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FEATURED THIS ISSUEGreat is Thy faithfulness
Connie Christiansen wrote the following. “Thomas ObadiahChisholm (1866-1960) had a dicult early adult life. Hishealth was so fragile that there were periods of time when hewas conned to bed, unable to work. Between bouts ofillness, he would have to push himself to put in extra hoursat various jobs in order to make ends meet. After coming toChrist at age 27, Thomas found great comfort in theScriptures, and in the fact that God was faithful to be hisstrength in time of illness and weakness, and to provide hisneeds. Lamentations 3:22-23 was one of his favoritescriptures: “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are notconsumed, because His compassions fail not. They are newevery morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” While away fromhome on a mission’s trip, Thomas often wrote to one of hisgood friends, William Runyan, a relatively unknown musician.Several poems were exchanged in these letters. Runyanfound one of Williams' poems so moving that he decided tocompose a musical score to accompany the lyrics. Great isThy Faithfulness was published in 1923. For several years,the hymn got very little recognition, until it was discovered bya Moody Bible Institute professor who loved it so much andrequested it sung so often at chapel services, that the songbecame the unocial theme song of the college. It was notuntil 1945 when George Beverly Shea began to sing Great isThy Faithfulness at the Billy Graham evangelistic crusades,that the hymn was heard around the world.Great Is Thy Faithfulness is a lesson in contrast. All around ischange and decay, and yet our God does not change. Ourfaces wrinkle, hair turns grey or falls out, our frame becomesbent, and our pace becomes slow. We are being changed bytime and the law of death that is coded into our DNA. Theforces of nature change the face of the earth. The IndianOcean Tsunami sends some 250,000 out into eternity. TheHaitian people are facing their normal lives one moment andseconds later their national palace is crumbled, thousands ofbuildings are collapsed, and over a two hundred thousandlives are snued out. Children who were happily runningaround the house under the care of parents are suddenlyorphaned. Familiar stores and markets are history. Life isforever changed for millions.You see “Change and decay” come suddenly for some.There’s an earthquake, a hurricane, a tornado, an automobileaccident, a brain aneurism, a heart attack, a stroke, a notefrom an unfaithful husband or wife, a discovered secret textmessage, a pillar in the church called home to be with God,or a host of other changes that can make your world fallapart almost instantly. For all of us our world is falling apartmoment by moment. Our God does not change. He inhabitseternity. He created time but is not aected by it. He isfaithful! He is immutable. He does not change, and Hecannot change! I nd discouragement in many of thechanges that happen in our lives. The world reels inuncertainty, large banks collapse, entire states face thepossibility of going completely broke, and even our verynation teeters on the verge of nancial ruin. Then we realizethat many of our leaders are lying and conniving to protectthemselves or their party or their agenda. Washington is fullof crooks! But the lesson that I am sharing with you today isone of contrasts. God does not change, He cannot lie, Healways has been, always is, and always will be holy, just,love, light, and all that His people need Him to be. Great isThy Faithfulness is a lesson in comfort. When you are achild Jehovah will be your God. He will talk to you in yourterms though He knows how to discuss the atoms, and DNA,and all the complexities of this world. When you become ateenager, He will be your God. He will meet you where youlive. He’ll share with you your insecurities, fears, andfrustrations. He will guide you as you try to chart the path oflife. As an adult the Lord will walk with you through all thechanging vicissitudes of life. He will be there when the babyis being born. He’ll be there when you lose your job. He’l. ethere in all of your joys and sorrows. When you come into theautumn years of your life and your body is not cooperatingwith your spirit. Health issues are becoming major factors inyour daily living. He will be there when you are gasping forbreath, and you feel the cold hand of death clutching yourfeeble body. Your Savior will be there, still loving, comforting,and caring! Read the passage in Lamentations 3 again. 21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of theLORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because hiscompassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: greatis thy faithfulness.The greatest comfort that I receive in life comes from thefaithfulness of Jehovah! When I am weary, He is still at work!When I am struggling, He is still strong. When I look into themirror and see the hand of time dragging me relentlesslytoward the grave, He is still immutable! In mydisappointments He is still faithful. God is at work in the livesof the souls that you have been praying for and pleading for.“Roger Simms, hitchhiking his way home, would never forgetthe date--May 7. His heavy suitcase made Roger tired. Hewas anxious to take o his army uniform once and for all.Flashing the hitchhiking sign to the oncoming car, he losthope when he saw it was a black, sleek, new Cadillac. To hissurprise the car stopped. The passenger door opened. Heran toward the car, tossed his suitcase in the back, andthanked the handsome, well-dressed man as he slid into thefront seat. "Going home for keeps?" "Sure am," Rogerresponded. "Well, you're in luck if you're going to Chicago.""Not quite that far. Do you live in Chicago?" "I have abusiness there. My name is Hanover." After talking aboutmany things, Roger, a Christian, felt a compulsion to witnessto this fty-ish, apparently successful businessman aboutChrist. But he kept putting it o, till he realized he was justthirty minutes from his home. It was now or never. So, Rogercleared his throat, "Mr. Hanover, I would like to talk to youabout something very important." He then proceeded toexplain the way of salvation, ultimately asking Mr. Hanover ifhe would like to receive Christ as his Savior. To Roger'sastonishment the Cadillac pulled over to the side of the road.Roger thought he was going to be ejected from the car. Butthe businessman bowed his head and received Christ, thenthanked Roger. "This is the greatest thing that has everhappened to me."Five years went by, Roger married, had a two-year-old boy,and a business of his own. Packing his suitcase for abusiness trip to Chicago, he found the small, white businesscard Hanover had given him ve years before. In Chicago helooked up Hanover Enterprises. A receptionist told him it wasimpossible to see Mr. Hanover, but he could see Mrs.Hanover. A little confused as to what was going on, he wasushered into a lovely oce and found himself facing a keen-eyed woman in her fties. She extended her hand. "Youknew my husband?" Roger told how her husband had givenhim a ride when hitchhiking home after the war. "Can you tellme when that was?" "It was May 7, ve years ago, the day Iwas discharged from the army." "Anything special about thatday?" Roger hesitated. Should he mention giving hiswitness? Since he had come so far, he might as well take theplunge. "Mrs. Hanover, I explained the gospel. He pulled overto the side of the road and wept against the steering wheel.He gave his life to Christ that day." Explosive sobs shook herbody. Getting a grip on herself, she sobbed, "I had prayed formy husband's salvation for years. I believed God would