2012

Best Wishes for a Fantastic New Year of 2012

The Beginning

Bible Reading: Genesis 1 & 2

Bible Text: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” - Genesis 1:1

At the start of each new year there are people who spend time reflecting on the year that has just passed and begin their plans for the year just beginning. Often those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ spend time asking for God’s direction as the new year begins.

All of this is good in its place. We certainly need to know the direction that God has for us as we turn the pages of the calendar.

I think it is a good practice at the first of each new year to reflect upon not only the year just finished, but to go all the way back to the start of life. Not the start of my life, but the start of creation. It helps me to place the new year in perspective when I remember the grand act of creation when it was in the beginning when God created all that exists.

The statement of God’s Word is simple. It happened in the beginning. It was God in action. God created the heaven and the earth. God then created all the systems of the universe and then he created the human race.

While the statement is simple, God’s actions are without equal. The Almighty God that created everything has also provided eternal life in Christ Jesus for all who will believe.

Are you following Christ Jesus as you begin this new year?

Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given;
While angels sing with tender mirth,
A glad new year to all the earth. -- Martin Luther

Prayer Requested for Dina Aguilara

This was just received from Fabian - husband of Dina

Dear Friends:

I come home at this time is 3:03 a.m. at the end I had to take a clinic Dina Emergency ... In no State Hospital bed 3 hours were unattended in the clinic to let the 01 hospitalized ... : 30 AM we conducted another nuclear magnetic resonance ...first thing tomorrow she will have a test that she needs to do with hospitalization, is called "lumbar puncture" will remove fluid from the brain, a healthy person receives and absorbs fluid from the brain within 3 minutes is received and absorbed ... in the case of the liquid Dina is there and is causing what is called "papilledema" is increasing intracranial pressure and therefore may cause greater damage to the brain. Papilloedema is produced by increased cerebrospinal fluid pressure inside the skull (intracranial hypertension) that is transmitted through the socket to the eyeball. In addition to the consequences this has left in Dina the lack of mobility,strength and balance loss and aphasia in the expression and rule out otherneurological damage ...
I'll spend the new year at the clinic Dinita!
Keep informed and keep praying for us

--
Atte.
Fabián Sanhueza

Merry CHRISTmas

God’s Gift

Bible Reading: Matthew 1:18 - 25

Bible Text: Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. 2 Corinthians 9:15

The shepherds in the hills around Bethlehem were told the news by the angels. Mary and Joseph cared from the infant Christ in the stable. The shepherds visited and then left them rejoicing and telling everyone about the Christ Child. Mary kept all these things in her heart.

For many that is the story of Christmas. But it does not end there.

Christ Jesus, the very Son of Almighty God, was sent to this earth as a baby to become the perfect sacrifice for our sin. He came to die for you and for me so we could be forgiven and have a relationship with God the Father through God the Son, Jesus Christ.

In 2 Corinthians this is what the Apostle Paul was writing about when he gave thanks to God for the gift that was without comprehension. The greatest gift ever given is Christ Jesus.

Have you received the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ?

Hark, now hear the angels sing,
A newborn King today,
And man will live forevermore,
Because of Christmas day.

- Jester Joseph Hairston

Prayer Requested for Pastor Jack Hilton

Praying Partners:

Several people have called to check on my present situation with a new problem in my cervical spine. My new problems began in late September with what I thought was a flare up of arthritis. But by the second week of October, I was experiencing intense pain in the shoulder and neck and numbness and muscle problems in the left arm. My family doctor gave me a high dosage pain med to help with the pain. The doctor ordered 2 MRI's but my previous surgeries prevented a clear picture of the cervical spine in the area the doctor needed to view. Mu family doctor sent me to the neuro-surgeon who performed my previous surgeries. Dr Argires ordered myelogram and EMG to get a better sense of what was going on. This past Wednesday I had a myelogram and Catscan of the cervical spine. When the doctor receives the results, he will let me know what he plans to do.

