God has many ways to provide for our needs. Hugh's News is sustained soley by the contributions of its subscribers and readers. It is true what Abraham called the place where he was going to sacrifice his son, Isaac--Jehovah-Jireh, God will provide. When God saw that Abraham fully trusted Him He provided a sacrifice, a ram whose head had gotten caught in the thicket. So, Abraham sacrifice the ram, a substitute offering for his son. 

Jesus is our Jehovah-Jireh. He willingly went to the cross to provide for our salvation and healing. It is because of the Cross that we can become a new creation in Christ Jesus, and we can claim our healing through His stripes provided for our healing.

We are nearing the middle of the month of December and the end of 2019. We need your financial help this week to enable us to finish the year in the black with all of our bills paid in full.

I want to thank you for your love and generosity over the 22 years I have been producing Hugh's News. I don't do it alone. Mel Tinney and other professional organizations help us in sending out Hugh's News each day via the email system. We are blessed to be able to come to your home, office, or place of work or recreation with our newsletter.

Let me give you a hyperlink to enable you to make a contribution either by a credit card or a personal check in the regular postal system or mail.

Please Click Here ​to give today.

Have a blessed week.

Your friend in all seasons,

​Hugh H. Morgan

Genesis 22:4-19  Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord will provide for you and me, too!

4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you,

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.
KJV

This is one of the most amazing stories in the Bible. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac in obedience to God's Word. As Abraham was about to slay his son the Lord spoke from heaven and said, "Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."

"And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son."

Abraham called that place Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord will provide. 

When we give back to God what He has blessed us with He always gives back far more than we could ever give.

I have given my best in creating Hugh's News and growing with my webmaster, Mel Tinney. God brought Bill Cox and his men into my life shortly after Dr. Ronald W. Carpenter, Sr. was elected to be our general superintendent. Bill's men designed my website and newsletter which we use to this day. However, it was Mel Tinney who has stayed with me and we have worked together since that time. Mel has always been there to help me by sizing all the photos and many other assignments. I could have never asked for more. 

At this Advent season, I want to thank Mel Tinney, my webmaster and friend, for his encouragement, professionalism and teaching me what I needed to know in publishing a first-class newsletter and website. He and his wife, Linda, reside in Pepin, WI. We communicate via email and telephone.

World renowned evangelist and author Reinhard Bonnke has passed away. He was 79 years old.

Evangelist Bonnke was perhaps best known for his pioneering mass evangelism events. Held throughout Africa and beyond, these Gospel Outreach Campaigns literally reached hundreds of millions of individuals across the world. In 2000, Bonnke attracted an astounding 1.6 million attendees at a single meeting in Lagos, Nigeria. All told, Evangelist Bonnke saw more than 79-million people choose to follow Christ as a result of his ministry.

Reinhard Bonnke was born on the 19th of April 1940 in Königsberg, East Prussia, Germany. His father was a pastor. At the tender age of 9, Bonnke himself became a Christ-follower. Very soon after, he began to proclaim his intention to be a preacher and missionary to Africa. And he followed through on that dream.

 He attended The Bible College of Wales in Swansea which was led by Samuel Rees Howells. Howells was famous as a man whose prayers were answered – an individual of great faith. Howells’ example deeply inspired Bonnke and he himself prayed, “Lord, I also want to be a man of faith. I want to see your way of providing for needs.” Bonnke could not have known then the incredible extent to which God would answer that request.

 After college, Bonnke took up a pastorate in Hamburg, Germany. On the journey from the college to Germany, he had a free day and chose to spend it sight-seeing in London. He didn’t have money for a formal tour, so he decided to hop on a bus and see where it took him. Eventually, he landed at the door step of healing evangelist George Jeffreys – one of the most consequential missionaries of the previous generation. The then 21-year-old Bonnke took a chance and knocked on the door. The aged Jeffreys admitted him, laid his hands on him and blessed him.

The following day, Evangelist Bonnke arrived in Hamburg. His father picked him up at the station and before Bonnke could say a word about the providential encounter, his father relayed the news that George Jeffreys had passed away overnight. Bonnke would point to that encounter as the moment he received the mantel of a healing evangelist.

Still, it was sometime before the Evangelist walked in the full realization of that call. He pastored in Germany through most of the 1960s, marrying his wife, Anni, in 1964. Then, in 1967, with two small children, the Bonnke family relocated to the tiny South African kingdom of Lesotho as missionaries. The ministry was nominally successful, and then, God gave Evangelist Bonnke a dream. In it, he saw the entire continent of Africa covered in the blood of Jesus and heard a voice declare, “Africa shall be saved!” That has been Bonnke’s battle cry ever since.

In 1974, Evangelist Bonnke formed Christ for All Nations (CfaN) as a means of facilitating the fulfilment of that dream. CfaN has worked with one goal: to reach Africa with the Gospel, from Cape Town to Cairo. By the grace of God, they’ve been incredibly successful in that effort.

