"Lord, please make me the kind of person my dog thinks I am."
The Rev. Mr. Warren J. Keating, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Yuma, Arizona, said that the best prayer he ever heard was,
"Lord, please make me the kind of person my dog thinks I am."
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Chaplain, Colonel Randall (Randy) E. Kitchens, USAF has extended a personal invitation to your editor, Retired Air Force Reserve Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel Hugh H. Morgan to attend his promotion ceremony to the rank of Brigadier General and Deputy Chief of Air Force Chaplains. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend this historic event. My family physician has me under quarantine. In a personal email from Chaplain Randy Kitchens he wrote the following message I wanted you to read: Chaplain Morgan, You have been an inspiration and encouragement to me through the years by the kindness, compassion, and encouraging ministry that you modeled during our time at Robins AFB, GA 1989-1992. As I shared, you prayed and prophesied over me during those years. You prayed that God would bless and order my AF Chaplaincy ministry and that one day I would serve in the Office of the Chief of Chaplains. The invitation below is to my Promotion Ceremony to Brigadier General as the USAF Deputy Chief of Chaplains. Thank you for the blessing you prayed over me then and also over the phone. I will follow up with you by email. Have a wonderful day! Very Respectfully, Randy RANDALL E. KITCHENS, Ch, Brig Gen, USAF Deputy Chief of Chaplains Office of the Air Force Chief of Chaplains HQ USAF/HC 1380 AF Pentagon, Room 4E260 Washington, DC 20330-1380 Hugh's response: I am highly honored by your kind words and humbled that God used me to bless and encourage you when you were a reserve Air Force chaplain. At that period of history, I was serving as the senior pastor of Tarkenton Memorial Pentecostal Holiness Church. As I recall there were some seven (7) reserve Air Force chaplains under my supervision and guidance. I never dreamed this would ever happen today. What a blessing Randy Kitchens is to me. I pray God to watch over him and his family and grant him favor and success as the new Deputy Chief of Air Force Chaplains. U.S. Senate confirms Southern Baptist as Air Force Deputy Chief of Chaplains Author: Brandon Elrod WASHINGTON—Chaplain, Colonel Randall (Randy) E. Kitchens of the U.S. Air Force received confirmation from the U.S. Senate to become the Air Force’s 27th Deputy Chief of Chaplains on Thursday evening (July 30). The confirmation entails the promotion to the rank of Brigadier General. “I was in shock and awe,” Kitchens recalled first impression upon learning the news. “I was humbled and honored.” Chaplain, Colonel Randall (Randy) E. Kitchens of the U.S. Air Force received confirmation from the U.S. Senate to become the Air Force’s 27th Deputy Chief of Chaplains on Thursday (July 30), the second consecutive Southern Baptist chaplain to hold the position. The confirmation entails the promotion to the rank of Brigadier General. Since July 2017, Kitchens served as the Command Chaplain for the Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB) in Louisiana, one of sixteen assignments in a chaplaincy career that dates to April 1987. As Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Kitchens will assist the Air Force’s Chief of Chaplains to generate guidance on issues related to the religious and moral well being of Air Force personnel and their dependents as well as provide direction for roughly 2,000 Air Force chaplains and religious affairs Airmen. In his role, Kitchens will also be a part of the Armed Forces Chaplain board that advises the U.S. Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on matters related to religious, ethical and quality-of-life issues. Kitchens succeeds Brigadier General Ronald M. Harvell for the post after Harvell, also a Southern Baptist, was named to the faculty and staff of Charleston Southern University where he will serve as the university’s first director of the Dewey Center for Chaplaincy. “Chaplain Kitchens’s Senate confirmation for promotion to brigadier general and selection as the US Air Force’s 27th Deputy Chief of Chaplains is truly historic,” said Maj. Gen. Doug Carver, executive director of chaplaincy for the North American Mission Board. “This is the first time in the Air Force Chaplaincy’s fifty-two-year history that Southern Baptist chaplains have been chosen in succession to fill this strategic ministry position,” Carver said. “It is also indicative of the exceptionally gifted chaplains who represent Southern Baptists in taking the hope of the Gospel to the members of the Armed Services.” Kitchens shared several stories from his time serving as a chaplain all over the world that revealed the heart and ministry of a chaplain. While assigned to Kunsan AFB in the Republic of Korea, Kitchens invited a certain Airman into his office. The young man and Kitchens had been interacting over the course of several weeks. “I kept running into him and could look into his eyes and see that something wasn’t going well,” Kitchens said. “I could sense that something wasn’t right with him, and the more he talked, I could tell that he was in a very hopeless place.” So, Kitchens walked the Airman to the emergency area where, after they checked him out physically and mentally, the staff discovered that young man had been experiencing suicidal ideation. Unbeknownst to Kitchens at the time, the Airman had already mailed letters to his family to let them know that they would not be seeing him again. Only later did Kitchens learn that, as the Airman was transferred to another hospital, he told a commanding officer to thank the chaplain because he saved his life. “That was an impactful experience for me personally, and it’s because it’s not in me, in myself, but the Lord used me and gave the skillset to be able to be sensitive in those situations,” Kitchens said. “So, my reminder is every person I come into contact with has a story. I should not rush by general conversation without recognizing whether or not the person is transmitting a deeper message.” The U.S. Senate approved the nomination of Colonel Kitchens on July 30 as the Air Force’s 27th Deputy Chief of Chaplains, which includes a promotion to the rank of Brigadier General. Kitchens and his wife have two grown children, Ryan and Kara, both of whom are married. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lillian Miller. Kitchens, born and raised in Macon, Ga., grew up as the son of a bivocational pastor. He made a profession of faith as a young boy and followed in believer’s baptism. “At a young age, I knew that God had a calling on my life,” Kitchens said. He finished his undergraduate work at Mercer University in Macon, majoring in Christianity and minoring in physical education as well as music and voice. Kitchens eventually accepted a call as pastor of Big Coppitt First Baptist Church in Key West, Fla., and it was there that God revealed a new calling for him and his wife, Sherri. “We began to meet many Navy couples during that time,” Kitchens said. “The ministry we had with them really jumpstarted our heart and desire for ministry to the military. We saw so many young couples who were hungry for the Word of God, for good Christian fellowship and for learning and growing with one another. So, God placed that calling on my life and in my heart.” From there, he began taking classes a Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and he became a chaplain candidate. Now, his seventeenth assignment with the Air Force brings him to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. PUBLISHED AUGUST 3, 2020 Leroy and Evelyn Baker have conducted many camp meetings and revivals. He is a preacher's preacher, and believes in household salvation. His sermon, "Don't Give Up on Your Children," is classic and compelling. Harvest Giving Time I have always loved “Harvest