THE JESUS BOOK

“I can’t remember a time in my life when the Bible was not with me,” shares Jack. As a young boy, he recalls climbing into his grandfather’s lap who would read the Bible aloud to him almost every night before bed. He loved hearing the Bible’s stories and learning about the characters. He eventually came to refer to the Bible as “the Jesus book.” As his love for the Bible grew through the years, Jack began to see everything in life through the lens of scripture. Now in his seventies, Jack says, “The Jesus book (Bible) has transformed my life, and my greatest privilege is to spend my day sharing His message of redemption.”

INTIMIDATED BY THE WORD

“If you are reading the Bible and it doesn’t make sense to you, start with Christ and your relationship with Him. If you don’t desire to read God’s word, check your heart. If you want to know God, you will hunger for His word. Your quest for righteousness is satisfied with the Word of God. Your life will change if you read God’s Word, listen to it and live it out,” shares Jack. The Bible is how God communicates with you. Although it was written by more than forty authors over a millennium and a half ago, it still reflects a single theme, and His words still carry a divine purpose. Jack recommends the following steps when reading the Bible:

• Submit yourself to the Bible without reservation – the Bible is authoritative.
• Ask God to show you what He would like for you to learn from the passage you’re reading – the Bible is authentic. The purpose of scripture is to present the person of the Savior. His word is inspired. It is infallible (wholly true) and inerrant (without any errors).
• The Bible can withstand your scrutiny – the Bible is accurate. If you come across something you don’t understand or can’t resolve, seek help from your pastor or from a good Bible study resource.

UNDERSTANDING GOD’S WORD

The best way to know God’s Word is to spend time in it regularly and allow the Holy Spirit to teach and train you in godly living. Jack reveals, “I’ve come to believe that the Bible is quite understandable when interpreted and illuminated by the Holy Spirit.” Some ways that Jack suggests include:

• Keep it simple – You can start reading in the New Testament or Old Testament, there is no wrong place to start. Read it and reflect on it. 
• Make reading God’s Word a habit in your life. Read and reread it. Consider using different translations. Your time with God is the most important time you will spend. Jack shares, “I start virtually every day of my life with God’s Word, which prepares me for my daily responsibilities and opportunities and sets my mind on what’s really important. But more important, it helps me get my will aligned with the will of God. God works purposefully and providentially in our lives through our circumstances and the choices we make.” As a high school student, Jack wanted to play baseball at the professional level. As a senior in high school Baylor University invited him to come play, but he hadn’t received an official letter from the head coach. Meanwhile, his pastor connected him to his alma mater, Hardin-Simmons University. They too offered him a spot on their team. The next day he heard back from Baylor with the offer he had been waiting on. He prayed and asked God to lead him. Jack accepted the offer with Hardin-Simmons University where he not only played baseball but began speaking and teaching throughout West Texas. He also met his future wife, Deb.
• Find the right Bible for you. Jack says, “The best Bible for you is the one you will actually read.” For more advice, you can talk with your pastor or a spiritual leader before investing in a Bible of your own. Although digital editions are very popular, Jack suggests getting a printed copy of God’s Word too so you can carry it with you and always have access to it. 
• Be ready for the Word of God to speak to you. Welcome the truth of the Bible into your life so it can transform you. During the mid 1990s, Jack had been pastor of Prestonwood for three years. The church was growing and needed to expand. They tried to expand at the location where the church was founded, but they needed more space for a growing congregation. One morning as he was running, he heard the Lord say, “Jack you’re limiting what I want to do with Prestonwood.” Instantly, Jack knew God’s plans for the church were bigger and better than what they (church leadership) were planning.  Together with leaders from the church, they prayed and asked God for guidance. God led them to relocate the church, moving their entire congregation of over 12,000 members to a new site. As a result of their obedience, the massive expansion of Prestonwood began to take shape. 
• Obey what God is asking you to do. Share His Word with others so that it can fulfill His purpose.

ABOUT JACK     

Dr. Jack Graham is the Senior Pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, a Dallas area church with more than 60,000 members. He came to Prestonwood in 1989 when there were 8,000 members in the congregation. 
In 2006, the church launched a second location, the North Campus, which has a Spanish-language ministry, Prestonwood en Español, which includes members from more than 20 nations. The church also has an on-line community, Prestonwood. Live, which draws worshippers from all over the world.
His passionate, biblical teaching is also seen and heard across the country and throughout the world on PowerPoint Ministries. In October 2022, the Bible in a Year with Jack Graham podcast was launched in partnership with iHeartPodcasts and Pray.com, with a cinematic feel that brings the Bible to life. Within the first week of its release, the podcast reached the top spot on the Spotify religion list, and it has now surpassed 60 million downloads. Jack has served as Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer and has helped lead various national prayer initiatives. He served as President of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the country with more than 14 million members. 

For more information on Jack Graham click www.JackGraham.org

CREDITS

Author, The Jesus Book, (Bethany House, 2024); Senior Pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church a Dallas area church with more than 60,000 members; His biblical teaching can be heard around the world on PowerPoint Ministries; The Bible in a Year with Jack Graham podcast, in partnership with Pray.com has more than 50 million downloads; Married to Deb, three grown children, eight grandchildren

Warren remembers, “I felt it immediately and it was like a burning sensation that started right off. I thought that I was gonna die.”

