December Blog 2011

WELCOME to the December edition of our blog. If you celebrate Christmas in the traditional, gift-giving way, check out the books this month that make great gifts.

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Jack-O-Sermon

One day last month, while I was watching my wife bake a pumpkin, then extricate the insides for pie filling, I was reminded of hearing an analogy someone had drawn. I think it went like this:

Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff—including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside to shine for all the world to see.

No, we didn’t make a hollow, snaggle-toothed Jack-O-Lantern, but when I see one I think it will remind me of what God does in our lives when He redeems us.

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Rick Warren on Pentecostals

Rick Warren thinks we should provide tutorials for visitors to our services. When speaking to a recent gathering of Assemblies of God (AG) pastors in Phoenix, Arizona, he suggested that Pentecostals not abandon the use of spiritual gifts. “What you do need to do [instead] is explain them. Do not compromise what God has called you to do; simply make it explainable.”

He used an analogy of a person’s first visit to the opera. He might need “a little help in understanding what’s going on and what it means.”

What prompted Warren’s comments, which were evidently aimed at the practice of speaking in tongues in the church service? Robert Crosby comments:

“In recent years many predominantly white Pentecostal churches in North America have deemphasized the dynamic gifts of the Holy Spirit. The most prominent among the gifts neglected may be speaking in other tongues, and especially the use of this gift within the context of corporate worship.

“Speaking in tongues has arguably been the most emphasized charism of the modern Pentecostal movement. Although the leading Pentecostal denominations in the world all emphasize this gift doctrinally, some do so more than others. In fact, the largest Pentecostal organization in the world, the AG, considers tongues ‘the initial, physical evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.’ The ‘distinctive doctrine’ of the AG is that this charism is the primary tangible evidence that a Christ-follower has experienced a “second work of grace” called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit—which believers, according to doctrinal statements, are supposed to ‘ardently expect’ and ‘earnestly seek.’

“Oddly enough, however, it seems that this hallmark phenomenon over the past decade has on many fronts been deemphasized, displaced and, in some cases, even placed on hold within churches that still would consider themselves ‘Pentecostal.’

“For Pentecostals, the times have changed. A movement that has experienced rapid growth in the past century in the United States amidst periodic controversy and frequent misunderstanding has both influenced mainstream church culture and been influenced by it. Pentecostalism, once unaccepted and spurned by other denominations, has become more welcomed amidst evangelicals than ever before. But has that acceptance come with a price?”

Source:  Robert Crosby @ http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Rick-Warrens-Surprising-Advice-to-Pentecostal-Churches-Robert-Crosby-11-08-2011.html#.TsPYG4qpH_o.wordpress 11/8/11

I will leave the relevance of Crosby’s comments on the Apostolic movement up to the readers, but I will say this to Mr. Warren: You wouldn’t have to be handed a tutorial pamphlet if you were the Bible scholar folks think you are. It is right there in the Bible, plain enough for all to read. You prefer to promote a Christianity without the power and operation of the Spirit, as though the Book of Acts and chapters 12-14 of I Corinthians has been removed from Holy Writ. You are still locked in a tradition that views speaking in tongues as an experience relegated to the apostolic age, or perhaps an operation too juvenile to be meaningful to contemporary believers.

The former pastor of your neighboring church—the First Baptist Church of Los Angeles—received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues during the Azusa Street outpouring. You would find it makes a refreshing difference in how you view spiritual manifestations and their presentation in the Scriptures. Actually, Jesus said, “Except a man be born again of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). So it is not only an operational “charism” for the corporate body of Christ, or merely a gift one should “ardently expect,” it is an essential element of salvation providing our entrance into the kingdom (Acts 2:38). Try it; you’ll like it!

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Lip-locking not to pope’s liking

The Vatican is apparently taking its displeasure with the Pope’s depiction in a new advertisement campaign called “Unhate” to the next level. He is shown kissing—mouth-to-mouth—an Islamic imam. He claims innocence. Recently, the controversy exploded over a new retail clothier’s campaign that also shows President Obama kissing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, and Israel’s prime minister Netanyahu kissing a Palestinian, among other same-sex smooches. Yuck!!

The ad containing the obviously Photoshopped images went viral on the net. The Catholic Church has decided that it will, indeed, sue over the offensive picture. This development comes after Benetton, the Italian clothing company that created the advertisement, pulled the image from its campaign in mid-November. The ad’s creators might look over their shoulder to see if a Mossad agent is tracking them.

