His Grace Magazine

Photo by Donna Wood

"...but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.

The Brevity of Life

The joy we feel with the birth of a child; Discovering a new love, dreams running wild; Our lives can be described as a series of phases

Beginning with births...from there, constant changes.

Whether a relationship, a home or a career, We have to let go of things we hold dear.

Every chapter of life has a beginning and an end;

It can be unsettling when life is uncertain.

Life is a process and in the blink of an eye, We can become sick and then possibly die. Lift up your eyes and look all around;

Notice the beauty and absorb every sound.

The preciousness of each moment makes one realize That the gift of life is not to be despised. Learning to embrace the impermanence of it all Will take you to a place you've always longed for.

Relate to loved ones for the precious gift they are; They are as temporary as the next shooting star. Your gift of life will one day pass away; So live your life as if it's your last day.

James 4:14

“Yet you do not know what our life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."

John 14:6: "Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

I love this chapter and verse, it says so much about who Jesus is to all of us, or at least, it should. When we are born, we are actually born on the road to hell, and the only way off that road is by giving our lives to Jesus; it's the only way to be saved. What is Jesus saying here? He is saying that He is the only way to Heaven; He is the truth. There is no lying in Him, because He is incapable of lying. He is the life, only through Him do we have eternal life in Heaven. "No one comes to the Father except through Me,"

Who is Jesus to you?

Are you in a personal relationship with Jesus, or just know of Him?

He says. This means that, if we have a loving personal relationship with Him, then we will go to Heaven. Where is the Father? He is in Heaven, so the only way to the Father, who is in Heaven, is through Jesus Christ.

My question to you is simply this, "Who is Jesus to you?"

When I was a little boy, Mom used to tell me who Jesus was and what He did. When I got older, I never pursued it any further than that. I just figured that because I know about Him; I'm going to Heaven. But as I found out years later, that just wasn't true. I was given a Bible by a co-worker and was told to read it. I did a few months later and it changed my life completely and at that moment, I gave my life to Jesus Christ and started to follow Him; it's made a huge difference.

When you give your

life to Him, it has that effect on your life; you will at that moment never be the same again. If your life hasn't changed at all after becoming a Christian, then there is a problem and you need to fix that before it's too late. It reminds me of this little story, well maybe it's more of a joke; it's a funny, cute story.

A man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy street. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection.

The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and there looking into her window was the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit the car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger printed, photographed and placed in a holding cell. After a few hours, a policeman walked up to the cell and opened the door. She was then escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting for her as he had her personal effects with him.

The officer then said to her, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, and flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the 'What would Jesus Do' bumper sticker,

Owner/Publisher:

Rob Wood

the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'Follow Me to Sunday School' bumper sticker and the chrome plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk." The officer then said, "After seeing all this on the car and noticed the way you were acting against the man in front of you, Naturally...I assumed you had stolen the car."

That was a cute and funny story, but how true is that when we really think about it. How many times do we get mad over things or mad at people when we are driving or even at home with family or friends, and that includes myself. We really have to think before we act. Proverbs 14:29 says, "He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly." How many times have we been so mad at someone, then realize afterwards that we were in the wrong, and you feel the Holy Spirit convicting

Who is Jesus to you?

us right after? John 16:8 says, "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement." We need to control ourselves don't we; we need to be more like Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."

Our Messiah ...John 4:25-26 says, "The woman said to Him, 'I know that Messiah is coming' (who is called Christ). 'When He comes, He will tell us all things.' Jesus said to her, 'I who speak to you am He.'" Our Salvation ...Romans 10:9-10 says, "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." And He loves us ...1 John 4:19 says, "We love

Him because He loved us first." But He is also our judge and will come back one day soon, and He will judge the world. Isaiah 33:22 says, "For the Lord is our Judge, The Lord is our Lawgiver, The Lord is our King; He will save us." Jesus is King ...Revelation 17:14 says, "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called chosen and faithful." Jesus is also called Emmanuel which means, God with us ...Matthew 1:22-23 says, "So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel' which is translated, 'God with us.'"

