​A man observed a woman in the grocery store with a three-year-old girl in her basket. As they passed the cookie section, the little girl asked for cookies and her mother told her, "No." The little girl immediately began to whine and fuss, and the mother said quietly, "Now Monica, we just have half of the aisles left to go through - don't be upset. It won't be long now."

Soon, they came to the candy aisle and the little girl began to shout for candy. When told she couldn't have any, she began to cry. The mother said, "There, there, Monica, don't cry - only two more aisles to go and then we'll be checking out."

When they got to the checkout stand, the little girl immediately began to clamor for gum and burst into a terrible tantrum upon discovering there'd be no gum purchased.

The mother said serenely, "Monica, we'll be through this check out stand in 5 minutes and then you can go home and have a nice nap."

​The man followed them out to the parking lot and stopped the woman to compliment her. "I couldn't help noticing how patient you were with little Monica," he began. The mother replied, "I'm Monica - my little girl's name is Tammy."

​Rev. F.M. (Forney Monroe) Spargo died peacefully at the Robin Johnson House (Gaston Hospice) Sunday morning, February 23, 2020. He was 103 years old. He was born February 5, 1917, and grew up near Rock Road in Stanley in the house which his father built. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Katherine Loftin Spargo. They were married for 64 years.

Rev. Spargo came from a large family. His father married a widowed mother following the death of his first wife (due to complications in childbirth) and a new family of sixteen children came into being. Rev. Spargo was the second youngest, and last living of all the children. Though F.M. and Katherine had no children of their own, they were parents to the many children they pastored over many years. Rev. Spargo grew up in the years surrounding the Great Depression and jobs were hard to find. After High School, his Uncle got him a job in the textile factory and he worked there until joining the Navy. Rev. Spargo served our county in the Second World War (1943-1945) and was part of the armed forces fighting at Okinawa at the close of the war. He served aboard the USS Keokuk as a 2nd Class Naval Petty Officer. After his service in the Navy, Rev. Spargo entered Holmes College of the Bible and studied there from 1946-1949, with a Th.B. (Bachelor of Theology) degree. During his final year at Holmes, he pastored the Asheville and Pisgah View Churches. He preached the a.m. service in Asheville, then traveled to the Pisgah View Church to preach and minster in the afternoon, and then back to Asheville to preach in the p.m. service. At the end of the day, he would travel back to Holmes College of the Bible to be ready for classes the next day. Later, Rev. Spargo continued his studies at King’s Business College and blessed the churches he served with solid business principles and practices.

Rev. Spargo joined the Stanley Pentecostal Holiness Church in 1939 (Stanley PHC was organized and chartered in 1935). He remembers serving the Stanley PHC in every capacity the church had except Sunday School Superintendent (trustee, teacher, deacon, and all other areas of service). He has always loved the church, its people, its ministry, and most of all, our Lord. He was licensed as a minister in May, 1947 and ordained in May, 1949. Rev. Spargo served the following churches: Asheville, and Pisgah View (1 year), Charlotte (1 year), Kannapolis (3 years), Stanley (2 years), Hurt (6 years), South Henderson (6 years), Gastonia (4 years), High Point (6 years), and both East Marion (1 year) and West Marion (1 year) as interim. During his years pastoring, Rev. Spargo took one year out to serve as a full-time Evangelist - sometimes holding revivals that lasted as much as eight (8) weeks in length. He has served the Lord as a Pastor for more than 30 years retiring in 1979, and has served as interim pastor many times for churches in the Cornerstone Conference of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. 

Rev. F.M. Spargo’s surviving family members are: Nephews: David Spargo, Jack Spargo, Bob Helton, and Great Nephews: Don (Vickie) Helton, Ted Helton, Steve (Dotsie) Helton, Tommy Spargo, Chad Spargo and Michael Spargo, and Great Niece: Rosemary Riveria.

A service to celebrate the life of Rev. Spargo will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 28, 2020 at Stanley Pentecostal Holiness Church. Dr. Danny Penny will officiate.

