally prohibit Christian teachings. The next 10/40 will be marked by the apathy of Christians. Physically, it is right here in our own backyard. Our cities are waiting for the concerted action of Christians to take the land.”

I wrote a few pages on the topic – “The 10/40 Window in our own backyard”, how we got there, where we are heading if our conformity and apathy continue and what can we do now to reverse the trend. We will start a discussion on this topic soon at my website. You can order my book by calling 317-578-3370, email [email protected] or online www.merlingonzales.com Free S/H if you order before Dec. 15.

God bless you,

PS/ Remind others that complacency can have a sudden and long-term effect for individuals and for a city. Don’t get caught with your guard down. 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Merlin GonzalesThe Next 10/40 Window
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Giving and Serving from the hands of God

If you were given a chance of a lifetime, what would you do for your neighbors and for your city? This question has been in my heart even before the Lord had birthed FHL in 2005. It is now happening right in front of our eyes.

This coming FHL Week (July 24-30), our city will see the unconditional love of God through the unselfish acts of kindness from the all sectors of our society.  A national-chain restaurant providing thousands of dollars worth of food for the volunteers, ministries who invest their own money even though they are not in their “line item” or in their budget, our local government providing resources to the neighborhoods and individuals taking the entire week as their vacation to serve those people that they don’t even know. All these testimonials are blessings to hear but they are extra blessings for those who are serving. Literally, God gives through hands and He takes care of His people through the “Local Missionaries”.

In Hebrews 11:2, “This is what the ancients were commended for.” I would like to mention that the people who serve unconditional will be commended by God for their ‘faith in action’.  As one Bible commentary says, “True Bible faith is confident obedience to God’s Word despite circumstances and consequences.” “The circumstances may be impossible and the consequences frightening and unknown, but we obey God’s Word just the same and believe Him to do what is right and what is best.”

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to all of you for serving others unconditionally. You are a part of the history of the transformation of our city. I am privileged to work alongside you in the declaration and the demonstration of God’s love.

Please contact us at 317-578-3370 or [email protected] Sign up Online to volunteer and participate.

Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”

May the Lord bless you abundantly and be a blessing to others,

Merlin

Merlin GonzalesGiving and Serving from the hands of God
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Sunday, Dec. 12 Speaking Engagement: Victory Christian Center

Sunday, December 12th I will be speaking at the Victory Christian on the Seven Cultural Mountains.  Please invite your family and friends to this service. I look forward to seeing you there.

When: Worship service begins at 10am. Bible Study is at 9am

Where: 1703 East 30th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46218-2604
(317) 926-0578 (map)

“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,  and he will reign for ever and ever.” -Revelation 11:15b

God bless you,

Merlin

Merlin GonzalesSunday, Dec. 12 Speaking Engagement: Victory Christian Center
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Amazing God Stories From FHL Week Leaders

Here are some amazing God stories I gathered from the FHL Week Leaders’ de-briefing on Tuesday, Sept 21st.

  • Our Noblesville area reported the continued collaboration of churches, ministries and organizations
  • The North side area is working continuously with several ministries and churches in ministry training and evangelism
  • Our East side & Urban area shared about the ever growing awareness of the churches in the urban area and the continued pursuit to work together through the FHL CAN (Community Action Network)
  • Our West side area shared the excitement of some projects during FHL Week. Through the ‘Movie Night’ project, FHL is planning to have ‘Joshua’ movie at the Georgetown Cinema during the Halloween Week to bring Christian movie in a secular theater.
  • The BroadRipple/Midtown are have coordinated a multi-church Night of Worship at My Father’s House in BroadRipple on Tuesday, Sept 28th 6:30p-8:30p.
  • The FHL Kindness Day on Saturday, Sept 25th was joined by 150+ volunteers from the churches, businesses and educational institutions who worked on several projects across the city.

Once again, FHL Week is not just ‘a week’ of service but it encourages the continued partnerships that create a snow ball effect mobilizing the collaborative effort the communities.

Merlin GonzalesAmazing God Stories From FHL Week Leaders
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