Jesus Christ is the Son of God ... Matthew 3:17 says, "And behold, a voice out of the heavens

said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." He is also God in the flesh ...John 1:1314 says, "Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we behold His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Jesus is the Son of God, equal with God, and with authority from the Father Luke 22:70 says, "Then they all said, 'Are You then the Son of God?' So He said to them, 'You rightly say that I am." Also Matthew 28:18 says, "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." And John 5:17 says, "But Jesus answered them, 'My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."

The enemies of Jesus, namely the Pharisees and Scribes attested to the fact

that Jesus claimed to be God, John 10:2931 says, "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him." Also, Jesus said to Philip, he who has seen Me, has see the Father. John 14:8-9 says, "Philip said to Him, 'Lord show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.' Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father?'" As we can see from the scripture given, He was able to back up the claim that He is God born in the Flesh.

Jesus lived a sinless life; He was tempted in all things in the desert by satan, and yet He did NOT sin. Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,

but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."

From the beginning of time, God knew that we couldn't stay away from sin as Adam and Eve couldn't, and He also knew that He would have to come down from His spot in Heaven to be that perfect sacrifice, because He never sinned. 1 Peter 3:18 says, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit." Also 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

Jesus also had the power to forgive sins and provides us with eternal life, to be with Him in Heaven. Luke 5:20-21 says, "When He saw their faith, He said to him, 'Man, your sins are forgiven you.' And the Scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, 'Who

Who is Jesus to you?

is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?'" John 11:25 says, "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.'"

Also, John 6:47 says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life."

death on the cross. And yet, He did all this for you and me. That goes to show you how great His love is for us. He is a God of love, but He is also a judge and will come back to judge the world one day very soon. Are you ready? You need to be ready. It's simple; give your life to Jesus. Tell Him that you know He died on the cross for you and all your sins, and three days later He rose from the dead, conquering death and giving us eternal life. That's it; then give your entire life to Him and serve Him everyday for the rest of your life. He will change you.

Jesus knew He was all of the above, the Lamb of God, the Messiah, God in the flesh all spo ken of in the Old Tes tament. He knew He would live with no sin and be the perfect sac rifice; He knew He was born to die this terrible Ministries. @ 905-380-4489, at wood.ministries.2020@gmail.com

A Pilot's True Story

Book by: Captain Dale Black

Written by: Lynne Wood Flight to Heaven

Flight

to Heaven, by Capt. Dale Black, is an amazing true story of faith and determination; you won't want to put it down. Dale has flown commercial and corporate jets all over the world for over forty years. He has led hundreds of missions, giving away Bibles, medical aid, and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. He met Paula in college and were married a year later. He still flys, but as a hobby now. At the time this book was written, it had been forty years since the plane he was in crashed. This is his incredible story. Ever since Dale was fourteen, he dreamed of becoming a commercial pilot; that's all he thought about.

In June of 1969, after he had logged sixty hours of flying, he was ready for his test with the FAA.He passed his exam; he was now a licensed pilot. This day, they were going up in a Piper Navajo. There was Chuck, his friend, who taught him how to fly; Gene, a Fresno police officer, who was also a pilot and Dale. The day was clear and calm. They lifted off but instantly knew something was wrong, they weren't climbing high enough. They hit a 75 foot monument in the cemetery, that ironically enough, was dedicated to aviators. The crash was horrific; Dale was the only survivor but was in critical

condition.

He had massive injuries; they didn't know if he would walk again. He would also need plastic surgery; doctors told his parents he wouldn't look the same. He came out of the coma in three days. He had no internal injuries, so he was sent home after eight days.

He had a long road of recovery ahead of him. His friend came by and told him God gave him a scripture to read to Dale; it was Psalm 91. Dale was crying, realizing how he had changed from that little boy who gave his life to Christ, to the man who was only living for himself. God had spared Dale and he was now determined to know God better. Dale said, "I

will walk with God on His path. If, I'm to run again it will be on His course and if I do fly again God will be my pilot and I will be His co-pilot."

At the time of the plane crash, Dale was only nineteen years of age it changed his life completely. Through it all, he became a better person. In this book, Dale tells of his indescribable journey to Heaven, that changed his life forever. He talks about the Angels that guided him, the light that surrounded and seemed to shine through everything, breathtaking colors you have never seen on earth, glorious music worshipping God, The city of Gold, the amazing countryside...each home he noticed was customized and unique from all others.

