August 2017 – Published by World Bible School International Training Center
Publisher & Editor Faye Hanshew
Articles
Love Hurts: Sore Spots, Blind Spots, and Sweet Spots What’s Love Got to Do with It? Moral Backbone The Church and the Gates of Hell What Makes a Happier Christian? How to Heal Hurts Speaking the Truth in Love Empowers Us Bread of Life What Happens When a Christian Sins? Love your Neighbor How to Love your Brother/Sister No Such Thing as Tough Love? You are Not Forgotten Author Interviews: From Book: You TOO Can Prosper From Book: Seeking to Win From Book: The Church WITHOUT Real Estate TEEN SECTION Back to School DIY’S Love Your Enemies
Co-Publisher & Co-editor Dr. Bill Hanshew
Dr. Kris A. Jackson Dr. Bill Hanshew Genice Fulton Bishop Frank Dupree Jennie Crowell Pastor Bill Hackworth Dr. Dan L. Corse Chef Leo Greigo Dave Kachele Pastor Jo Bruns Richard Rundell Matthew Deves Speaker/Author Larry Thompson
Tom Tompkins, Jr Stuart E. Smith John Woolston
Grace Meier Mikea Fulton
INTERNATIONAL SECTION Generational Curses VS Blessings Nutritional Information
Ernest Nelson K. Nanor Dewanshu Ahlawat
MEET KRIS… International evangelist/bible teacher Kris Jackson and wife Debra have, for nearly forty years, touched America and numerous foreign nations with the Good News of Christ's saving, healing and delivering power. They have served successfully as pastors of churches in Iowa, Missouri and Oklahoma and as evangelists, conducting revivals and interdenominational crusades from coast to coast along with international meetings in fifteen countries, with main focus in India and Cuba. Kris Jackson Ministries is based in Branson West, MO near America's show capital, Branson. An artist, both with words and paint brush, an accomplished guitarist and author with thirteen books and commentaries to his credit, Kris holds theological doctorate from North Carolina College of Theology. End Time revival is the Jacksons’ daily pursuit, with meetings characterized by heartsearching repentance, cutting-edge Bible revelation, and a clear sense of "Holy of Holies" Glory. Their son is also in full-time ministry. Kris is ready to partner with you and bring a fresh word to your event.
For invitation to your church or conference call: (417) 335-0260 or go to Kris’ web at: kris@krisjackson.org
Love hurts, well, not the hurt suggested in the hit song by the rock group Nazareth. Worldly love hurts because it gets walked on and walked out on. Promises are broken, feelings hurt, dreams crushed, and the spirit hardened. Contrarily, agâpe love hurts because it hurts for the hurting. Jeremiah lamented, “For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt” (Jeremiah 8:21). NIV uses the verb “crushed.” Jesus, the Man of Sorrows and Friend of Sinners, hurt for the hurting because He took their pain upon Himself. He was “numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). Literally, He embodied the hurt of others. The thing that causes you pain is a key indicator of your passion. Ministry often flows from misery. The thing that makes a person tick (and tick-off) is the very thing they are likely called to fix. A dentist can’t get emotionally involved over every extraction or root canal but I would feel safer
were he or she to wince as the needle punctures my gums. God’s minister is called and anointed to heal hurts. The Holy Spirit anointed Jesus to heal the brokenhearted and the bruised (Luke 4:18). The brokenhearted are easily discerned, it’s hard to miss the bitter sobbing. But a bruise is subsurface, hidden trauma, which normally requires a keener eye. So, for love to heal the hurt, it must first probe.
1. Find the hurt – everyone has a sore spot Robert Schuller based his ministry on the theme, “find a hurt and heal it.” Such a search won’t require a missionary visa. Everyone has a sore spot. Look no farther than your next-door neighbor, or someone across the living room. We have been taught to stiffen the upper lip and not reveal our hurts. Beth Moore wrote, “The Prada bag on someone’s shoulder may look impressive, but it still holds junk. Every person deals with secret pain.” Junk. Hurt. Of course, some exploit hurt. They save kidney stones in a glass jar and rattle them to let everyone know how much they’ve suffered. Such people need counseled to take their hurt off life-support. The counselor should never play along with their game. Some people need confronted, not counseled. Hurt is often manifested in action. It has been said that hurt people hurt people. You wonder why the horse is bucking. There may be a burr under the saddle blanket. The sore spot may be a small emotional splinter, or it may be Stage-4 heartbreak from an affair, divorce, death in the family, or whatever. Our part is to find it.
2. Feel the hurt – everyone has a soft spot The coldest iceberg can melt in a puddle of tears if the minister can move beyond the sore spot to the soft spot. It may be a memory of home, the love of a Grandma, a favorite verse from the Bible, etc. The Bible term is grace. For certain, the soft spot will never be reached until trust is formed. The hurting person must detect sympathy. John Maxwell said they will never care how much you know until the know how much you care. If love
hurts, it’s because love cares. How can we show we care? • Be a good listener It’s not always required for you to say something, all love requires is that you be sincere, compassionate, attentive, concerned. • Sympathize without commiserating “I sat where they sat” (Ezekiel 2:15). Job’s “comforters” sat down in the ash pile with him and didn’t say a word, offer a prayer, quote a scripture or anything. They threw dust in the air as an act of sympathy, but it only drove Job deeper into despair. Sit where the alcoholic sits. But at the same time, sit where their family sits. “Numbered with the transgressors” means Jesus took the homosexual’s place. Pointing a finger is a lot easier than standing proxy for a sinner’s heavy guilt. • Try praying and not prying After confessing our faults one to another, we are to “pray one for another that [we] may be healed” (James 5:16). • Undergird with the Word Without sounding preachy, we must get the hurting to swallow proven medicine. Sometimes surgery is in order, deliverance from strongholds and demon powers. But it is more common for doctors to write prescriptions. Know how to lead a person to chapter and verse – lots of chapters and verses. • Bandage to stop the bleeding Love covers the multitude of sins. It does not devise a grand cover-up, but it does bandage wounds. Jesus poured in the oil and the wine, the oil of the anointing and the wine of the red blood of Jesus. Those are basically the only medicines we have in our bags as Christians.
3. Face the hurt – everyone has a blind spot Shoot straight. Never beat around the bush. Most people need put on the spot, or they will never face their blind spot. “How is it that everyone else in the church can see the destructive nature of your behavior, yet you think you are in the right?” We are tempted to throw our hands up in frustration. The counselor must face the hurt, discerning through the Holy Spirit and not passing biased judgment. And the hurting one must face the hurt. They may claim to be problemfree, but a tape-recording echoing them going on and on like a broken record would force them to look in the mirror. Facing the hurt is the hardest task. Trauma may be relived. This is where people yell and scream but we must interpret the cries as cried for help. It can get really messy in a trauma triage. A lanced pus pocket may have a revolting odor.
4. Fix the hurt – everyone has a sweet spot Then comes the healing. You may feel uncomfortable with my choice of wording
here but “fix” may be just the right word, because emotions, just like mechanical parts need repaired or replaced when broken. There are Band-Aid cures, quick fixes that only mask symptoms and don’t fix a thing. A complete overhaul costs a small fortune, but it goes back to the question of how much we care. Love hurts and love costs. Are you willing to put up with the relapses and denials and meltdowns that sometimes accompany restoration? Lazarus had a bunch of mummy tape that needed unwrapped. Resurrection was instantaneous but re-adaption took some time. Ministry is a gift entrusted to those who are, brace yourself for this next word, spiritual. “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). God trusts you with apprenticeship. You don’t have a doctor’s license, but you have love. Let it guide your words. Be compassionate. Be forgiving. Be gentle. Above all, put on Jesus’ sandals and start walking through the crowds. Now go find a hurt and heal it.
SO LOVED
THE WORLD,
that whosoever believeth in Him should NOT PERISH,
BUT HAVE
everlasting life!
John 3:16
by: Dr. Bill Hanshew John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” The object or material attribute of love is to give. Yet, some think that to give means to only give money. But with God, the greatest gift of all to mankind was when He gave His Son, as an object of His Love. And it is His love that has been sown into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. So, you might ask the questions, “What’s Love Got to Do with it?” LOVE has everything to do with what the world needs right now, which is to know the Love of God. Romans 5:5 says, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” But the way Love is demonstrated to the world is through you and me, showing representing His Love to all. And that is because of the person of love, who lives within us.
It was back in 1984 that Tina Turner released the song, “What’s Love Got to Do with It.” After this American singer came up with this song, it was later used in in her 1993 biographical film about her personal life experience. When I think about the words, “What’s Love Got to Do with it,” and then I relate them to my God, I immediately think that love has everything to do with the nature and character of my loving, Heavenly Father. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God so loved that
He gave the greatest gift of all, which was the object of His love. Notice the context of the opening verse from John 15:13-16. It says, “13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” Can you see how that before you knew about God, He already considered you His friend? Ephesians 1:4 says, “just as He {Father God} chose us in Him {Christ} before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,” which means that before the earth was formed, God knew who you were and that you were His creation. You were the friend of God, because Father God looked into your future earth–life and knew you were His own. Romans 5:6-8 says, “6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love
toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” And it was because of our humanness that blinded us to His love, that Christ came. The bottom line is that love has everything to do with why God demonstrated love toward all humanity. And He did it on behalf of you as He sent the person of love, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. “What’s Love Got to Do with It” is a song that was based on some bad human experiences. But when Father God sent His Son to die for the whole world, it was so that all of our bad human experiences could be healed and set free from all the pain, hurt, unforgiveness, and the victim mentality the enemy wants people to live in. And now, Father God does not want you to hurt any longer. God does not want you to be the victim any longer. Today is a brand-new day in which you can embrace the Father’s love for you. Romans 5:8 in the God’s Word translation says it this way: “Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God’s love for us.” If you would stop and think just for one moment about why God sent His Son to die for you, all things would become clear. He proves or demonstrates His love in the fact that while you were still a sinner, Christ who was the embodiment of the Father’s love, died for you. And now you can experience His love every moment of every day. …Think about it!