Burial will follow at Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery, Mount Holly. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 27, 2020 at the church. 
​
Condolence messages may be sent to the family by visiting www.woodlawnfuneral.org. Woodlawn Funeral Home of Mount Holly is serving the family.

​Gregory Whitlow has entered into the rest Jesus provides for those who love Him.

Response by Laban West

While reading the obituary regarding Greg being the master of the "3-Point Sermon", I was reminded of a conversation I had with Greg at Southwestern College back in the 80s. While standing in line for a meal, etc, he was sharing what his sermon was going to be the following Sunday. This was to be a 4-Point Sermon on Godly Integrity. His four points were.... 1) Integrity in the Homeplace, 2) Integrity in the Workplace, 3) Integrity in the Holy Place, and 4) Integrity in the Secret Place. I never heard Greg preach this sermon, but I have never forgot his zeal and excitement as he shared his thoughts. And I have never forgot those 4 Points. What a powerful message it must have been. Greg, you will be greatly missed.

Psalm 119:165

165 Great peace have they which love Thy Law: and nothing shall offend them.
KJV

The shopkeeper was dismayed when a brand new business much like his own opened up next door and erected a huge sign which read BEST DEALS.

He was horrified when another competitor opened up on his right, and announced its arrival with an even larger sign, reading LOWEST PRICES.

​The shopkeeper was panicked, until he got an idea. He put the biggest sign of all over his own shop-it read... 'Main entrance.'

​Scott Shellenberger
September 29, 1978-February 21, 2020

Scott Allen Shellenberger passed from this life into the presence of his Lord and Savior on February 21, 2020.
Scott was born in Oklahoma City on September 29, 1978, to his parents, Dr. Kent and Stephane Shellenberger. He married the love of his life, Sarah Shellenberger, on September 1, 2018.

Scott graduated from Putnam City West High School and Southern Nazarene University. He furthered his education at OU, and was currently working on his Ed.D at SNU. He devoted his career to teaching and shared his love for nature and the environment as a science professor at Southwestern Christian University.

Scott leaves behind his precious wife, Sarah Shellenberger; parents, Kent and Stephane Shellenberger; grandfather, Merrill Green; brothers, Brett and Matt (Madison) Shellenberger; father and mother-in-law, Phil and Sherry Ekstrom; brother-in-law, Jon (Jen) Ekstrom; grandfather and grandmother-in-law, Earl (Fern) Leewright; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, whom he loved dearly.

The funeral service will be conducted today, Wednesday, February 26, 2020, at 3:00 PM, at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene, 6789 NW 39th Expy, Bethany, OK 73008. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Scott Shellenberger Memorial Scholarship at Southwestern Christian University via the link on the SWCU homepage, www.swcu.edu. To share a memory or condolence, visit www.mercer-adams.com

​Gregory Eugene Whitlow
June 29, 1950 ~ February 23, 2020

Gregory Eugene Whitlow was born June 29, 1950 in Bristow, OK the son of Earl Eugene and Betty Lucille (Coppinger) Whitlow. He was awarded his heavenly home on Sunday, February 23, 2020 at the age of 69.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Sherry; his daughters: Shawna Salkil and her husband Travis, and Kelley Ross and her husband, TJ ; and his grandchildren, Aubrey Ross, Jaxon Gregory Salkil, Abygail Ross, Levi Ross, and Isabelle Salkil, all of Piedmont. In his life, Greg opened his heart and home to others who chose to call him “Dad” as well. He is also loved and missed by his brothers: Randy Whitlow and his wife Carole, Ryan Whitlow and his wife Kristi, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. “Husband”, “Dad” and “Grandpa” were all titles he held with pride.

Greg spent his early childhood years in Bristow and Guthrie, OK, and then moved to the Oklahoma City area where he lived the rest of his life. He was a proud Putnam City Pirate and alumni of Southwestern Christian University. Called to full-time ministry at an early age, he formed a gospel singing group called, “The King’s Ambassadors” and began evangelizing at the age of nineteen. He joined the staff at Lakeside Assembly of God church at age twenty-two. In 1976, he was elected pastor there and served in that capacity for twenty-six years. He finished his ministerial career at Heritage Fellowship where he filled the pulpit until the very end of his life.