savehim." "And," said Roger, "Where is your husband, Mrs.Hanover?" "He's dead," she wept, struggling with words."He was in a car crash after he let you out of the car. He nevergot home. You see--I thought God had not kept Hispromise." Sobbing uncontrollably, she added, ‘I stoppedliving for God ve years ago because I thought He had notkept His word!’” J. Kirk JohnstonGreat is Thy Faithfulness is a lesson of conviction. God’sfaithfulness convicts me to be faithful though my humanitymakes me nite and fallible. “Be ye therefore followers ofGod, as dear children.” Ephesians 5:1The Lord is not measuring success as the world does. Hemeasures it in faithfulness.One of the most tragic events during the Reagan Presidencywas the Sunday morning terrorist bombing of the Marinebarracks in Beirut, in which hundreds of Americans werekilled or wounded as they slept. Many of us can still recall theterrible scenes as the dazed survivors worked to dig out theirtrapped brothers from beneath the rubble.A few days after the tragedy, I recall coming across anextraordinary story. Marine Corps Commandant Paul X Kelly,visited some of the wounded survivors then in a Frankfurt,Germany, hospital. Among them was Corporal Jerey LeeNashton, severely wounded in the incident. Nashton had somany tubes running in and out of his body that a witness saidhe looked more like a machine than a man; yet he survived.As Kelly neared him, Nashton, struggling to move and rackedwith pain, motioned for a piece of paper and a pen. He wrotea brief note and passed it back to the Commandant. On theslip of paper were but two words -- "Semper Fi" the Latinmotto of the Marines meaning "forever faithful." With thosetwo simple words Nashton spoke for the millions ofAmericans who have sacriced body and limb and their livesfor their country -- those who have remained faithful. J.Dobson & Gary Bauer, Children at Risk, Word, 1990, pp. 187-188.God’s faithfulness reminds me that He will hold all of usaccountable. His justice is unstoppable. His wrath againstsin has not diminished! I must ee for refuge to my Savior. Heis the only safe hiding place.Supreme Court Justice Horace Gray once informed a manwho had appeared before him in a lower court and hadescaped conviction on a technicality, "I know that you areguilty and you know it, and I wish you to remember that oneday you will stand before a better and wiser Judge, and thatthere you will be dealt with according to justice and notaccording to law."Surprised while burgling a house in Antwerp, Belgium, thethief ed out the back door, clambered over a nine-foot wall,dropped down the other side, and found himself in the cityprison. Oops: The Book of Blunders, 1980.My limited toolbox of verbosity cannot begin to describe theImmutability and Faithfulness of my God. Everything I see ischanged by time and its eacements. But not my God! I trustHim. He never changes. He is all I need.Jesus will walk with me, guarding me ever,Giving me victory thru storm and thru strife;He is my Comforter, Counselor, Leader,Over the uneven journey of life.Jesus will walk with me in life’s fair morning,And when the shadows of evening must come;Living or dying, He will not forsake me.Jesus will walk with me all the way home.“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; Thereis no shadow of turning with Thee;Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.Great is Thy faithfulness!Great is Thy faithfulness!Morning by morning new mercies I see.All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”IMMUTABLENever changing; not changeable, synonymous with unchangeable, unalterable, permanent.Swift to its close ebbs out life’s day;Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;Change and decay in all around I see:O thou who changest not, abide with me2 January–FebruaryGreat isHE
Connie Christiansen wrote the following. “Thomas ObadiahChisholm (1866-1960) had a dicult early adult life. Hishealth was so fragile that there were periods of time when hewas conned to bed, unable to work. Between bouts ofillness, he would have to push himself to put in extra hoursat various jobs in order to make ends meet. After coming toChrist at age 27, Thomas found great comfort in theScriptures, and in the fact that God was faithful to be hisstrength in time of illness and weakness, and to provide hisneeds. Lamentations 3:22-23 was one of his favoritescriptures: “It is of the Lord's mercies that we are notconsumed, because His compassions fail not. They are newevery morning: great is Thy faithfulness.” While away fromhome on a mission’s trip, Thomas often wrote to one of hisgood friends, William Runyan, a relatively unknown musician.Several poems were exchanged in these letters. Runyanfound one of Williams' poems so moving that he decided tocompose a musical score to accompany the lyrics. Great isThy Faithfulness was published in 1923. For several years,the hymn got very little recognition, until it was discovered bya Moody Bible Institute professor who loved it so much andrequested it sung so often at chapel services, that the songbecame the unocial theme song of the college. It was notuntil 1945 when George Beverly Shea began to sing Great isThy Faithfulness at the Billy Graham evangelistic crusades,that the hymn was heard around the world.Great Is Thy Faithfulness is a lesson in contrast. All around ischange and decay, and yet our God does not change. Ourfaces wrinkle, hair turns grey or falls out, our frame becomesbent, and our pace becomes slow. We are being changed bytime and the law of death that is coded into our DNA. Theforces of nature change the face of the earth. The IndianOcean Tsunami sends some 250,000 out into eternity. TheHaitian people are facing their normal lives one moment andseconds later their national palace is crumbled, thousands ofbuildings are collapsed, and over a two hundred thousandlives are snued out. Children who were happily runningaround the house under the care of parents are suddenlyorphaned. Familiar stores and markets are history. Life isforever changed for millions.You see “Change and decay” come suddenly for some.There’s an earthquake, a hurricane, a tornado, an automobileaccident, a brain aneurism, a heart attack, a stroke, a notefrom an unfaithful husband or wife, a discovered secret textmessage, a pillar in the church called home to be with God,or a host of other changes that can make your world fallapart almost instantly. For all of us our world is falling apartmoment by moment. Our God does not change. He inhabitseternity. He created time but is not aected by it. He isfaithful! He is immutable. He does not change, and Hecannot change! I nd discouragement in many of thechanges that happen in our lives. The world reels inuncertainty, large banks collapse, entire states face thepossibility of going completely broke, and even our verynation teeters on the verge of nancial ruin. Then we realizethat many of our leaders are lying and conniving to protectthemselves or their party or their agenda. Washington is fullof crooks! But the lesson that I am sharing with you today isone of contrasts. God does not change, He cannot lie, Healways has been, always is, and always will be holy, just,love, light, and all that His people need Him to be. Great isThy Faithfulness is a lesson in comfort. When you are achild Jehovah will be your God. He will talk to you in yourterms though He knows how to discuss the atoms, and DNA,and all the complexities of this world. When you become ateenager, He will be your God. He will meet you where youlive. He’ll share with you your insecurities, fears, andfrustrations. He will guide you as you try to chart the path oflife. As an adult the Lord will walk with you through all thechanging vicissitudes of life. He will be there when the babyis being born. He’ll be there when you lose your job. He’l. ethere in all of your joys and sorrows. When you come into theautumn years of your life and your body is not cooperatingwith your spirit. Health issues are becoming major factors inyour daily living. He will be there when you are gasping forbreath, and you feel the cold hand of death clutching yourfeeble body. Your Savior will be there, still loving, comforting,and caring! Read the passage in Lamentations 3 again. 