Nehemiah 2:10
10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it (that the gracious hand of God was upon Nehemiah and had given him favor and success with the king of Persia) , it grieved (angered) them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
KJV
Leadership should seek the welfare of people, not themselves. May God give us such leaders in our day of unrest in this world in which we live.
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Scriptures concerning our current times on Planet Earth
Matthew 24:9-12; 1 Timothy 4:1, 2; and 2 Timothy 3:1
Editor’s Commentary of today’s Scriptures
Dr. Stanley A. Toler elected 39th general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene
Dr. Ronald W. Carpenter, Sr. to be the Camp Meeting preacher for Upper South Carolina Conference
Chaplain (Major General) Douglas L Carver, Chief of Army Chaplains to be the keynote speaker at IPHC Chaplains and Spouses Retreat in Greensboro, July 27, 2009
Wendy Weeks Phelps, 42, our second cousin, died Thursday night, July 16, 2009
Pastor Bill Wilson of Metro Ministries in Brooklyn fell and suffered a broken hip
The office of the late Evangelist Jerry B. Walker is for sale in Sugarland, TX
Ruby Cates fell and broker her hip – needs our prayers
Will you receive the Benediction?
Stand by for Today’s News . . .
Scriptures concerning our current times on Planet Earth
Matthew 24:9-12; 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 ; and 2 Timothy 3:1
Matt 24:9-14
9 "They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. 10 And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other's throat, everyone hating each other.
11 "In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. 12 For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in — nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes.
13 "Staying with it — that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. 14 All during this time, the good news — the Message of the kingdom — will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
1 Timothy 4:1-2
The Spirit makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after demonic illusions put forth by professional liars. These liars have lied so well and for so long that they've lost their capacity for truth.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
2 Timothy 3:1-5
3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
NIV
Editor’s Commentary of today’s Scriptures
These Scriptures for today are so revealing of our current troublesome times. Could it be that God is trying to wean us from the things of this world and enable us to focus on Him, His Word, and carrying out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)? Our mission is to make disciples of all nations.
The Apostle John in his epistle wrote:
1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
NKJV
It is my prayer that God will give us discernment, direction, and determination as we endeavor to serve the Lord in these days of crisis in our country and world.
Let me close with an invitation that is given in Isaiah in the Old Testament for times such as these:
Isaiah 55:6-7
6 Seek the LORD while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near. 7 Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the LORD that He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
NLT
Dr. Stanley A. Toler elected 39th general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene
Orlando, Florida
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Dr. Stan Toler
Dr. Stanley A. Toler, pastor of the Oklahoma City Trinity Church of the Nazarene and recently elected district superintendent for Southwest Oklahoma, was elected as the 39th general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene on July 2, 2009. Toler was elected on the 16th ballot at the denomination's 27th General Assembly in Orlando, Florida.
When the ballot results were revealed, Toler wept as he was surrounded by dozens of congratulators. General Secretary David Wilson escorted him to the platform, where he was greeted by the presiding and newly elected general superintendents.
After collecting himself, the casually-dressed Toler joked he "didn't dress for the occasion." He then spoke of his history, saying he was saved in a Sunday School class when he was four years old, was called to preach just a few years later at a West Virginia revival, and became a pastor when he was just 17.
"I have spent my whole life as a pastor," he said. "I have never aspired to be anything but a pastor. But, four weeks ago on a Sunday morning I heard the words of Carl Summer and Talmadge Johnson ringing in my ear: 'Don't be so closed minded' ... and I thought if I was elected Southwest Oklahoma District Superintendent, I would do it."I never dreamed I'd be standing on this stage four weeks later."
Citing a poem from his father, Toler expressed peace at the center of his soul. "I humbly accept this election," he stated.
Toler was elected Southwest Oklahoma District Superintendent on June 4, an election which was to be effective approximately 30 days from that time.
He has been serving as pastor of Oklahoma City Trinity since January of 1997. He also served as pastor for Nashville (Tennessee) First, and Oklahoma City First.
He is a graduate of Ohio Christian University (Bachelor of Theology), Southern Nazarene University (Bachelor of Arts), Florida Beacon Bible College (Master of Theology, Doctor of Divinity), and Marantha Seminary (Doctor of Ministry). This past May, he received an honorary doctorate from Southern Nazarene University.
For several years he taught seminars for John Maxwell's INJOY Group, a leadership development institute. Toler has written over 70 books, including his best-sellers, God Has Never Failed Me, But He's Sure Scared Me to Death a Few Times; The Buzzards Are Circling, But God's Not Finished With Me Yet; God's Never Late, He's Seldom Early, He's Always Right on Time; The Secret Blend; Practical Guide to Pastoral Ministry; Total Quality Life, and his popular Minute Motivator series. His latest book, ReThink Your Life, debuted at No. 23 on the CBA Christian Living Best Sellers list.