When picturing “Pastor Greg”, it is natural to form an image of him standing behind a pulpit. He was a master of the thirty-minute, three-point sermon. Year in and year out, he brought a fresh look at the Word of God three times a week. Later in his career, he expanded his reach by teaching this craft to young ministers that he mentored.

Preaching was the most public and tangible of Pastor Greg’s gifts, and he loved doing that. Yet, perhaps his greatest gift was in his ability to simply “be there.” “The greatest sound that a pastor can make”, he often said, “is not the sound of his voice, but the sound of his footsteps.” There were so many times that in our darkest hours, we heard those footsteps and looked up to see him standing there, “just making sure we were okay.”

Another image that we need to have of Pastor Greg is one that was not on public display. We didn’t see the time he spent in prayer, seeking God’s best for his church, his city, and his family. He took our needs to heart and quite possibly prayed for our well-being more than we did. Only the Lord and Greg know the hours and times he spent pouring our needs from his heart into the Heart of God.

Across the world, there are many who think of Pastor Greg and say, “I still think of him as my pastor.” This is not a statement about their current pastors; simply a testament to the lasting impact of a life well-lived in the service of our Lord. We can’t all learn to preach like he did, but we can all be there for each other. We can pray for each other, not just in intention but in action. We can be followers of Christ.

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” 3 John 2 (NKJV).

Memorial services will be held Saturday, February 29 at 2 pm in the Minchew Auditorium at Southwestern Christian University (7210 NW 39th Expressway, Bethany, OK.) Public parking will be in the main parking lot in front of the Patrick Building on the SCU Campus. The family hopes to gather and greet people after the service. There will be no visitation or viewing at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sonrise Ranch, Adult and Teen Challenge, 19792 Cache Road NW, Cache, OK 73527.

​The Precious Ring

Author: The Precious Ring
​
We all have our treasures that we hold to strongly. Trying to list them all is futile; there are simply too many – dating relationships, cars, beverages, clothes, sports, children, and the list goes on and on. 

J. R. R. Tolkien in his book, Lord of the Rings, had the gift to communicate how dangerous it can be to hold too tightly to our treasures. His plot is built around a gold ring that wielded great power when properly used. But Tolkien also showed the ring could be addictive and even dangerous if the owner held on too tightly. One main character in the book even identified the ring with the name, the ‘Precious.’

Tolkien wrote the book as a volume of fantasy, but the message is so very true to life.

Dear reader, could there be something, or some things you are holding strongly to – habits or practices that have now become addictions to the point the precious ‘ring’ is actually in control of you? You tell yourself you are not addicted because – I can stop anytime I want to – but in reality you are addicted. You don’t stop because you can’t stop.

In our walk with the Lord we are called on to acknowledge in heartfelt repentance Jesus as the Son of God and our personal Savior. In doing so, we make the decision to surrender our lives to the Lord, and that routinely means walking away from things that have been precious to us.

Surrendering the bad and the good 

We usually think of surrender in this context as giving up and releasing the bad in our lives – such things as habits, relationships with people, and imaginations, that are slowly but surely eating away our souls (Hebrews 12:1).

Sometimes moms and dads face it, trying to hold to their children too tightly, wanting to manage their lives even in adulthood.

We also need to understand Jesus calls on us at times to surrender what is good for us, and we will never know God’s best until we make the sacrifice. Missionaries face it all the time and so do their parents. Moms and dads surrender their children to God and watch them board a jet to fly half around the world to obey the call of God. Their children give up home and family that has been so precious to them, sacrificing all to say yes to the voice of God.

