When Joseph came to the inn and asked if there was room at the end, the little boy playing the innkeeper replied, "You're lucky. We just had a cancellation." Just had a cancellation! "Come on in."
The first-grade class presented a Nativity play shortly before Christmas.
When Joseph came to the inn and asked if there was room at the end, the little boy playing the innkeeper replied, "You're lucky. We just had a cancellation." Just had a cancellation! "Come on in."
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On November 5, 2016, Vice President Of Student Life, Brad Davis and the Board of Regents presented The Life Time Achievement Award to the Rev. Dr. E. Leroy Baker during the annual Southwestern Singing Reunion. Both Dr Baker and his wife, Evelyn, were able to attend the Homecoming events at SCU. Dr Baker was recognized for his outstanding service not only to SCU but also to the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. Residing in Plum Grove, Texas, Dr Baker began his education at Southwestern Christian University and continued his education at USC Santa Barabara and Oral Roberts University. He has served as President of SCU and helped to turn the university around during some difficult days. Dr Baker continued in his career as the Director of Stewardship for the International Pentecostal Holiness Church and as the Conference Bishop of Grace Bible Ministries. Dr Leroy Baker continues to minister as an evangelist and minister of the Gospel throughout the United States. He is a pillar of the IPHC and a stalwart of SCU. Have all of the candles on the wreath burning. Light the center candle, or Christ candle, as the reading begins. Each week of the Advent Season we have highlighted the theme: “Christmas, It’s About the Cross.” But, it occurs to me that linking a person’s birth with his death is something that is done only in obituaries or eulogies. However, with regard to the Christ, pulling the two events together in one sentence seems appropriate, for, as you may recall from week one, I quoted from Max Lucado’s book, The Cross: “He [the Christ Child] was born crucified. Whenever He became conscious of who He was, He also became conscious of what He had to do.” His birth and his death were linked from the moment of His conception. If you were to examine the various characters and ingredients in the nativity story, you might discover that every element speaks of the distinctiveness of that Baby born in a stable and His God-ordained mission on Planet Earth. Let’s look at a few of them. Bethlehem: Why this small town? Why not Jerusalem or one of the other outlying villages? It was no coincidence that this hamlet became the place of Christ’s birth, for hundreds of years earlier, the prophet Micah (5:2) spoke these words: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Besides the prophetic evidence, the Hebrew word Bethlehem actually means “House of Bread.” During His early ministry, soon after the feeding of the 5000, Jesus declared Himself to be the Bread of Life: “he that cometh to Me shall never hunger,” He said, “and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). We might also consider His words spoken to His followers at the Last Supper: “He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19). Shepherds, working class men of the field. We are all familiar with Jesus’ words recorded in John 10:10 regarding Satan’s unrelenting quest to destroy our souls. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy,” Jesus warned, “but I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." He follows that assuring declaration immediately by identifying Himself as the Good Shepherd: “the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). And that is exactly what He did, completing God’s plan of salvation to all who would accept His Son as Savior and Lord. Flocks: Not only are we described as the sheep under His tender care, but from before the foundation of the world, the spotless Lamb of God was destined to die for the transgressions of all mankind. His cousin, John the Baptizer pointed this out on the shores of the Jordan River when he welcomed Him as “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29, 36). And, you may or may not have noticed that throughout the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, He is referred to simply as “The Lamb.” The Star: We have already discussed that Christ’s coming was the fulfillment of numerous prophet utterances. The prophet Malachi (4:2) spoke of Him as “The Sun of Righteousness” Who would “arise with healing in His wings.” The apostle Peter seemed to follow that same line of thought when he referred to the Christ as the “Day Star” from on high (2 Peter 1:19). The “day star” is the sun, the source of light to every corner of this entire planet. Magi came in search of the King of the Jews. But He proved Himself to be the Magi of magi, “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15). So, you see, Christmas is about the Christ of the Cross and the Cross of the Christ. These are inseparably linked, evidenced by the symbols of the nativity. Now, as we close this Advent season, we gaze into the future, anticipating His Second Advent when we will dwell with Him throughout eternity. Then we will not focus as much on the cross as on the crown. Even so, come Lord Jesus. [Editor's comment: I want to thank Shirley Spencer for taking the time to write these five lessons about the Sundays in Advent. I have enjoyed reading them, as well as editing them. Shirely is widely known in the IPHC. She served for many years as the executive editor of The