Stephen Strang Opines on What the Recent Supreme Court Decision Means for Christians

Author: Stephen Strang 

The Strang Report

Charisma News archives

I can still remember the day when I heard the news. It was January of 1973, and I was visiting a friend in the hospital when somebody told us that the Supreme Court had nationally legalized abortion in their decision on Roe v. Wade.

In the majority decision, the Supreme Court made up a constitutional right to abortion out of thin air, only citing a constitutional right to privacy, which was also made up out of thin air. Instead of interpreting the law already found in the Constitution, they replaced the law with their own opinion.

I’ve been pro-life all my life. And I praise the Lord that Roe v. Wade was overturned on Friday, June 24. From the start, Roe was bad law based on bad reasoning.

Unfortunately, contrary to what most leftist media voices are saying, abortion is not outlawed. It simply goes back to being decided by the states, which is where the Constitution says that most laws should be decided. In other words, abortion has not ended, and the fight is not over, but instead of it being a national culture war, the issue is now broken up into 50 separate legislative battles.

Some states, including Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and South Dakota, have banned abortion outright. But other states like Washington, Oregon and California are working to expand access to abortion. For example, a legislator in California has already proposed a state constitutional amendment that would let mothers in California abort their children right up to the point of birth.

Because of wildly different laws in different states, major corporations are now advocating for abortion by offering benefits of up to $4,000 for their female employees to travel to other states to receive abortions. The long list of companies includes Kroger, Target, Amazon, Starbucks, Bank of America, H&M, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Nike, Disney, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Levi Strauss, Lyft, Uber, Microsoft, Apple, Netflix and Tesla.

I do business with some of these companies, and I’m going to quit doing business with them. I admit, I can’t really hurt them that much and I’m not suggesting a boycott. But why should I do business with companies that seem to say, “Oh, you want to kill your baby? We’ll give you the time off work, and we’ll pay for you to travel to another state to go kill your baby.”

As I said on my recent Strang Report podcast, secularism is like a religion for many leftists and abortion is one of their sacraments. They’re sacrificing human lives on the altar of convenience and career.

We can rejoice that Roe v. Wade was overturned as the result of a lot of hard work and a lot of prayer. But ultimately, we need to pray that there’s a shift in the hearts of people. If abortion was banned entirely, there would still be illegal abortions because there are mothers who want to end an inconvenient pregnancy.

Women are not required to have abortions. They may be pressured by family, friends and a lot of times the father, but they’re not required. No court says, “You are sentenced to have an abortion.” It’s a choice the mother makes, so we have to pray that God changes the hearts of mothers in this nation.

I think there are very few women who get up in the morning and say, “I want to kill a baby.” Like many in our nation, they’ve been blinded by a culture that lies to them. Popular culture has called pregnancy inconvenient. It’s called babies “fetuses.”

In 1973, the Supreme Court disregarded truth. In their quest to settle a national debate, they set aside reality to accomplish their own goals. In many ways, that sums up what we all do apart from Christ. We set aside reality to accomplish our own goals.

Thankfully, on Friday, June 24, the Supreme Court recognized reality and overturned a ruling that had no basis in the Constitution. In the process, they didn’t ban abortion nationally. They didn’t change the hearts of women everywhere. All they did was tell the truth, and that’s especially heroic when a leftist mob of citizens, judges, politicians and corporations is screaming a lie.

Please listen to this important episode of the Strang Report for more of my analysis on the recent Supreme Court ruling. Also, share it with your friends on social media. This is a critical issue. We need to keep praying and asking God to end abortion in all states.

Keys to Winning Your Race in Life​

Author: Joyce Meyer

Everyone has a race to run. That just means we all have a life to live. The apostle Paul says in Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (NIV).

Part of what that means is to keep going, even in the midst of the difficulties in life. Hard times happen to us all, but it’s how we handle them that matters most. And one day, when I’m standing before God, I want to be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).  

Keep Moving. Much of life is just ordinary, everyday living; yet a lot of what happens comes in the form of difficult situations, from little annoyances to serious burdens. 

I once kept a record of the difficulties that happened to me over a period of time. They were things like a back injury, leaving some luggage on a plane, and a water leak in my humidifier. I hurt my arm doing stretches for my injured back, twisted my wrist, spilled a red drink on a white couch…and lost my pants at a spa! Some were small irritations; others were more serious.

