The Sacrifice of Giving

News

January 2013 Loaves & Fishes Report 

In a land of indulgence, credit cards, and Santa Claus, it’s easy to think of giving in a negative light. Yet we know that God is the author of giving and showed us how to give by sending His Son to redeem us from sin. What a pure, sacrificial gift!

We are called to follow that example: “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (Hebrews 13:16, ESV).

Today there are millions of men and women locked up in prisons and jails across this country. Many of them are living in darkness and their hearts are full of anger, violence, and hate. Satan and his demons have turned thousands of people into wild “animals” and there may be no point of return for those. It breaks my heart to see this happening in our prisons.

Thankfully, most prisoners haven’t gone that far, and many are still searching for truth. Some are full of regret for the crimes they’ve committed. Some are lonely and hurting in their relationships. And others have almost given up on life and face a dark, hopeless future. Most prisoners struggle with deep emotional pain.Continue reading

Something Better Than Pumpkin Pie

News

Thanksgiving Day is always a special day for us with relaxing family time and great food—turkey, dressing, potatoes, and the whole works. Delicious and wonderful as it is, there is something even better than smoked turkey and pumpkin pie.

The Apostle Paul put a lot of effort and time into winning people to the Lord and starting churches. The people he prayed for daily and risked his life for, became his joy and crown, his boasting in the day of the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:14).

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Building Blocks for Publishing a Magazine

News

Not everyone knows how magazines are made. We thought you might enjoy learning about the steps we take to publish the Loaves & Fishes magazine. 
—Lavern Gingerich 

Preparation

• Read good books
• Pray for direction and wisdom

Vision

• This vision will help chart a course for the new issue
• Create task spreadsheet and working folder for the team

Content

• Get chapters from continued series
• Choose quality prisoner writings from the collection
• Search and brainstorm for suitable short writings

Communication

• Give assignments to the writers
• Notify the editors about the tasks
• Establish an approximate finish date

Editing

• Fix grammar and spelling mistakes
• Improve the flow and language for our audience
• Get approval for changes where needed

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What Written Words Can Do

Inspiration

Missionary stories often involve answered prayers and brushes with death in foreign lands or starving children being fed. It’s easy to get an emotional response when you talk about preaching the Gospel to the uncivilized or saving the lives of children with bloated stomachs. These are vital missions, yet we can’t neglect the burden God has put on our hearts for the less-glamorous mission of the printed word.

We’re excited about written words at Lighthouse Publishing. Here’s why:

Written words let the reader live a thousand lives. Someone who reads books can learn a lot about other places, cultures, and people. Written words take us back in time and broaden our horizons far beyond what personal friendships can.

Written words never give up. A book or tract doesn’t need courage or perseverance to keep sharing it’s message. You can get angry at the message or throw it away, but written words relentlessly make their point.

Written words never change their mind. You can argue or disagree with what you read, but you can never change the “mind” of written words with debates. Through the Spirit of God working in the reader’s heart, this silent messenger can “win the argument” and bring the person to Christ or a better understanding of truth.

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