Living Stones International
 Excerpt taken from March 2025 newsletter:
     
      When I began traveling back in 1982, Bibles were in short supply in the communist countries I visited.  Carrying Bibles into China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia and other countries was challenging as these countries back then considered Bibles and Christianity to be harmful to their citizens.  For the last 33 years, I have worked in Muslim-Majority countries, and although many have Bible Societies, access to Bibles by any persons other than Christians is still difficult. 
Books are still sought after by most of the people in the Middle East and North Africa.  They love books, so book fairs are very well-attended.  I have visited book fairs in Egypt and Israel, but the one in Cairo is huge-with stalls in six different conference buildings.  Our co-worker, Pastor Jack, takes the opportunity to get permission for a Bible booth.  He is required to sell, not give away the Bibles and other Christian materials, but he sells a hardcover Bible for 40 cents so all can afford one. 
This year the book fair was better attended than any other year.  After a few days, Jack ran out of Bibles!  He told me that many-maybe even most-of the people that came to the Bible booth were Muslims, curious about the “Christian book.”  Some had heard the Bible was corrupted in the first century and wanted to see for themselves.  Others came to discuss Islam and Christianity.  And some, we know, were prompted by the Holy Spirit to seek out the truth.  Muslims who have secretly converted to Christianity (MBB’s) also visited the booth. 
Please pray that all who received a Bible will be convicted that it is the truth and that they will have the courage to become followers of Jesus.
-Dr. Pat

I have reached a point in my life that it no longer takes rigorous physical activity to leave me hurting, now I only have to sleep wrong, sit wrong, bend over wrong, and I am left with the certainty that it doesn’t take all that much to make me uncomfortable anymore. But that thought also came with another. It goes with a piece of scripture that has also been difficult to hear. In Matthew 10:34 Jesus says, “Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
In context, Jesus is talking about the effect that the Gospel will have on families. Accepting the Gospel will be more important than any relationship you will ever have. But on the whole this passage has always brought to my mind one clear understanding. The Gospel is meant to make you uncomfortable.
When we are told to forgive, to love, to let God be the judge, to be patient and wait on His timing; that makes us uncomfortable. When we are trying to trust in the midst of personal tragedy, handing over our friends and family who are struggling with sickness or loss, that can be uncomfortable. When He calls us to sacrificial love, that can be uncomfortable. And denying ourselves and taking up a cross will certainly be an uncomfortable event. But God is not interested in your comfort. He is interested in your righteousness. He is interested in your salvation. He is interested in the fullness of life. He is interested in you. So, I end with a question. Are you uncomfortable? Because if you are not uncomfortable in your walk with God, are you really letting Him change you?