The people were all happy, smiling and friendly. He knew this was the place he had looked for all his life; he never wanted to leave. With the love of God, faith, family and friends, Dale passed his exam to fly again one year after the accident. His hope is that you'll read this, not just with your mind, but with your heart. If you do this, you will receive more than you planned.

Isaiah 40:31: "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."

In the book of Revelation, Jesus condemns the Church of Sardis for its complacency, for its comfort with pagan culture and its deadness despite outward appearances. The churches referenced in chapter 3 represent the churches of all ages. Revelation 3:1 says, "To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.'"

The church is like a lamp stand, meaning that it sheds light. Its mission is to share the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, because Jesus is the Light of the world. The Holy Spirit bestows upon the Church various powers and operations in order for the Church body to carry out the work of the Lord. These various powers are referred to as the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars are the ministers of the Church, who are accountable to their Lord Jesus Christ. His ministers are given the message and the gifts for the good and edification

Complacency

Will it Kill You?

of the Church and for influencing the culture by preaching the gospel.

is no spiritual growth, the people are spiritually asleep. Yes, they can still

As we look at the city of Sardis, we discover that it was strategically situated and it traded actively with the surrounding region, being known for their colorful woollen goods and for their jewelry. Sardis' economy was thriving. The city was also a city of softness and luxury, apathy and immorality, worshipping the forces of nature. Experiencing great wealth and success in their culture and in their city, the church toyed with sin.

Jesus does not say one encouraging word about this Church. The Church doesn't appear to be plagued by false teachings; everything appears to be normal on the surface, but this kind of situation is deadly to spiritual progression. When there

go through the motions and do everything as a believer, but they're dying spiritually. Sadly, the Christian Church has been operating in this kind of atmosphere for too long. It depends less and less on the Lord. Someone looking on however, may think that the Church is alive. Jesus says in verse one that they have a name that they are alive. The church probably has a good reputation in the community, being active, contributing to society with many programs and activities, good music. However, when the culture dictates how the Church should run, it becomes ineffective.

We can grieve the Holy Spirit by falsehood, by corrupt talk, by anger, by an unforgiving spirit.

The Holy Spirit can also be quenched by prayerlessness, by not rejoicing, by not being thankful and by not being discerning, to name a few. So, if the Holy Spirit is grieved or quenched in believers, they will find themselves becoming comfortable, complacent and languishing in ministry. When that happens, they cease growing spiritually. The desire for more knowledge of the Word of God decreases as well as a deeper relationship with our Lord and Savior.

Have you ever been apathetic or indifferent to spiritual things? complacent to the things of God, complacent to prayer, to hearing preaching, to the fellowship of believers? Jesus sees what is going on in the core of our hearts and He is concerned with our character and our driving motives. We must ask ourselves whether what we are doing or attempting to do meets with God's approval.

Revelation 3:2 says, "Be constantly alert, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in

Complacency

the sight of My God."

If our deeds are not fulfilling God's purposes and are not measuring up to God's standards, then it's possible that we could have stopped hearing and receiving the Word of God. Spiritual apathy and indifference can begin to take root and act like a spiritual cancer eating away at the inside. We lose the ability to fight against pagan influences and worldly viewpoints and begin to accept the ways of the world, becoming confused about sexuality, marriage and abortion. Eventually, the church loses its fight, zeal and passion to win the world for Jesus.

Jesus challenges the church to -

(1) Wake Up: (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8):

"So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the

hope of salvation." Live each and every moment before the watchful eye of God. Live every day knowing that God sees it all; we can't hide a thing from Him.

(2)Reinforce: (Revelation 3:2): "... Strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die..." In other words, reinforce those who are faithful, those who are awake, and keep them awake.

(3) Know the Truth of the Word of God: (Revelation 3:3): "So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent..." Be fully convinced that the Bible is a sufficient revelation of truth; it is a reliable, sufficient standard to live by. Hold fast to it and don't let it go. Those who aren't convinced of this will continually look elsewhere for more revelation and new mystical experiences.

(4) Repent: ( Revelation 3:3): "...Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at

what hour I will come to you." Live your life as if Christ is going to come at any moment! Stay ready; don't get complacent. Be ready to meet the Lord at any time; be forever watchful, and while you are waiting to meet Him, be laboring on His behalf until He returns.