But what I learned from this experience was simple: “Stuff” happens in life, but we don’t have to let what happens to keep us from fulfilling our purpose of serving God with our whole heart. It’s a waste of time getting upset over petty things. And at the very least, if you don’t know what to do in a situation, just do what you do know to do and keep moving forward.
One way to keep going when difficult times come is to get your mind off yourself and your concerns and help someone else. The truth is we are happier and more content when we’re helping others than when we’re focusing on ourselves.
Refuse to get stuck in an attitude of self-pity, selfishness or self-centeredness. We all have problems, but our problems don’t have to have us! Our victory will come as we remain determined to just keep moving, doing what God puts in our heart to do.

Rest. One major part of running your race is learning to rest. Now, that may sound like an oxymoron, but here’s what I mean. Resting isn’t about doing nothing; it’s about being in a place of peace and complete trust in God. From a position of rest, we can do whatever we need to do because our faith is not in ourselves but in the One Who gives us the strength and ability to do it.

God did the work of creation in six days, and on the seventh day, He rested from His work. Jesus died for our sins and then sat down at the right hand of God…a place of rest from His work.

In the Old Testament, maintaining a covenant relationship with God was all about work. The high priest went into the Holy Place to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people. There was no place to sit in the Holy Place because he was there to work. But when Jesus came, His sacrifice paid it all and He sat down because His work was finished.

Learning to rest may be one of the most important things we ever do. A lot of times, people get stressed-out about their circumstances, but really it’s not the circumstances that cause their stress; it’s the way they handle them. 

Resting in God is like a vacation for your soul. In rest, you are not concerned with what others think of you or how everything is going to work out as you fulfill God’s will for your life because your faith is in Christ. You can be steadfast in the midst of trials because you know that God is in control and He will see you through anything you face. When you work from a place of rest, you do what you need to do in peace, having complete faith in God’s grace to accomplish the task before you.

Run. Everyone has a race to run, a goal to accomplish, a life to live, and we all have to start somewhere. My encouragement to you is to start from a place of rest. Learn how to trust the Holy Spirit’s leading. He will guide you and help you when it’s time to sit…to stand…to walk…and to run your race to win!
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For more on this topic, order Joyce’s teaching resource Sit, Stand, Walk, Run. You can also contact us to receive our free magazine, Enjoying Everyday Life, by calling (800) 727-9673 or visiting www.joycemeyer.org. 

Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. She has authored more than 135 books, including BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND and THE POWER OF THANK YOU (FaithWords). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more information, visit www.joycemeyer.org.

Please note: The views and opinions expressed throughout this publication and/or website are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Joyce Meyer Ministries.

Copyright © 2022 Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved www.joycemeyer.org.

​Paul Harvey’s “If I Were the Devil” Transcript from 1965

Author: Paul Harvey

Copied from ‘Fresh Manna Today’

In 1965, Paul Harvey broadcasted “If I Were the Devil.” It is really amazing to realize over 47 years ago how accurately he “prophesied” the future spiritual condition of the United States. Many of his statements were considered ridiculously outlandish at that time in history. Yet, we find ourselves today…

PAUL HARVEY’S ‘IF I WERE THE DEVIL’ TRANSCRIPT

If I were the devil … If I were the Prince of Darkness, I’d want to engulf the whole world in darkness. And I’d have a third of its real estate, and four-fifths of its population, but I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree — Thee.  So I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first — I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: ‘Do as you please.’

“To the young, I would whisper that ‘The Bible is a myth.’ I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what’s bad is good, and what’s good is ‘square.’ And the old, I would teach to pray, after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’

“And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. I’d pedal narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.

“If I were the devil I’d soon have families that war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames. If I were the devil I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions — just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.

“Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, I’d have judges promoting pornography — soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money. If I were the devil I’d make the symbols of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

“If I were the devil I’d take from those who have, and give to those who want until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.

And what do you bet I could get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich? I would caution against extremes and hard work in Patriotism, in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on the TV is the way to be. And thus, I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure. In other words, if I were the devil I’d just keep right on doing what he’s doing.

Paul Harvey, good day.”

[Editor's Comment: This article was submitted by Mary Vaughan who is the Pastor of Remington Park Tabernacle Windsor, Ontario Canada, She resides in Taylor, Michigan. She is a faithful and loyal subscriber to Hugh's News. She is a resourceful Christian lady.]