21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of theLORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because hiscompassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: greatis thy faithfulness.The greatest comfort that I receive in life comes from thefaithfulness of Jehovah! When I am weary, He is still at work!When I am struggling, He is still strong. When I look into themirror and see the hand of time dragging me relentlesslytoward the grave, He is still immutable! In mydisappointments He is still faithful. God is at work in the livesof the souls that you have been praying for and pleading for.“Roger Simms, hitchhiking his way home, would never forgetthe date--May 7. His heavy suitcase made Roger tired. Hewas anxious to take o his army uniform once and for all.Flashing the hitchhiking sign to the oncoming car, he losthope when he saw it was a black, sleek, new Cadillac. To hissurprise the car stopped. The passenger door opened. Heran toward the car, tossed his suitcase in the back, andthanked the handsome, well-dressed man as he slid into thefront seat. "Going home for keeps?" "Sure am," Rogerresponded. "Well, you're in luck if you're going to Chicago.""Not quite that far. Do you live in Chicago?" "I have abusiness there. My name is Hanover." After talking aboutmany things, Roger, a Christian, felt a compulsion to witnessto this fty-ish, apparently successful businessman aboutChrist. But he kept putting it o, till he realized he was justthirty minutes from his home. It was now or never. So, Rogercleared his throat, "Mr. Hanover, I would like to talk to youabout something very important." He then proceeded toexplain the way of salvation, ultimately asking Mr. Hanover ifhe would like to receive Christ as his Savior. To Roger'sastonishment the Cadillac pulled over to the side of the road.Roger thought he was going to be ejected from the car. Butthe businessman bowed his head and received Christ, thenthanked Roger. "This is the greatest thing that has everhappened to me."Five years went by, Roger married, had a two-year-old boy,and a business of his own. Packing his suitcase for abusiness trip to Chicago, he found the small, white businesscard Hanover had given him ve years before. In Chicago helooked up Hanover Enterprises. A receptionist told him it wasimpossible to see Mr. Hanover, but he could see Mrs.Hanover. A little confused as to what was going on, he wasushered into a lovely oce and found himself facing a keen-eyed woman in her fties. She extended her hand. "Youknew my husband?" Roger told how her husband had givenhim a ride when hitchhiking home after the war. "Can you tellme when that was?" "It was May 7, ve years ago, the day Iwas discharged from the army." "Anything special about thatday?" Roger hesitated. Should he mention giving hiswitness? Since he had come so far, he might as well take theplunge. "Mrs. Hanover, I explained the gospel. He pulled overto the side of the road and wept against the steering wheel.He gave his life to Christ that day." Explosive sobs shook herbody. Getting a grip on herself, she sobbed, "I had prayed formy husband's salvation for years. I believed God would savehim." "And," said Roger, "Where is your husband, Mrs.Hanover?" "He's dead," she wept, struggling with words."He was in a car crash after he let you out of the car. He nevergot home. You see--I thought God had not kept Hispromise." Sobbing uncontrollably, she added, ‘I stoppedliving for God ve years ago because I thought He had notkept His word!’” J. Kirk JohnstonGreat is Thy Faithfulness is a lesson of conviction. God’sfaithfulness convicts me to be faithful though my humanitymakes me nite and fallible. “Be ye therefore followers ofGod, as dear children.” Ephesians 5:1The Lord is not measuring success as the world does. Hemeasures it in faithfulness.One of the most tragic events during the Reagan Presidencywas the Sunday morning terrorist bombing of the Marinebarracks in Beirut, in which hundreds of Americans werekilled or wounded as they slept. Many of us can still recall theterrible scenes as the dazed survivors worked to dig out theirtrapped brothers from beneath the rubble.A few days after the tragedy, I recall coming across anextraordinary story. Marine Corps Commandant Paul X Kelly,visited some of the wounded survivors then in a Frankfurt,Germany, hospital. Among them was Corporal Jerey LeeNashton, severely wounded in the incident. Nashton had somany tubes running in and out of his body that a witness saidhe looked more like a machine than a man; yet he survived.As Kelly neared him, Nashton, struggling to move and rackedwith pain, motioned for a piece of paper and a pen. He wrotea brief note and passed it back to the Commandant. On theslip of paper were but two words -- "Semper Fi" the Latinmotto of the Marines meaning "forever faithful." With thosetwo simple words Nashton spoke for the millions ofAmericans who have sacriced body and limb and their livesfor their country -- those who have remained faithful. J.Dobson & Gary Bauer, Children at Risk, Word, 1990, pp. 187-188.God’s faithfulness reminds me that He will hold all of usaccountable. His justice is unstoppable. His wrath againstsin has not diminished! I must ee for refuge to my Savior. Heis the only safe hiding place.Supreme Court Justice Horace Gray once informed a manwho had appeared before him in a lower court and hadescaped conviction on a technicality, "I know that you areguilty and you know it, and I wish you to remember that oneday you will stand before a better and wiser Judge, and thatthere you will be dealt with according to justice and notaccording to law."Surprised while burgling a house in Antwerp, Belgium, thethief ed out the back door, clambered over a nine-foot wall,dropped down the other side, and found himself in the cityprison. Oops: The Book of Blunders, 1980.My limited toolbox of verbosity cannot begin to describe theImmutability and Faithfulness of my God. Everything I see ischanged by time and its eacements. But not my God! I trustHim. He never changes. He is all I need.Jesus will walk with me, guarding me ever,Giving me victory thru storm and thru strife;He is my Comforter, Counselor, Leader,Over the uneven journey of life.Jesus will walk with me in life’s fair morning,And when the shadows of evening must come;Living or dying, He will not forsake me.Jesus will walk with me all the way home.“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; Thereis no shadow of turning with Thee;Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.Great is Thy faithfulness!Great is Thy faithfulness!Morning by morning new mercies I see.All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”IMMUTABLENever changing; not changeable, synonymous with unchangeable, unalterable, permanent.Swift to its close ebbs out life’s day;Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;Change and decay in all around I see:O thou who changest not, abide with meJanuary–February 3Thy FaithfulnessHE