The ministry has grown though numerous iterations. Initially, they were known for gathering thousands under a huge tent. But, when the tent was blown away by a storm, God expanded Bonnke’s vision to reach crowds no tent, save the sky itself, could hold. In 1981, Peter Vandenberg (currently Vice President of CfaN) joined the team and brought his unique blend of ministry and engineering experience to bear. Soon the team was employing modular stages and innovative speaker designs to reach crowds that frequently numbered in the hundreds of thousands.  Accordingly, hundreds of millions of people from nearly every nation in Africa have heard Evangelist Bonnke’s clear, fiery presentation of the truth of God’s love displayed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

However, the crowds were drawn to much more than Bonnke’s passionate oratory. From the very beginning, the multi-day events were marked by profound miracles and incredible displays of God’s power. The dead have been raised, blind eyes opened, crippled legs made to stand and walk. Demons have been cast out, depression healed, and families restored. And CfaN has been ruthless in their verification of these claims. The numbers have been so consistent and overwhelming that even to cynics it seems more impossible for them to have been faked than for them to be real.

Naturally, the phenomenal crowd sizes and undeniable flow of supernatural miracles brought a lot of attention to Evangelist Bonnke and CfaN. He was regularly featured on Christian television, spoke widely at large churches and conferences and more than 190-million copies of his 40+ books are in circulation. Many world leaders counted him as a trusted voice of counsel. There are many parts of the world where Reinhard Bonnke is a household name. Many of today’s best-known ministers point to him as a role model – both on and off stage. Brian Houston, Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church, said of Evangelist Bonnke, “Over the years, his unwavering passion to win souls for the Kingdom has never ceased to inspire me to connect people to Jesus, their Savior. I love the way salvation resonates in his spirit, whether he’s on a platform speaking to millions or behind the scenes having a chat – Jesus is always on his lips.”

In addition to his tremendous global influence, he was known by family, friends and colleagues as a man of deep humility, compassion and service. By all accounts, Evangelist Bonnke lived as if obedience to God was the only true success. As he wrote in his autobiography, Living a Life of Fire, "In truth, I have done nothing alone. God has called me and has been my pilot. The Holy Spirit has been my comforter, my guide, and my power source… He brought to me the perfect wife. He gave us our beautiful children and extended family. And He has provided a team that has grown with me through decades of working together. Beyond that, He has brought thousands to stand with us. They have supported us in prayer and in partnership. Our rewards in Heaven will be equal.

In the mid-2000s God gave Evangelist Bonnke the foresight “to know that the baton has to be passed on to the young generation. This ministry is not my private property. It is all by God’s grace.” He began to mentor Daniel Kolenda and over the course of the decade, shared increasing responsibility with his protégé. Evangelist Kolenda became Lead Evangelist and CEO of CfaN in 2011. In 2017, before a crowd of nearly a million people in Lagos, Nigeria, Evangelist Bonnke prayed for Evangelist Kolenda as George Jeffreys had for him nearly 50 years before. Today, under Evangelist Kolenda’s leadership, CfaN continues to enjoy the same reach, favor and miracles that it did under Evangelist Bonnke’s 30+ year tenure. It is a transition that only the Holy Spirit could have orchestrated and perhaps one of the greatest proofs of Bonnke’s qualities as a disciple of Christ.

Reinhard Bonnke is survived by his wife, Anni, three adult children, Kai-Uwe, Gabriele, and Susanne and eight grandchildren. We share in their grief – even as we celebrate his immense legacy.

​Legacy of Harvest

Reinhard Bonnke
  1940-2019

“LET MY MORTAL LIPS PREACH THE ETERNAL GOSPEL, AND MY MORTAL HANDS BUILD YOUR ETERNAL KINGDOM – TO THE GLORY OF THE FATHER.” – EVANGELIST REINHARD BONNKE

A NOTE FROM DANIEL KOLENDA. Successor to Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke

It is with great sadness that I and the entire Christ for All Nations family announces the death of our founder, friend and spiritual father, Reinhard Bonnke.

All told, more than 79-million people made Christ their Lord as a result of Evangelist Bonnke’s ministry. Bonnke was best known for his Gospel outreach campaigns throughout Africa. It is no exaggeration to say that his work transformed the continent.

 Evangelist Bonnke drew some of the largest live audiences in history. In November of 2000, at a single meeting in Lagos, Nigeria, 1.6 million attendees heard him preach the truth of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. From big cities to the bush, in deserts, jungles and savannahs, similar crowds assembled in almost every nation in Africa.

It wasn’t Reinhard Bonnke’s speaking alone that drew the masses. The multi-day events were always marked by the miracle-working power of God. From the start of his ministry in 1967 to his last Gospel campaign in 2017, thousands upon thousands were healed. The creative work of the Holy Spirit dissipated cancers, opened blind eyes, reset broken minds and shook the Church to once again believe for the “greater works” promised by Jesus Himself.

Those who knew him off-stage can testify to his personal integrity, genuine kindness and overflowing love for the Lord. His ministry was inspired and sustained by his rich prayer life, his deep understanding of the Word and his unceasing intimacy with the Holy Spirit. As he wrote in Living a Life of Fire (one of more than 30 books he authored).

“In truth, I have done nothing alone. God has called me and has been my pilot. The Holy Spirit has been my comforter, my guide, and my power source… He brought to me the perfect wife. He gave us our beautiful children and extended family. And He has provided a team that has grown with me through decades of working together. Beyond that, He has brought thousands to stand with us. They have supported us in prayer and in partnership. Our rewards in Heaven will be equal.”

Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke is survived by his wife, Anni, three adult children, Kai-Uwe, Gabriele, and Susanne and eight grandchildren. We share in their grief – even as we celebrate his profound legacy of faith and joyfully anticipate our heavenly reunion.

