THE WINDS OF THE SPIRIT!

Debbie and I were in a blessed setting for Friday and Saturday! We attended the first ever Tri-Conference Session of the Harvest, Keystone and Ohio conferences of the Free Methodist Church!  

It was held at the Living Water FMC in Dalton, OH, which accommodated us with amazing hospitality and grace! Their worship team appeared at set times throughout the conference to lead us in meaningful times of experiencing the presence of God! The meals served were wonderful and done with speed and grace!  Host pastor, Mark Hirst, personally greeted each guest as we entered the church; he was also a frequent participant in the sessions.

Bishop Kay Kolde led the conference with assistance from two retired bishops. 

The Free Methodist Church – founded in 1860 – has been ordaining women since 1911. The first female bishop in any Free Methodist General Conference was Rev. Dr. Linda Adams. She was consecrated in 2024, marking a historic milestone in the denomination’s 160-year history.

Bishop Kolde ordained eight ministerial candidates as elders at the conclusion of the conference. Four candidates were male and four were female. Over one hundred elders present were invited to come forward and participate in the ‘laying on of hands’ during these ordinations! It was a visually powerful period!

The purpose of this tri-conference was to address the concerns of the need for greater cooperation and focus between conferences that actually share many common goals and purposes. Discussions have been held with key participants from each area out of a desire to change the momentum of the Free Methodist Church.

Bishop Kolde reminded us that the number of FM churches in America have fallen from 1050 to 825 over the past fifteen years [a decline that is mirrored in most – if not all – Christian denominations in America].  Leaders are consequently considering coordinated changes in emphasis and organization to address and reverse these declines through increased focus, evangelism and discipleship!

The spirit of support for these epic changes was tangible throughout the meetings in spite of the complexities involved in changing leadership structures, financial systems, and territorial alliances. The delegates clearly see the need for radical change in order to see the continuation of John Wesley’s call to “spread Scriptural holiness across the land and to preach the gospel to the poor.”

As a retired pastor in the FMC, it was refreshing to see the youthful surge of leaders and their willingness to cooperate and make concessions in order to see a return of biblical holiness and cultural impact as we move forward!

The conference ended on a totally positive note with an extended prayer time during which MANY went forward to be prayed with by the bishops and superintendents who were present!  No one left early! The presence of God was too captivating and engaging to even consider leaving Living Water’s massive sanctuary!

Bishop Kolde’s messages were challenging as she addressed the tri-conference from two key passages:

·         Isaiah 6 – where Isaiah is caught up in a powerful vision of heaven and responds to the call of God by saying: “Here am I – send me!” [v.8].

·         I Kings 19f – where Elijah is threatened by Queen Jezebel after killing 850 of her prophets of Baal and Ashtoreth.  After fleeing in fear, God ministers to him in unique ways and then sends him to Mt. Horeb – the mountain of God! Once there, Elijah witnesses the presence of God and is reassigned by God to return to ministry!

Debbie and I were proud to experience this influential conference along with our son, Troy, [later joined by his wife, Missy]. Troy was a delegate from Freedom Church in New Middletown, OH [where I served as pastor from 2003-2012].

Although these kinds of gatherings are a huge challenge to me because of my hearing issues, I am so glad we chose to attend and participate. Yes, the frustrations were great, but experiencing the presence of God is so worth the investment! We are refreshed and renewed with hope for the future and will continue to pray for our leaders as they direct us into a fruitful future! 

IS YOUR NEW LIFE EVIDENT?

Debbie and I live on a wooded hillside overlooking two ponds. Our home is surrounded by trees of many kinds, but mostly pines. It is a constant job picking up branches and raking pine cones and needles! But the upside is that I feel like I wake up every morning in the Appalachian Mountains! We love it – in spite of the constant yard work!

Every spring I notice the new growth on our pines. It’s a sprig of light green at the end of every branch! It starts out about a half-inch long and then gradually grows with the spring to become an extension of the branch for the new year! The bright, light green stands in contrast to the darker green of the rest of the tree! The new life is clearly evident - even on our oldest pines which are my age!  

