White Wing Messenger April 2012

Contents w w w w April 2012 • Volume 88, Number 10

Bringing honor to the WORD by the printed word, the White Wing Messenger strives to inspire Christian thought and practice as it imparts the “good news” of the Gospel while serving the connectivity needs of our church community.

Calendar of Events For more information, visit www.cogop.org April 13–15, 2012 Pacific Southwest Ladies Retreat Ventura, California April 27–29, 2012 Atlantic Northeast Ladies Retreat Newark, New Jersey

page 20

page 18

Features 7 SEVEN (For Young Readers) 10 Light in Their Dwelling

by Elva Howard

12 CSI: Jerusalem Mystery of the Resurrection

by Carswell Leonard

14 The Resurrection: A Savior Who Identifies and Intervenes

by Gary D. Lewis

18 The Man of Sorrows

by Ashley Guidry

20 Ministering with 2020 Vision

by Cervin McKinnon

22 Stories of Sharing Jesus

by Rick Lee

27 With Everything Worship Leaders Network

24 Stewardship: Jesus Is the Firstfruit of the Resurrection 25 Harvest Partners: Meeting Government Mandates and Fulfilling Needs in Rwanda 26 Women: A Passion for Ministry

Editorials 4 Facing Forward: The Paradox in Jesus

by Randall E. Howard, General Overseer

31 Messages The Story Behind ”Above All”

by DeWayne Hamby, Managing Editor

by Kris Dockery

Ministries 8 Children: What Do Kids Need to Know about Jesus?

by Kathryn Creasy

Updates 5 Worldview

Church Life–Children–Global Community

30 In His Presence Visit us online—www.whitewingmessenger.org

White Wing Messenger Editorial Board: Londa Richardson, Chair; H. E. Cardin; Daniel Chatham; Hanny Vidal; Cervin McKinnon; Perry Horner; Tapio Sätilä; Brian Sutton; Shaun McKinley; and Adrian Varlack

Executive Editor/Publisher: R. E. Howard, Managing Editor: DeWayne Hamby, Copy Editor: Marsha Robinson, Editorial Assistant: Pamela Praniuk, Graphic Artists: Perry Horner and Sixto Ramirez, International Offices (423) 559-5100, and Subscriptions (423) 559-5114 Please submit all material to the White Wing Messenger; Managing Editor; P. O. Box 2910; Cleveland, TN 37320-2910; phone (423) 559-5128; e-mail us at Editorial@cogop.org.

April 27–May 1, 2012 CBL School of Practical & Advanced Studies II Curacao, Netherlands Antilles (ABC Islands) May 4–6, 2012 Great Plains Ladies Retreat Des Moines, Iowa May 10–13, 2012 CBL Consortium Introduction to Pentecostalism Jamaica May 17–20, 2012 CBL Consortium Pastoral Excellence in Hispanic Ministry Northeast Spanish Region New Beginnings, Passaic, New Jersey May 17–20, 2012 CBL Consortium–Hermeneutics Warda, Texas May 17–20, 2012 CBL Consortium – Homiletics Kirkland, Washington May 18–20, 2012 Central America Ladies Retreat Panama May 21–26, 2012 CBL Consortium - Theology Survey II Nassau, Bahamas July 24–29, 2012 2012 International Assembly Kentucky International Convention Center Louisville, Kentucky www.cogop.org White Wing Messenger (ISSN 0043-5007) (USPS 683-020) is published monthly as the official publication of the Church of God of Prophecy, 3750 Keith St NW, Cleveland, TN. Send all materials for publication to Editorial Department; PO Box 2910, Cleveland, TN 37320-2910; e-mail: editorial@cogop. org, fax: (423) 559-5121. For subscription rates, visit wwm.cogop.org; call (423) 559-5114; e-mail: subscriptions@cogop.org. Subscription rate: $18.00 per year, payable to White Wing Messenger by check, draft, or money order.

Periodical postage paid at Cleveland, TN 37311 and at additional mail office.

Donations for the White Wing Messenger may be sent to the above address.

All scripture references are from the King James Version unless otherwise indicated. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to White Wing Messenger, PO Box 2910, Cleveland, TN 37320-2910.

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FACING FORWARD The Paradox in Jesus There is a phenomenon going on today in Western culture that is interesting as we consider Jesus.

Society seems to love the person of Jesus but they don’t care much at all for the Church. I realize there is so much packed into that idea it would make a great discussion among ministry leaders another time. Now, let me throw in the well-known phrase used by Josh McDowell, C. S. Lewis, and others. Jesus was a liar, a lunatic, or Lord. And Jesus Himself asked of the people in His own day, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not the things that I say?”(Luke 6:46). It is my opinion that somewhere between these ideas we find the seriousness of our dilemma with Christ today.

People have always been drawn to the numerous aspects of the life of Jesus. He was a man for the common people. He was one that lifted people up from their desperation. He was a radical that stood against the religious institution and the status quo. He was a man of love and acceptance in a world of judgmentalism and hypocrisy. He fed the poor, taught simple truths to all, and lived a sacrificial life. In the same way that the world loves the story of Mahatma Ghandi, even more they love the story of the life of Jesus. In many ways, this love for the life of Jesus is our best entrance for evangelization. Of course we know that the “Jesus Film” has been translated into more languages than any other film, seen by more people (billions), and has been the tool to bring over 200 million to a step of faith in Christ. Clearly the life of Jesus is attractive and popular.

So what has caused the reaction that Jesus voices, “The world cannot hate you, but me it hates, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil” (John 7:7, see also John 15:8 and 1 John 3:13)? Does that sound similar to the reaction when the Christian community cries out to say it is not right to kill the unborn through abortion and the world seethes in anger? The affection of a carnal lost society can so quickly turn to angry cries to “crucify him” when Jesus challenges their sinful and self-centered nature. The Jesus they loved as their ideal did not confront their evil. Their cheers for this radical leader could not

The Jesus they loved as their ideal did not confront their evil.

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extend to surrendering to Him as Lord of this earth and over their sins.

Here then is exposed our dilemma with Christ and the heart of salvation, the Lordship of Christ. The world would love to exalt Jesus as one more, and possibly the greatest of all their ‘good men,’ their ideal of good. They want a good Christ that allows them to remain comfortable in their sin and selfish lives. But Jesus would not settle for this compromise to his mission. For this reason the motto of the primitive church was ‘Kyrios Cristos,’ Jesus Christ is Lord.

He would not become anything less than the supreme Lord and exclusive author of salvation. The apostles would affirm, “there is no other name under heaven . . . whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Let the Christian church of this age settle for nothing less than the wonderful life of Jesus AND the exalted lordship of Christ. Once more today the temptation rises to please the masses with a loving Savior that demands no lordship, to speak of the goodness of Jesus without confronting evil, and even to share His life blessings without announcing his exclusive claim as author of eternal salvation. Let us understand these things as we live out our Vision, “The Church of God of Prophecy will be a Christ exalting. . . movement.” Remember Jesus told us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6).

Randall E. Howard General Overseer

CHURCH LIFE 1910 Middle East– North Africa 0.7% Asia–Pacific 4.5& Sub–Saharan Africa 1.4%

How Porn Impacts the Church

2010

Americans 27.1%

Americans 36.8% Europe 66.3% Middle East– North Africa 0.6%

Asia– Pacific 13.1%

Europe 25.9%

Sub-Saharan Africa 23.6%

The Spread of Christianity in 100 Years In the last century, the number of Christians in the world has nearly quadrupled (from six hundred million in 1910 to two billion in 2010); however, since world population has boomed, the percentage of Christians has remained nearly the same (32 percent today, 35 percent a century ago).

Still, the population shift in where Christians are found is a monumental change, propelled by revival and church growth in Africa and Asia.

—Source: Pew Research Center, Global Christianity: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Christian Population, December 2011

Pastors Reject Evolution A majority of Protestant pastors hold to the biblical account of Creation, according to a May 2011 survey from LifeWay Research. When presented with the statement, “I believe God used evolution to create people,” 73 percent of the pastors disagreed, with 63 percent strongly disagreeing and eight percent somewhat agreeing. Twelve percent either strongly agreed or somewhat agreed, with four percent not sure. More pastors agreed with the statement that “Adam and Eve were literal persons,” with 73 percent strongly agreeing and eight percent somewhat agreeing. The pastors were more split on the topic of the earth’s

age, with only 34 percent agreeing that they believe the

earth is “only 6,000 years old.”

“Recently discussions have pointed to doubts

about a literal Adam and Eve, the age of the

earth and other origin issues,” said Ed Stetzer,

president of LifeWay Research. “But Protestant

pastors are overwhelmingly Creationists and

believe in a literal Adam and Eve.”