I am sure some folks out in ’Frisco were doing fist pumps for Benetton and snapping up items from their clothing line.

How about an “UnLove” campaign—as in “unlove the world.”

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Bible trivia: How long for Noah to build the Ark?

Creationist Ken Ham addressed this topic recently:

While the Bible does not directly answer the above question, it does give us some tantalizing clues.

Let’s start with Genesis 6:3 where God declared that because man is flesh, his
days shall be 120 years—as a result of removing His Spirit from them: “And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”

Now, scholars will debate the meaning of this text until we finally get to heaven and can ask Jesus Himself! But the point is: this declaration was in God’s mind, and the verse records that it was eventually “said” to someone—maybe Methuselah, or Noah, or Lamech (we simply do not know).

After Genesis 6:3, the countdown was on. But this was not the same time God made a declaration to Noah to build the Ark. Let’s look closer at the context.

Not until verses 17 and 18 does God speak to Noah about the Ark and coming Flood: “and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you” (Genesis 6:18). Notice, Noah already had sons who already had wives. Noah didn’t have his first son until he was 500 years old, and the Flood came 100 years later (Genesis 7:6). Allowing 25-30 years for the sons to grow up and get wives (note the average ages in Genesis 11), we’re left with perhaps 70 years to build the Ark.

Could Noah build the Ark in 70 years? Let’s take off our mental glasses that are possibly tinted by evolutionary thinking as we make some inference from the Bible and reasonably speculate. Man was still a recent creation direct from the mind of God, his intelligence not as dimmed by thousands of years of the Curse as our minds are today (and archaeology confirms that even ancient post-Flood man was capable of great feats and technological advancement). Also, people lived immense life spans before the Flood during which they could continually hone their talents.

Furthermore, nowhere does it say Noah built the Ark by himself. He likely hired a crew of craftsmen who used both metal and wooden tools, which the Bible records they had available (Genesis 4:22). Such tools may have been as advanced as ours today, as archaeology suggests.

Source: Ken Ham in Answers EC, Vol. 18; issue 11, p. 3.

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The way it looks from here…

A recent article in the Belief section of the Houston Chronicle pointed out that some churches have “gone casual” but that others, specifically some Roman Catholic churches, are “calling out worshipers who wear inappropriate clothing to Mass, reminding churchgoers that even as styles change, modesty remains a virtue.” The article stated that the Vatican “is well known for posting signs prohibiting clothes that expose shoulders, knees or chests.”

The author went on to quote from the Roman Catholic catechism: “Purity requires modesty, an integral part of temperance. Modesty protects the intimate center of the person. It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden. It is ordered to chastity to whose sensitivity it bears witness. It guides how one looks at others and behaves toward them in conformity with the dignity of persons and their solidarity.”

The way it looks from here is…we were pre-empted by the RC Church. The sign at left was posted in a Catholic church. (I am not for such signs in our churches.) Also, wouldn’t it make sense that what’s too immodest for the church is too immodest for the public?

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Our changing world

The car at right was a really nice convertible built in 1911. Fuel for it was purchased at grocery stores, drug stores, blacksmith shops, and similar places of business. “Filling stations” were still future.

What a difference a century makes! Someone submitted these additional statistics for the year 1911:

The average life expectancy for men was 50 years, 54 for women.
Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
The maximum speed limit in many cities was 10 mph.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.
The average US wage in 1910 was 22 cents per hour.
The average US worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, a dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and amechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at home.
Ninety percent of all doctors had little or no college education! Instead,  they attended so-called medical schools, many of which were condemned in the press and the government as “substandard.”
Sugar cost four cents a pound.

Eggs sold for about a penny each.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used Borax or egg yolks  for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from entering into their country for any reason.

The five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
The American flag had 46 stars.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada was only 800.
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea hadn’t been invented yet.

There was neither a Mother’s Day nor a Father’s Day.
Two out of every 10 adults couldn’t read or write and only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.

Many drugs considered addictive and dangerous were available over the counter at the local corner drugstores.

Back then some pharmacists claimed, “Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health!” (Perhaps that’s why we find it difficult to trust pharmaceutical claims today!)

There were about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S.!

Try to imagine what life may be like in another 100 years. On second thought, don’t.

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Western rules

Someone submitted the following rules for Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Kansas, Idaho, and the rest of the Wild West:

1. Pull your pants up. You look like an idiot.

2. Turn your cap right, your head ain’t crooked.

3. Let’s get this straight—it’s called a ‘gravel road.’ I drive a pickup truck because I want to. No matter how slow you drive, you’re gonna get dust on your Lexus. Drive it or get out of the way.