 

This has recently caused me to wonder about my own life. Having reached the mid-70’s, is there still new growth evident in my life? After meditating on this for several weeks, I’ve concluded that with us, it may be a matter of choice.

I suppose there are a number of options we can choose as we age. When/if we step out of the workforce, we may cease to grow in knowledge and experience. It is common to feel ‘put-out-to-pasture’ for retirees. The drive to continue learning and giving can diminish.

I can speak to a tendency to withdraw and isolate – made even stronger when handicaps such as mobility, health, hearing or vision challenges persist. But still – the choice remains.

If we ask the question: ‘Does God initiate new growth in our lives with every new year?’ – the answer likely varies.

My bias is that He does!

However, we must accept and respond to the growth opportunities that He provides and initiates!

Allow me to illustrate:

When I was a young pastor, I tried to be faithful to visit my elderly parishioners – especially shut-ins.

 

I had vowed to take good care of this group because my own grandmother had been ignored by the church as she grew older and unable to attend regularly! She purchased a wooden communion cup holder from Rex Humbard Ministries. When he served Holy Communion on television, she prepared her own communion and took it with him!

 

I didn’t want my older members to be forgotten!

 

But visiting them was sometimes hard. Many had lived hard lives with many disappointments. They were tired and overcome with physical challenges and sorrows. They were discouraged, alone and forgotten.

 

So many times, I heard the comment: “Pastor, I don’t know why the Lord doesn’t just take me home?”

 

Being young and filled with hope and expectation, these were hard words to hear. Repeatedly, I expressed my opinion to them with a simple statement that I believed to be true: “If the Lord wanted you to be home with Him – He’d have taken you! Since He’s left you here, it must mean that He still has work for you to do.”  And then I'd encourage them to look around to see what they could do to serve Him.

 

I meant it as a challenge, of course, but I don’t recall that it ever made a difference in the lives of my older members.

Life has a way of rounding out our experiences. Now, I’m that older person! My hearing capacity is about 25% what it was when I was the young pastor! This makes social settings confusing and stressful for me! I admit that I often simply choose to avoid these uncomfortable situations.

My comfort place is my study. I pray,  read, write and send out notes from that space. I occasionally am asked to speak at a few select churches. I enjoy these opportunities, but my anxiety level escalates significantly as a result. 

So, all of this contemplation leaves me with the initial question: “Is there indication of new life evident in Hal Haire?”

It’s a personal question, I realize that. I know what I want the answer to be. After years of recruiting, training and deploying leaders, I want the answer to be a hearty ‘YES!” And I’d like that new growth to be evident to others – just as the new growth on our pine trees is so clearly evident!

I want to keep growing and learning. I want to stay in the mainstream. I have a desire to stay relevant and engaged. I want to be an available resource to my God! I want to remain deployable!  I’ve never charmed to the thought of being predictable!  I’ve been a catalyst throughout the years of my active ministry; I want to maintain that role throughout my life!

So, today, I’m waiting before the Lord of my life inviting Him to show me the new things He is calling me to. What new knowledge does He want to initiate? What fresh direction does He desire me to move into? What new arena might I become involved with that would allow me to increase His influence?

I hope that whenever you look my way, some of that bright new green will always be reflected! And I pray this to be true for you, as well!

GENERATIONAL DISTANCING FROM GOD!

It’s not an exciting title, but perhaps it created enough curiosity to get you to open this blog?

[All scripture references will be from The Message Bible unless otherwise noted.]

Now the biblical book of Judges is not one that is frequently turned to or highlighted. It tells of the period of time from the death of Joshua until the rise of the line of kings in Israel and Judah [approximately 1380 – 1015 B.C. – therefore, about 365 years]. Samuel was the final judge of Israel and it was he who anointed both Saul and David as kings of Israel.

Our Bibles make an astute observation in Judges 3 that is frequently overlooked. With the death of Joshua and the relatively complete conquering of the former inhabitants of Canaan – the Promised Land – the Holy Spirit seems to want us to know something specific about the new breed of the children of Israel. [Or perhaps we should call them the children of the children of the children of Israel?]

