November Issue, 2010
AMPLIFIED FLORIDA BOWLS TOUR: 6 Stadiums in 6 Days November 14-19, 2010
Every historic revival has started with a prayer meeting. Plain and simple, we just really need God. Our programs and agendas aren’t enough. We have churches and mega churches and seminars and conferences. We have meetings and more meetings. Don’t get me wrong, I love coming together with the saints, but there is a growing discontent in my soul for the promise of God to break in upon our generation and our region. There is a growing longing within me for the purpose of God to break forth. I know there is more than what we have encountered. I’ve read too many accounts of revival, to be satisfied with just a better meeting and lively worship. As for me, I’m waiting for something I’ve read about but never touched. I don’t know how I know this, but I just know that when the glory of God breaks in for real, Orlando will be transformed from the inside out. I just know there is more than what we’ve experienced so far. I’m talking about prostitutes becoming prophets, and pimps becoming priests… in an instant, God making all things new. This cry for revival, is more than a desire for goosebumps. As a student of historic awakenings, I’ve noticed a certain and distinct pattern preceding an outpouring from heaven. There is always prayer… but there is more than prayer. Acts 2 36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and
Prayer + Action = Revival By Leah Ramirez
God said, “Fill the Bowls and I will pour them out!” Three years ago, while driving past the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, God spoke this phrase to my heart, “Fill the bowls and I will pour them out.” I was struck by the sheer magnitude of the call. Later that afternoon, while in a corporate prayer meeting, I read… Revelation 5 6 … I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain…. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. My spirit was electrified with a sense of God. Over the years, we have been given many insights concerning this Word of direction from the Lord. I believe there is something in the heart of God concerning Florida. I believe His intentions are towards us. I’m reminded of the early church and the command given to them to wait and pray for the promise of the Holy Spirit. They couldn’t produce the fire of God and neither can we. But we can obey. We can put ourselves in position for His answer.
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Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” Tongues of fire descended on that upper room prayer meeting, and then there was a man who stood to his feet and delivered the most politically incorrect message ever recorded. In essence, Peter said, “You killed your God.” And can you believe it, 3,000 were instantly converted! I wonder if there is a link between preaching the truth in all its offense and actual salvation? I’ve asked myself so many times if I would have the courage to preach this simple message. I have to admit, it offends me. I’ve grown up in America, and have learned the
traditions of religion, just like you. The not-so-subtle expectation to be polite and friendly, else how will the world see Jesus in us? The thing is, not so deep down under the façade of my spirituality, is the accusation that speaking truth is somehow not loving. What a lie... Here’s my point: Revival begins with prayer and walks out with a willingness to release the truth in love. The way I figure it, if it worked in the first outpouring of the early church, it will work today. Are we willing to pray?
Check. Are we willing to release truth and warning to our generation? Um, check… Um, well. This needs to be as definite as our resolve and commitment to pray. There was a King named Hezekiah. He lived 700 years B.C., but he’s not so different than us. He was up against a fierce enemy. And Hezekiah [2]
knew that his own strength could not defend or sustain the region. He was brought to the end of himself. Desperate, he called upon the Lord. But that’s not all! After praying he did something!!! Do you know that prayer is just the beginning? After praying Hezekiah went and tore down the high places that plagued the region. He was preparing the way of the Lord! He was making the crooked things straight. 2 Kings 18 3 And Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 4 He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah… 5 He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. 6 For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. 7 And the Lord was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him. 8 He struck down the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.
The region was in a crisis. You don’t have to be an expert to see we are in a national crisis. We have the same divorce rate within the church as without. The abortion rate within the church is staggering. Pornography entraps our congregations. WE ARE IN A CRISIS! The prayer meeting is for US. We need to repent. We need to be washed. We need to hear the Word of the Lord again. Oh, but beloved, then we must go and lift our voice in the public square. We must make war on the high places of our day. You may be asking, “What in the world does all this have to do with the Florida Bowls Tour?’ And my response is, “I’m so glad you asked. Absolutely everything.” True to form, we are going to start with prayer. We have a word, ‘Fill the Bowls.’ We can’t fill the stadiums yet, but we can fill the bowls of heaven. But that’s not all, prayer is just the beginning. We are calling for these 6 regions to take responsibility for the land and begin to lift their voice on behalf of those who have no voice. I
know, I know… It’s so politically incorrect to talk about abortion. But make no mistake, it is loving. 6 cities in 6 days. We will be hosting prayer meetings in Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Gainesville and Orlando. Pray for those who will attend these meetings, that God would grip their heart with a burden to intercede and also walk loyal to the government of Jesus. Innocent bloodshed and judgment are linked, and so are repentance and revival. Why not believe for entire regions to be saved? Let’s add our prayers to the bowls of heaven and believe for an outpouring in our State. Consider joining us for the entire trip, or just meeting us on location for the evening services. Why not? Email info@Resound247.com for more information. Want to make a financial investment? Go to Resound247.com and make a contribution.
PRAYER + ACTION = REVIVAL
The By//Way Christmas Outreach December 15, 2010
You can help make Christmas Special for Ivey Lane. You can help by donating unwrapped toys for children ages 4-16, gifts cards, money and/or your time. Contact TheByway@Resound247.com for more information.