God bless you, and thank you for your prayers.

Daniel Kolenda, Reinhard Bonnke's successor 

THE HARVEST CONTINUES

​King of Hearts

Author: Anne Graham Lotz

"The Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17, NKJV).

The Jews had many preconceived ideas about the Messiah based on their interpretation of Scripture and what they wanted. When Jesus of Nazareth came on the scene with His public ministry, He was neither the Messiah they had been expecting, nor the Messiah they wanted. The Jews wanted someone Who would:

raise their standard of living,

grant them privileges without responsibility,

and restore them to the world power they had known under King David and King Solomon.

They wanted someone who would meet their physical and material and emotional needs.

They expected a glorious, victorious King Who would rid them of the Romans and establish them in national peace and prosperity and prominence. But the first time He came, He came to establish the Kingdom of God, not in the world, but in the hearts of men. He was born to die. And so He was rejected as the King of Hearts.  Then.  But what about now?  Would you crown Him King of your heart today?

Blessings,

Anne Graham Lotz

Copyright © 2014 Anne Graham Lotz (AnGeL Ministries) Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved www.annegrahamlotz.org.

​The Fishing Metaphor

Author: Donavan Ng, Permission has been given by Donavan Ng for Hugh Morgan to publish his sermon in Hugh's News. Donavan Ng is the Field Superintendent of the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Hong Kong.

Scripture Text:

Luke 5:1-11

5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around Him and listening to the Word of God, 2 He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat. 

4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." 

5 Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets." 

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men."  11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. 
NIV

And now, the sermon:

The Gospel according to Luke is a remarkable Book of Gospel. First, the author is not a Jew but a Syrian. Second, Luke is a doctor, a professional who pays attention to details. Third, Luke had a long term plan when
he wrote the Gospel. In this passage, the commonly known Sea of Galilee is termed as the Lake of Gennesaret. The place is really a lake rather than sea and the choice of words showed Luke’s serious attitude towards factual details.

Besides, Acts was also written by Luke. Some contemporary scholars have proposed to combine Luke and Acts as “The Acts of Holy Spirit,” as it is about the work of the Holy Spirit first through Jesus Christ, then His apostles, and then all committed Christians, to preach the Gospel to the end of the world. Some called Luke the prologue
of Acts. The structure of Luke gives hints to the work of the Holy Spirit and reveals the theological thinking of Luke.
Luke 4 describes Jesus as “full of the Holy Spirit” as He was led by the Holy Spirit to the wilderness, where He was tempted by the Devil. After the 40 days of temptation, Luke remarked: “(the devil) left him and Jesus
returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.”

Later Jesus went to Capernaum, passing by Simon Peter’s home and healing his mother-in-law. Luke described the healing as “rebuked the fever,” indicating exorcism rather than an ordinary healing. The action was meant to
show that Jesus was full of the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was positioned in a warfare between the devil’s kingdom and God’s Kingdom, and He has won for God. Jesus thus got famous in Capernaum as people in general believed whoever is able to drive out demons must be a God-sent with the Holy Spirit on Him.
That’s why Luke can be seen as the Acts of the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel according to Luke came after Mark and the Q source - a written collection of Jesus’s saying. Scholars noticed that Luke contains a lot of new information other than these two sources. How did Luke get such
information? Luke never met Jesus but he was acquainted with the women who had been financially supporting Jesus and His disciples.

On the other hand, Luke was also familiar with Jesus’s disciples, from whom he got to know more details about Jesus’s earthly life. Luke, a gentile, was raised by God to write about the work of the Holy Spirit.

The fact that a gentile wrote a book on Gospel must have overwhelmed the readers at the time. Who are the targeted readers of Luke?

In the first verse of the Acts, it is clearly stated that the recipient is Theophilus, the man who sponsored Luke to write the two books: Luke and Acts. It has been believed that Luke wrote for the rich and powerful, assuring them that Christianity would not cause any harm. This view is no longer in the academic mainstream in modem times.

Luke’s vision must have been much broader indeed. Luke wrote these two books painstakingly as his heart had been
broken by the ruthless suppression of the weak and poor in his time.

In Luke’s words, Jesus appeared as an all-powerful Savior. In the passage we read today, the whole context was in Jesus’ plan. In the dawn of the day, Jesus asked Simon to catch fish. The fishermen had been working hard
all night in vain and it got more difficult to catch anything in the morning. Yet Simon has witnessed the power of this Man, Who had saved his badly sick mother-in-law, and he followed Jesus’ commands although it defies his professional knowledge. That’s why Simon responded: “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” What happened next was amazing: they let down
the nets and caught such a large number of fish that the nets are going to break! This time, Simon’s response is falling down at Jesus’ feet and said: “Go away from me, Lord. I’m a sinful man!” Did Simon mean it? Of course he
did not want Jesus go away but he must have been totally shocked. As described by Luke, Jesus was sent from God full of the power of the Holy Spirit. He came with this shocking power to save people out of the suppression.

Later on Jesus has indeed subverted the world order and the impact lasts to date.

The episode took place in a sea. In Old Testament times, sea allegorically means evil, chaos and uncontrollable. Genesis said that “in the beginning God creates the heavens and the earth ... the Spirit of God was hovering
over the waters.” The Holy Spirit worked over the waters and drove out chaos. In this message, Jesus, under the most impossible circumstances, brought that many fish out of the deep sea. Jesus would be seen as a God-Man, a man with the Spirit of God inside. In theological terms, Jesus is a manifestation of God.