Read it for yourself – see if it doesn’t remind you of our current plight. [Judges 2:11-16]

The People of Israel [who had no direct memory of Moses or Joshua] did evil in God’s sight: they served Baal-gods; they deserted God, the God of their parents who had led them out of Egypt; they took up with other gods, gods of the peoples around them. They actually worshiped them! And oh, how they angered God as they worshiped god Baal and goddess Astarte! God’s anger was hot against Israel: He handed them off to plunderers who stripped them; he sold them cheap to enemies on all sides. They were helpless before their enemies. Every time they walked out the door God was with them—but for evil, just as God had said, just as he had sworn he would do. They were in a bad way.

 

But then God raised up judges who saved them from their plunderers. But they wouldn’t listen to their judges;…

 

THE FIRST GENERATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

Numbers 14:22-23

God said, “I forgive them, honoring your words. But as I live and as the Glory of God fills the whole Earth—not a single person of those who saw my Glory, saw the miracle signs I did in Egypt and the wilderness, and who have tested me over and over and over again, turning a deaf ear to me—not one of them will set eyes on the land I so solemnly promised to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with such repeated contempt will see it.

Consequently, this first generation was sent back into the wilderness to wander around meaninglessly until every last one of them died except for Moses, Joshua and Caleb.

[v.25] …for right now change course and head back into the wilderness following the route to the Red Sea.

 

THE SECOND GENERATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

This was the group that actually did cross the Jordan River under the leadership of Joshua. They progressively conquered the people groups who were living in Canaan and inherited their houses, much of their property and even their crops – just as God had promised!

Joshua 1:10-11

Then Joshua gave orders to the people’s leaders: ‘Go through the camp and give this order to the people: “Pack your bags. In three days you will cross this Jordan River to enter and take the land GOD, your God, is giving you to possess.”’

Although they experienced set-backs, they did indeed conquer much of the Promised Land. Before Joshua died, he designated specific boundaries for each of the twelve tribes to possess. Partly because of disobedience and a lack of faith, not all of the foreign peoples were eliminated from the new land.

God becomes exasperated with this generation and finally pronounces  [Judges 2:3]:

[God speaking] So now I’m telling you that I won’t drive them out before you. They’ll trip you up and their gods will become a trap.

Judges 2:10

Eventually that generation died and was buried…

THE THIRD GENERATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL

Also Judges 2:10

…Then another generation grew up that didn’t know anything of God or the work He had done for Israel.

Now read carefully the very next words [Judges 2:11-12]:

[Implied: “This] People of Israel did evil in GOD’s sight: they served Baal-gods; they deserted GOD, the God of their parents who had led them out of Egypt; they took up with other gods, the gods of the peoples around them. They actually worshipped them!

A few verses later we read:

[vs.14-15] They were in a bad way. But then God raised up judges who saved them…But they wouldn’t listen to their judges; they prostituted themselves to other gods – worshipped them! They lost no time leaving the road walked by their parents, the road of obedience to GOD’s commands. They refused to have anything to do with it.

Consequently, a pattern was developed that would reenact itself over and over for the next 300 years!

[vs.17-19] When God was setting up judges for them, he would be right there with the judge: He would save them from their enemies’ oppression as long as the judge was alive, for God was moved to compassion when he heard their groaning because of those who afflicted and beat them. But when the judge died, the people went right back to their old ways—but even worse than their parents!—running after other gods, serving and worshiping them. Stubborn as mules, they didn’t drop a single evil practice.

______________________________ 

Here we see a clear representation of the deterioration of a culture that began as wholly dependent on God and progressively became distant and even oppositional toward Him!

I doubt that you need me to notice the similarities to what we are currently observing in the United States of America!

History clearly documents that many of the initial developments in America were motivated by a desire to worship freely without restriction or persecution.

America’s history clearly identifies three ‘Great Awakenings’.

The First Great Awakening began in the 1730s and lasted until about 1740. A major catalyst for this period was the preaching of Jonathan Edwards: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God!”

