VOL1, NO 6 | NOV/DEC 2011
Content COVER STORY 16 The Wealth Cure
A conversation with actor, director, philanthropist, and New York Times bestselling author Hill Harper. Harper shares lots of golden nuggets from his recently published book, The Wealth Cure - Putting Money In Its Place. Interview By: Tess Rutherford
FEATURES 12
Arise from the Dead The story of a man who was pronounced dead BUT God brought him back to life. By: Matt Cates
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The Power of the Prosperity Reveals the hard truth of what God really says about the purpose of his power. By: Bruce Fullah
14 Invincible Survival A testimony of a young Haitian boy who was miraculously restored out of a paralysis state . Interview By: Reyna Oak 11
The Journey A Davidic-like poem, which brings to light our dependency on God’s grace. By: Ozara Odé
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Finally...I have a Testimony! A testimony of a woman who received multiple healings from Jesus post a tragic automobile accident. Interview By: Reyna Oak
IN EVERY ISSUE: 8 10 7 19 6 2
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Letter from CEO/Publisher: Tess Rutherford Laughter for the Soul: Della Evans Holiday Recipe Featured Book Review: Hill Harper Readers’ Voice
CEO/Publisher Tess Rutherford
Editor Tina Mason - http://www.masonandmasonservices.com/
Photographers Ben Geyer - http://www.flickr.com/photos/geyerba/
Graphic Artist Assistant Imari Rutherford
Writers Laughter for the Soul: Too Late,
bfullah77@gmail.com
page 12
The Power of the Prosperity, page 20
Bruce Fullah
Della Evans pastorcates@gmail.com
reyna_oak@yahoo.com
Arise from the Dead, page 12
Invincible Survival, page 14 Finally...I have a Testimony!, page 22
Reyna Oak
Matt Cates
http://www.reverbnation.com/ozaraode The Journey, page 11
The Wealth Cure - Putting Money In Its Place
A Conversation with New York Times bestselling author Hill Harper Page 16
Ozara OdĂŠ 4
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Photos courtesy of: Manifest Your Destiny Foundation
Readers’ VOICE
We Love To Hear From You!
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Letter from CEO/Publisher Tess Rutherford Many are seeking a miracle from God. Our circumstances have become so bleak and dark that it will take the mighty hand of the Lord to deliver us. I don’t know what your need is. Maybe you have been diagnosed with a deadly disease, maybe you have recently lost your job, or maybe you have just received an eviction notice. Whatever the crisis is, it is but a small thing to the Lord. If we would only sit back and gain a wider perspective of God’s job responsibilities then we would quickly realize that He is never slack on His work, He is not lazy, and He never sleeps. He is alive and awake 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days of the year. He is listening to prayers in Asia right now and at the same time He is listening to prayers in North America, Russia, Africa, and Australia. God is omnipresent. He is everywhere at all times. And although He is ubiquitous, He is not running around like superman preventing every bad happening. My definition of a miracle is an uncommon event which steps outside of the realm of nature. If miracles were more common and happened more frequently then it would no longer be recognized as a miracle.
Photo By: Ben Geyer 8
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But if you need a miracle, you must know that miracles are a direct result of God’s mercy. Mercy is something we do
not deserve yet it fills a “need.” There are two ways of obtaining mercy from God: 1. showing mercy towards others (Matthew 5:7) 2. praying (Hebrews 4:16). If you are doing these things and nothing seems to be happening for you, then continue in your diligence. I am learning that although God is more than capable of delivering us, we cannot force Him to do anything. To have a genuine, bona fide relationship with the Lord you must gain great clarity on His character and His ways. If He chooses not to do anything else for us He is still wonderful, merciful, majestic, just, and true. Whether He grants our petition or not, He has already done enough on the cross. Our relationship with God is not based on performance – what He can do for us. We serve and worship Him simply because of who He is. There is a story in the Bible about three young men who took a stance on that which was right and refused to conform to the world’s system (way of doing things). Read about it in Daniel 3. When the king caught wind of their righteous indignation, he sentenced the upright men to death via a fiery furnace. The young men responded to the penalty by telling the king how their all-powerful God can and will deliver them BUT even if He didn’t, the men said they would
rather die believing that God will save them, rather than do something that is contrary to their beliefs. The moral of this story is all of us have needs, and believe me, God knows all about them. But even in a desperate situation, we don’t have to take desperate measures in an attempt to save ourselves. These three young men could have easily done what was expected of them, which would have saved them from the furnace. But instead they let God be God. When you have done all that you know to do, your next step is to pray for the mercy of God, wait for the mercy of God, then watch the mercy of God in action. Remember God is not on our urgent schedule. Heaven doesn’t have a clock. God simply wants you to believe in Him with all of your heart - no matter what it looks like. Because when you trust Him, it puts a big smile upon His face. And this happiness causes our Abba Father to move on our behalf.