At present I am able to work a few hours at a time, but the pain meds slow down the thinking and mobility. Thankfully the church and Pastoral work gives me latitude with the work schedule. Brother David Hess Jr has been taking care of some of the work load, for which I am very grateful.

Thanks for your concern, prayers, cards, phone calls and visits!!!

I will send an update as soon as I know what the doctor plans to do.

Praying the Lord will bless your day with Peace, Joy and Contentedness!!!!

Pastor Jack Hilton
Bible Evangelical Methodist Church
New Danville, Pennsylvania
Bibleemc@comcast.net

Prayer Requested for Ray and Kathleen MacMahon

The Erastus Report just received this request for
prayer from Rev. Ray MacMahon of the State of
Georgia, USA.  Thank you for praying for these
dear friends.

Hi to All,

   As you may or may not know, Kathleen has suffered severe
back pain since late August after attending the Evangelical
Methodist Conference in Aberdeen MD.  The MRI revealed
'stenosis of the spine', a fancy name for a collapsed disc and 
a pinched nerve.  Three epidural injections failed to help so
she is scheduled for surgery on Monday 5 Dec. at
Piedmont-Fayette Hospital in Fayetteville GA. She will be
incapacitated for several weeks. Your prayers will be much 
appreciated.   I have had to become her full time care giver
recently.  Include me in your prayers.

Ray 

Happy Thanksgiving

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

George Washington

***************

October 3, 1863

By the President of the United States
A Proclamation

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and provoke their aggressions, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United Stated States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

Abraham Lincoln

***************

A Day of 'Public Thanksgiving and Prayer'

Most of us have heard or read at least part of Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving proclamation at some point. But even those who have heard it many times can overlook two important aspects of this important document.

The first is its timing: October 3, 1863. The nation had already endured two years of appalling carnage on the battlefields of the Civil War. And although Gettysburg and the fall of Vicksburg seemed to mark a turning point in favor of the Union, there was no clear light at the end of the tunnel. In fact, much more blood would be shed in the months ahead.

And yet President Lincoln paused at this time of unimaginable crisis not only to urge Americans to give thanks, but to note how blessed our nation is. "The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies," the first sentence reads. He lists those blessings in terms so strong and soaring one could almost forget this was one of our nation’s darkest hours.

Nearly 150 years later, this is a perspective check. If Lincoln could encourage his fellow Americans to give thanks at such a bleak time, how can any of us complain about our lot? How can we read about polls that suggest our best days are behind us, that all we can do is manage our "inevitable" decline? What nonsense.

That's not to say we don’t have difficulties. We do -- serious ones. And no, the answer isn’t to crack a phony smile and pretend everything’s great. We need to do what past generations have done: look our problems squarely in the eye, roll up our sleeves and get the job done. We make mistakes, but we learn from them. But to give up? No. Such a defeatist attitude is unworthy of a free people.

The second aspect of Lincoln's proclamation that's sometimes forgotten is the reason given for the holiday. To give thanks, yes, but not just in general -- to give thanks to God. "No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things," he writes. "They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy."

Whoa -- hold on there. Somebody get the ACLU. How un-PC can a president get? Wasn’t Lincoln worried that he might offend some of his listeners?

Hardly. He was following in the hallowed footsteps of George Washington. Notice the date of Lincoln’s proclamation: October 3. On that same day in 1789, the nation’s first president gave his Thanksgiving proclamation. And like Lincoln, he was clear about who deserved our gratitude.

Washington called that day on all Americans to observe a day of "public thanksgiving and prayer" devoted to "the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be."

This shouldn't surprise anyone. "Of the many influences that shaped the American concept of liberty, the first and most formative was faith," writes author and Washington scholar Matthew Spalding. The Founding Fathers knew the First Amendment didn’t forbid public mention of God. It simply meant there could be no official state church.

They also knew that, whatever church an American belonged to, he ought to give thanks to Almighty God. Not because we're living in some heaven on earth -- that's impossible. But because despite our problems, we're incredibly blessed. We live in a land that recognizes our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In a world beset with death, tyranny, disease and famine, that's nothing short of a miracle.

