​Weary of constantly picking clothes up from the floor of her son's room, a mother finally laid down the law. Each item of clothing she had to pick up would cost her son 25 cents.

By the end of the week, he owed her $1.50. She received the money promptly, along with a 50-cent tip and a note that read:

"Thanks, Mom. Keep up the good work!"

Silent Night

Lyrics: Joseph Mohr

Music: Franz Xaver Gruber

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Saviour is born!
Christ the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth

This glorious event to honor Jesus Who lived and reigned in Marcus Lamb's life lasted for approximately two hours.

The church, Gateway Church, pastored by Robert Morris in Dallas. was the place where countless numbers of people gathered, many of who are known and loved who are ministering on television.

Joel Osteen was so overcome with deep love and emotion for his friend Marcus that he turned his back to the congregation and wept. 

Jentezen Franklin gave a powerful message to the family. 

John Hagee brought a blessing to the family and to the future of DayStar. 

Bishop T. D. Jakes brought a special word of his intimate knowledge of Marcus Lamb and spoke eloquently of the love he had for Marcus Lamb.

The children and spouses of Marcus and Joni Lamb spoke individually and shared their relationship with Marcus as their father and grandfather of their children.

Joni Lamb had done a video about her husband and told of her days with Marcus in the hospital. She said that Marcus said over and over again that he wanted to go home. She said he is home now with Jesus.

Robert Morris said that only Christians know how to express their grief and at thee same time do so with joy.

There is much more I could write about the music of the DayStar Singers and the last man who sang, and a man with bagpipes played Amazing Grace. It was the best I have ever heard.

It is my belief that the video will be played again several times. I hope you will be able to view it.

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Obituary

Marcus D. Lamb
OCTOBER 7, 1957 – NOVEMBER 30, 2021

Obituary of Marcus D. Lamb 
Marcus Daron Lamb, age 64, of Colleyville, Texas, passed away Tuesday, November 30, 2021.

Marcus was born October 7, 1957, in Cordele, Georgia, and married the love of his life, Joni Lynn Trammell in 1982. He will be remembered for his passionate love for people, the Lord, and sharing the Gospel around the world.

Under his visionary leadership, Daystar Television Network was launched on January 1, 1998, and has grown to more than 100 television stations across America and nearly every major cable and satellite provider across the globe, reaching almost every country on earth, including the Nation of Israel.

He is survived by his loving wife, Joni, his children and their spouses, Jonathan and Suzanna Lamb, Joshua and Rachel Brown, Jonathan and Rebecca Weiss, and his 4 grandchildren, as well as the countless Daystar friends and family around the world.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bluebonnethills.com for the Lamb family.

If you still wish to send flowers in honor of Marcus please contact Lilium Floral Design at 817-589-1566 or http://www.liliumflorals.com.

A Memorial Service will be livestreamed today, December 6th, at 8:30 PM on www.daystar.com: "Marcus Lamb Memorial Service - From precious memories to a look at the impact of one man’s compassion and love for the Gospel, the Lamb family along with close friends of Daystar honor the life and legacy of Marcus D. Lamb, celebrating all that made him deeply loved by so many."

On Sunday, I heard one of the television preachers something I had never heard or read before.  I want to share it with you so you will know it, too.

The American Buffalo, or Bison, is the only animal that faces into a storm. In fact, the Buffalo charges into the storm, while all other animals will turn and run away from the storm. 

What is also interesting is the fact that the Buffalo will get out the storm quicker than other animals as the storm passes over him as he charges into it.

What does this story say about the storms we all face in life?

What God is teaching me through the trial I am experiencing

Author: Hugh H. Morgan

Recently I have been reading the Book of Job again to see what God would speak to me there about the challenge/trial I am going through. Job discovered that God is a just God and a good God. The good news is that Job's testing came to a end. God determines when the trial will come to a conclusion.

Then, I looked at the Book of James and read this in the opening lines of his epistle, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations" (​James 1:2, KJV). Temptations, trials, challenges. Whatever they are they are not pleasant.

The Apostle Paul prayed three time for his thorn in the flesh to be removed, and it wasn't removed. Instead, God told Paul that "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV).

I have come to the point of asking God what He wants me to learn from what I am experiencing?