Advocate, Issachar File, and IPHC Experience. Would you like to see Shirley publish these five articles about Advent in a booklet for many people to read and use in their respective churches? If so, write and let me know. You may write me at: hugh@hughsnews.com. I hope your understanding of the Advent season has been enlightened and blessed.] Pastor John hedgepeth has come home from the hospital to celebrate Christms with his family12/23/2016 Pastor John Hedgepeth was allowed to leave the hospital and the rehab center to go to his home for Christmas on Friday, December 23. He had finished the physical therapy and occupational therapy course in Rehab, and he was schueled to be released from the hospital on Friday, December 23. Since no one has reported any change in the plans, I assume that John Hedgepeth is home with Faye, and will be spending Christmas with his family. Please continue to pray that he will grow stronger each day. He is very thankful for all of the prayers. Although I have previously given you the mailing address for Northwood Temple, I give it one more time so if you would like to send a "Get Well" card to John, you may fulfill your desire, as well as remind Pastor John Hedgpeth that you love him and are praying for his full recovery and total healing. Please send any "Get Well" greetings to the church address, and the staff will make sure he receives them. The address is: Northwood Temple Church, 4250 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28311. I wish for John glowing health that comes from God, Who is the Healer. His Name is Jesus. Have a Merry Christmas! Thank you for standing with Christians United for Israel as we celebrate the birth of our Savior and enter a new year of blessing Israel together. May the coming year bring you great peace, prosperity, and victory in every area of your life. We look to Jerusalem as the eternal symbol of God’s promises and protection over His people as we stand united in Biblical love and fellowship with our Jewish brothers and sisters around the world. “May the LORD bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.” Psalm 128:5 May your household have a blessed Merry Christmas and a very prosperous New Year! Click Here on this hyperlink I have prepared especially for Hugh's News subscribers and readers to you can see and hear Passtor John Hagee give this special message with regard of our support of Israel.. Pastor John Hagee I also say a big thanks. This was a great post!
Someone has suggested that I do a children’s corner to give to children, and I think parents, too, some of the teaching that I have provided over the many years of my ministry, as a pastor, Air Force chaplain, college president, and director of Chaplains Ministries, IPHC. One of my concerns in recent years has been the uproar of many in the church over the band of the Ten Commandments from being displayed in governmental buildings and public schools. To my amazement, I have found almost none of the adults I have talked with who really know all of the Ten Commandments in order or to quote them verbatim from memory. It has been a joy of mine to teach countless hundreds of children as well as adults The Ten Commandments. I have discovered a unique way of memorizing almost anything I need to know by using word pictures. For example, Melvine can tell you exactly what she was wearing the first time she met me or I should say the day I met her. I can tell you she was stunningly beautiful with dark brown naturally curly hair (almost black), and large brown eyes that were charming. She was short in statue and lovely to behold. I knew the moment I saw her that she was the woman I wanted to marry. And I did. Melvine and we celebrated our 56th Wedding Anniversary on Friday, August 13, 2016. Two other well known men and their respective brides celebrated their wedding anniversaries that same day–Billy and Ruth Graham and Vinson and Carol Synan. Well, enough of that. Let me teach you the Ten Commandments. I think I can teach the average person all ten of them in seven minutes. I have taught some of our chaplains’ children the Commandments in 4 ½ minutes. I can tell you they were extra intelligent and caught on immediately. Get your mind ready to see what I can see in my mind’s eye. It will be fun and exciting for you and me. I want you to imagine a room that is 10 feet by 10 feet, a perfect square. There are no windows, only a door leading into the room. The floor has wall-to-wall bright red carpet. This has nothing to do with the Ten Commandments, but it does help you to get started in seeing what I can see. In the center of the room is an ugly, fat, brass Buddha (a false god). In the hands of the Buddha is a mirror. On top of the mirror is a weather vane, with a sharp arrow on top, with vanes pointing east and west, north and south. Coming down through the weather vane is a colored section of the comic strips. On either side of the comic strips is a father and a mother. In the right hand of the father is a bright, shining dagger about 12 inches in length. On the tip end of the dagger is a ballerina with skimpy clothing. On top of the ballerina’s head is a manhole cover with the words “US Steel” engraved underneath it. On top of the manhole cover is a witness chair in a court of law. Behind the witness chair is a covey of quail (a small flock or group of birds). These word pictures are the springboard of the Ten Commandments. It gives the child order with word pictures. Let’s see if we remember what I have told you. Listening is a key to learning as well as reading. 