Time.” I love to plant seeds and watch the miracle happen as the corn brings forth sometimes a hundred-fold. Well, it is Harvest Time now in Oklahoma and Evelyn and I traveled a few miles south from our home in Yukon to Rush Springs, the Water Mellon Capital of the world to buy a 50 pounder, the best and sweetest you ever put in your mouth. Now, all you who read Hugh’s News know my dear friend Hugh loves to plant seeds and watch them grow, and he has been doing this for all these years faithfully as he “Sow Seeds” of faith, hope, and encouragement into our hearts and minds most every day. Let me encourage each of you to join me in providing a little “Seed for the Sower” in a Harvest Time offering to help Hugh keep the News flowing to those who look forward to receiving the seeds of blessings, information, and encouragement each day. Harvest Time blessings to all. [Here's how you can contribute to Hugh's News and Commentary: You may Click Here on this hyperlink to make a contribution by a credit card or send a check in the mail. It will be helpful if you would include your email address so Hugh Morgan can immediately respond to your gift to this ministry. Please make out your checks to Hugh's News, Inc., not to Hugh Morgan. Thank you kindly.] [Leroy Baker is known as Mr. Camp Meeting Preacher. He is a former president of Southwestern College, now Southwestern Christian University. He and Evelyn reside in Yukon, OK in a new subdivision. He is the author of the popular Gospel Song, "God's Got an Army." Leroy has been my friend since 1974. He has often refreshed my spirit and stood shoulder to shoulder with me through some tough times. I love Leroy and his family. I am grateful for this tribute to Hugh's News, entitled, "Harvest Giving Time." And I want to thank each of you who will be giving in this Harvest Giving Time. I know in my heart that God gave this message for a time such as this.] Plugged into the Power Source Author: Anne Graham Lotz "In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all" (1 Chronicles 29:12, NKJV). The crowning jewel of Creation was man himself. He was created for a distinct purpose. If the purpose is lived out, life is fulfilling. If the purpose is rejected or ignored, life will never be what it was meant to be. A light bulb is a simple glass globe. If placed on a desk or table, it is meaningless as well as useless. But if it is fitted into a lamp and plugged into a power source, it fulfills its purpose for existence, taking on meaning as a source of light that is useful for daily living. Apart from the Creator’s purpose, you and I are like a light bulb lying in a meaningless, useless state. We need to fit into the Creator’s original design, plugging into the power source – our relationship with Him – if our lives are to be what they were meant to be. Blessings, Anne Graham Lotz Copyright © 2014 Anne Graham Lotz (AnGeL Ministries) Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved www.annegrahamlotz.org. Women were first at the cradle, the cross and the crypt where Christ rose. Jesus performed His first miracle at the request of His mother.
The church is called the bride of Christ longing for the return of her bridegroom king. Award-winning author and Christian activist Lee Grady believes that, according to Scripture, women share equal worth but different function with their brothers in the body of Christ. He loves the promise of Pentecost for the last days that "sons and daughters shall prophesy" (Acts 2:17b). Then why is it that throughout the world women often have a second-class role in ministering the grace of God? And why is there so much silence regarding the mistreatment, abuse, exploitation and denial of education plus privileges to females? A former Charisma magazine editor and award-winning journalist, Grady wrestled with these questions for years before God commissioned him to shed some light into the darkness. Maybe having four daughters of his own factored into the equation. Lee prayed and studied the Scriptures and eventually wrote a book that challenged scores of spiritually minded people. The title: 10 Lies the Church Tells Women. The subtitle: How the Bible Has Been Misused to Keep Women in Spiritual Bondage. Lee is an excellent writer and has done his homework. Some may disagree with a few points, but overall, you hear the heart of God coming through the content to elevate sisters into the high calling of womanhood. The Mordecai Project One of the most moving and miraculous historical accounts in the Bible is that of a man who lived in what is now Iran and was not silent about the coming genocide of the Jews. Mordecai was a man of God who was courageous and bold as well as discerning regarding a looming threat on the horizon, just as we must be in America with leftists in the Democrat party seeking to establish a socialist state, tearing down America as she was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Mordecai identified an evil bureaucrat named Haman and appealed to his young cousin, Esther, to thwart the spiritual forces of darkness because of her position of influence with the king. After the people of God engaged in serious prayer and fasting for their deliverance (even as we must do in America today), Esther rose to the challenge and became the champion of righteousness who courageously engaged the king. She risked her life by her actions (even as we are called to do in standing for truth in our day) and he responded to her plea that literally rescued the entire nation from destruction. In the spirit of Mordecai, Lee Grady has gone to 31 nations to confront abuse, discrimination and exploitation of women. He works with courageous Christian leaders and people who are not content to sit on the sidelines in the face of evil forces. In India, Bolivia, Uganda and beyond, he communicates a Biblical worldview and challenges listeners to liberate abandoned and abused women, establish domestic shelters and rescue the vulnerable from sex trafficking. Words to Warriors for Christ Since Lee began in campus ministry, he eventually was promoted by God to serve for over 18 years with Charisma magazine, which is one of the most widely distributed evangelical Christian publications in the world. For 11 years he served as the magazine's editor, and from his writing, travel and interaction with senior Christian leaders from various parts of the world, he brings extraordinary insight and perspective to the people of God today. Lee and I have enjoyed friendship that goes back about 40 years. I was blessed when he sat down to do four very encouraging podcasts with me for Here's the Deal on the Charisma Podcast Network. These are 15-minute golden opportunities to glean from Lee Grady on what God is saying to him and through him in these turbulent times. Here's a flyover of just a few of the inspirational thoughts he shared: 1. Four words God is emphasizing now. During our global shutdown and cataclysmic crisis, "God does not want us wringing hands but rather raising hands in confident expectation to Him!" Reading Psalm 2 and reminding ourselves that God is on His throne and there is Kingdom activity planned for this hour will encourage us greatly. It's critical that we embrace four words of direction from the Lord as the spiritual battle intensifies on our watch. Related Articles Lee Grady: This Is the Only Hope for the United States Lee Grady: What Does It Mean to Quench the Holy Spirit? —Reset. —Refocus. —Refuel. —Reconnect. As you listen to the podcasts, you'll hear Lee amplify all of these four directives that he believes are from God for us today. The last one about "reconnecting with the lost" is extremely inspirational as he tells of his recent turnaround and the conversion of an Indian man that led to the conversion of 11 more from this "divine appointment!" 