Born in West Virginia, Toler was raised in a home that taught the values that have influenced his life. His father was killed in a construction accident when Stan was 11 years old; a traumatic event that shaped his future ministry, and is recounted in his book The Harder I Laugh, the Deeper I Hurt.
He and his wife, Linda, an educator, have two sons, Seth and Adam, daughters-in-law, Marcy and Amanda, and one grandson, Rhett. The Tolers reside in Oklahoma City.
With this election and the elections of Eugenio Duarte and David W. Graves earlier this week, the next Board of General Superintendents is now complete. General Superintendents James H. Diehl, Paul G. Cunningham, and Nina G. Gunter are retiring, and Duarte, Graves, and Toler will join re-elected superintendents Jerry D. Porter, Jesse C. Middendorf, and J. K. Warrick to comprise the Board for the next quadrennium.
John C. Bowling was elected as the 38th general superintendent on Tuesday, but on Thursday morning, citing a lack of peace with the decision, rescinded his acceptance. Graves then was declared the 38th superintendent, and voting commenced for the 39th.
Upon Toler's acceptance of the election, General Superintendent Nina G. Gunter declared him the 39th general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene.
--NCN News with biographical information courtesy of stantoler.com
[Editor’s Note: Stan Toler is a friend of the IPHC. This year he taught in all four of the Anointing II Conferences from coast to coast and all in between. God has used him over the years to teach in the Graduate School at Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, OK, as well as for our general officials and conference superintendents. I am glad I can call him my friend. I write him often. He has a simple method of soul-winning that is easy to follow and use by most Christians who would like to share their faith in Jesus Christ with family and friends. Check out his website: www.stantoler.com
Dr. Ronald W. Carpenter, Sr. to be the Camp Meeting preacher for Upper South Carolina Conference
The Camp Meeting at Beech Springs in the Upper South Carolina Conference begins Sunday, July 12, with a Global Outreach Offering Service, at 6 p. m. Dr. Ronald W. Carpenter, Sr. will be preaching. There will be two services daily, 10 a. m. and 7:30 p. m.
The Camp Meeting is Sunday, July 12, 2009, through Wednesday night, July 15. They have great choir and congregational singing and special musical groups. Bishop Ronald Q. Moore, is the conference superintendent.
Dr. Ronald W. Carpenter, Sr. is the Vice Chairman of the IPHC, Executive Director, Evangelism USA, and Chairman, Chaplains Ministries, IPHC. He is a gifted and anointed preacher. You will be blessed to hear him this week.
Our family, Melvine, Greg, Stephanie, and I plan to attend the Sunday evening camp meeting service. Hope to see you there.
Chaplain (Major General) Douglas L Carver, Chief of Army Chaplains to be the keynote speaker at IPHC Military Chaplains and Spouses Retreat in Greensboro, July 27, 2009
Approximately 100 people will be in attendance at the IPHC Chaplains and Spouses Retreat in Greensboro. Only God could have helped us to get a commitment from this much in demand Chief of Army Chaplains. He is a dynamic preacher and a gifted musician. He will play the keyboard and lead those in attendance in anointed and powerful praise and worship.
Chaplain (Major General) Douglas L. Carver
A native of Rome, Georgia, Chaplain Douglas L. Carver became the 22nd Chief of Chaplains, United States Army, on July 12, 2007. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religious Studies from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, a Master of Divinity Degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville Kentucky, and a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. An ordained Southern Baptist minister, he has pastored churches in Kentucky, Colorado, and Virginia.
In June 1973 he was recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate and appointed as a Regular Army Officer in the Field Artillery Branch of the United States Army. After serving on active duty for six years, he resigned his commission to enter the ministry. He was subsequently commissioned as an Army Chaplain in June 1984.
His Field Artillery assignments included serving as a Forward Observer, Assistant Executive Officer, Executive Officer, Battery Commander, Brigade Fire Support Officer, and Personnel Officer with the 1st Battalion, 19th Field Artillery, Fort Carson, Colorado.