I know that God is True; I know that His Word is true. And I know that everything that He says will come to full completion. In verses 4-5, the Lord gives three promises: "...They will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the Book of Life and I will confess his name before My father and before His angels." We will be clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Our sins are washed away and we're as pure as the driven snow. Our registry in the Lamb's Book of Life gives us entry into the Kingdom of God! It is our assurance that we belong to Him. We believers will stand in

heaven with Christ and have Him announce our name!

If someone is complacent, they may not even know if they're a believer; they're just going through the motions and don't really have a heart for what they're doing. And if they don't ever repent of their complacency, they're probably not one. Believers are awake, aware and attuned to God. They hunger for righteousness. They want to deal with their sin and lift up the name of Christ and worship Him alone. How blessed it is to be saved and to know that your name's in that Book; that you're delivered from the wrath of God!

We all stumble and fall; we sin but we get up and repent. We want to serve our Lord. We need an oil change from the Holy Spirit to rekindle life into our very existence. Live your life before the eyes of God; have your ears opened to His Word. Examine your life; know where you are going today, because tomorrow is never promised.

Written by: Donna Wood

Photo by: Rob Wood

"And nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Jonathan Cain

Jonathan Cain, Journey's songwriter said Jesus saved him from near death twice

Jonathan Cain, who is Journey's songwriter ... the guy behind all their hit songs including: "Don't Stop Believin," said that he had two near death experiences that affected his Christian faith.

Jonathan, the now 72 year old artist, was in a video that was seen on YouTube by the Christian nonprofit I Am Second. He talked about his story, which included his father who was a God fearing Christian. Jonathan said, "I would go to church with him and watch him pray. And he would pray so fervently, and the tears would come down his cheeks. And I wanted that so badly, and I said, 'Can I go with you to Jesus?' And he said, 'You have to get your own walk with Jesus. Get your own relationship."

When he started to walk with Jesus, Jonathan talked about two of his near death

experiences that he had when he was a child.

The first time Jonathan almost died was when he almost drowned on a family trip to Arkansas. When he was in the water walking, he fell into a large hole on the bottom of the lake.

While Jonathan was fighting for his life, he remembered a hand that pulled him out of the water, and he was then given mouth to mouth resuscitation to be brought back to life. Jonathan said, "I

said to my parents, ' I nearly died and it was only because of God I'm here.' It was also a wake up call that God was

grade. And I watched 92 children die right next to the house of God and three nuns. And I felt just lost."

Even though he was grateful for surviving the tragedy, for the first time after the fire, he felt a peek of doubt. Jonathan said, "I wondered what happened that day, there was a big question in my mind, 'Did Jesus abandon us that day? What happened?'"

Watching his own son struggle with his faith brought about Jonathan's father to take measures to help his son get back his faith.

preparing me to face life. You know, like this is not going to be easy." The second time Jonathan almost died was in 1958 when the Catholic school that he went to burned to the ground, the fire killed over 90 children and three nuns. Jonathan said, "There was a terrible fire that broke out, I was in third

Jonathan talked about how his father began to encourage him to pursue a music career. This is the open door that would bring him back to Jesus. He said, "My father led me straight to music. He said, 'Son, you were saved for something greater and that must be music.' He got me straight to music school."

"And music seemed to be a redemption for me. I was able to set myself free."

Jonathan, who is married to televangelist Paula White-Cain, said that his musical gifts gave him a place in the band The Babies, which gave him an opportunity to cowrite many songs for the 1980s Union Jacks record label. Jonathan said, "My father, he always said, every time I had something great happen, "This is just a stepping stone to something greater, child.' And I would ask, 'What do you mean Dad, by just a stepping stone?' My dad wasn't impressed. He goes, 'This isn't' it. There's something else coming.'"

Jonathan never forgot what his father had said to him, from there he joined the famous rock group Journey in 1973. He would serve in many roles with the group, this included writer, keyboardist and vocalist.