Tess
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guy replied, “No, it isn’t you dummy! It’s night time! That has to be the moon!” And the third guy said, “Naah... both of y’all are dead wrong. That is Jesus coming to get His people!!” The second guy yelled, “Aw snaps!” And together the three men yelled, “LORD, I Rep...” And before they could get the word “repent” out, Jesus had gathered His people and bounced.
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Late one evening, three young men were hanging out on the corner looking to get into some mischief. The men worked to finalize their plans of robbing the convenient store nearby. The men talked about getting their lives together, and possibly, even attending church after they completed this last stunt. As the men smoked their pot and joked and laughed together, they suddenly saw a bright light in the sky, coming towards them. The first guy said, “That’s the sun!” The second
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-Ozara Odé
One morning, back in dad asked for a glass of water this point I just didn’t feel it for 1995, I was awakened by our dog and said that all he needed was myself. But something suddenbarking. I walked from my bed- a drink then he would be fine. ly changed for me. I was startroom into the kitchen to see what Of course, we found this to be all ing to wonder if what I believed the dog was barking at. I found too funny, considering what we was really real and if I was being my dad laying face up on the knew he had just been through. tested. I was told while growing floor; his bodily functions had The paramedics took dad to the up, that Faith that’s not tested let go and he was lifeless, cold hospital to be evaluated and his can’t be trusted. Seeing my dad and blue. I couldn’t find a pulse. test results showed that he had lying there, with no breath in his Fear gripped me as I picked up a massive heart attack. The doc- body, completely lifeless, on our the phone and dialed 911. While tor was puzzled that consider- kitchen floor, was one of the bigspeaking to the 911 operator, ing how high the test levels were gest tests that I had experienced the Holy Spirit spoke to me and there was no heart damage. The up to that point -- many more said, “start praying.” So, I hung doctor told my dad that it was a would follow. Looking back at up the phone and started pray- miracle that he had no perma- that day, I know I had a choice. I could have just ignored what the ing for my dad. I started rebuk- nent heart damage. ing the spirit of death and commanding life to come back into I was told while growing up, that Faith that’s him, in the name of Jesus. The not tested can’t be trusted. commotion of my loud praying woke my brother and my mothHoly Spirit was saying and just er. They joined with me pray This happened sixteen kept on talking to the 911 operaing for my dad. The fact that the Lord had told me to pray, helped years ago, and God used this in- tor and just accepted what was me to pray with the faith like I’ve cident to draw me into a deeper happening as God’s plan or, walk never felt; in fact I can say with relationship with Him. From my in the authority He has given certainty that this was the gift of youth, I had felt the call of the us. The bible says in John 10:10 faith in action. After a few short Lord on my life. Several pastors (ESV), “The thief comes only to moments of praying, in agree- and evangelists had spoken over steal and kill and destroy.” Jesus ment together, dad started to my life, telling me what great goes on in that same verse to say breathe again; then he sat up things that God had planned for “I have come that they may have and started to cough. About that my life and how He was going life and have it abundantly.” So, time, the paramedics arrived and to use me for His glory. Up until we see here the roles outlined, 12 Nov/Dec 2011 | http://empoweredmagonline.com
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by Jesus himself. If it is stealing, killing or destroying, we know, from what Jesus said, that is the enemies’ plan and we don’t have to accept it, in the name of Jesus. Using Jesus’ name gives us the power over the enemy that we lack in our own natural lives. Philippians 2:9-11 says “9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Taking that to heart, if you use the name of Jesus while praying against something like, let’s say, cancer we know that cancer has to bow to the name
of Jesus. I believe that the key here is knowing what you are dealing with so that you can call it out in the all mighty name of Jesus. Are you a believer? If you are, then these signs shall follow you as stated in Mark 16:17-18 (ESV,) “… in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” You might say, well that was Jesus and the disciples I’m just your average Joe. Well, that mindset is just where Satan would like for you to be. That way he can steal, kill and destroy without hindrance. The next time the enemy attacks, remember who you are
and to whom you belong; use the mighty name of Jesus to stop the enemy in his tracks by whatever name he may be attacking.
