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Time and Tide Wait For No Man, So Little Time, Mine eye · Bible Tract Echoes Podcast

• 0:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Hey friend, welcome back to Bible Tract Echoes.
• 0:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm Mike McCurray, your host, and I thank you so much for taking your time and joining me right here today.
• 0:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: Ecclesiastes chapter 3 in verse 1 says this.
• 0:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: To everything, there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
• 0:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: Every once in a while, I take an opportunity to tell you a little bit about what God is doing through the ministry of Bible Traxxing Corporate and of course, BTI has been around for over eight decades and all the way back since 1938 when God used Paul Levine to start this ministry, God has done marvelous things through the work of this ministry.
• 0:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I can't help but shake the feeling that there will be more that I want to tell you then I can fit into just this week of broadcasts.
• 0:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: But let me tell you just a little bit in Lord willing you can rejoice with us.
• 1:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe you can pray for us and
• 1:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: possibly you could consider partnering with us as well.
• 1:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: This storied ministry just concluded one of its strongest years ever.
• 1:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm talking about 2025 and it's incredible to think that we are already almost three months past 2025.
• 1:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: And really, I wish we could just sit down for hours, recounting all the ways God has shown Himself faithful to us.
• 1:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: The legacy of this ministry and our founder, Paul of In, is secure, but I believe our future is as strong as the promises of God.
• 1:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: We rejoice in the souls saved, the partnerships forged, and the projects undertaken in 2025, but we are not content.
• 1:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm not saying that I or we
• 1:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: are dissatisfied with what God has done with and through us, but there are just so many more souls that need to be reached.
• 2:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I believe thousands more will accept Christ in the coming days because of your investment and the work of the BTI team.
• 2:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: But time flies quickly, doesn't it?
• 2:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: My daughter, Emmy, is now eight Lucy just turned seven, and it's hard to grasp that I may only have 10 to 12 more summers with them before they leave home in pursuit of God's will.
• 2:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: I want to relish every second.
• 2:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: Even as the hours and days slip past, time and tied away for no man, but a child's growth doesn't wait either.
• 2:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: In other news, time doesn't seem to slow down in the world of technology either, does it?
• 2:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: The world of tech seems to be developing beyond humanity's ability to control.
• 3:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: And in that vein, I've made a decision recently that everything that we write for our tracks, for our newsletters, essentially, all of our efforts to reach people,
• 3:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: For the Gospels sake, we are going to be very careful about using AI and specifically for our tracks.
• 3:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: They will not be products of AI as we write those tracks, whether it be chat, GPT, or Gemini, Claude, all of these different options that are out there right now.
• 3:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: AI may be a worthy tool for some uses and possesses marvelous, almost supernatural abilities.
• 3:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I do believe there is a danger in turning over too much to its power.
• 3:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: Realize I take no issue with using AI to help plan a vacation, find a recipe or help with quick math.
• 3:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I believe we must be very careful with sacred things, like preaching and the gospel.
• 4:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm slow to give my opinion, especially in areas like this, but as the director of a ministry with a legacy like we have, I believe there are some areas where I must be transparent.
• 4:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: If you ever have questions about how we do or don't use AI, I'd love to hear from you.
• 4:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I believe there's something special about the human touch and that God breaved soul
• 4:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: We have to be careful, as we try to reach the lost, allowing a pragmatism, a pragmatism to overreach to overtake our principles.
• 4:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so in that vein, which is going to be very careful, and I'm going to approach these things with prayer.
• 4:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: And really, the reason I'm bringing this up is because I just want to be careful to keep our partners like you up to date on decisions we make, as important decisions like these.
• 5:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: on that note.
• 5:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: I want to thank you for your support of this ministry.
• 5:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: What BTI does is far bigger than any one man.
• 5:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's bigger than our team here in Odele, Illinois.
• 5:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I do not believe that what we do.
• 5:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't believe it's too big for God.
• 5:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: I do believe he will give us the courage, the ability, and if he allows the time to do his will.
• 5:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: On that note, there is a song written by John R. Rice many years ago.
• 5:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's titled So Little Time.
• 5:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: The first verse says this, so little time, the harvest will be over.
• 5:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: Our reaping done, we reapers take in home, report our work to Jesus, Lord of Harvest, and hope to share the glory of the crown.
• 5:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: The third verse says, the harvest white with reapers few is wasting, and many souls will die and never know.
• 6:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: The love of Christ, the joy of sins
• 6:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: Today we reap or emiss our golden harvest.
• 6:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: Today is given us lost souls to win.
• 6:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: O then to save some dear ones from the burning.
• 6:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: Today we'll go to bring some sinner in.
• 6:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know, God has given BTI a mandate that only ends when he returns.
• 6:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: This mandate has no borders or boundaries.
• 6:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: The reason we exist is to reach lost souls with the glorious gospel of Christ.
• 6:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: Our mission is quite literally the word of God to all the world.
• 6:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: But of the eight billion souls around the world.
• 6:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: approximately 1,000 of them will slip into eternity by the time you finish listening to this very short 15 minute broadcast.
• 7:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: The time is now.
• 7:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: The need is great.
• 7:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: As you listen throughout this week, you will be confronted with the worldwide need for the gospel.
• 7:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: You may hear of places.
• 7:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: and people who need the hope of Jesus.
