Breaking Good News: God News That You Can Use

By David P. Bodanza

The news is dominated by reports of inhumanity and tragedy. Things seem to go from bad to worse, and hope is hard to find. What is wrong with the world? Despite technological progress, humanity cannot overcome the senseless strife that plagues every generation.

Into this world comes good news that shines so bright it turns the night sky into daylight. The good news is God news! God the Father so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son Jesus to rescue us from sin and eternal punishment.

Many Christians know this good news but keep it to themselves. Yet the good news is too good to not share. Bodanza gives us an example of sharing the good news from his weekly column in a hometown newspaper. Use it to speak boldly, or give it to another to read. The gospel message is timeless and speaks to the ultimate issue of our lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781512706499

David P. Bodanza

David P. Bodanza is the pastor of Mission Street Congregational Church in Massachusetts. He is also a practicing lawyer. He holds an MDiv degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a JD from New England School of Law. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Brenda, and four children.

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Copyright © 2015 David P. Bodanza.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-0650-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-0651-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-0649-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015912423

WestBow Press rev. date: 09/09/2015

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1.     News That You Can Use!

2.     And I Will Be Their God

3.     What Is the Meaning of the Cross?

4.     Looking for Life in All the Wrong Places

5.     Truth Is Not up for a Vote

6.     The Curse Has Been Reversed

7.     We Have Been Adopted

8.     Today It May Be Me, Tomorrow It May Be You

9.     Taking Matters into Your Own Hands

10.   Did God Really Say That?

11.   Learning to Be Content in a Culture of Discontentment

12.   Preparing to Meet Your Maker: A Conversation between Two Ordinary Guys

13.   The Triple A Today: Anxiety, Access, and Answers

14.   The Irreversible Regret of Looking Out for Number One

15.   Grateful for the Gracious Mercy of God

16.   What if Christ Had Never Been Born?

17.   An Attorney in the Court of Public Opinion, Session One

18.   An Attorney in the Court of Public Opinion, Session Two

19.   An Attorney in the Court of Public Opinion, Session Three

20.   An Attorney in the Court of Public Opinion, Session Four

21.   The Way, the Truth, the Life

22.   Relationships in the Days of Digital Deception

23.   But What about You? He Asks. Who Do You Say I Am?

24.   Are You Ready, or Not?

25.   Let’s Stay Together

26.   Making Ends Meet

27.   Out of the Mouth of Babes

28.   She Almost Got the Wrong Impression

29.   Alicia Has a Heart Murmur

30.   If You Could Read Your Mind

31.   Their Wrongs and Your Rights

32.   The Book Is Always Better than the Movie

33.   Square Peg, Round Hole

34.   Did You Ever Get the Feeling?

35.   Why Do You Look for the Living among the Dead?

36.   Did You Remember to Forget and Forget to Remember?

37.   Crowd Control in a Trending Culture

38.   The Hand That Rocks the Cradle …

39.   Sweating the Small Stuff

40.   Those Four Immortal Chaplains!

41.   Ask, Seek, and Knock

42.   Enter through the Narrow Gate

43.   A True Story of a Man Meeting His Maker, Part 1

44.   A True Story of a Man Meeting His Maker, Part 2

45.   A True Story of a Man Meeting His Maker, Part 3

46.   A True Story of a Man Meeting His Maker, Part 4

47.   Not Taking It All for Granted

48.   You Have a Choice to Make Today

49.   In God We Trust

50.   New and Improved?

51.   Just Your Imagination

52.   Life is Too Short to Ignore God

Epilogue

References

Scripture Citations

Largely oriented at evangelizing the unsaved, this intriguing book is an eclectic collection of fifty-two short articles originally written for a small-town newspaper by a seasoned local pastor who is quite creative—sometimes telling stories, sometimes writing an opinion piece, and sometimes recounting dialogues between people. Give a copy to your curious but unconverted friend who is halting between two opinions.

—Dr. Joel R. Beeke, president of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

Profoundly practical gospel proclamation.

—Samuel R. Schutz, MDiv, PhD, professor of evangelism and church planting, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

"Breaking Good News is filled with valuable life lessons ... insightful and spiritually-motivated with biblical references ... a fisher of men ...well done, David."

—JoJo White, two-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and Hall of Famer

For the glory of God and the good of others,

and

for my dear wife, Brenda, and our children

O ne day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, Friend, your sins are forgiven. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone? Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins … He said to the paralyzed man, I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home. Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, We have seen remarkable things today.

—Luke 5:17–26

Preface

G od moves in mysterious ways. His providence is usually beyond our expectation or prediction. On July 21, 2013, I began to serve as the pastor of Mission Street Congregational Church in Gardner, Massachusetts. Gardner is a small New England city of twenty thousand plus that used to be a major wooden chair manufacturing center. A church member soon asked me if our church should participate in the annual Gardner sidewalk festival, which was some twelve days later. While it was early in my ministry at the church, it is not every day that you receive an opportunity to set up a booth and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with hundreds of people. We did not hesitate. Things went well, even better than expected.