Candy KingGreat is Thy Faithfulness. A timeless song. A timelessphrase. One often quoted and loved. Why? Because weknow it to be true and what a comfort it is to the wholeworld. Whether Christian or sinner, what a refuge andcomfort to know that God is faithful, and His faithfulnessis great!It is great in its reach. God’s faithfulnessextends to all mankind! ALL. There is no place too farfor God to go. He isn’t limited by distance, youreducation, your nancial status, your looks or yourpopularity . He is faithful to all and He knows just how toreach, to speak to, all. He can go to far o countries aswell as behind locked doors. When no one else knowswhat to say the Holy Spirit is still able to bringconviction, counsel, and comfort. God’s faithfulnessreaches everywhere!It is great in its redemption. There is no onewhom God is unable to redeem. What comfort! Whatencouragement! No matter your background, no matteryour ugly wretched sin , God has a beautiful plan ofredemption that is open to all. No one is predestined togo to hell. No One! Jesus came to seek and to save thelost (Matt.18:11). Whosoever shall call upon the name ofthe Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Oh praise theLord-this is good news!God’s faithfulness is great in its restoration. Howkindly and diligently God pursues the lost. Psalm 18:35“Thy gentleness hath made me great” How lovingly Heentreats the backslider. Conviction is a gift. It is an act ofmercy. How grateful we should be that God convicts usor our loved ones. He is drawing us back. Don’t resistHim. Let Him restore you. He is The Master at healingthe broken, bringing hope to the hopeless, givingpurpose and direction to the confused, making all thingsnew and giving beauty for ashes.God’s faithfulness is great in its relationship toman. Another songwriter, C Austin Miles wrote“and He walks with me, and He talks with me,and He tells me I am His own, and the joy weshare as we tarry there…’These words are so true. When you become a Christianit is not just a one time event. It is the beginning of abeautiful, fullling relationship you share with yourSavior. He does walk with us and talk with us. He neverleaves us alone (Hebrews 13:5) or unprotected(Proverbs 18:10). He is a true friend.His faithfulness is reliable. 100% trustworthy.You may not always understand His ways. You may“feel” alone or that He is not hearing you when you prayhowever, feelings must not be confused with fact.Feelings are undependable, unsteady, and unfaithful.You must not trust them. “I don’t always feel Hispresence. But God’s promises do not depend upon myfeelings, they rest upon His integrity”1And you will ndHis integrity is unwavering! Many are familiar with CorrieTen Boom, a lady who was imprisoned at the Naziconcentration camp Ravensbruck due to her aiding theJews during World War 2. Listen to her testimony. “I’veexperienced His Presence in the deepest, darkest hellthat men can create…I have tested the promises of theBible, and believe me, you can count on them.” She isjust one of many that have found Him to be faithful.So no matter where you are , whatever you oryour loved ones are going through, truly God is a faithfulGod and His faithfulness is great.The Richnessof Gods FaithfulnessI am overwhelmed by the theme that lies before us this month,when I begin to think of the faithfulness of a Holy God to humanity!First. I want to notice that God is Faithful to us Personally!The story was told by a British ocer during World War 2, in thePhilippines on the island of Luzon. The Japanese had driven outalmost all troops and were invading the island. They begin to usetheir torture methods on the ones that they seized to nd outwhere the rest of the British army was hiding. In one particularinstance, they seized the chief's wife and gave her the usualtreatment of driving long splinters of bamboo under her ngernailsand toenails. Even though she was in excruciating pain sherefused to tell anything of the whereabouts of the army. Then thecrafty Japanese ocer noticed that a beautiful bright eyed little girlseemed to be suering along with the woman in her torture. Hededucted correctly that this must be her daughter, and so deviseda plan to torture her. He knew many times this would work whennothing else would. They built an intense re that left a bed of livecoals over which dangled white hot ames of death. They took aheavy rope and placed it under the armpits of the little girl. Thenshe was drawn up over the tree on a limb that protruded out andwas suspended directly over the live coals. She was hanging soclosel to the ames and the intense heat was not only causing herto perspire freely but causing the very juices of her body to oozethrough her pores. Then the Japanese ocer asked the motherwhere the British had gone. “I will not tell” was her quick retort.Then the ocer drew his sword and very slowly severed a fewstrands of the rope. “Now where did they go”? He demandedangrily. “I will not tell,” shouted the mother. He cut a few morestrands of the rope.This procedure was repeated several times until the rope wasdangerously thin. The mother nally gave in as she saw hersuering daughter and said, “stop I'll tell! I'll tell!” But the little girlheard her mother scream and raised her tortured little face towardheaven and with a beautiful radiance she called out,“mommy, mommy, don't tell them, don't tell them, Jesus will takecare of me!” At that very instant a P40 zoomed over them out ofnowhere and set the Japanese scampering for cover. TheJapanese never returned to continue their torture and the motherwas able to deliver her little daughter from the very jaws of death.Many reasons for deliverance could be conjured up but we whoknow the Lord Jesus as our own personal savior know that he wasjust protecting his little saint who had been faithful even in the faceof death. It was none but God!God is faithful to every one of us personally. When we were underconviction for our sins, that was God's faithfulness to uspersonally. Many times, God's word has spoken to us, causing usto take the right path in the decisions of life. Remember JesusChrist is the same yesterday today and forever. He's the sameGod who delivered his Saints as recorded in his holy word. Manyof his Saints were delivered from death and others were allowed todie for his glory. Steven, looked up and said “I see Jesus standingon the father's right hand!”Secondly. I want to notice the Power of God’s faithfulness!When I could not come to him, he came to me! When we didn’tknow how to pray for ourselves the spirit of God prayed for us.One may experience the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The chainsthat had us bound, have fallen o and we have become newcreatures in Christ Jesus! Then we saw the corruption of the sinnature in our lives, crying out for the mercy of God and fordeliverance from the carnal mind, hungering to be lled with theHoly Ghost and power, and experienced the sanctifying power ofthe Holy Ghost, thus experiencing the power and the purity of aHoly life!Thirdly. God is faithful to us Perpetually!There never was a time when God was not faithful to you and me.And He will always be faithful! The songwriter put it this way, “Hestood at my heart's door mid sunshine and rain, and patientlywaited an entrance to gain, what shame that so long he entreatedin vain, for he is so precious to me!” Oh, how grateful I am for thefaithfulness of God!Friend, if you know Jesus as your own personal savior how faithfulare you? He only asked that we be faithful. It is not our work, buthis. We are not responsible for the results, only to listen to hisleadings and do his will. We are his blood bought children and arestewards of his grace, love, mercy, and the gospel message. In ICorinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in Stewards, that a man befound faithful.” By the grace of God I want to be faithful to God inevery area of my life.In his service,Great is Thy FaithfulnessThe subscription price on this publication is $8 per yearSend all payments to:Rev. Phil Hoard, Gen. Treasurer4485 North Fortville PikeGreeneld, IN 46140.Send all articles, news items, and address changes to:Rev. Keith Ledford710 Fairview RdGalax, VA 24333Oce manager: Linda LedfordPhotography: Jonelle Hill backyardstudios.zenfolio.comPg.7 Paxson Woelber Pg.5 Joanna Kosinska Back: Greyson JoralmonElectronic submission of all materials is preferredSubmit to: mckledford@gmail.com4 January–FebruaryGreat isHE