Just before Jonathan joined Journey, he went through a very difficult time where he thought

Jonathan Cain

about giving up music. He said how he struggled to pay all his bills when he was chasing his dream. Jonathan said, "I had to call my father and I hated asking him for money. But, I said, 'Dad, I just wonder, should I give up on this

"It wasn't until five years later, Journey lead singer Steve Perry looked at me and said, 'You got another song?' And I said, 'Well let me look in my book.' And sure enough, there's what Dad had said." Jonathan also said, "I

would be able to carry on. I always wrote for him. I said, 'Everything I did, every note I played, I can trace back to my father.' And then, God, His voice came to me, 'No, John, it has been Me. It's Me, John. It's always been Me through him. But, I am the source. I am where it comes from." He also said, "And I went, 'Oh man. How did I miss that? So You were the Guy in the room when I wrote 'Faithfully.'

music dream and come home to Chicago and forget about it?' And there was silence for a minute. And then my father said: 'John, this is your vision. No. You're not coming home. Stay the course. Don't stop believing.'"

After talking with his father, Jonathan said right away he started writing what his father had said to him in a small lyric book. The words would become the foundation to the 1981 hit song, "Don't Stop Believin." He said,

wrote a melody to have 'a city boy and a small town girl on a midnight train going anywhere.' I came in the next day, and it was history. I believe that is what got us into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Thank you, Dad."

When Jonathan's father passed away years later, he remembered hearing the voice of God as he was crying at the piano and he realized at that point that he should have been thanking God for all his music. Jonathan said, "I didn't think I

'I'm forever yours, Lord, faithfully." Those were the lyrics for another big hit that Journey had.

While mostly known for his secular music, in 2016, Jonathan had a Christian album called, "What God Wants to Hear," with all the songs that focused on Jonathan's faith journey. As Journey continues to tour, Jonathan hopes the Lord will inspire me to continue to make new music once again with this Hall of Fame group of rock and roll. But for now, I will remain His humble servant and continue to serve Him with my new ministry.

Putin has called up 300,000 Reservists, and is willing to use Nukes, 'It's not a Bluff' 300,000 Reservists!

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a partial mobilization of his reservists in Russia in an estimate that seems to be an admission that the Russian war with Ukraine hasn't worked out, according to what they thought it would be, after almost seven months of war and the recent counter-attack from the Ukraine army, where Russia lost a lot of ground.

The Russian President addressed the Russian nation on television and warned the West that he is not bluffing with using all of his weapons that are at his disposal to protect Russia's territory.

He was talking about his reference to Russia's nuclear weapons.

Putin had warned the West before not to put Russia in a corner and has scolded NATO countries for supplying their weapons to help Ukraine.

Russian officials said that the total number of reservists to be called up is 300,000.

Only those reservists with proper combat and service experience will be deployed, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

He also added that there are around twentyfive million people who fit this specification, but only 1% of those will be deployed.

President Putin gave his announcement against the backdrop of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Russia's invasion of Ukraine last February has been the target of harsh condemnation.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskky will address the United Nation General

Assembly later this coming week on September 28.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace discussed Putin's deployment statement as an admittance that his invasion is failing. Ben Wallace said, "He and his defense minister have sent tens of thousands of their own citizens to their deaths, ill equipped and badly led. No amount of threats and propaganda can hide the fact that Ukraine is winning this war, the international community are united and Russia is becoming a global pariah."

This war that has killed thousands of people, soldiers and civilians

has made food prices around the world soar, and has made energy costs skyrocket.

In his speech, President Putin blamed the West in taking part in "nuclear blackmail" and mentioned, "statements of some high ranking representatives of the leading NATO states about the possibility of using nuclear weapons of mass destruction against Russia," although he never did identify who had made these comments.

He said, "To those who allow themselves such statements regarding Russia, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction, and for separate components and more modern than those of NATO countries and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal."

He added, "It's not a bluff."

Armenia Attacked!

The Russian Oil shortfall has triggered Azerbaijan attack against Armenia

The war in the Ukraine is having widespread consequences. Russia's fading influence is now leading to the outbreak of violence in the former Soviet nations; this includes the Christian country of Armenia.

It was just after midnight on September 13 that Azerbaijan launched a large scale attack on its neighboring country of Armenia. It's one of the latest attacks in a long running clashes between the Muslim Azerbaijan and Armenia, a country that has claimed to be the world's first Christian country, although this attack is more to do with money than religion.