4. They are cattle. That’s why they smell like cattle. They smell like money to us. Get over it. Don’t like it? I-80 & I-40 go east and west, I-35 & I-15 go north and south. Pick one and go.

5. So you have a $60,000 car. We’re impressed. We have $250,000 combines that are driven only 3 weeks a year.

6. Every person in the Wild West waves. It’s called being friendly. Try to understand the concept.

7. If that cell phone rings while a bunch of geese/pheasants/ducks/ doves are comin’ in during a hunt, someone might shoot it outta your hand. You better hope you don’t have it up to your ear at the time.

8. We eat trout, salmon, deer and elk. You really want sushi and caviar? It’s available at the corner bait shop.

9. ‘The Opener’ refers to the first day of deer season. It’s a religious holiday held the closest Saturday to the first of November.

10. We open doors for women. That’s applied to all women, regardless of age.

11. No, there’s no ‘vegetarian special’ on the menu. Order steak, or you can order the Chef’s Salad and pick off the 2 pounds of ham and turkey.

12. When we fill out a table, there are three main dishes: meats, vegetables, and breads. We use three spices: salt, pepper, and ketchup. Oh, yeah, we don’t care what you folks in Philadelphia call that stuff you eat…IT AIN’T REAL CHILI!!

13. You bring ‘Coke’ into my house, it better be brown, wet and served over ice. You bring ‘Mary Jane’ into my house, she better be cute, know how to shoot, drive a truck, and have long hair.

14. Turn down that infernal car stereo! That thumpity-thump ain’t music, anyway. We don’t want to hear it anymore than we want to see your boxers! Refer back to #1!

Source: Some ol’ codger who just drove off with a Brahma (pronounced brimmer by those who deal with ’em) bull in his car. (See accompanying photos.) Suggestion: don’t mess with anyone who rides with a bull in his car!

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Pop quiz

It is said that the Catholic churches of Las Vegas routinely get poker chips in the offering plates. Since the chips have to be sorted later as to which casino they are from and where they will be redeemed, this task is assigned to the priests residing in a nearby Franciscan monastery. What are these priestly “sorters” called?

Answer (read backwards):  sknom pihc

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New Emergent Commentary (EC)

Since we are living in the twenty-first century—the paradigm-shifting, postmodern, and soon-to-be post-Christian generation—it is time we had a commentary on the Bible that was up-to-date with the times. Religious progressives have had to put up with outdated and obsolete Bible commentaries long enough. They have demanded a “relevant” commentary that meets the felt needs of the seeker sensitive, forward thinking ministers of the endtime to help believers to engage our culture.

Well, now we have one in the works. It is not quite complete, but I am told work is moving forward on it. Here are some of the early entries:

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.”

Emergent Commentary: Since no one was around when the Big Bang occurred, we cannot verify that creation was done ex nihilo, or from nothing, as conservatives suggest. Apparently God utilized the process of evolution to bring about the gradual formation of the planets and stars, since it appears from geological studies that the earth is billions of years old.

Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

EC:  When man finally evolved, he had the image of God, or the innate ability to become like godlike. That is where evolution is taking us—progressively into godhood. Re: the latter portion of the verse, modern science has confirmed that we are not all male or all female, but we have both male and female attributes. Body parts alone do not indicate one’s gender. Many people recognize that they are inwardly the opposite sex from outward indications. It is wonderful that the Bible confirms what science has determined.

Exodus 34:12 – “Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee.”

EC: Get involved with the unsaved; just don’t be caught up in their evil ways. They have some great ideas. Pick and choose. Eat the chicken but toss the bones and you’ll be fine.

Joshua 23:7 – “That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them.”

EC: Don’t insult other people who don’t believe like you by refusing to honor their religion. You won’t win them if you manifest a ‘holier than thou’ attitude. You can assume their worship positions and adopt some of their rituals but don’t worship their gods in your heart.

Deuteronomy 18:9 – “When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.”

EC: Just because one is a Hebrew monotheistic believer doesn’t mean he can’t learn some helpful things from non-believers. How can we condemn them when we have refused to learn why they do certain things and believe the way they do? Christians need to learn how they attract so many people to those groves up on the hill.

Deuteronomy 7:22,25 – “And the Lord thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little…. The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.”

EC: Overlook their image adoration. All religions have some redeeming value. Incorporate their successful methodology and you may gain their confidence and acceptance and thereby influence them for Christ at some future time. The Jews missed some great opportunities to be a witness nation by their attitude of separation.