Candy KingGreat is Thy Faithfulness. A timeless song. A timelessphrase. One often quoted and loved. Why? Because weknow it to be true and what a comfort it is to the wholeworld. Whether Christian or sinner, what a refuge andcomfort to know that God is faithful, and His faithfulnessis great!It is great in its reach. God’s faithfulnessextends to all mankind! ALL. There is no place too farfor God to go. He isn’t limited by distance, youreducation, your nancial status, your looks or yourpopularity . He is faithful to all and He knows just how toreach, to speak to, all. He can go to far o countries aswell as behind locked doors. When no one else knowswhat to say the Holy Spirit is still able to bringconviction, counsel, and comfort. God’s faithfulnessreaches everywhere!It is great in its redemption. There is no onewhom God is unable to redeem. What comfort! Whatencouragement! No matter your background, no matteryour ugly wretched sin , God has a beautiful plan ofredemption that is open to all. No one is predestined togo to hell. No One! Jesus came to seek and to save thelost (Matt.18:11). Whosoever shall call upon the name ofthe Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Oh praise theLord-this is good news!God’s faithfulness is great in its restoration. Howkindly and diligently God pursues the lost. Psalm 18:35“Thy gentleness hath made me great” How lovingly Heentreats the backslider. Conviction is a gift. It is an act ofmercy. How grateful we should be that God convicts usor our loved ones. He is drawing us back. Don’t resistHim. Let Him restore you. He is The Master at healingthe broken, bringing hope to the hopeless, givingpurpose and direction to the confused, making all thingsnew and giving beauty for ashes.God’s faithfulness is great in its relationship toman. Another songwriter, C Austin Miles wrote“and He walks with me, and He talks with me,and He tells me I am His own, and the joy weshare as we tarry there…’These words are so true. When you become a Christianit is not just a one time event. It is the beginning of abeautiful, fullling relationship you share with yourSavior. He does walk with us and talk with us. He neverleaves us alone (Hebrews 13:5) or unprotected(Proverbs 18:10). He is a true friend.His faithfulness is reliable. 100% trustworthy.You may not always understand His ways. You may“feel” alone or that He is not hearing you when you prayhowever, feelings must not be confused with fact.Feelings are undependable, unsteady, and unfaithful.You must not trust them. “I don’t always feel Hispresence. But God’s promises do not depend upon myfeelings, they rest upon His integrity”1And you will ndHis integrity is unwavering! Many are familiar with CorrieTen Boom, a lady who was imprisoned at the Naziconcentration camp Ravensbruck due to her aiding theJews during World War 2. Listen to her testimony. “I’veexperienced His Presence in the deepest, darkest hellthat men can create…I have tested the promises of theBible, and believe me, you can count on them.” She isjust one of many that have found Him to be faithful.So no matter where you are , whatever you oryour loved ones are going through, truly God is a faithfulGod and His faithfulness is great.The Richnessof Gods FaithfulnessI am overwhelmed by the theme that lies before us this month,when I begin to think of the faithfulness of a Holy God to humanity!First. I want to notice that God is Faithful to us Personally!The story was told by a British ocer during World War 2, in thePhilippines on the island of Luzon. The Japanese had driven outalmost all troops and were invading the island. They begin to usetheir torture methods on the ones that they seized to nd outwhere the rest of the British army was hiding. In one particularinstance, they seized the chief's wife and gave her the usualtreatment of driving long splinters of bamboo under her ngernailsand toenails. Even though she was in excruciating pain sherefused to tell anything of the whereabouts of the army. Then thecrafty Japanese ocer noticed that a beautiful bright eyed little girlseemed to be suering along with the woman in her torture. Hededucted correctly that this must be her daughter, and so deviseda plan to torture her. He knew many times this would work whennothing else would. They built an intense re that left a bed of livecoals over which dangled white hot ames of death. They took aheavy rope and placed it under the armpits of the little girl. Thenshe was drawn up over the tree on a limb that protruded out andwas suspended directly over the live coals. She was hanging soclosel to the ames and the intense heat was not only causing herto perspire freely but causing the very juices of her body to oozethrough her pores. Then the Japanese ocer asked the motherwhere the British had gone. “I will not tell” was her quick retort.Then the ocer drew his sword and very slowly severed a fewstrands of the rope. “Now where did they go”? He demandedangrily. “I will not tell,” shouted the mother. He cut a few morestrands of the rope.This procedure was repeated several times until the rope wasdangerously thin. The mother nally gave in as she saw hersuering daughter and said, “stop I'll tell! I'll tell!” But the little girlheard her mother scream and raised her tortured little face towardheaven and with a beautiful radiance she called out,“mommy, mommy, don't tell them, don't tell them, Jesus will takecare of me!” At that very instant a P40 zoomed over them out ofnowhere and set the Japanese scampering for cover. TheJapanese never returned to continue their torture and the motherwas able to deliver her little daughter from the very jaws of death.Many reasons for deliverance could be conjured up but we whoknow the Lord Jesus as our own personal savior know that he wasjust protecting his little saint who had been faithful even in the faceof death. It was none but God!God is faithful to every one of us personally. When we were underconviction for our sins, that was God's faithfulness to uspersonally. Many times, God's word has spoken to us, causing usto take the right path in the decisions of life. Remember JesusChrist is the same yesterday today and forever. He's the sameGod who delivered his Saints as recorded in his holy word. Manyof his Saints were delivered from death and others were allowed todie for his glory. Steven, looked up and said “I see Jesus standingon the father's right hand!”Secondly. I want to notice the Power of God’s faithfulness!When I could not come to him, he came to me! When we didn’tknow how to pray for ourselves the spirit of God prayed for us.One may experience the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The chainsthat had us bound, have fallen o and we have become newcreatures in Christ Jesus! Then we saw the corruption of the sinnature in our lives, crying out for the mercy of God and fordeliverance from the carnal mind, hungering to be lled with theHoly Ghost and power, and experienced the sanctifying power ofthe Holy Ghost, thus experiencing the power and the purity of aHoly life!Thirdly. God is faithful to us Perpetually!There never was a time when God was not faithful to you and me.And He will always be faithful! The songwriter put it this way, “Hestood at my heart's door mid sunshine and