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NOVEMBER ISSUE CONTENT FEATURE ARTICLES:
Florida Bowls Tour: Prayer + Action = Revival Salt and Light--Or Bland Darkness?? Wake Up, Church Halloween: The Real Story Don’t Miss... RSM LIVE The Community that Wells’ Built
IN EVERY ISSUE:
Letter from the Editor Mama Knows Best Thoughts from Tom’s Cave At the movies with Chris and Tay Gaming with Brian Cody’s Corner
1 6 11 14 18 20
5 9 13 17 19 22
Editor-in-Chief Marcia Thorsell
Contributing Writers Cheniene Clemens Brian Couvillion Cody Duncan Nicole Hawkins Chris and Taylor Oltman Leah Ramirez Zerimar Ramirez Marcia Thorsell Debra Wynn Tom Wynn [4]
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Can you believe it is time for the holidays again? Where in the world did 2010 go? “Time flies when you’re having fun”……er, ummm….ok, let’s go with that. But seriously, the holiday season is unique in that there really seems to be no middle ground in the realm of human emotions. I mean not too many people think the holidays are just like any other days….they are either at their happiest or at their saddest, thrilled with every detail or threatening to jump off a building! Why this range of emotional craziness? Why would the same holidays, with basically the same festivities and the same celebrations, affect people in such polar opposite ways? I believe the feelings already ruling inside a person are only heightened once the holidays, accompanied with all its frivolities, approach and encroach on them. The one, happy in life, with a job and income, as well as meaningful relationships, will soar to heights of bliss as commercials displaying Thanksgiving feasts flood the networks and streets come alive with explosions of colorfully lit candy canes, presents and Christmas trees. The smell of the holidays puts a dance in their step… the Christmas TV specials and movies are the focal point of each night…the traditions, whether baking delicious, decorated cookies, stringing popcorn, or spending days shopping ‘til there is dropping, are anticipated and embraced with a child-like giddiness. At no other time in the year is there such a willingness to spend ridiculous amounts of money on lavish gifts for those holding special places in our hearts. The other, not so happy in life, with no job or one that is less than fulfilling…even hated, perhaps not close to family, and not so good in the relationship department, can find themselves sinking further and further into depression as the holiday disease tries to invade their heavily guarded space. This space becomes claustrophobic with every invitation; every obligation to participate in the madness reminding them constantly of their own precarious state of emotions. Back to the “why” question….the answer lies not in the holiday itself, whether we love it or hate it….the answer lies in stabilizing our emotions throughout the year, so that when holidays come, we don’t swing so far to the right or the left that we are noticeably or obnoxiously different. The holidays may make us happy, but our reputation would be marked as one of a happy person anyway. However, the holidays don’t make us sad, because we are dealing with the issues that cause our emotional dips, experiencing joy in life and healing for our hurts. Paul, in the Bible, evidently managed to attain this state of balance. He says….. “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” How did he do it? What is the secret? He also says….. “Everything else is worthess when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.” There is only one way to find that emotional balance and contentment no matter what our circumstances; and its not in taking more medication! Its in knowing Jesus. Knowing Him puts everything into perspective….allows us to rule the holiday, not the holiday to rule us. A suggestion this Thanksgiving/ Christmas season….get to know Jesus… buy yourself a great present – a Bible…..then feast on it. There is nothing better! By Marcia Thorsell
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SALT AND LIGHT-- OR BLAND DARKNESS? Why Christians need to be informed and active citizens By John Stemberger
There are several reasons that Christians give for not being active citizens, not paying attention to politics, and not being more engaged in critical moral and social issues of the day. Some of these reasons appear to have some sense of validity. However, more often than not, the reasons are not valid and filled with some underlying bad theology, an inordinate fear of man and/or a lack of understanding of why addressing and penetrating the cultural is important. I will address five common reasons why Christians are not more aware and involved. Politics is not an area I am called to or gifted in. There are some things in life that every Christian has a duty toward. For instance: parenting, evangelism, prayer and being a good steward of your finances are things that every believer has a duty to be involved with. You would not say, “I don’t have the gift of parenting and therefore I am going to abandon my children.” There are clearly distinct giftings and callings given by God and not everyone is called to be involved with every issue or every area of life in the same way. But there is clearly a normative duty that each Christian has to be a good steward of everything of value we have been given. Each citizen’s vote is of great value and can only be exercised by that person. And, in America, we have been given the right and the responsibility to be an active citizen - which at a very minimum, means being an informed and regular voter.
The post modern world teaches us to specialize and compartmentalize various areas of life into little boxes as if the various areas have no effect on each other. But the truth is we live life as an integrated whole, and there is an overlapping relationship between all areas of life. One of the reasons for the success of Christianity and the proclamation of the gospel in America has to do with her culture, her laws and the public policy that has undergirded us since the founding of our Republic. So, there is a real and ongoing relationship between law, policy, culture and the Gospel. One of our motives as Christians for engaging the culture, being more politically aware, and being active and responsible citizen,s should be to, in a sense, “make way” for the advancement of the Gospel in our society. By working for laws which reflect Biblical morality and values, we are holding back the bondage of sin in society that would and could otherwise ravage people’s lives like abortion, pornography, child abuse, human trafficking, and the promotion and teaching of sexual immorality as normal. We also work to actively ensure that the Gospel can be proclaimed, not just in churches, but also in the public square.
The Gospel is the only answer-- not politics. I agree that the Gospel is the only answer-- if the question is, how are our sins forgiven and what is the only hope for real change in the lives of those who are enslaved to the sinful passions of their hearts? But we are not to ignore the environment that the Gospel goes forth in-- namely the world we live in. The secular “world” is the “theatre of redemption” and the place where the Gospel goes forth. In America, right now, there is a deliberate and willful effort to squelch the Gospel message and the basic moral beliefs of the Christian faith. The Good News is not really that good unless you understand the bad news first. And with increasing frequency, the church’s ability to identify a given behavior as sinful and morally wrong is being assaulted as bigoted, narrow-minded and even morally wrong to make such an assertion. This hostility toward real Christian faith and belief is pervasive and growing in every major institution of society.