The Second Great Awakening was a religious revival that occurred in the United States beginning in the late eighteenth century and lasting until the middle of the nineteenth century. Charles Finney was a charismatic preacher who advocated for personal conversion. His form included extended meetings, emotional appeals, and public prayer for sinners.

This period was also known for the westward expansion’s spirituality led by the Methodist and Baptist circuit-rider preachers and their gatherings called ‘camp meetings’.

The Third Great Awakening in the 1850s–1900s was characterized by new denominations and active missionary work. This revival produced influential leaders such as Dwight L. Moody.

Some contend that the 1960’s and ‘70’s represent a fourth great awakening, but this thought is not widely adopted. However, this period is recognized for three contributions:

1.   The Jesus Movement of the late 1960’s and the teaching of Pastor Chuck Smith.

2.   The development of innovation in worship styles.

3.   Mainline Protestant denominations weakened sharply in membership and influence! Independent, non-denominational churches proliferated and grew with significance!

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I just read yesterday [April 14, 2026] of a spiritual renewal on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh where hundreds of college students were responding to an invitation to pray and make Christ their Lord!  This movement actually began in 1967 and has had an impact on other universities such as Notre Dame. It’s heartbreaking that many will denigrate this breakthrough because it was generated and led by the Charismatic Catholic Renewal.

Having been touched by this group while pursuing my M.A. Counseling at Franciscan University, I can report that some of my most meaningful worship experiences took place in that environment and among the friends I made there! I can also quickly name a number of Catholic friends and family members whose lives were genuinely transformed as a result of this movement.

Can a broken and sorely divided Church come together to fan the flame of a universal turning to God?  Will rigidity, petty jealousies, envy, and legalistic opinions prevent us from encouraging what we clearly observe as a spiritual awakening?

_________________________________

Ever loving, always seeking, quick to forgive God:

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

 

Few would deny that we desperately need a nationwide spiritual awakening in America!

 

PLEASE help us not to miss it because it is initiated by a religious group other than our own!

 

Times are desperate and we see our culture being decimated by politics, variant views of social reform, disrespect for law and order, and a large younger populace who have been shorted by a failure to cultivate morality and respect for all life!

 

A spiritual renewal is EXACTLY what we need!

Help us not to miss it because it didn’t originate in groups that we are familiar with or part of.

 

Grant us the ability to recognize the work of Your Holy Spirit and fan the flame aggressively in every way that we can!  May this wave of the Spirit alter the course of our nation for the foreseeable future!

 

AND MAY YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH – AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!

IF… THEN…

If-then statements are common. Parents use these statements frequently with their children. Employers utilize them with their employees. Teachers speak them to their students.

If-then statements are a conditional contract. One party lays out a challenge: If you [a person or party of people] do such and such to my satisfaction, then I will reward you in the following specific way.

The Bible is full of If-then statements!

I just ran across one in the opening verses of Deuteronomy 28.

If you [Israel is poised to enter and conquer the Promised Land] listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, and heartily obey all His commandments that I command you today, [then – implied] GOD, your God will place you on high, above all the nations of the world. All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the Voice of GOD, your God:

GOD”s blessing inside the city,

GOD’s blessing in the country;

GOD’s blessing on your children,

          the crops of your land,

          the young of your livestock

          the calves of your herds,

the lambs of your flocks.

GOD’s blessing on your basket and bread bowl;

GOD’s blessing in your coming in,

GOD’s blessing in your going out.

 

GOD will defeat your enemies who attack you. They’ll come at you on one road and run away on seven roads.

GOD will order a blessing on your barns and workplaces; He’ll bless you in the land that GOD, your God, is giving you.

GOD will form you as a people holy to Him, just as He promised you, if you keep the commandments of GOD, your God, and live the way He has shown you.  [Deuteronomy 28:1-9  TM]

Do you need to read that again?

Notice that the If… part is very short and the Then… part is very long!

God is making a VERY GENEROUS offer to His chosen people!  All they have to do is:

1.   …listen obediently to the Voice of GOD, your God, and

2.   heartily obey all His commandments.