2. Practical counsel in COVID crisis. Restrictions set in place for California by Gavin Newsom, California governor and former mayor of San Francisco, alert people to leftist developments in cities that have implications for all of us now and in the coming days. Dr. Che Ahn of Harvest International Ministries and John MacArthur of Grace Community Church are some of the churches suing the state over what they see as overreach and violation of constitutional rights regarding freedom of religion. Lee gives practical counsel that will be helpful for pastors and church members. He wisely encourages us to recognize the importance of navigating different realities at this time while remaining supportive of governing authorities but not allowing civil leaders to hinder our Constitutional rights and freedoms. 3. The spiritual battle raging over our nation as a constitutional republic versus a socialist/communist country. The stakes in the coming election could not be higher. We are engaged in something that will determine whether America remains as a nation founded on Judeo-Christian values or will we succumb to the seduction of leftist ideology? Anti-Christian values are being propagated by the Democrat party which has been hijacked and is no longer the party of our parents. The media, celebrities, athletes, politicians, educators and even church leaders have yielded to deceptive ideas of socialism that historically brought over 100 million deaths in the last century. Joe Biden is no "moderate" candidate but tragically an aging figurehead manipulated by party elites who want to take down America and transform it into a "utopian" society of big government and an anti-God platform. As Christ-followers who are authentic—not counterfeit—the mandate of the Master is to be salt preserving our culture from rot as barbarians are literally at the gates! Here's the Deal: When Christian leaders like Lee Grady take time out of their valuable schedules to share with us insights and lessons that are life-changing, it behooves us to seize the opportunity and read and listen to their wisdom. Let's follow Jesus who said, "I must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work" (John 9:4). [Larry Tomczak is a cultural commentator of 46 yrs, Intercessors for America board member, best-selling author and a public policy adviser with Liberty Counsel. His new, innovative video/book, BULLSEYE, develops informed influencers in 30 days (see www.bullseyechallenge.com). and he has a variety of resources on his website (see www.larrytomczak.com). You can also hear his weekly podcast here.] Walking with Joshua: The Difficulties of Faith Author: James O. Davis Dear Visionary Leader: God wants us to become members of the Hall of Fame of Faith. Membership is available to those walk by faith and not by sight. When God comes to measure our lives, He is going to say, "According unto your faith, be it unto you." We will be summed up, not according to our fame, not according to our fortune, not according to our friends, not according to our feelings, not according to our fate, but according to our faith. In Hebrews, chapter 11:30 we read, "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about seven days." Jericho lay before the children of Israel. God had promised the children of Israel a land that flowed with milk and honey; but between them and the fulfillment of God's promise and God's plan and God's provision for their life was mighty Jericho. As people of God, we still face obstacles that need to be removed. What does it mean to me personally? It means that through the Lord Jesus Christ and by faith I too can be victorious. Because in your life and in my life, the devil will see to it that there is some great obstacle that looms large and impossible between us and the plan of God and the will of God for our lives. I don't know what your Jericho is. I don't know whether it is some family problem or some financial problem. I don't know whether it is an unhappy marriage, an unholy life, or an unhealthy body. I don't know whether it's some unfulfilled dreams or unrecognized potentiality, but I do know that you face problems. And perhaps in these key problems are strategic forces of evil that stands between you and all that God would have you to be. We can overcome these obstacles by faith. Notice what we in Hebrews 11:30: "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down." No other way, just simply by faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about 7 days. When God has a gigantic task to perform, it is the man or woman who has faith that gets the contract. Faith is the link that binds our nothingness to His almightiness. It is faith that gets the job done. God's plan was to build the faith of His people one day at a time so they could see the walls of Jericho tumble down. That is what God does in our lives. He builds our faith one step at a time so we can live in continuous victory over this world and know the power of God in our heart and lives. God has called us to conquer our Jerichos; He has called us win in this life. We can see the walls of sin come down if we will simply follow the three strategic stages found in Joshua 6. WE NEED AN OBSERVATION OF THE CITY A city of antiquity. "Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in." Jericho was a city of antiquity, one of the oldest cities in the ancient world; but not only was it a city of antiquity, it was also a city of iniquity. A city of iniquity. The people of Jericho were vile, wicked, sinful, and idolatrous. They had turned their hearts and lives from the principles of Jehovah God. A city of enormity. Not only was Jericho a city of antiquity and iniquity, but it was also a city of enormity-a massive, mighty, and powerful city. God has called us to reach our cities. It will not be done through finances but through faith alone-faith in Almighty God. Our cities, like Jericho, are filled with crime, corruption, and carnality. They are filled with sin, idolatry, and vile and wicked imaginations. Satan and his demonic spirits are walking our streets. He is out to steal, kill, and destroy. If we are going to reach our cities with the Gospel and tell the men, women, boys, and girls about Jesus, we are going to need faith to pull down the strongholds of the enemy and spread the Good News to everyone that Jesus Christ is still the Savior of the world. It is not someone else's responsibility. The responsibility is ours to observe our cities. When was the last time you took a long, hard look at your city and asked, "God, what can I do to reach my city?" In 1987 little Jessica McClure fell into a well. Scenes of her were broadcast continually on television and published in newspapers. Sometime after her rescue, little Jessica visited the President of the United States. No one rose up and said we were spending too much to save this little girl. Everyone was convinced that some way somehow, we had to save this child. Some things are more tragic than a child's falling into a well. Many people are falling into hell. May God help us not only to observe our cities but also to get a burden for the lost. When was the last time we asked God to awaken us to the urgency and emergency of reaching dying men on their way to hell? Joshua 6:1 tells us that the doors were closed. The enemy had literally shut every door. Why is it so hard for us to penetrate our schools and cities for God? The enemy is doing everything he can to lock the doors so no one will hear the good news of the Gospel. However, if we have faith, it does not matter what the devil does. Faith can accomplish mighty exploits in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Again, our Jerichos represent the obstacles that are keeping us from entering God's rest and experiencing God's best. Even though it may appear that all doors are shut, our God has a plan for success. WE NEED AN ORIENTATION OF CHRIST We need to know God's plan. After observation, we need orientation. After pinpointing the problem, we need to perceive God's plan. There was divine intervention. "The Lord said unto Joshua..." Every time you read the chapter Joshua, there is one phrase that is