Politics and Activism turns people off and therefore distracts from the Gospel. Chuck Colson wrote an important book in 1989 titled Kingdoms in Conflict. Colson details how to reconcile the apparent tensions that can arise between our duty to the earthly kingdom and to the heavenly kingdom. In the book, he argues that we should never burden unbelievers with a [6]
Gospel message that has political or policy baggage. In other words, we should never present the Gospel in such a way that coming to Christ means you have to also immediately become a conservative Republican, pro-lifer and an NRA member. However, Colson also recognizes that after a person has been converted and becomes a Christian, then there is a duty to come under the whole counsel of God in scripture and come under the obedience of God’s laws in every area of life. This process of discipleship is an important one where we need to help, teach and lead new believers into an understanding of God’s design and plan for life, marriage, family and social order – not to mention many other issues.
Closing Thought: Only the assumptions of Christianity could have produced the American experience. The religions of Buddhism, Hinduism, or Islam could have never given us the distinctly American notions of the separation of powers; all men are created equal; inalienable rights; federalism, and check and balances. Only Christianity could have given us America-and only Christians can save it from complete destruction or utter transformation into something unrecognizable. The scripture describes Christians as being salt and light to a decaying world of sin and selfishness. When we lovingly engage in politics and culture, we are doing just that by bringing God’s design and his plan for moral order to the world.
Further, it is critical that we fear God and not fear man when it comes to the proclamation of truth. Our duty before God to boldly speak the truth in love and to proclaim the whole counsel of God is greater than our duty (if there is one at all) to “avoid offending people”. The scripture does teach us to be wise and discerning as to unbelievers. But more likely than not, our tendency is to water down the truth to make people comfortable.
John Stemberger is an AV Rated Orlando, Florida attorney who has worked in the pro-life, pro-family movement for over 30 years. In addition to the private practice of law, he serves as the President and General Counsel of the Florida Family Policy Council. John is also the President of Florida Family Policy Council. Since becoming the President of the Florida Family Policy Council in 2004, Stemberger led the statewide campaign to amend Florida’s constitution to define marriage between one man and one woman. He also launched the “Florida Judicial Accountability Project” by filing a federal lawsuit against the Florida Bar and Judicial Qualifications Commission to strike down Florida’s gag order which prohibits judges candidates from addressing issues during their campaigns. Recently Stemberger received national attention for representing his client Rifqa Bary, the Muslim teenager from Columbus, Ohio, who fled to Florida after she was threatened by her father with death for her conversion from Islam to Christianity.
It violates the Separation of Church and State. This so-called reason to not be involved with voting, politics, and government decision- making probably drives me crazy more than any other! Mainly, because it is such a deception and a deviation from what the framers of the First Amendment intended. Many Christians are well taught on the history behind this saying. Others are not and are still learning. The saying is not in the Constitution, The First Amendment, the Declaration of Independence or any other founding document. The words were first penned by Thomas Jefferson as a letter to the Danbury Baptists Association and gave his private view of a part of the First Amendment. The FA was actually created to protect religious people from the government. But left leaning activist courts have turn the first amendment on its head to somehow mean to protect non-religious people from religious people! This could not be more wrong. The First Amendment provides freedom of religion and not freedom from religion. The IRS regulations, which prohibit churches from endorsing specific candidates, that was adopted in 1954 by Congress, with no debate or discussion, has seemed to illegitimately seep into our theology as if this were some type of Biblical teaching. For many years in our country’s history, pastors delivered election sermons from the pulpit which directly discussed the moral and social issues of the day and then directed people on how to vote. There is a lot that pastors can do to encourage and admonish their congregations to be salt and light to the lost and dying world that needs to be preserved for His Glory.
Most importantly, he has been married to his wife Olivia for sixteen years and has four young children Joseph-9, Benjamin-6, Hannah-3 and Rachel-1.
Go to FLFamily.org to download the 2010 Florida Voter Guide.
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REACH THE CITY...
BORED? Resound247.com We will fix you right up!
Faith without works is dead... Prayer meetings are good! But there’s
God’s intentions are toward our city. He has
something even better... When prayer and faith combine, the result is divine combustion. We have prayed for God to send revival. We have asked the Lord to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons and
revival in His heart. But who will go for Him? You don’t have to cross an ocean to be effective. The broken are all around us. The hurting are on every side. Open your eyes and see the fields are ready for
raise the dead. Now it’s time for us to stretch out our hands in faith and believe He will answer.
harvest. Pick up your net and become a fisher of men. The Lord always uses those who are willing. Say YES and join us.
WEEKLY OUTREACHES
IHOPE
BOUND4LIFE
THE BY//WAY
LIFE ON CAMPUS
FRIDAYS Touch those right here in Orlando who need hope. No degree required... Just love!
WEDNESDAY Stand with our team in front of Planned Parenthood. Babies are saved!