We need to act like we believe that. And the best way to start is to say thanks.

Edwin J. Feulner
President, The Heritage Foundation

Archie Bunker's View of National Politics

One View of Occupy Wall Street

http://www.youtube.com/embed/OAOrT0OcHh0?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showi

Smith Saying

Think only of yourself and others will soon forget you.

- Dr. J. Harold Smith

Marty Stuart Has His Own Radio Station

Check out Marty Stuart Radio at www.martystuartradio.net.

Also, if you live in the Tri-Cities, TN/VA area you can tune in on air at 870AM and 100.7FM

President's Council of Economic Advisors - Just for Fun

Pray for Ahmie Deal

Latest on Ahmie Deal, missionary and wife of long-time missionary of Steve Deal: Her blood pressure has stabilized and she has been released from the hospital in Louisiana to be followed up in Tennessee where they are headquartered during their furlough in the States. The Doctors discovered that she has about 50% kidney function so they will continue treatment when she gets back to Bristol. Thank you for your prayers!

Pray for Ahmie Deal

Latest on Ahmie Deal, missionary and wife of long-time missionary of Steve Deal: Her blood pressure numbers are improving. She is still in intensive care at the Hospital in Monroe, LA, but hopes to be released from the hospital in a day or too. She thanks you for your continued prayers.

Pray for Ahmie Deal

Steve Deal, long-time missionary friend, has called asking for prayer for his wife Ahmie. Details are scarce, but it is known that she was stricken with extremely high blood pressure and is now in a hospital intensive care unit in Louisiana. The Deals were in Louisiana presenting their work to the local churches and supporters. Please pray for Ahmie.

Something to think about

ME

A nickel, a dime, a dollar or two:
What does it mean to someone like you?

A snack or a treat or a candy bar:
It’s everyday life as we cruise in our car.

Air-conditioning and heat and the conveniences of life:
A fly or mosquito are our life’s only strife.

Houses and toys and gadgets of all kind:
We heap to ourselves until we are blind.

Blind to the lost and hurting out there:
With no one to help and no one to care.

We sit in our churches so snug and refined:
While the world goes to hell and we remain blind.

Christmas and Easter and Halloween too:
We spend all our money but still remain blue.

Can we not see the price that He paid:
Was for others who in life’s ditches have laid.

Can we pass by on the other side:
And turn a deaf ear to those who have cried.

Will we remain complacent you see:
I have decided it’s not just all about me.

But if I would look as Jesus has said:
I would give money, I would give bread.

I would arise and look on their plight:
I would fund missions and take my flight.

To carry the true Gospel to others you see:
Because I have come to realize that it’s not just
all about me.

By Jack M. Skinner

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest?
behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for
they are white already to harvest.” (John 4:35)

New Radio Project in Honduras

For Mission Minded Individuals

WHCB 91.5 FM has been contacted by an association of Central American Churches located in Siguatepeque, Honduras, asking for help in the building of two radio stations to serve that area. One is an AM station while the other is an FM station. They have about three months to get the stations on the air to meet the government requirements. The photos are of the construction of the studio for the FM station. They need approximately $40,000 to build the FM facility and $ 60,000 to build the AM facility. They are trying to build the FM first so they will have at least one of the stations on the air spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. Contact www.whcbradio.org if you would like to contribute to this project. Or phone them at 423.878.6279, extension 235. And, please pray for God's provision for this worthy project. Thanks.

From the Funny Paper

Tornado Hits Larry Spargamino Family

Word has just been received that the house and buildings on the five acres of the Larry Spargamino family in Guthrie, Oklahoma, were destroyed this afternoon by a tornado. Larry and Jennifer were in the storm cellar and were unharmed. They have lost their home, their vehicles, and all of their possessions. Larry is the Associate Pastor of the Southwest Radio Ministries in Oklahoma City. Join us in praising God for their safety and in prayer for the recovery of their property.