1. The First Commandment The ugly, fat, brass Buddha. What is that commandment? "You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3, NKJV). 2. The Second Commandment. The mirror – when you look into a mirror you see an image of yourself. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image” (Exodus 20:4, NKJV). 3. The Third Commandment. The weather vane – vane is the key word here. “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain” (Exodus 20:7, NKJV). 4. The Fourth Commandment. The colored section of the comic strip. You only get those on Sundays. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8, NKJV). 5. The Fifth Commandment. On either side of the comic strip (funny papers) is a father and a mother. Make sure that when you teach these commandments that you make it clear that the father comes first. This is the first commandment with a promise. "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12, NKJV). 6. The Sixth Commandment. The bright, shining dagger or knife is the next commandment. This is an easy one for children to grasp. "You shall not murder” Exodus 20:13, NKJV). 7. The Seventh Commandment. On the tip end of the dagger is a ballerina with skimpy clothing. This may be difficult for children to grasp. Callie Sorrow, daughter of Rick and Christy Sorrow said, “Be faithful to your spouse for life.” “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14, NKJV). 8. The Eighth Commandment. On top of the ballerina’s head is a manhole cover with the words “US Steel” engraved underneath it. This commandment is almost obvious to a child. "You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15, NKJV). 9. The Ninth Commandment. On top of the manhole cover is a witness chair in a court of law. The word witness is the clue here for the ninth commandment. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16, NKJV). Always tell the truth. Never lie or to speak evil of others. The Bible says that we are to “Buy the truth, and sell it not” (Proverbs 23:23, KJV). The Psalmist wrote, “LORD, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart . . .” “He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not” (Psalm 15:1-2, 4, KJV). 10. The Tenth Commandment. Behind the witness chair is a covey of quail (a small flock or group of birds). “You shall not covet” (Exodus 20:17, NKJV). Then, you must tell the child or children what it means to covet something or somebody. Just remember when you answer these questions on Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy, remember that Hugh Morgan gets 10% of the take. “Salvation is free, but it takes money to pay the preacher. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Loving the Lord completely and teaching God's commandments to your children
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. NIV A motivational expert opened his sales talk to the production manager of a factory. "I would like to talk to your employees and show them how my new motivational course can put a sparkle and fire into their work,"
he confidently declared. "Get out of here! Don't you know this is a dynamite factory?" roared the production manager. [Editor's note: The first law of communication is know your audience.] Dear Subscribers and readers of Hugh's News. You have helped to make the year 2016 one of the most productive years of our being able to publish Hugh's News. I recent months, Hugh's News has become a daily newsletter. I never dreamed of such a thing. Of course, we have tons of news, but the key is knowing what should be published. That is where I ask God for wisdom and discretion. I am grateful to Melvine for all the help she gives me by freeing me up to do Hugh's News. I spend several hours a day at this computer and I always need God's guidance. And of course, I need to give time to help Meline with the chores of our home. We are grateful to Greg who helps us tremendously. I want to thank all of you who responded to Greg's appeal to honor Melvne and me with Birthday cards and gifts to Hugh's News, Inc. You have given far above anything we would have ever dreamed. All of the money that you have given has been deposited in Hugh's News, Inc, bank account. We want to make sure that our bank account is sufficient to pay every bill in a timely fashion. I want to thank our webmaster who keeps this newsletter going out daily, and we want to thank Mr. Reggie Till and his associates for taking care of our IRS responsibilities and filling out the forms that are required, and for keeping us current with the Georgia Secretary of State for our being registered as a non-profit evangelical ministry. Melvine, Greg and I plan to be home for Christmas. Last evening, Wednesday, the three of us conducted the annual Christmas Carol, Communion, and Candlelight Service at our church in Athens--Christian Life Worship Service. What a blessing it was to share the Word of God concerningn the last desire of Jesus before He would be arrested in the garden, tried in a court of law, condemned to died. Jesus wanted us to remember His last and most important work, dying on the Cross of Calvary for our sins. We do remember His death when we partake of the Lord's Supper. The night that Jesus conducted the passover meal that was the last Passover to be held. Now, we remember the death of Jesus until He comes again, which is our blessed hope. Some people see the virgin birth as a nonessential point. It is not. Although the church has not always been careful to guard this precious truth, it is the foundation of everything Christmas stands for. It is an underlying assumption in everything the Bible says about Jesus.