​Remembering Phyllis Synan

Author: Chris Maxwell

My friend Charles called to tell me Mrs. Synan wasn’t feeling well and had been moved to a different health care center. He knew what I needed to know and when I needed to know it. I needed to go see Phyllis. 

As I drove to visit Mrs. Synan, my mind hit rewind through the many years I had known her. When she taught me in high school. When she smiled and spoke words of encouragement to me. When she helped edit one of my books. When she welcomed us as we moved back to Georgia. When we prayed for each other, attended services together, ate meals together. When we talked about my writing, talked about our children and grandchildren, talked about our joys and disappointments, talked about the past. When she came over to visit her neighbors—our son Graham and his family—and joined us for dinner. 

I quickly thought about our experiences. Then I arrived, parked the car, called for permission to enter, and walked to her room. 

Phyllis Synan could state many words and tell fascinating stories, but her initial comment to me that evening didn’t include words. Her eyes stared at me as her smile indicated a joyful, peaceful welcome. Her hands reached toward me, requesting a hug. 

Who needed words? 

They would come soon, those words. But that initial welcome included the gentle touch of hands and her head nodding. 

And then she spoke. Mrs. Synan started the conversation with a question. “Did you bring a copy of your new book?” she asked. 

“No mam,” I said. “I just wanted to see how you are doing.” 

“Do you have a book with you?” she asked. 

“Yes mam,” I said. “I have copies in my car.” 

“Please go get me a copy,” Phyllis said. “We can talk when you get back and I’ll tell you how I’m doing.” 

I did what Mrs. Synan told me to do. 

When I returned to her room she smiled again. I said, “I have always loved your smile.” 

She began to tell stories. Her husband. My parents. My wife’s parents. Her family. Our beliefs. Her health. Our questions. 

Phyllis then gave me more instructions. She asked me to read to her from Equilibrium. Though she said please, I felt like my former teacher was giving an assignment. 

She squeezed my right hand and closed her eyes. I held the book with my left hand and read aloud, sitting beside Mrs. Synan in a room that indicated her health wasn’t great, but her spirit was still so kind, so loving, so interested. 

It was an honor to read aloud to Phyllis Synan as I sat on the side of her bed holding her hand with one of mine while holding a book in my other. 

If I had another hand, I would have reached for a tissue to wipe away tears that were dripping from my eyes.

But I didn’t. 

I just read through the moisture. 

Phyllis smiled hearing one sentence I read to her. She squeezed my hand again as she heard another. 

I finished reading and asked her if I could pray. She gave permission, while informing me of others who also needed prayer. Then she said, “When I’m home I always pray for your son and his wife and those two sweet little girls. I’m so glad I live beside them.” 

I prayed, not knowing she would not be able to move back beside them. 

I prayed, not knowing I would be at her funeral service one month after that visit. 

I prayed, knowing Phyllis Synan had greatly influenced my life in a positive way. 

I prayed, trying to remember all those people she told me to pray for. 

And the visit ended. 

As Phyllis smiled, hugged me again, thanked me again, that visit ended. 

I said, “I’ll see you again.” 

She squeezed my hand, nodded, and said, “I love you.” 

I’ve replayed that visit since Phyllis passed away. I’m thankful Charles let me know where they had moved her. I’m grateful we talked and prayed. I’m glad I had an extra book for her. 

I wrote this after staring at the door of her house. I miss her staring back, opening the door, and telling me a story. The silence reminded me how much I miss Mrs. Synan. 

Many of us continue talking about Phyllis. She is loved, appreciated, respected, and missed. I often wonder: “How much did her words of encouragement inspire me as a young teenager? Would I have dreamed about writing and making a positive difference in the world if she had not been a voice in my world?” 

I don’t know. 

But I know that I’m thankful she was a voice in my life. 

And I hope to continue hearing her words, applying her advice, and loving others just like Phyllis Synan loved them. 

​Second Interview with Leonard Sweet - Next Step Leaders

Second Interview with Leonard Sweet 

Tracy Reynolds and Chris Maxwellf listen again to the insight of author and thinker Dr. Leonard Sweet. Through Dr. Sweet’s creative, wise, challenging perspective, he continues daring and luring leaders toward what really matters. What does that mean? He points leaders to the cross. He reminds listeners to stay in love with Jesus. Len hopes each student he teaches falls more deeply in love with Jesus as he educates them.