In case you haven’t read through the Old Testament and don’t know the end of the story, let me fill you in. 🙂

The Israelites falter on their commitment very quickly as they enter the Promised Land around 1405 BC. God is VERY PATIENT and long-suffering with them, giving them chance-after-chance to come in line with His desires for them. 

BUT, finally, God’s remarkable patience is exhausted. In 586 BC, the Temple is destroyed and the people are carried off into captivity for seventy years by the Babylonians!

Sorry! It’s not a happy ending! God gave them 819 years to get it together, but they never did for any sustainable period of time!

 

Even though many who read this blog are Gentiles, we have inherited the same offer from God!

Let’s look at just a few of the ‘If-then’ statements in our New Testaments:

If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, [then] I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. – Revelation 3:20

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, [then] you will be saved. – Romans 10:9

If the Son sets you free, [then] you will be free indeed.

– John 8:36

If we confess our sins, [then] He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9

If anyone would come after Me, [then] he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. – Luke 9:23

If anyone is in Christ, [then] he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

If you do not forgive others their sins, [then] your Father will not forgive your sins. – Matthew 6:15

If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and [then] you will have treasure in heaven. – Matthew 19:21

 If I go and prepare a place for you, [then] I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. – John 14:3

If you’re anything like me, then you probably realize – after reading these verses – that you’re just about as rebellious as the Israelites were!

Now, gaining Heaven [our Promised Land] should be all the incentive we need, but if you need more, let’s review our initial verses.

If you listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, and heartily obey all His commandments that I command you today, [then – implied] GOD, your God will place you on high, above all the nations of the world. All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the Voice of GOD, your God:

 

This implies that if we heartily pursue a life that is pleasing to God, then those around us or who are connected to us will also be blessed!

 

 

Don’t you want this for your spouse, children, relatives, friends, neighbors, co-workers and perhaps even the people you encounter throughout the course of any given day???

 

A CLOSING STORY

I was leading my first ‘full-time’ church in Harrison City, PA. I had just studied theology for three years at a noted seminary in Kentucky. Our first-born, Travis, was less than a year old. I was 23, and the average attendance on Sundays was around 40 people – mostly older in age.

I was trying hard to do everything that I had been taught: planning, preaching, visiting, praying, and so much more.

One day, I visited a man who had been connected to the church previously but had not attended recently. I had been informed that he was in the hospital and might appreciate a visit.

Although I don’t remember his name or other details, I learned something of significance by my repeated visits to talk with him.

I did not find him to be a friendly man; he seemed to have a permanent scowl on his face. But, I persisted in visiting him. We talked. I shared some scripture. He allowed me to pray with him.  I repeatedly asked God to heal him and renew him spiritually. He whispered that his roommate was a really spiritual man.  He overheard him praying at times and knew that he was often reading his Bible.  He didn’t seem offended at this; rather, he seemed curious about this man’s faith.

Then, one day, I walked in and found him smiling. He greeted me warmly – as though he was glad to see me. He invited me to sit down and then unraveled the following story for my benefit:

“Pastor, last night my roommate had a bunch of visitors that seemed to include his family and some church friends. They seemed to have a prayer meeting of sorts. Several of them prayed, and then – at one point – they all started praying at the same time!

[He continued] I couldn’t really zero in on any of their prayers, but I felt an unusual Presence as they prayed! I felt joyful for the first time in years!

Shortly after they all left, I rolled over to go to sleep. I woke up this morning feeling amazing! I don’t have any of the symptoms this morning that have been such a problem for the last three years! [With tears streaming down his face…] I think the Lord healed me while they were praying last night!

I immediately moved closer to his bed and took his hands in mine. We laughed and praised God together over what had happened! As a young pastor – I was so encouraged that God had honored my desire to see this man come to faith in Christ and - on-top-of-that - be healed!

When he was released, he began attending the church and was a fixture during my time there! 

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Do you get it?

Although my new friend had no meaningful communication with his roommate, he was healed as a result of being in the same room with a godly man!

Don’t you want to be this kind of person?

Don’t you want to be a joy-spreader?

Don’t you want people to get God’s blessing – simply by being in proximity to you?

Maybe you should take some time and reflect on this blog article.