(Above picture is of Matt’s father who is still alive and well to this day!)
Invincible Survival
doctor who gave her a potion consisting of spells, does and it’s up to us to be ready for that moment.” the mother’s urine, and a particular tree leaf to rub on his body each night which did not heal him. Later, she received the help of an educated doctor who informed her that there was not anything physically wrong with Evansbord and that his condition was spiritual. Evansbord aged, hidden by his family without hope or belief that he would ever recover.
Interview By: Reyna Oak Adam and Amanda Sullivan, Youth and College Pastors of Crossroads Church in Temecula, have had their lives forever impacted by their two mission trips to the Republic of Haiti in the past year and a half. They have returned with incredible, powerful stories of healing, restoration, and legacy that have renewed and inspired the hope of many. As Haiti has become passionately engraved on the heart of these pastors, the testimonies they share have encouraged and energized all who receive.
but she lost her husband from disease before the earthquake and her sister and her husband after the earthquake, leaving her the sole provider for her six children as well as an orphaned and sick nephew. She was led to believe that Evansbord had not survived the earthquake because she was unable to find him. In disbelief, Evansbord’s mother later discovered him buried under a massive amount of rubble 24 hours later with nothing but a couple of bruises and a broken wrist. Pastors Adam and Amanda nicknamed the child “Invincible” after surviving so much, and both believed that God had great purpose for him. That night, the team all felt Invincible heavy on their hearts, and was unable to withdraw him from their thoughts. The group decided that they would go back the next day to pray for Invincible in faith that God was going to work in him and his family.
language of Creole, began to shout forcefully in English at those praying for him, “Leave! Get out of here!” Bewildered, his mother was evoked into admitting what really had happened to Evansbord as an infant. She confided to the team through a translator that when Evansbord was only three months old, a witch who had demonically converted herself into an animal (something along the lines of a snake) entered their home during the night and viciously attempted to suck the baby’s blood. As mystical and unfamiliar as this happening appears, keep in mind that witchcraft is prevalent in other parts of the world, and the Caribbean countries are known as an epic center for witchcraft, although it is not generally recognized here in America. Evansbord’s mother immediately identified the witchcraft and with alarm, drove the animal out of their home. Since that night, her baby repeatedly had seizures and grew into his paralyzed state. She desperately traveled to visit a witch
Evansbord was born a healthy baby to his parents in Haiti. However, when Pastors Adam and Amanda met him in the tent city of Carrefore in April 2010, he was paralyzed in a curled up fetal position on the floor of his family’s tent- about half the size of a small bedroom. This 15 year old child is described as literal skin and bones with eyes free of life, never having spoken a single word or been The following afternoon, able to move. When they asked the team went back to Invincihis mother about his current ble’s tent and began praying in predicament, she communicat- the name of the Lord, the God ed through a translator that he of hope. After a while, Pastor had endured seizures ever since Adam, among others, felt led to he was two months old. This pray in the Holy Spirit, and as woman explained how not only they prayed, the child, who had was she suffering from Malaria, only been exposed to the native 14 Nov/Dec 2011 | http://empoweredmagonline.com
After Invincible’s mother’s confession, Pastor Amanda explained to her how only Jesus could heal her son and that she needed to invite Him into her life and home. One of the most marvelous occurrences that can take place in the eyes of the Lord is the miracle of salvation. Invincible’s mother was open to salvation and prayed with an open heart along with Pastor Amanda. About two hours into the team’s praying, God directed them to baptize the child. The team began searching for something large enough to baptize him in but could not locate anything. On top of this inconvenience, the tent-city’s water pump was not functioning properly. Resourcefully, the team utilized a tarp and the water from their water bottles to cleanse the child. After a moving water baptism, Invincible was completely calmed down and at peace- the team feeling the same sensation. A while later, after the team had eaten, they returned to see Invincible and were amazed to witness that the child was sitting up, which he had never been able to do in his life, and speaking words in Creole. The following day, Invincible was crawling, putting together sentences, and playing catch with a ball! God’s healing hand was upon Invincible and each day he was gradually improving his health. Pastor Amanda encourages readers saying, “Listen to God’s sweet voice. God doesn’t always physically heal someone’s body, but sometimes He
Invincible passed away from disease in May 2011, but in that year following his miracle healing, he was more alive than in all the years of his life. The legacy of Invincible lives on after his passing and will touch and restore faith to numerous. God has incredible purpose for everyone’s life and whether one is asking God for a miracle or not, be inspired to live out His divine will for your life. Not only was Invincible restored, but God healed others on that trip as well as on their second trip in April 2011. Pastor Amanda also revealed how Invincible, among others changed her life, causing her to conclude that “these trips to Haiti really built my faith in God’s miraculous moving. I always had faith that He could do it, but I never imagined that He would use me for something so amazing.” God can use you too . . . be refreshed in the truth that God is capable of the phenomenal!