When I first contemplated my title for this month’s article, I wondered, “What is moral backbone?” And then it occurred to me; I no longer have a strong moral backbone. I wondered, “Where had my moral backbone disappeared to?” I thought back to a time when I had a strong moral backbone. And I wondered, how did I have such a strong moral backbone back then? And then, it occurred to me. Or, closer to the truth, the Holy Spirit revealed it to me. When I had a strong moral backbone, I was in a solid church, and I was solid in church. What does, “solid in church” really mean? For me, it was when I was a Covenant Partner at, “Walk on the Water Faith Church,” in Osage Beach, Missouri. I was surrounded by strong, solid, Biblebased believers (who didn’t hesitate in correcting me when…not if…I needed correcting). I can never recall one time when I wasn’t corrected in, with, and through love. There were times when I had to hear some really difficult things, but I was always corrected because the ones
by: Genice Fulton
correcting me wanted to see me be everything God called me to be. Every correction was an opportunity to mature in my faith. Also, I served my church every time the doors were open (Saturday evening service, two services on Sunday morning, Wednesday evening service, all special services, and special events). I
scrubbed toilets, served as an usher, served as a greeter, I rocked babies in children’s church, I worked in the audio department, and I operated a camera for live streaming. I made it a personal rule to never tell my leadership, “no.” When someone asked me, “Can you…” before they finished their sentence my immediate response was, “Yes, I can! I’d be happy to!” It was a time in my life when I consistently saw many miracles of God in the church and in my personal life. Since that time, we’ve moved around a lot for work. And we’ve been in many churches because of moving around. Somewhere during all the moves, I lost something, which has resulted in my moral backbone not being as strong as it once was. I am not implying we haven’t been in solid churches during all our moves. We have been in very solid churches with amazing leadership and bible based teaching. I am stating I haven’t been solid in church during our moves. There is a huge difference between the two. Readers may wonder if I am insinuating works move God. (Ephesians 2:9) I am not insinuating that at all. My moral backbone wasn’t a result of having a toilet scrubber in my hand or audio equipment strapped to my head. My strong moral backbone was in direct correlation with the condition of my servant’s heart at that time. (James 2:14-26, 1 Samuel 16:7, Colossians 3:23) Moving more than a ½ dozen times in seven years, splitting our time between our businesses that are located in two different states (almost three thousand miles apart), my inability to “link up” in a church, no longer having my strong Biblical inner circle on a face to face daily basis, trying to fit in with new people, the
day to day demands and challenges of life, a few misunderstandings and miscommunications resulting in broken relationships, and several marital difficulties here and there and viola, my once very strong moral backbone took a few “hits;” thus, being weakened. After moving to a new state, I found myself trying to fit in with an array of new people from differing experiences, opinions, and backgrounds. With a few people, I remained who I am in Christ, and I have been blessed with wonderful new friends. With other people, I tried to mold and fit, and as a result, I wavered in who I am in God making attempts to try and make them like and accept me by not being who God has called me to be and do you want to know the end result? The people I was trying to impress and the people I was trying to fit in with still didn’t like me. Isn’t that ironic? And, what a waste of time. I refuse to waste any more time! In order to get it back even stronger than before, I felt a need to define it. I needed to develop a roadmap for myself. If I were to personally define, “moral backbone,” I would define it as: “Having the character, integrity, and boldness to stand up for what is correct (as defined by God’s Word…not opinion, experience, or background), unwaveringly delivered with true love. (1 John 4:8, Galatians 5:13, John 13:34-35, Romans 4:20) Once I was able to define where I wanted to go (strong moral backbone), I was able to create a roadmap to get there (operate with a strong moral backbone).
Thank you, Faith Unlimited magazine! Writing this article has been a true wakeup call for me! I had gotten sluggish in the things of God and what God has called me to be but I declare, “No more!�
b. Renew my mind daily! (Romans 12:2) c. Be humble (Ephesians 4:2) d. Forgive daily! (Colossians 3:13)
I have a new plan to reach my strong moral backbone goal! 1. We have found a solid church, and I am going to be solid in church by serving with my whole heart as unto my LORD! (Hebrews 6:10, Proverbs 11:25, Luke 6:38, 1 Peter 4:10, Romans 12:9-13)
3. I will no longer waver from who I am in Christ! I will run this race with endurance, and I will be everything God has called me to be and do! I will have the character, integrity, and boldness to stand up for what is biblically correct and I will do so unwaveringly delivered with true love
2. Once again, I will: a. Pray without ceasing! (1 Thessalonians 5:13)
(1 John 4:8, Joshua 1:9, Hebrews 12:1-2, Galatians 5:13, John 13:3435, Romans 4:20)
In Ancient Times the Gates of a City served not only to protect the city but they were the center of much activity both social and legal. It was there that important business transactions were made, courts were convened and public announcements were heralded. Gates are mentioned often in Scripture, and gatekeepers were an important part of maintaining order in ancient societies. Gatekeepers were guards stationed for protection at various kinds of gates, which could be city gates, palace gates, or temple gates. Ancient cities had high, thick walls around them to keep out wild beasts and invading armies. Heavy gates were set within those walls to allow entrance and exit. A
civilization, so the idea of gatekeeping implies alertness and security. David and Samuel appointed 212 gatekeepers for “positions of trust” in guarding the temple of the Lord (1 Chronicles 9:22), and those so appointed rotated through week-long assignments. Verses 26–29 speak of the four principal gatekeepers, “who . . . were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God. They would spend the
by: Bishop Frank Dupree gatekeeper had to be trustworthy and alert for any signs of trouble. A gatekeeper lax in his duties could bring ruin upon an entire
night stationed around the house of God, because they had to guard it; and they had charge of the key for opening it each
morning. Some of them were in charge of the articles used in the temple service; they counted them when they were brought in and when they were taken out. Others were assigned to take care of the furnishings and all the other articles of the sanctuary, as well as the special flour and wine, and the olive oil, incense and spices.” Temple gatekeepers were in charge of who went in and who went out. They ensured order and reverence for God’s house. In Biblical Times, the Priests, the Elders and the Leaders of Government and Society would gather at the gates of a City and attend to both the religious and social affairs of the City. In the Old Testament, we are told that a Gatekeeper was a ministering Priest of the Tribe of Levi. Some Gatekeepers were also watchmen on the walls. Gatekeepers were trusted with the role of protecting the Lord’s House. They were stationed at all 4 gates. They also appointed and taught others around them to guard the gates as well. In the Law of Moses, parents of a rebellious son were told to bring him to the city gate, where the elders would examine the evidence and pass judgment (Deuteronomy 21:18-21). This affirms that the city gate was central to community action. Business, converse, bargaining, and news (Genesis 19:1; Genesis 23:10; Psalm 69:12), for addresses and reading the law (2 Chronicles 32:6; Nehemiah 8:1; Nehemiah 8:3; Proverbs 1:21; Jeremiah 17:19), or administering justice (Joshua 20:4; Ruth 4:1; Deuteronomy 16:18; Deuteronomy 21:19) were all done in the City Gates. And, sometimes, the City Gates were the King's or Chief's place of audience (1 Kings 22:10; 2 Samuel 19:8). To control the gates of one’s enemies was to conquer their city. Part of Abraham’s
blessing from the Lord was the promise that “your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies” (Genesis 22:17).
The Gates of Hell Sadly, the majority of Christians have no idea of where Jesus spoke about The Church and the Gates of Hell… Jesus took the Apostles about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee to Caesarea Philippi. This was where both King Herod and Philip the Tetrarch built beautiful temples and enlarged the city. Originally, in Old Testament times, the city was known as Baal Hermon and Baal Gad and it sat at the base of Mt. Hermon next to a cave that had been sacred to the ancient peoples for as long as anyone could remember. It was a place of Baal worship and when Alexander the Greek came and conquered the land he built a temple to the God Pan there. The city was then known as Paneas – City of Pan. (we get the word “panic” from Pan’s name!) The cave is along a rocky escarpment with a series of hewn niches and in them were statues of the gods and goddesses that were worshipped there. What made the Cave of Pan so unusual and therefore a place of worship and sacrifice was that the waters that flowed out of the cave fed the Jordan River and even more was that there was a bottomless pit inside the cave that was so deep that it could not be measured. It was in this area that Jeroboam, the first king of Israel led the nation into idolatry there! The ancients believed that the cave was an opening to the Underworld, “Hades”… And, they called it “The Gates of Hell!” That is why it is so remarkable that Jesus led the Apostles there and revealed Himself as The Messiah and made the great declaration of the power and position of The Church! Matthew 16:13-18 (KJV) When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son
of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter (Petros – a rock), and upon this Rock (Petra – a massive rock – like a huge cliff) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Reading the Gospel does not convey to us the dramatic events unfolding before the eyes of the Apostles! Let me share with you what took place that day as they walked along the Cliffside. As they passed the niches were carved out with statues of gods and goddesses in them Jesus stops and asks them: “Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man am?” They begin to say the things that people have said but Peter, looking at the gods and goddesses has his eyes opened and The Father reveals to him that Jesus is The Messiah, The Son of the Living God… He is Emmanuel… God in the Flesh and he blurts out: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Then Jesus looks right into his eyes and blesses him and then he says… “…thou art Peter – which is the name Petros, which means a stone or a rock… But then, as He sweeps His hands towards the Cliffside at the foot of Mount Hermon, the city of gods and demons He says: “and upon this Rock” – which is the word Petra meaning a mass of rock or a huge cliff – “I will build my church.”
I know everyone wants to point out that it is the confession that Jesus is the Messiah that is the Petra but Jesus is pointing to the cliffs of Hermon and says that He is building His Church right here… right at the place where Idolatry began in Israel… the place where the gods of the nations were worshipped AND He then adds to that statement one that is so spectacular that the eyes of the Apostles must have been wide with awe… Pointing to the very Cave of Pan… the mouth of the Jordan River… a place of Holiness that had been hijacked by Satan to become his place of worship… the place known as “The Gates of Hell”; Jesus says: “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” He is declaring that He, Jesus the Messiah, is claiming this place that has become a place of idolatry and unspeakable evil is going to be taken over by His Church and He is going to build His Church… His Temple right here where all of these pagan temples now stand! Of course, Jesus is not talking of a physical temple because He did not come to build a house made with hands… He is talking about the Spiritual World! He is declaring war on Satan and telling His Apostles that the Prophecy of The Angel of The Lord was spoken to Abraham in; Genesis 22:15-18 (KJV) And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall
all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Can you now see that when Jesus spoke these words your understanding the importance of City Gates helps you see some of the importance of what Jesus was saying BUT NOW, as I’ve shown you the place where Jesus spoke these words doesn’t that bring you to a completely higher level of understanding of what He said?