​Can more of today’s leaders live with that goal? Sweet declares that his faith is becoming more simple while his theology is becoming more complex. He seeks to become more childlike in his faith while becoming more wise in his theology. He hopes we balance time in society and time in solitude. He dares us to include humor in our stories just as Jesus did. As we lead, can we make it all about Jesus and lead like Jesus? Dr. Sweet invites us to.

Please Click Here on this hyperlink to listen to today's podcast with Leonard Sweet.

John 14:6 There is only way to be saved . . . through the cross of Jesus. He died, was buried and rose again from the dead
 Jesus answered, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 
NIV
+++++
John 14:6
 Jesus told him, "I am the Way-yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of Me. 
TLB
+++++
John 14:6
 Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from Me. 
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

​When a customer left his cell phone in my store, I scrolled through his saved numbers, stopped at "Mom" and pushed send. His mother answered, and I told her what happened.

"Don't worry," she said, "I'll take care of it."

A few minutes later, the cell phone rang. It was "Mom."

"Martin," she said, "you left your cell phone at the convenience store."

Articles of Interest in Today's Hugh's News
1.Lighten Up with Laughter
2.Freedom Celebration at Christian Life Worship Center
3.It is a Joy to Serve You Who are Subscribers and Readers of Hugh's News
4.A New Spirit, A New Church
5.Supreme Court Finally Clarifies Church and State Confusion, Making Religious Liberties the Top Priority
6.The Dream Train
7.David Encouraged Himself in the Lord--You Can Do the Same
8.Do You Believe This?
9.Emmanuel College President's Prayer Group
10.Will You Receive the Benediction?

Freedom Celebration At Christian Life Worship Center
 
Join with other families, single adults, and guests for a Fourth of July extravaganza from 7 to 9:30 p.m. You will enjoy the Christian environment with people who love the Lord and like to have good fun.

There will be fun 4 Kidz. Homemade Ice-cream will be served as we will watch the fireworks  on the church property produced by Pastor Matthew Smith, a Pyrotechnist or known as a "fire-worker."

Christian Life Worship Center is located at 125 Kathwood Drive, Athens, Georgia 30607.

Pastor Terry Kesling and his wife, Pam, extend to you a cordial welcome and look forward to meeting you and enjoying the evening. Our pastor is a talented singer and I know he will lead us in patriotic songs as we celebrate Independence Day 2022.

It is a Joy to Serve You Who are Subscribers and Readers of Hugh's News

Author: Hugh H. Morgan, Founder, CEO, Editor

For 25 years it has been my pleasure to serve you as editor of Hugh's News. It all began when I discovered that important news of the IPHC and the body of Christ was not being reported in a systematic and timely manner. So, Hugh's News was birthed out of a need for communications.

The process has had its ups and downs. At one point, I thought Hugh's News was gone when AOL summarily terminated my newsletter and I lost about 2,000 subscribers, all of which I had personally posted their names and email addresses one at a time. 

I thought it was the worst day of my life. However, it turned out to be one of the best days of my life. I had to start all over again. God helped me with key people who came to assist me. I think of J. Brian Williams, Bill Cox, Seth Cain, and Mel Tinney. The lesson I have learned is "never give up." God wants us to press forward and win the battle that He wins for us.

In the process of time we negotiated a contract with MailChimp to do our subscriptions and mass mailing each day. Mel Tinney has stayed with me and we have worked together for some 15 years as our webmaster. Mel sizes every photo and does other work behind the scenes to free me to compose the newsletter. Melvine, my departed wife, gave me space and time to complete each newsletter with love and grace. Her knowledge of English grammar and syntax was invaluable. Lonnie Rex wrote me daily and read every newsletter. His wise counsel and advice were just what I needed to encourage me. God has helped me to include a new section in recent weeks called Articles in Today's Hugh's News to give you a snapshot of the articles you will given to read for that day.     

I want to thank all of you who have subscribed and contributed financially to Hugh's News. Your giving enables us to publish Hugh's News daily with the exception of Mondays.  I take Sundays off and that is the reason we do not have a publication on Monday. Each newsletter is prepared a day in advance.

Our mission statement is: 

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

Your financial support enables us to continue the ministry of spreading the Gospel, teaching Scriptural holiness and the deeper truths of the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit, as well as the life led and energized by the Holy Spirit. Our goal is to keep you abreast of the latest fast-breaking news, take your prayer requests, and publish testimonies of God's healing power in today's world.  ​

Hugh’s News, Inc. is incorporated with the Georgia Secretary of State as a non-profit corporation. Your support for this ministry is greatly appreciated. Please consult with your tax adviser about deductibility of any contributions you make to Hugh’s News, Inc. ​

​​You may also send your contribution by mail to: Hugh's News, Inc. 17 Sweet Apple Lane Winder, GA 30680  Please make checks payable to Hugh's News, Inc., not Hugh Morgan. Thank you! 