In December 2023, Warren Yuill started his day as usual with breakfast and a dose of vitamins. He was taking his vitamin C when it went down the wrong way. Warren shares, “I could feel it going down into my lung and it was like having acid in your lungs. It moved over across into my throat. I immediately started coughing and hacking. I'm grabbing my throat, I'm trying to get this outta me. And it wasn't working.”

Warren’s wife, Pam, drove him to the hospital. By the time they got there Warren’s condition had worsened. Warren recalls, “The breathing was really difficult at that point. It was like trying to catch a breath. You just could not breathe.”

After giving Warren an examination, his doctor told him his lung had started filling with fluid and prescribed steroids and a week of light antibiotics. He was told that if the tablet didn’t dissolve he would need surgery to remove it. However, Warren had spent most of 2023 in the hospital on heavy antibiotics for cellulitis. Taking more would put him at risk for other severe complications.  

Warren says, “I would get intestinal problems and they would have to be removing parts of your intestine. At that point to have surgery from the pulmonary surgeon to remove this would be possibly very possibly a death sentence.”

Warren decided to take medication as prescribed, praying it wouldn’t cause problems. While it provided some relief the tablet was still lodged in his right lung. Over the next two and a half weeks, Warren’s normal daily routine came to a halt.

Warren remembers, “I tried to eat and I couldn't take anything solid. My throat hurt too bad. It was all burned up from the ascorbic acid out of the vitamin C. And all I could drink was a little water.”

Friends and family prayed for healing. As CBN partners, Warren and Pam also watched  the 700 Club for encouragement. Then, on New Year’s day, 2024, they were watching the program when Terry had a word of knowledge.

Terry Meeuwsen shares, "...This is also a lung issue. I don’t believe it is the same person. But you have aspirated some stuff into your lungs more than one time. And now you are having issues with your breathing, with your lungs, with infection. God’s healing that for you right now. It will be as though it  never happened. In Jesus’ name."

Warren shares, “She described my symptoms almost to the “T” and I couldn't believe it. I said, ‘Pam, do you hear this? Listen to what she's saying. She might as well say my name.’ Pam and I just jumped up and said, ‘I claim that one right there.’ And within just a few minutes, I'm starting to breathe easier. I just opened right up. Within five minutes I said, ‘Pam, I can breathe. Look at this.’ Now we just, we rejoiced.”

A few weeks later, Warren returned to his primary care doctor for a follow-up appointment who gave him a clean bill of health!

Warren remembers, “He said, ‘You're in perfect condition. Your lungs are clean. I don't hear a thing in there. There's no crackling. They're not full.’ And I was breathing deeply. The oxygen sensor on my finger read 98. So, he said, ‘You're healed, it's done.’”

Warren hopes his story will strengthen the faith of those who are still believing God for healing. Warren says, “We believe that Jesus is still in the healing business. If you just believe in Him and pray and ask Him to heal you and have no doubts in your heart that it's gonna happen, I truly believe it will happen to you. Jesus Christ will heal you.”
 

Mrs. Yang could hardly wait to give birth to her first child, Ke.  She planned to throw a traditional Chinese blessing banquet for him when he turned a month old.  But it never happened because Ke was born with a cleft lip and palate.

She explains, “I knew if people saw him, they wouldn’t bless him.  They’d laugh and say he was a monster.”

Mrs. Yang had to take care of Ke herself because her husband works out of town. To protect Ke, she kept him home a lot and covered him when they went out. Still, someone managed to see him.

She asked me, ‘Did you eat rabbit when you were pregnant.  And now your baby is cursed by a rabbit?’” Mrs. Yang recounts.  “After that, the whole village knew about Ke’s cleft lip.”

It was hard for him to eat, and at six months, he was small, malnourished, and always sick.

“I hardly ever saw him smile,” his mother recollects.  “The doctor said maybe it was because of the gap in his lip that his respiratory tract was so susceptible to infection.”

A fortune teller said the reason Ke had problems was because he was haunted by dead people.  The man suggested building a small bridge and having the first person to cross it give Ke a nickname.

“I took the advice,” Mrs. Yang shares.  “And a man gave Ke the nickname ‘Strong Tiger.’  All I had to do was call him that, and he'd be healthy.”

Instead, Ke landed in the hospital with pneumonia.  After this, the Yangs diligently tried to borrow money for cleft lip surgery, but it cost too much.  So, Mrs. Yang searched online for help and found Operation Blessing.  We helped to make Ke’s surgery possible.

Mrs. Yang exclaims, “When I told my husband the good news on the phone, he was so excited that he cried.  Now my son looks good.  His life is full of sunshine, and I don't have to hide him anymore.”

Ke recently turned one.  And Mrs. Yang was finally able to throw him a party.

“Some people hardly recognized him and they apologized for the things they said.  They gave him a lot of blessings,” Mrs. Yang says.  She concludes, “But I know God’s are all that matter because Operation Blessing volunteers told me God always loved my baby.  So, I’m grateful to Him. And I thank the Operation Blessing donors for giving Ke a bright future.”