Got a compelling story? Empowered Magazine wants to hear from you. We are constantly looking for inspiring material. Send your story to editorial@empoweredmagonline.com.
H
ill Harper stars in the television drama CSI: NY. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School. He is the author of two New York Times bestsellers: The Conversation and Letters to a Young Sister. In addition to the preceding, he has founded an organization called, Manifest Your Destiny, for the purpose of helping at-risk teens find destiny and achieve purpose. Though Harper’s accolades and achievements abound much, He always makes time for his fans and he is never to busy to speak to common people. In his heart of hearts, he desires to see people transformed, and he is doing everything he can with his circle of power, influence, skills, and knowledge to manifest his own destiny. Recently, Harper has written a book titled, The Wealth Cure with the intent to bring awareness to this wealth virus - the sickness that everyone desires to contract. His goal was not to nullify wealth by any means; instead he strives to help people “reexamine their hearts and uncover what they truly value.” Recently, Harper had to re-evaluate his own personal definition of wealth and he discovered that it does not consist of money alone. Harper was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and when his body was afflicted, he began to redefine not only the definition of wealth but his relationship with money as well. Harper tells us that wealth is all encompassing. Factors such as health, emotions, finances, and spirituality are all components of wealth. And Harper advises that we must sit down and take a serious assessment of each component because if we are lacking in one area, it throws the whole idea of wealth off. In Harper’s book, he takes the reader through his own personal journey of identifying the wealth factors (the things that truly matter) and practically shows us how to achieve true wealth. All glory to the Lord that Hill Harper is alive and well and cancer free today. Empowered Magazine was ever so gracious to have a conversation with Harper regarding his new book. Have a read! Empowered: What was the objective in writing The Wealth Cure? Harper: The Wealth Cure was born out of the fact that I have a foundation called Manifest Your Destiny Foundation where I work with young people, their parents, and others. And I started to notice a trend where I ask people a simple question about achieving their goals and dreams and why they weren’t living the life they wanted to live. Most of the responses that have come back to me would be money related. They would say, well I want to get this education or this degree but I can’t afford it, I want to start this business but I don’t have the money, I want to send my child to do this or I want to go on this trip. And I started to wonder if money is the key scapegoating factor as to why we are not achieving, then let’s deal with money; let’s deal with the issue of money and the misconceptions and anxiety to help people build their financial literacy. So I started writing that book and at the same time I was doing a film called For Colored Girls in Atlanta with Tyler Perry, and I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which made me take a deeper look at the book and add health as a wealth component or wealth factor to the way I approached the book. And the epiphany was that the same way you approach a health crisis you can approach a wealth crisis in the same manner. So the same steps you use to deal with a health issue, you can deal with wealth -- So from health cure to wealth cure .