continually repeated: "The Lord said unto Joshua..." We saw it in chapters 1, 3, and 5: "The Lord said unto Joshua..." May we come back to the place where we hear the voice of God in our hearts, to the place of divine intervention where we are able to listen and do what God is calling us to do. In Joshua 5:13 we read: "And it came to pass that when Joshua was by Jericho that he lifted up his eyes and looked. And behold there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand and Joshua went unto him and said unto him, Art thou for us or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay but as the captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and did worship and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto His servant? And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot for the place whereupon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so." While Joshua is looking at his problem, he becomes aware of a presence. There is somebody there near him. He knows not who it is. He pulls his sword instinctively and wheels around and he comes face to face with a man with a drawn sword. Joshua looks at him. He has never seen him before. Joshua asked him a question, "Are you for us or are you for them?" The man said, No. Now can you imagine how frustrating that would be? Are you for us or are you for them? No. Now what did he say? He said in effect, I'm not for you and I'm not for them. I'm the captain of the Lord's host. I haven't come to take sides. I've come to take over. You need to understand what this is all about. Who was this that Joshua met? It was the preincarnate Christ! He met the Lord Jesus Christ. Frequently, in Bible times before His incarnation the Lord Jesus visited this earth. He appeared as the angel of Jehovah, as the captain of the Lord's host. Joshua is coming face to face with the Lord Jesus. When Joshua sees this, he puts down his sword, falls in the dust, and worships his Lord. Joshua surrenders himself. He prostrates himself in the dust before this person and worships Him. This is where his faith starts to grow and build. Our faith grows and builds as we worship the Lord. In Hebrews 12:1-3, the writer of Hebrews is going to tell us to have faith is to be looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Joshua was doing that right here--he was looking unto Jesus and his faith begins to build in his heart and in his life. Now we have a lot of people who are problem-conscious. They see the problem. They see the Jericho. Well, you need to take your eyes off Jericho and put them on Jesus. You see here is the way of faith. Don't dwell on your problems. Dwell on your Lord. Be looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. Catch a vision of Him. Worship Him. Bow before Him and you'll find your faith growing. Learn to glance at your problems and to gaze at your Lord. Faith never grows in the heart of rebels. Rebellion and faith are not in the same heart, in the same life. And you will never, never have faith until you bow before Him and say what Joshua said to the captain of the Lord's Host--notice what he said. "What saith my Lord unto His servant?" Have you said that? Have you said, Lord, what do you want me to do? I'll do what You want me to do, I'll be what You want me to be, I'll say what You want me to say, I'll give what You want me to give. Faith begins with the Lord, bowing before the Lord, taking the shoes off your feet so to speak, recognizing His holiness. It is far more important to be on God's side than it is to have God on your side. God's not going to get on your side. You may say, "Well, I want the Lord on my side." Well, forget it. Joshua said, Are you for us or for them? He said No. I've come to take over. Have you realized that? God wants to take over. 2. There was direct inspiration. "The Lord said to Joshua, 'See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors." God was telling Joshua that He had given him the merchants, the king, and the mighty men of valor. It is God's plan that we take back every facet of our cities to include the political and social arenas. He wants us to march into the center of our cities with faith for mighty exploits in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. There was definite instruction. "You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days. 4Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead." If someone in a church business meeting were to stand and suggest God had revealed to him that everyone in the congregation should march around the city so many days and at the right moment they should blow the trumpets and shout loudly and that plan would work for winning the city for God, most churches would excommunicate them. But that was exactly God's plan for taking the city of Jericho. God taught us that we do not take a city by force but by faith. In the gold rush days of 1849, wagon trains heading west from Saint Joseph, Missouri, passed a sign which read, "Choose your rut carefully for you will be in it for a long time." We need to make sure that we do not get into a rut of forms and rituals, that we do not just go to church and forget about our cities and the people who need the Lord. Good churches and good preachers can get into ruts. We must keep a fresh touch of God's Spirit in our hearts, families, and churches. We need to observe our cities, and we need to have the orientation from Christ. WE NEED THE OPERATION FOR CONQUEST After pinpointing the problem and perceiving God's plan, we must then practice God's procedure. After God gives the Gilgal of revelation, He wants to give the Jericho of rejuvenation. After we have seen Jesus and laid our swords at His feet, we can then go and take a city with the Captain of the Lord of Hosts. We will see God's plan for this operation of conquest. Let us make it our plan, heartbeat, and mindset. The devotion of faith "So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, 'Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord.' 7 Then he said to the people, 'Go forward, and march around the city, and let the armed men go on before the ark of the Lord.' And it was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the Lord went forward and blew the trumpets; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. 9The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while they continued to blow the trumpets. 10 But Joshua commanded the people, saying, 'You shall not shout nor let your voice be heard nor let a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I tell you, 'Shout!' Then you shall shout!'" a. Joshua's compliance. In verses 6-7, Joshua did what God told him to do. In earlier verses, he heard from God; now he heeded God. In the earlier verses, he received from God; now he responded to God. Likewise, we need to obey what we hear and do what God has called us to do. If we want victory, if we want to reach our cities, we must obey the Word of God. b. Jews' cooperation. For the first time in forty years, the Jews worked together. They did not bicker, complain, moan, or groan. When we live in Canaan, God's people learn to work, serve, worship, and obey Him together. You can always tell whether someone is in Canaan or not by what comes from their lips. In verse 10, Joshua said to all the people, "You shall not shout nor let your voice be heard nor let a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I tell you, 'Shout!' Then you shall shout!" Why did he tell them that? He wanted to restrict their handicap. God was tired of their complaints. He said, "Quit murmuring and start marching; quit talking and start walking." God wants His people to work, serve, worship, and witness together. Stopping the unnecessary talking was one of the hardest things for these people to do. God then recognized their helplessness in bringing down the walls of Jericho so they would depend on Him. A story has been told of a group of monks in a particular monastery. The qualifications for serving were the restriction of being permitted to speak only two words every five years. After the first long period, everyone wondered what the newest monk would say. Finally, in a tempered tone they heard him say, "Food's bad." After five more years of silence, his two words were, "Work's hard." Before long, five more years had passed. Again, a crowd gathered to hear his next two words. The now not-so-young monk said in a determined voice, "I quit." Answer this question honestly: Do you complain about doing work for Jesus, saying the work is too hard or the costs are too great? I am so thankful a preacher was preaching the gospel when the Holy Spirit pricked my heart. I responded by going to the altar and giving my life to Christ. This is not the time to complain but to go in the name of Jesus and, with faith, take our cities for Christ. 