Tennessee Legislature Adjourns

The Tennessee State House and State Senate adjourned the first session of the 107th Legislature on Saturday night, May 21st. They adjourned 5 weeks earlier than last year's session and the earliest in years. It is estimated that they saved the taxpayers of Tennessee more than $ 450,000 by adjourning early! This is the first time since the War Between The States that Republicans have been in charge of both houses - and they have the Governor's office, too. The following is from Senator Stacey Campfield's blog - www.lastcar.blogspot.com - and is included for your edification.

That wasn't "Contract with America"

Wow! what a year. A lot of people were saying we had a mandate sort of election. We had the candidates that got elected top to bottom. We made some big promises and people expected us to perform.

We did.

Things we had been promising to do for years? Done.

Tort reform....Passed

Tenure reform.... Passed

Pill mills....Closed

Meth tracking....Passed

Voter photo ID....Passed

Teacher Union Monopoly....Busted

SJR 127....Passed

Red light cameras....Regulated

Planned Parenthood....De funded

Income tax....Dead for good

Government spending....Reduced

Hall income tax....Reduced

Broad tax increases....None

Shorter session....By Weeks

Government departments....Closed

E Verify....Passed

More to come....

Happy Mothers' Day

To all the Mothers, we wish you a wonderful and happy Mothers' Day!

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."
- Proverbs 31:10-31

SCAM WARNING

This was posted on the www.whcbradio.org website - WHCB Christian radio station is warning the public of a scam being perpetrated against the general public. BEWARE!

WARNING! WARNING!
Dirty-hearted, satan-inspired, scam artists are phoning people in this region claiming to be raising money for WHCB to help abused children.

Beware!

These sinful liars are NOT affiliated with WHCB in any way.
WHCB does not solicit funds by phone.

If you have caller-ID, save the number, call your local police and tell them of the call and let them have the number.

Also, please give us that information so we can have a complete file on these lying scoundrels. Our phone number is 423-878-6279,
extension 235. Thank you.

Resurrection

Resurrection

The day of the resurrection of Jesus was not a day of celebration. It was totally unlike our Easter Sundays with all the songs of rejoicing. There was fear of the authorities and there were questions about the resurrection of Jesus.

In 1 John 3:2 we read that for you and I, “it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”

What was His resurrected body like? And what can we picture for you and I who are Christians? Jesus had a real body—not the old earthly body but a new one.

In Luke 24:40 we find that His body could be seen, for He showed them His hands and His feet. In verse 39 He says, “It is I, myself; handle me and see.” When they first saw Him, they thought they saw a spirit. But He said, “I am flesh and bone.” In John 20:27 Jesus tells “doubting” Thomas to “Touch me.”

You find this recorded in Scripture, and it refutes the error that is sometimes taught, that Jesus had only a spirit that could appear when necessary but not a physical body. We, too, shall have a new body when the Lord Jesus comes again.

“We look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body . . .” (Philippians 3:20–21).

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:49, “And as we have borne the image of the earthy [the man of dust], we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”

- Guy Tilley

A Graphic Presentation

J. Don Hill Graduates to Glory

Don Hill was a self-less example of a follower of Christ Jesus. He was always reaching out to others with the good news of Christ. He operated his businesses in a Christ-like manner. He will be greatly missed by his many friends and by his beloved family. His obituary is from the Carter-Trent Funeral Home website:

J. Don Hill, 81 of Kingsport went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at Indian Path Medical Center in Kingsport.

He was born in Clay County, NC (Hayesville). A Christian since age 15, he and his family are members of Calvary Baptist Church where he served on numerous committees and as Chairman of the Deacons, Personnel and Finance committees. He also served the denomination in many other capacities including being a Trustee of the East Tennessee Baptist Hospital, Knoxville, Executive Committee and Trustee of Tennessee Baptist Foundation and of Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes. Mr. Hill joined the Gideons in 1964 and served on the Tennessee State Cabinet including serving as Tennessee State President from 1973 to1976. Later he served as an International Representative in Africa and Europe as well as a group leader for Extension Action Programs in Kenya, Malawi/Zambia and Brazil and traveled extensively on behalf of the Gideons.

