When you say San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco, most people know you are talking about California. But not as many people know what you are talking about when you say Beaumont, Banning, Barstow and Blythe. But that’s California, too. It’s the back side of Los Angeles headed east towards Arizona, and that’s the part of California I went through today on the way to my annual spring training rendezvous with the Los Angeles Angels.
So the work on the wall began. They all worked by tribe and by families. But as soon as they began in earnest, Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem, neighboring enemies, began mocking them.
They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” Nehemiah 2:18
What did it take for Nehemiah to get this kind of response from the priests, the nobles, the officials, and everyone else in the administration of the Jews in Jerusalem who knew nothing about who he was, why he had come, or what he planned to do? How did he convince them in such a short time? A carefully planned powerpoint presentation? A powerful motivational message?
What greeted Nehemiah when he got to Jerusalem was probably something like this picture. Imagine, he had no idea what to expect. The size of the job that lay before him was immense. The circumference of the wall around the city was two and a half miles, the average height of the wall was 39 feet (the height of a four story building), and the average thickness of the wall was 8.2 feet (enough for three men to walk side-by-side). The wall contained 34 watchtowers and seven main gates.
At the heart of The Catch Ministry lies a profound purpose: to infuse faith with humanity, to break down barriers to belief, and to ignite action that leaves an eternal impact. The Catch Ministry’s primary builders are Marti and John Fischer, whose roots trace back to the Jesus Movement, where the message of salvation breathed life into countless souls and birthed a new generation of believers. Today many of those believers through John and Marti’s leadership and inspiration have embarked on a transformational journey, bridging the gap between the church and the culture, and empowering a new breed of believers known as Marketplace Christians.
Recognizing the urgent need for the Gospel of Welcome in our communities worldwide, we’re launching the “Rebuilding Together” initiative today. Our primary goal is to stabilize and revitalize The Catch Ministry, ensuring its sustainability and continued growth in the digital age.
by Marti Fischer
Have you ever felt fear creeping in and taking control? One moment you’re capable of love and generosity, and the next, you find yourself slipping into a state of smallness, doubting your abilities and desires?
Fear manifests itself in various forms — fear of rejection, fear of inadequacy — and can confine us to a comfort zone that stifles growth and fulfillment. It convinces us that venturing beyond our perceived limitations is too risky, leaving us trapped in a cycle of un-fulfillment and inertia.
by John Fischer with Darin Sigler
MemberPartner Darin Sigler is experiencing something a number of our older readers are facing right now — a slight bend in the road. They are facing diminishing energy and a sense that their most significant works may be behind them. The “carousel of time” may be slowing down in preparation for them to get off soon.
by John Fischer and Pam Lundy
Today’s MemberPartner offering comes from Pam Lundy. This is such a privilege to hear from some of our MemberPartners. It is a chance to not only grow from hearing what they have learned from life to share with us, but it is a chance to get to know a little bit about who they are. We happen to believe that our MemberPartners are some of the best people on earth. And for that reason, you may want to consider becoming a one yourself. The camaraderie is strong. The bond is unbreakable.
by John Fischer and Priscilla Fraser
We are featuring writings by a number of our MemberPartners this week. This one comes from Priscilla from New York. Like many of our dear MemberPartners, Priscilla has been with us for a long time. We have been through a lot together including the loss of her beloved husband, Jack. In this writing, she reveals how you never know what might happen when you extend yourself beyond your comfort zone to another person.
John Fischer The Catch 