The Book of Esther is a most interesting book. There is no mention of God in it, and not a prayer is offered to God.  However, it can clearly be seen that God is working behind the scenes to protect and preserve His people.  Mordecai, Esther's uncle who had adopted her when her parents died, spoke to her with these words:  And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:13-14, NKJV).  God has a sovereign will and purpose for our lives but we as Christians have a responsibility to obey Him. Through this Scripture I believe God is saying to me, "I have placed you, Hugh, where you are at this time My divine purpose." Therefore, I want to be a good steward of the resources God has given to me to bless others and to fulfill the purpose He has for my life and ministry.

I am learning God is bigger than the trial I am going through. And in the process that God is developing in me a closer relationship with Him.  Jesus lives within me. And I want to praise His Holy Name.

Those two brothers in Christ are Malcolm Herndon and Hugh Morgan. I  have previously described them as "two peas in a pod."

Actually, I am the oldest by exactly 15 days.

My birthday is on the 15th of December, and Malcolm's birthday is 30 December.  We were born in 1934, 89 years ago. 

Malcolm Herndon was born at home in Swansonville, Virginia. Those were the days when doctors made house calls. Their family doctor came to their home and delivered Malcolm.

Hugh H. Morgan was born in Hillman Hospital, a charity hospital, in Birmingham, Alabama. A doctor delivered me.

If you would like to honor Malcolm Herndon by sending him a birthday card, you may write him at this mailing address:

Malcolm Herndon
P. O. Box 74
Franklin Springs, GA 30639

Then, your birthday card for me, Hugh H. Morgan, may be sent to my mailing address:

Hugh H. Morgan
17 Sweet Apple Lane
Winder, GA 30680

How the Holy Spirit Protected Baby Jesus

Author: Frank Tunstall

One of the greatest marvels of history is how God the Father placed His only begotten Son on the earth by way of the womb of a teenage virgin named Mary. The Heavenly Father had to protect His Son from infancy through His teenage years and as He grew into adulthood. Without question, Jesus would have been executed in the cradle but for the divine protection He enjoyed. When His time had finally come, Jesus died on a cruel cross as the Lamb of God, becoming the perfect sacrifice for every person who believes Jesus is the Son of God and repents for his sins against God.

Study of the Father’s plan shows this divine genius. Omniscience is the theological word, meaning the all-wise and all-knowing Heavenly Father. ​
​