• 7:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: My request is simple.
• 7:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: I would love it if you would listen, the remainder of today, but also Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, but listen with open ears and a soft heart.
• 7:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: God may be speaking to you today.
• 7:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe not about money, or giving financially, but maybe and more importantly.
• 7:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: He will speak to you in a still small voice about how much more you should pray for the laborers around the world.
• 7:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe he might even tell you to go yourself.
• 7:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: Friend I said again, the need is great, and the time is now.
• 8:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: We would be honored if you would partner with us to reach the world.
• 8:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: But this is not just a partnership of a transfer of funds or money.
• 8:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: Sure, we have many partners that are so faithful to commit to a recurring monthly donation maybe, others that give once a year, others when they can and we're so thankful for those, but I didn't encourage you, yes, provision the Ministry of BTI.
• 8:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: But you and I must participate.
• 8:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: This is not just something to deputize others with, we must also be a part of reaching the world.
• 8:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: Just this past weekend.
• 8:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: Had the opportunity to be at my home church.
• 8:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: I was given one of our dear ladies that helps with organizing follow-up and things like that.
• 8:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: She had some visitor cards and she gave some to me and there was some right in town and some little further away.
• 9:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: I went to visit one of the folks, they weren't home, and I saw this deer couple just a few apartment buildings away sitting outside.
• 9:15
  [SPEAKER_01]: They were enjoying the warmer weather that is coming sparingly here and there, and I drove up.
• 9:24
  [SPEAKER_01]: They had seen me, of course, walk up to this other door of a kind of a condo apartment.
• 9:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I drove up, and they were sitting outside, so I
• 9:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: pulled up and then jumped out of the car had a gospel tract.
• 9:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: My hand actually, a Bible tract, gospel tract, and walked up to them and just engaged them in just a few minutes of conversation, not long.
• 9:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I talked to them and we talked about the weather for a moment and asked them if they'd tended to church and come to find out actually the lady
• 9:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: and her grandson that came out of Saddleau's talking.
• 9:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: He was, he and she ride our church bus.
• 10:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: And it realized that they rode our church bus.
• 10:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: But the gentleman, he did not.
• 10:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: He had come one time to our church months and months ago.
• 10:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: And long story short, I started talking to him.
• 10:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm a firm believer that God can do great things when we yield ourselves to him.
• 10:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so what I'm about to tell you is no padding, a mic on the back, it was just an opera tune that Lord gave us all the outside of it.
• 10:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I had a chance, I had a gospel track with me, and so I went and it started talking to him and talked to the man, talked about his spiritual condition, talked about where he thought he might spend eternity, and he was fairly confident of heaven.
• 10:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: But he said something, he said, you know, I asked him about three different ways.
• 10:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: How would you know that you're on your way to heaven?
• 10:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: He said,
• 10:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: The last time he said, well, I've got a good heart.
• 10:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: And then Jesus, any talk about how Jesus had had how he believed in Jesus, I said, well, are you trusting 100% Jesus or just 90% Jesus?
• 11:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Are you trusting a little bit in your good heart?
• 11:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: And we went to Ephesians 289 about how the gift of God, it's not of work, it's less than he mentioned, boasting.
• 11:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: Long story short that man is named Carl talked to Carl for a little while and after about 30 minutes after I got there they're about Carl about his head and he prayed when the sweetest sinners prayers I've ever heard and he committed to coming the next day and I picked him up and took him to church with me and
• 11:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: Lord willing here in the near future he'll be getting baptized and following the Lord in obedience in that way But my point and telling you that one it's just a praise praise the Lord.
• 11:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: God is still in the soul saving Business, but I had a gospel track to all me what a sad thing would have been and this is how it would be before Yeah, this this 10th of I need to hand a gospel track to and then you don't have them with you Friend we need to all participate
• 11:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: have a little bit of boldness.
• 11:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's not easy.
• 11:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: I realize to walk up to someone and say, hey, can I give this to you?
• 12:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: But it's always worthwhile.
• 12:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: I didn't encourage your friend.
• 12:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: Prevision, yes, give.
• 12:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's wonderful.
• 12:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: Pray absolutely, but participate as well.
• 12:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: Tomorrow in on this broadcast.
• 12:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to tell you a little bit more about what's going on in the life
• 12:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: BTI, we're going to talk about this thought, mine eye, effective, mine heart.
• 12:26
  [SPEAKER_01]: When was the last time you saw something that changed you?
• 12:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, you think I've got to do something.
• 12:33
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm so thankful for the Abra tunis guy that's given me.
• 12:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: to see the worldwide necessity for the gospel.
• 12:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: We're going to talk a little bit about that tomorrow.
• 12:43
  [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so very much for tuning in.
• 12:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: My prayer as always is simply this, that you have a great day for his glory.
• 12:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: We'll plan on talking you soon.
• 12:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: God bless.
• 13:12
  [UNKNOWN]: Thank you.
• 13:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for tuning in to Bible Tract Echoes, the radio ministry of Bible Tracts Incorporated.
• 13:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: Want to see our gospel tracks and other resources?
• 13:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: Visit us online at BibleTracksInk.org that's BibleTracksInk.org or follow us on social media to learn how you can partner with this ministry.
• 13:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks again for listening.
• 13:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: May the Lord richly bless you as you live for Him.