Twenty percent of the pastors polled

said they believe most of their congregation

believes in the theory of evolution, but only

33 percent reported that they taught on

Creation more than once a year in

their churches.

A November, 2011, LifeWay Research survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors found a majority of them are concerned about how sexually-related images and media are affecting their members. Sixty-nine percent of the pastors felt the lives of their members had been adversely affected by porn, with 42 percent who “strongly agreed” with the statement.

“Most pastors know pornography’s poisonous effects,” LifeWay Research president, Ed Stetzer, said. “They’ve seen it destroy marriages, wreck lives, and warp America’s moral compass when it comes to sexuality.”

According to XXXChurch.org, a ministry devoted to helping men and women overcome porn addiction, the visitor breakdowns to porn sites were 72 percent male and 28 percent female.

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WORLDVIEW (continued)

Continued on page 28

CHURCH LIFE

Church Size and Engagement Does the size of your church matter to those who visit and attend? A recent survey suggests that church experiences do not differ much based on the size of the church. Attendees of small, medium, and large churches reported more or less the same experiences from their church participation, the survey said.

Those attending mid-sized churches (100–299 attendees) reported slightly less positive outcomes than those attending small (99 attendees or less) and large (300 or more) churches. Those attending larger churches were more likely to report that they had gained new spiritual insight and understanding.

—Source: Barna Group, “What People Experience In Churches,” January 9, 2012

LOCAL CHURCHES

Powder Springs, Georgia Ladies Retreat

“Women of Favor” presented the third annual Ladies Day service on October 1, 2011. Our theme for this year was “Beyond the Veil.” We had a wonderful time together in the presence of God. The first part of our service, Pastor Sterling blessed us as he greeted the ladies.

We then went into joyous praise and worship. Our hearts were filled as we listened to a special solo selection and a special dance presentation from our very own, “After His Heart Dance Ministry.”

The atmosphere was set and we were ready to receive the Word and what an awesome message it was! The presence of God continued to follow us and an invitation for the ladies to receive the anointing and to go beyond the veil was made.

Ladies received prayer and as they went through the veil they received an anointing tube of oil. This oil was provided for the ladies to anoint themselves and go beyond the veil.

During the second part of the special service, we prepared brunch for the ladies and it was a time of fellowship and a time to connect with other ladies.

We also had a pharmacist that came to share with us the importance of knowing about women’s health. The information was very useful and the response was great. We ended the day with prizes. At the end of the day, almost everyone left with a token or gift to remember our special day. We experienced such a blessed and fun-filled day in the Lord.

We give thanks to God for an awesome time in His presence and we ended the day joyfully knowing that we can always go “Beyond the Veil.”

Claire Sterling Women’s Ministry Director

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High Praises Worship Conference Join us for the 12th Annual High Praises Worship Conference!

High Praises Conference brings to your ministry affordable, anointed quality teaching and worship!

Hope Church

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

April 26-28, 2012!

www.highpraisesworship.com For information, contact Rhonda Dilldine 918-645-7926

Aaron and Amanda Crabb, special guests

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MUSIC NOTES

Newsboys, currently traveling through North America on the “God’s Not Dead” tour, was recently featured on mtvU, the college-targeted channel from MTV networks. The group’s video for “Miracles” was voted into heavy rotation on the channel’s show “The Freshman.” The video, which featured an inspirational message about life transformation, was aired on the channel 20–25 times a week.

“Some people don’t have a clue/ If all of this could be true/ But take a look at me/ I was blind but now I see.” (“Miracles”)

God, What Is Your Will for My Life?

How many times have you asked God that question? And, chances are, if you keep asking the same question over and over it is because you still don’t have the answer or you doubt if you have the whole answer. Well, what if I told you to forget about a will or one big purpose?

What if I told you that you have been asking the wrong question all along?

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (The Message) says, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”

Guess what? God does have a plan for you; God does have a will for your life, but His will and purpose are not saved for your future; His will and purpose have been staring you in the face; it’s called your present. Today is the tomorrow you wondered and dreamed about yesterday. Today was once that future, it was once that purpose, and so what are you doing with it now?

It is far more comfortable to cross your arms and daydream of the future and its countless possibilities than to apply discipline and start doing something today. It is less demanding to speculate about your unknown future and ideally commit to what awaits ahead rather than examine your life and commit to what God is asking of you right now.

While you’ve sat there wondering and asking God to reveal His will for your life (pondering on the years to come after you graduate high school or even

further in your 20s when you graduate from college and get started on your career) God has been pointing all around you. He’s been

pointing at that kid in your class who is in need of a loving friend. He’s been nudging you to pick up that instrument and start

learning and perfecting your craft. He’s been poking you to get out of that relationship that’s not headed in a good direction. He’s

placed mentors and leaders in your life to pour knowledge and wisdom into you and guide you. All this time he’s been trying to

show you His purpose but you might have been too distracted daydreaming about the future.

God’s primary will for our lives is for us to have a relationship with Him. And His purpose is composed not of one but many purposes. Each day, each hour even, has its own purpose. There is something for you to learn, someone for you to love, something to say. He has placed something in your hands to use and even if it impacts the life of only ONE person, He died on the cross for him or her, too, and the value of the difference you can make is eternal. Viktor E. Frankl said, “Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked.”

Instead of asking God what’s his will or purpose for your life, you are the one who is being asked: what purpose are you giving your life? God has already created you with a potential and equipped you for His purposes, so look at what He has placed in your hands today, the talents He gifted you with and start cultivating them, preparing yourself, and ask Him instead to guide your steps and open your eyes to how He wants to use you TODAY. Once you have truly learned to live in the present, when you add up all your —Jeremy Lin, basketball player now’s and today’s, you won’t miss arriving at (and being prepared for) the for the New York Knicks Source: San Jose Mercury News future purposes (or bigger purpose) He has planned and intended for you.

I’m thinking about how I can trust God more. How can I surrender more? How can I bring Him more glory?

Photo by Nicholas LA Photography

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MINISTRIES MINISTRIES

What Do Kids Need to Know about Jesus?

While Jesus was here on earth, He asked his disciples two very important questions: “Who do men say that I am?” and “Who do you say that I am?”

Peter gave a very concise answer to the second question: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Peter’s answer was not just a confession of his mouth but he also believed within his heart (Romans 10:9).

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If children are to be followers of Christ they must be able to give a concise answer to the same question, “Who is Jesus?” Their answer to this question must be a confession of the mouth based upon an understanding of biblical truth. But it must also be a confession of the heart, a statement of their personal faith in Jesus Christ.

Who is Jesus? What do children need to know about Jesus in order to make a confession of faith? They need to know and believe that: Jesus is God’s Son. “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman” (Galatians 4:4 NLT).

Jesus experienced every temptation that you and I have experienced but he did not sin (disobey His Father).

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15 NIV).

Even though Jesus did not sin, He died on the cross for our sins. “He was wounded for our transgressions (sins)” (Isaiah 53:5).

Jesus willingly took the punishment for our sins (our disobedience). “No one takes it (my life) from Me, but I lay it down of my own accord (my will)” (John 10:18 NIV).

Jesus rose again and now lives in heaven with the Father. “And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from the dead and put him at his right side in the heavenly world” (Ephesians 1:19, 20 NCV).

These truths about Jesus must be translated into a child’s vocabulary and his life experience.

What child fully understands words like temptation, transgressions, weaknesses, rose again? Yet we can help children understand what these words means by translating them into words they are familiar with. Temptation is wanting to do

something that isn’t right or good.

Weakness is the opposite of strength.

Rose again means coming back to life. Also, using Bible translations that accurately but simply state Bible verses can help children better understand Bible words and religious terms.

We can help children understand biblical truths such as temptation by relating it to a concrete truth they have experienced. For example, James 1: 14, 15 tells us that we are each tempted when we are drawn away by our own evil desires. Help the children understand this by using the illustration of a nail that is drawn to the magnet. What pulls the nail toward the magnet? The nail contains iron and iron is always pulled toward the magnet. In the same way wrong desires within us pull us toward disobedience (sin).

We can also help children understand by providing concrete examples that they have experienced.

Temptation is wanting to do something I know I shouldn’t do like taking a pack of gum from the grocery shelf or saying something that isn’t true about someone who doesn’t treat me well.

How can we help children move from a statement based on knowledge to a confession of faith that comes from the heart?

Prayer—The Scripture states that “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (John 6:44 NIV). God works on the hearts of children as we pray. Ask the Father to draw children to His Son, Jesus Christ.

Share your story—Testimony is a powerful tool in the lives of children.

Ask parents and other members of your congregation to share what they know and have experienced about Jesus.