I have thought many times about Abraham whom God told to surrender his son, Ishmael, born to him by Hagar the bond woman. But Abraham loved the boy and earnestly begged God, “O that Ishmael might live before you” (Genesis 17:18). Abraham honestly believed Ishmael was good for the family, and he held a tight grip on his son. Ishmael was a ‘precious golden ring’ to him. Abraham simply could not imagine life without Ishmael. But the day came when Sarah, Abraham’s beloved wife, gave him an ultimatum: “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for [Ishmael] will never share in the inheritance with my son, Isaac” (Genesis 21:10).

Abraham went to God in prayer about his dilemma, and the Word of the Lord to him was clear and emphatic: listen to Sarah and do what she tells you. 

How many men would have happier families if each one would listen more to his wife!

To his eternal credit, Abraham obeyed God and released Ishmael, but it was painful for him beyond words. Ishmael was his son too, and Abraham loved him dearly. 

The Bible does not show Ishmael ever came home to see his father again – imagine Abraham’s pain – although Ishmael did attend his dad’s funeral (Genesis 25:9).   
 
By far the greater test for Abraham, however, came a few years later when God told him to “take his son, his only son, whom he loved, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there” (Genesis 22:3).  

God had promised Abraham that through Isaac God would make a great nation. 
Would Abraham hold tightly this time to his only son Isaac, his ‘most precious golden ring’? 

Abraham did not. Instead, Abraham took Isaac with him to Moriah, prepared the altar there, placed Isaac on it, and drew back his knife to sacrifice his son, his only son, who was given to Abraham and Sarah by a divine promise (Genesis 17:21; 18:10). Abraham did it believing God could raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19).

In that moment: 
“The angel of the Lord [no doubt Jesus, the Messiah] called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’
"Here I am," he replied.

"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son….

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, ‘I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me’" (Genesis 22:11-12, 15-18). 

God sent His only begotten Son to this earth in an incarnation, and He came to die in our place as an atoning sacrifice. 

God stopped Abraham’s sacrifice of Ishmael, but the heavenly Father did not stop His Son’s sacrifice. Instead, He raised Him from the dead, immortal and incorruptible, never to die again!

Satan tried to give Jesus a very addictive ‘precious golden ring’ – all the kingdoms of the earth - but the Lord did not take the bait. Instead, He was determined to carry out His Father’s plan (Matthew 4:1-11).

Dear reader, what is your Ishmael, or your Isaac – the good or the bad - the ‘golden ring’ in your life you need to turn loose? When the Lord asks you to surrender something dear to you, He already has a plan to give you something better. He loves you so much He died in your place. You can trust Him.

A person who will not release the apple of his eye, his habits, immoral choices, and addictions, invariably holds on because he does not trust Jesus enough.

Do you trust Him?

I challenge you, please think about it and lay your habits and possession on the altar. Surrender your ‘golden ring’ to Him and watch the gifts that begin to come into your life. Abraham’s immediate blessing was a ram caught in a thicket that he could sacrifice, and the discovery of God as Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides!

So please, never forget, when you surrender to Jesus, He will always reward you with something better.

​Created to Know God

Author: Anne Graham Lotz

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent" (John 17:3, NIV).
​
What is life in the image of God? It is life with a capacity to know the Creator in a personal relationship. It is a soul that communes with God and has eternal value in His sight. Man was created . . .

to walk and talk with God,

to love and obey God,

to listen to and learn from God,

to glorify and enjoy God forever!

Jesus defined our meaning for existence when He prayed, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent.” Knowing God in a personal and permanent relationship is the ultimate human experience. Knowing God is the meaning of human life. It is the reason for our existence. It was the completion of all the changes God made in the environment in the beginning. And it is the completion of all the changes God is making in your life at the present.

Get to know Him and discover the real meaning of life.

Blessings,

Anne Graham Lotz

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

I want to introduce you to my new book, entitled The Secret of Soul Surrender.  It is already in print, and copies of the book may be purchased by emailing me, David Hopkins, at dcfh@windstream.net. 