2. The determination of faith. 11"So he had the ark of the Lord taken around the city, circling it once; then they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp." This is step one in our determination to take our cities for God. a. We confirm our pledge. The first time we go out, we are saying to the Lord we have heard His call and are confirming our pledge to Him. When we come to the altar, we are saying we are pledging to do what He has called us to do. They confirmed their pledge, but they also continued their plan. b. We continue our plan. 12 "Now Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew the trumpets; and the armed men went before them and the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, while they continued to blow the trumpets. 14Thus the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp; they did so for six days." It is not enough to say one time that we are going to serve God. Every morning we should get up with a renewed commitment to serve the Lord the best we know how. Every day we should be telling the people of our cities about Jesus. They confirmed their pledge, continued their plan, and completed their project. c. We complete our project. 15 "Then on the seventh day they rose early at the dawning of the day and marched around the city in the same manner seven times; only on that day they marched around the city seven times." They kept doing what God told them to do until the job was finished. Our problem is that we go six times and then quit. It does not matter how we add it-if we have been out there six days, we have not fully obeyed God's Word. God tells us to continue until our work is finished-we are not to stop. We are not to quit too early. We must keep on doing what God has called us to do until the job is finished. One week before my wedding, my mother underwent serious surgery. I told her not to think of making the long journey. Of course, you know how mothers feel about these kinds of things. She insisted she would be present. From a wheelchair the next Saturday morning, she boarded an airplane for the flight to our wedding. We tried to insist on pushing her down the aisle in that wheelchair, but she would have none of that. She walked to her place in the second row. We told her she could be seated for the receiving line. Again, she was determined to stand throughout. She was there for the pictures and the reception. Nothing could keep her from attending and participating in our wedding. We need to have that same kind of determination when taking our cities for the Lord Jesus Christ. There will be bad days. There will be obstacles. There will be tough times. But if we have faith in our hearts, we will keep on keeping on until our task is completed. The Bible tells us about the devotion of faith and the determination of faith, but notice the next step: 3. The declaration of faith. 16 "At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, 'Shout! For the Lord has given you the city.'" a. The anticipation of God's performance. When they shouted that day, the walls were still standing. It was a shout of victory. They shouted because of the anticipation of God's performance. They also shouted because of the association of God's presence. b. The association of God's presence. Every time they circled the city, the Ark went around the city with them. God walked right with His people. When we know God is there, we can count on it. Victory is ours. When God is by our side, we have every reason to shout even though the walls may still be standing. We have every reason to shout because God will give us the cities we want to win. Even though there may be thousands in the area who do not know Christ as Savior and even though there are all kinds of sin, iniquity, crime, immorality, and perversion, God is still able to give us our cities. c. The acclamation of God's power. They shouted to the people of Jericho that the city would soon be theirs. Some may have mocked them from atop the walls, but the Jews did not let the jeers of Jericho rob them of the victory. The victory was an acclamation of God's power. Their confession brought their possession! May we learn to confess that God's Word said it and that settles it. We will take our cities in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Was Joshua being presumptuous to tell the people to shout and say that God had already given them the city when the walls were still standing? I think not. He only repeated what God had already said. This principle is illustrated in Hebrews 13:5-6. Notice two phrases. At the end of verse 5 the Bible says, "For He Himself has said...," and in verse 6 we read, "so that we confidently say..." Did you see that? God said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you." What the Hebrew writer said was: God has said it; now I am willing to say it. God has already said our cities are ours. God has already said we can reach our cities in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. If God has said it, why do we not go ahead and say it? The Jews shouted victory because they knew that even though the walls still stood, God had already given them the victory. That is faith. Confession is faith turned inside out. It is when we take God literally at His Word. God had said to Joshua, "The city is yours", so Joshua stood in front of the multitude and repeated, "The city is ours. Go ahead and shout because the city is ours." I believe if God has promised it, we can say it. If God has said victory is ours, I believe we can say victory is ours. 4. The demonstration of faith. 20 "So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city." When the trumpet sounded and the people shouted, the walls collapsed and the people marched into the city and did a mighty work in the name of Jehovah God. Our faith will also be increased as we walk into the cities of our world. Every Christian ought to experience the demonstration of faith in their own personal lives. Faith will be increased, and we will say what God has said. We will see the walls of sin and evil crumble and fall. God has said we are to reach our world, so why do we not take God at His Word? We were all amazed when we saw the walls of communism fall in Eastern Europe on November 9, 1989. The communists had sealed off East Berlin with a concrete wall along the east/west boundary in 1961. The city of West Berlin had become the main escape route from bondage to freedom. During those days, the East German police had orders to kill anyone who tried to go over the wall. For nearly thirty years the Berlin Wall divided the west from the east, freedom from oppression. God specializes in tearing down walls of sin and separation. The walls around our cities are not physical but spiritual. Mighty is He who is able to pull down all the strongholds of the enemy of our souls. When we have faith, it will be demonstrated and the walls will be pulled down. We will see victory in our churches and in our lives. The Bible tells us about the demonstration of faith; we will now look at the delegation of faith. 5. The delegation of faith. After the walls of Jericho fell, there was a faithful commission given to the two men who had spied out the city before its fall. a. There was a faithful commission. 