When Simon said: “I am a sinful man,” Jesus replied: “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will fish for people.” From then on Simon has been following Jesus till the end. Back in those times how did the Scribes and Pharisees define
“sinners”? Those who break the 613 Mosaic laws more than what they comply with were sinners. Sinners would not be blessed by God.

According to Luke, however, sinners are those God wants so much to save. Near the end of Luke 5, Jesus summoned tax collector Levi to follow Him and then Levi held a big banquet to celebrate. The Scribes and Pharisees challenge Jesus for “eating and drinking with sinners.”

Jesus, according to Luke, broke the hard core belief that sinners had no way out and were deemed to be suppressed and doomed. Jesus brought brand new hope to sinners, whose destiny is to be turned around. 

Here Luke also introduced Simon Peter to his readers. Who is Simon Peter? He is the first person in the New Testament who confessed “I am a sinner.” The term “Lord” also appeared for the first time here. Some scholars thought the term “Lord” here needs not be emphasized. Indeed this term also carries the meaning of “Sir” and “Your Honour” but the true meaning must be put in context. What Simon said was “I am a sinner” and the “Lord” before this phrase must refer to “Lord Jesus Christ” in order to make sense. Peter came into the scene in a way of a powerful confession! He knelt before Lord Jesus Christ Who is full of Holy Spirit and confessed that he is a sinner. Right after this he became the follower of Jesus Christ, his teacher and master.

Looking back at the Old Testament, when Joshua was about to attack Jericho, the commander sent from God stood in his way. Not knowing who the man is, Joshua asked: “are you for us or for our enemies?” The man replied: “Neither, but as commander of the army of the Lord I have come now!” Joshua at once fell face down to the ground in reverence and asked for the Lord’s commands. Joshua surrendered, confessed and was anointed.

Another episode is from Ezekiel. The prophet was the only one by the river who saw the vision of God’s glory so he fell face down onto the ground, confessed and got anointed. A lot of other prophets were present then but only
Ezekiel saw the vision, which is revealed only to the chosen ones with great faith.

The same episode as recorded in Mark showed that Simon’s brother Andrew, together with James and John, were also present. It is questionable whether Jesus had given the same calling of “catching people” to the others apart from Simon Peter. The answer seemed to be no. Simon Peter was the only one who got this call. Then why would the whole bunch of guys followed Jesus? Well, this is simply how things work in the world. To the others who were did not share the vision, Simon Peter was the leader, the chosen one. Even though he fell later by denying Jesus Christ three times, Jesus gave him the chance to correct by asking him “do you love me” three times, through
which Simon Peter has been reassured and strengthened.

What I felt most thankful when I read this passage was that God indeed summoned sinners, rather than the righteous, to follow Him. God called upon those who have nothing.

Verse 11 mentioned that Simon Peter left everything behind to follow Jesus because he knew that it was the most important thing to do. Jesus was sent by God! We know so well that the spiritual conditions of many Christians
fluctuate as much as the stock market. Would it be in the low or the high at the point when God comes back? That would be a decisive moment! If God called only those who are good, nice, educated, knowledgeable, morally impeccable ... no one can stand. We are all sinners relying on God’s grace alone.

Just like Simon Peter. I believe that when Jesus commanded Peter to drive the boat to the deep for fishing, Peter
must have been complaining in his heart: come on! In terms of fishing, I am the true expert! There’s no place for you! However, Jesus was all powerful and He was able to bring the suppressed out from the darkness just like the
fish. The only thing that man has to do is to follow Jesus Christ. That’s the only way on which we can turn around from the dooming destiny. Following Jesus is the only option.

​This is the message of Luke. For this purpose he got hold of the sponsorship of Theophilus to publish his two books.

“I will make you fishers of men.”  So “You will be catching people.”  Why did Luke describe the episode with so much effort? The Old Testament has a well-known metaphor originated from the shepherd of Psalm 23. This is so common in the Jewish tradition: The Lord is the Shepherd and His people the flock on the pasture. Yet this metaphor tends to be applied inside the church, rather domestic. Luke must have been disappointed by this metaphor as it is
exclusive for the Jews. It echoes with the mindset of the scribes and Pharisees that sinners are not inside and thus would not be blessed by God. Their lives were not worth living.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Luke brought out another metaphor: fishing metaphor. In Mark, the conclusion was “I will
make you fishers of men.” In Luke, it becomes “You will be catching people.” “Catching” here means “capturing alive," a military term.

Luke put forward the “fishing metaphor” as it is necessary to step into the new era. Jesus Christ, coming from Nazareth, was to lead people out from the heavy suppression of evil. Then, could the “shepherd metaphor”
be thrown away? Absolutely not. “Shepherd” metaphor concerns with the pastoring ministry within Church families.

“Fishing metaphor” refers to outreaching ministry of preaching that everyone has a role to play.

From Luke onwards, there are two metaphors in church: the shepherd metaphor and the fishing metaphor. We have to hold one in each hand. After “catching” people for the church, we still have to nurture them and make them
grow. It is by God’s grace that we can help newcomers grow up. We are accountable for their growth. Let’s stay with God and count on God.

Luke 2:8-20

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 

14 "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests." 