Recommit yourself to being God’s man or woman! Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Reconnect with His Word! Revisit a church where you can make friends and find meaningful fellowship!

We live in a broken and infected world! People need the Lord! Our culture needs spiritual renewal!

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be

 

With God as our father
Brothers all are we
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony

 

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow

 

To take each moment
And live each moment
In peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me

[Written by Jill Jackson-Miller and Sy Miller in 1955]

LET'S CREATE A DUST STORM!

It may surprise some to discover that we have no original copies of biblical books. However, we have many copies and fragments of copies that are carefully compared to produce the Bibles that we possess today. The Dead Sea Scrolls were unearthed between 1947 and 1956 in eleven caves in and around the Wadi Qumran. These scrolls – when scrutinized over the next twenty years – would refine and corroborate the preceding scriptural examinations! Their value is inestimable!

We know that all of our New Testament was written before 100 A.D. The Old Testament scriptures had obviously been carefully maintained for well over a thousand years earlier. The original languages would have been Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek!

There was chaos in the first four hundred years A.D. trying to determine which books had authority. The process was not highly structured, but rested in the hands of the early church fathers who eventually confirmed – by the end of the fourth century – the sixty-six books that protestants consider the Holy Bible.

But the history of western Asia and Europe was then enveloped in a period that we know as the Dark Ages. It’s difficult for us to imagine this period of history. I’m reminded of a joke I enjoyed as a teenager.

Why was the period from 500 – 1500 A.D known as the ‘Dark Ages’?

Because there were so many knights!

It was during this period that monasteries were established throughout Europe and the feudal system came into being. Most of us know that this was an incubation period for this new Christianity! Monks busied themselves meticulously copying the early manuscripts of scripture by hand-writing copies of the Bible!

By the fourth century when books were copied by hand, there was a standard rate of pay for scribes. Books were divided into what were called stichoi. A stichos is not a line. It was originally the length of sixteen syllables [based on the average length of a line that Homer wrote].

There is a sixth-century New Testament manuscript called the “Codex Claromontanus” which gives the number of stichoi in each New Testament book.  It reported that in Matthew there are 2,600 stichoi, in Mark 1,600, in Luke 2,900 and in John 2,000. Consequently there were 9,100 stichoi in the four Gospels.

There is also an edict of Diocletian published early in the fourth century that fixes the prices for all sorts of things; and amongst them it fixes the rate for the pay of scribes; and the pay is 25 denarii per hundred stichoi. A denarius was a little over five cents, so the rate was approximately $1.25 per hundred stichoi.

This means that – at that time - one could purchase the four Gospels for about $124. All the letters of Paul would have cost about $68.

When Wycliffe published the Bible in English for the first time at the end of the fourteenth century, it was, of course, before printing was available. The Bible still had to be copied by hand. Later, George Foxe wrote: “Some gave five marks (equal to about $55), some more, some less for a book. Some gave a load of hay for a few chapters of St. James or St. Paul in English.”

“When the Great Bible was published in 1540, Bishop Bonner placed the six copies in convenient places in St. Paul’s Cathedral; and such was the eagerness to read them, and to hear them read aloud, that services were rendered impossible and the traffic disrupted and the crowds so great that Bonner had to threaten to take the Bibles away if the eager disorder did not cease.”

When George Foxe had spoken of the eagerness of the people to read the Wycliffe Bible and of their sacrifices to pay for one, he went on, “To see their travails, their earnest seekings, their burning zeal, their readings, their watchings, their sweet assemblies…may make us now in these days of free profession to blush for shame.” It was 1563 when Foxe wrote that.

There is a lesson in this review for all of us. Something that was originally hailed as life-transforming has become mundane! At various points of history, people craved to hear or read the word of God! They would expend inordinate amounts of money or invest hours of time in order to hear these precious, life-giving words!

Many over the years have prayed for a revival. Perhaps instead, we should pray for a rebible!

Gracious God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

You have clearly given us Your Word!

You initiated people through many ages to write these sacred words.

You protected manuscripts through centuries of chaos and rebellion.

You’ve guided the process through translators and translations.