WEDNESDAY Reaching out to the inner-city communities in Orlando. TheByWay.net
TBA Every week the schedule changes, so email: info@ Resound247.com
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MAMA KNOWS BEST... Don’t know what to do? Ask you know who! Q. My husband and I are expecting our first baby and we have very different opinions about disciplining children. What do we do? This is certainly not an unusual situation . . . we all come from different backgrounds and experiences, and there's a saying "opposites attract." I think much balance can come from that, but perhaps your real question is whether to spank or not. Let's look at what God our Father says about disciplining children. . . . God's promise (Prov 22:6) Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Training is more than teaching. Many of us teach . . . but neglect to train. To “train” means to mold the character, instruct by exercise, drill, to make obedient to orders, to put or point in an exact direction, to prepare for a contest. This is our Godly charge. Either consciously or unconsciously we are training -- training to wait "x' amount of times to obey, or wait until we raise our voice to obey, or wait until we have threatened him to obey . . . or we can train to obey immediately when we have
said it once in a normal conversational tone. A child only taught can hear other teaching and depart . . . but the promise is to the one who trains, "when he is old, he will not depart." Scolding is not training. God's promise (Prov 22:15): Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. God's promise (Prov 13:24): He that spares the rod hates his son; but he that loves him is diligent to discipline him. For many of us, this is where the rub presents: We don't want to hurt them! There are other ways to discipline! Words can be rods... scolding, a rebuke, withholding, or a timeout. We want him to grow up free to make his own choices. He is so young, surely these little disobediences aren't that serious. When he is older, we can reason with him and he will understand. What if he gets more rebellious?
PREACH THE KINGDOM
www.Resound247.com for more info on our teaching series... RUN THE RACE
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God's promise (Prov 23:13-14): Withhold not correction from the child, for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die . . .but shall deliver his soul from hell. God's promise (Prov 29:15): The rod and reproof give wisdom: But a child left to himself brings his mother to shame. God's promise (Prov 19:18): Correct your son while there is hope, and set not your heart on his destruction. God's promise (Prov 29:17): Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul. Here's the real question: Do we
believe God means what He says and promises? Then, if we are to obey God, we must train our child His way; and to train our child His way requires follow through every time we ask him to do something. No couch potatoes here!!! If we say "come here," "don't touch," "hush," or "put that down," we must see he obeys. When said once in a normal tone, if he does not obey immediately, then we must take up the switch (rod) and spank enough to hurt so he will not want to repeat. The God of love demands this . . . God's promise (Hebrews 12:6-7) "For whom the Lord loves, He chastens and scourges every son He receives." God demonstrates His love to His sons through discipline. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons." God's promise (Psalm 119:67): Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. To use the rod is unpleasant, but immediately after the correction, take the child on your lap, comfort and kiss and love him -but with the goal to establish he must obey. There is then no hostility but the blessing of moving forward, and fellowship is restored. With nagging and scolding, hostility remains because there was no correction. And this anger toward the child is actually the result of our own disobedience as parents not to correct as God commands. When the rod is used consistently for the slightest disobedience, it is never associated with anger or rejection, but in a patient, loving spirit in obedience to God. When done God's way, the child will receive training from the rod with love.
Nowhere in Scripture does God qualify His command on the basis of personality. In other words, every child is different, but we are all born with a self-centered nature. And each one has required the rod to bring him to submission.
not enough. To train our children in love with the rod is God's command. It's an act of faith and conviction to believe He means what He says and step out on His promises. Faith will not give up . . . because we desire to obey God and His word.
God is training us! Our role with our children should be a picture of Our Father's relationship with us. At this point in their lives, we are their lord . . . and this places the responsibility on us to act in the same loving consistency toward them as He does toward us. All training is to be for the good of the child. Tyranny has no place. Let's say the youngster speaks rudely to you or a sibling. Instead of chiding back in the same way or scolding, we must take up the rod and correct patiently, set the child on your lap and lovingly teach he must always speak in a loving way. This is for the good of the child. If faithful to train the child to bring his own will into submission to ours, the child will transfer that submission to God as he grows older. But if he takes our word lightly, he will take God's word lightly as well.
Many religious people, as well as the world, believe there are other ways to discipline, committed to their own ways and agendas. But what could be more cruel than to beat a child with words, or whose only goal is to be well-mannered -- yet rebellious in the inner man. God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not ours either.
God's promise (Col 3:21): Fathers, provoke not your children, lest they be discouraged."
For further wisdom, read "Under Loving Command," by Al & Pat Fabrizio
Inconsistent use of the rod is not training. In fact, it is our inconsistency as parents that provokes and discourages children. We must not overlook "little" disobediences. One day we mean it, the next day we don't. It is brute force to make a child cater to our moods, and this kind of bullying strengthens their resistance to authority. Provoked to anger, they become discouraged and rebel. All of this takes faith and diligence. And we cannot do this in our own strength. The motive to have nice well-behaved kids is
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God's promise (II Samuel 22:31): As for God, His way is perfect: The word of the Lord is tried and true. Pray for wisdom and unity. As parents, we must come to a place of agreement with God and ask God to bring light to any area we don't see eye to eye . . . and commit to the charge of personal obedience in the training of obedience for the ones we've been given.
Any questions? Ask Mama Wynn! Then we'll ask the Father . . . Debra Wynn attends Resound Church and LOVES it. Debra is married to Tom Wynn, has 4 children and 3 grandchildren. She is a passionate teacher of Word. Oh, and did we mention that she is Leah’s mom... Yessir-ee-bob! If you would like to ask Mama Wynn a question, please email DebraWynn@Resound247.com.
Wake up, Church! by Chenine Clemens
Somewhere along the line, in our society, there began a myth that it was impolite and socially obscene to speak about politics, and the one true God. This myth grew until it was an ingrained foothold. The foothold even looked like it had a chance to become a basic foundational truth until the day that followed that fatal day of 9/11. Can you remember that day? The day the name of Jesus was spoken on a major network television station. While we all were in a state of shock, I overheard many public conversations about Jesus, which just days before was, literally, unheard of. I wont forget hearing a patron in a hair salon explain to her stylist… the difference in religions is that only one God is actually living. It was beautiful day, a beautiful conversation, sparked by tragedy and the realization that life, and the freedom to speak openly, often are taken for granted.