1.  It was a stroke of divine intelligence that Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth. The saying was widespread: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46; Isaiah 7:14). God chose an unmarried teenage virgin named Mary who lived in Nazareth to cradle His Son in her womb. Mary and Joseph were engaged but everyone in the village of about fifty people knew they were not married. In fact, the word that spread in Nazareth was Mary’s baby was born out of wedlock. Everyone knew everything about everybody in sleepy Nazareth, and ‘Mary is pregnant’ was the talk of the village. The angel Gabriel made the announcement to Mary that she would give birth to the Messiah, but the villagers surely understood the talk about angels as an effort to cover up her pregnancy. The point here is that Baby Jesus was safe because the villagers did not believe Mary. Can you hear the gossip: ‘an angel told Mary she would have a baby without having a husband – yes, sure!’ Joseph did not believe Mary either and had decided to put Mary away quietly, but an angel confirmed the news to him too (Matthew 1:19-25). The fact that Mary’s story was not believable to the villagers added to Baby Jesus’ protection.
2. The Roman Emperor at the time was Caesar Augustus. He issued a decree  that the whole of the empire was to be taxed (Luke 2:1). This tax included Joseph and Mary. The distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where they had to register and pay the tax was about eighty-five miles, and largely uphill. A healthy person on foot would need about a week to make the trip. A young girl heavy with child would require frequent stops. All art of this trip shows Mary on a donkey. Any mother about to deliver a child will fondly hope she was, although the Scriptures do not confirm it. Going to Jerusalem with an infant baby boy in her womb set of no alarms. The mother of Israel’s Messiah and the Son of God blended so naturally into the culture no suspicion emerged among the religious and political leaders of Israel.
3. Joseph and Mary had headed south to Bethlehem to pay their taxes. We can wonder if Mary’s mother tried to talk Mary out of making the trip. Mary was a young teenager who obviously was very pregnant and near to delivery. The journey to Bethlehem went through Jerusalem but everything about Mary looked normal. Nothing in the story thus far suggested Mary’s Baby would one day be Israel’s King. Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus were safe from any suspicion. 
4. Bethlehem did have an inn, but it was full when Joseph and Mary arrived. Baby Jesus was born in a cave that was a stable for sheep; there was “no room in the inn” (Luke 2:7). Baby Jesus was safe; the camouflage was perfect.
5. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Shepherds were in the fields watching their sheep when it happened. “Glory to God in the highest and on earth good will toward all men” filled the sky in a heavenly anthem simultaneous with Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:8-20). The shepherds did go into Bethlehem to see what this meant. They found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. The shepherds departed and scattered the good news to anyone who would listen. But their testimony did not spread far. Shepherds were at the bottom rung of Jewish society; no one of good standing took them seriously. Shepherds could not give testimony in court, for example. People did not listen to shepherds. And again, Baby Jesus was safe.
6. Herod the Great had a fortress, named Herodian, built inside a mountain about three miles from Bethlehem. It was also one of Herod’s vacation spots. [On an Israel trip I had the privilege to look at the ruins of ancient Herodian.]  The Holy Spirit so completely disguised Mary’s Baby, even with Herodian that close, Herod had no reason to suspect a Baby had been born and was destined to change the world for the better. 
7. Joseph and Mary took Baby Jesus seven days after His birth on the five mile walk back to Jerusalem for the Baby’s dedication. The scene was so ordinary it produced no suspicion. It was not unusual for young couples to connect on the trip.
8. It was common for Jewish mothers when they gave birth to a baby boy to pray for their child to grow up and become the Messiah. Simeon’s and Anna’s prophecies in the temple certainly blessed Mary but received little attention in the temple when they left to go back to Bethlehem. 
9. The visit of the wise men from the east was more problematic (Matthew 2:1-12). They told Herod a king had been born and they had come to worship Him and give Him gifts – valuable gifts – gold, frankincense, and myrrh. As soon as the wise men ended their visit and headed home, an angel told Joseph to get up in the night and head for Egypt (Matthew 2:13-18). Joseph and Mary obeyed and escaped Herod’s strategy to kill the Baby. However, he did murder the Bethlehem babies under two-years-old in Bethlehem. Again, Baby Jesus was safe.
10. The wise men’s gifts financed Mary and Joseph’s stay in Egypt until King Herod’s death. Their time in Egypt also fulfilled Hosea’s prophecy, “Out of Egypt have I called my Son” (Matthew 2:15; Hosea 11:1). The Baby was safe in Egypt. 
11. When brutal King Herod died, an angel instructed Joseph to take the Baby home to Nazareth. This fulfilled the prophecy, “He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matthew 2:23; Hosea 11:1). Jesus was safe in Nazareth; after all, nothing good comes out of Nazareth!
12.  Jesus grew on up in Nazareth. Joseph and Mary faithfully journeyed with Jesus every year to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. At the age of twelve, His parents took Him for conformation at the Passover feast. The goal was for Jesus to show to show he had studiously studied the Old Testament Scriptures that included the Law of Moses and was ready to accept personal responsibility as a young man to keep the Law (Luke 2:41-42).

Jesus was in the temple when the family with their friends began the journey back to Nazareth; Mary and Joseph thought He was with His young friends enjoying the trip home, but Jesus had remained in the temple. When they found Jesus after three days of frantic searching, He was in the temple talking with the teachers and asking them questions. They marveled at His understanding of the Scriptures. “Why were you searching for me?” Jesus asked Mary and Joseph when they found Him. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what He was saying to them.” Mary “treasured” Jesus’ answer and kept it hidden in her heart (Luke 2:49-52). 
​
All of this was routine for growing Jewish boys in small town Nazareth, and it stirred no questions by any authorities.

The Holy Spirit protected Jesus as He grew on up; no other explanation for Jesus’ survival fits. His life was normal. He lived far away from Jerusalem with its Jewish worship and Roman rule. Growing up Jesus was fully submitted and loyal to Joseph and Mary. For the next eighteen years, no alarm bells went off regarding Jesus’ identity. 

Jesus’ ministry began when He visited the Jordan River where John the Baptist was preaching and baptizing (Matthew 3:4). 

In fact, the Holy Spirit so completely camouflaged Jesus as He grew up the religious leaders in Jerusalem were totally caught off guard.
​
The same God who protected Baby Jesus is our protector too!