rain, and patientlywaited an entrance to gain, what shame that so long he entreatedin vain, for he is so precious to me!” Oh, how grateful I am for thefaithfulness of God!Friend, if you know Jesus as your own personal savior how faithfulare you? He only asked that we be faithful. It is not our work, buthis. We are not responsible for the results, only to listen to hisleadings and do his will. We are his blood bought children and arestewards of his grace, love, mercy, and the gospel message. In ICorinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in Stewards, that a man befound faithful.” By the grace of God I want to be faithful to God inevery area of my life.In his service,Great is Thy FaithfulnessThe subscription price on this publication is $8 per yearSend all payments to:Rev. Phil Hoard, Gen. Treasurer4485 North Fortville PikeGreeneld, IN 46140.Send all articles, news items, and address changes to:Rev. Keith Ledford710 Fairview RdGalax, VA 24333Oce manager: Linda LedfordPhotography: Jonelle Hill backyardstudios.zenfolio.comPg.7 Paxson Woelber Pg.5 Joanna Kosinska Back: Greyson JoralmonElectronic submission of all materials is preferredSubmit to: mckledford@gmail.comJanuary–February 5Thy FaithfulnessHE
Scott ThrasherBut the cares of life eect all of us. There are goodand necessary things that we must do, we aresupposed to do. We must work to live and supportour families, and we are obligated to do good at ourwork. Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do itheartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. We havefamily responsibilities that we can not escape. Lifehappens. With all the cares of life it is easy to getdistracted, even overwhelmed and “bring no fruit toperfection”. We all have life to deal with; the motherat home with her children is busy cooking, teaching,cleaning and caring for her children, life happens, acarpenter who has a broken van and not enoughhelp to get the job done and astronomical prices forsupplies. Life happens, so what should we do? Wecan’t stop living but we must take care that we don’tlet the cares of life make us unproductive in ministry.I recall a bike I purchased at a yard sale. It lookedpretty good at rst but when I got it home, I noticedit was wobbly. The front wheel was wobbling fromside to side. I thought the rim was bent so I did alittle research and further examined the bike andfound the wheel was unbalanced because it wasmissing a spoke. I researched more and foundinstructions on straightening the wheel. I had toloosen some spokes and tighten some spokes butafter the adjustments the wheel ran reasonably true.Our lives are a lot like that wheel. With Christ as thehub our lives should revolve around him. The spokesare activities that connect to him and our life. Byputting too little or too much stress on things, our lifecan get out of balance. We can not avoid the caresof life, but we must keep proper connection to Godlest we become “choked and bring no fruit toperfection”. We must keep Christ as the center anddo the very best we can to adjust the wobble outand minimize hindrances to our ministry or workaround them.Hindrancesto Home MissionsBrother Ledford sent a text giving the date forsubmitting my article for the next edition of the HolinessEvangelist. I started praying and thinking about what towrite. I was at work when I got the text, so I grabbed anote pad, as I fully intended to make some notes after Igot started doing a treatment on my next patient. Often,I can read or even write during the 3–4 hour treatment ifeverything is going good and my patient is stable. I hada couple ideas for articles. Unfortunately, this patientwas very sick and required my constant undividedattention. I thought, no problem, I will write the articlewhile I am doing my next treatment in CardiovascularICU. But this patient was just as sick as the one I justfinished, and his wife was Angry! The patient is notgoing to get better, and the wife is progressing throughthe stages of grief. This required my undivided constantattention again as I ran the treatment and prayed for thepatient and the family. Finally, my necessary work daywas over, it was after 10 pm and as I traveled home Icalled my wife. Her car is having a problem and isinoperable. I tell her to just drive the truck and I will tryto figure out what is wrong with her car and fix it when Ihave a day off.The next day was no better and in addition to theaforementioned “cares of life”, my mother got sick.Before my day o arrived the brakes on my car startedmaking a grinding noise, signifying I need to replace thebrake pads, or I will have inadequate brakes anddamage the rotors on my car. Needless to say, I wasfeeling a little overwhelmed with all of the necessarycares of life and the need to do my part in ministry(write the article as requested). As I commuted the 45minutes back and forth to work each day, I tossedaround in my head the question, What is the biggesthindrance to home missions? I thought maybe I had itfigured out, perhaps the biggest hindrance to homemissions is money? I began to contemplate all wecould do in ICHA Home Missions if we just had moremoney. Then I remembered a conversation I had with amuliti millionaire who had decided to stop giving moneyto a project because he didn’t want to evangelize acertain ethnic group. He was the main donor for thisproject. I told him, “If this is of God it will go withoutyour money and if it is not of God, you don’t haveenough money to make it go.” The project went on,even though he stopped giving! I believed what I toldhim then and I believe it now, so money is probably notthe greatest hindrance to home missions.I decided the greatest hindrance must be thelack of preachers and home missionaries. After all ittakes a special person with a special call to do thesejobs, right? Then I remembered how God used adonkey to preach to a back slidden prophet and how heused the backslidden prophet to bless Israel, eventhough Balaam had been hired by the enemy to curseIsrael. I also remembered how in my own life we had afinancial need, and my wife was praying for this specificneed. It wasn’t a lot of money, but we didn’t have it andcould see no source for acquiring it. When we checkedthe mail, we found a card with the needed amount anda note saying; “You must have a need and God is usingtwo sinners to meet the need.” Wow!Neither my wifenot I had talked to this person, they would have had noidea we even had a need unless God told them. Iguess God doesn’t really need special people he justneeds available people.Then what is the greatest hindrance to homemissions I thought? Finally, the light came on!Probablythe greatest hindrance to home missions and otherministries is the cares of life! We are warned of this isLuke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they,which, when they have heard, go forth, and are chokedwith Cares and riches and pleasures of this life, andbring no fruit to perfection.For most of us, it is easy to guard against the lure ofriches. Simply because our profession will not make usrich, and we could get sidetracked and seek for richesbut for the most part it is easy to resist the lure ofriches. A saved and sanctified individual no longerlooks to the world for pleasure.Rev. & Mrs. Albert McKenzie celebrated their 70thanniversary on October 7, 2021.Two of their sons, Richard and Charles McKenzie, andone of their sons-in-law,Keith Ledford, are ICHA Elders. Albert McKenzie was anElder in the Church of the Bible Covenant. If you know of Elders or members of our churches whoare celebrating 50 years or more of marriage,would you share the pertinent information and a picturefor the Holiness Evangelist? Thanks!Rev. & Mrs. Albert McKenzie70 Years of marriage!6 January–FebruaryGreat isHE