Invite children to share their stories— Begin by letting them complete phrases about Jesus such as, “I’m glad Jesus came to earth as a tiny baby because_____________” or,

“One thing I know about Jesus is _________________” or, “Jesus has helped me __________.” As they feel comfortable sharing, let them share experiences when Jesus has helped them say “no” to sin (disobedience or doing the wrong thing) or forgiven them when they have confessed being disobedient to Him. Have ministry times—It’s amazing to me that God sent His Son as a tiny baby. He definitely was tempted in every way that a child is because He lived as a child. He can identify with the temptations and weaknesses of children. Because of this, He is the Savior of children—not just adults.

As you help children discover more about who Jesus is, invite them to experience Him. Provide times when they can share their temptations with Jesus and ask for His help. Invite them to confess their sins because Jesus died so that they could be forgiven and cleansed. Encourage them to praise and thank Jesus for what He has done for them—experiencing their temptations, taking their punishment, forgiving their sins.

We want our children to respond as Peter did. We want them to confess with their mouths and believe in their hearts. They will do this as we share Bible truths about Jesus in language they understand and experiences to which they can relate. They will do this as we pray and share stories of Jesus’ work in our lives and their lives, and as we invite them to receive Jesus’ ministry of help and forgiveness.

Kathryn Creasy Children’s Ministries Director

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“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; And it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14–16).

“And the Lord said unto Moses, stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the Land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days; They saw not one anther, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings”(Exodus 10:21–23).

These verses are possibly more fitting to us, at this present time, than we might realize. It was Jesus who spoke to the people in the new day which we call grace. His message is definitely for us. When God saved us, He placed the blessed light of salvation in us. It is that glorious and blest experience that we should live daily, letting nothing nor any circumstance extinguish it.

The Exodus passage gives us a history of one of the plagues that came upon Egypt, the world power of that day. I believe there is something here which is relevant to us at this present time.

Take a look at the Egypt of that day. It was a strong world power. It had resources, one of which was Hebrew slave labor. The slave labor force was a great asset to the nation.

It was a godless nation; even though it was a nation full of “gods.” They worshipped the river, the cattle, stars, moon, sun and various other objects or beings. In this godless land lived God’s special family. They went there because of a famine in Israel. As the years went by they found themselves in bondage to this godless people.

When it got extremely bad, they cried out to their God who heard their cries and was preparing to deliver them. Pharaoh was too powerful to be badgered into this exodus: he could reckon with people, but he could not reckon with God. “. . . And in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?”

(2 Chronicles 20:6). The powers of the magicians would be as nothing. The plagues would not only impoverish the nation, but would prove the fallibility of their gods. Ra, the great god of the sun, the chief Egyptian deity, was the last one which God would strike. The darkness descended, but Ra had no power of light.

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This could well be called three days of horror.

Through history we understand the darkness was like a vapor. The vapor could snuff out any attempt of lighting candles. This dark (vapor) was so thick it could be felt. It held people captive within their own houses.

It caused madness. Any noise was magnified, causing fear. The fear was so great it caused death. To say more would almost bring about a depressing atmosphere. The Almighty God had defied Ra—just like the Almighty God defies any that is worshipped in His stead in any day or at any time. Notice the conjunction “but.” Yes, there was darkness which I tried to describe, but the Israelites, God’s children, had light in their dwelling.

The dark vapor had no power over their lights.

Since darkness represents sin, I think we could say darkness could be symbolic of this day. Fake religions, humanism, insurrections, new age movement, killing of the innocent/helpless, The gay movement, decay of the family and numerous other situations which exist are evidence of a dark time. This darkness cannot be seen by the natural eye but is very evident to spiritually alert people. We must understand we are in a spiritual battle.

“For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall

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arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee” (Isaiah 60:2).

Isaiah is speaking of the darkness which would cover the world and gross (a much darker) darkness, the people. This we have taught was the “dark ages” when the civilized world made a plunge downward.

Today is a day of spiritual darkness, a time when extreme darkness covers the people. They have lost their knowledge of God. This is our Day and how are we going to respond?

“The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly” (Proverbs 20:27).

The spirit in me (my candle) needs the light of the everlasting God. Jesus is that light! It is Jesus speaking when He declared, “ I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”(John 8:12), and “That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9).

It is He and He alone that lightens our dark places. The things spoken of concerning light in the tabernacle was symbolic of Jesus, the Great Light, that would be coming. Until that time, the people were in spiritual darkness; then He came and brought light. Now even in this dark day in which we are living, we can have light: “This then

is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).

You accept first the light of salvation and the darkness of sin rolls away. Now when the darkness of distress, sin, sickness and such surrounds us, the promise remains: “With the light of God within, there is nothing to fear” (Psalm 27:1).

It is said of the lady in Proverbs that her candle didn’t go out even during the night. A lighted candle told the entire area that all was well with her family. In your soul’s dark night, can you say the same? “My candle—my abiding faith in God and His Word—doesn’t go out!”

Isaiah promises, “. . . thy light shall rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday.”

Someone is getting that promise even at this moment.

It was Jesus who declared, “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:15, 16).

Through the Word, Jesus is encouraging us, His followers, to let our light shine. The first purpose: to give light to everyone in the house. Think for a minute. What an impact if every individual was the light in their dwelling! He gently gave a warning about allowing our light to be hidden. I think sometimes it is ironic that the word bushel was used? A bushel of trouble, a bushel of oppression, a bushel of jealousy, a bushel of bitterness, a bushel of low self-esteem, a bushel of fear, a bushel of depression. . .

In your life, what bushel is covering or dimming your light? The Lord wants us to be like torches, purifying the very atmosphere wherever we go, moving back the forces of wickedness (darkness): “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2). “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). “Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:78-79).

Elva Howard Cleveland, Tennessee

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Crime Scene Investigation Most of us are familiar with the hit television series, CSI, CSI-Miami, or CSI-NY. The acronym CSI represents the words, crime scene investigation, while the second part of each title indicates the particular location of the crime investigation. The plot of the drama is centered on a team of forensic investigators and police officers who use both cutting edge scientific methods and old-fashioned police work to solve the most complex and intriguing of crimes. The excitement is embellished by the uncanny ability of these law enforcement experts to scour the crime scene and collect items, which, to the untrained eye, may seem to be insignificant findings. Their discoveries usually result in irrefutable evidence that aids in painting a picture of what actually happened at the scene. Their eyes are trained to find and collect the kind of evidence that would evade even the most meticulous of observers.

The CSI team usually arrives within minutes of the discovery of the crime scene.

They bring along all the equipment they will need to collect whatever evidence has been left at the scene. The evidence is then taken to the laboratory where it is evaluated using sophisticated, high-tech equipment

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that produces complex data that is used to determine the course of the investigation.

CSI investigators can find trace amounts of blood or skin or strands of hair that can be traced to DNA. They can trace linen fibers to the clothing of someone who was at the scene. They can find material residue on skin or clothes. They can determine the trajectory of a bullet or what kind of weapon was used.

It comes down to this—if you did it, CSI will find you!

To the average person, the prospect of surveying such a scene would seem like a total mystery. It would seem almost impossible to accurately figure out the events that led to the apparent mysterious crime. But these highly trained professionals thrive on solving these mysteries.

The Greatest Unsolved Mystery In ancient times there were no such CSI teams. But over two thousand years ago there was a mystery surrounding an event that took place in a tomb that was thought to be a crime scene. The details were scant.

The only thing that was certain was that a dead body was missing even though the highest level of security was present.

Let me share some of the details that were known:

•

Jesus of Nazareth was put to death by capital punishment on a Friday using the method of crucifixion.

• The body was removed and place in the tomb of one Joseph of Arimathea.

• Pontius Pilate, the Roman Procurator of Jerusalem, assigned two of the most well-trained Imperial soldiers to guard the tomb because of certain rumors that were circulating.

• According to the reports of several women, when they went to the tomb, the guards were gone, the stone was rolled away from the tomb, and the body was not in the tomb.

• The women then said that two men in bright clothing told them something very strange. They said that the men told them that Jesus, who had been buried in the tomb was no longer dead, but was alive!

*(See Luke chapter 24 for further details) The women were not taken into custody or questioned because it was evident that they could not have removed the boulder that blocked the entrance of the tomb. Moreover, based on the absurdity

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of the story they rendered, they would be considered unreliable witnesses in any court of law. Pilate sent his team of investigators to the tomb. They could find no evidence of what happened, so a conspiracy theory was developed regarding the missing body.

Essentially, the story would be that the body was stolen for political or other reasons, thus increasing the mystery of the tomb which was now an official crime scene.