The Wealth Cure 16
Interview By: Tess Rutherford
Nov/Dec 2011 | http://empoweredmagonline.com
Empowered: What are the indicators that tell us that we are in need of a wealth cure? Harper: One of the worst data points that I came across was the explosion of personal debt. And there is this quote that I say in the book which says, “that you can’t be free if the cost of being you is too high.” Too many of us are consumed with so much personal debt. Many of us are in credit card debt which is a completely debilitating type of debt. And most of us haven’t been taught the difference between smart money and dumb money. And I wanted to get into all of these issues because to me that’s really what it comes down to. In 1980, we as a country were carrying 350 billion dollars in personal debt. Fast forward to 2008 and that number has skyrocketed to 2.6 trillion dollars so when you hear people talk about the debt ceiling, the debt crisis, and the US government, The US government is just mirroring our personal behavior. It’s really a debt crisis with us as individuals.
with the plan. Many of us are great at identifying the problem or coming up with a plan but many of us don’t comply with doing the work necessary to adhere to it. We will buy the treadmill and put it in our room and then it will become a hanger for our clothes. The next step after compliance is maintenance. Many people go on a diet, they have a plan, they reach their goal weight, but the tougher part is actually maintaining your goal weight. Sadly, people fall off again. People do the same thing with credit cards. They pay off their credit card bills, then when holidays come around or they feel like they need that new flat-screen, they’re back into credit card debt -- so maintenance is key. And this last step is thriving –living the life that you were meant to live. I go through all the details in the book and it’s also a journey book and tells about my own personal journey. The truth is, books are the most undervalued resource in our country right now. We don’t think twice about paying $13 dollars for a movie ticket and another $5 for popcorn, and $4 for a soda but think twice about buying a $20 book. The book lasts a lifetime but the movie will last just a night. The book is an investment because knowledge is power. The reason I write books is because they are transformative. Empowered: In your book, you state that, “You can’t have or be able to appreciate and benefit from physical wealth, emotional wealth, or financial wealth if you are spiritually bankrupt. Can you tell us what spiritual wealth looks like to you?
Harper: Everyone will have to come to their own definition as to what spiritual wealth looks like to Empowered: How do we go about implement- them. For me, it’s my relationship with God and I will get into many different things. I will read the ing the wealth cure in our own lives? Bible, go to different church services, daily prayer Harper: You read the book! [Laughter] The book as well as hiking and communing with nature. I goes through multiple steps on how to approach get a big huge spiritual charge from being around solving the problem and the health cure method- nature. I don’t go to the beach and listen to the ology to do that. So, the first step is diagnosis. All ocean as much as I would like to, but those types of us have issues with money and it shows how of things give me a real spiritual connection with to reveal that. Second step is the treatment plan. the environment and all that I see and all that is This is where you come up with a list of options created. Folks need to define that for themselves. on how to solve the problem. You don’t solve it These are all different wealth factors. If you take overnight. It is a plan that needs to be implement- one out, then you are not truly wealthy. If you take ed. Third step is compliance, You have to comply health away, you are not truly wealthy. If you take 18 Nov/Dec 2011 | http://empoweredmagonline.com
resources, like money away, then you are not truly wealthy. So these are what I call the wealth factors or the wealth components. Empowered: For those who are battling a life threatening disease. Even though they have everything at their fingertips and everything a person’s heart would desire with the exception of their health, what can you tell them to provide comfort to their soul? Harper: If you haven’t taken your last breath, and in some cases, even if you have, it is still not over. The point is the ability to believe and have faith and to fight. You are a valuable individual. You are a key person in this world. We are all magnificent and brilliant and we all have something to offer this world. No matter what your circumstance is whether it’s a physical ailment, emotional ailment, financial ailment, you can solve and work your way out of it. When I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, it occurred to me that my father died of it, my uncle died of cancer, my grandfather died of it yet there are certain things that you must deal with head on. One, get a diagnosis, come up with treatment options. Get the best advice you can and if something is not working, then try something else. We all can continue to fight. With Steve Jobs just recently passing, doctors told him that he only had a few months to live and he did a lot of different things to live longer. He didn’t live as long as he wanted to but he did all that he knew to do. We all can do as much as we possibly can to live as healthy as we can given the amount of time we have. Empowered: I love how you put a spin on being unreasonably happy. So often, we are discouraged from being happy because of its temporal existence. Talk to us about the importance of striving towards being unreasonably happy as we reach for our north star. Harper: The idea of being unreasonably happy comes out of a two pronged approach. One is people can look at you and say it is unreasonable for someone to be that happy I don’t even get that. The other is the idea of achieving something where many would say it is unreasonable. Most of us make or create goals that are too small and limited
because we have been convinced wrongly that we need to stay within some reasonable idea. Everyone who has had great impact and who has done great things… it was because they were thinking unreasonably. They were thinking of something greater than the simple definitions that we see in the world, and happiness is critical because most people don’t talk about happiness anymore. People have equated money with happiness. Money is not happiness. Why not go right to the root. Find out what it will take to getting to a state of being unreasonably happy. Rather than saying I want a lot of money and if I get enough money it will be enough to buy happiness. We need to get to the root of our happiness and figure out what it will take to get there. Finding your north star is about staying on purpose.