When sending as check, please include your email address so I can promptly respond to your contribution.

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A New Spirit, A New Church

Author: Frank Tunstall

Jesus paid with His blood at Calvary the price that gave birth to the church. 

It was (and continues to be) the role of the  Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, to organize and launch the Church with the new form of heartfelt worship God desires (John 4:21-24).

The new Spirit in the land, the Holy Spirit, was largely unknown to the first century sons of Abraham. They certainly did not perceive the Spirit had been a member of the Triune Godhead from eternity past. Very few Israelites had any awareness of the Spirit’s role. To them, the Holy Spirit was a new power in the earth.

To fill that vacuum Jesus asked His Father to send the Holy Spirit to take Jesus’ place (John 14:16) and the Spirit did just that (Acts 2). 

The Holy Spirit made a quantum new beginning on that great first century Day of Pentecost when the Heavenly Father launched the ministry of the Spirit.
 
The Holy Spirit is ultimate divine genius (omniscient is the theological term]. The Spirit knows everything about Jesus and holds the Lord’s same love and passion for people. The Spirit’s power is equal to Jesus’ power, but always without competition or conflict. 

The Spirit is everywhere at the same time (omnipresent is the theological term).

The Holy Spirit is immutable, meaning He never changes.  

The Holy Spirit knows every person by name and address, and never confuses a name or address. 

The Holy Spirit knows the moral condition of every person’s heart.

The Spirit gives undivided attention and exact counsel to each person who seeks His direction.  To use a word picture, no computer will ever match the Holy Spirit. The Spirit can give perfect counsel simultaneously to millions of God’s children giving them power, encouragement, and direction. Some 6500 languages and dialects are in the world. The Spirit speaks perfectly each of the 6500 languages spoken by the followers of Jesus Christ. The Spirit can talk individually and at the same time simultaneously with multiple millions of Jesus’ followers, with each person knowing he is enjoying the Holy Spirit’s undivided attention. Not a single person comes away saying “the Spirit confused my language or my request with another person who has my same name. Neither does the Spirit ever place a caller on hold. 

How big is God; how big and wide His vast domain?
To try and tell, these lips can only start.
He’s big enough to rule His mighty universe,
But small enough to live within my heart.
By: Stuart Hamblen

The Holy Spirit ministers to the unique prayer of each of Jesus’ followers. At the same time, He cares simultaneously for all of the other believers around the world who need His help, even though each of them brings a different request in a different language.  

Yes, Jesus’ blood paid the price for our redemption and the Holy Spirit joins with the Heavenly Father as the perfect Counselor, Comforter, Teacher, Evangelist and Healer, and the list goes on, and on.

The third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, ushered in the new heartfelt worship God desires. In the New Covenant, believers worship Jesus and Him alone. It begins with the story of the woman at the well: 
"Believe me, woman…, a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in Spirit and in Truth" (John 4:21-24). 

Jesus made a prophetic announcement at Caesarea Philippi that He would build His Church and even the gates of hell would not be able to prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). The era of worship based on the bloody sacrificing of lambs was over.  

Jesus Himself is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world (John 1:29, 36). His blood that dripped to the rocks at Calvary is sufficient to save anyone who comes to Him in genuine repentance.

Worship in the Church, therefore, is based on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers. It is the word picture of the vine and the branches. Jesus is the vine, and His followers are the branches. The branches can bear no fruit unless they are in the vine. Said another way, “God is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23-24).

The First Church of Jerusalem, born that Pentecost morning and launched by the Holy Spirit, started with 3,000 new converts. Each of them needed a place that would welcome this new Spirit; a setting where they could enjoy fellowship with people of like faith and be able to mature in Christ. 

The Lord’s plan was for the apostolic church to be built in house churches, and the model lasted for the first 300 years before the construction of church buildings began. 

Jesus’ vision is international. He does not want anyone anywhere to perish, but for all to come to repentance (Mark 16:15; Acts 5:42; 2 Peter 3:9).