The women also offered their report to several of the followers of Jesus. It was said that Peter, one of the disciples, ran to the tomb to corroborate the claim of the women. When he arrived at the tomb, he discovered a piece of evidence that nobody seemed to have noticed. In the corner were neatly folded pieces of linen that were used to cover the body for burial. How could such critical evidence go unnoticed or left at the scene after a so-called thorough investigation by the Roman investigators? Too bad CSI wasn’t there!

Several other reports indicated that Peter “departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass” (Luke 24:12).

The location of the pieces of linen left no doubt (at least in the mind of the followers of Jesus) that the evidence was left there deliberately. However, no one was able to

solve the mystery of what happened in the tomb that Sunday morning. According to His followers, Jesus himself had spoken of being resurrected from the dead. This report (some called it a miracle) became the official teaching of the small band of followers. To add to the chaos, confusion, and heightened anxiety related to the event, some of the believers were actually reporting that they had seen Him alive and had actually talked to Him several times!

The Mystery Solved It was not until some years later that a follower of Jesus claimed to have solved the mystery in a document that he published and circulated to other believers. The man, whose name was Paul, actually stated that he knew exactly why the evidence was left in the tomb. Some of the readers this article may remember Paul if you have read some of his writings in the Bible. Paul, a former Jewish Pharisee, was expelled by the Sanhedrin Council after he claimed to have been converted as a follower of Jesus after a strange spiritual encounter on his way to Damascus. Prior to his conversion this same Paul, who was then known as Saul, had in fact persecuted the followers of Jesus. After some time Paul was recognized as one the

great defenders of the teachings of Jesus.

Based on his great insight into the events of the mystery surrounding the so-called resurrection of Jesus, he is considered to be the premiere crime scene investigator of the resurrection event by all the followers of Jesus.

The evidence presented by Paul was considered to be absurd by all the experts.

According to them, his proof was merely supported by some baseless claim of “divine revelation.” His report was simple. In fact, he believed that there was actually no crime committed at the tomb on that Sunday morning. No one stole the body! According to Paul, the clothes were left there simply because the same Jesus, who in fact had died, had simply used the tomb as a place to change His clothes! Jesus needed a dressing room! But why did a dead man have to change? Paul explains, “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15: 53-54).

Another Great Mystery to be Solved As strange as the claim by Paul seemed to be, he made another claim which seemed just as strange. He also told the followers of Jesus that the same thing that happened at the tomb of Jesus would be realized in the life of every believer. He said, “Behold I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15: 51).

According to Paul, one day the world is going to experience the largest and most mysterious crime scene ever imagined.

Every blood-washed, redeemed, and faithful follower of Jesus will undergo a radical change that will result in the disappearance of his or her physical body. He said, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52).

Who will be here to solve that one?

Carswell Leonard, Raleigh, North Carolina

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Gary D. Lewis Fayetteville, Georgia

The Resurrection:

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A Savior Who Identifies, Intercedes and Intervenes

Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren, and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God. Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her (John 20: 17, 18 NASB).

John makes it abundantly clear that on that first Easter morning there was a physical and tangible bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. In her exuberance, Mary was admonished to “stop clinging to me.” I have been moved to tears when watching a soldier being reunited with his family at an airport, with his wife and children strongly clinging to him. That touching reunion, powerful though it may be, pales in comparison to Mary’s response as she clung to her Savior. There was a physical body she could touch and hold.

In Jesus’ interactions with Thomas, there is also an undeniable emphasis that the same body that suffered for you and I, had indeed been raised. Jesus had arose—scars 14

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intact—as proof of His victory over death, hell, and the grave. In fact, it was the scars of our Savior that served as the identifying marks for a bewildered disciple. They served as proof-positive and motivated Thomas to say, “My Lord and My God” (John 20:28).

I would like to draw our attention to three reasons why I believe that the doctrine of the bodily resurrection of our Lord is so important.

He IDENTIFIES with us John’s account of the resurrection assures that Jesus’ identity with humanity has permanence, as a tangible body is offered as proof of his resurrection. What a wonderful truth that our Savior knows our feelings and thoughts! He knows our pain and our joys. No wonder the writer of the book Hebrews exclaimed, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; WWW.WHITEWINGMESSENGER.ORG

but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Did you catch that? He is not just touched by our troubles but how our troubles make us feel. The Phillips translation states, “He can be touched by the weakness trouble discovers in us.” He identifies with our hurts. He knows the bitter disappointment of a friend (Peter and Judas).

He feels the reality of that pain, and one look at those nailpierced hands is a reminder of the frailty of our human skin.

For the past 16 years, I have worked as a chaplain. The overwhelming majority of that time in has been spent working with hospice patients. I have been with many patients and their families as their loved ones took their final breaths. I am glad the God that I pray to knows what it is like to struggle for a final breath! There is only one true God worthy of our prayer and praise. That is our God who bears in His body the marks of His suffering. I am thankful that Jesus identifies with us.

A few years ago God gave me a song about the intimacy of our relationship with Him: You have carried our sorrow, Bourne all our grief, Only in Your name can a soul find sweet relief, For You know what its like to struggle for one final breath, For You’re the only God who has ever tasted death, You’re the only God who has ever tasted death.

Only You know the pain that a body can go through, Only You know the hurt that can be caused by a friend Only You can be touched by the feelings and infirmities of man Because You’re the only God With scars in Your hands

He INTERCEDES for us Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us (Romans 8:34).

The Apostle Paul assures us that Jesus intercedes for us to the Father. It is the bodily resurrection of our Lord that assures us that there can be no better advocate before the father. As Jesus makes our case before the Father, we can rest assured that, because He identifies with us, His intercession for us is fully enlightened. To quote the old song’ “Jesus knows all about our struggles, He will guide till the day is done, There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus. No. not one, no not one!” (Johnson Oatman Jr. and George C. Hugg) He intercedes with the full knowledge of how difficult life can be. Our Lord knows first hand and how heavy the load.

In Christ we find a savior who knows exactly what we are going through. He is able to make our case crystal clear to the Father. There is no detail or circumstance that escapes our advocate. I am glad that He intercedes for us.

He INTERVENES for us I am glad for the intervention of God in my life and am glad to be a part of a church that believes that God still intervenes in the lives of His creation. I am grateful that because of the bodily resurrection of our Lord, we can rest assured that He knows the touched that we need. I am grateful that He understands the intricacies that makes me, me. He knows my needs and how to meet those needs. He can speak to me in a way I know and understand and, at the same time, He can speak to someone with a different background, culture, and life experience in a way they can know and understand. His resurrection assures us that His interventions are right. They are not guesswork. He knows who to send and when to send them. His resurrection assures us that He knows our strengths and our weakness. He knows the comfort of friends, and the power of a touch. He knows the ministry of presence and the necessity of absence.

I have learned that ministry does not come from pat answers or one size fits all responses, but from listening to the God who knows a hurting heart. That same God has a unique and special intervention for them. Surely His mercies are made new every morning.

Because God identifies with and intercedes for us, His interventions are made especially with us in mind. Many years ago, a patient of mine, James, was placed on hospice while residing at a long term care facility (or what many call a nursing home). On my first visit, I introduced myself as a chaplain, a minister. He promptly responded, “I don’t need no preacher” I then asked, “Could you use a friend?” He looked at me and said, “With what I am going through, I sure could use a friend.” Over the next several months, we passed the time playing cards and checkers. He began to open up and share his history of a hard life filled with challenges. Gradually, he began to let me pray for him. I will never forget the day he joined with me in prayer and tearfully gave his heart to Christ.

I was blessed to watch James grow in grace, and learned many lessons from his life. I worked with him for about 18 months and was blessed to officiate at his funeral, a Christian funeral. I believe the Lord knew James and loved James. God intervened in his life and He used cards and checkers mixed with love. This was God’s design, His specially-prepared rescue for one of His children. I believe that God knows our history and because He identifies so fully with us, He has uniquely prepared interventions, moments that change us forever.

Because He laid His body down for us, Jesus assured us of an eternal connection with every one of us who will one day face our mortality. He is not aloof and He is not unapproachable.

He is a Savior who identifies, intercedes, and intervenes in our lives. I am grateful for His sacrifice and resurrection.

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Don’t miss the 97th International Assembly at the new location in downtown Louisville, the Kentucky International Convention Center! Most participating downtown hotels are connected to the Convention Center through Louie Link, a system of indoor walkways.

Come hear what God is doing around the world through the Church of God of Prophecy and join us for a great time to worship, fellowship, learn, and conduct business. Don’t miss: Breakout sessions on a variety of topics Guest speakers Exciting worship Special activities for youth and children Missions emphasis Tomlinson College/Tomlinson Center reunion For hotel reservations, call 1-800-743-3100 or visit the Assembly website.