[Editor's Comment: This Advent message is one that will grab our attention, make us think, and love God more, as we worship the Christ Child this Christmas. If Dr. Frank Tunstall's message touched a vital cord in your spiritual DNA, why not write to Frank Tunstall at this email address:
franktunstall3992@gmail.com ​

​Receiving His Resources

Anne Graham Lotz

"Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples"(John 6:3, NIV).

As Jesus and His disciples rested together on the mountainside, we have the beautiful picture of the Good Shepherd, making His sheep lie down in green pastures, leading them beside the still waters, that He might restore them on the inside. Jesus knew the demands that would be made on the disciples and Himself that very day, and He knew in order to meet those demands, they had to have some time alone together.

Again and again, I have been amazed to discover that the verse of Scripture or thought or insight that God seems to give me in my early morning quiet time with Him is the very same verse or insight or thought I am called on to give to someone else during the day. Many times I have wondered how I would have been able to speak a “word that sustains the weary,” had I not first received it for myself in those brief, early morning retreats. Jesus offers us ample resources, but we have to receive them from Him in order to impart them to others.

Blessings,

Anne Graham Lotz

Copyright © 2021 Anne Graham Lotz (AnGeL Ministries) Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved www.annegrahamlotz.org.

​EC President's Prayer Group

Author: Ron White

"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us" (Matthew 1:23, NKJV).

Please pray for Emmanuel College this week, December 5 - 11. Thank you for praying. 

Sunday – Pray for the Gospel to go forth through all the Christmas messages, cards, emails, and programs and through every kind of media in every nation and to all people.

Monday – Pray for the people of Emmanuel College to be more engaged this Christmas season in sharing abundant life through the Gospel - more ministry, more praying, more loving, more serving, more going, more giving.

Tuesday – Pray that we not insist on making the Christmas season stressful when the One whose birthday we honor at Christmas came to bring peace.

Wednesday – Pray for the leadership of Emmanuel College to draw closer to our God who is with us and to follow him with precision and with complete obedience.

Thursday – Pray for God's favor that rests upon Emmanuel College to loose generosity among God's people to advance God's mission through us.

Friday – Pray for our Emmanuel family to have safe travels during the Christmas season. Pray for the New Year to be filled with hope and boundless opportunities.

Saturday – Pray for us to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to teach, nurture, and guide our students and to graduate leaders and workers, generation upon generation.

Ron White, Ed.D.
President
Emmanuel College
181 Spring Street
Franklin Springs, GA 30639
706-245-2803

Jeremiah 29:11  God has plans for your future and we need to be filled with hope and peace
 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
NIV
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Jeremiah 29:11
 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
NKJV
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Jeremiah 29:11
 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. 
AMP
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Jeremiah 29:11
 For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 
TLB
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Jeremiah 29:11
 I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out — plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. 
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

The importance of Proof Reading

​Our newspaper carried the notice last week that Mr. Oscar Hoffnagle is a defective on the police force. This was a typographical error. Mr. Hoffnagle is, of course, a detective on the police farce.

Alabama beat Georgia 41 to 24 in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday, December 4, 2021.

I watched the entire game on television. The Mercedes Stadium in Atlanta was sold out and the house was full of Alabama and Georgia fans. No doubt there were more Georgia fans present.

Those of us who were pulling for Georgia to win were heartbroken and sad. We thought it was Georgia's year to win the SEC Football Championship. 

You have to hand it to Coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide football team. How Auburn could dominate Alabama and we have the best defense in the nation (we thought) and could not get through to sack the quarterback, Bryce Young. No doubt he will win the Heisman Trophy. The coaches of Alabama out couched Georgia, and the players of Bama kept Georgia from scoring in the second half. 

Georgia's quarterback, Stetson Bennett, gave it his best. 

Had Alabama lost they may not have been selected for the playoffs.

So, the Tide were fighting with all their might to win, and they did.

Well, life goes on. We will see the sunshine tomorrow. 

That's my editorial for tonight.

A Christmas Special from Our Home to Yours

Master Concert Pianist, Dino & wife Cheryl celebrate Christmas with You from Home

Dino Kartsonakis, the master pianist you know and love, along with his wife Cheryl are excited to invite you into their home for a unique and intimate Christmas special.

The show features Dino’s legendary piano performances of Christmas classics and a singalong with you. In addition, you’ll be surprised by Dino and Cheryl’s first-ever improvisational performances and memories wrapped in this warm, joyous, and spiritual Christmas show. A surprise feature showcases their spectacular costumes created under the direction of famed Hollywood designer Bob Mackie.