Scott ThrasherBut the cares of life eect all of us. There are goodand necessary things that we must do, we aresupposed to do. We must work to live and supportour families, and we are obligated to do good at ourwork. Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do itheartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. We havefamily responsibilities that we can not escape. Lifehappens. With all the cares of life it is easy to getdistracted, even overwhelmed and “bring no fruit toperfection”. We all have life to deal with; the motherat home with her children is busy cooking, teaching,cleaning and caring for her children, life happens, acarpenter who has a broken van and not enoughhelp to get the job done and astronomical prices forsupplies. Life happens, so what should we do? Wecan’t stop living but we must take care that we don’tlet the cares of life make us unproductive in ministry.I recall a bike I purchased at a yard sale. It lookedpretty good at rst but when I got it home, I noticedit was wobbly. The front wheel was wobbling fromside to side. I thought the rim was bent so I did alittle research and further examined the bike andfound the wheel was unbalanced because it wasmissing a spoke. I researched more and foundinstructions on straightening the wheel. I had toloosen some spokes and tighten some spokes butafter the adjustments the wheel ran reasonably true.Our lives are a lot like that wheel. With Christ as thehub our lives should revolve around him. The spokesare activities that connect to him and our life. Byputting too little or too much stress on things, our lifecan get out of balance. We can not avoid the caresof life, but we must keep proper connection to Godlest we become “choked and bring no fruit toperfection”. We must keep Christ as the center anddo the very best we can to adjust the wobble outand minimize hindrances to our ministry or workaround them.Hindrancesto Home MissionsBrother Ledford sent a text giving the date forsubmitting my article for the next edition of the HolinessEvangelist. I started praying and thinking about what towrite. I was at work when I got the text, so I grabbed anote pad, as I fully intended to make some notes after Igot started doing a treatment on my next patient. Often,I can read or even write during the 3–4 hour treatment ifeverything is going good and my patient is stable. I hada couple ideas for articles. Unfortunately, this patientwas very sick and required my constant undividedattention. I thought, no problem, I will write the articlewhile I am doing my next treatment in CardiovascularICU. But this patient was just as sick as the one I justfinished, and his wife was Angry! The patient is notgoing to get better, and the wife is progressing throughthe stages of grief. This required my undivided constantattention again as I ran the treatment and prayed for thepatient and the family. Finally, my necessary work daywas over, it was after 10 pm and as I traveled home Icalled my wife. Her car is having a problem and isinoperable. I tell her to just drive the truck and I will tryto figure out what is wrong with her car and fix it when Ihave a day off.The next day was no better and in addition to theaforementioned “cares of life”, my mother got sick.Before my day o arrived the brakes on my car startedmaking a grinding noise, signifying I need to replace thebrake pads, or I will have inadequate brakes anddamage the rotors on my car. Needless to say, I wasfeeling a little overwhelmed with all of the necessarycares of life and the need to do my part in ministry(write the article as requested). As I commuted the 45minutes back and forth to work each day, I tossedaround in my head the question, What is the biggesthindrance to home missions? I thought maybe I had itfigured out, perhaps the biggest hindrance to homemissions is money? I began to contemplate all wecould do in ICHA Home Missions if we just had moremoney. Then I remembered a conversation I had with amuliti millionaire who had decided to stop giving moneyto a project because he didn’t want to evangelize acertainethnic group. He was the main donor for thisproject. I told him, “If this is of God it will go withoutyour money and if it is not of God, you don’t haveenough money to make it go.” The project went on,even though he stopped giving! I believed what I toldhim then and I believe it now, so money is probably notthe greatest hindrance to home missions.I decided the greatest hindrance must be thelack of preachers and home missionaries. After all ittakes a special person with a special call to do thesejobs, right? Then I remembered how God used adonkey to preach to a back slidden prophet and how heused the backslidden prophet to bless Israel, eventhough Balaam had been hired by the enemy to curseIsrael. I also remembered how in my own life we had afinancial need, and my wife was praying for this specificneed. It wasn’t a lot of money, but we didn’t have it andcould see no source for acquiring it. When we checkedthe mail, we found a card with the needed amount anda note saying; “You must have a need and God is usingtwo sinners to meet the need.” Wow!Neither my wifenot I had talked to this person, they would have had noidea we even had a need unless God told them. Iguess God doesn’t really need special people he justneeds available people.Then what is the greatest hindrance to homemissions I thought? Finally, the light came on!Probablythe greatest hindrance to home missions and otherministries is the cares of life! We are warned of this isLuke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they,which, when they have heard, go forth, and are chokedwith Cares and riches and pleasures of this life, andbring no fruit to perfection.For most of us, it is easy to guard against the lure ofriches. Simply because our profession will not make usrich, and we could get sidetracked and seek for richesbut for the most part it is easy to resist the lure ofriches. A saved and sanctified individual no longerlooks to the world for pleasure.Rev. & Mrs. Albert McKenzie celebrated their 70thanniversary on October 7, 2021.Two of their sons, Richard and Charles McKenzie, andone of their sons-in-law,Keith Ledford, are ICHA Elders. Albert McKenzie was anElder in the Church of the Bible Covenant. If you know of Elders or members of our churches whoare celebrating 50 years or more of marriage,would you share the pertinent information and a picturefor the Holiness Evangelist? Thanks!Rev. & Mrs. Albert McKenzie70 Years of marriage!January–February 7Thy FaithfulnessHE