This is a sad truth. The years which lacked open and frank public discussions about politics and religion in our culture, I think, are one of the reasons that both have become so foreign to the populous. We can talk about recent TV shows, movies, who cheated on who in the celebrity world, how many people were murdered yesterday, and the latest trends in technology, but we have been conditioned that politics and religion live on the edge. The lack of open discussion, amongst ordinary people, has created the illusion that they have become too hard to grasp, relative, and even taboo. A random poll on the street as to who the one true and living God is, would get many different answers, and very few of them would even come close to describing His true character. The same applies to politics. Ask someone off the street, “who is running for office in this next election,” or what their reasoning is for either liking or disliking a candidate, and chances are, their answers will be based out of propaganda rather than research. I have the opportunity to eves drop on random public conversations several times weekly, and it is apparent most have not gone to search these answers for themselves. I’ve
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actually been eavesdropping for the past several years, and I am more than thrilled to tell you that this apathy that had fallen over the citizens of our blessed Nation is slowly slipping away. More and more people in this generation are being awakened to the necessity to speak up and speak out about what is true and what is false. They are recognizing that if we continue to stay silent over the next pivotal years in our history, the outcome could be detrimental to people of every type. There are gatherings popping up all over the place and in every avenue possible! In a coffee shop down in the Metro West area, every Wednesday you can see a different installment of David Barton’s American Heritage video series. Churches are beginning to host prayer meetings to pray for the future of America. Mat Staver, John Stemberger, David Barton, and several other well-rounded and knowledgeable men of faith are traveling all over Florida and other states to encourage the church, and its members to get informed, get involved, and vote. One of the main (and easiest) ways to get involved is to vote. Voting is one of the most pivotal acts a citizen can do to contribute to their government.
(about this or that), where did you find (this or that) information, or did you hear, I just found out (such and such), can you believe I didn’t know that? One of the biggest problems I’ve heard of and have run into myself in deciding who to vote for is a lack of information. Sharing accurate information is important. I do not recommend listening to television and radio ads, those are merely a garnished dish. No, to find the true information, I like to use one my of best friends… Google. I google the candidates name and see where that leads. More than likely the first thing that will come up is their personal campaign page, and I like to believe that they are telling the truth in them, but if you are overly curious or skeptical, the best thing to do is contact the candidate directly (through email or by phone) and ask whatever questions you may have. We have got to start getting more involved than we already are. Thomas Jefferson said, “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Jefferson, and I believe you and I are both people of good conscience, so lets no longer be silent while there is still a chance. Let us be the generation that did not need tragedy to cause us to speak out openly.
When people fail to participate in their government, it stops being a government for the people. The ideologies that say that “one vote wont matter” is completely farcical. When an individual does not cast a vote, they may as well give a vote to a candidate they would otherwise oppose. Those of us who do not talk about politics with our friends, hairdresser, coworkers, and church family are just as guilty as those who do not vote. The silence of the church in the public arena and in the voting booths is what is allowing the elected officials to remove God from just about every place He could be. Speaking openly needn’t be confrontational; in fact, I have heard many people simply ask questions such as: what do you think
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THOUGHTS FROM TOM’S CAVE... Reaching for Help By Tom Wynn
We are utterly predictable. We are completely understandable. We like our lives to be under control and stress-free. Most of us work hard to bring those circumstances about as well as we can. It is a worthwhile thing to do – up to a point. The danger comes when we think we have everything under control and don't need help from anywhere.
DESPERATE? YES! YES! AND YES!
Desperation is nothing more than recognizing our complete need of God. Want more hunger in your life? Ask God to reveal your true state. That should do it...
The image on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, is the perfect visual for our all-too-typical condition. In one panel of the painting, God and Adam are shown with their fingers extending toward each other. The insight Michelangelo shares is the urgency and determination each of his subjects is displaying toward the goal of actually touching. It is surprising how boldly and clearly Michelangelo contrasts the two. God is shown as almost tense with anticipation while Adam seems practically indifferent. Does that sound familiar?
By Leah Ramirez
Visit our online store at www.Resound247.com to order the latest teaching series by Leah Ramirez.
The point is, God knows – He knows we have been created to need His help, even when we don't acknowledge it. He knows we have been created to strive towards worthwhile goals even when we think we have it all under control. He is the help that is always present – if we will do our part and reach for help. He is the author of every worthwhile goal – if we will listen, He will guide us to the goals precisely fitted to us.
House of Prayer is a 5week series covering the Biblical history of the house of prayer, King David’s prophetic break with the tradition of Moses, keys to developing a personal prayer life, the entry door of repentance, and finally, a corporate baptism. Cost: $25.00
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Halloween: The Real Story By Zerimar Ramirez What would you say the most commercialized holiday would be? Drum roll please… Christmas? … wrong! Unfortunately, it’s been Halloween since 2006! Picture it, cute little bunny ears, fairy wings, little mini pumpkins with legs and who isn’t a fan of the newborn babies dressed up like their favorite animal!? It sounds ridiculously cute, but the fact of the matter is, its roots are deep in witchcraft, idol worship, and even human and animal sacrifice. This ancient pagan holy day is now celebrated in over 40 countries every year. The origin of Halloween is fascinating. Knowing the history of Halloween can help many people decipher what to let their children take part in, and what to keep their children away from. Knowing the origin of Halloween can also help Christians view the adult, youth, and child activities associated with Halloween celebrations under the light of Christ's truths. The history of Halloween has been a mystery for too many years, and the origin of Halloween has confused many. Here is a brief overview of the origins of what is truly the foundation of many pagan religions and also now the most successful commercialized children’s holiday. The Celtics' mythology taught that with the coming of winter, a season of the dead, came a night in which the spirits of the dead could freely roam about with humans. Some of these spirits would inflict suffering
and violence upon man. To appease the spirits and the gods that were worshipped, the Celtic people would put out their best food offerings on the doorstep. Celtic priests would also offer sacrifices, animal and human, to the gods to ask for a return of the sun and in hopes that the gods would chase away the evil, frightening spirits. Celtics would wear costumes, hoping to fool an evil spirit with the disguise. This the Celtic holiday of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). In around 42 A.D., the Roman empire conquered and occupied the majority of the Celtic lands. They, of course, brought in their own God’s to be worshipped. In conjunction to Samhain, they offered many crops as sacrifices to their harvest Goddess named Pomona. Her main symbol in Roman history is a large apple.
