Become Centered

It is your Choice …

Become Centered!

It is better to trust in the LORD

than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8






I am excited!


Yesterday was one of the best days I have seen since I stood in a field in Bamako Mali and witnessed hundreds pray to receive Christ watching the Jesus film; and when I witnessed to strangers on the streets of Accra; and knocked on doors in Nairobi with Campus Crusade for Christ. I spent yesterday with Wayside Harvesters at a street fair/carnival in Twenty-nine Palms CA. I know that doesn't sound like much ... but I'm talking about people's lives saved here.

I must admit that I had reservations, at first. Although I have been a salesman all my life, talking to strangers is not something I do on a daily basis; but witnessing has always come naturally for me. But at this event, most were marines and their families, or children and young adults. Mainly I just observed for the first several hours, watching carefully as Bob and Paul spoke to those passing by.

Let me tell you about a boy named Chris. I was standing next to a display that gave the challenge: Take the test … answer the question: “what are the three things God cannot do?” A young African American boy came up to me; he was about twelve years old. “Can I take the test?” he asked. Sure I said; what is your name; Chris, the boy replied. I think I can do it, I was here last year.


The answers behind the doors on the display were: 1. God cannot lie. 2. God cannot change. 3. God cannot allow us allow us to go to heaven unless we are born again.
Chris remembered the first two answers but he had a problem with the third. When I helped him, he said recalled the third, and when I asked he said he was born again. Chris thanked me and then he wandered away. A couple of hours later three other boys about the same age came up and asked for the free bracelet we were offering. I said sure pull up a chair and I will explain the story of the bracelet.


The boys listened carefully as I explained the fall of man in the garden, the reality of sin, what Jesus did for us on the cross and His plan for salvation. I asked if they would like to pray for forgiveness and to have Jesus become their Lord and Savior. They replied, yes we would. So I led them in a simple prayer that invited asked Jesus to forgive them and become their Lord and Savior.

When I looked up, we had another visitor … guess who … it was Chris. He quickly asked; what were they just doing? I explained they were praying to be born again of the Spirit, and asking Jesus to become their Lord and Savior. Chris absolutely was just waiting for the opportunity to pray. I didn’t do that last year, Chris said; can I pray with you now he asked. The three boys had to leave, but Chris took my card as I told him there was much more I needed to share with him.

What is so exciting for me? Because, the same story repeated itself, over and over again; it was like the reverse of knocking on doors. People wanted to know about Jesus. A mother and her two daughters prayed to receive Christ; two young parents and their two children; a mother and her three sons. All of this happened in a small 10 by 10 open ended tent placed between a vendor selling AC/DC hats and Tee-shirts on one side, and a vendor selling Bob Marley and various pot paraphernalia on the other side. Our signs drew people to Christ like a magnet.

Many others also came who had strong opinions. Several stayed and talked for an hour or more. Some will continue to be witnessed to and discipled. These young adults had a common theme. They were all struggling with the same problem. It was clear to me and I explained the message in the attached video which clearly shows a key message God has for us all.

This message is the center verse, of the Bible.

You must watch this video clip to more clearly understand that there are no accidents in God’s kingdom. Men did not place the scriptures in a certain order to put this verse in the exact center of the Bible. God ordered the Bible before the heavens and the earth and men were even created. His Truth was … before the beginning. It is never changing.

Unlike the teachings and books of men, we can always trust God’s Truth. It is the foundation of our faith and our belief system. Without God’s Truth, we have nothing; or as best just another religion. Perhaps these teachings are wise ideas from men; but really, who cares about the conclusions of men, when measured up against the Truth of the Creator of all things?

God points a giant arrow at this verse in the center to help us to understand his Truth and His Plan for us.

Watch this video NOW! God shows you the two roads men have the option to take and clearly tells you the way of Wisdom.




It is your Choice … Become Centered!

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8

It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8

The fact that God strategically placed this verse (Psalm 118:8) in exactly the center of His Holy Bible is no accident. There are no accidents with God. And it clearly explains the solution that leads to everything that all men need to know. You see, men fell as a result of a lie. And because of our fallen nature we naturally follow that lie all the rest of our lives. What was the lie?

“The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5

You see; this is the problem of all mankind. It is all about the truth. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. When some are given the choice, they chose to follow the lie which has an appeal to pride and flesh. Yesterday, when asked if she wanted to pray to receive Christ; one young woman replied, “I’m not ready.” When asked what was holding her back; she replied; “there are many books. This is your book, and surely you believe it; but how am to know it is true, when compared to all the other religious books?” She walked away lost and still confused.


Another young marine had been to; but dropped out of Catholic seminary, and he was convinced that the first chapters of Genesis were all allegorical, as he had apparently been taught. He was very intelligent, but he had clearly accepted some of the wisdom from his religious training, and apparently rejected the clear teachings of God’s Truth.

This is what happens when we do not trust God’s Word. The Bible clearly teaches:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5… “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14


God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all one and the same Creator, God. They are not an allegory. How do we know this? Because Jesus and God’s Word tells us this is Truth. It is not just some book we have chosen to follow written by men. God spoke this eternal truth through men over a period of thousands of years and He tells us that he is the Way and the Truth, and that His Word is Truth. Men can change it or misinterpret it but they cannot change the Truth, it is eternal and we have the ancient manuscripts, prophecies, historic and archaeological evidence gives compelling evidence to this Truth. But the only evidence we really need is the witness of the Holy Spirit who has established residence in the hearts and minds of believers.


Jesus explained this fact: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17


Those who have chosen to compromise the Truth and reject God’s Truth such as: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 have rejected the Creator, the counsel of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ who tells us He is Yahweh the mighty Creator God, “I Am.” To reject the Creator or turn him into an allegory, is to reject Christ and His Word.

We must never allow for the teachings of men or a denomination or a church to come between us and our Lord and Savior. He is Jesus, the Christ, Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent, Yahweh, Creator, The Great I Am, Ego eimi, Holy and Just, Lord of all, Prince of Peace Counselor, Almighty God. There is nothing He does not know. He is the beginning, the end, and everything in between. He is all powerful and has power over all things … including all of those things beyond the finite imagination knowledge, and understanding of men.

Wayside Harvesters not only provides hope for those who need the Savior. For someone like me, it is a way to better fulfill the primary mission Jesus has given me. It is like showing Joe Montana he can play in the NFL again ... only this is not a silly game of football; but rather helping people come to know their Lord and Savior. This is the most important thing we can ever do; fulfilling our mission that God has given each of us. The idea that I might help many more young people to come to know Christ in my senior years is new hope and meaning for me.


This is a simple way for each of us to be centered on witnessing the good news of Christ on an ongoing basis, anywhere we are, anywhere in the world. You can be helping others come to know Christ tomorrow and the next day. No evangelism program in your church? Go to your pastor, tell him you would like to get it started and God is calling you to this ministry.

A huge thank you to my friend Bob Ricciardi ... the Lord has used you to give my life restored meaning and purpose. Much of everything else we do is only filling time until we are home with the Lord.


Do you want to be centered on the mission Christ has given you? Wherever you are; start your own Wayside harvesters. If you would like more specifics on how to accomplish this in your area, just email me direct at: talavera.bob@gmail.com


Watch this video ... NOW! God shows you the two roads men have the option to take and clearly tells you the way of Wisdom.




It is your Choice … Become Centered!
It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8

God Bless you my friends, Bob