This attack is the worst since 2020; Azeri forces then pushed their way into the Armenian exclave of Artsakh, taking lands that had been populated by Armenians since the time of Noah.

The editor of the EVN Report, which is headquartered in

Yerevan, said, "The Armenian side has 49 soldiers killed in action. We have several civilians wounded. The attacks were not only against Armenian military positions but there were attacks against Armenian civilian towns and villages. Several homes have been damaged, including municipal buildings. So there was an attack against military and civilian infrastructure."

This current conflict is a bit different because the Azeris aren't attacking a remote territory, but Armenia. But the goal has everything to do with the war that is going on in the Ukraine.

Maria Titizian said, "So right now, what's taking place is extremely concerning because they're now attacking the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia escalating this situation, this theater of hostilities, to an all-time high. And it's a very dangerous situation at the moment."

A missionary to Armenia, Jacob Pursley, talked about the oil. He said, "And the reason they want it is that it's a connector between Azerbaijan and the autonomous country of Nakhichevan to Turkey, and that will allow them to have a pipeline of oil."

Armenia relies

on the Russian Peacekeepers to help hold the ceasefire that was arranged in 2020, but with the war in Ukraine, Russia may not be able keep control of the aggression. Now this runs the risk of Iran coming into the conflict. As of now, they have moved their soldiers on the border. As they are saying, they will not stand of any changes to Armenia's territorial border.

Azerbaijan is now frantically looking for a path for its oil to the west. Many of the Christians that live in Armenia are seeing this as a deeper topic than this conflict. Jacob Pursley said, "I believe this is a spiritual attack. This is a spiritual battle that has been stirred up against them. So pray for the strength and the faith and that the gospel will continue to go forth here in Armenia and that I will go forth in these countries that are attacking. Because that is the only way we'll have peace is in Jesus Christ."

Deion Sanders

Former NFL Football Star Deion Sanders cried out to God during his serious health scare.

NFL Football Star Deion Sanders

recently talked about his health scare and how his faith in God helped him through a rough and a possibly deadly struggle that he faced in resulting of the amputation of two toes.

Deion, who is the Jackson State University's head coach, trusted the Lord with his healing .

It all started in 2021.Deion, 55 years old at the time, was diagnosed with blood clots in his legs after he had surgery and he needed two toes on his left foot amputated.

Deion spent weeks in the hospital and a total of eight surgeries. Even though Deion had gone through some terrible circumstances, the ex NFL player is thanking Jesus Christ for his improved health and recovery. Deion said, "It was a blessing because I could have lost my life very easily, it was there. It was a thought process of losing my leg from the knee down. It was almost there. So when I

look up and say, 'Thank you, Jesus,' it's because I know the quiet cries at night that were in the hospital."

Deion said that he is "thankful" to have gone through this difficulty, saying it has shown him more about God and his faith. Deion said, "I got to really see God's face and the different

personalities of God, I feel."

Throughout all his hospital difficulties, the football Hall of Famer turned his thoughts to praying, explaining that he spoke in tongues and praised Jesus while he was in the hospital. Deion said, "I'm pretty sure that some of those nurses thought I was

crazy. He called on the Lord every night."

Deion has been open about his struggle with depression and his suicidal thoughts in the past, and how coming to Jesus has helped saved his life. Before Jesus, he did try to "take himself out." Deion said, "I gave my life to the Lord in a condo all alone in Cincinnati, Ohio, while I was playing baseball, a few years ago during an appearance on "I Am Athlete." I went through a roller coaster of emotions. I was at the bottom of, to me, what life was."

I remember Deion Sanders playing football; he played on a few teams, but the biggest team he played for was the Dallas Cowboys. It goes to show you that it doesn't matter what we do in this lifetime, the bottom line is we all need Jesus Christ. We thank Jesus for Deion's testimony and his story, about his faith in Jesus and his journey through his sickness and health and his desire to talk about it.

Hurricane Fiona

Hurricane Fiona left 8 dead in the Caribbean Islands, now heads north towards Canada

There were as many as 8 people killed in the Caribbean Islands from the pounding winds and waves from Hurricane Fiona.

The hurricane left behind debris and destruction everywhere in the Dominican Republic and in Puerto Rico.