By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1, All Saints' Day, a time to honor
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saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called Allhallows or All-Hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called Allhallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas. At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season, and festive costumes. Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything "frightening" or "grotesque" out of Halloween celebrations. Because of their efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.
Halloween has become a commercialized hodgepodge of
are breaking world records for the most successful horror movie in the history of all horror movies, which have been around since the 1890s. This is what I believe to be an epidemic that will open the door to desensitization on a world wide level. Since many people don’t see anything wrong with Halloween and its “innocence,” surely we wouldn’t see anything wrong with going to a horror movie, or even to a theme park based on wizardry and witchcraft? Surely we must begin to ask the Lord to re-sensitize our hearts and fill us with His Spirit. This is truly a snowball effect! We see that it started with superstition and lore, and it shifted into churches and became truth to the masses. We now have the fruit of about 2000 years of darkness and it’s evolution into mainstream society. This should be one of our biggest prayer focuses as a church… not what our Halloween alternative will be on the Saturday before Halloween.
fear, horror and death. The entertainment and media moguls of our nation capitalize on these aspects of human emotions and we, as the church, have fallen right into it. Not only do fear, horror and death become the theme of the months of October and November, they are becoming a year round demand. Movies such as “Saw”
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THE WALL
Youth Group
CALLING ALL YOUTH! It is easy to say that we are not your ordinary youth group. We are a group of people who have said “Yes!” to rebuild “The Wall” of righteousness in our city. IT IS POSSIBLE to live for God...not being fake... But REALLY live for God. ... And It’s worth it. If you are ages 13-18 and are looking for more of God, looking for a good community of believers, or just wanting to see why we are so CrAzY... Come join us!
Wednesday Nights @ 7:00 Ezekiel 22:30,”I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land, I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall.”
“I Am A Watchman”
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DEVRY OUTREACH
At the Movies with Chris and Tay... Reviewing: You Again Chris: Man, this movie brought back so many memories!! I remember back when I was in high school… the pimples, the thick glasses, being made fun of by all the other girls because I wasn’t as pretty or as popular as them…. Hmmmm.. yup, those were the worst years of my life! I remember this one time…. (Taylor interupts) Taylor: Chris….that was the movie! Anyway, “You Again” is about a girl who finds out that her brother is engaged to the girl that bullied her in high school. It has Jamie Lee Curtis and Sigourney Weaver cast as their mom and aunt.
RSM Ministering on college campus... Why stay at home, when it’s so much fun to go out? DeVry has invited Resound to lead worship and minister to their student body. People were saved... Enough said.
where you can have the ending of the movie figured out at the start and has the fairytale ending. With all that aside… great, clean, and funny movie.! Taylor: It was pretty much fairytale, but we would be disappointed if it ended badly. I thought the actors that were chosen did a great job also. I have always liked Jamie Lee Curtis, and Betty White was so silly. Chris: Oh ya, that Betty White. Did you know she is on the twitter now?
Why Not?
Friday Nights @ 7pm Resound Missions Base
Chris: Ya know… its a “chick flick,” but I was the one who wanted to see it. It really seemed like a movie a lot of people could relate to. Everybody has those rivalries or relationships that seem to be a competition.
Taylor: That’s what she said! Ha! Ha! And Facebook! So what would you rate this movie?
Chris: I’d give it a solid capital B for Betty White. Taylor: I will give it an A- . It made me laugh out loud and surprised me a few times. Chris: So an A- for……almost an B+ ?
Taylor: Yea, I thought it was really cute and funny, but, yes, it was a “chick flick.” That’s probably why I was so surprised that you wanted to see it! Chris: It was rated PG and very clean. I really enjoyed it, but here is the part where I guess I have to say something manly. It was a typical “chick flick”
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Taylor: You’re so corny. Chris: Corn… what’s up with that stuff no matter how many times you chew it… Taylor: Ok Chris! That’s enough! Go see the movie.