THE WEALTH CURE Great holiday gift!! Available at amazon.com starting price $12.99line.
In Romans 1:16a (KJV), the Apostle Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth”…. If there is ever any question about the central purpose of the power of God in the earth, we can find it in this scripture. There are many purposes for which we preach, proclaim, and teach of God’s wonders. We’ve heard promises of God’s power to produce wealth, health, relationships and riches. Certainly it is within God’s ability to produce these things and much more for his people, but these are only the bi-products of his powers’ true intent. Jesus
closely follows. In the book of Acts 1:8, Jesus speaks of power on this wise, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me”. We see here again how Jesus clearly expresses his power’s intent; to display his life to the world as witnesses. So then if the Holy Spirit has empowered us as witnesses of Christ, at what point did the gospel become a principle-based preaching system of self improvement and prosperity? Jesus always associated the power of God with some functional aspect of the gospel’s sav-
ing from behind today’s pulpit center on wealth, material blessings, promotions and other advancements in this life; but make no mistake about it, prosperity and the attainment of wealth are not inconsistent with the gospel. The problem occurs when the power of our prosperity overshadows the power of God. This overshadowing becomes evident when the message of the gospel is proclaimed independently of the power of God’s saving grace.
As stewards of God’s grace, we have been empowered to display his son Jesus Christ, and God has not given us the mandate without providing us a platform to perform it. In a balanced view of God’s power and In a balanced view of God’s power and our prosperity our prosperity we find that our prosperity is God’s platform. III we find that our prosperity is God’s platform. John 1:2 says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you prosper said that “All power is given unto ing grace? If this is God’s chief and be in health, even as thy soul me in heaven and in earth. Go ye intent of his delegated power to prospers.” John makes it clear therefore, and teach all nations, us by the Spirit, then where have that it is God’s desire that we be baptizing them in the name of we gone wrong? Why have so prosperous. It is also God’s dethe Father, and of the Son, and many messages exploited the sire that we be found in health. of the Holy Ghost” (Mat. 28: 18- use of the power and promises In this context, health specifi19-KJV). In every instance God’s of God as if its benefits are con- cally refers to our souls, hence power is mentioned in scripture, fined to this life only? Many of the “even as your soul prospers” the imperative of saving souls the most exciting messages com- portion (Continue on page 23) 20 Nov/Dec 2011 | http://empoweredmagonline.com
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Finally...I have a Testimony! Interview By: Reyna Oak
Despite the fact that Carolyn King- a shining and bright light for the Lord as a wife, mother, friend and teacher- has attended Crossroads Church in Temecula for a total of 14 years, several of her acquaintances would be surprised by her incredible as well as miraculous testimony of not one, but multiple, healings. Carolyn has grown up in a Christian home always serving the Lord. Yet, there was a time in her life when she wondered why she did not have a “how God turned my life around” testimony. However, when she was 16 years old, everything changed.