Mr. Hill’s career in the automotive industry started in January 1955 as a salesman. With an interest in trucks, his career gravitated toward heavy truck franchises. In 1992 he divested himself of those and concentrated only on automobiles. During his career, he has owned / operated 31 franchises representing 17 manufacturers. He is past president of the Kingsport New Car Dealer Association and a member of the Tennessee Automotive Association, the National Automotive Dealers Association and the American International Automobile Dealers Association. In 2006 he was honored with the Toyota President’s Award and the Elite of Lexus Award. In all he has earned over 20 Presidents Awards. Among his numerous automotive awards over the many years, Don was named the recipient of the Andrew Jackson Award in 2001, which recognizes his community service and contribution to the automotive industry among Tennessee Automotive Association members. He was very active in community affairs through service in the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Rotary Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Bunyan and Hazel Mae Yates Hill; a grandson, Jeremy Franklin Chadwell and a brother, Bruce H. Hill.

Survivors include his loving wife of over 57 years, Jeana Davis Hill of the home; children, Rick and Becky Hill and their sons, Zachary and CJ, Donna Hill and her daughter, Laura Beth Cox, Deborah Chadwell and son, Gabriel, Chris and Sommer Hill and son Ryder and Brantley and Sara Beth Burris and their children, Riley and Ava; two sisters, Jean Law and Joline Cagle; brothers in law, Herbert and Bertha Davis and Clifford and Lonia Davis; aunt, Florence Robinson; along with several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 3 – 7 pm on Saturday, March 26, 2011 at Higher Ground Baptist Church, 1625 Lynn Garden Drive, Kingsport.

Funeral services will be held at 2 pm on Sunday, March 27, 2011 in Higher Ground Baptist Church with Dr. Donnie C. Brannen, Dr. Edward Johnson and Dr. Phil Hoskins, officiating. Music will be provided by Crosswise Quartet.

Burial will follow at Oak Hill Memorial Park, Kingsport. Kenneth Speakman, Tom Meyer, Danny Hilton, Noel Fuller, Peter Speropulos, Bob Sluder, Ken Sparks, and Wiley Webb will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Members of the Kingsport Gideons and the Executive Board of the Mike Jenkins Evangelist Association.

Memorial Contributions may be made to The Gideons International, Kingsport East Camp, P.O. Box 3217, Kingsport, TN 37664.

Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport is serving the Hill family.

King David of Israel

The following devotional thought was written by the late Rev. Guy Tilley of Kingsport, Tennessee:

Psalm 5:2&3 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning. O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psalm 55:17 Evening and morning and at noon, will I pray and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. Verse 22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.

Remember the old hymn ‘Take Your Burdens to the Lord and Leave Them There’. That was David’s choice.

In the New Testament in I Thessalonians 5:17 we are told to Pray without ceasing. Romans 12:12 tells us to be instant in prayer. Do these verses mean that we should walk around with our eyes closed and hands folded? No, it is a heart attitude, such that we could talk to the Lord regardless of our surroundings.

Think of the report found in Daniel in 6:10. Daniel knew that the king had been deceived into issuing a decree that no one could pray to anyone but the king for thirty days. Regardless, Daniel did as he did each day with his window open toward Jerusalem, he knelt upon his knees three times a day and prayed three times a day and gave thanks to God as he always did, knowing that there is no time that is not a good time to pray.

David, a king and Daniel, a man high in the government of a heathen nation, taking time to pray three times a day. They knew it was a great privilege to pray to the God o heaven, knowing he hears and cares.

Have you talked to the Lord today?

J. R. Church Passes Into Glory

Rev. J. R. Church of the Prophecy In The News ministry based in Oklahoma City passed into the presence of the Lord around 11:00 am on Tuesday March 22nd. He had been in a battle with cancer for a number of years. The following is from the ministry website:

"He left us on March 22, 2011 and is now in the presence of Jesus. Like the Apostle Paul, he can now say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness . . . “ He influenced many lives and will be greatly missed.