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the Baby, Who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen Him, they spread the Word concerning what had been told them about this Child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 
NIV
+++++

Let me share another translation or paraphrase of verses 13 & 14 from the Message:

Luke 2:13-14

13 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises: 

14 Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please Him. 
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

[Editor's comment: You and I can have this peace God give. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27,
NIV). Have you experienced this peace that Jesus offers all of us? Today, you can have this peace by surrendering your life to Jesus by being a believer in Him and His Word.]

​Begin your exercises by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.

With a 5-lb potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day, you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato sacks. Then try 50-lb potato sacks and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute.

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the sacks.

This past week we commemorated Pearl Harbor on December 7. I was almost 9 years old when the Japanese attacked our naval fleet and destroyed it. However, with the resolve and determination of our nation we were able to bounce back and won the war. I remember men I knew who answered the call and volunteered to serve in the Army, Navy, Marines, and Army Air Corps.

We had planned to attend Sunday school and church. Greg was going to take us to the church, and Frances Smith, a member of our church and a nearby neighbor in Winder was going to bring us home after church and going out to eat together.

However, Melvine woke up sick and was nauseated. I gave her a pill for nausea, and her other medications. 

We were blessed to watch about 5 Christian telecasts and sermons which have blessed our lives. However, it does not replace the benefit of being in church with the people of God and to hear the Word of God taught by lay teachers/facilitators, and to hear our pastor preach. I understand that our Children's Church pastor preached and did a good job. Matt Smith is his name and God is mightily using him and his wife, Danielle, as young leaders in our church to minister to our younger couples and singles.

Friday night, Melvine, Greg, and I were able to attend the annual Christmas dinner banquet hosted by Men's and Women's Ministries. The food was catered and was good.

Bishop Tim Lamb and his wife, Carissa, were invited to be with us, and Bishop Lamb gave a wonderful and exciting message about the many facets of Christmas and the joys of the season. Our pastor, Terry Kesling, is a gifted soloist and song leader. He sang a new Christmas song as a solo and it was sung with passion. He led us in singing Christmas songs, both sacred and secular with Nancy Till on the piano. Nancy has as special touch on the piano and we all love to hear her play. This piano we use in Stephanie's Place, our fellowship hall, was purchased by Stanley Strickland when I was the pastor at Tarkenton Memorial Church, now called, Christian Life Worship Center.

There was a drawing and I believe just about everyone won a gift. Cakes were auctioned and Arlette purchased two or three of the cakes for her 13 grandchildren for Christmas when they will be visiting during Christmas from out of town.

Melvine and I, as well as Greg, enjoyed being present and eating with our long-time friends at our church. Although Greg plays piano and leads the singing at a Presbyterian church, he still pays his tithes and supports our missionaries through our local church, Christian Life Worship Center.

​The patient’s family gathered to hear what the specialists had to say.|

"Things don’t look good. The only chance is a brain transplant. This is an experimental procedure. It might work, but the bad news is that brains are very expensive, and you will have to pay the costs yourselves."

"Well, how much does a brain cost?" asked the relatives.

"For a male brain, $500,000. For a female brain, $200,000."

Some of the younger male relatives tried to look shocked, but all the men nodded because they thought they understood. A few actually smirked.

But the patient’s daughter was unsatisfied and asked,"Why the difference in price between male brains and female brains?"

"A standard pricing practice," said the head of the team.

"Women’s brains have to be marked down because they have actually been used."

Thank you for being amazing subscribers/readers of Hugh's News.

It is through the grace of God and the generous support of our subscribers and readers that Hugh's News has continued to be a viable non-profit newsletter for 22 years. In January 2020, we will begin our 23rd year of publishing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and news you enjoy getting.

According to Dr. Owen Weston, a church growth and revitalization specialist, Hugh's News is a household word in the IPHC. He said everywhere he goes the people are talking about Hugh's News. For that good news, we are grateful. Dr. Weston told me that at a church growth conference I attended in Plano, TX, when Dr. Ronald W. Carpenter, Sr. was the executive director of Evangelism USA, and Chairman of the Chaplains Ministries Board. Dr. Carpenter invited me to be there to promote Chaplains Ministries, IPHC

Thank you for generously supporting Hugh's News, Inc. I need your help this week.

Your faithful prayers and giving have helped sustain this ministry. As you begin thinking about the year ahead, we’re asking if you’ll prayerfully consider one of the most impactful ways to partner with Hugh's News all year long.

We are grateful for our monthly givers. However, we need more to step up to the plate and give on a monthly basis.

Will you consider becoming a monthly Hugh's News supporter? With an automatic, recurring gift, you’ll be engaged in one of the most exciting adventures of your life as you assist me in carrying on this ministry of Hugh's News.

Here's how you can give to Hugh's News:

Please Click Here to find out how you can be a partner in giving and how you can make a contribution today.

This Advent season is a good time to give to Hugh's News so we can finish this year in the black. I have never gotten a salary for the work I have done these 22 years. In fact, I contribute to this ministry every month out of my personal financial resources. 

Hugh's News is serving IPHC ministries and the body of Christ worldwide.

May I encourage you to invite a friend or family member to subscribe to Hugh's News. Each person has to do so for himself. Have them go to our website: www.hughsnews.com. We ask only two questions: your name and email address. Each person will be sent an email immediately to which he or she must respond to to complete the subscription. Let's make 2020 a banner year for new subscribers and greater coverage of IPHC news and inspirational messages. 