Leviticus 20:23,24,26 – “And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them…. I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people…. And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.”

EC: Focus on contact without compromise. Separation has only to do with what one actually believes in his heart, and nothing to do with literal separateness. God separated us spiritually by letting us see more light than they, but if we will be patient with those on their spiritual journey, eventually they will come to faith in Jesus.

Deuteronomy 7:1,2,5,6 – “When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee…thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them…But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”

EC: [This was evidently an interpolation by some scribe who was abused as a child. God is love, and a loving, merciful God would have us be a loving and merciful people, not treating others in the way suggested here, as though we were “special” and therefore better than they. That would be unkind. So these verses should actually be stricken from the Bible.]

Joshua 23:5,7,8 – “And the Lord your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the Lord your God hath promised unto you…. That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: But cleave unto the Lord your God.”

EC: We can expel the unbelief from the hearts of the atheists and pagans by manifesting a loving attitude toward them at all times. Don’t denigrate their ‘religion,’ rather honor their ‘spirituality.’ Multiculturalism and pluralism are inevitable. You must learn to live together and strive for mutual understanding and cooperation. You can do this and still remain faithful to the Lord.

Ezra 10:11 – “Now therefore make confession unto the Lord God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.”

EC: Maintain your faith in the Lord, just don’t marry women you do not know well, or acquire more wives than you can adequately take care of. The “separation” thing was merely a temporary injunction because of the local situation at the time.

I Kings 11:1-3 – “But king Solomon loved many strange women…of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.”

EC: Solomon married unwisely and let his wives have more influence than they should have had. He was just an old guy who couldn’t handle new ways of ‘doing church.’ Marrying the daughters of prominent rulers often brings peace to the nation, and as the Prince of Peace, the Lord loves peace.

I Corinthians 5:11 – “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.”

EC: Don’t be judgmental of your brother. He may be going through difficulties of which you have no knowledge. Pray for him, encourage him, take him out to lunch. He may not be as guilty of some of the charges as the Council of Elders determined that he was. You never know…he might have just come into a lot of money and could really bless the church financially. Be compassionate and patient with the victims of these temptations. Help them to taper off of their sins gradually.

II Corinthians 6:14 – “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?…. Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

EC: Egalitarianism is the first rule of love. Everyone is equal. Don’t be ‘goody two-shoes’ as though Christians are untouchable. Be discerning about your fellowship, but remember there is some good in everyone and everything. Be fair and balanced. If you are culturally relevant and progressive you will likely enjoy great popularity and acceptance. ‘Unclean’ is an Old Covenant word that has no relevance to us today. Community is the contemporary watchword.

I Corinthians 15:33 – “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” [“Bad company ruins good morals” – ESV] [“Do not be misled. Bad company corrupts good character” – NIV]

EC: Evildoers can be a pain in the neck, but if you will try to live right while you are together, it will be a witness. They won’t turn you; you will turn them. Your influence on them is greater than their influence on you. Just because millions of others have been corrupted is no sign you can’t handle the pressure and influence of bad company. Just sip and pray…and don’t inhale.

Ephesians 5:11 – “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

EC: Having fellowship with good moral people who pray and worship and love the Lord is essential, especially with those who have a compassionate heart and a kind spirit. Avoid judgmentalism that excludes such people on the basis of some narrow doctrine. Inclusivism is the pattern of thought that is relevant today. Some non-Pentecostals have a better “spirit” than the Apostolics. A sweet attitude of tolerance is the most important factor in the life of a child of God.

Galatians 1:8-10 – “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

EC: Let us hope that we are right enough to be saved ourselves, and yet wrong enough that others will be saved. Listen carefully to your inner voice; it may be the utterance of angels. Preach all you know, but if there is something you aren’t sure of by your own experience, don’t worry—let it all hang out. Spill your guts. No one is right on everything. Truth is not totally objective, but rather subjective in many cases. It is what each of us believe it is.

II Peter 1:3 – “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”

EC: God’s word is good, as far as it goes. It is a living document that needs additions and revisions to be relevant to each generation and culture. It does not mention so many situations we face today; therefore, apply it where specifics are addressed, but in matters that are not directly referred to, use your own judgment or the current cultural practice.

II John 1:10 – If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”

EC: Some people are not very far along on their spiritual journey; therefore, we must be patient with them. Spend time with them. Encourage them to continue seeking a comfortable level of spiritual light, even though it might be different from your own. Give them an offering if they are in need. It would be the missional thing to do.