J.R. was a true prophetic visionary who founded this ground-breaking ministry in 1979. His system of prophetic interpretation has led the way in understanding the astonishing growth and influence of latter day Israel and the things that lie just ahead.

Since many churches are now abandoning the study of eschatology, there is more need than ever for people to hear J.R.’s clear message of end-time prophecy. This is the reason Prophecy in the News exists. It was the desire of J.R. and his wife Linda that this ministry continue on, and with your help and support it will.

Your prayers for Linda and the family are greatly appreciated. Expressions of sympathy should be addressed to:

Prophecy in the News
c/o Linda Church
P.O. Box 7000
Oklahoma City, OK 73153

J.R. is now experiencing all the joys of heaven. He’s met Jesus face to face and has seen Him in all His glory. In Peter’s 1st letter, Chapter 5:10-11, there’s a thought that carried J.R. through his last difficult days. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Before his passing, J.R. was tremendously excited about the nearness of the Rapture. He’ll be coming back soon to greet us in the air with the Lord. We’re excited too! We want to meet each of you in the air on that day. No one said it better than J.R. Church: KEEP LOOKING UP!"

Happiness of the Home

The Happiness of the Home

Bible Reading: Ephesians 5: 21-33

Bible Text: “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.” – Ephesians 5:28

True happiness in the home comes from love in that family unit. In fact it has been said that happiness is love in action.

The Apostle Paul writing to the Church at Ephesus in Ephesians chapter five taught that the husband and the wife must be submitted to one another in Christ Jesus. He taught that there is a special greatness in the unity created in a faithful married couple’s relationship (verse 30) and that they must leave their founding families and cleave only to one another (verse 31). In verses 32 and 33 Paul calls this family unit of husband and wife is an awesome mystery that results in love and reverence.

Paul’s instruction is for each of us and encourages the wife to respect her husbands position and for the husband to love his wife as himself. In fact we are taught that if a husband loves his wife then he loves himself. After all they have become one flesh in the state of matrimony.

Each husband and wife should show the love for God, love for the home, and love for humanity because of the love that Christ Jesus has given to us.

“A husband’s love for his wife must be singular, sacrificial, and supreme.” – Robert Ferguson

Pray for the Harris Family

George Luis Harris, age 25, of Jonesville, Virginia, died Saturday (February 26, 2011) in New Orleans, Louisiana.

George was born in Belmopan, Belize on November 7, 1985 and was adopted when he was six years old. George was saved as a young boy and is now in heaven. He was a 2005 graduate of Lee High School.

He was preceded in death by his birth father, Cesar Lemus.

He is survived by:

His parents: David W. and Carmen Edwards Harris of Jonesville, Virginia

His brother: David A. Harris and wife, Revonda, niece Lilly of Kingsport, Tennessee

His sisters: Doris and husband, Jorge Garcia, nephew, Michael, nieces, Kaytlin, Hayley, and Britney, all of Elizabeth City, North Carolina; Susan and husband, Michael Dorsey, niece, Emma and nephew, Miles, all of Lenoir City, Tennessee; Heidi and husband, Jason Stutz, nieces, Isabella and Abigail, all of Knoxville, Tennessee; and Marlena and Maraceli Harris, both of Jonesville, Virginia

A special cousin: Robert Oh of Jonesville, Virginia

His birth mother: Sonia Lemus of Santa Elena, Belize

The family will receive friends from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the Arney-Mullins Funeral Home in Jonesville, Virginia.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Rusty Fitzpatrick officiating.

Burial will follow in Lee Memorial Gardens in Woodway, Virginia.

Obituary of Kurt Dibble

Russell Kurt Dibble, 65, of Kingsport graduated to Heaven on Sunday February 13, 2011 at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center.

He had spent the last 39 years in Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF).