This hurricane, the size of 800 kilometers wide, passed by the British Island territory of Bermuda; its winds still very high and strong at 204 kilometres per hour. The minimum central pressure is 936 millibars. The hurricane has 50 foot waves at its peak and is a category 4, but has since been downgraded as a

category 3 storm.

Michael Weeks who is Bermuda's minister of National Security, said,

"We want residents to please take this storm seriously." Many of the residents rushed

around to start boarding up their windows on their homes; they are storing their boats and preparing for the worst.

One of the residents said, "I have lots of water, snacks, canned meat. Mostly no perishables, I am prepared for the storm."

The hurricane is now tracking north towards Atlantic Canada and could be one of the worst storms to ever hit Canada.

Puerto Rico was left hurting from the fierce storm with the winds and rain. Homes were moved off their foundations from all the rain, and 60% of the island is still living with no hydro.

Paul Henderson with the Team Canada 1972 Summit Series

50th Anniversay of the Goal of the Century Paul Henderson

aul Henderson scored the biggest goal in the history of Canadian hockey. Paul scored "The Goal of Goals." If you're a Canadian and a fan of hockey, that is all you really need to say when you're talking about Paul

While the game was winding down on September 28, Paul was on the bench waiting for his chance to get back on the ice for one last shot at victory. As time was running out, it looked like the series would end in a tie. But then with a little over a minute left in the game, Paul was given his chance. He leaped off the boards and skated down the ice towards the Soviets' net. He missed on the first attempt. In the words of legendary hockey commentator "Henderson made a wild stab for it and As Paul fell and slid into the boards, he quickly got back on his skates. Phil Esposito shot the puck at Soviet goalie, Vladislav Tretiak, and Paul grabbed the rebound. Foster Hewitt called the goal..."Here's another shot! Right in front... They score! Henderson has scored for Canada!" With just 34 seconds left in the game, Canada would win the game 6-5 and the series with 4 wins, 3 losses and 1 tie. The first 4 games were played

in Canada and the last 4 played in the Soviet Union. Amazingly, Paul scored the winning goals in games 6, 7 and 8. Three years later, in 1975, Paul gave his life to Jesus Christ.

Paul and his wife Eleanor have three daughters, Heather, Jennifer and Jill. The family remained in Birmingham, Alabama for awhile after he retired. Paul also had an opportunity to become a colour commentator for the Toronto Maple Leafs broadcasts in 1981, but Ballard, still upset over what Henderson had done by leaving the Maple Leafs for the WHA, blocked his hiring.

Paul returned to Toronto in 1984, under the auspices of Power to Change Ministries, formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ. He then founded a men's ministry called Leader Impact. Paul also received an honorary doctorate from Briercrest College and Seminary and an honorary degree from Tyndale University College and Seminary as a Minister.

Paul and Eleanor, his wife of 57 years, both share their faith of Jesus. They speak to church groups as Paul is a motivational speaker. Surprisingly, one might think his book, "The Goal of My Life", is about his big goal he scored for Team Canada. In fact, the book title is about Paul's personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, can the Holy making known to the Jesus' nothing, in everything prayer cation, your be made known to God; the of God, which surpasses all understanding, Christ Jesus.” God

Psalm 13:1-6

"From Hopelessness to Hope"

Psalm 13:1-6: “Oh Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.

Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!” Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.”

Living in the shadow of a life that went wrong in every sense of the word can hold us captive in a prisonhouse of regret and despondency. We fail to see beyond the walls of our anguish and life is no longer worth the fight. It is normal to grieve. Grief is a process, however painful, of adjusting to a new set of circumstances. As I learn to accept

circumstances, grief subsides and gives way to joy again. However, grief can sometimes lead to hopelessness instead of acceptance. Here is where despondency takes over. It is a perpetual, downward-spiraling state of hopelessness.