DON’T MISS … RSM LIVE! By Cody Duncan RSM LIVE! is a new show where true stories of present day interactions with Jesus are told live. As the hostess of this program, I know for a fact that the God that created the heavens and the earth, the God that made you and me, the God of the universe, actually interacts with human beings in the 21st century. How do I know this? I see Him do it every day. I am constantly meeting people with amazing supernatural encounters from a Heavenly dimension. No, I’m not talking aliens! I’m talking Jesus… let me explain. You see, Jesus is a man, and He is also the Son of God… so He has infinite power. Jesus died a long time ago, but He came back to life after being completely dead for 3 days. Many people saw Him after He came to life. He would visit with people, have meals with them, and teach, just like He did before He died. An amazing event happened not too long after His supernatural resurrection from the dead; eye witnesses say that He ascended through the sky and into the Heavens, until they could no longer see Him. Another amazing thing is that before He left earth, He told His followers (those that were obedient to His teachings and loved Him) that soon He would send His Spirit to live in them, to continue to teach them, and also to give them great power to do great things. Well… that actually happened, and since then the people through the centuries who have believed in this power of Jesus and believed that Jesus is the Son of God, and who have also followed and
Meet Cody Duncan: RSM Live host Ever wonder if God still acts today? Tune in Every Friday at 4pm... www.Livestream.com/ Resound
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obeyed His teachings, have seen amazing results. Every Friday on RSM LIVE! I interview some of those people, those obeyers and believers of Jesus. They are in love with this man Jesus, and have heard Him tell them, and have seen in visions and dreams as it says they will in the book of Joel in the Bible, that He is coming back soon to take His rightful place as King! www.Livestream.com/Resound Jesus is powerful, so His people are powerful, and He shows great displays of His power in our world as to not catch them totally off guard when He comes back. Our goal at RSM LIVE! is to help people understand that He is real so they know they can believe and trust Him. And when they hear, and see, and believe, the power of God will fill their lives with extraordinary purpose. On RSM LIVE! you will hear from people who do things that are written in the Bible, the way the Bible says to do them. You will see people who have defied science and statistics, and have in a day literally walked away from what the world says are “birth defects,” “life long addictions,” “disorders,” “handicaps,” "the American dream," etc. I have seen homosexuals believe and meet Jesus, and in an instant become straight. I have seen a woman who was blind for 40 years, in an instant believe Jesus, and get new eyes that see. There have been testimonies of people who were addicted to Meth., or sexual deviances, and in a day, walk away… never to look back. I have seen people, largely influential, and grossly successful, see those things as worthless, and sell all their possessions, giving their money to the poor. I have seen men and women who are popular, talented, and invited to every happening party, in a day, decide those things are worthless, Why? How? Because these people met and believed Jesus. Jesus alone has the power to set people free from mental and psychological disorders. Jesus alone has the power to defy doctors reports. He really is better and more fulfilling than any drug, any sexual act, any party, any love affair, any video game… than anything! How can this be real? My challenge to you is this… log on this Friday at 4pm and see and hear for yourself that Jesus is real. He will prove Himself to you. It's going to be awesome! See you there!
GAMING WITH BRIAN Little Big Planet
Super Mario Galaxy 2
Child-like fun and imagination are how I would describe this game. Little Big Planet is full of creative entertainment for all ages. If you’re looking for a game that will keep you entertained with mindless and mostly innocent fun, LBP is a great choice. Running around as Sackboy (or Sackgirl), you make your way through various levels by avoiding obstacles and traps. You can also play with a friend and run through the many puzzles and adventures. Much of the game requires a partner in order to reach hidden prizes.
If you’ve never played Super Mario Galaxy, imagine a universe of very small planets and constantly shifting gravities where you get to fly, jump and travel between and even within each galaxy. If you played and enjoyed the first Super Mario Galaxy, you will enjoy the second. Very little has changed.
Your characters are also fully customizable, with scores of different clothing and accessory options. The only thing to look out for is the “not so appropriate” clothing alternatives. For example, you can download the very revealing swimsuit seen in the movie Borat. There are also a couple stages to be cautious of. One level has some dancers from India as part of the stage who could do with more clothing. Another level is based around the Mexican holiday El Dia de los Muertos (translated: The Day of the Dead). At first glance, I would say this is a game I would highly recommend for its overall fun and creative features. But, it also has a few things that a believer should be mindful of. Numerous stages have cultural influences that are not the most Christ-like qualities that the cultures have to offer, and some of the character clothing options …the game could do without. I give this game a passing grade with the warning that there are some parts of the game that a believer should guard their heart against.
It’s interesting to see a series of so many games continue to be successful. It takes imagination and ingenuity to use the same basic concept and keep it interesting. No one can say that this game, or its predecessor, is not a fun game. With ever more imaginative worlds, new story and powers, this game easily keeps up as the sequel. There are very few, if any, spiritual issues with Mario games in general. Super Mario Galaxy 2 has some mean looking monsters, minor violence and no bad language. Mario is always a safe bet if you’re worried about the spiritually dangerous. It has little, if any, spiritual bent or focus that it tries to push, unlike many other games. I particularly enjoy that there is no sexual impurity in any Mario game that I have seen. That’s a big deal in today’s culture. Overall, Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a safe and fun game for anyone to play. While it doesn’t have any overt Christian messages, it also lacks any other religious tendencies. Nintendo has done a great job at maintaining a neutral and fun game that has been successfully repackaged so many times; and yet they continue to come up with original and fun ideas. Some aspects of this game could even be used to fantasize about what it will be like in our glorified bodies within the Kingdom of Heaven. By Brian Couvillon [19]
THE COMMUNITY THAT WELLS’ BUILT By Nicole “Nixx” Hawkins Alex Hayes, author of the famous book, Roots, once said, “When a griot [West African for a storyteller or tribal historian] dies, it is as if a library is burned to the ground.” If that’s true, then what happens when a city gathers fragments of a man’s history told from stories, pictures, and structures? You may find just ashes with some, but in the case of Dr. Wells, you’ll find a national landmark: the Wells’Built Museum of African-American History in Orlando.