The church has had many great teachers throughout its history, but none have equaled Jesus, the Master Teacher, and the Holy Spirit, Who knows everything about Jesus (John 13:3; 14:26). Let it be underscored that for the Spirit to be able to teach all that Jesus is, including all Jesus said and did, required that the Holy Spirit be Jesus’ equal. Only then could He know and teach everything about Jesus. No Bible scholar who has ever served in the Lord’s church can make the Holy Spirit’s claim – to know everything about Jesus, including all Jesus said and did. In the ages to come, we will still be sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning from Him.
 
The new standard was rising, and the might of Rome allied with all the other forces of hell combined could not stop it (Isaiah 59:19).
​
Holy Spirit you are welcome in this place.
Holy Spirit you are welcome in this place.
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace,
Thou art welcome in this place.
By: ​Dottie Rambo 

Supreme Court Finally Clarifies Church and State Confusion, Making Religious Liberties the Top Priority

Author: Caitlin Burke, CBN News

​Coach Kennedy

To read the story you may Click Here on this hyperlink.

In 2015, the Bremerton School District in Washington state fired Coach Joseph Kennedy for praying on the 50-yard line after football games. They were concerned that allowing those post-game prayers would come across as a state endorsement of his religion.

Kennedy's lawyers pointed to both the free exercise and free speech clauses of the Constitution to protect the coach's right to pray. 

The high court agreed. Justice Neil Gorsuch, writing for the majority side, said, "Respect for religious expressions is indispensable to life in a free and diverse republic—whether those expressions take place in a sanctuary or on a field, and whether they manifest through spoken word or a bowed head."

In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, accused the Court of "eroding religious liberty," for all, by elevating the religious rights of a school official over those of his students.

Much Broader Implications for Church and State

Monday's ruling also had major implications on the so-called "Lemon test."

For decades in religious liberty cases, the Supreme Court referred to a ruling from 1971, Lemon v. Kurtzman, as a framework for dealing with the so-called separation of Church and state under the First Amendment. Now, experts say that complicated legal standard has essentially been eliminated. It means courts will no longer necessarily favor secular interests over religious ones.

"I think it's very clear that the 'Lemon Test' is now no longer good law, that instead, we're going to look at the unique facts in history, the circumstances that have welcomed religion in the public square throughout our country's history," Dys said.

Coach Kennedy told CBN News his faith has sustained him through a long legal battle, now he's ready to get back on the field. 

"My faith has grown so much, not just in God and the closeness of that, but the faith through my family, we've become a lot tighter as a family of Christians, and also everybody in the nation. It's just great to see how God works in these ways," Kennedy said.

[Permission is granted to Hugh's News from Charisma Media to publish this article with acknowledgment.]

David Encouraged Himself in the Lord—You Can Do the Same

Author: J. Lee Grady 

Published in: Fire in My Bones

Jesus’ Name is listed in the Bible 1,281 times, more than any other individual. The next most mentioned person in the Bible is David, at 971 times, and we can learn so much by studying his life. David went through many struggles, failures and battles, yet he stayed faithful to God. He knew how to keep spiritually strong, even when his trials and tests were overwhelming.

David’s worst day is described in 1 Samuel 30, when the Amalekites raided his camp at Ziklag. These terrorists kidnapped all the women and children, torched the city and looted everything. To make matters worse, David’s own warriors blamed him for the disaster. They were so angry they talked about stoning him.

This type of pressure can trigger a nervous breakdown, an angry outburst or an abrupt resignation, but David didn’t quit—even when his loyal friends turned against him. First Samuel 30:6 says: “But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God” (MEV).
​
How did he do that? The Bible doesn’t give specifics. All we know is that after he found supernatural strength, the battle turned and David and his army chased down the marauders, slaughtered them and recovered everything that had been stolen. A really bad day turned into an astounding victory.

I know people who’ve been traumatized by the events of the past two years. Some of them quit ministry jobs; others have withdrawn from friends; many have plunged into protracted depression. Stress has the power to derail us. I can’t say I’ve faced anything as traumatic as an Amalekite raid, but I’ve learned a few secrets about how to find encouragement during hard times. Here are a few pointers:

1. Take a praise break. When Paul and Silas found themselves in chains in a Philippian jail, they sang hymns and praised God until an earthquake rocked the building and their shackles fell off. Praise has power. David knew this, and his ancient songs provide the playlist for our breakthroughs today. He wrote in Psalm 27:6: “And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy.” You must learn to sing when you don’t feel like it, because praise resets our souls and unlocks heaven’s answers.