In this psalm, David was feeling somewhat despondent, caught in a

of maturity and inner strength. When we look back to 1 Samuel where David had just slain Goliath of Gath, David became the most famous (although still youthful) hero in the land. People sang his praises, which aroused King Saul’s jealousy to the point where he became focused on

turn to in his despondent moments. I can picture him flat on the ground, on his face, crushed under the weight of his sorrow, focused on his misery and complaints. But when he takes his burden to the Lord on his knees and admits his own dependence upon Him, his despondence begins to lift, and he doesn’t feel disconnected from God any longer. David releases his enemy to the Lord and lets Him take care of the results. I can relate to how David felt, especially on my blue days when

syndrome of aloneness and feeling forgotten. He is feeling miserable. No one knows the reasons for certain, and the backgrounds of many of the psalms are a mystery. Some of David’s darkest days came before he was officially promoted to the throne of Israel. God was preparing him and He used the trials to shape him into a man

murdering David. Even though David was loyal to King Saul, he literally had to run for his life and live as an escaped fugitive in the hills of Judea for more than a dozen years. He was the anointed king-elect, but was living like a beast in the wilderness. David must have entertained doubts at times, and had no one but the Lord to

I am in despair. I feel abandoned. And I feel that God has simply lost interest in my problems. So then I try to work things out my way, which only causes more frustration, resentment and humiliation. When our pride gets hurt, we feel we have the right to become defensive. A good lesson in life is that truth will defend itself. It emerges as the champion in God’s time, not ours. It’s so humbling when we recognize the need for the fruits of the Spirit,

Psalm 13:1-6

especially patience, faith and self-control. Without these, we will continue to struggle.

When we deal with trials in the flesh, our eyes bear the marks, our entire countenance becomes rigid and inflexible and we lack sparkle and light. When joy leaves, so does the shine from our eyes.

Doubting God’s promises suggests He is

not trustworthy. I have learned to leave my burdens with the Lord and let Him work out the details. I remind myself of Solomon’s saying:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight”

(Proverbs 3:5-6).

We can draw so much encouragement from David in this Psalm. We can rise above our own sorrowful circumstances by recognizing that God uses trials to transform us, to train us, to mold us. He uses the distressing circumstances to benefit us, rather than destroy us. Evils intended by the world become God’s tools and He

deals bountifully with us, deep within where noone else can see. When God does His magnificent work on us, it is a comfort to our soul and it gives us hope and puts us back on our feet.

“Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

(Proverbs 16:3)

“Inspired by a True Story” Lifemark

that impacted his life. David has kept the secret all of his life that he was adopted, although the teacher suggested that his adoption would make a good topic for his speech, if he can talk about it.

When David gets home, he finds out that his birth mother has reached out to him and would love to meet him. Now David really wrestles with the thoughts of meeting his birth mother. His best friend, Nate, tells David that he thinks it's a good idea for them to meet and he thinks that they should document their whole meeting.

LIFEMARK is a inspiring movie that is warmhearted and was produced by the Kendrick Brothers and Kirk Cameron, who is also a star in the movie. This movie is solid throughout; it also has positive strong Christian values, which makes it so important for these movies to reach out to different people that may be going through adoption struggles everyday.

This faith based new movie called LIFEMARK is about a young man who has tried all his life to hide the fact that he was adopted. But then out of the blue, his birth mother contacts him. Now he will have to decide if he answers and lets his birth mother in his life. LIFEMARK is a fantastic, heartwarming movie that will inspire you. It has a strong Christian view that

promotes dependence on God, also believes in God's plan all the way through. It also teaches forgiveness and that we should always love others. It has a great message about pro-life and to chose adoption and the values of life.

David is a senior in high school, and he is turning eighteen soon. He also has an important speech that is coming up about something big

David then decides to meet with his birth mother, and now David has heard also from his birth father and now must decide if he would like to meet with him also.

David has a lot of questions going around in his head. Will David actually be able to meet with his birth father and mother? Will David be able to talk with them? To be open with them? Will he be able to listen to what his birth mother and father have to say about why they had to give him up for adoption?

LIFEMARK has themes about abortion and pro-life issues and adoption. The movie has been getting tough reviews and ratings from the Hollywood elects in hopes of stopping people from seeing this movie. They will do anything in their powers to stop movies that talk about stopping abortion in favour of adoption.

There isn't anything graphic in LIFEMARK; it just comes with a heavy subject.

Starring: Kirk Cameron, Raphael Ruggero, Alex Kendrick, Rebecca Rogers, Dawn Long, Justin Sterner, Marisa Hampton.

Runtime: 120 minutes

Lives in Me