Jesus came right to Satan’s Gates and challenged him! And, He wanted His Apostles to be filled with Faith and continue to do the same everywhere they preached The Gospel! He didn't want his followers running from evil: He wanted them to storm the gates of hell. With this in mind… the question for the Church today is: Are you storming the gates of hell???
by: Jennie Crowell I have in my possession a book titled “The Happiest People on Earth.” It was written in 1979 by Demos Shakarian, who was led by God to start the organization Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International. When I thought about the title for this article, that title, of course, came to mind. Brother Demos had been asked what he would get out of holding meetings. I quote him from the book (p. 101): “‘What do I get out of it?’” I echoed. I pulled my New Testament out of my pocket and read aloud the verses in First Corinthians 12 which had come to mean so much to me. ‘Friends,’ I said, ‘I believe God has a particular gift for each of His servants, some special ability we’re to use for His Kingdom. I believe if we find that gift – and use it – we’ll be the happiest people on earth. And if we miss it, no matter how many excellent things we do, we’ll be utterly miserable.’”
envied, blithesome, joyous and spiritually prosperous— with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions.” Jesus was encouraging His followers that when they experience trial, sorrow and rejection that these things can be counted upon to be the end result! That’s just what the apostle James said in his letter in verses 2 through 4:
Jesus also spoke about how His followers could know the state of being blessed in Matthew 5. The Amplified Bible expands the word “blessed” thus: “to be happy, to be
“2Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. 3Be assured and understand that
the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. 4 But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.” The condition on which this “being blessed,” “being happy,” and “being the happiest people on earth“ rests is the one of saying “Yes” to the Lord! YES! “Yes, Lord, I will answer that call!” “Yes, Lord, I will release forgiveness and mercy!” “Yes, Lord, I will take hold of Your Word, Your promises and Your example for my temperament, my thoughts, my influence to mirror Yours!” “Yes, Lord, I will say that, give that or go there.” The answer to happy is “Yes, Lord!” Sound impossible? Even scary? Of course, the joy of the Lord is our strength, according to Nehemiah 8:10. So our joy in all these things comes from His joy. That helps a lot to lean heavily on the joy and that strength that He imparts from His own nature. He lived it out before us. He even lived it out on the cross. He saw Himself on the other side of that! He saw Himself risen (John 10:18: I lay down my life, and I lay it down to take it up again!) and He saw Himself experiencing joy unspeakable and full of glory (Hebrews 12:2: fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the Father.) He saw joy on the other side and He set His faith on it! He knew He could do that because He had said, “Yes, Father. Yes!” Someone might ask, “How can I be so sure that if I say ‘Yes’ to God that joy and happiness will actually be my end result?” As the preachers like to say, I’m so glad you asked!
The apostle John did this. Peter did this. Paul did this. And Jesus most certainly did this. Think of it this way: We need to place all our “eggs” in one basket. We place all aspects and all factors and all things of any importance to us in the basket of the Father’s love. Then we trust that they’re in a safe place. We trust the Love. By resting wholly upon that Love, we are putting every detail of our lives in the safest place that could ever exist. When we trust the Word, we trust the Love. It’s all about what we take personally. Our lives are revolutionized when we take the Love personally! In a previous article, I mentioned a word spoken to me by the Holy Spirit. He said, “I wish people were as quick to take My Word personally as they are to take offense personally.” That may help some people see what I mean by “taking it personally.” It’s choosing to believe that it was meant for him/her/you/me personally. I have discovered something that helps Love liberate me. It’s a way that I expand – build upon – what many call “The Lord’s Prayer.” This has been a way to declare God’s Loveinvolved-deliverance over my life. (By the way, I’m not changing it permanently or retranslating the words. But this is so fitting and so powerful that it has had an impact for believing the Love for me.) I think of it like this: “My Father in Heaven, revered and honored is Your Name of Love! Your love come, Your love be done on my earth (in my life) just as it is done in Heaven. Thank You for giving me this day my daily bread of Love and forgiving me my failings with Love as I forgive others their failings against me with
Love; thank You that You never lead me into temptation but You always lead by Love and deliver me and mine from evil. For Yours is the kingdom of Love, the power of Love and the glory of Love!”
This verse keeps coming up in me and I want to share it. It is Philippians 2:5. I’m going to include verse 2 and, again, this is from the Mirror Bible translation, which is just simply straight from the Greek:
Amen! That is worthy in my heart of repeating and so I do! To me, it is trusting the Love to do these things and that brings a peace in my heart and mind and soul.
“2Your Christ mindedness completes my delight! You co-echo the same agape; we are soul mates, resonating the same thoughts. 5 The way Jesus saw himself is the only valid way to see yourself!”
Of course, when I say to Him belongs the power of Love, I remember that this power belongs to me, too! I am given a spirit, according to 2 Timothy 1:7 in the complete Jewish Bible translation: “For God gave us a Spirit who produces not timidity, but power, love and self-discipline.” Hold on to your hat because I’m about to give you that verse from the Mirror Bible and it corroborates everything I said above! I’m going to start with verse 6: “6This gives me all the more reason to remind you to fan the flame of God’s grace gift within you into a blazing hot fire. Your life and ministry mirrors mine; I endorsed the gift of God’s boldness within you when I laid my hands on you. 7Become fully acquainted with his gift in you, there is nothing timid about it; the dynamic of a mind liberated in the spirit of love is fearless and unstoppable.” The translator, taking it directly from the Greek, adds: “The word ‘sophronismos’ means a saved mind, a mind saved from tolerating inferior thoughts. Isa 55:8-11.” The dynamic of a mind liberated in the spirit of love is fearless and unstoppable! That just about covers all our bases, not only about saying “Yes” to the gift and calling of God, but to trust the Love to be with us in our travels through life. To guide and lead – and to liberate us in the Spirit of Love!
That passage in Philippians goes on to show us how Jesus completely humbled Himself to become human. Here is verse 7: “7His mission, however, was not to prove his deity, but to embrace our humanity. Emptied of his reputation as God, he fully embraced our physical human form; born in our resemblance he identified himself as the servant of the human race. His love enslaved him to us! “ “His love enslaved him to us!” Yes, I do believe that is a Love that I can trust! I said earlier these are things that John, Peter and Paul, as well as other disciples, did. John referred to himself as “the disciple the Lord loved.” That’s not arrogance – that’s trust. In Ephesians 3 (NKJV), Paul prayed that we would know this love: “17that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” I have always loved these verses in the Amplified, especially verse 19:
“and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].” This is an excellent prayer to pray when seeking the liberating Love of God. It is not a religious prayer! It is not a solemn “saying” to revere and nod at in powerless assent. It is effective! It happens! The translator of the Mirror Bible brings us the Apostle Paul’s words in verse 17 like this: “This will ignite your faith to fully grasp the reality of the indwelling Christ. You are rooted and founded in love. Love is your invisible inner source just like the root system of a tree and the foundation of a building. (His footnote: The dimensions of your inner person exceed any other capacity that could possibly define you!)” I could go on and on about how God’s love has been steadfast and unwavering for us from the foundations of the world. It has always been about His love for us. My other example of who believed and knew and trusted the Love comes from Peter. I’m going to quote him from 1 Peter 1:5- 8:
“5Your legitimate inheritance was guarded all along by God’s belief in you, to be fully unveiled in the conclusion of time as the perfect solution to mankind’s predicament. 6 So, regardless of any degree of contradiction, whether prolonged, or swift, your reason for exuberant joy remains uninterrupted; even at times where you might have occasion to feel utterly miserable! 7This will help you in those difficult times… 8So even though you have never seen Jesus in the flesh you love him; even at times where he seems remote and invisible, your awareness of your union in him continues to ignite belief! You are leaping with indescribable and exuberant joy as you hold him in high esteem! 9 In this place of joy, you are beyond the reach of any harm. Joy gives your faith a voice announcing the perfection of your soul’s salvation.” I think we need to read that last paragraph, again, but I’ll just reiterate verse 9, “In this place of joy, you are beyond the reach of any harm. Joy gives your faith a voice announcing the perfection of your soul’s salvation.” I set my voice together with these apostles who walked it. I pray that you come to know the amazing dimensions of this Love that partners with you in such a way that the joy – not just “a little glad,” but joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 5:8, KJV), joy that is indescribable and exuberant – coupled with that amazing Love – is your experience today! In Jesus’ Name and in His boundless Liberating Love! Amen!
By: Pastor Bill Hackworth "If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility."- Henry Longfellow As we fly right through the month of July and enter the month of August, I hope you all had an amazing Independence Day, and are enjoying your summer. As I begin to write this article on how to heal hurts, I am thankful for the freedom that being in Christ has brought me, and the deep healing that His unconditional love has worked in my life. Dealing with hurt is one area that every single person breathing can relate to one way or another. Whether “hurts” from dysfunctional families, friends, or past relationships — everyone has experienced some form of a let down, betrayal, loss, or
just plain rejection. Because of this, we have to learn to understand one another and just learn to give more grace to one another. The Proverb says, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23) When hurt runs deep, to the core of our being, it can affect us in very negative ways. This scripture actually says: the issues of life or the boundaries of our life,
come from the very deep hurt, that has penetrated your heart. Let us agree: Every boundary in my life must be removed in Jesus name! The unfortunate thing is that hurt normally masks itself as anger, insecurity, jealousy, pride, anxiety and, if allowed to remain, hurt could lead us down the dark road of depression. If you are like me, you grew up in a home where you were not allowed to feel sorry for yourself; it was a "pull up your boot straps, and get over it" kind of mentality. The problem with that kind of mentality is that those deep “hurts” don't magically go away, and time is not a healer. If we don't face an issue and deal with it, we will find ourselves still hurting twenty, thirty, even forty years after the initial incident. The pain will be just as real as it was the day we first experienced it. The scripture says, "I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (3 John 1:2) This scripture says that prosperity and health are affected by the condition of our soul. Deep hurts limit us from our full potential and most definitely can derail us from the very destiny God has planned for us. The very first step of healing starts with being transparent with yourself. It is ok to let your guard down and admit, "I am hurt." Many times, we cover up our hurt because we do not want to be perceived as weak. Can I give you a piece of advice? It is OK to be weak. As a matter of fact, Jesus said, "My (Jesus) strength is made perfect in weakness." Apostle Paul goes onto say, "I will boast in my weakness, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." There is power in being transparent and real with yourself. One of the
things the enemy does, when we have been hurt is make us feel shame for the violation we have experienced. Shame is not a tool of God, and we must reject it immediately. Being honest with yourself and others about the hurt that you have experienced brings those hurts to the light of His healing and begins the journey of being made whole again. The next step in the journey of healing is forgiveness. We first must want to forgive, I have ministered to people who have flat out told me they didn’t want to forgive. Unforgiveness can be a destructive force in your life. Forgiveness doesn't make the wrong that was done against you okay. It just sets you free from a prison of hurt, anger, and bitterness. There are other times when we want to forgive, but we just don't know how. We are people of faith, which means, we are not governed by our feelings. There are many times we just must forgive by faith, even if we don't feel like it we continue to declare, "I forgive you" and “I forgive myself." It is like when a concrete guy begins a project; he first puts up the forms, your confession is like those forms. There might not be anything of substance at first, but as you continue speaking and believing forgiveness, something of substance starts to form. What was first done by faith, now becomes a reality. Finally, above all else, Jesus is a healer. He is a physical healer, and He is an emotional healer. Jesus desires us to be made whole. There is a teaching Jesus gave in the bible about a good Samaritan. I have always viewed this Samaritan as Jesus. If you are not familiar with the story, it is about a man who
went to Jericho and was beaten, stripped naked (shame revealed) and was left half dead (sounds like a couple churches I have been to). As he laid there with his clothes stripped and his body beaten, both a Pharisee and a Levite came upon this man without offering any help. It is not because these guys (religious leaders) were bad, it is because these guys were experts at religion, and religion has nothing to offer hurt, beat down, half dead people, but this Samaritan came along and began to pour oil and wine into his wounds. Symbolically, oil is the Holy Ghost, and wine is the new covenant. Just like when we come to Jesus, He gives us His Spirit and begins to declare a new identity over us. You are not what you have done, you are not what has been done to you. You are a child of God, with a completely new identity, full of the Holy Ghost!! Old things have passed away, and all things have become new! He has given us an invitation to approach His throne
of grace boldly!! Remember you are doing better than you think. No matter how it seems, God is able to invade the deepest hurts in our hearts and restore us completely. The Psalmist writes, "He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3) In another place it is written, "He restores our soul." (Psalms 23:3) One more scripture to stand on, "When we cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of ALL their troubles. The LORD is near to the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. HE keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.� (Psalm 34:17-20) Remember nothing is impossible with God, and He will never leave or forsake you. You are not alone, no matter what it feels like. God bless you!! Victory is just around the corner.