As you excitedly read through this smattering of comments from leading theologians, you must know that God wants us to be progressive and relevant, standing in contrast to outdated brands of Christianity. We must appeal to the first two groups by any and all means—giveaways, comedy shows, outdoor drama productions, TV shows, celebrity visits….whatever. We can finance these efforts by the sale of trinkets like whistles and anklets, progressive music CDs, and funny imprinted T-shirts. The last group—outdated brands of Christianity, like conservative Evangelicals and traditional Pentecostal groups—should merely be ignored. They are hopelessly locked into retro methodology.

Ah, yes. This is a new day with fresh thinking and innovative ideas for doing church. As soon as we get the pulpit and altar benches out of sight (they scare sinners), the barstool down on the floor level, couches scattered around, and don our ragged $90 blue jeans, we will be ready to read from the missional Reader’s Digest Version (RDV) of the Bible. (It only has two chapters! Yesssssss!)

Be sure to stay after the service and sign up for our meditation and yoga classes!

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BooksBooksBooksBooksBooks

Covered by Love

This new book by Lori Wagner and Gwyn Oakes is all about women’s hair. Aimed at Pentecostal girls, the book provides sound, biblical reasoning for uncut hair. But it doesn’t stop there. It deals with hair styles, hair care, and just about all a girl needs to know about how to protect and wear her glory. Pastor’s wife, Rachel Coltharp, says, “How I wish this book had been available to me as a child/teenager. It so clearly and thoroughly lays out the positive message of obedience, purpose, and blessing concerning women’s hair. I hope every mother and grandmother will give their children the gift of this book.”

We agree. This book will make a great Christmas gift. It is a gift of biblical principles that will never go out of date. Order several today at advanceministries.org! AM price only $11.95.

Great Christmas gifts…

Bundle of ATF Journals

The Apostolic Theological Forum was established in 2002 to provide a colloquy where papers on theological subjects could be presented and discussed. A variety of papers dealing with doctrinal and cultural issues, church, government, prophecy and history have been presented each year in the Forum. There are five volumes. AM price $9.95 each.  Bundle of all five $44.95

The New Cyclopedic Theological Dictionary – 3rd edition

The reference volume based on the biblical, apostolic viewpoint! Compiled and written by J. R. Ensey.
When you want to know the meaning of a theological term, or the description of a religious movement, or the definition of over a thousand words that are found in reference works and the Bible…turn to The New Cyclopedic Theological Dictionary!
Contains:
• Over 1000 entries
• Definitions and descriptions of many Bible words, theological
terms, and religious movements
• 486 pages of easy-to-read, easy-to-use information
• The only reference volume of its kind! Written from a conser vative, apostolic viewpoint, this classic work has enhanced the study habits of thousands of ministers and laymen.
“This dictionary is far more than a word study; it is replete with the background and history of many doctrinal positions and teachings. It also serves as a standard for testing the validity of different theories…an invaluable tool!”
-Dr. Marvin Treece                                                                    AM Price $16.95

Order these and check out other great books at advanceministries.org.

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No spin zone

Redneck innovation

When it’s hot in Arizona, you just do what you have to do.

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Dates to remember

Apostolic Ministerial Conference in Murfreesboro, TN. February 28-March 2, 2012. Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center. Call 615-890-4464 for hotel reservations. All suites! Reserve early. Great preaching, great fellowship. Speakers: Cleve Lambeth, Daniel McKillop, Phil White, Alan Pickleseimer, Sam Ham, Clifford Clark, Caleb Adams. Don’t miss it! Everyone welcome!

Apostolic Theological Forum in Albany, GA. January 19-20, 2012. New Life Church, 1200 Cordele Rd. 300. Steve Waldron, host pastor, J. R. Ensey, chairman. Presenters: Wade Bass, Peter Connell, Bill Davis, Philip Harrelson, G. Jorge Medina, Roger Perkins, Steve Waldron, Ben Weeks. Registration opens at 6:00 p.m. Thursday evening. Convenient, inexpensive lodging at Sleep Inn (229-888-5595). See you there!

The Parting Shots

 “There is a craze these days to hear something new from the Lord; but what we need to hear are those things we have heard all along, but have not listened to.”  –  Oswald Chambers

 “Holy practice is the most decisive evidence of our repentance.”  –  Jonathan Edwards

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Have a blessed Christmas season…and don’t forget whose birthday we are really celebrating! Let’s keep Him at the center of all our activities.

JREnsey