22 "Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, 'Go into the harlot's house and bring the woman and all she has out of there, as you have sworn to her.'" These men found Rahab and her family. Theirs was a faithful commission in the midst of all that happened in the battle. The Lord has commissioned us to go into our world-into our cities-to save the lost, the perishing, and the dying in the midst of pain and judgment. We are called to go into this world and reap people who need to know Christ as Savior and Lord. b. There was a fiery consumption. 24 "They burned the city with fire, and all that was in it. Only the silver and gold, and articles of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord." The entire city was destroyed. Not one stone was left on top of another. Likewise, judgment is coming, and we must reach the people of our communities before it is too late. We must tell people about Christ before they are lost for eternity. c. There was a family conversion. 25"However, Rahab the harlot and her father's household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho." Rahab the prostitute went from the house of shame to the hall of fame. She became the great-great-grandmother of King David, a member of the lineage of Christ the Lord. Just as God reached down and saved Rahab, so He can also save our families, friends, and the people of our cities. It is not through force but through faith that we will see all of our family members come to know Christ as Savior and Lord. Through faith, we will see walls torn down in the hearts of people so they can come to know Jesus as Savior. Some years ago, a prostitute lay dying in a hospital in Brazil from the diseases of her lifestyle. Though weak and near death, she looked up from her bed and prayed, "Jesus, if you can forgive my sins and heal my body, I will do my best to tell others about You." In that moment of faith and repentance, a very sinful woman was suddenly forgiven and healed. After leaving the hospital, she kept her promise by telling others what Jesus had done for her. In time, she led more than 300 people to Jesus, and they gathered regularly to hear more from this woman about God. She soon met the leaders of the Assemblies of God in her area and asked for a pastor to be sent to minister to her group of converts. That congregation grew very large and also started many other churches in an effort to reach the people of their cities for Christ. Like the Jews did in Jericho, she moved into the city and claimed lives for the Kingdom. At Jericho, a trumpet sounded followed by a shout that ushered in judgment. It may not be much longer before we hear another trumpet and a shout-not of people but of an angel from Heaven-and then the judgment. The Church hopes that Jesus will come soon; but until He does, we must be believers of faith who are about the business of trying to reach the people of our cities for God. Until The Last Person Has Heard, Dr. James. O. Davis Founder/President Global Church Network Cochair / Global Networking 2 Chronicles 16:9
9 For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. NIV +++++ 2 Chronicles 16:9 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. NKJV +++++ 2 Chronicles 16:9 9 For the eyes of the Lord search back and forth across the whole earth, looking for people whose hearts are perfect toward Him, so that He can show His great power in helping them. TLB +++++ 2 Chronicles 16:9 God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to Him (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.) At a monastery high in the mountains, the monks have a rigid vow of silence.
Only at Christmas, and only by one monk, and only with one sentence, is the vow allowed to be broken. One Christmas, Brother Thomas is allowed to speak and he says, "I like the mashed potatoes we have with the Christmas turkey!" and he sits down. Silence ensues for 365 days. The next Christmas, Brother Michael gets his turn, and he says "I think the mashed potatoes are lumpy and I hate them!" Once again, silence for 365 days. The following Christmas, Brother Paul rises and says, "I am fed up with this constant bickering!" Leroy and Evelyn Baker have conducted many camp meetings and revivals. He is a preacher's preacher, and believes in household salvation. His sermon, "Don't Give Up on Your Children," is classic and compelling. Harvest Giving Time I have always loved “Harvest Time.” I love to plant seeds and watch the miracle happen as the corn brings forth sometimes a hundred-fold. Well, it is Harvest Time now in Oklahoma and Evelyn and I traveled a few miles south from our home in Yukon to Rush Springs, the Water Mellon Capital of the world to buy a 50 pounder, the best and sweetest you ever put in your mouth. Now, all you who read Hugh’s News know my dear friend Hugh loves to plant seeds and watch them grow, and he has been doing this for all these years faithfully as he “Sow Seeds” of faith, hope, and encouragement into our hearts and minds most every day. Let me encourage each of you to join me in providing a little “Seed for the Sower” in a Harvest Time offering to help Hugh keep the News flowing to those who look forward to receiving the seeds of blessings, information, and encouragement each day. Harvest Time blessings to all. [Here's how you can contribute to Hugh's News and Commentary: You may Click Here on this hyperlink to make a contribution by a credit card or send a check in the mail. It will be helpful if you would include your email address so Hugh Morgan can immediately respond to your gift to this ministry. Please make out your checks to Hugh's News, Inc., not to Hugh Morgan. Thank you kindly.] [Leroy Baker is known as Mr. Camp Meeting Preacher. He is a former president of Southwestern College, now Southwestern Christian University. He and Evelyn reside in Yukon, OK in a new subdivision. He is the author of the popular Gospel Song, "God's Got an Army." Leroy has been my friend since 1974. He has often refreshed my spirit and stood shoulder to shoulder with me through some tough times. I love Leroy and his family. I am grateful for this tribute to Hugh's News, entitled, "Harvest Giving Time." And I want to thank each of you who will be giving in this Harvest Giving Time. I know in my heart that God gave this message for a time such as this.] Ever since Melvine died and went to heaven to be with Jesus, I have had a constant awareness of her presence in our home. I awake each morning with that predominating sense of her presence. I know Melvine is not here physically, but somehow I sense her personality here. There is an unique aroma of Melvine that fills the air. Sometimes, I smell the perfume she wore. I don't know what to call it, but here is what I have tentatively given it a name. I am calling it "an abiding presence." Everyone goes through a period of grief, and that is what I am experiencing. From time to time during the day, I will look over at the recliner chair I purchased for her to see if she is there. I know she will not be sitting there. The abiding presence never leaves and I long to see her, hold her in my arms, and speak to her lovingly. Her voice is silenced, but her presence abides in this place. How long this experience will go on, I do not know. This is an experience I am presently having, and I am grateful for almost 60 years we were married. Thus far, I have survived as little over 7 months as a widower. That is a word you don't see printed anywhere. I am certain that I love Melvine and I know she loves me. One day, I will see her again. That is my faith as a Christian about life after death. A few weeks ago, Joel S. McGraw of Huntsville, AL, had an accidental fall. He was hospitalized with several broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a damaged face and head. As my grandmother used to say, "he was all stove-up." He got pneumonia and had other complications.