And today, we hold in our hands THE WORD OF GOD!

There is no limit to its power especially when energized by Your Holy Spirit!

Grow in us a DESIRE FOR YOUR WORD!

Create hunger in us for it.

Speak to us through it!

Guide us and use us to incite passion in others for Your precious messages!

FOR YOUR KINGDOM’S SAKE.

AMEN!

Woodrow Kroll, the late president of Back to the Bible once said: "If Christians blew the dust off their Bibles at the same time, there would be a massive dust storm."  [adapted]

Maybe it's time for a dust storm!

HELP! I LIVE IN AN ANTI-CHRISTIAN CULTURE!

I read a Facebook post yesterday because the familiar faces of Kirk Cameron and Candace Cameron Bure caught my attention.  After reading the article, I browsed through some of the comments and was shocked at the vitriol and hatred that was represented.  Many readers challenged these hateful and bitter remarks. The language was flatly offensive!  Although once loved and respected [the FULL HOUSE years], their open expressions of faith seem to have earned them the hatred of the culture!  

What is the source of this animosity toward Christianity?  When did the tide change?  Has this development been gradual or steep?  Can it be identified when we actually lost our status as a Christian nation?  

The symptoms scream at us!  

• we're closing churches at record rates!
• the percentage of those attending church, temple or synagogue recently dropped below 50% for the first time ever!
• there is a serious shortage of people being called into the ministry!

Many of us were shocked at a scene from a recent political rally when two young men hollered out "Jesus is Lord!" and were told by the speaker that they were at the wrong rally!  

My wife attended a pregnancy center dinner last evening.  The speaker - a highly educated leader who has been associated with the pro-life movement for forty years - spoke of the continual opposition that pregnancy centers face from our government!  

These signs are frightening for all of us as we migrate aggressively toward an anti-Christian rhetoric in America!  

______________________________

Let's look to our history for some hope.

America actually experienced its First Great Awakening before we were even a nation (1730-1740).  It was sparked by preachers like George Whitefield who had freshly arrived from England where revival was already underway.  

Around the same time, Jonathan Edwards from Massachusetts was putting forth the theology of "total dependence" on the transformative emanations of the Holy Spirit.  

This renewal swept the American Colonies, bringing people back to a greater intimacy with God.

The Second Awakening (1800-1830) did for the unchurched what the first awakening had done for church members.  It firmly established the concept of personal salvation through repentance and dependence on Christ.

The Third Great Awakening (1860-1900) was literally interrupted by the Civil War.  It produced the Social Gospel Movement and worldwide missionary work!

The Fourth Great Awakening [declared by some] (1960-1970) gave rise to megachurches and parachurch organizations that emphasized the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The ensuing fifty-four years have left us in desperate need of another Great Awakening!  

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Unfortunately, many believers have begun to put their trust in a political victory and resolution to the anti-Christian chaos!  This is a misguided and ineffective hope.

True renewal will NOT come through a human intervention!  It will only come as a result of a divine intervention!  

Divine interventions biblically and typically are the result of intense, fervent prayer and fasting!  

Do we care enough about the future course of our country - and by inference, the WORLD - to pray and fast in hopes of seeing the mighty hand of God move?  

The answer to that question will NOT be given by churches or church leaders!

The answer to that question will be given by YOU!

MAYBE WE SHOULD CELEBRATE MORE?

I recently wrote a blog about Israel’s deliverance through the Red Sea and how God closed the water over the Egyptian army so that not one of them escaped!  If you haven’t read it – you should check it out!

The very next chapter [Exodus 15] is the response of the Israelites.  It begins:

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to GOD, giving voice together…  [v.1]

I have immediate questions about this.  How did they all sing together?  I mean, they didn’t have a copier there and distribute song-sheets! 

This was a large, multi-generational crowd of inter-related people!  They had just witnessed a phenomenal miracle that was clearly a God-intervention.  On the other side of the Red Sea – before this intervention – they had feared for their lives!  At the worst, they thought the Egyptian army would kill them all.  At the best, they would be returned to slavery in Egypt! 

But now they were free!  AND GOD DID IT!  And they were grateful! 