For more information and detailed hotel reservation information and pricing visit cogop.org/assembly.html.

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Ashley Guidry Patterson, Loiusiana

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We, as believers in God, know that the highest point of all of His creation was when He reached down from His heavenly throne, picked up a handful of dust and created an earthly being; He then blew into the nostrils of the being He had created and it became a living soul. This being was termed to be a man whom He named Adam. This created man was perfect in every detail, sinless and without any physical defects.

However, in a later time, as he was tending to his garden in the quietness and pleasantry of this place called Eden, a place of bliss, he became disobedient and sin was formed in his life. This sin was passed on to following generations, down to us today.

God knew from the beginning of time that this creature which He had created would fall. After this had occurred, He initiated the plan that had been formed by the Holy Trinity and He sent the “Man of Sorrows,” His only Son, to reconcile His people to Him. Due to the sin of this first Adam, this Man was called the Last Adam because He also was placed on earth as a sinless and obedient servant of the Most High.

We find the following words in Isaiah 53: 1-5, “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed”.

As evidenced by the Scriptures, we can see that the work that needed to be done was serious to this “Man of Sorrows” who would bear wounds inflicted upon Him such as the piercing of His hands, feet, and side for our transgressions and scourged for our WWW.WHITEWINGMESSENGER.ORG

healing. All this was necessary because of the “first” Adam.

This Man bore our grief, our “sorrows,” taking upon Himself the guilt of sin when He was sinless. By the stripes He received upon His body, He made possible the overcoming, the healing of sickness and diseases. He received this in a body that had known no illness and disease.

When the “Man of Sorrows” came into the world, sent by the Father to reconcile His people to Him, He found Himself being rejected. The world found His ministry misunderstood, and misinterpreted, by the “chosen nation” to which He had come.

The Romans carried out the death sentence of this Man of Sorrows. The sentence of death was demanded by those who thought that they were serving their God by doing away with the man they called a blasphemer.

As we look at what would occur, we find that all this would be conforming to the plan of the Father in that His Son, the Man of Sorrows, was “slain before the foundation of the world.” Jesus had predicted His own crucifixion, but the guilt of the crucifiers was in line for the same “Woe” placed upon Judas, “that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed!”

The Man of Sorrows went about demonstrating the power projected by the atonement in that He forgave sin and healed all manner of illness prior to His death and resurrection. This Man came to earth for the spiritual deliverance of those who believed upon Him. As this Man taught His Gospel, healing all kinds of diseases, removing tormenting and demonic spirits, he also delegated power and authority to the disciples to carry on this ministry. They were sent to preach the kingdom, heal the sick, and cast out devils.

The load was a heavy one for this Man who bore these griefs allotted to Him. He did not sink under this heavy burden.

He did not tire, but persevered to the end. “It is finished.” He had had blows and bruises; He was stricken, smitten, and afflicted. His “sorrows” bruised Him. He felt pain, (as he was human as well as Spirit) as they touched Him in the most tender parts of His body. He was smitten

This Man bore our grief, our “sorrows,” taking upon Himself the guilt of sin when He was sinless. by tongue as all manner of evil was said against Him, and also smitten by the hand, blow after blow. He had wounds and stripes, which were made by the scourging He received.

The scourging was not sanctioned

by Jewish law, which was limited to forty lashes given to the worst criminals, but which was not according to the Roman code of punishment. The Jews wanted Jesus to receive the worst punishment possible.

As previously stated, He was wounded in His hands, feet, and side. (I may mention this several times in this article for I think that our people must place the incidents of the Lord’s sufferings deeply in their minds so that we can fully appreciate what He went through for our salvation).

Although not a bone was broken in this Man’s body, His skin was tattered and torn from the top of His head which was crowned with thorns, to the soles of His feet which were nailed to the cross, and all His wounds and bruises could be seen.

He was wronged and abused, afflicted, oppressed, but He kept possession of His faculties.

This Man by His wisdom could have evaded the sentence He had been placed under and by His power could have resisted the execution, but “thus it was written,” and thus it behooved Him to suffer. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter without any difficulty or reluctance (He is the Lamb of God), and as a sheep that is dragged before the shearers, and so He opened not His mouth which not only showed His outstanding patience under affliction (Psalms 39:9), and His meekness under reproach (Psalms 38:13), but His cheerful compliance with His Father’s will, “Not my will, but thine be done. Lo, I come.” By this will, we are sanctified for He gave His life for our sins. It was for our own good, and in our stead that this Man of Sorrows suffered.

It is certain we are all guilty before God. We have all sinned and come short

of His glory. Like sheep we are gone astray. The whole race of mankind lies under the stain of original corruption, and every individual person stands charged with sin. Many have drifted away from God and are bent on backsliding from Him, but altogether unable of themselves to return to Him. This Man of Sorrows was delivered to death by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God. None but God had the power to lay our sins upon the shoulders of this Man for two reasons: One, the sin was committed against God, and it was to Him that satisfaction was to be made; two, it was because the Man on which the sins were to be laid was His own Son; the Son who was the object of the Father’s love; His holy child, Jesus, who knew no sin.

This Man, who was burdened with our grief and sorrows, with the common infirmities of human nature, the common misfortunes and mishaps of human life which sin had introduced, underwent the extremes of His burdens when He said, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful.”

He made the sorrows of the present time heavy to Himself that He might make them light and easy for us. He was wounded for our transgressions.

Our sins were the thorns in His head, as were the nails in His hands and feet, the spear in His side. Wounds and bruises were the consequences of sin and what we deserved. He was delivered to death for our offenses. This Man bore pain that we might be at ease. He gave satisfaction to the justice of God that we might have satisfaction in our own minds, might be of good cheer, knowing that through Him our sins are forgiven.

Throughout it all, this great Man of Sorrows, burdened with our sinful conditions, bore our grief, our burdens, so that in the end we would repent and receive the greatest gift anyone can receive: salvation! He chose to give this most wonderful and beautiful gift to all mankind!

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During the 96th International General Assembly, Bishop Randall E. Howard challenged this body of believers to begin ministering with 20/20 vision; a ten-year plan concentrated on three core values: prayer, harvest and leadership development. I was profoundly intrigued by this call to minister with perfect clarity and streamlined focus. The call to minister with 20/20 vision requires taking a critical look at what should be done, rather than what is being done.

Ministering with What should be done is that which the Spirit has ordained to be the course or focus of one’s ministry, both corporate and individual. This focus will assure that proper attention and primacy is given to the components that make up the entirety of the God-given vision. Bishop Howard challenged us as a Christian Pentecostal body to be a, “Christ-exalting, holiness, Spirit-filled, all-nations, disciple-making, churchplanting Movement with a passion for Christian union.”

In speaking with my brother Dr. Steve M. McKinnon, an ophthalmologist for the past 27 years, he explained to me that 20/20 vision is the standard by which all vision is measured; 20/20 vision in the context of ministry involves more than the ability to see. Ministerial vision includes seeing with both clarity and focus that brings proper discernment to what is being viewed. Therefore, I am able to physically see properly, and employ spiritual sight to discern what I see.

Jesus’ ministry and mission were clear to Him and He went about doing those things which fulfilled His divine purpose. In Luke 4:18, 19, Jesus read from the book of Isaiah (61:13), clearly illustrating His understanding of His purpose: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the

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Cervin McKinnon

poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

In Mark’s gospel, 8:22-25, we find Jesus in Bethsaida, acting out this purpose: And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his

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hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

In order to experience 20/20 vision we must allow Jesus Christ to lead us away from anything that creates an unhealthy dependency, or transfers our focus to someone or something other than Him. We must trust only in the Lord, in order to benefit from the spiritual transformation process resulting in focus, clarity, and correct discernment.

Jesus acted this out with His disciples in Mark 3:13-15: And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.

By examining this passage we understand that being with the Lord and being open to His teaching sharpens our vision.

This process involves the renewing of our mind and the total surrender of our spirit to Him. Our ability to see loses validity without the ability to discern what is being seen. Thus, our brain, the marvelous and mysterious center of our nervous system, must be fully engaged in the process of interpreting the meaning of the images in our line of sight. The Holy Spirit serves the same function in the body of Christ, as the brain in the human body. The Holy Spirit works as a transforming agent that causes our spiritual eyes to see and understand in full!

John 16:13-15 tells us: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The Holy Spirit is not bound by any force. He operates within time, but is not limited in any way by its existence. As we allow the freedom of the Spirit to work in and through us, we will begin to truly see our ability to minister to this dying world with a clear message of salvation that leads lost souls toward a desire for a true relationship with Jesus Christ.