With God nothing is impossible.​

Melvine is doing well. She gets stronger each day. We have plans to go to Sunday school and church today, Sunday, December 8.

In the meantime, I have finally taken care of a problem I have been putting off for a long time. I saw my orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mahoney, on Friday. My appointment was at 10:30. I did not awaken until 9, and within an hour, record time for me, I took a shower, etc., and got dressed. Greg drove me to the doctor's office and we got there several minutes before 10:30.

X-rays were taken of my knees. My left knee has no cartilage. It is bone on bone. The pain is unrelenting and time is now to have surgery. Dr. Mahoney asked me what I wanted to do. I said, "I want you to do a total left knee replacement as soon as you can do it. Then, he asked how my right knee was. I told him it is perfect. I have no complaints, only praise for what you did for me. He got his appointment secretary to come in, and Greg, who was with me in the doctor's office, went to her office. Her name is Tammy. She has me scheduled for knee surgery at St. Mary's Hospital on Melvine's birthday, Monday, December 16. I didn't want to do it because it is her birthday, but this is the only time I could get for several months. 

After we left Dr. Mahoney's office, Greg drove me to St. Mary's Hospital to give blood and a urine specimen. However, we were hungry, and stopped at the Waffle House and got breakfast/lunch (brunch). 

However, I will have to go back to St. Mary's on Monday at 10:30 to see the anesthesiologist. I know there is much more to the pre-opt than this, and I am concerned that I will have to make several trips to complete the process.

I have called Jim Cox, a retired Navy veteran and a member of our church, to come to our home to drive my car for this appointment. He graciously agreed to take me on Monday. What a blessing it is to have a church with so many people who are willing to help Melvine and me.

Melvine and I are believing God to heal our bodies and make us whole. Our God is a big God and with Him nothing is impossible. He is the God Who never quits. And we are so grateful.

Thank you for standing with us in your fervent prayers for us, as well as so many cards, emails, and letters. We are blessed by your love and compassion for us.

My birthday is December 15. I will be 87. Melvine's birthday is December 16. She will be 85. We are grateful that God has kept us alive for all of these years. It is our desire to bless you and serve you with the news of our great church, the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, as well as the news of the body of Christ worldwide.

Our mailing address is:

Hugh & Melvine Morgan
17 Sweet Apple Lane
Winder, GA 30680

​Emmanuel College to Host The Leading Edge Conference

Thinking about the Future

Author: Hugh H. Morgan

No doubt, 2020 will be a landmark year. While much of our nation's attention will be given to the upcoming elections, you and I know that Jesus Christ is Lord, actively working to build His church. We need to pray that His Kingdom will be established in the hearts of people, and His Will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. Out of a love for God and for those who are lost, we must uphold the cause of truth and the clear proclamation of the Gospel. People inside and outside the church need to know Who God is. 

Hugh's News will begin its 23rd year of proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel in January 2020. We are living in perilous times when people will tend to believe a lie rather than the truth. We can see all around us a darkened world that needs Jesus. He is the answer to all of our problems. As we come to the close of this year of 2019, we must never forget the value of human life and our need to protect the most vulnerable among us, especially the unborn. May God grant us compassion and love for those who have no one standing up for them.

Let us never forget that Jesus is the Light of the World, and He has called us to be lights in this world in which we live. Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16, NIV).

At times like these, it can be easy for the people of God to lose confidence and grow anxious. I’m sure that you, like me, have wondered what the years ahead will mean for the next generation in the church. But we need not lose hope. We must “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23).

Scripture reveals to us a God of towering majesty Who is working out His perfect will, a sovereign God Whose purposes can never be thwarted. Our confidence and comfort will only be as great as our view of the Lord and His plan. We need a Biblical knowledge of God which reveals a grand view of God—in order not to be shaken and to hold out hope to our families and neighbors.

​His Glory Won't Be Shared

Author: Tony Evans

In His Presence: "We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

God will share His glory with no man. If you are not passionately pursuing the glory of God, He is not hanging out with you because He won't share His glory. The reason He has saved you, the reason He elected you, the reason you are a child of God is to make you part of the community of people called the church, which exists for His glory alone. 

We are dealing with the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Creator of the universe, and we just give Him the leftovers in our lives. We are reluctant to adjust to what He wants. We won't redo our schedules or our plans because this is our life. But to ascribe glory to Him is to give Him recognition and authority in our lives. Jesus said in John 17:4: "I glorified You . . . having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do." Remember also that Jesus prayed before His death: "For this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name" (John 12:27-28). Christ died for the glory of God.

Can you say that in difficult times you will submit to the Lord's purpose and trust that He will be glorified? God uses all things for His glory. Once we look into the mirror of His glory, we will find that He can transform our hearts, and whatever He wants us to do, He takes responsibility for providing for it to be done.

One Minute Please

Whatever you do in word or deed, He wants you to wake up, and go to bed, with Him in mind. And if you do, He'll transform you.

Watch Online Videos of Dr. Tony Evans and The Urban Alternative at LightSource.com
and
Listen to Dr. Tony Evans Online Broadcasts at OnePlace.com.

​The Light of Heaven

Author: Anne Graham Lotz

"I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12, NKJV).