behind the wheel when she fell asleep on a two lane road resulting in the truck cab going off the side of the road and rolling into a ditch. When the truck smashed down, the windshield went under it, breaking Carolyn’s neck and severely cutting her scalp. The truck was so crushed that there was only a six inch opening in the back window, which her sister was astonishingly able to crawl through. She flagged down help in the 104 degree summer heat while Carolyn and her father were both trapped in the truck. Her sister was able to track down a couple of cars who aided by helping Carolyn and her father get out of the truck and holding a tarp over them to impede the sun while they waited over an hour for the paramedics. Carolyn recalls drifting into unconsciousness while lying in the heated sand. As she lay there, dazed, she remembers hearing the lyrics “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place,” witnessing the glory of God, a staircase leading up to numerous angels. Journeying to the top of the stairs, she asked God, “Is it time
for me to come home yet?” God answered her with compassion saying, “No, I’m not done with you yet.” Carolyn turned around and walked down the stairs and as she reached the last step, awoke to her dad, who was so relieved that she was awake, and he began asking her questions such as “What’s your name?” to which she replied “It’s Carolyn, silly!” Meanwhile, Carolyn’s mother was at a friend’s house doing laundry when she felt God intensely telling her to go back home. With soaking wet clothes, she raced home finding the telephone ringing- the hospital in Flagstaff was calling to inform her that she needed to rush out to Arizona where her husband and daughter were in critical condition and her other daughter was not going to survive. Because of financial reasons, Carolyn’s mother was incapable of traveling out to Flagstaff. Nonetheless, the Lord interceded and Carolyn’s mother was able to travel with a friend who covered all of their trip’s expenses.
Carolyn had over 400 stitches in her head, and her sister had been deeply cut crawling through the Carolyn, her father, and window to the point where her younger 13 year old sister were intestines were visible. Her pardriving on their way to their ents did not want her to be so far mission destination in Arizona from home, so they contemplatwhen they became victims of ed how they could transfer her to a tragic accident. Carolyn was a hospital in Newport Beach, CA. 22 Nov/Dec 2011 | http://empoweredmagonline.com
Her father was a part of a missionary group that flew to places that had been hit by disaster called Christians Pilots Association- they were unbelievably able to pick her up and fly her and her family out to Newport Beach. Remarkably, their medical bills on the Indian reservation were completely covered by the Indian Chief in Flagstaff as well. The doctors in Newport were amazed that Carolyn was able to walk with nothing but a flimsy neck brace, explaining that her accident, at the most, should have left her paralyzed, and with brain damage. Pastors all over Orange County came and joined her family in prayer over Carolyn’s recovery. It was evi-
(Continued from page 20) of the scripture. God, being the good Father that he is, desires that our external prosperity advance concurrently with the state of our internal capacity to handle it. He understands the potential for prosperity to intoxicate. God warned the children of Israel of this intoxication in Deuteronomy 8:13-14 when he said, “And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou
dent how God’s hand was completely over Carolyn; the sisters were also blessed with a nurse who tenderly cared for them doing special things nurses would not normally take the time to do, like combing their hair. Carolyn’s condition was only supposed to improve within one year of physical therapy, however Carolyn was recovered after one month by God’s rejuvenating hand. Carolyn comments, “This has really made me think about what God’s purpose is, not only sparing my life but also allowing me to be completely healed. I want to always remember that it was for a reason, and I need to constantly look at how I can be used by Him.” Before the accident, Carolyn was active on
forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of bondage.”
The privilege of prosperity paired with souls unprepared is a threat to the chief intent of the power of God: the salvation of the lost. An intoxicated soul lacks temperance, or selfcontrol, which is a fruit of the spirit and can in no way submit itself to God of its own volition. Intoxication of the soul compromises the platform of prosperity with which God in-
the drill and tall flag teams, but after her recovery, she desired to express her thankfulness for her healing through dance- skills she still uses today as she assists in activities at her daughter’s school. God has since continually taken care of Carolyn and kept her healthy, healing her eyes from Thygeson, wrist from RSD, and her elbows no longer need surgery to repair damage to her nerves. This beloved woman of Christ elevates God’s children, challenging them to believe that “just as none of us know what His plans are, we are all created for a purpose, and we need to keep our hearts open to His voice so that we never miss an opportunity to share Jesus.”
tends us to extend him to a dying world. This is why it’s important that we understand that the power of gospel is the power of God unto the salvation of the lost; and we are Christ’s witnesses under the influence of that same power. When we keep this as the center of our lives and of our messages, prosperity becomes God’s platform in our lives, displaying the lovingkindness and goodness of God that lead men to repentance.
Handle your Emotions God’s Way! explores 52 negative human emotions and provides real life examples and biblical principles to controlling one’s emotions God’s way. The book is available at Berean’s bookstore, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, tessrutherford.com and many other internet sites!
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