We can no longer afford to minister with a shotgun approach; aiming at nothing but claiming the harvest when something is struck. We must not fall into the ready trap of following the latest Christian fads, gimmicks, or trends that only last for a moment. Instead, we must hear what the voice of the Spirit is saying to the Church. The Church originated in the mind of God and was purchased by the Blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. It is to Him

and those who bear witness in Heaven that we owe our spiritual allegiance.

Ministering with 20/20 vision requires clarity of mind, body, and spirit and a single commitment to see as God sees, hear as He hears, touch as He touches, and minister as He ministers. Jesus “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38 NKJV).

Nothing less than ministering with the true focus of 20/20 vision will satisfy our Gospel mandate to “make all men see” (Ephesians 3:9).

Empty Cross, Empty Tomb O, the power of the empty cross!

O, the joy of the empty tomb!

The Savior suffered this life’s loss To burst forth in eternal bloom!

The cross, once bearing our Lord’s pain Now empty forever will remain.

No other sacrifice will ever be needed To save lost souls for whom Christ pleaded.

The Father saw His Son’s great deed, Weeping as He watched His own Son bleed.

Payment was made, justice served; One Holy life—many others preserved!

To the cave disciples carried his tortured frame Thinking nothing could ever be the same.

Well-hidden from their pain and grief Was God’s loving plan for mortal relief.

What they saw the third day astonished; “He’s not here!” the angel admonished.

The tomb that trapped the hope of the doomed Now gaped with the promise of life renewed!

O, the power of the empty cross!

O, the joy of the empty tomb!

The Savior suffered His life’s loss To burst forth in eternal bloom!

—John Newson

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The Good News for Everyone Preaching is a scriptural and effective way to spread the Gospel. It is my calling, my “thing.” Even though I love to preach, some of the most significant opportunities I have had to share Jesus have not been within the confines of a sermon.

The Word says we have all fallen short of the glory of God and we need a Savior. That puts every living person on equal footing, regardless if we are 22

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rich or poor, famous or unknown. God has given us the Great Commission to share with all.

In 1985, a fellow minister and I were traveling to Denver for a pastor’s conference. He was reading; I was people watching. A man and a woman walked past us. They were dressed in normal clothes, each with a hat pulled down low on their head. As I watched them pass, I had the nagging feeling that there was something familiar about the woman.

At first I could not figure out what it was. I watched her for a moment and then it came to me. “She reminds me of Goldie Hawn,” I thought. I

nudged the other pastor and asked, “Who does she remind you of?” He looked up from his book and said immediately, “Goldie Hawn.”

I tried not to stare but I wanted to determine if she actually was the Hollywood actress Goldie Hawn.

Beneficial to my sleuthing was the fact that we were sitting in the last cluster of chairs in a dead-end place.

They wandered as far as they were able and then were forced to walk back by us. On the second pass I was convinced that it really was “Private Benjamin,” in the flesh.

I said to my travelling companion, “Hey, go get her autograph.” He replied, WWW.WHITEWINGMESSENGER.ORG

“I can’t to ask for her autograph, I’m a bishop.” I said, “Well, I’m just a pastor, I’m going to get her autograph.” He said quickly, “Here’s my card. Get her to sign it, too.”

“Are you Goldie Hawn?”

“Yes.” First hurdle conquered.

“I hate to bother you, but could I have your autograph?”

“Of course.” This is really happening!

She eyed the Tennessee hat I was wearing in that Buffalo, Wyoming airport and asked, “Where are you from?” I told her Tennessee and she shared that she is in Nashville a couple of times a year. “I have relatives there.”

my paper. She signed it and the bodyguard said, “Would you like mine, too?” I said, “Sure,” as I looked into his face for the first time. It was Kurt Russell, her actor boyfriend.

I never heard from either one of them again, but I know on that day they heard this preacher share the good news that God loves them and can meet the needs of their hearts.

In sharp contrast to that, is the story of Kevin, who I met while pastoring in Billings, Montana. It began with a random phone call on a Wednesday afternoon.

I never heard from either one of them again, but I know on that day they heard this preacher share the good news that God loves them and can meet the needs of their hearts.

I, as I am sure many star-struck people before me had done, took this as a green light to share about myself.

“I’m from Tennessee, but I’m living in Wyoming now.”

“Oh? Why?” I am having a conversation with Goldie Hawn!

“I am a pastor—with the Church of God of Prophecy.”

The bodyguard next to her nodded his head, signifying that he had heard of the denomination. Ms. Hawn asked, “What does your church believe?”

In that instant, I knew that the atmosphere had changed. I had been handed an opportunity to share the Gospel and I was not going to miss it. I laid out for her the plan of salvation from the Old Testament prophecies to the Virgin Birth to the day of Pentecost.

And she listened intently. I felt the presence of the Lord. Her plane was boarding, so we had just a moment to pray. I told her that I knew she had millions of fans but maybe very few friends. If she ever needed anything, she could call me. She nodded appreciatively.

“Oh, what about that autograph?” she asked. I laughed and handed her

“Does your church have service tonight?” he asked. I responded that we did. “Is there someone who could pick me up?” I said, “Of course,” and went to pick him up.

We hit it off immediately. Our trip to church became a regular occurrence.

I picked him up every Wednesday night and Sunday mornings, too. The whole church took to him and made him feel welcome. He grinned from the time I picked him up through the service and all the way home.

I learned that he was 26 years old, bipolar, and the place he lived was a group home for people with mental challenges. Part of his routine was to ask me for a dollar when I dropped him off at the group home.

Kevin was estranged from his father, who lived in Michigan and was an executive with General Motors.

Years before, his father had told him that he would never amount to anything and kicked him out.

A minister back east told Kevin that he was going to find a “treasure” out west. Due to his illness, he could not hold down a job, so he regularly entered sweepstakes looking for the treasure. As our friendship grew,

I challenged him to think about working. I knew with the support of the loving people of his church and as he grew in Christ, he could accomplish much more than he had previously believed.

After about a year of nurturing and being loved on by the people at the church, Kevin was able to support himself and live on his own. He was able to function without medicine and hold down a job. He looked better, dressed better, and was an active member of the body of Christ.

At one point, after a bunch of us attended a revival, he believed he might be called to preach. I gave him an opportunity and a few minutes after stepping into the pulpit, he turned to me and said, “Well, we both know I missed this one.”

Kevin approached me one day and said, “I feel like I need to make things right with my dad.” With our prayers and blessing, he went home to Michigan. I never heard from him again. But unlike the Goldie Hawn encounter, I do know the impact the Gospel had on Kevin.

See, two years after he left, I received another phone call in the middle of another afternoon. An unfamiliar voice was on the other end of the line.

“I don’t know who you are, but your card was in my brother, Kevin’s billfold. Who are you?” My heart leaped and I responded excitedly, “I am Kevin’s pastor from Billings, Montana. Is he there? How is he?”

“I was hoping when I found the card that you were his pastor from out west. I wanted so very much to share with you that Kevin was killed in a head-on collision a few weeks ago. And most importantly, I want to let you know that he stayed faithful to the Lord. Our whole family is in church because of him. There was Christian music playing in his car. He stayed faithful, Pastor.”

—Bishop Rick Lee Billings, Montana

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MINISTRIES MINISTRIES

Jesus Is the Firstfruit of the Resurrection Before we get to the powerful truth of the resurrection, we need to establish that we are the firstfruits of His creatures: “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18). Jesus chose to give us birth through the Word of truth that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all His creatures.

The Feast of Firstfruits had a typical character and pre-initiated the resurrection of Christ: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23) Leviticus 23:10, 11 teaches us that the Feast of Firstfruits pointed to Christ, much in the same way as the Feast of the Passover. Christ was not only the first born of God, but He was also the firstfruit of the resurrection. The Feast of Firstfruits was a feast “on the morrow after the Sabbath.” Many feasts were on the Sabbath, but the Feast of Firstfruits was on Sunday.

Christ rose from the dead on Sunday. He met every requirement of firstfruit • Firstfruits are ordained to belong to God exclusively. of the resurrection.

God repeatedly states the firstfruit and the first born belong to Him. The Feast of Firstfruits was one of six feasts that the Israelites were required The Principles of Firstfruits are: to keep when they occupied the Promised Land.