By: Dr. Dan Corse 1 Corinthians 13:4, 6 – Love…does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. Love is a word that gets often bandied about in our culture. Some speak of loving their cars. Others love the movie that they just saw. Or we love the dinner that we just ate. Some of us, Christians, sadly, are sometimes among them, even talk about how it is unloving to mention iniquity or sin, often adding that we cannot and should not judge others. Yet, love, as defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, does not support the view that it is unloving to identify iniquity or sin. In fact, love never rejoices in evildoing or immorality. Obviously, to not rejoice in something, love must first make a judgment as to what that something is. In the case of iniquity, love first recognizes or judges something to be lawless or wicked, then determines not to rejoice in it. To elaborate, love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, takes no pleasure in or does not gloat at wrongdoing, and is never glad to see others do or go wrong.
Understanding that love (agape) does not rejoice in iniquity or sin, it is imperative that we understand the nature of the love in consideration. Agape is not about loving cars, movies, or what we ate. “Agape denotes an undefeatable benevolence and unconquerable goodwill that always seeks the highest good of the other person” (Word Wealth from the New Spirit Filled Life Bible). As agape always seeks the highest good of others, it could never rejoice in immorality or lawlessness. For engaging in wickedness will never bring about the highest good in our lives. Agape recognizes the deceptive ways of sin. Though iniquity or sin may bring pleasure for a season, agape understands that
such pleasure is fleeting (Heb. 11:24-25). Furthermore, Galatians 6:8-9 (NKJ) reminds agape that “God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption.” Knowing the destructive nature of sin in our lives, there is no way that agape, which desires our highest good, would ever rejoice or take pleasure in the presence of it in our lives. If agape (love) never rejoices in iniquity or sin, what then would it rejoice in? What love rejoices in is the truth. Like Pilate, we may be inclined to ask, “What is truth?” To such a question John 17:17 (NKJ) responds, God’s “word is truth.” So, understanding that God’s word is truth we are to rejoice in, is there more that should be said about love and its relation to truth? There certainly is, for Ephesians 4:15 (NKJ) informs us that “speaking the truth in love,” we “may grow up in all things into Him who is the head–Christ.” It is in speaking the truth that is God’s word in love that we grow or mature spiritually. That means when it comes to issues involving iniquity or sin, including sexual sins or the murder of the unborn or lawlessness, we must speak the truth that is God’s word in love related to those issues that we may advance in our walks with Christ. Additionally, James 1:22 (NKJ) reminds us, “But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Since love always desires our highest good, it would never encourage unscriptural behaviors that are self-destructive or destructive to the body of Christ. Nor would it encourage us to hear the word, but not be doers of it, for that would be to deceive ourselves. Self-deception, love knows, is a destructive behavior. When it comes to speaking the truth in love related to iniquity or sin, it is not uncommon to hear criticisms that we are not walking in love,
are being judgmental, or are being selfrighteous. The truth is that not speaking the truth that is God’s word in love related to iniquity or sin is what is unloving, much like not warning a child about the dangers of touching a hot stove is unloving. The truth is that speaking the truth that is God’s word in love related to iniquity or sin is not being judgmental, but it is lovingly to say what God says about a topic. The truth is that speaking the truth in love about iniquity or sin is not selfrighteous behavior, for self-righteousness is not about the love that seeks the highest good of others, but instead seeks to elevate the standing or prestige of the one exhibiting it. Clearly, such criticisms are unfounded. We understand that love does not rejoice in unrighteous. We comprehend that love does not take pleasure in or gloat at wrongdoing. We recognize that love is never glad to see others do or go wrong. And we discern that speaking the truth in love is not about being unloving, judgmental, or self-righteous. It is about seeking the highest good of others. Seeking the highest good of others, we speak the truth found in 2 Timothy 2:19-21 (NKJ): “Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’ But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” Speaking the truth in love, we are empowered to experience Christ’s continual cleansing from iniquity or sin. Cleansed from iniquity or sin, we find ourselves vessels that sanctified and useful to God, prepared not for one, two, or a few good works, but qualified for every good work.
By: Chef Leo Grego As my wife sings, “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunitionnnnnn…” I chuckle and am tickled with the Joy of The Lord that is our strength expressing His Spirit in us...Its Summer time and I pray the living is wonderful for you all who are hungry seeking His face and having ears to hear and eyes to see…seeking that “Food” that Jesus had...working in His creativity in your lives, your ministry…
Him. We practice the presence of God...in our work, in our learning humility and awe of wonder..of Our Father His Son and The Spirit.
You know as we Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition it reminds us that we battle...we fight, we are at war...with that or who would distract, steal or destroy what we have in us...or would separate us from “whose” we are. The Ammo is Love...we are Fully Armoured…(Eph 6:10-18)...be encouraged and sharpen that Sword! Iron sharpens Iron...Amen? We sharpen each other in that we encourage and bless those whose desire is His….and that is made complete in our relationship with the Son The Lord Jesus! Filled with the same Holy Spirit power that raised Jesus from the dead and fills our every work when yoked with
Thank you all for keeping the Christian Culinary Academy in prayer! As we rejoice in the class that was just released into the world we thank God for you all who have and will continue supporting Christian Chefs International and the Christian Culinary Academy. We sent out 7 students to finish their education here by completing their internships in the world and are blessed to hear that many are choosing Christian based feeding ministries! Sent out indeed with a heart for Him, the skills to succeed in what God has them do, and the Co-mission to “Go and make Disciples…”
Many of you got a chance to see some of them at the school on an episode of “Live Talk with Faye�. We are so proud to be part of the Faith Unlimited family. We are family in Christ!... the Bride He is coming to receive! We look forward...to what and who God will send into our Ministries. Please keep us in prayer for students who feel the call to experience God in the Culinary Arts and industry, whether in the secular or nonsecular world... even Feeding as ministry...Missionary food service and safety training. Wherever the Lord leads them. All that based on the Rock of faith building...Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
There is yet time for new student sign ups! Please pass on to churches, missionary ministries, homeschool and Christian High Schools and of course whomever God puts into your sphere of influence info about our ministry. They can get in touch with us at Christian Culinary Academy. Christian Chefs International Or email me personally to: Chef.Leo@christianchefs.org So Pass the Ammo! Praise the Lord! and... Rock and Roll! Jesus is the Rock...and we Roll!
by: Dave Kachele Our August theme is “Love is the liberator.” So, I guess the answer to this question is that when a Christian sins they lose their salvation – NOT! WE ARE LOVED! No, the blood of Jesus covers our sin: past, present, future, unperceived due to our pride, willful … all of our sin! In fact, one drop of the precious blood of our Savior was enough to cover the sin of all mankind throughout all time! So, I’m good. Just forget it. NOT! My natural tendency would be to self-justify, rationalize, and not actually repent. But I, by His grace, “don’t live according to the sinful nature, I live according to the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:1-4) Sometimes, I don’t know when I’ve crossed the line from temptation into sin. What to do!?! Of course, God’s Word gives us instruction not only about how to repent, but how to live a repentant life with His gift of a repentant heart.