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world,” and He also said we are the light of the world. (Matt. 5:14) The sole light in Heaven will be the light that comes directly from God through Jesus Christ, and that light will be reflected in the life of each one of His children! The entire city will be saturated with the glorious light of His life, truth, righteousness, goodness, love and peace – through you . . . and me!

Praise God! The Light of the World is the Light of Heaven!

Blessings,

Anne Graham Lotz

Copyright © 2014 Anne Graham Lotz (AnGeL Ministries) Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved www.annegrahamlotz.org.

​7 Christmas Sermon Ideas to Engage the Unchurched

Author: Rick Warren 

Like many of you, I have struggled to prepare Christmas sermons that are faithful to Scripture and yet engaging to an unchurched audience. This year I'll prepare sermons for my 40th Christmas season at Saddleback.

Christmas services have played a big role in Saddleback's growth through the years. We built Saddleback on two seasons: Christmas and Easter. We've called it the two humps of the camel. We'd see exponential growth during a holiday and then it would drop off a bit, but it didn't drop off much. During the rest of the year, we're typically consolidating our growth and moving people from "come and see" to the "come and die" purpose-driven paradigm I wrote about in The Purpose Driven Church.

I know some pastors have the idea that their churches will grow by adding one family a week for the rest of their existence. But that won't happen. You'll never grow a little bit by little bit. Growth usually happens in spurts. Your attendance will stay static for several months but then, on one big day, you'll jump past a growth barrier (whether it's 200, 500 or 1,000).

That's why it's so important that we're preaching messages that resonate with unchurched people during the Easter and Christmas seasons. Unless your holiday sermons engage an unchurched audience, you'll struggle to retain all those guests coming to your church.

I want to help you overcome that obstacle, so I've created a list of some of the most effective and engaging Christmas sermon ideas we've used at Saddleback.

1. The Miracles of Christmas

Christmas is a time of miracles. In this sermon, I looked at four of the most important miracles of the Christmas story.

2. When God Messes Up Your Plans

In the first Christmas story, baby Jesus messed up the plans of both Mary and Joseph. Jesus is still in the business of messing up plans. In this sermon, I taught about how God messes up our plans in order to get our attention and shift our focus to His plan for our lives.

3. Radical Joy

The very first thing the angel told the shepherds on the first Christmas was, "Behold, I bring you good news of great joy." Joy is at the heart of the Christmas story. I taught this sermon as part of my "Radicalis" sermon series focusing on radical faith, radical joy and radical love.

4. Lost and Found—God's Rescue Mission at Christmas

Jesus didn't come to Earth to be a baby. He came to grow up, live a perfect life, die on the cross and be resurrected again. He came "to seek and save the lost." In this Christmas message, I taught about the three stories of "lostness" in Luke 15—the lost coin, the lost sheep and the lost son—and what they can teach us about God's passion to reach the lost with the Good News about Jesus.

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5. The Christmas Gift of Peace

Jesus came on the first Christmas to give us peace—with God and with others. In this sermon, I explained the four kinds of peace that Jesus gives us and how we can have his peace in our lives on a daily basis.

6. The Light of Christmas

Lights were important in the first Christmas. The angels orchestrated the dazzling light show in the sky, and the shepherds went to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus as a result. The wise men saw another bright light in the sky, the Star, and followed it to where the Savior was born. In this sermon, I used the theme of light to show how Jesus is the antidote to the dark days of disappointment, distress, doubt and depression.

7. Don't Miss Christmas

Several people in the first Christmas story completely missed the true meaning of Christmas. In this sermon, I used the cautionary tales of these characters to provide wisdom on how our congregation can avoid missing the real meaning of Christmas in the middle of all the busyness of the season.

It can be difficult to come up with fresh and original sermons for holidays year after year, but the Christmas story is endlessly applicable to people's lives. I pray you will see the story with new eyes during this season.

I hope these ideas will provide you with some inspiration as you prepare your holiday sermons! 

[Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church, one of America's largest and most influential churches. He is the author of the New York Times' bestseller The Purpose Driven Life. His book The Purpose Driven Church was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. Pastor Rick started The PEACE Plan to show the local church how God works through ordinary people to address the five global giants of spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease and illiteracy. You can listen to Daily Hope, Pastor Rick's daily 25-minute audio teaching, or sign up for his free daily devotionals at PastorRick.com. He is also the founder of Pastors.com, a global online community created to encourage pastors.

For the original article, visit Pastors.com.

Bishop Leon Stewart Celebrates 90th Birthday
 
Author: Janese Pike Bennett

Bishop Leon O. Stewart

Bishop Leon Stewart, the 11th General Superintendent of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, was born on December 5, 1929, in Pineville, Florida. Today, the IPHC family honors him and wishes him a happy 90th birthday!

A son of a Pentecostal Holiness minister, Bishop Stewart came to know the Lord in 1947 and quickly accepted the call to ministry. He was ordained in the Alabama Conference (Alpha Conference) in 1952. While attending Holmes Bible College in Greenville, South Carolina, he met Donna Dooley and they were married in September of the same year. The Stewarts pastored several churches in the Alabama Conference and also served as Christian Education director and conference superintendent.

In 1969, Bishop Stewart began his service to the IPHC at the General level as assistant general superintendent, director of Evangelism, and vice chariman before he was elected general superintendent in 1981. Under his leadership, the denomination launched the Target 2000 church growth initiative and began prayer meetings which led to the launching of the IPHC’s prayer initiative, World Intercession Network (WIN). After retirement, Bishop Stewart moved back to Alabama with “Miss Donna.”