These feasts or “holy convocations” were evidence • First means it is part of a series, not the only. To be of Divine wisdom. They were rehearsals, shadows first, more has to follow. The great truth is, as surely that spoke of Christ. The Feast of Firstfruits was as Christ was the firstfruit of the resurrection, we expressive of the dependence on the God of nature are assured more will follow. We will be resurrected and providence, especially becoming to the Israelites like Him one day. who owed their land, as well as all it produced, to • Firstfruits means the rest will be of like manner as the Divine Bounty. Are we any different? We owe all the first. If the firstfruit of a tree is an apple, you can to the Divine Bounty, and God is the owner of all. rest assured the rest of the fruit will be apples. Paul says in Romans 11:16, “For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy.” The firstfruit dictates the remaining fruit. We are born in His image.

We shall be like Him.

These three identifying characteristics of firstfruits carry a powerful financial precedent. Our tithe is our firstfruit. When we bring it to God, it redeems the rest, and all our finances are blessed. Because the firstfruits are redeemed and blessed, more blessed and redeemed finances will follow. Remember, that which follows is of the same type. First apple means more apples.

Firstfruits, or tithe, blessed means all our finances are blessed.

Clearly, the tithe—or firstfruits–belongs exclusively to God. The tithe is not optional or open to negotiation. It belongs to God. 24

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The Feast of Firstfruits was never abolished. God said, “. . . it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings” (Leviticus 23:14).

The Feast of Firstfruits was a perpetual statute throughout all generations, and its principle still carries through today.

Jan Couch, Stewardship Ministries Director

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In June of 2011, our office was notified that the Rwandan government had enacted a bill which abolished the right for Rwandans to dwell in grass-thatched houses. This bill, known as the Bye-bye NYAKATSI Project, was initiated as the means to improve the welfare of the vulnerable Rwandan community. To accomplish this goal, churches and organizations were asked to build such people decent houses or to provide a sufficient roof for their existing simple dwellings by the year 2012.

Our Rwanda COGOP National Overseer, Brother Redias Nkundabera, informed us that we had 20 church families living in grass-thatched houses, and that 30 iron sheets per family

would be necessary to comply with this government mandate. So our Global Outreach office immediately initiated such an appeal to help our Rwandan people be able to accomplish this goal in a timely manner.

Harvest Partner churches and Helping Hand donors readily responded to assist our brothers and sisters in Rwanda who were affected by this government order. And in just a few short months, combined efforts from these ministries totaling approximately $9,000 had been given to provide these 20 families with suitable roofs over their heads. To God be the glory for helping us fulfill this need by the January 2012 deadline!

Matthew 25:40 states, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” To all those who participated to help us fulfill this project, please receive warm, genuine “thanks” from your fellow church families in Rwanda and from our offices. You have truly responded with a Christ-like heart which surely brings pleasure to our Lord. Thanks for choosing to make a difference in such a tangible way.

Annette Taylor International Director Harvest Partners Ministry

MINISTRIES MINISTRIES

A Passion for Ministry

Argentina National Women’s Conference Argentina National Bishop Francisco Lopez and his wife, Sister Sonia, envisioned expectation for a national women’s conference.

They scheduled the ministry weekend in conjunction with a national pastoral conference for the first weekend in December, 2011, for the nation. They began to share the excitement in preparation for this time of ministry over the past two years.

What an exciting response as I walked into the City Centre auditorium to a capacity crowd from every region in Argentina!

Friday afternoon began the weekend of ministry with an introductory session and a season of prayer corporately and in small groups. Friday evening was a cooperatively creative evening of celebration and fellowship between both the women’s conference and the pastoral conference. This particular meeting was a first effort of successful national celebration.

The Lord ordered the entire day worship, instruction, dramatic presentations, communication exercises, and miraculous seasons of prayer and healing.

Saturday was a wonderful, full day of ministry for the women’s conference as young women from throughout the nation shared the Word of God, led worship, dance and other forms of creative and anointed ministry. Felicia Payano ministered the evening message and again, at day’s end there was a ministry outpouring in the presence of the Lord.

Sunday’s concluding session was an amazing day as both conferences merged for a specific time of ministry and prayer of anointing and the miraculous. We moved and celebrated in the presence of our mighty and sovereign King. In the concluding prayer line, we were witnesses to His glory, healing, refreshing, restoration, renewal in ministry; He is the lifter of our heads.

Many biblical evidences declare that God heals us every one.

I am grateful for His comprehensive moves as His people believe with hope.

Thank God for His servants, Francisco and Sonia Lopez, and for the anointed work of God they are contributing in the nation of Argentina. Thank God for Felicia Payano who is an anointed vessel of ministry and translation.

And I thank God for the opportunity to have been a participant and witness to the work of the Lord in Argentina.

Catherine Payne International Women’s Ministries Director

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WORSHIP LEADERS’ NETWORK Worship Defined— Spirit and Truth “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. . .”

(John 4:23 NIV).

Across the globe today, people file in to pack out arenas, churches, or other venues for a unique worship experience.

Hearts are filled with expectancy to meet with God and encounter a new avenue of His love. However, where is the excitement and thrill for morning worship?

A number of people—churched and unchurched—know how to worship.

They do it every day. However, when it comes to defining worship, people have a much more difficult time adequately explaining exactly what worship is. In the same manner that a musician has learned to play by ear cannot outline rhythmic notation or the melodic theory of a piece of music, many church-goers

cannot effectively explain worship. There is a chasm of separation between ‘how to’ and ‘what is’.

Throughout the Bible, we see different expressions of worship: clapping, dancing, shouting, playing, singing, kneeling, offering, etc. However, these alone are not worship. These actions can all be done without truly worshiping.

They are merely tools we use to worship.

A right understanding of worship will not only change worship services, but it will revitalize your personal relationship with God. Paul outlined worship in his letter to the Romans. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (12:1 NIV). Dr. Jerald Daffe of Lee University has defined it this way: Worship is our response to God, declaring His worth, as He has revealed Himself to us.

Worship is much more than just singing or playing a song. It is more than merely clapping or dancing—or even giving an offering. Worship is everything.

It is all that you have and all that you are.

It is your lifestyle. God will reveal Himself to you. He will do it in many ways. As He shows Himself as your healer, redeemer, provider, savior, shelter, peace, joy, and many other ways, worship is how you respond to this revelation. You may dance, clap, shout, sing, or use other expressions in response to the revelation of God, but they must declare His worth.

You must not only worship in spirit, but in truth as well.

Kris Dockery Georgia

Become a part of the Church of God of Prophecy Worship Leader’s Network. Visit http://cogop.org/resources/newsletters.html to sign up for the e-newsletter.

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Continued from page 6

God’s Grace through the Trial A part of the puzzle is missing but God’s grace continues—Jeremiah 29:11.

As I put Sara and Emily to bed that evening I realized it was the end of another year. I asked myself, “What have I accomplished?” Not for me, but for God. There are still pieces of the puzzle not fully complete yet, but God continues to be in control.

Seven years ago, my son Rodney was sent to prison and I wrote an article for the White Wing Messenger about God’s grace. I’m finding His grace, seven years later, is still sufficient. I’ve tried to be a good servant but still find I need more of Him. He has always been here for me but I have not always been available. Sometimes I am fearful that if He chose me, would I fail? God cares more for our availability than our ability. If we make ourselves available to Him, He will do the rest.

So many things happened in these past seven years; my life felt like a mess and I often felt alone. I kept telling myself God was in control. It was Rodney, who sat in a cold prison cell, reminding me, “Your faith will carry you, Mom.” I felt as if some days I would not make it another hour; my life was turned upside down.

What eases my heart’s anxiety is this: God’s active role in history. He has anticipated all we have or will encounter. He knows and He has a plan. I tend to forget that sometimes.

But even when I forget, God gives me those moments when the pieces He has been moving around, as I look back on them in bewilderment, are settled into place. I step back in awe of the picture He has formed. Life is full of uncertainty; God never promised that we would know why things happen. That kind of certainty is only for Him. In February of 2012, my son returns home to a family who loves him and trusted God to do the unexpected for him.

I look back to see it has been a difficult time these past seven years, but God has a plan and continues to help us finish the puzzle, or perhaps just search for those missing pieces.

If you are at a place in life when it is difficult to see the full puzzle coming together, take a moment to reflect on past puzzles He has completed. Then walk in faith that He will continue to do so today, and tomorrow, and even the day after tomorrow. His plan and purposes do not always make sense to us, but every piece will fit exactly in the puzzle where he plans it to fit and it will result in His glory.

Debbie Lawson, Kansas City, Kansas

GLOBAL

Bolivia

The church in the Chilimarca zone of the city of Cochabamba celebrated 18 years as an established church. This was one of the first churches to have its own infrastructure and to be well equipped. One of the characteristics of the church is that on every anniversary they celebrate baptisms, receive new members, and celebrate dedications of children; in reality, it is a time of celebration for them. The pastor of this church is Angel Velasco Ramírez.