First John 1:5-2:2 needs to be a part of every Christian’s everyday walk with our Lord. We often quote verse nine to unbelievers, but 2:1 lets us know that John was writing to Christians. So, we need to walk in the Light (present tense). “This is the message we have heard from Him (Jesus) and declare to you: God is Light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, (continuously) purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If
we claim we have not sinned, we make Him
bitterness, anger, and/or resentment can be one
out to be a liar and His word is not in us. My
of the greatest blockades to being aware of sin
dear children, I write this to you so that you
in our lives and our ability to repent. We’re not
will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have
walking in the Light.
an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
One last thought: I love mentoring new Christians. One of the things I need to model is how to live a repentant life. When I sin, I don’t hide it from my mentees. That would be
Notice the verb tenses in this passage. Read it
the natural tendency. After all, aren’t mentors
carefully. The goal of every Christian is not to
supposed to be perfect? HA! Who would want
sin, but when we do, our faithful indwelling
to be mentored by someone that is self-
Holy Spirit convicts (not condemns) us.
righteous!?! Self-righteousness is the most
Repentance is immediate.
dangerous of sins, particularly for those of us
When I’m walking (present tense) in the Light,
who have been saved for a while. The devil will
I can catch myself at the point of temptation – that’s the goal! But, even if I’m not sure if I’ve crossed the line into sin, I repent and receive forgiveness and cleansing by faith. I keep my
try to deceive us into thinking we’re OK without real repentance. Who got into trouble with Jesus? Not the average, regular people like you and me; it was the self-righteous, religious Pharisees and Sadducees! We need to guard
heart clean!
our hearts dear friends. More than that, we need I love John’s last reminder in this passage
to count on the Holy Spirit within to keep
because it reminds me to be quick to forgive:
watch. I’m so thankful that He does! Aren’t
“… not only ours ….” Carrying unforgiveness,
you? So,
What happens when a Christian sins? In short, living a repentant life, by faith, we humbly confess our sins, and receive forgiveness and cleansing. Do you know the song from Psalm 51:10-13? Sing with me. “Create in me a clean heart, oh God, And renew a right spirit within me. (repeat) Cast me not away from Thy presence Oh Lord, And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy Salvation. Then, will I teach transgressors Thy ways.” Win and Grow Ministries Website: http://www.winandgrow.com Email: winngrow@gmail.com
by: Pastor Jo Bruns “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “’You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 (NLT)
The crux of the gospel message can be summed up in four words: Love God. Love people. When you love the Lord, your God, and surrender your heart, mind, and soul to Him, something explodes inside you as you are transformed and changed. You begin to see others through the lenses of God’s eyes and not your own. You develop compassion like Jesus. You begin to look, not just at the outward appearance; but, you begin to see a person’s heart. You see goodness; you see promise; you see possibility. Partly, this is because, through God’s grace, you have begun to see your own transformation. Because Christ loved you, even before you began to “love yourself,” you begin to love others in a similar Christ-like manner. The question, then, is: “Who is your neighbor?” Each of us has a sphere of influence. How are you touching the lives of those within your circle? The Bible says we
are all called and equipped to “give the reason for our hope” and to share the Good News with everyone we meet. The Great Commission was entrusted to every one of us, not just to pastors, evangelists, or missionaries. You might be shaking your head and asking yourself this question: “Who…me???” Yes, you. Acts 1:8 reminds of this: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Not everyone is called to be a “missionary” who travels to a far-away land. Yet, each of us does have a “mission field” that we are to reach with the Good News. We are called to “Love our neighbor;” and we are called to “Love ourselves.” A lot of times the
importance of “loving yourself” is often overlooked when this passage of scripture is taught. Yet, it is an equally important aspect of putting these commandments of Christ into practice. If you do not love yourself, you certainly cannot give away something you’ve never had. “Self-love” and “self-care” is just as important as being “other focused.” If you’ve ever flown on an airplane this message is reinforced in their “what to do in an emergency message:” “Put your air mask on before taking care of others.” What, then, can you do to fulfill these commandments? Put God first. Make your relationship with Him your top priority. Store up the Word in your heart. Put the Word into practice. And, as you do this, you can reach out to those around you and share the “reason for your hope.” What does that look like? Perhaps, you could give an encouraging word to someone who has just lost her spouse or a troubled mom concerned for her child. It might be making a meal for someone who was just released from the
hospital. It might mean helping an overwhelmed mom fold clothes in the laundromat as you talk. Or it might be offering to watch someone’s child(ren) so a couple can have a long overdue “date night” to strengthen their marriage. It might be enjoying a cup of coffee with a co-worker or making a phone call or sending a text message to let someone know you’ve thought of them. Perhaps, it might include visiting a residential care facility or volunteering at a food pantry, prison, or homeless shelter. The possibilities are endless. Ask the Lord for wisdom and direction, and for Him to show you where your gifts can be effectively used for His benefit. And, remember, sometimes, the person Christ brings before you might be someone you might never have “chosen” on your own. Just be open to that still, small voice of the Holy Spirit as He gently whispers, “Encourage her. Encourage him.” Sometimes, the “ministry of presence” is more powerful than words will ever speak. It’s true that “people don’t care what you know until they know you care.”
As Christians, when we first think about loving our brothers and sisters, we think about our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ, that is, our relationship with the rest of our Christian siblings., But let us also reflect on the love of our natural brothers and sisters. Many things could test our love for them. One of my two sisters was a year and onehalf older than me. We grew up together, our first years on a dairy and hog farm in Wisconsin. We experienced a loving family and enjoyed playing together and sharing common value systems. In short, we got along well together. In high school, we both played in the band and enjoyed other activities as well. When each of us married we lived some distance apart. But when we visited each other we could carry on a meaningful conversation on any subject. And we seemed to hold similar value systems. But when I was 49 years old, my wife and I became born again Christians, incidentally living about 300 miles from my sister. After our salvation
experience, when we got together for a visit my sister could most likely see the difference in my wife and me. But every time we would talk to my sister about our salivation experience, she would start arguing. This was a sharp departure from our previous conversations over the years. My sister had been well grounded in her church experience to base salvation on good works. She strongly hung onto that belief. In order to not cause a lot of arguing, I did not bring up the subject of salvation very often. I still loved my sister and did not shun her in any way for her belief. Years later my wife and I moved to Oklahoma I maintained a love for my sister even though we were separated geographically, and differed sharply on the meaning of salvation. I talked to her on the
phone and wrote letters back and forth, but I did not bring up the subject of salvation, lest it upset her. While in Oklahoma, my two sisters came to visit us. By that time my wife and I had changed churches a few times and had begun writing and ministering for the Lord which we shared a little with my sisters. My wife and I were involved in deeper beliefs of the ‘Christian faith.
My two sisters were outgoing, friendly and generally glad to meet new people. But when my sisters found out that our pastor’s wife was going to come to our house for a small errand, they hid themselves in the bedroom and would not come out to meet our pastor’s wife. I sensed it was a rejection of my Christian belief system. I had gone somewhere on an errand and when my wife told me of that incident, I could not believe it. What could I do but continue to show love for my sisters and not judge them.
by Matthew Deves Have you heard the expression that someone is using, “tough love?” I don’t know your definition of “tough love, ” but I’m going to encourage you to do one thing with it before the end of this article… Get rid of it. The world’s concept of “tough love” is holding your brain hostage. The only way to escape from this bondage is to change your mind completely. You might still believe it is possible for God to treat you with this warped definition of love because modern psychology has lied to you. For the sake of full disclosure, I am in no way saying any one should tolerate abuse. If you are using “tough love” as a way to explain how you need to distance yourself from an abusive person, you could choose better phrases such as “clear and healthy boundaries” or “legal restraining order.” That said, the world’s standard is backward on this subject of "tough love." Flip this concept around, and you have God’s
approach toward man which says, “Love is a Person named Jesus, and Love finished the tough work to take the burden of sin away from you.” This new definition of “Tough Love" is the only meaning God uses when speaking of you. Real Love will not abuse or pervert. That’s tough. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God. I John 4:10 Message Bible The problem with using the typical “tough love” definition in these situations with other
people is that we tend to relate these experiences to our relationship with God. It is a habit. We reflect our human experience on to God. We are costumed to others treating us that way. Convinced that "tough love" is an effective strategy, people think that if it works for addicts than God must also employ it. God never does this. With God’s Love towards you, healthy boundaries do not exist. God would never temporarily leave you to draw you closer at a later date. He never takes the role of the abuser. Perfect Love casts out fear. Perfect Love overcame sin, so you did not feel ashamed, guilty, and alone. Separation is the worst teacher, and Holy Spirit does not participate in distance learning. Just because you know a situation which “tough love” was used and had good results, isn’t proof that God deals with people using this same method. I don’t have to know your definition of tough love to tell you that. God never used "tough love" on you. Instead, Love took your pains. Love carried your sorrows. Love took the worst beating recorded in history so that you could experience Perfect acceptance. Love was tough but not TO you. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. 1 John 4:9 Message Here’s another destructive churchy phrase: “Well brother, sometimes you just need to love people at a distance.” Please tell me where Jesus initiated this strategy? He didn’t…ever. Jesus, the man, injected himself into the mess of some troubled individuals. The woman caught in the act of adultery in John chapter 8 was one of them. Jesus didn’t run from her. Jesus did not keep her at a distance. Read her story of redemption and decide if that fits your
definition of tough love. Distance from sin was never in Jesus’ toolkit for healing people. In contrast, Jesus immersed Himself into your life, your humanity. He fulfilled each moment of suffering as a man so that Your Dad would never be separated from you again. He became human and because of that, became you. All your humanness was intimately embraced and experience by your Creator. Love became sin so you could be free of sin’s pressure. For we do not have a high priest who is not able to enter experientially into a fellowfeeling with our infirmities, but one who has been tempted in all points like as we are, without sin. Hebrews 4:15 Wuest Translation Love took the penalty of death before you were born, so the hard work was finished. Does this following scripture sound like the world’s definition of “tough love?” Love is not defined by our love for God, but by his love for us! It is not our response to God that attracts his attention; we have always had his undivided affection as declared in the prophetic promise and finally demonstrated in his Son’s commission and work of atonement for our sins. 1 John 4:10 Mirror Bible You should take a few minutes to slowly read the beloved John’s beautiful letter that explains it so well in the Amplified translation… He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son, the only begotten or unique [Son], into the world so that
we might live through Him. In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins. Beloved, if God loved us so [very much], we also ought to love one another. No man has at any time [yet] seen God. But if we love one another, God abides (lives and remains) in us and His love (that love which is essentially His) is brought to completion (to its full maturity, runs its full course, is perfected) in us! By this we come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we abide (live and remain) in Him and He in us: because He has given (imparted) to us of His [Holy] Spirit. And [besides] we ourselves have seen (have deliberately and steadfastly contemplated) and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son [as the] Savior of the world. Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he [abides, lives, makes his home] in God. And we know
(understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him. In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection]. We love Him, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:8-19 Love was tough but not TO you. Love was tough FOR you.
By: Author/Speaker Larry Thompson Each day for you is a new opportunity to train yourself to listen and follow the voice of the Holy Spirit. To same thought, you can look at Romans 8:14, which says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” You should value these words which are not the words of man, but in truth, they are the words of God. They are living words, they are supernatural words. capture this
It is His words which must be permanent residency within us. His words, which come from the throne of Glory, radically transform us from the inside out. His words activate the Glory, He already placed and deposited in us. Understand this very rich pearl from the Holy Spirit, that, without Him we can do nothing. With Him nothing is impossible. These words should resonate in you. I took time to write a master blueprint that you could simply receive. He is writing this master blueprint so that you can simply release. That activity of both, receiving and releasing is the wisdom by the Holy Spirit
revealing an invisible river flowing in and multiplying as rivers flowing out. One word to track these images as, “Peace”, enters in, but it multiplies as it is being released and effects the entire realm He has appointed to you. It will also be helpful to understand that the uniqueness to everyone is that we have two natures, the spirit nature and the physical nature. Unless Christ is in us, our spirit is dead to all that God would do through us. We deliberately choose to access the new nature, the nature of Christ, the nature of His glory. His nature is “Perfect Peace.” It is nothing like anything that is in this world. Every day we face things that create ripples on the pond.