Many prayers have been prayed for Joel. I have not reported it because I did not have authority from Janelle Barbee McGraw, his wife. Janelle called me on Monday afternoon to inform me that Joel was taken off oxygen and was greatly improved. In fact, the doctor was transferring Joel to the rehabilitation center across the street from the hospital. Janelle told me that her family had cut a 30-minute CD with Janelle's piano playing of church hymns, Scripture readings, and prayers. It was played continuously and it greatly lifted Joel's spirit and helped him to tap into his faith in God's Word for his healing. Will you join me in praying for my treasured friend, Joel S. McGraw. He and Janelle, left their church in Flomaton, AL, to move to Huntsville in the 60s to plant Faith Chapel, a Pentecostal Holiness Church that became one of the larger churches in the Alabama Conference, now renamed Alpha Conference. Joel and I have been close friends since junior high days when we met at Youth Camp at River Springs Camp Grounds near Evergreen, AL. Joel invited me to his home to spend the night. I met his father, John McGraw, and his mother, Nita McGraw. They were outstanding parents and church people. John McGraw was a progressive farmer and sought counsel from the Agriculture College at Auburn University. He used the modern techniques of farming. In addition, John McGraw had the gift of pastor, and was the pastor to the people of the Brownville Community. Many years later, I was assigned as the pastor of the Brownville Pentecostal Holiness Church by Leon O. Stewart, conference superintendent in 1963, the year I graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary. Melvine taught high school at the Evergreen High School. Greg was born during our pastorate in June of 1964 at the Evergreen Memorial Hospital. It was while there, God called me to go into the Air Force as a chaplain. In Case You Missed It! -- The 2020 Virtual Commencement for Emmanuel College I am almost certain that many of you, my devout readers, did not see my promotion of the Virtual Commencement Ceremony for Emmanuel College on Saturday, August 22. It happened so fast. I watched the whole graduation ceremony. Those of us who are members of the Pentecostal Holiness Church need to be aware of these historical events. I was greatly impressed with the number of graduates, those who graduated with honors, their names, photos, and in some cases what they had to say. The 2020 Graduating Class was phenomenal in every way. Emmanuel College is excited to celebrate the Class of 2020 on Saturday, August 22, 2020, with a Virtual Commencement ceremony! The stream will begin at 10:30 a.m. but will be available to view on-demand. In case you missed it, I have gone the second mile to let you know you can view this graduation ceremony on demand. I have prepared a hyperlink for you so you can see it today at your leisure. Please Click Here to view and hear the Emmanuel College Class of 2020. Prosperity and Generosity: The Biblical Roots of Capitalism
Author: Charles Mizrahi Once again, politicians are bemoaning our system of capitalism, claiming that the solution to economic woes is further expansion of a government-driven social welfare system. “Our collective strength is exercised through government. It is, in effect, our immune system,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his remarks at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. “Government matters, and leadership matters. It determines whether we thrive and grow or whether we live or die.” History has yet to record a successful instance of government programs and bailouts creating wealth for its citizens or bringing people more freedom. The proponents of this approach have identified the right problem – people desperately need help right now – but they’re selling the wrong solution. And speaking of history, while prominent voices in many of America’s faith communities are eschewing capitalism and claiming that God-fearing people should embrace the tenets of socialism, they have failed to understand that capitalism, as practiced in America, is based on Judeo-Christian values. Dating all the way back to Abraham, wealth and prosperity were signs of blessings from God. That theme continued throughout the Bible with Isaac, Jacob, and Solomon all achieving wealth that was considered a clear indicator of divine favor. As Deuteronomy 8:18 says, "Remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to get wealth, in fulfillment of the covenant that He made on oath with your fathers, as is still the case." But that wealth was not meant to be hoarded or to be used only for self-gratification and advancement. There was an expectation from God concerning wealth and divinely ordained responsibility to be generous. According to the prophet Ezekiel, one of the grievances that God had against Sodom was that the people had wealth and abundance but did not share it with those in need. God instructed the Israelites in Deuteronomy 15:11, “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded towards your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” God intended wealth, prosperity, and the ensuing generosity to be a social safety net providing for those in need. So much so that he laid out very specific guidance for the Israelites, instructing them to create an agricultural system for the poor and treat them with favor during festivals. This idea was a reflection of God Himself. In passages throughout the Bible, you see God described as generous and giving, not just to those whom He blesses, but for those who couldn’t help themselves: the resident alien, the widow, the orphan. God is generous and He expects – even commands – man to be generous with the understanding that prosperity, and in turn generosity, creates a just and ethical society. Any attempt to offload the generosity and responsibility of an individual before God to care for those less fortunate, and to instead put that responsibility with a faceless government, is a subversion of God’s original purpose. Government welfare interferes with man’s responsibility to his God and his direct interaction with his community. Is it any wonder that the atheistic leaders that dominated the communist and socialist worldviews were always quick to establish government as the source of benevolence and charity? The founders of our country understood this. George Washington, on more than one occasion, quoted the prophet Micah when speaking of peace and prosperity. He, along with the other Founding Fathers, grasped the weight of what God was communicating in the Holy Scriptures. Their desire for a free and prosperous people wasn’t sought merely for personal gain. It was an acknowledgement that prosperous individuals created communities that prospered and thrived. Indeed, the responsibility of generosity was deeply interwoven into our Founding Fathers’ vision for this nation. And that thread has continued to this day, as America has held the mantle of the most generous and giving people in the world for the last decade. And it is that heritage of generosity that has seen the people from the most capitalistic society in the world use their wealth and abundance to lift people out of poverty, build hospitals, and bring clean water to people across the globe. In this time of economic uncertainty around the world, we should not look for a global reset, attempt to undo the tenets of capitalism, or wait to see what the next round of government bailouts gives us. We should instead be taking hold of the opportunities that American capitalism, based on thousands of years of Judeo-Christian