In fact, no other detail in the Christmas story is more important than the virgin birth. The virgin birth must have happened exactly the way Scripture says. Otherwise, Christmas has no point at all. If Jesus is simply the illegitimate child of Mary’s infidelity, or even if He is the child of Joseph’s natural marital union with Mary, He is not God. If He is not God, His claims are lies. If His claims are lies, His salvation is a hoax. And if His salvation is a hoax, we are all doomed. If we deny that Jesus is God, we have denied the very essence of Christianity. Everything else the Bible teaches about Christ hinges on the truth we celebrate at Christmas—that Jesus is God in human flesh. (Adapted from “The Assault on the Virgin Birth” in the December 2016 issue of Decision magazine) Dear Rev. Morgan, Pastor John Hedgepeth has finished the physical therapy and occupational therapy course in Rehab, and he should be released from the hospital on Friday, December 23. Please continue to pray that he will grow stronger each day. He is very thankful for all of the prayers. Have a Merry Christmas! Crystal Sisk, Executive Secretary to Pastor John Hedgepeth Thank you for publishing R.C. Sproul's brilliant explanation of the use of the letter X as the symbol for Christ. He is a respected theologian who brings a balanced perspective. As the editor of Hugh's News I am pleased to get responses from my subscribers and readers. I hope that Dr. Sproul's explanation of the use of the letter X as the symbol for Christ was helpful to you as well. John 3:16-21
16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Those who believe in Him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the Name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God." NRSV The giving of gifts is not something that man invented. God started the gifing spree when He gave a gift beyond words, the unspeakable gift of His Son. Robert Flatt Acts 2:17-21
17 "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' NIV A Talking Dog
A guy spots a sign outside a house that reads “Talking Dog for Sale.” Intrigued, he walks in. “So what have you done with your life?” he asks the dog. “I’ve led a very full life,” says the dog. “I lived in the Alps rescuing avalanche victims. Then I served my country in Iraq. And now I spend my days reading to the residents of a retirement home.” The guy is flabbergasted. He asks the dog’s owner, “Why on earth would you want to get rid of an incredible dog like that?” The owner says, “Because he’s a liar! He never did any of that!” I am delighted to announce that we are having a very special Christmas Carol, Communion, and Candlelight Worship Service tonight at our church in Athens. Our pastor, the Rev. Mr. Matt Adams has asked me to conduct it. Pastor Matt Smith will assist me. Greg, our son will play the piano and lead us in singing of Christmas carols. Melvine will lead us in singing. I will be bringing a brief devotional message entitled, "The Last Desire of Jesus before His sufferings and death on the Cross." The Scripture is recorded in Luke 22:15-20: 15 And He said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God. 17 And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God shall come. 19 And He took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is My Body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you. We will be lighting the Advent candles on our Advent Wreath. If you live within driving distance of Athens, GA, we invite you to attend this special Advent worship service. Athens Christian Worship Center is located at 125 Kathwood Drive, just off US 129. Declaration of Prayer and Fasting for 2017 As General Superintendent of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, I hereby declare a time of prayer and fasting for January 1-21, 2017. Around the world, we within the tribe of believers known as the IPHC are encouraged to join together to call for an awakening and revival. Each night during these 21 days there is a Virtual Prayer Meeting in which we can join with hundreds of other believers from many denominations. The call will be from 9:00-10:30 p.m. EST. To join this call as a listener please dial (605)562-3173. No access code is required. To assist in our prayer effort a prayer guide which includes excerpts from the book Jesus Now! God is Up to Something Big by Tom Phillips is available for download. Phillips writes about revival in this manner, “We can’t predict it. We can’t plan it. We can’t shape it. We can only trust that when our nation reaches a point of spiritual, moral and social no-return—as it appeared to do at least three