Those ripples are everything that is common to everyone. However, you can willfully and deliberately choose the nature of His Glory; knowing without Him you can do nothing, and also knowing with Him nothing is impossible. Enroll into this discipline by the Holy Spirit to train your eyes, train your ears, and above all other train your mouth with the words you taste to pick more readily what is being transformed in that spiritual, invisible realm– –His Glory. He gave you the same Glory He received so that it is not about any performance by you. Simply continue to trust
His Glory in you to be revealed and released through your spoken words. Be blessed knowing you are loved and not forgotten. You have hope that will work within you like yeast. Take up these words in this letter as a new recipe from the Heavenly Father’s kitchen and everything will come into alignment with His purposes for you. “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)”
TEEN WARRIORS SECTION
by: Grace Meier Hey there Whiz Kids! Its August and that means school is getting ready to start back up. Here are some cute ideas for cool school supplies. #1. Emoji locket magnets. All you have to do us get little circles of wood and some fine line sharpies. Next draw the emotions for emojis. #2. Fabric covered books. This one is pretty easy all you need is a cute book cover from the store or you can get fabric of your own. #3. Nerdy Chic book clutch.
This one might be a little bit difficult but you can do it. All you need is a book you don't read anymore, a book cover, fabric, glue or really strong tape. After you out in the book cover, go to the middle of the book (if you don't know how to do that then go to the last page and divide that number by 2) and get the fabric and attach it like the
inside of a wallet. Next get a wallet lock and attach that. Then start putting things in there. For further instructions go to https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=zYaoJy6gR3A for a video on how to make the nerdy Chick book clutch. #4. Pencil Decorations. This one is very easy all you need is pencils and washi tape of your choice. Put the washi tape around the whole pencil except the eraser part. Then you’re done!
#5. Binder makeover. This one is equally as easy. All you need is a binder and duct tape. Put the duct tape all on the binder. You can do the inside too if you want too. You can do this with notebooks too if you want. That's all I have for you guys this month but have a great start if the school year and I hope some of these will come into use for you. Have a great month.
Contact: Photography by ROMA Call: 573-855-0634 Email: roma0634@gmail.com Photography by ROMA
by: Mikea Fulton Matthew 5:43-48: 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’” 44 “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” 45 “that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” 46 “And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing
more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” 47 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” It can be difficult to love someone who is mean to you. I was going to a VBS (Vacation Bible School) program and a girl kept bullying me. I was only 9 at the time. She was taller and older than me too. She was maybe 12 or 13. I was really scared! I did my
best to be kind to her. But in the end, she only made fun of me. My mother kept telling me, “If she uses only words, just ignore her." I listened to my mother and did as she said. As most of us can agree, words hurt!! It was very hard for me to just ignore her. But one day it all changed. We were praying before VBS started, and we all had to hold hands. She ended up holding my hand. I kept my cool, but my hands started sweating. Before we opened in prayer, I nicely took my hand out of hers and wipe the sweat off on my jeans. I was so embarrassed!! Then as we started praying, she dug her nails into my hand and yelled at me to pray. No one did anything. I started to cry. I had enough of this. I ran to the woman in charge of my age group and I told her everything. She
called the girl over and called her parents. The woman told me, “You did the right thing. Even though she was mean to you, you kept being kind." If you sow loving, kind, gentle seeds with someone, you will get a good harvest. In the end, I had a harvest of good friends at that church. Be kind to those who hate you. Pray for them, because you never know what kind of life they have at home, or school. Matthew 5:48 NIV http://bible.com/111/mat.5.48.niv Matthew 5:47 NIV http://bible.com/111/mat.5.47.niv Matthew 5:45-46 NIV http://bible.com/111/mat.5.4546.niv Matthew 5:44 NIV http://bible.com/111/mat.5.44.niv Matthew 5:43 NIV http://bible.com/111/mat.5.43.niv
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, Do Good to those who hate you, Bless those who curse you, Pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:27-28
Why I Wrote “You TOO Can Prosper” – An interview with author, Tom Tompkins. By Faye Hanshew on LIVE TALK WITH FAYE – Find it on Youtube.com from 7/17/2017 During the month of May 2017, accomplished author, Tom Tompkins, published his fifth book. Each of Tompkins’ previous four books focused on biblical subjects such as the book of Job, the armor of God and the true nature & ways of God. In his latest book, Tompkins’ again tackles a biblical subject, but this time, the subject matter is one that many tend to ignore. To see a true picture of why Tompkins wrote, You TOO Can Prosper, what his goals are, and what he has learned since publishing his latest book, I recently sat down with this entrepreneur extraordinaire for an in-depth interview. Here are some of the questions I ask Tom: FH - Why did you write You TOO Can Prosper? TT – I wrote You TOO Can Prosper with the intention of encouraging people to change the way they not only see themselves and see money but
also to change their beliefs and expectations about what can take place in their life in the area of prospering financially. I realize that many believers look at the subject of finances as a taboo subject for many different reasons. Many often believe God will give them just enough or He may want them to be poor to create humility within them. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. My goal was to help the reader change their view or learn something new concerning the subject of finances, its use and God’s view of money and prosperity in the life of the believer. Of course, I pursued this venture using a strong scriptural base. FH – Is You TOO Can Prosper the first book you have authored? TT – No, I have authored five additional books, four of which are currently published. My additional titles include, Understanding The Book of Job – Separating what is true from what is truth, The Armor of God – Defining the importance of knowing God’s Word, The God Who Makes Sense – Defining God’s Sovereignty, and Avoiding Circumstantial Theology. FH – Is there a theme that ties each of your books to one another? TT – Yes, the ultimate theme is based on the fact that God wants each of us to happy, successful and whole in all aspects of life. Such a thing only becomes possible when we first gain an understanding of God’s true nature, His will, and His ways. FH – How does You TOO Can Prosper impact readers? TT – Readers of You TOO Can Prosper are impacted via scriptural examples of the will of God concerning the subject of prosperity, my personal real-life stories, and simplistic examples and processes allowing for the building of sustainable prosperity and wealth building. FH – Why does it seem many believers are struggling financially?
TT – The common financial struggle seen throughout most of the body of Christ comes down to a knowledge problem. Many are waiting on God to do something He has already given them the power to do. For example, Proverbs 13:22 says the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the righteous. Many see those words and think the money is going to come to them but according to the words of Deuteronomy 8:18, that say God has given us power to get wealth, we are to go out and possess what is waiting for us. In other words, obtaining the wealth of the wicked that is laid up for the righteous is not a passive event. We are to go out and take what belongs to us by establishing businesses in the marketplace among additional forms of income, active and passive. Another reason for this problem is based on a lack of understanding money. Most believers are working for what little money they have and do not understand the concept of putting money to work for them. There are many additional answers to this question that I would like to share but to save time, I will put that off for another interview. FH – In short, what are the steps to moving from where a person is currently, to where God wants them to be. TT – Wow! That is a loaded question. It all begins with how a person sees themselves and what they expect. There will always be a need to renew our minds no matter where we are in the process. It all begins with asking God what He wants us to believe for but if we do not understand His true nature, this may be more challenging than it would otherwise be. For this reason, I recommend reading my other books in addition to You TOO Can Prosper. In short, it comes down to casting a vision, setting goals to achieve the vision and then taking action steps. In my seminars, I often tell people that achieving success is as simple as taking the following steps. 1.
Develop right beliefs
2. 3. 4. 5.
Cast a new vision Set goals to accomplish the vision Obtain plans, ideas and recommendations Take action and move forward
FH – Are you available for public appearances, interviews and so forth? TT – Yes, I am available for speaking engagements, book signings and additional special events. I am also available for radio and television interviews, and webinars. I enjoy getting out and meeting people, answering their questions and simply getting to know people. One of my strongest desires is to make myself as accessible as possible. FH – Where are copies of your books available for purchase? TT – Each of my books are available in paperback and Kindle formats via amazon.com and my website, lifetimevisionary.com.
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Why I Wrote “Seeking to Win” – An interview with author, Stuart Smith. By Faye Hanshew on LIVE TALK WITH FAYE – Find it on Youtube.com from 7/24/2017 During the month of June 2017, author, Stuart Smith, published his second book. Both of Smith’s books focused on biblical subjects. His first book is a children’s book. It is a revision of the book “A Tadpole’s Tale” and is now called, “The Adventures of Luke and Lydia.” is a story that was inspired by his son, Luke and is about a little green frog who was waiting on their front door step when Luke was released from the hospital after having meningitis. In Smith’s newest book, “Seeking to Win” he welds together stories from his past with quotes from famous people to build a book of inspiration for all ages. To see a true picture of why Smith wrote, “Seeking to Win,” what his goals are after writing the book, his hopes for the people who read his book, and if he plans on writing more inspirational books, I recently sat down with author and minister for an in-depth interview. Here are some of the questions I asked Stuart: FH – What inspired your book? SS – When I woke up from a dream where I was encouraging and inspiring people, a story came to mind about when I was a Stat man for my Son’s high school football game. We were losing a very critical playoff game. When I asked the coach if I could say something to the team at half time, I got permission to give them a talk that ultimately helped them to Seek for the Win in this Game and Win they did.
FH - How did you come up with the name? SS – Basically, that is also the way I came up with the name. FH – What are some of the lessons you want others to learn from this book? SS – There are 8 chapters and in each chapter, there are nuggets, things people can learn. I would like to underline love and forgiveness, as Christians that is part of our Winning. These help us accomplish our work with Christ and walk as Champions. Every one of us has the tools that we need to do the work that God requires of us in this lifetime. FH - Is this your first inspirational book? SS - I have written poems and articles but this is my first inspirational book. I pray that this will the launching pad further for ministry through Winning Life Ministries by assisting Pastors and their families to help give them a break and encouragement. Let them know it’s okay to take a Time Out and have a moment of restoration. FH - It says in the About the Author section you are a world traveler, how did that come about? SS – As a young man me and my wife hosted exchange students and our first student was from Spain. The year after he left, we borrowed money against our car and made our first international trip and went to go see him. That was the beginning of our international travels. FH - You quoted several other people other than the Bible, what is the reason for that? SS - I felt like some of the best books I read in my lifetime were a mix of scripture and quotes from well-known people. As Christians, we are fisherman of man and to catch their attention we use the words of Famous people and often times the best quotes line up with scripture and that is beautiful. FH - There are a lot of pictures in the center of your book, and you dedicated this section to your Brother, tell us a little about that. SS – I dedicated the picture section to my baby brother because he meant so much to me. When we had to let him go in March of this year it was a big loss to our entire family. FH - Do you think there will be another inspirational book or possibly a 'Seeking to Win" series? SS – We are praying about that. We are thinking about zooming in on specific groups, something like Seeking to Win for Youth. We will see how that progresses. FH - Your Uncle who is also a Minister wrote the Epilogue for this book, how has he influenced your life and what led you to ask him to do the finale of "Seeking to Win?" SS - Uncle David is a precious Man of God. My entire life he has been the type of man that would go to churches with the doors closed and help reopen them. I wanted to give him the opportunity to talk about the Ultimate Win. Thank God for Uncle David and Aunt Beulah.
