Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Jim and Denise Kerwin on Pilgrim’s Progress
with Pastor Ray Greenley on WAVA-AM (Washington, DC)

Jim Kerwin, Bible teacher from
Finest of the Wheat Teaching Fellowship

Second Quick Update from Jim in Romania

I’ve just finished a second busy, blessed, and fruitful week here in Romania, and I’ll be returning home in almost exactly a week. I’ll continue to post updates at KernelsOfWheat.com/facebook; and, no, you don’t need to have a Facebook account to read the entries and see the photos I’ve shared.

This Podcast’s Background

The topic which National Prayer Chapel’s Pastor Ray Greenley began on the 7/23 broadcast of the Pilgrim’s Progress radio program — conscience  — evolves into a discussion about the question, “How is the conscience  awakened?”

Scriptures Mentioned Include… [continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Jim and Denise Kerwin on Pilgrim’s Progress
with Pastor Ray Greenley on WAVA-AM (Washington, DC)

Ray Greenley, Pastor of
National Prayer Chapel, Woodbridge, Virginia,
and host of the
“Pilgrim’s Progress” radio program

Quick Update from Jim in Romania

I’m finishing out my first week in Romania, with two more to go.  You can follow along with my near daily reports at KernelsOfWheat.com/facebook; and, no, you don’t need to have a Facebook account to read the entries and see the photos I’ve shared.  The Lord, in His wisdom, didn’t provide for Denise to go; it turns out that she was needed for emergency “grandma duty” and she had to drive to Florida the day after I flew to Eastern Europe.

This Podcast’s Background

We were invited by Pastor Ray Greenley to minister at National Prayer Chapel, which Ray pastors, and to join him as his guests for three days on his live radio program, Pilgrim’s Progress.  We operate “without a net” (that is, without a script), and the subject for the day turned out to be conscience.

Links:

• The National Prayer Chapel website
• The Finest of the Wheat website
• The Finest of the Wheat Faceboook page (mentioned above)

Subscribe to the Kernels of Wheat podcast:

Credits:

Podcast theme music: “Steam Train” from the John Williams album Dusty Porch, under license from Magnatune.com.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Show Notes for Grains from Gutteridge Podcast Episode #18:
The Wise But Unfaithful Steward

The Unjust Steward (by Jan Luyken)
Click to see the full image.

Scripture Reading:

Luke 16:1-13

Summary:

God has always put His work out to the care of stewards. In the past, “Sons of God” came to report to Him at intervals (Job 1:6, etc.). Some have been unfaithful. In the present, God has His faithful and unfaithful servants who have the choice of far greater service in the everlasting future. In this parable, the unfaithful but repentant steward was forgiven and restored; the unrepentant steward was punished. In this message, the true meaning of the difficult passage of Scripture concerning making “friends through the mammon of unrighteousness” is made clear.

Other Scriptures [continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

The Smokey Row Interview
with Steve, Kelly, and Nick Solheim

Steve & Kelly Solheim
with World Gospel Mission

In this podcast, we interview Steve and Kelly and Nick Solheim of World Gospel Mission.  They’re discovering their support so that they can return to their assignments at Escuela El Sembrador (School of the Sower) in Honduras.

The story of how they wound up on the mission field will open your eyes and make you look at yourself differently in the mirror.  They went from never having met a missionary of any sort in person, to finding themselves on the mission field in record time; yet they’re the most “normal,” down-to-earth middle-class couple you’ll ever meet.  Denise and I were taken by how “real” they were all week at the Iowa Holiness Association camp meeting in June.  (You’ll find some links to an online picture album of our week at camp at the bottom of this blog post.)  We felt that the Lord wanted us to share their story.

Team Solheim Links

You’ll learn a fair bit about Steve and Kelly and Nick (Team Solheim as they call themselves) in the audio.  But here are [continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

2013 Guatemala Report – Part 3

Atilio and Gladys Chávez

[Note: Visit these links for Part 1 and Part 2.]

For this third and final installment of our Guatemala report, we had the privilege of interviewing the country’s dynamic duo, Pastor Atilio Chávez and his wife, Dr. Gladys de Chávez, about their background, ministry, and goals.  Atilio, who has been involved in church-planting in Guatemala for thirty years, pastors a church in Guatemala City; but his greater role is that of a pastor’s pastor as he superintends about forty churches.  Matching her husband’s servant heart, Gladys (a medical doctor in her own right) works side by side with Atilio in many capacities.  She has served many visiting ministers and missions teams over the years as both translator and medical liason.