The churches of the Department of La Paz belonging to Region 1 celebrate a joint baptismal service; all of the churches go out to the countryside to have fellowship and take advantage of the opportunity to baptize new people who were won during the year. On this occasion, they were visited by the National Overseer, Bishop Damian Villanueva and his wife, Sister Ponciana; they were a great blessing to these churches. At this event, 98 people descended into the waters to be baptized. The Regional Overseer is Bishop Román Condori.

Celebrates Baptisms

David Villanueva

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GLOBAL

IN HIS PRESENCE

News from Finland In January, we were privileged to celebrate a baptismal service. When a Finn decides to proclaim his faith and trust in Christ by being baptized, it is a reason for a celebration. We baptized Mikko, Sirpa, and Helge.

Also in January, we had two visitors from the Ukraine: Viktor Rudenko and Jerry Chalk. Viktor was thankful for the help that different believers had given to the Ukraine. The help had been given with boldness, putting all fear aside. Jerry encouraged us in his Sunday sermon to make use of all the opportunities in life to spread the Gospel.

The members of the Link Church have come together in the Links. The purpose of the gatherings has been to meet one another and to have an encounter with God. Through these meetings, we have been strengthened in our faith and grown towards a mature trust in Jesus Christ.

For the past year, we have been in the process of acquiring a meeting place of our own. In October, we finally purchased a place that we renovated in November and December. Our goal was to take these facilities into use in January 2012. We have not named these facilities yet, but because the place is located on the second floor and it is used for prayer, it could be called the Upper Room. Another name we will be using is the Living Room. Both of these names will describe well the purpose of these facilities. We want the place to be filled with God’s presence, prayer, and life!

Tapio and Heli Sätilä, National Overseer/Pastor, Finland

Lew Allen Davis Bishop Lew Allen Davis, 91, of Cleveland, Tennessee, died January 23, 2012. He was married to Mildred Davis, who preceded him in death in 2011.

Bishop Davis was born in Brosley, Missouri and spent his childhood in the “Knobbs” community of western Kentucky before being called into the ministry. He was licensed with the Church of God of Prophecy and served as a pastor in Kentucky and Tennessee before coming under general appointment as International Director of Sunday School Ministries.

He also served as state overseer for Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, and Georgia. Records show him as one of the longest tenured bishops, being ordained October 26, 1945.

Bishop Davis was regarded as a top evangelist in high demand for the COGOP, traveling extensively even after his retirement. By his own detailed journals, he recorded more than 20,000 salvation experiences during his ministry and added more than 2,000 people to the Church.

CHILDREN’S

Children’s Ministry in Texas

Texas was recently blessed by the ministry of Kathy Creasy, International Children’s Ministry Director, who lead a weekend of training, sharing ideas, and blessings. Sister Creasy stressed the need for an active, dedicated children’s ministry in every church regardless of the church size. God gloriously blessed as leaders and workers were prayed for. A renewed fire and burden for our children settled on each one.

Amy Vanterpool, Intensive Director and State Children’s Ministry Director, met with leaders to set up networking with each one.

Leaders, pastors, and workers went home loaded with resources, excited, and ready to work with their children. They have already started training their workers, painting rooms, and preparing for a time of harvest in their Children’s Department. It was a great weekend which made an impact on everyone.

Judy Schall, State Coordinator

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WORLDVIEW (continued) COMMUNITY

Love Them to God: The Free to Live Ministry

In the area near Fields of the Wood, Murphy, North Carolina, there’s a ministry house devoted to healing addictive behaviors. Doris Wise, a Describe what went on in your mind when you began considering this ministry. member of the Fields of the Wood I came home to take care of my mom in 1999. As I was going to church and around the county, I soon discovered drugs were rampant. Every family either had a member or knew someone who was COGOP, saw the need due to the on drugs, prescription pills, crack cocaine, or meth. This troubled me. I had a cousin who was in drug problem that was beginning constant pain. He had swapped a pill for marijuana because the marijuana helped his back more than to destroy the community. the pill. But he got caught doing the transaction and is in prison for seven years because the pill has opium in it.

I was the Ladies Missionary Leader at our local Fields of the Wood Church of God of Prophecy and I brought this up. All the ladies were concerned, so we gathered in a circle and each one of us got in the middle to be prayed for. While I was in the circle, God told me this was my ministry.

I contacted the local judge who had just started a training session for people to teach drug and alcohol rehab. He told me if I would go to school he would buy my books and utilize me. This started me on my journey to clean up Polk County.

Why is it so necessary?

Families are being torn apart. Moms and dads are going to jail. Even when they don’t get jail time, someone reports them to the county government and they have to get tested. If they fail, the child is taken. This is so sad to see a five year-old being taken from a mom. The child does not understand. They didn’t know mom was on drugs to begin with.

What have been some of the challenges?

The economy is tough right now so no jobs are available—especially in rural areas.

There is always a drug dealer handy because they have to sell enough to get their own.

God has to intervene to give the addict hope that he or she can live well and even help others get off drugs, through salvation.

In His Presence MINISTERS Jack V. Stephens; Cartersville, Georgia; January 29, 2012; Licensed minister for 35 years.

Willy Merat; Haiti; January 31, 2012; Licensed minister for seven years.

MEMBERS Norma R. Pruitt; Birmingham, Alabama; January 22, 2012; Mother of Pastor Phil Pruitt.

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What have been some of the victories?

To give a person a Certificate of Completion and see the smile on their face that they have been clean for the 9–12 weeks it takes to complete. We teach from Living Free Ministries, so it’s Bible from day one to the last page. I have seen very few need to come back.

What advice would you have for leaders dealing with people with addictive behavior?

Love them to God. There will be mishaps, perhaps they went out with the wrong person, but if they are sincere, they come to class, confess, and we start praying. This gets us through.

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MESSAGES

DeWayne Hamby, Managing Editor

The Story Behind “Above All” “Crucified, laid behind a stone/ You lived to die, rejected and alone/ Like a rose, trampled on the ground/ You took the fall, and though of me above all.”

The familiar chorus belongs to “Above All,” one of the most popular, heartaffecting worship songs to emerge in the past ten years. Written by Paul Baloche and Lenny LeBlanc, it gained listeners both on the radio and in corporate worship services, even during President George W. Bush’s Inaugural Prayer Service. As Easter Sunday approaches, it will also likely make appearances on worship plans centering on Jesus’ death and crucifixion.

The song is a narrative on the paradoxical nature of Christ, announcing an incomprehensible God, bigger than any earthly limitations, who laid down His life by way of a cruel, violent death. Baloche said it was written in two separate parts with the familiar chorus being the concluding piece. He began writing as a way of addressing what he felt were the extra trappings attaching themselves to the true worship of Christ, even frustrations arising from the “red tape” that ministry leadership must sometimes deal with.

“On a Tuesday morning a few years ago at my church, alone at the piano, I began

worshiping the Lord,” he

told Worship Leader

magazine. “As I sang, I

started thinking of how

Jesus is so much greater than all the temporal things that our culture esteems as great—power, fame, riches, wisdom, etc. The words just came out . . . ’Lord, you are above all kingdoms, above all thrones, above all wonders the world has ever known . . . ’ Over the next year, I tried to write a chorus that fit the verses, but I never felt like it was ‘the one’.”

Baloche presented it to his friend, LeBlanc, hoping he would add the finishing touches to a song that presented the majesty of Christ that transcends everything else. He was surprised, however, that LeBlanc did a “180-degree turn” on the direction the rest of the track was taking.

Instead of adding a big, triumphant chorus, LeBlanc contrasted the power of the God of the universe with the self-sacrifice and love He poured out on the Cross.

“He . . . said, ‘How about. . . ‘Crucified, laid behind a stone. . . like a rose trampled on the ground. . . ‘” ‘ Whoa!’ I thought, ‘What a contrast, what a picture - that’s Jesus. The One who is and always will be above all, was willing to be crucified and rejected, just to demonstrate His love for an unappreciative world.”

LeBlanc explained, “I think the reason ‘Above All’ has impacted us so powerfully and many others, is because it’s such a beautiful picture of how a God that is

above everything, would become like a rose trampled on the ground, take the fall and think of us . . . above all.”

Above All Above all powers Above all kings Above all nature And all created things Above all wisdom And all the ways of man You were here Before the world began Above all kingdoms Above all thrones Above all wonders The world has ever known Above all wealth And treasures of the earth There’s no way to measure What You’re worth Crucified Laid behind a stone You lived to die Rejected and alone Like a rose Trampled on the ground You took the fall And thought of me Above all “Above All” Words and Music by Lenny LeBlanc and Paul Baloche CCLI License #2629

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