The price per copy is $12.95 including postage if I mail the book. I wrote the book for the people we are working with here in South Georgia who are new to Christ or who are struggling to understand the God-centered life-view. It has been received very well locally, but I believe it will be a blessing to other IPHC churches and individuals as well.  

David Hopkins is a prolific writer, educator, and a former president of Emmanuel College.  He and Claudia reside in Moultrie, Georgia. Contact David Hopkins at his mailing address: dcfh@windstream.net to purchase this excellent book. What a blessing it will be to those new to the faith in Jesus Christ.

Psalm 119:105

105 Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
KJV
+++++
Psalm 119:11

11 Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
KJV

An old man visits his doctor and after thorough examination the doctor tells him: "I have good news and bad news, what would you like to hear first?"

Patient: "Well, give me the bad news first." Doctor: "You have cancer, I estimate that you have about two years left."

Patient: "OH NO! That's awful! In two years my life will be over! What kind of good news could you probably tell me, after this???"

​Doctor: "You also have Alzheimer's. In about three months you are going to forget everything I told you."​

​Created to Know God

Author: Anne Graham Lotz

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3, NIV).
​
What is life in the image of God? It is life with a capacity to know the Creator in a personal relationship. It is a soul that communes with God and has eternal value in His sight. Man was created

to walk and talk with God,

to love and obey God,

to listen to and learn from God,

to glorify and enjoy God forever!

Jesus defined our meaning for existence when He prayed, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent.” Knowing God in a personal and permanent relationship is the ultimate human experience. Knowing God is the meaning of human life. It is the reason for our existence. It was the completion of all the changes God made in the environment in the beginning. And it is the completion of all the changes God is making in your life at the present.

Get to know Him and discover the real meaning of life.

Blessings,

Anne Graham Lotz

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

​Drowning in Our Doubts

Author: Greg Laurie

“On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side’” (Mark 4:35).
​
One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us cross over to the other side.” So they got into a boat and made their way across the Sea of Galilee, which is actually a massive, freshwater lake. And when a huge storm came, the waves beat against their boat. But Jesus was sound asleep.

The disciples woke Him and said, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38 NKJV).

Then the Bible tells us that Jesus got up and “rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm” (verse 39 NKJV).

Afterward Jesus turned to them and said, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (verse 40 NKJV). The disciples saw that Jesus had the power to stop nature’s havoc if He chose to.

Sometimes Jesus will come into the midst of a problem and say, “Stop,” and it stops. But at other times He goes with us through our problems. Yet it’s better to be in a storm with Jesus than anywhere else without Him.

Remember that Jesus said, “Let us cross over to the other side.” He didn’t say, “Let’s all go out to the middle of the Sea of Galilee and die.” Jesus didn’t promise them smooth sailing, but He did promise them a safe arrival. And the same is true for us.

Fear makes us sink. We all know the feeling. Everything is going great, and then suddenly anxiety and fear grips us. We’re practically drowning in our doubts. But when faith reigns, fear has no place. And when fear reigns, faith is driven away.

Jesus has not promised us smooth sailing in life, but He has promised us a safe arrival. We will get to the other side.

Share this today:
When faith reigns, fear has no place.

Used by permission from Greg Laurie's Ministry

Retired IPHC missionaries to India for 60 years have given a significant gift in memory of Melvine Morgan to plant a tree in the Jewish Jewels Grove in Israel to remember her legacy of ministry to the IPHC family and body of Christ world-wide.

Retired IPHC missionaries to India for 60 years have given a significant gift in honor Hugh Morgan to plant a tree in the Jewish Jewels Grove in Israel to remember his legacy of ministry to the IPHC family and body of Christ world-wide.

Ephesians 4:1-13
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:

"When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men." 

9  (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?  10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 
NIV

​Teacher: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.

Winnie: Me!

++++++++

Teacher: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?

Glen: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.

+++++++

Teacher: Millie, give me a sentence starting with "I."

Millie: I is . . .

Teacher: No, Millie . . . Always say, "I am."

Millie: All right . . . "I am the ninth letter in the alphabet."