Album #7: A Quiet Time for Recovery and Reflection

Album #7 with notes

On our next-to-last evening in Guatemala, we overnighted with Atilio and Gladys at Lake Atitlán. It was time much needed by Jim and enjoyed even more by Denise.  Important things can be shared during quiet walks, leisurely meals, and enjoying the peaceful environment.  Special times together like this one make friends close friends.

The picture-link to the right will take you to a Facebook album of photos, with descriptions. (No, you don’t need to be a Facebook member, or even register, to see it. The album is available to the general public.) The video below covers the [continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Show Notes for Grains from Gutteridge Podcast Episode #17:
The Prodigal Son

The Prodigal Son and His Father (woodcut by Gustav Doré) Click to see the full image.

Scripture Reading:

Luke 15:11-32

Summary:

This message unfolds a fresh look at this story which is so familiar to us that we tend to think we’ll be hearing the “same old, same old.” But this is an entirely different approach, and may leave you amused, instructed, enlightened, stirred, challenged – but definitely not bored! The story of the prodigal son is part of a larger revelation: the heart of the Son searching for His sheep is revealed in the parable of the lost sheep; the Spirit‘s search to complete the bride of Christ is revealed in the parable of the lost coin; and the Father‘s compassionate heart toward lost sinners is revealed in the parable of the lost (prodigal) son.

Other Scriptures Cited:

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Tracy B. for providing the show notes.  And we thank Fellowship member Brian Fettes for providing the digitization of the original cassette tape through the services of Audioanalogy Musicworks of Canada.

Subscribe to the Grains from Gutteridge monthly podcast:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Jim & Denise in the Hot Seat

Jim & Denise Kerwin and Ray Greenley in the WAVA-AM studio

We had been on National Prayer Chapel‘s Pilgrim’s Progress radio program for three days (July 23-25, 2013) when on the fourth day the host, Pastor Ray Greenley, decided to shift focus and interview us about our backgrounds, our ministry, our recent Guatemala trip, and our planned trip to Romania.  Then he did something he doesn’t even do for his own broadcast — he asked listeners to call in and pledge funds.  (A few folks did just that.)  That 800-number won’t work for our podcast listeners or website visitors, but the “Donate” button over at the right of the screen will, for those of you who feel led.

Thank you, brother Ray, for the opportunity to share our hearts and for challenging us to share the need! [continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

2013 Guatemala Report – Part 2

Enjoying un helado with (left to right) Josué (Joshua) and Fermin Chávez

[Note: Visit this link for Part 1.] The best part of travel is making friends and learning about their lives and ministries. That’s doubly true when those friends are Fermin and Lilian Chávez, the pastors of an ISPI church in Coatepeque (say “kwah-tay-PAY-kay”), Guatemala. They were our hosts during the second conference and for the weekend of May 17-19. They have a unique story and an increasingly unique ministry, and we hope we’ve captured some of it in the podcast audio you’ll find above.  And as a part of our “show and tell” philosophy, you will find:

• Links to two more picture albums we’ve posted on Facebook. (No, you don’t need to be a Facebook member, or even register, to see them. They are “tagged” so that they can be seen by the general public.) These you can go through at your own pace. OR…
• Embedded YouTube videos of the same albums, with our recorded commentary about each photo. As with our last episode, these provide more information, as well as background stories we didn’t get to tell in the podcast.

Album #5: Los Mayas y Los Chávez

Link: Album #5 with notes

In all Jim’s trips to Guatemala, he’s never had a day off to visit the country’s cultural sites.  Fermin, Lilian, Rut (Ruth), and Josué (Joshua) decided that Saturday was the day for us to see a nearby Mayan archaeological site; so we happily spent the day with los Chávez (the Chávez family) learning about los Mayas (the Mayans) at the Tak’alik Ab’aj National Archaeological Park. [continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

2013 Guatemala Report – Part 1

The reason we go—to serve the pastors and leaders and their people

We have all sorts of testimonies to the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness from our Guatemala trip, and we wanted to share them with you.  Some of you gave, many of you prayed, and so an accounting and a recounting are in order.

Jim Kerwin was in Guatemala from 15 April to 22 May, and Denise Kerwin arrived on 10 May to participate in the pastors’ and leaders’ conferences the week of 13 May. In the podcast, we recount the overall story…

…but in the belief that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” we have included many photos — and two ways to enjoy them. Below you will find:

• Links to four picture albums we’ve posted on Facebook.  (No, you don’t need to be a Facebook member, or even register, to see them.  They are “tagged” so that they can be seen by the general public.)  These you can go through at your own pace.  OR…
• Embedded YouTube videos of the same albums, with our recorded commentary about each photo.  In these we provide more information, as well as background stories we didn’t get to tell in the podcast.