At the festival God opened a door for me to write a weekly column in the religion section of a locally-owned newspaper. It was a gracious offer from a wonderful newspaper that served Gardner and six small surrounding towns. I immediately accepted. As I began to think about how to approach the column, I remembered this simple advice for every writer: Ask yourself, Who is my reader? God had prepared me to answer that question three years earlier. I had taken a seminary class that involved preparing a church planting proposal for Gardner that included a significant amount of research and discovery of the community.

We live in a busy world today. People are so drained by the time and energy it takes to make a living and raise a family that they often have little time for much else. Few take care of their physical health. Fewer still concern themselves with their spiritual health. It is the minister’s task to help others focus on their souls and the ultimate issues of life. One such issue is this: how may a person be rightly related to God? My simple answer to that profound question has been this: a person may only be rightly related to God through Jesus Christ. But that is not my opinion. My opinion means nothing in a sea of opinions. The Bible tells us so. Jesus said, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).

It seems fitting that in a world where there is so much bad news, a newspaper is a proper place to publish the good news. Christians know it as the gospel. The gospel has been my focus. The good news is God news! For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep (1 Cor. 15:3–6). For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:16–17).

These essays are the weekly columns that were written by me and published in the newspaper in the first year. They are an attempt to promulgate the good news from several different angles. I hope you will find them insightful and encouraging for your gospel witness to others. Indeed, your very presentation of the book to another would serve to republish the good news to others whom it may not have reached.

Writing a weekly newspaper column is in one sense like pastoring a church. The weekends just keep coming. You must prepare for Sunday morning, and for me, Saturday morning also. The discipline of the calendar is a good thing. Without a deadline, I might be tempted to procrastinate.

Moses prayed, Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Ps. 90:12). We all have a deadline. Our days are numbered. Each day is one day closer. If you do not keep that before you, you may be tempted to procrastinate and neglect your own soul. Please do not be like the seed sown among the thorns, those that hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful (Mark 4:18b–19). Indeed, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? (Heb. 2:3 ESV).

Acknowledgments

M y deepest gratitude is to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is because of Him that I have been born, reborn, and given spiritual gifts to minister with. He paid my insurmountable sin debt and freed me from a life of misery. I am so glad that thirty-six years ago he placed a friend in my path who had the courage to tell me the truth. His gospel witness was bold and exactly what I needed. I was a Christian in name only, not in reality. I thought I didn’t need Jesus until one January evening, when the lights came on. They have been on ever since. If you are a born-again Christian, you know that because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved (Eph. 2:4–5). If there be anything good in me, and if there be anything good in this book, it is all because of Him.

My precious wife, Brenda, and our four children, Megan, Matthew, Marissa, and Michael, have always been a great source of strength for me as well. They are so supportive and encouraging. They are always available to consider an idea, a question, and just think about life together. My wife is my closest friend on this earth and has been for more years than not. It is amazing what God does. It is comforting to see the children grow up in grace and take godly spouses. My son-in-law Aaron is a solid and thoughtful Christian man who is always encouraging. I have been blessed beyond measure in loving my little granddaughter, Addison, who is just nineteen months old at this writing.

My brother, Mark, has been a blessing all of my life. He is a loyal brother, wise counselor, and gifted lawyer, author, and historian. We had great parents, the late Rosario Jerry and Gloria Bodanza, who taught us right from wrong and instilled in us a work ethic and concern for the next guy. They are sorely missed.

It is a joy to go to work each day. Our staff, Kathleen Welch, Gabriella Goodale, and associate attorney Amanda Mastalerz are dedicated, talented, kind, and a joy to be around. Despite the stress and strain of deadlines, we never fail to maintain our senses of humor.

I am indebted to all those precious men who have mentored, pastored, and taught me over the years: Dr. Lars Larson, Rev. Otis Stanley, Rev. Ken Duerr, Rev. Edward Neuhaus, the late Rev. Ronald Loy, and Dr. Mark Boucher, to name just a few. I have been blessed by the godly and gracious faculty of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, including, but in no way limited to, Dr. Samuel Schutz, Dr. Peter Kuzmic, Dr. Dennis Hollinger, Dr. David Wells, Dr. Haddon Robinson, Dr. Doug Stuart, and Dr. Xiyi (Kevin) Yao.

Faithful friends over the years can always be counted on for encouragement and support. I am grateful to my beloved friends Daniel Beauregard, attorney Christian Lund, Rev. David Tralongo, Dr. Dan Ervin, attorney Charles Eusey, and Chuck Miller.

Then there is my beloved flock at Mission Street Congregational Church in Gardner, Massachusetts. I am so grateful that the Lord has brought us together. You never fail to inspire me with your earnest desire to love and serve the Lord and learn more of His precious Word. Your respect for me is humbling. Without your call, this book would probably not have come to be. I am grateful for your prayers and the opportunity to serve. I am grateful for the undying love and support of my beloved predecessors, Dr. R. Gary Heikkila and Pastor Fred Swedberg, as well. My brother and fellow church member, Emile Guay, is a true inspiration. His dear wife, Laura, and family, Helen, Stevan, and Danny, are a great encouragement to me as well.