2. Withdraw from the stress. When I was a young man, Bible teacher Ern Baxter taught me that a warrior’s bow must sometimes be unstrung in order to be effective in battle. If your bowstring is always taut, your arrows won’t hit the target. You can’t stay in the heat of battle day after day. You must learn to withdraw, rest and recharge. Unstring your bow, relax, take a walk or sit on your back porch and drink some iced tea. While you rest, remind yourself that God is fighting your battles, not you.

3. Recall moments of God’s goodness. It’s always a good idea to keep a journal listing previous answers to prayer. David wrote in Psalm 103:2 (NASB): “Bless the Lord, my soul, and do not forget any of His benefits.” You can’t remember all of God’s benefits unless you write them down! When you are tempted to doubt God’s faithfulness, savor all the moments He answered prayers in the past. The same God who helped you 15 years ago can repeat the same miracle. If He provided for you last year, He can do it again. He has not changed!

4. Wage war with your promises. Timothy must have had some bad days when he pastored the church in Ephesus. He was probably tempted to quit many times because of demonic resistance. That’s why Paul told him to “fight the good fight” using “the prophecies made concerning you” (1 Tim. 1:18). When I face discouragement, I often recall the prophetic promises God gave me in the past. These words are like anchors that hold me steady in rough seas; they also boost my faith so I can gain a second wind. Speak God’s promises out loud and you will feel yourself being lifted above any difficult challenge.

5. Remember what friends have told you. In David’s story, his close friend Jonathan encouraged him on more than one occasion. First Samuel 23:16 says: “Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God.” I suspect Jonathan’s comforting words lingered in David’s soul long after his friend spoke them. When David encouraged “himself” in 1 Samuel 30:6, he could have been meditating on what Jonathan said many months prior.

I’m grateful every time a friend sends me an encouraging text, or calls me with an uplifting message. In every case I save the words because I know I will need them later. A friend’s encouragement is not like manna that spoils after a day, or dew that evaporates in the morning sun. The words of a Jonathan are like engraved jewelry, and if you keep them locked in a treasure chest you can pull them out on your worst days.

Don’t faint. Don’t quit. Learn to encourage yourself in the Lord. If you practice these habits of David, you will find the strength to fight every battle.

Lee Grady is an author, award-winning journalist and ordained minister. He served as a news writer and magazine editor for many years before launching into full-time ministry. Lee is the author of six books, including 10 Lies the Church Tells Women, 10 Lies Men Believe and Fearless Daughters of the Bible. His years at Charisma magazine also gave him a unique perspective of the Spirit-filled church and led him to write The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale and Set My Heart on Fire, which is a Bible study on the work of the Holy Spirit.

[Editor's comment: Lee Grady is an ordained minister of the Gospel with credentials in the IPHC. He is a friend of mine and has given me permission to publish his articles in Hugh's News.]

​Do You Believe This?

Author: Anne Graham Lotz

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies" (John 11:25, NIV).

Do you believe this? Do you believe that . . .

when there is no hope,

when there is no recourse,

when there is no answer,

when there is no help,

when there is no way,

when there is no remedy,

when there is no solution,

when there is nobody,

there is hope if you have Jesus?! Do you believe that Jesus can make a way when there is no way?

With Jesus, all things are possible!

Blessings,

Anne Graham Lotz

Copyright © 2022 Anne Graham Lotz (AnGeL Ministries) Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved www.annegrahamlotz.org.  

Romans 8:26-27 The Holy Spirit makes intercession for us according to the will of God
 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 
NKJV
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Romans 8:26-28
 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. 27 He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. 28 That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. 
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Kathy was shopping in the mall with her two children and a display in the window of a lingerie store caught her eye.

"Do you think Daddy would like this?" she asked the kids, as she pointed to the lacy pajamas with matching robe.

"No way," four-year-old Ryan replied. "Daddy would NEVER wear that!"

Articles of Interest in Today's Hugh's News
1.Lighten Up with Laughter
2.Freedom Celebration at Christian Life Worship Center
3.Two Former IPHC Missionaries Have Birthdays today, Wednesday, June 29
4.Daphany Gunter is Home
5.The Dream Train
6.Our Response to the Gospel Message
7.The Destructiveness of Sin
8.Emmanuel College President's Prayer Group
9.Will You Receive the Benediction?