Chaplain Carver’s previous assignments include serving as the 22nd Deputy Chief of Chaplains, United States Army, at the Pentagon in Washington DC; the Director of Training, United States Army Chaplain Center and School, Fort, Jackson, South Carolina; CJTF-7 Chaplain, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Baghdad, Iraq; V Corps Chaplain, Heidelberg, Germany; Deputy Command Chaplain, United States Army, Europe (USAREUR), Heidelberg, Germany; Installation Chaplain, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Division Chaplain, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Career Management Officer, Office of the Chief of Chaplains, Pentagon; Assistant Training and Doctrine Command Chaplain (TRADOC) Chaplain, Fort Monroe, Virginia; Assistant Staff Chaplain, Mannheim Military Community, Mannheim, Germany; 3rd Brigade Chaplain, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and Eagle Support Brigade and 29th Transportation Battalion Chaplain, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Staff Identification Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and the Ranger Tab. Chaplain Carver is a recipient of the Clyde T. Francisco Preaching Award (1982) from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1995 he received the Witherspoon Chaplain’s Award from the Layman’s National Bible Association for outstanding service rendered by a military chaplain in the promotion of Bible reading and study among military families.
Chaplain Carver and his wife, Sunny, have two daughters and three grandchildren.
[Editor’s Note: We give God all the praise, glory, honor and thanksgiving for allowing us to have Chaplain Carver to be our keynote speaker at our IPHC Military Chaplains and Spouses Retreat, just prior to our General Conference in OKC. I have invited all of our general officials, key pastors, laymen, and friends of our military chaplains to join us for the dinner banquet. Betty Rex, one of our own gifted pianists, will play the keyboard as our guests come into the dining room. She played the piano when Lonnie Rex directed the great General Conference and Convention Choirs and orchestras. They often play twin concert grand piano duets. There is none like them. Then, Leroy Baker, accompanied by Evelyn Baker, his wife, will sing all three stanzas of “God’s Got an Army.” We want honor our military chaplains for their service and ministry to America’s finest youth who have volunteered to serve our great nation.]
Wendy Weeks Phelps, 42, our second cousin, died Thursday night, July 16, 2009
We, Melvine, Greg, Stephanie and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of our beautiful second cousin early Friday morning, Wendy Weeks Phelps, daughter of Everette and Mary Anne Shropshire Weeks of Richmond, VA. Wendy had been battling with colon cancer for two years that had metastasized in her body. She is the mother of four precious children, three girls and one boy. She is 10 days younger than our Stephanie. Their love for each other has increased through Wendy's illness and battle with cancer. Stephanie has written her often.
I think Alfred Lord Tennyson said it best in his great poem In Memoriam, 1850:
I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
It is difficult to comprehend with any human understanding why a young mother like Wendy Phelps is taken, leaving a caring and lovingly husband with four beautiful children. Her husband, Donnie, was with her day and night through the process of her dying. We may never understand in this life why things like this happen to good people who love Jesus and are doing a great work for the Lord. I am convinced that one day God the Father will reveal it to us. The Apostle Paul seems to indicate that God will speak to these issues in the ages to come. These kinds of mysteries will be revealed and clarified in eternity:
Ephesians 2:7-8
That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
KJV
Wendy's mother, Mary Anne Shropshire Weeks, wife of Everette Weeks, is a first cousin of Melvine. She is a beautiful, Spirit-filled Christian and has trusted God to heal her daughter, and we have been in agreement in prayer for that to happen. We, too, believe in miracles. Our Stephanie has been cancer free for almost 9 years. Mary Anne had given this special word for Stephanie at the time the doctor's found the Stage IV Tumor on her spine:
God’s Word is at work in Stephanie's body,
Driving out all manner of sickness and disease,
And creating in her body a perfect cure,
For the Glory of God,
The good of Stephanie,
And for a testimony of God’s compassion, love and mercy, His healing power,
and His Saving grace!
That special word I wrote down so I would never forget it. I believed God was doing a great work in Stephanie's body and He did.
Although we strongly believe in God's healing power today, as in all generations, when it doesn't happen we will continue to trust in God. Only in Jesus do we have a hope that will never die.
Job expresses my belief this day concerning God and His sovereignty:
Job 13:15
Though He slay me, yet will I trust in him
KJV
Jesus says it best in John's Gospel:
John 15:16
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed (ordained) you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
NKJV
The word "may" is a polite way for telling us that God has the final Word on everything. We can make our petitions known unto our heavenly Father, but we leave the results to His purpose and plan for every life. Only He knows the end from the beginning. And what He does is done with our ultimate good in mind. He has all knowledge and wisdom. So, today, we rest our hearts and feelings in Him.
What’s more, we believe in life after death and in the resurrection of the body. Jesus spoke these words to Martha at the tomb of Lazarus:
John 11:25-26
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
NKJV
I say, “Yes, I believe everything Jesus said. He is the Living Word of God, and what He says is truth.”
At this point in time, Melvine, Greg, Stephanie and I are planning to drive to Richmond on Monday afternoon, after Stephanie sees her surgeon in Atlanta.