distinct times in history—an extraordinary movement of God’s Spirit may move in extraordinary ways in response to prayer for God’s broken, contrite children. Every time God has moved in our country, He has done so through the simple confession, brokenness, and obedience of individuals.” Prayer and fasting. These words were often spoken and recorded for us from Jesus. To further emphasize our prayer time, I encourage you to fast during the time of January 9-15. Each person is encouraged to fast in a manner that is pertinent and helpful to you. The IPHC core value focus for 2017 is “We Prayerfully Value Christ’s Kingdom.” We pray that we will allow Christ’s Kingdom to grow within each of us and then to use us to expand his Kingdom in our communities. General Superintendent Dr. Doug Beacham Dutch Sheets Shares Prophetic Vision of John Knox and God's Mercy as told by Jennifer LeClaire12/20/2016 A trusted prophet friend of his had a vision of John Knox, a Scottish clergyman and leader of the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s, standing behind him. (michael kooiman/Flickr/CC)
Jennifer LeClaire is now sharing her reflections and revelations through Walking in the Spirit. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com. During Chuck Pierce's Head of the Year conference in October, something shifted. Chuck released a prophesy over Dutch about visiting strategic sites in America before the election, and he set out on a tour to pray in 12 cities. But Dutch just shared something else significant that I did not know. A trusted prophet friend of his had a vision of John Knox, a Scottish clergyman and leader of the Protestant Reformation in the 1500s, standing behind him. "In his day, evangelicals in Scotland were routinely burned at the stake and their Bibles incinerated. Knox himself was imprisoned and enslaved for his involvement in the Reformation. Undeterred, he continued his stand, praying every day, 'Lord, give me Scotland or I die!,' Dutch says. "Knox's prayers were answered. This great reformer was used by God to transform the church and revive the country. Queen Mary of Scotland, fiercely opposed to the Reformation, once said of him, 'I fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies in Europe.'" In this vision, while Knox standing behind Dutch, he was holding up the number 313. As it turns out, 313 in the Strong's concordance is the Greek word for "new birth" or "new beginning." On top of that, the 313th day of the year was Nov. 8—election day. "Our interpretation was: In answer to the prayers of the church, a great awakening and reformation (a "new birth") will begin for America on November 8. Amazing," Dutch says. "I certainly don't see President-elect Trump as fathering this movement, but I do see him as an agent of change who, in some ways, will prepare the way ... a forerunner of sorts. I also believe the mercies of God spared us from Mrs. Clinton and her incredibly liberal ideologies—a leadership which would have moved us farther away from the turnaround we so desperately need. I shudder when I think about the 30- to 40-year tenure of the liberal Supreme Court she had planned to appoint. America may never have recovered from such devastation." When describing the elections, Dutch uses the word "mercy" very intentionally. "For others and me, three profound occurrences caused this word to become our primary appeal to heaven during that season. Firstly, in February while praying at the White House, two friends and I had an angelic visitation. In response to our prayers and decrees, the angel simply said, 'Mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy.' Yes, six times," Dutch says. "Secondly, a few weeks later, an intercessor shared a dream she had received from the Lord regarding me. "In the dream," she related, "You kept declaring, 'I have tapped into a root of mercy.'" Then, two weeks before the 2016 presidential election, Dutch shares, a trusted pastor and friend had a vision while watching his Appeal to Heaven conference online. As Dutch and others prayed, crying out for mercy, he began to see coins raining down all around Dutch. "Eventually, I was ankle-deep in silver coins. When he looked at them closely, they all had the word 'Mercy' over their various pictures. One coin in particular had George Washington on the front, with the word 'Mercy' over him; the other side had the American flag pictured with the words 'New Glory' over it. As you know, a nickname for our flag is 'Old Glory.' There is 'new glory' coming to 'old glory.' Then my friend heard the words, 'Mercy is our new currency,'" Dutch says. "Mercy is