FH - Is there anything else you feel is important for the reader to know, and why would you hope they buy this book for themselves or others? SS - I pray that they would take this little treasure and have it in their homes or take it to a friend that might be feeling down. I believe it will inspire, encourage, and uplift those who read it. We have work to do and some Christians have surrounded on some fronts because the AntiChristian ideas seem to win. We have not lost and we are not going to lose. The Bible promises we are Winners! The church is kind of like that football team back 14 years ago that were wet muddy and loosing and God gave me the words to say. I pray the Church and Christians across the world would know that we have not Lost and we are not going to lose because we are Seeking to Win. One other thing, if you Pastors need help I’m here. I am available to fill in so you can get away with your family, if you live within a 200-mile radius. Contact me at Facebook.com/seektowin Pastors, Assistant Pastors and Evangelists I pray for you and God is going to lift you up and we are going to Win together.
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Why I wrote, “The Church WITHOUT Real Estate” – An interview with author, John Woolston By Faye Hanshew on LIVE TALK WITH FAYE – Find it on Youtube.com from 7/31/2017 During the month of May 2017, prolific writer and author, John Woolston, published the book “The Church WITHOUT Real Estate.” John has now written close to 30 books and when asked if there was a theme that ties each of his books to one another, he said, “I think so. I think the common theme that runs through all of them is Christ Himself personally living His life through the life of the believer.” In Woolston’s newest book, “The Church WITHOUTH Real Estate” he believes this book will become a pacesetter for gospel workers! It will challenge traditional concepts that have become embedded in the hearts and minds of Christian people since the Church became an institution in the third century. To see a true picture of why Woolston wrote, “The Church WITHOUT Real Estate,” what his goals are after writing the book, some of the lessons he hopes readers learn, and some of his upcoming books, I recently sat down with author and minister for an in-depth interview. Here are some of the questions I ask John:
FH – What inspired your book? JW – Faye, I like to think that most of what I write is inspired by the Holy Spirit. That being said, I must say that many times we write or talk about certain issues that we do because we see some light on a subject that could be helpful to the rest of the body of Christ if someone were to talk about them instead of sweeping them under the rug! I will say that the Lord began to speak to me about taking a fresh look at the book of Acts. As I started to write down my thoughts and observations, He told me He wanted me to turn them into a book. • In the beginning days of the Church, believers were not preoccupied with building beautiful sanctuaries of worship. They were consumed with a desire to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ, out on the streets, in the marketplaces and anywhere there were people. Today we practice just the opposite. We build sound-proof buildings and seem to have the attitude which says, “If you want what I have, come and get it!” The accepted philosophy that seems to be practiced by the vast majority of Church leadership today is: “If you build it, they will come!” That did not seem to be even a passing thought in the Church of the Book of Acts. They were too busy out on the streets, in homes and anywhere there were people, healing the sick, sharing their faith and teaching and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Apparently, it never occurred to them that they needed buildings to do so! 2. FH – How did you come up with this unusual name? JW – I started to title this, “The Church Without Walls,” but when I did a Google search, I found that some of the biggest, most beautiful churches in the country bear that name and they all have walls! Not to mention, all kinds of things have already been written on this subject, although nothing with the same content. I was talking to my friend John Fair about what I was writing and he suggested that I call it, “The Church Without Real Estate!” I said, “That’s it!” I think that is pretty much descriptive of the Church in the book of Acts, so that became the title. 3. FH – Anyone that has heard of you, knows that this is NOT your first book, but you have written many inspirational books. How many exactly does “The Church WITHOUT Real Estate” make? JW – I counted 28 that we have published so far on Amazon, but there are a few others that I self-published over the years that we will be re-publishing. “Can Rich men be saved?” “Apostolic Team Leadership” and “The Ministry of Jesus to His Church.” 4. FH – Is there a theme that ties each of your books to one another? JW – I think so. I think the common theme that runs through all of them is Christ Himself personally living His life through the life of the believer.
5. FH – You mentioned in your book about the church that started on the day of Pentecost. Tell us about that. JW – No one could be born again and become a member of the body of Christ until after Jesus had fully paid the price to redeem us from sin and from Satan’s domination of our lives. In actuality, the disciples believed on Him and were born again after He appeared to them immediately after He rose from the dead. They were just not filled with the Holy Spirit until the Day of Pentecost. Many people develop their New Testament doctrinal beliefs starting from the book of Matthew. The only problem with that is that when Jesus was teaching in the four Gospels He was living under the Law, teaching those who were also living under the Law. At the same time, He was introducing the kingdom of God, kingdom principles and laws of the kingdom, such as giving and receiving, sowing and reaping, and the law of love. He would say things like, “All things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matt. 7:12) He taught kingdom principles while at the same time in the context of living under the Law. We are not living under the Law, so hopefully people can see where this could cause problems with their theology if they do not make some distinctions. 6. FH – In Chapter 8, you said, “JESUS HAD a very successful ministry. He was having healings and miracles in His ministry. His congregation was growing by the thousands.” How did Jesus deal with an ever-growing congregation? JW – I don’t think I could answer this question any better than I have done in the book Faye, so if you don’t mind I will just read a page or two from that chapter! What was Jesus’ solution to this growing problem? Was it to build a great cathedral that would become a place where they could meet and be taught the Word of God? Did He lead them to the temple in Jerusalem and turn them over to the scribes and Pharisees who could take care of their spiritual needs? I don’t think that thought ever crossed His mind! So what was on His mind, and what did He see as the solution to an ever growing congregation? Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest! (Matt. 9:37-38) 37
• His solution to this problem did not include a building program. It did not involve physical structures at all. INSTEAD, He told His disciples to pray for the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His harvest. • Jesus essentially told His disciples to focus their attention on raising up leadership that could minister to an ever-growing harvest.
Somehow in our western Church culture, we have developed a mentality that is completely different from the one that was present in Jesus and later in the Apostles. We seem to think that to reach a specific number of people we must build a building of a certain size that will accommodate that number of people. Please don’t think that I am criticizing anyone. When we pastored a small church in upstate New York many years ago, I thought the same way. Obviously, I don’t think that way anymore! I think that many of us who have made an attempt at pastoring have had the wrong idea. I believe we have approached ministry in the wrong way. Some define success in ministry by the size of their church facilities, the size of their congregation, or by the size of their ministry organization. Jesus did not see it that way. When He spoke of ministry, He was talking about serving people. I have said this before, and I will say it again: • Ministry is not about prestige, fame or fortune. It is not about building our kingdom and being the center of attention. • Ministry is not defined by the size of a building, the organization we build, or the scope of its outreach; it has everything to do with the size of Christ in us! • I see ministry as who we are and what we have to offer! It is what is real and working in us that is the fruit of the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives. • What we are made of is what we have to offer. If all we have to offer is religious tradition, denominational teachings or the things we have heard others say, then we are but vessels that can only pour out stagnant, briny water and not the living waters of Christ’s life. • We can only give what we have received. We cannot give what we have not received any more than we can return to where we have not been! Jesus said, "Freely you have received, freely give!" We may admire and appreciate the gifts that God has given to someone we see as a great preacher or teacher, but if we try to mimic that person, then all we are doing is trying to give our listeners an imitation of someone else, and people will know it. • Real ministry is Christ flowing out of us in the words we speak, in the way we touch our world, and in the things we do that impact our world and impart the life and love of Christ to others. • Real ministry is Christ living His life through our lives, speaking the kind of words that He spoke in the gospels.