Presiding Bishop Doug Beacham shares, “I am thankful that the Lord gave us Bishop Stewart as a leader, preacher, and writer in the IPHC. Several times a year I have the joy of speaking with him, and I’m always encouraged. Susan and I pray that he will have a wonderful 90th birthday celebration and that the Lord will give him many more!”

You can join us in wishing Bishop Stewart a happy birthday by sending cards to Bishop Leon O. Stewart, 1112 Fridge Drive, Atmore, AL 36502.

Photo Credits: IPHC Ministries

Walter Gamble

Walter B. Gamble, 91 passed away on Saturday, November 30, 2019 in the Sundre Hospital following a brief illness.  He and his wife Lillian have been residents of the Sundre Mountain View Seniors Housing.

Walter was born to Ira and Anna Gamble on September 22, 1928 on the Gamble homestead in the Niche Valley, west of Sundre.  The tenth of twelve children, Walter enjoyed farm life and education in the little Bergen schoolhouse.

Following high school in Didsbury, Walter completed his Bible training at Pacific Coast Bible Institute in Chilliwack, British Columbia.  It was there that he met Lillian Cooper, who he married in September 1949.  They recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary, a remarkable achievement in our day.

Walter, an ordained minister with the Pentecostal Holiness Church of Canada, has pastored from the age of 17, in Bergen, Sundre, Edmonton and Winfield, Alberta; Rosedale, British Columbia;  and Toronto, Ontario.  He has also worked in business as a mortgage broker, and served 100 Huntley Street in various roles, headed up two Bible Colleges (Foothills Bible Institute - Alberta; Christian View Bible College - Ontario), and served on various boards and committees, spanning many organizations and para-church ministries.

Besides his parents and several older siblings, Walter was predeceased by his brother Jim Gamble of Port Angeles, Washington and his sister Mary Ness of Didsbury, Alberta, both recently.  Of his siblings, surviving him are his older brother Ivan Gamble of Kelowna, British Columbia and his younger brother Ira Gamble of Sooke, British Columbia.

Walter will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Lillian Gamble of Sundre; his children and their families, Gwen Gunderson and her husband John, of Sundre and their children, Larry, Shauna and Sheri; Wilma Ann Hilsden and her husband Wayne, from Jerusalem, Israel and their four sons, Jamie, Joel, Jonathan and Michael; Gord Gamble and his wife, Barb,  of Markham, Ontario and their children Jesse and Katie;  Karen Boldt and her husband Mike, of Fort McMurray and their children, Brandon and Melissa; and Dan Gamble and his wife Sandy, of Mississauga, Ontario and their daughters, Taylor and Tori.  There are twelve great-grandchildren that add to Walter’s clan. Walter is also fondly remembered by many nieces and nephews.

The Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, December 5, 2019 at 2:00 pm at the Bergen Missionary Church.  Viewing will begin at 1:15 pm.  Interment will follow at the Bergen Cemetery, and light refreshments will be offered at the church, Red Rose Florists in Calgary (403-276-1184) will receive orders for delivery up to December 4th. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Operation Exodus (operationexodus.ca/connect).
+++++

Rick Haug's report:

Snow crunched underfoot as the crowd hurried in out of the cold to the warm embrace of the Bergen Missionary Church. They gathered for a tribute and celebration of the late Rev. Walter Gamble. For over 70 years Walter served the Kingdom of God through the Canadian Pentecostal Holiness Church.

Greetings and condolences from Bishop A.D. Beacham and Bishop Gordon McDonald were read by Missionary Regional Director Bob Cave. Bob was attended by his wife Carol. Rev. Gamble served multiple pastorates in Canada and served as President of two Bible Colleges (Foothills Bible Institute - Alberta; Christian View Bible College - Ontario). Walter Gamble is survived by his wife Lillian and his five children (Gord Gamble, Gwen Gunderson, Ann Hilsden, Karen Boldt and Dan Gamble) 12 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Psalmist Trevor Haug led in worship and emceed the service. Walter’s nephew Harvey Gamble of Calgary gave the eulogy. Rick Haug shared Walts impact on his life. Pastor Rob Holland of Bergen Missionary Church gave the message.

Each of the children shared fond memories of their Father as did two of the grandchildren.

Laughter and tears marked the marvelous tribute to a great soldier of the Cross.

As the sun sank in spectacular fashion over the snow capped Rocky Mountains, Rev. Walter Gamble was laid to rest overlooking the Bergen Community he was raised in. The valley was covered in a thick blanket of snow. Slowly family and friends walked away from the graveside- the snow yet crunching underfoot.

N. B. Bergen is located in Western Alberta, Canada nestled in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies.

Rick Haug

A word for anxious, lonely, struggling days

​Author: Max Lucado
​
Here’s a reminder for anxious, lonely days, struggling days. You are not alone. There is One Who is always with you, always available, always caring.

The One Who created the universe, Who set the world in motion—He is with you. Not just on joyful days. Not just on tough days. God is with you every single day, cheering for you, lifting you up, and drawing you closer to Him.

That’s the message bestselling author Max Lucado wants you to hear in his latest devotional, God Is with You Every Day. Its 365 devotions and Scriptures serve as daily, tangible reminders that God is indeed with you every day, every step of the way, for . . .
He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5, NKJV).