were able had to focus on general health and literally take care of their people. “Back then, the physicians had to do a lot of everything. It was more about taking care of the general health of the community, and not specializing in anything. Doctors were prepared to focus on all types of diseases and issues dealing with the community. You know, Dr. Wells stayed sure that the people in his care were well taken care of; he had the opportunity to treat individuals himself. There was not a lot of talk of his kids dying or getting sick at all.” In fact, according to Ms. Josie B. Jackson, his former secretary, they delivered over 5,000 babies in the course of his practice! “And we were very fortunate by the help of God,” she gushes, “that we didn’t lose any of our babies.” But even as his patients had excellent care, Dr. Wells saw that his patients had more than physical issues: segregation and racism were hurting Orlando. In fact, Division Street was named as a landmark to clearly show the invisible line dividing the cultures from each other. He was a loyal and very active member of the Mount Zion AME church downtown. So it’s no surprise Dr. Wells started to speak out about the poor living conditions of the area, and he invested his hard-earned money to create change. He had the chance to be the “despised Samaritan” to help the mistreated and overlooked people in another way (Luke 10:25-37). He got a city permit to build the Wells’Built Hotel in 1926, which at the time, there were no other hotels where African-Americans could stay while visiting or living in Central Florida. He also saw there were hardly any places for his people to gather and enjoy special occasions or entertainment; in fact, he was almost arrested for going out with his wife once due to her being fair-skinned. Whether by personal experience or fulfilling a need, he also built the South Street Casino next to the hotel; and according to Deshay, he established a local hang out place for the community, and even was the drop-off point of the Orlando Sentinel for black delivery boys.
“Every town has its ‘Dr. Wells,’ but we were lucky to have one who was able to stay with us for such a long period of time and have a positive impact on our community,” affirms James Deshay, board member of the P.A.S.T. Inc., who currently works at the museum. The Association to Preserve AfricanAmerican Society, [History,] & Tradition restore and preserve Orlando’s history of its Black community. “Dr. Wells was a successful physician and a successful businessman in a time when he wasn’t supposed to be, operating in an environment that was hostile to African-Americans, yet he was still successful.”
As hot new acts would travel through the South on the “Chitlin Circuit,” nicknamed after a down South delicacy (pig intestines stewed and fried), it became the collective name for a tour given to performance venues throughout the eastern and southern United States that were safe and acceptable for African American entertainers performing under racial segregation. The preserved hotel register still reads as a “Who’s Who” of the famous historical figures such as Ella Fitzgerald, B.B. King, Billy Holiday, Duke Ellington, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, and Ray Charles. Although it sounds like a place of gambling, it was more of a performance hall, where weddings, concerts, school graduations, and civic meetings were held.
Dr. William Monroe Wells was born in Fort Gaines, Georgia in 1889, and in his late 20s, completed his medical training at the Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. He and his wife, Clifton Irene, moved to Orlando after he graduated. “He heard when he was at Meharry College that Orlando was a fast-growing area, but it was still a small, dormant and country town, so the fact he thought it was growing is interesting,” Deshay explains. They moved in 1917, and Dr. Wells was actually one of the first black physicians to practice in Orlando. Due to Jim Crow laws and attitudes in the south, white doctors didn’t treat blacks; Deshay illustrates that black doctors who [20]
Live Provoked
As time passed, he and other doctors such as Dr. Eccleston and J.B. Callahan united with other black professionals, and they formed the Negro Chamber of Commerce, (African-American Chamber of Commerce) in the mid-1940s. They worked with the local churches in civic work while negotiating with open-minded white businessmen, like Robert (Bob) Carr, who
The museum opened in Spring of 2000, carrying pictures and special artifacts from the early 20th century until now. It also carries the evidence and legacy of what one man started to do when he moved here: make his people well and his city great. Ten years later, as people are excited about the new Amway Center that stands nearby, how ironic that just nearly a century ago,
Dream Big
Revival = Justice
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wanted Orlando as a better place for everyone. Before the Civil Rights movement would sweep the country, revival of common justice and the beginning of integration was starting to surface in the heart of downtown Orlando. Through it all, even though Dr. Wells and his wife were never able to have children, it is recorded that he delivered half the black population of Orlando for almost 40 years. He had a strong sense of the future of his culture and city as a whole, but he never got to see the fruit of the Civil Rights movement, and died in the early 1960s. After the hotel and casino closed down, in the 1990s, there was a buzz of restoring the Paramore area. The City of Orlando and the Magic invested financially to restore the hotel as a museum with Mrs. Wells’ blessing. However, she didn’t live long enough to finish it. [21]
indigenous people from the very same area felt a similar buzz of excitement that defied the Jim Crow shadow in the South: the Wells’ Built Hotel & South Street Casino. Dr. Wells was a forerunner for his community and city to unite in purpose; if we forget, then it is just ashes before our eyes and our city. On Thursday, October 28, Pastor Riva Tims of Majestic Life will be working with Resound Mission Base to host a private screening of Maafa21, inviting 25-30 of Orlando’s well-known black church pastors and leaders to the Wells‘Built Museum. Maafa21 is a well-made documentary on the history of abortion in American history and how it has affected the AfricanAmerican race as a whole. The input from this event will be included in the next issue.
Cody’s CORNER 7 LONGINGS OF THE HUMAN HEART by Mike Bickle with Deborah Hiebert Every human, from every culture, race, and background, has deep desires or personal longings that they try to fulfill throughout their lifetime. Many of these people have no idea what those longings are, but they do know that they are not happy and not satisfied. This book unveils the mystery behind a very important person.... you. While reading this book I found myself stopping, sitting back in my chair, and going, “huh, that's me.” I literally had no idea that
I had those desires in me, until I read this book and realized… I sure did, I just didn't know what to call them. And, those longings are good! They are given to us by God, so that He can fulfill them, ultimately fulfilling us. No matter who you are, or what you believe, or what your background is, I highly recommend this book as a “must have.” Because it's about you! And why wouldn't you want to read a book... about you?
This could be your ad for just $20
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Go to ihop,org to buy this book.
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