undeserved kindness. In Scripture, it is linked to covenant--God's covenantal faithfulness and kindness. We are told that His mercies are new each morning (Lam. 3:22-23), and they also triumph over judgment (James 2:13)." As Dutch sees it, the question now becomes, "Will we waste this precious gift, or 'spend' it wisely? He says the tendency of the church is to pray—sometimes fervently—during an election, then return to our prayerless ways afterward. A Christian senator once called Dutch out on this, saying, "The church prays us into office; then we're on our own!" He actually went on to say, "I can tell when the church is praying and when it isn't." "If we, the body of Christ, don't continue to pray fervently for awakening, reformation and the empowering of those we voted into office, the mercy we received will be squandered. Heb. 4:16 tells us where we find mercy: 'Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.' The word 'time' in this verse is the Greek word kairos, which means 'strategic or opportune time,' not 'chronological time,'" Dutch says. "We must, at this strategic and opportune time in history, continue to cry out for mercy. We must also pray for our leaders, especially Mr. Trump, who is at best a baby Christian. We must ask for wisdom, revelation, humility and boldness. Only an appropriate blend of these spiritual gifts and virtues will bring him success," Dutch continues. "Let us become a John Knox-type company of reforming intercessors: 'Give us America or we die!" Let's steward America's new birth as we would that of a newborn baby. And may we spend our new currency wisely, until new glory from heaven permeates our land. Continue praying for America, friends, and those God has set into office. May His mercy and new glory come to us." Charisma House has raced to publish a teaching book based on this prophetic word so you can apply biblical principles in cooperation with the angels of abundant harvest. Visit angelsprophecy.com to learn more and read what James Goll and others have to say about this teaching. Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, co-founder of awakeningtv.com, on the leadership team of the New Breed Revival Network and author of several books, including The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening; Mornings With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of God; The Making of a Prophet and Satan's Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter. Jennifer's Periscope handle is @propheticbooks. The X in Christmas is used like the R in R.C. My given name at birth was Robert Charles, although before I was even taken home from the hospital my parents called me by my initials, R.C., and nobody seems to be too scandalized by that.
X can mean so many things. For example, when we want to denote an unknown quantity, we use the symbol X. It can refer to an obscene level of films, something that is X-rated. People seem to express chagrin about seeing Christ’s name dropped and replaced by this symbol for an unknown quantity X. Every year you see the signs and the bumper stickers saying, “Put Christ back into Christmas” as a response to this substitution of the letter X for the name of Christ. There’s no X in Christmas First of all, you have to understand that it is not the letter X that is put into Christmas. We see the English letter X there, but actually what it involves is the first letter of the Greek name for Christ. Christos is the New Testament Greek for Christ. The first letter of the Greek word Christos is transliterated into our alphabet as an X. That X has come through church history to be a shorthand symbol for the name of Christ. We don’t see people protesting the use of the Greek letter theta, which is an O with a line across the middle. We use that as a shorthand abbreviation for God because it is the first letter of the word Theos, the Greek word for God. X has a long and sacred history The idea of X as an abbreviation for the name of Christ came into use in our culture with no intent to show any disrespect for Jesus. The church has used the symbol of the fish historically because it is an acronym. Fish in Greek (ichthus) involved the use of the first letters for the Greek phrase “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” So the early Christians would take the first letter of those words and put those letters together to spell the Greek word for fish. That’s how the symbol of the fish became the universal symbol of Christendom. There’s a long and sacred history of the use of X to symbolize the name of Christ, and from its origin, it has meant no disrespect. |