He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell Spencer and Elsa T. (Osberg) Dibble; his sister, Mary Elizabeth Dibble in 2003.He is survived by his wife, Marsha R. Dibble of Kingsport; his daughter, Laura Renee’ Dibble of Winston-Salem, NC; his son, Klinton Spencer Dibble and wife, Jeanette of Sherrills Ford, NC; four grandchildren, Breanna Jeanette Dibble, Klinton Spencer Dibble, Jr., Jordan Chase Mayo and Conner Brice Mayo; three sister, Grace Harms, of Ontario, Canada, Carol Anderson of Surgoinsville, TN and Adeline Carver of Pennington Gap, VA; one brother, Merton Dibble of Kingsport; along with several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5 – 7 pm on Wednesday February 16, 2011 at Cedar View Independent Methodist Church, Gibson Mill Road, Kingsport. A service will follow at 7 pm at the church with Dr. Jim Fields, Rev. Arthur Branscomb, Rev. Donnie Anderson and Rev. Don Samples officiating. Music will be provided by The Anderson Brothers.

A graveside services will be held at 10 am on Thursday February 17, 2011 at East Lawn Memorial Park. Family and friends who wish to attend are asked to meet at the cemetery at 9:55 am.

Pallbearers will be Sean Anderson, Tim Mayo, Tim Whitter, Clay Barcus, Matthew Wyatt and Tony Floyd.

Memorials may be sent to Wonder Books for CEF, Robert Gower, 4001 Rock Quary Road, Raleigh, NC, 27610-5238.

Prayer Request for Kurt Dibble Family

Thank you for praying for Kurt Dibble during his recent illness.

I have received word from Pastor J. W. Depew that Kurt Dibble passed into the presence of the Lord this morning. Kurt had suffered a massive heart attack almost two weeks ago and had been in intensive care since the incident.

Kurt had been involved in church planting, pastoring, children's work and ministry of all types all of his life having been born into a missionary family. He and his wife Marsha were with Bancroft Gospel Ministry for a short time, but spent most of their lives working with Child Evangelism Fellowship. Kurt was an Elder in the Evangelical Methodist Church. He was also an accomplished musician and was active in leading music in many churches during his lifetime. He and Marsha were often called on to provide special music in revival and conference meetings.

Kurt had a heart for the children and a heart for the lost of any age. He will be missed by those he ministered to and those he ministered with.

Please pray for God's special grace for Marsha and the family.

Prayer Request - Kurt Dibble

Update

Marsha Dibble has reported that the Doctors have been unable to remove the breathing apparatus that they had hoped to remove by Monday. Kurt is having a difficult time with breathing. Please continue to pray.

Prayer Request - Kurt Dibble

Prayer Request:

Kurt Dibble, long-time missionary with Child Evangelism Fellowship and helper in various congregations, suffered a major heart attack last Monday. He is still in intensive care on a ventilator. His wife, Marsha, reported last night that they hope to try to remove the ventilator today or tomorrow. The fact that he has survived since the heart attack is amazing and only due to God's grace. She asks that we pray for the Lord to allow an easy transition from the use of the breathing apparatus to Kurt breathing on his own and that the Lord would raise him up from this life threatening situation.

Thank you for praying.

Honduran Pastors' Conference with Noah Hutchings, Larry Spargamino, Kenneth Hill, and Luis Vega

Noah Hutchings praying with one of the Pastors attending the Conference

Luis Vega and Larry Spargamino preaching

One of the Pastors from the Yoro Region's mountains

Pastors from the Yoro Region Mountains

(left to right) Larry Spargamino, Noah Hutchings, Jesus Mejia, and Kenneth Hill

The Rock of Salvation Church in El Progresso, Honduras, Central America was the site for the Southwest Radio Church Ministries Pastors' Conference the week of January 17, 2011. Speakers from the United States representing SWRC were its Pastor and President - Dr. Noah W. Hutchings, Vice-President - Dr. Kenneth C. Hill, and Associate Pastor and Editor - Dr. Larry Spargamino. Host Pastor was Jesus Mejia. The Coordinator of the Conference and Translator was the Latin American Director for Siloam International - Luis Vega.

Luis Vega and Kenneth Hill preaching at the conference

Luis Vega with Dr. Hutchings

Dr. Noah Hutchings with some local friends

You can find more information about the Southwest Radio Church Ministries at www.swrc.com