You may watch a trailer that Dino has provided by Clicking Here.

To purchase your tickets you may Click Here on this hyperlink. Please note, this promotion is a courtesy to Dino and his wife, Cheryl. I have no personal relationship with them. I just happen to receive their emails from time to time. Maybe you do as well. I hope you will enjoy this musical presentation for Christmas 2021.

Joining them in this up-close and personal Christmas program are visits from dear friends and family including: Sandi Patty, Bill Gaither, Mark Lowry, and a special Christmas message from Ann Graham Lotz.
​
Glowing reviews in its first few days…“I really totally enjoyed the show!! I will watch it many times before it expires. Hope you do more like this in the future. I would give a 10plus out of 10 if it were rating it. Thank you Dino and Cheryl!”
- Debbie K

Rev. Juanita Mullins has entered the portals of heaven

December 30, 1930 - December 1, 2021

Reverend Juanita Long Mullins passed away on December 1, 2021. She was born December 30, 1930 in Auxier, Kentucky. Her parents were Jake Edward and Lora (Ratliff) Long of Ashtabula, Ohio.

Mrs. Mullins is united in Heaven with her father: Jake Edward Long, and her mother: Lora (Ratliff) Long; her brothers: Charles Douglas Long, James Earl Long; sisters: Virginia (Long) Hunt, Rebecca (Long) Shannon, and brother-in-law: Roland O. Addair.

Mrs. Mullins is survived by her husband, Rev. James Thomas Mullins, her daughters: Anita Mullins Brown (James) of Raleigh, NC, Sharon Mullins Hejduk (Stephen) of Atlanta, Georgia; her grandchildren: Christopher Michael Hejduk and Rachel Catherine Hejduk of Atlanta, Georgia; her sister: Elizabeth "Libby" Long Addair of North Kingsville, Ohio; and many loved family and friends.

In 1950, Mrs. Mullins graduated from Richlands High School, Richlands, Virginia. She received nursing training while employed by Mattie Williams Hospital as private duty nursing at an army base in Kansas City, Kansas. While working in Kansas, Mrs. Mullins served in several churches as a Bible teacher and music director.

Mrs. Mullins earned her Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Church Ministry. As a lifelong student and teacher of the Bible, she has served as an active minister for the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana; Pentecostal Holiness Church, Assembly of God, and Church of God Prophecy. Mrs. Juanita Mullins was a witness, guide, and inspiration to countless people of every faith, evangelizing in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. She was assigned as Senior Pastor of the Ashtabula Pentecostal Holiness Church, serving for close to 20 years.

She was a very gifted Gospel vocalist making five recordings and singing Gospel hymns for live events. Mrs. Mullins had a call of God to minister and had a burden for missions and opened her home to many foster children as a member of the Ashtabula County Foster Parent's Association (1978-1990.)

Mrs. Mullins loved watching old westerns with John Wayne. She was an avid novel reader: her favorite books, such as: "The Girl of the Limberlost" and "The Count of Monte Cristo." She loved "out of state" road trip with her sister, Rebecca. She loved planting garden flowers with her sister, Elizabeth. She most loved traveling and spending time with her grandchildren, daughters, and sons-in-law. Christmas was her favorite holiday.

Nearly every summer, she visited her favorite place, Disney World Magic Kingdom in Orlando, with her young family.

Visitation will be at the Pentecostal Church of God (formerly known as, Revival Center Church.), 2201 Cook Road, Ashtabula on Tuesday (12/7/2021) from 10:00-12:00, up until the time that her Celebration of Life service begins at 12:00 p.m.; She will be put to rest at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. A Greenlawn Memorial Garden Mausoleum service will be held directly after the Celebration of Life Service and officiated by Rev. Robert Falke of the Church of the Living God in Ashtabula, Ohio.
​
May God bless her memory and the countless lives she influenced for Christ.
Online obituary and a place to leave condolences can be found at www.czupfuneral.com

Advent Week Two with Bishop Doug Beacham & Jamie Cain

As we continue Advent and prepare our hearts for Christmas, Dr. Beacham continues the Awaiting the King series. This week he discusses the women that brought hope as many waited on the coming of Jesus. Check out week two's video on our IPHC Christmas Page.

To access this Advent message you may Click Here.