May we ask a favor?

Do you have a Facebook account?  A simple “Like” on the Finest of the Wheat Facebook page would help our ministry by spreading the word about these faithful pastors and leaders and what God is doing among them in Guatemala. Visit the page at Facebook.com/FinestOfTheWheat.  (KernelsOfWheat.com/facebook will get you there, too.)

Album #1: Language School… in a Garden?!

Link: Album #1 with notes

Jim spent a month in immersion Spanish language school prior to the teaching and ministry part of his trip (although God arranged ministry during his study time as well). Click the thumbnail link to the right for the album with notes, or click on the video below for the narrated, video version of the album.

[continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Show Notes for Grains from Gutteridge Podcast Episode #16:
Gethsemane—The Olive Press

Summary:

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (woodcut by Gustav Doré)

The name Gethsemane means olive press. King David had his Gethsemane, and “great David’s greater Son,” the Lord Jesus, had His. It came on a pleasant night in spring under a full moon. From Christ’s Gethsemane, by way of Calvary, the gift of the golden oil of the Spirit comes to us. But it is only if we will allow Him to take us through our own personal Gethsemanes, by the way of the Cross, that we shall be like Him, and share His power and exaltation. When He returns, He will abolish Gethsemane, says Zechariah; then there will be no more sorrow for His children.

Scripture Readings:

Isaiah 61:1-11; Matthew 26:30-46

Other Scriptures Cited:

• John 18:1-3
• 1 Corinthians 10:16
• John 6:51 [continue reading…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Introducing and Reporting:

Roy & Melania Olsen

It’s my great privilege and delight to share with you an interview I did with Rev. Roy Olsen of Apa Vie Ministries in Pestere, Caras-Severin, Romania. I spent over half a month with Roy and his godly and sweet Romanian wife, Melania, last October. Apa Vie (“Living Water” in Romanian) and the work the Olsens are doing deserve to be better known. And this gives me a chance to report back to you who prayed and gave and made that ministry trip possible and so successful. Consider this an audio “thank you!”

Concise Overview of My Ministry Time in Romania:

Roy Olsen and Jim Kerwin with some students at the Baptist Bible Institute in Timisoara (Click on the image for a larger version of the photo.)

• Led a day-long pastor’s conference  at the Ape Vie retreat center in Pestere on the subject of mentoring.
• Taught on two successive Friday mornings at the Baptist Bible Institute in Timisoara.
• Preached and taught at churches in Maciova Colonie, Carasebes, Alba Iulia, Resita, and Bocso.
• Spent numerous hours with pastors in their homes and apartments, listening to their challenges, asking them questions, answering their questions, and growing rich in our fellowship together.
• Such was the blessing of God on the teaching, preaching, and personal interaction that [continue reading…]

Pastor Edwin’s bookcase

It’s easiest to write when inspired—by the Holy Spirit, by an event, by illumination from the Scriptures, by something. And what moved me last month was a set of photos from Guatemala (you’ll see the slideshow when you click through to read the full article), especially a very ordinary photo of a simple bookcase.

Rewind to 2008: “They have no study materials.”

Back in 2008 (was it that long ago?), I was invited to be part of a team of teachers going to Guatemala to teach pastors. My topic was hermeneutics (translation: “reading, teaching, and preaching the Scriptures in context”), and I spent a lot of time before the Lord preparing. One day as I was sitting in my small, but book-lined, study, the Holy Spirit whispered to me, “They have no study materials.” I haven’t learned nearly enough over the years, but I have learned not to respond by asking the Omniscient One, “Are You sure?” And He was right, of course. At the two different seminar locations in Guatemala that March, I asked for a show of hands from the pastors and leaders. How many had a Bible commentary? Only a scattering of hands went up. How many concordances? Few hands. Bible dictionary? Fewer hands. I brought that report back to our small fellowship, where we prayed. One member, Al Strickland, couldn’t get it out of his mind. He shared his burden with some men on a church-building missions trip about six months later, and the thousands of dollars needed for the pastors’ study books were pledged before that team returned home. The books were Click here to read on and see the slideshow…

We’re making two of our Amazon Kindle e-book titles available for free for the next few days.  That Treasure Trove of Truth (https://kernelsofwheat.com/treasuretrove-kindle) will be available for free through midnight Friday, 12/28, and That Uncomfortable Word – Conviction! (https://kernelsofwheat.com/conviction-kindle) will be available for free through midnight Wednesday, 12/26.  Why?  Just because it’s Christmas.  Just because we can.  Just because…