Anthony Lynn is an NFL sideline presence.  An assistant coach with nine different teams. The former head coach is now the run game coordinator of the Washington Commanders—bringing traction to their rushing offense. The 2-time Super Bowl Champion running back is present in the moment, both graciously seasoned and stately intense—a fitting, coaching, fatherly ambassador in the nation’s capital, steep with long football tradition.
 
Question:  “What makes DC football with the Commanders unique?”
 
Anthony Lynn: “Well this fan base is special.  I grew up in Dallas – and the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins – that’s a rivalry!  Back then it was big! We haven’t had that here in awhile. And so I’ve always respected the fan base here and I’ve always respected the organization here. And I wanted to come and help a great man in Dan Quinn build something special here for the people!” 
 
Question: “Today’s NFL running game, what’s changing that?”
 
Anthony Lynn:  “There’s different ways to run the football now. You’re still running the ball but I call ’em touches. You know, you have RPO’s where they run-pass options. Running backs have to have that versatility, that skill to receive – short passes, mainly. Catching balls in space - extended runs is what I call them. We just run it a little differently.” 
 
Question:  “As a Running Game Coordinator – when you have the elaborate part of a running quarterback like Jayden Daniels, how much of that overlap into what you are prepping for?”
 
Anthony Lynn: “When you have a mobile quarterback like Jayden, and he loves to run and I’m trying to get him not to run as much (laugh), ‘cause he’s so competitive, it makes the defense play 11 on 11.  So you can gain some advantages in the run game because of that quarterback’s mobility even if you’re not using him – just the threat that that he can do it. He’s way ahead of his time,  his maturity, his character. As good as he is a football player – I can tell you that right now, he’s a better man. And that’s what excites me the most!”  
 
Question:  “Coach speak to me if you would, as a former running back, a running back coach – how much of life for us is running away from something or running towards something?”
 
Anthony Lynn: “A lot of life! (laugh) A lot! And I do believe that is the biggest challenge. Because if you’re running away from something or if you’re running toward something – than you’re never in the present! And I believe you’re at your best and you’re most powerful when you’re in the present. Focus on that! You know, don’t worry about the play you just had. Don’t worry about the play that I’m gonna call. Worry about the play that’s in front of us right now. And that’s easier said than done!”
 
Question:  “How does coaching specifically satisfy your ability and interest to invest into others?”
 
Anthony Lynn:  “I had great coaches coming up. Was raised in a single family home and a lot of coaches became like father figures to me in middle school, high school, college, even on the pro level. I’ve always wanted to be a coach and give back and pay it forward. One day I will miss that, you know, those meetings I have with young men. Besides the X’s and O’s, I love doing that and I feel I’ve been called to do that.”
 
Question:  “How much fathering do you actually import into the player?”
 
Anthony Lynn:  “It’s an old saying – ‘players don’t care what you know until they know that you care’+. I believe that! At the end of the day, it’s a relationship business. And if you treat people that way, I think they respond that way.”
 
Commanders Running Back Jeremy McNichols: “He really just cares about the people around and the people in the organization and he’s been doing it for a very long time. He’s done at the highest level as a player and as a coach. He’s just open and authentic on and off the field. Just giving us fatherly advice. I love him as a coach, as a man, as a mentor.”
 
Question:  “The Lynn Family Foundation is about drawing the greatest potential out of people. What do you feel is the most effective way?”
 
Anthony Lynn:  “We want to just help some people: young adults with mental health issues, fatherless boys, motherless girls. And we have a school in Africa, in Tanzania. The cornerstone of our foundation is just service. We have been called to serve. We aren’t trying to fix you and all – we just want to be with you. We just want to help you understand and recognize that you can be and do whatever you want to do. You know chase those dreams in life. That’s living. To me that’s living.”  
 
Question:  “What do you think is most necessary in reaching someone’s potential?”
 
Anthony Lynn:  “It’s love! It’s gotta be! We’re called to love because Christ loved us and He died for us so that we may have eternal life. And he didn’t have to do that but He loved us so much that He did. For us to show that love to others, that’s authentic and honest and people see that – and they trust you.”
 
Question:  “We hear this from a lot of your players, ‘Coach puts us in the best position to succeed’. That said – what do you think the Body of Christ at large, could do better to be the best of themselves in giving out?”
 
Anthony Lynn:  “How Christ loved us. And if the Church loved communities the way Christ loves us, how can you not be attracted to that? How can you not want to be part of that family? Big groups, small groups or just fellowship of one another and meditating on Christ’s Word. You took that seriously and you did that, Christ will show Himself to you. He’s never let me down. He’s always shown Himself to me. I believe He’ll show Himself to you!”
 
Question:  “What is it about the life of Jesus Christ that draws the best out of Anthony Lynn?
 
Anthony Lynn:  “He’s the same – He’s always the same! And no matter what I do, there are consequences. But I know that He loves me. And I know that one day I will spend eternity with Him. And that’s always on my mind, no matter what I’m doing.. Just knowing no matter how much I screw this up, He’s gonna be there with me!”