principles, provides to each and every one of us: to work hard, invest, and thrive – and follow God's commands to help our neighbors prosper. [Charles Mizrahi is a nearly 40-year veteran of Wall Street and founder of Alpha Investor.] He’s Precious Anne Graham Lotz "You come to him, the living Stone. . . . Now to you who believe, this stone is precious" (1 Peter 2:4, 7, NIV). Have you ever denied the Lord? Denied Him with your silence? Denied Him with your behavior? Denied Him by calling yourself a Christian yet not acting like one? Denied Him by the priorities and plans and people and places in your life that are Christ-less? If you have denied Jesus – and surely all of us have in some way – then you know something of the price Peter paid in shame and humiliation for his denial. Instead of repressing your shame and guilt, will you confess it to the Lord so that you can experience the same forgiveness and restoration that Peter did? When you do, you can share the testimony with Peter and the saints down through the ages who know from their own experience that He is precious! “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam 3:9, NIV). Blessings, Anne Graham Lotz Copyright © 2014 Anne Graham Lotz (AnG Top Trump Aide Kellyanne Conway to Leave White House Author: Reporter for The Associated Press Kellyanne Conway, one of President Donald Trump's most influential and longest serving advisers, announced Sunday that she would be leaving the White House at the end of the month. Conway, Trump's campaign manager during the stretch run of the 2016 race, was the first woman to successfully steer a White House bid, then become a senior counselor to the president. She informed Trump of her decision in the Oval Office. Conway cited a need to spend time with her four children in a resignation letter she posted Sunday night. Her husband, George, had become an outspoken Trump critic and her family a subject of Washington's rumor mill. "We disagree about plenty but we are united on what matters most: the kids," she wrote. "For now, and for my beloved children, it will be less drama, more mama." She is still slated to speak at the Republican National Convention this week. Her husband, an attorney who renounced Trump after the 2016 campaign, had become a member of the Lincoln Project, an outside group of Republicans devoted to defeating Trump. The politically adversarial marriage generated much speculation in the Beltway and online. George Conway also announced Sunday that he was taking a leave of absence from both Twitter and the Lincoln Project. Mark Meadows, Trump's chief of staff, said Monday that her departure leaves a "big hole" at the White House. "This is all about making priority for family," Meadows told CBS this morning. "That's what this president is about and that's what Kellyanne Conway is about." Her departure comes at an inopportune time for Trump, who faces a deficit in the polls as the Republican National Convention begins on Monday. Asked on CBS whether her departure signals a fear Trump might lose, Meadows called the question "cynical." "Anybody who knows Kellyanne Conway knows that she has never shied away from a fight," Meadows said. "To suggest that is just not based on the facts." Kellyanne Conway worked for years as a Republican pollster and operative and originally supported Sen. Ted Cruz in the 2016 Republican primary. She moved over to the Trump campaign and that August became campaign manager as Stephen Bannon became campaign chairman; Bannon was indicted two days ago for fraud. Conway cited a need to help her children's remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic as a need to step away from her position. She had remained a trusted voice within the West Wing and spearheaded several initiatives, including on combating opioid abuse. She was also known for her robust defense of the president in media appearances, at times delivering dizzying rebuttals while once extolling the virtues of "alternative facts" to support her case. Conway was also an informal adviser to the president's reelection effort but resisted moving over to the campaign. Her exit was first reported by The Washington Post. © 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Spiritual Eyes of Hope Author: Bob Shafer Romans 8:20-25 "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" (Romans 8:24). Did you know that you receive more input from your eyes than any other sense? Just think how drastically your life would change if you couldn’t see. Therefore, it is easy to understand why you are so dependent on your physical sight. However, there are things you can’t see. In the Kingdom of God, hope believes in things that have no physical evidence. Hope is a confident trust and reliance on God for results that can’t be seen in the natural. Those who cannot break free from their senses, especially their sight, will never be able to operate in God’s kind of hope. How do we overcome what our physical eyes tell us? If our circumstances are contrary to what we know God wants us to have, how do we conquer the negative input? The answer is God’s Word. Through meditating and acting on God’s Word, we gain spiritual sight and can see more clearly with our spiritual eyes. We do have spiritual senses. This is what Jesus meant when he said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matt. 11:15). We have spiritual ears and eyes that enable us to perceive things that are hidden to our natural senses. If you haven’t begun to use your spiritual senses, start today. Here’s a tip: you can’t see with your physical eyes if they are closed; likewise, you can’t see with your spiritual eyes if they are not open to the Spirit and the Word. If you don’t see your world through the Holy Spirit’s impartation of God’s Word, you are spiritually blind—and you don’t want to be blind in your spirit! Open up your spiritual eyes by opening up your heart to God’s Word, and then hope will manifest. Bob Shafer Daniel 12:3 God wants you to be a soul-winner
3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. NIV +++++ Daniel 12:3 Will your life shine for Jesus? 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. KJV +++++ Dan 12:3 Your life can glitter like the stars forever 3 "And those who are wise-the people of God-shall shine as brightly as the sun's brilliance, and those who turn many to righteousness will glitter like stars forever. TLB +++++ Dan 12:3 You can put others on the right path to life 3 "'Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.) Barber: "Haven't I shaved you before, Sir?"
Customer: "No, I got that scar in Vietnam." My son, Greg, is on facebook. He informed me that Debbie Oliver Maxwell, wife of Pastor Chris Maxwell, Campus Pastor at Emmanuel College, has been moved from ICU to her room. To God be the glory!
On behalf of Debbie's family I want to say "Thank You" for praying for Debbie. I understand that there are others in our area who have the coronavirus and need our prayers. I have no authority or permission to tell you their names. I am doing a lot of praying in these days. I am convinced that God wants to heal his people. I have a friend who is losing his eyesight. He may need Jesus to wash his eyes twice or more times. Let us claim the victory Jesus won on the Cross not only for our eternal salvation, but for our healing as well. I am under quarantine by my family doctor. I am not permitted to attend worship services. I don't like that. But I understand why. Wearing masks in a public place is important to me. I will avoid going anywhere when that policy is not in place. Your friend in all seasons, Hugh H. Morgan Editor of Hugh's News |