It was their natural response to sing and dance!  But how could they all sing together without knowing the words to the song? 

Perhaps it was done in an antiphonal fashion where Moses or Aaron [or some other gifted leader] sang out a line – and then everyone repeated it?  Perhaps this line was repeated over and over until even the people in the back of the crowd got it?  Just a thought. 

However it happened, it was a joyful celebration of God’s deliverance!  You’re welcome to read it, but here are the first few lines:

I’m singing my heart out to God—what a victory!
    He pitched horse and rider into the sea.
God is my strength, God is my song,
    and, yes! God is my salvation.
This is the kind of God I have
    and I’m telling the world!  [vs.1-2]

Then, Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine, and all the women followed her with tambourines, dancing.  Miriam led them in singing,

Sing to God – what a victory!

He pitched horse and rider into the sea!   [vs.20-21]

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I’ve been a part of joyous celebrations plenty of times, although nothing that would compare to what I’ve just described!  I wish we had audio/video of that! 

Recently, our Bethel congregation celebrated their first worship experience in the brand new sanctuary.  It took MUCH longer to build than was originally anticipated, so it was a greatly anticipated event.  The sanctuary was full!  The worship experience was jubilant.  And as a result the church is growing…

I guess the greater the sense of God-intervention, the greater the celebration! 

How do we get God-interventions? 

PRAYER! 

SEEKING HIS PRESENCE!

SEARCHING HIS WORD!

God acts in response to our appeals! 

In our land [the United States of America], if we want restored security, unity, bounty, spiritual renewal, then we should do more than vote.  We should call on God for His divine intervention and do so fervently! 

Maybe then, we’d have cause to sing and dance in the streets as well as our sanctuaries. 

IT HAPPENS FROM THE INSIDE OUT!!!!

Luke 3 begins by mentioning the names of seven of the world’s most powerful and influential leaders – including the emperor of the Roman Empire.  Then, the chapter proceeds by announcing that a message from God was received, not by any of these global rulers, but by a man named John.  He was the only son of an elderly couple – a nobody! 

God is full of surprises!  Have you noticed that He never works in the ways we might expect Him to? 

This man, John, began preaching up and down the Jordan River valley to anyone who would listen.  He must have been compelling, because before long crowds began making the journey from the cities and villages into the wilderness to hear his radical message. 

He told them that a dunking in the Jordan didn’t really make any difference.  No!  They had to change their lives!  He debunked their tendency to believe that they were safe because they were descendants of Abraham.  He said:  “What counts is your life.  Is it green and blossoming?  Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire.”  [v.8]

Puzzled, the people asked, “Then what are we supposed to do?”

John responded, “If you have two coats, give one away.  Do the same with your food.”

To the tax collectors, he said:  “No more extortion – collect only what is required by law.”

To soldiers, he said:  “No shakedowns, no blackmail – and be content with your rations.”

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John’s simple, straightforward message hasn’t changed in 2,100 years! 

Choosing to be a God-follower changes your life!  When Jesus is your Lord, your priorities change – RADICALLY! 

Hoarding is replaced by generosity!

Corruption gives way to integrity!

Abusive practices yield to contentment! 

The transformation that takes place in your life is so noticeable that others observe it!  You may be asked, “What’s happened to you?  You’re SO DIFFERENT than you used to be!”  That’s an open door for us to tell them about the way God has changed us.

John actually explains this to his crowds as he makes it clear that he is NOT the Messiah: 

“The main character in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.”  [vs.16-17]

Notice that the change that takes place in us is not external;  it is not a result of personal discipline!  Rather, it is a change that is ignited as a result of the Holy Spirit’s work WITHIN US!  It is the power of God through His Holy Spirit that enacts the changes in us – not a regimen of following rules or adhering to a list of laws! 

Our metamorphosis is the direct result of a RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT!  That’s what empowers our new life! 

John had it right and Jesus later reinforced the same truth!  Don’t be deceived by traditions and false messages that come along – even sometimes through the church.  Focus on your relationship with God through His Holy Spirit!  He’s a resource you can trust!