The Gardner News was established in 1869 and is one of the oldest family-owned newspapers in New England. I am grateful to its president and publisher, Mrs. Alberta S. Bell, and assistant editor John Vincent, for the opportunity to contribute a weekly column to the religion pages. It is that opportunity that has led to this book. The Gardner News is truly a hometown newspaper that, through its local operation, independence, and focus, fosters true community among the people of Gardner and surrounding towns of Ashburnham, Hubbardston, Templeton, Phillipston, Westminster, Winchendon, and towns along the southern border of New Hampshire.

Finally, to all those men and women who have served the Lord Jesus Christ faithfully over the centuries and have left their teaching and stories behind for the edification of the church, I am most grateful. Though they are dead, they still speak (Heb. 11:4). In the words of that great missionary to India, William Carey,

The souls of men! Eternal things! All of the utmost importance, their value beyond estimation, their danger beyond conception, and their duration equal with eternity. These, my dear friend, we have to do with; these we must give account of … Pray for me and God help me to pray for you (George 1998).

Introduction

W e live in a nation with unprecedented freedom to speak the gospel to others. Freedom of speech and freedom of religion are two of our most cherished freedoms, enshrined in the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution. Yet we must confess that Christians have neglected to make full use of our freedoms. Simply put, few Christians witness to the lost. A Christian brother recently shared with me this insight: if the freedom to speak the gospel to others was taken away by the government, not much would change when it comes to personal evangelism.

Every day is one day closer to the certain return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every day is one day closer to judgment day. All of humanity will be judged. Those who are truly in Christ will enter and remain in heaven for all eternity. Those who are still in Adam will enter and remain in hell for all eternity. The Christian shudders to think about the lost. Can you imagine hearing the regretful cries and shrieks of eternally-damned loved ones and friends: Why didn’t you tell me? You knew, but you didn’t tell me? Why? Why? Why? We will have no excuse, no answer, and no defense for our dreadful silence.

Many Christians think themselves unequipped to share the gospel with others. They do not know what they would say to gain the gospel a fair hearing with family and friends. There have been many books about evangelism but few books of evangelism. We usually leave our written evangelistic presentations to gospel tracts. A tract is brief by design. It is a quick stab at sharing gospel truth that can be easily handed out or left with your waitress or your friend. Yet we live in a post-Christian world where most people do not have a Christian worldview. The unbeliever thinks he does not need the gospel. He thinks himself secure in his self-righteousness. If you told him he needed to be saved, he would doubt or deny that need. The biggest problem we have is that most people don’t know what their biggest problems are.

Only God can reveal that to them, but He uses people as His instruments to share the gospel message. The apostle Paul writes, For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Rom. 10:12–14). We must be preaching. If the Christian does not herald the gospel, who will? If not now, then when?

We know that faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17). It is often a continuing presentation of the message the modern hearer needs before he or she will be awakened to seriously consider what you are saying. That is what this book is intended to do. It intends to herald the gospel message from several different angles, often starting with what would be familiar to the listener or reader. It is my hope that you will gain fresh insight and encouragement to share the good news with others. Alternatively, your very presentation of the book to another would serve to republish the good news to others whom it may not have reached. You could think of it as a collection of fifty-two gospel tracts, one chapter to mull over each week.

Many Christians think that no one will come to faith in Jesus Christ if they share the good news. To be sure, the world is hostile to the gospel. Yet we must hang in there and persevere. The evangelist Billy Sunday once remarked, A politician will work harder to get a vote than the church of God will work to have men brought to Christ (Ellis 2009). Jesus does not tell us to not bother witnessing because no one will listen. To the contrary, He says this, The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field (Matt. 9:37–38). Jesus says, Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest (John 4:35). The shortage is not of those who will truly hear, it is of those who will boldly speak.

May this book help you to be a faithful worker in the field of souls and be used by God in that great co-mission, all to the eternal glory of God and the eternal good of others. May it be, Lord, may it be.

1

News That You Can Use!

"I have some bad news and some good news." People differ on which one they prefer to hear first. In this case, the bad news has to come first. It is the only way one can truly understand how good the good news is.

Can you imagine seeing your doctor and hearing him say to you, I’ve got some bad news. Those words would chill even a brave heart with fear. Your thoughts would race: Is it terminal? Will this forever change my life? I never expected something like this could happen to me. The bad news we are talking about is even more important. It concerns not only your health but your eternity. It is an ultimate issue. An ultimate issue is always there, but it is frequently neglected or is considered much too late. I am so glad that we are considering this ultimate issue now!

God created man in His own image. This means that God gave mankind the capacity to relate to God, to reason, to create, to rule. We can readily observe that mankind is different from the animal and plant world. God and man had a relationship that was full of wonder, comfort, and happiness. Man was free in paradise to choose most anything. However, God clearly gave man a boundary that he should not cross on the penalty of death. Tragically for all their posterity, the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, chose to disobey God’s command. This brought curses instead of blessings. Sin entered the world, and it infected every natural-born human being thereafter, including you and me. Our natural proclivities are now oriented toward sin and selfishness. We have put our fingers in our ears and refused to hear and consider the truth about ourselves. Man