• It is Christ in us- the same yesterday, today and forever, healing the sick just as He did in the Gospels and doing the same things He did when He walked the shores of Galilee! • Your ministry is you! What you see is what they get! 7. FH – You titled chapter 11, “Signs will follow.” Tell us what are those signs that will follow? JW – Since Jesus is the Healer, and He is the same, “yesterday, today and forever,” I should think that He would be doing the same miracles that He did when He walked the earth through the believer if we believe that the same Jesus lives in us! Is He the same Jesus? If He is, and He has never changed, then He should be doing the same miracles, signs and wonders! And actually Faye, Jesus apparently wanted to dethrone the religious mind, for He said in John 14:12 that if we believe on Him we would do the same works He did and even greater, because He went to be with the Father! Wow! That reminds me of what Paul said in Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen!” 8. FH – Since you are talking about the Church WITHOUT Real Estate, tell us exactly what this means, and what the Church WITH Real Estate is supposed to be used for? JW – Once again Faye, if you don’t mind I will just read a portion of one of the chapters that addresses this very issue: Chapter 6
They Never Slowed Down To Build Structures! IN JOHN 14:12-14 Jesus said, “He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he (or she) do also, and greater works shall he (or she) do; because I go unto the Father. And whatsoever you shall ask (command) in my name, that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask (command) anything in my name, I will do it!” In Acts, chapter 2, we see a Church that had been filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to do all that Jesus said they could do. Peter preached one message, declaring that Jesus had been raised from the dead and the Bible says that they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41) The Scripture says that they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine. By saying that the people “continued steadfastly in the apostles’
doctrine,” that tells me that the apostles continued to teach the people out there in the streets and wherever they happened to meet. • In those days they were preoccupied with building people and doing the works that Jesus said they could do. • They were too busy teaching the masses to be concerned with building projects. (I am not saying there is anything wrong with buildings; I am just pointing out that in those days buildings were not a priority.) • Before Jesus introduced the new birth and the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the apostles must have thought that God lived in a temple or a holy place. When He took them up into a mountain and was transfigured before them, they immediately wanted to build three temples, but God wanted no part of that! (Luke 9:28-36) • After Pentecost, they were so excited about what they had just experienced that they were not even interested in building temples. They immediately wanted to take the message of salvation to the streets! They had come to realize that God no longer dwells in temples made by men’s hands! These days, when we begin to reach a few people for Jesus, the first thing we want to do is build a church building! Somehow it is so ingrained in our thinking that “we have to have a building” if we want to reach people that we seem to forget that church facilities are just tools to assist us in discipling the ones we have already reached! Churches are built when we build people through the ministry of the Word. Buildings can be added later if we want to utilize them for training purposes. However, a church is not a building. A church is a gathering of people who have believed in Jesus and have been drawn together by the Holy Spirit to pray together, worship together, hear from God together and to work together as a team. It can consist of two or three or several thousand. A church is not a building; it is the people who gather together who may happen to meet in a certain building or location. 9. What are some of the lessons you want others to learn from this book? JW – #1. To prioritize! I am not saying that we should not have nice facilities which we can utilize to make disciples of believers and turn those disciples into leaders in the kingdom of God. I am saying that in my opinion, our priorities have been way out of order. People should always be our first priority. I think that many times, preachers become consumed with building monuments to their greatness. We all should want to leave a legacy. There is nothing wrong
with that. However, I don’t believe our greatness should be remembered for the size of the structures we have built or the size of the organization we created. I think our greatness in the kingdom of God should be measured by the numbers of people our lives have impacted and the quality of leaders that have been produced as a result of our ministry. #2. We need to get rid of the “If you build it, they will come” mentality that proliferates in the Church as a whole today. “Building Evangelism” or “Church Centered Evangelism” is a failure at best. Jesus never told us to evangelize the way we have tried to evangelize. He laid down the way to be successful and we have tried unceasingly to do it another way. It has not worked, and never will work our way. To be successful, we need to do things His way! #3. Church is for the believer; evangelism is for the world- outside of the sanctuaryout where the people are! #4. The Church is not a building; it is you! #5. Who will our replacement be? (Chapter 38) #6. Compare results and the quality of disciples that we are producing as compared to those produced in the book of Acts. #7.Where is our greatest investment, in buildings or in people? Are we really interested in evangelizing the masses or do we want to draw believers from other churches to our church? Is our mission to reach the lost, to disciple believers, to produce leaders or all of the above? .How can we reach the most unsaved people; by building bigger, more beautiful sanctuaries, or through home groups, one on one personal evangelism or mass miracle crusades? Who is our target audience? 10. FH – Are you available for public appearances, interviews and so forth? JW – Yes, we could do some of that. Right now (as you know) I am still running our business and doing a lot of writing and I am very selective about what I commit to doing right now. For now, getting these books published is my top priority. We haven’t even taken a mission trip in a couple of years because I felt that this was more of a priority. 11. FH – Where are copies of your books available for purchase? https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&fieldkeywords=books+by+John+woolston
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If you are not a Christian all you have to do is repent of your sins and invite Jesus into your
Say the prayer below, and mean it from your heart. If you decide to make Jesus Lord of your life, we would LOVE to hear from you.
https://www.facebook.com/faithunlimitedemagazine and leave us a note. God Bless you for this life changing decision!
I know I am a sinner. I thank you for dying on the cross for me. I confess with my mouth. I believe in my heart that you are the Son of God. I believe you are the Lord and that God raised you from the dead. Please, forgive me of my sins. Wash my heart clean. Come live in my life. Be the Lord of my life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Teach me to walk with you and live for you the rest of my life. Thank you for saving me and for giving me the gift of eternal life in Heaven with you. Amen.
by: Ernest Nelson K. Nanor Starting with Generational blessings, I won’t mention that Generational curses doesn’t exist. They do, as long as God’s pronouncement to the first Adam’s wrong doings is still working on the children of disobedience. The powers behind the curses are originally from on high as a result of the fall of man as indicated in Genesis, the first book of the Jewish Old Testament. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou
taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Gen 3:17-19 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Gal 1:8-9 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a
rock. And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matt 7:24-27 “
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” Isaiah 28:16 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 1Peter 2:7,8 Generational Curses are generational limitations placed on peoples believing through false teachings. But Generational blessings are freedoms placed on peoples believing through the gospel of Jesus Christ; Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. John 8:34-37 Actually in this world, if you don’t believe in Jesus Christ, you open yourself up for a curse to work in you, and it has its trace from the time the world was created. When God, the Supreme owner of the Heavens and the Earth,
created the heavens, He created the earth as well. When the earth was without form and void, with darkness upon the face of the deep He spoke the gospel light into the world because He had mercy on the earth through His Spirit hovering on the surface of this world; because He has mercy on you He has sent this message of His Son to you, to save and liberate you from the mighty powers of generational curses on man as a result of UNBELIEF and to fill you with the Supreme Blessings of His Holy Spirit through FAITH in the name of His Son Jesus Christ just as written; For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:16-21 Generational Curses are mighty powers from on high and powers behind the words we speak which have the tendency to devastate the intended destiny of the one the curses goes to…But, blessings are Supreme powers from on high and also from the words we speak also with the tendency to reshape a devastated destiny into its intended purpose gloriously.
Generational curses are wicked and stubborn mighty powers which spring from one generation to another through direct influences of the mighty forces behind them but Generational blessings are good and sincere supreme powers which spring from one generation to another through the direct and indirect influences of the supreme forces behind them. It is not possible to curse a blessed destiny but it is possible for a blessed destiny to be deceived or to be frustrated as though cursed. The powers behind curses seem mighty because their tendencies are to devastate an intended purpose but the powers behind any blessings is supreme because they reshape the devastated purpose to its intended purpose gloriously. Curses and blessings operate as the way the High court and the Supreme courts operate in the world. An innocent person can be sentenced to the high court or persecuted wrongly. If children of God have a deep revelation about themselves, they will know that they are not just as ordinary citizens in the kingdom of God but are as Supreme Court judges in the Kingdom of God; and their duties are to make sure that with all possible means they are in the position to set free the ignorant children of God and even the children of darkness with ease through preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ to them. Thus, the powers of curses have been rubbished by the powers of righteousness through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that took place in the land of Israel at the 30 A.D.
The powers of sins are the powers behind every generational curse and the powers of righteousness are the powers behind every generational blessing. The generational curses that once worked in us as a result of Adams sins throughout the generations to our individual family’s sins including our own sinfulness has been taken away by the supreme powers of the one who was not a sinner but a blessed Son of God, who became sin for us to be the righteousness of God in him. As a result of His mercy shown on us, He has also sealed us with Him, granted or seated with His supreme on High powers through His name to release other people as well. It is just like asking us to go and free someone who is cursing us or who is persecuting us or someone whose intention is to kill us; we can do so with ease because we are above them in all things that pertain to life and Godliness through our Faith in the Son of God and by preaching His gospel alone to them has the tendency to loose or unloose them from their ignorance. Many people will actually curse you because they have no knowledge of who you actually are now, they knew Jesus then but not in the way they should have; a lot of the people who hated and hate Christ Jesus and persecuted Him did, or do so, because they had no knowledge of who He actually was and is; A lot of people call Jesus accursed because they have no knowledge of Him and are under curses.
Question 1: Why we lose more weight during first week of dieting? Answer: It is not fat loss. It is the water and carbohydrate loss from our body. Our human body stores energy in the form of glycogen in liver and muscles. When we start dieting, our body starts using this stored glycogen. That is why we lose more weight during first week of dieting. Question 2: What is meant by the term “Weight Loss Plateau”? Answer” When we start dieting, during the first two weeks we are smiling because we are losing weight fast. After about two weeks, we start losing weight at a normal rate every week. Now this stage is called as “Weight Loss Plateau”, where we feel disappointed because of the slow weight loss. Now we have two choices, either we can go on with the dieting or we stop dieting further. Most of us reach this plateau, but we must try to be mentally stronger and continue dieting and exercising for a good and healthy living.
Question 3: What is Apple shaped and Pear shaped in terms of weight loss? Answer: Most of the men gain weight around their abdomen, which makes them look round in the middle like and apple. Hence the name is for over weigh men. Women gain weight around their abdomen, thighs and buttocks regions. Hence the shape of overweight women resembles a pear-shaped body. I hope none of us are apple and pear shaped. Question 4: Discuss about Negative calorie foods? Answer: Every food has calories in it. The lowest calorie food is water at zero calories. There are some foods that have low calories but it takes more calories for our digestive system to break down this food and release energy from it. One of the best examples of negative calorie food is Celery. A celery stack has six calories and it takes twelve calories to digest it, hence net impact is minus six calories. Other examples of Negative calorie foods include apple, cauliflower, cherries, cucumbers, grapefruit, green beans, oranges, tomatoes, mushrooms. Question 5: How do we calculate BMI? Answer: BMI (Body Mass Index) is ratio of weight to height, a commonly measure of obesity to classify weight as underweight, normal, overweight and obese. BMI is not appropriate to determine health status for athletes, people with large body frames, petite body frames, children and adolescents who are still growing, pregnant women. Overweight or obese people are more likely than those at normal weight to have medical problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease.
BMI
Health
Less than 18.5
Underweight
Between 18.5 to 24.9
Normal
Between 25 to 29.9
Overweight
More than 30
Obese
Question 6: Please give suggestion for underweight skinny people to gain weight? Answer: Underweight can gain weight by high calorie foods. Weight gain procedure needs patience. Overweight person can gain weight faster than the underweight person. There are many ways to gain weight but there are three specifically that I would like to suggest and they are i.e. 1. Eating Bananas with a glass of milk. 2. Eating fresh dates (not dried ones) with a glass of milk. 3. Do not engage in aerobic or cardio exercises (cycling, running, etc). They use up a lot of calories. This is Dewanshu Ahlawat, a Certified Nutritionist with 23 other certifications. If you have any query regarding your health and nutrition, please feel free to contact me at dewanshuahlawat@gmail.com or you may even ring me at +91-9493289503. I express my word of thanks to the Editor in Chief Mrs. Faye G Hanshew for publishing my article in her esteemed magazine. Keep reading this wonderful magazine and do read my next article on Nutrition in the coming months. Please take care and stay fit.
The Flying Dragons Taekwondo and Mixed Arts Training Center A place of honor, loyalty, and respect. Not to mention great times, and a family atmosphere. The Flying Dragons Taekwondo Training Center is run by Bart Nelson and his two sons: Dakota Nelson and Caleb Nelson
15949 Highway A Vichy, MO 65580 (573) 201-9981 Email: Nelsonsmta@gmail.com Classes: Monday-Tuesday: 7:15 PM – 9:30 PM Thursday: 7:15 PM – 9:30 PM