The funeral service will be conducted on Tuesday, July 14, 2009, at the Clover Hill Assembly of God Church at 10 a. m.
The viewing of the body will be Monday, July 13, at Woody Funeral Home, 1020 Huguenot Road, Midlothian, VA, across the street from Chesterfield Town Center, from 5-8 p. m.
Remember this family in your prayers:
Donnie Phelps, the father, and Heidi, Heather, Halle, and Hayden, the children.
I leave you with this word of benediction:
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
NIV
Pastor Bill Wilson of Metro Ministries in Brooklyn fell and suffered a broken hip
This email is in response to many inquiries about the condition on Pastor Bill Wilson of Metro Ministries and what can be done to help during this time. As many of you are aware, Pastor Bill, Founder and Director of Metro Ministries in Brooklyn, NY, fell and suffered a broken hip. The injury occurred three weeks or so ago on the sidewalk just outside the church building in Brooklyn. It was raining quite heavily and the painted sidewalk outside the church was quite slick. He had surgery where a metal rod along with several metal screws were inserted and the prognosis is 8-10 weeks of recovery and physical therapy. As most of you may know, Pastor Bill travels every week to generate about 1/4 -1/3 of the support necessary to keep the ministry operational. His recovery will require him to stay off the road until sometime in August which, of course, will critically affect the income for the ongoing ministry in Brooklyn.
In response to the inquiries of how to help, any special financial assistanc
e that your conferences and/or churches could send during this time would help tremendously. This would keep the income deficit due to his not being able to travel from setting the work of the ministry too far back. You may send any offerings directly to Metro Ministries, PO Box 409, Brooklyn, NY 11237. Please feel free to contact me (Rick Fountain) if you have any questions or need more information.
On behalf of Pastor Bill, the staff and all the children of Metro Ministries, thank you in advance for your prayers and your support.
[Editor’s Note: You may contact Rick Fountain at RDC Evangelism USA in Bethany, OK, at 1-405-787-7110, extension 3316].
The office of the late Evangelist Jerry B. Walker is for sale in Sugarland, TX
Pastor Mark Bristow is the administrator of Jerry B. Walker’s estate. He is a friend of mine. He informs me that the office of Jerry B. Walker is up for sale. It is a lovely home that has been completely renovated from top to bottom in Sugarland, TX. It has a manicured front lawn. It has four bedrooms, and the game room could easily be the fifth bedroom. It has a spacious Den w/Fireplace. It has a 2 car garage that is detached from the home. Check it out with this link: http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cfm?mlnum=20118546&backButton=Y&Address=2718 Raintree
Ruby Cates fell and broker her hip – needs our prayers
Ruby Cates (Eleanor Deane Cates Rousseau and Princeton Cates’ sister) broke her hip Tuesday morning, July 7, 2009. She resides in Newnan, GA. The Cates’ family is well-known in the IPHC, and their contributions to World Missions and Emmanuel College is well documented. Ruby had surgery on Wednesday and the orthopedic surgeon informed the family that it was one of the worse fractures he had ever encountered. She has 6 fractures in the hip. The surgeon has inserted a rod, but is not sure it will work. He is also very concerned about infection.
Plans are in the making to take her to Warm Springs, GA, for rehabilitation. There is an outstanding Rehabilitation Center there.
Ruby is in extreme pain at this point. We would appreciate a prayer covering that the Lord will do a miracle healing. Ruby is now 82.
[Editor’s Note: This prayer request was submitted by Doris Wong, and Ruby gave her permission for me to request prayer for her in Hugh’s News. If you would like to find out more, please feel free to contact Doris Wong, a friend of this family, at 770-252-4676. If she don't answer, you may call her cell phone, 678-478-0480.]
Will you receive the Benediction?
John 11:25-26
25 Jesus said to her (Martha, sister of Lazarus and Mary), "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"
NIV
- -
Your friend in all seasons,
Hugh Holmes Morgan
The Reverend Dr. Hugh H. Morgan
Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, Retired
Director of Chaplains Ministries, IPHC
Vice Chairman, NAE Commission on Chaplains
Chairman, Endorsers Conference for Veterans Affairs Chaplaincy
Ex Officio Member, National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces Executive Committee
CEO, Founder, President, Editor of Hugh's News & Commentary
President, Hugh Holmes Morgan Education Scholarship Fund, Inc.
Pastor Emeritus, Christian Life Worship Center (formerly Tarkenton Memorial Church in Athens, GA)
Member, Board of Trustees, Holmes Bible College
17 Sweet Apple Lane
Winder, GA 30680
Tel. (770) 725-1757
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E-mail: hugh@hughsnews.com
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