What Can I Give to the KingThe Attainable PrizeHannah DelongSherri PriceOnce upon a time, there was a king who ruled over hissubjects with kindness and compassion. In return, hispeople loved him and bestowed many gifts upon him.One day, the king announced that he was making anew throne of solid gold, which would be inlaid withprecious jewels donated by the people. A large silverbox was placed outside the palace gates for thecontributions, and people ocked from every corner ofthe kingdom to show devotion to their king.However, because the people loved their king somuch, each person wanted to be the one who wouldgive the greatest gift. Rumors began circulating thatthe one who gave the biggest and best jewel would begranted the highest honor in the kingdom. Each day,the king and his advisors sat near the box, watchingas each person made their contribution. The kinggraciously thanked every giver, and each one leftfeeling proud of their ne donation.Wanting to make their contributions known, eachperson proudly displayed how much they were giving.Some would loudly announce their contributions,some would hold their gift high for all to see beforedramatically placing it in the box, and others wouldclap cymbals or blow trumpets to draw attention totheir oering. The king treated everyone the same,though, and gave each a grateful smile and a kind‘thank you’.One day, however, after a rich man had boastfullygiven his oering, a woman approached the box. Shewas elderly, dressed in rags, and clearly one of thepoorest people in the kingdom. Many scoed at herand wondered how she could give anything of value.The king, on the other hand, was silent, and stared atthe woman curiously as she made her way up to thebox. The woman kept her eyes on the ground, evenwhen a rude man walked by and spat at her face. Shequietly approached the box, heaved a sigh, anddeposited a single black rock into the silver box.As she turned to go, the king called out to her. Hereached into the box and drew out the rock. It was sougly that it marred the beauty of the other jewels in thebox. “Why did you give this?” he asked calmly.The woman turned terried eyes toward the king,fearing that he’d be angry with her. “It…was all had togive,” she whispered, so quietly that only the king wasable to understand her.I“How dare you give the king a rock!” one of the king’sadvisors exploded.“Explain,” the king said calmly, motioning for silence.The advisor respectfully backed away. The womanquietly responded, “I know it’s not much, but you are akind and just king, and I wanted to give you somethingto show my gratitude and love for you.”The king smiled and kissed the woman’s wrinkledhand. “Thank you for your gift,” he said, and thosewatching had to admit that this was the sincerestreaction the king had given yet. The woman smiled aswell and turned to leave.“Why would you accept such a ridiculous gift?” one ofthe advisors asked in bewilderment. The king’s smilewidened as he turned the rock over in his hand. “Thatwoman gave the greatest gift, because she gave theonly thing she had,” he explained simply.The advisors shrugged their shoulders, and everyoneelse muttered about the silly woman who had givensomething so worthless to the king. However, the nextday all the murmurings were silenced when it wasrevealed that the ugly rock, when it was cleaned, cut,and polished, was actually a beautiful gemstone thatshone more radiantly than any of the others. The kingeven made it the centerpiece of his new throne.Touched by her generosity, he asked the woman whathonor she wanted for her reward.“My only honor,” the woman responded, smiling, “isthat I’ve given my best to my king.”And so, boys and girls, my question to you is this;what can you give to the King to show Him your love?“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about withso great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside everyweight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, andlet us run with patience the race that is set before us,Looking unto Jesus the author and nisher of ourfaith;” Hebrews 12:1-2aI never had the privilege of knowing mypaternal grandfather, John Holt. However, I had theprivilege of growing up hearing about the legacy heleft for those coming behind him. My grandfather’s lifeand homegoing left a testimony and a set of godlyfootprints that-- although dicult to ll-- have led aclear path to Jesus. He was a gentle, loving man whonever met nor treated anyone like a stranger.On the day my grandfather completed hisearthly race, he began to talk about the new light hewas seeing. My father, Rev. Ira E. Holt, had recentlyinstalled a new bulb in the light of the room andthought that was what my grandfather wasreferencing. When my father mentioned the bulb,however, my grandfather-- with his gaze heavenward--replied, “No. It’s a new light.” He then began talkingabout seeing Jesus. Realizing the signicance of thecomment, Dad climbed up on the bed with mygrandfather, gathered him in his arms, hoping to get aglimpse of Heaven as well.My grandfather then began to mention seeingdierent ones who had gone on before him and at onepoint stated, “And there’s the baby we never got toname.” My grandmother had lost a child about sixweeks into a pregnancy several years prior.Although it was apparent my grandfather waspreparing to cross the line of worlds, he was still a partof the earthly world as various ones stopped by to seehim and tell him goodnight. He was able to recognizethem, speak a few words to them and encourage themnot to cry because “Daddy’s not crying.”Yet, it would appear God had begun to blot outof his memory those things that would bring mygrandfather sorrow. One of my grandfather’s brotherswas there. He was a known alcoholic and somewhatof a wicked man. When the brother spoke to mygrandfather, uncharacteristically for my grandfatherwho knew no stranger, he calmly replied, “I don’t knowhim.” Even when another tried to explain to mygrandfather that it was his brother and mentioned thebrother’s name, he gently repeated, “I don’t knowhim.” Neither medication nor memory issues werefactors; God had simply started clearing those thingsthat would hinder his eternal joy.As his homegoing drew closer, my grandfatherbegan clapping his hands, praising the Lord andsaying, “Here He comes! Here He comes! Bye,everybody! Bye!”There was a period, however, when he becamequiet and asked, “What is it, Lord?” Those whowitnessed it said there were a few moments of soul-searching until my grandfather’s face again broke intoa huge smile with him exclaiming, “It’s okay now!Everything’s okay! Let’s go, Lord! What are Youwaiting for?”With my father’s arms wrapped around him, mygrandfather began saying, “I’m prepared, I’mprepared, I’m prepared.” And he continued to repeatthose words even while his voice grew weaker andweaker, becoming a whisper.As his frail, earth-worn body began to slump inmy father’s arms and down the bed, my grandfather’seyes drifted shut, his lips still moving, “I’m prepared,I’m prepared, I’m prepared.”And Jesus--standing there with outstretchedarms-- welcomed him home: “Well done, thou goodand faithful servant, John Holt: thou hast been faithfulover a few things, I will make thee ruler over manythings: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”My grandfather had “fought a good ght,nished his course and kept the faith.” He hadattained the prize.And there is no doubt that he is one of those inthe “great cloud of witnesses,” cheering us on topatiently run the race, nish our course and keep oureyes on the Author and Finisher of our faith.8 January–FebruaryGreat isHE
What Can I Give to the KingThe Attainable PrizeHannah DelongSherri PriceOnce upon a time, there was a king who ruled over hissubjects with kindness and compassion. In return, hispeople loved him and bestowed many gifts upon him.One day, the king announced that he was making anew throne of solid gold, which would be inlaid withprecious jewels donated by the people. A large silverbox was placed outside the palace gates for thecontributions, and people ocked from every corner ofthe kingdom to show devotion to their king.However, because the people loved their king somuch, each person wanted to be the one who wouldgive the greatest gift. Rumors began circulating thatthe one who gave the biggest and best jewel would begranted the highest honor in the kingdom. Each day,the king and his advisors sat near the box, watchingas each person made their contribution. The kinggraciously thanked every giver, and each one leftfeeling proud of their ne donation.Wanting to make their contributions known, eachperson proudly displayed how much they were giving.Some would loudly announce their contributions,some would hold their gift high for all to see beforedramatically placing it in the box, and others wouldclap cymbals or blow trumpets to draw attention totheir oering. The king treated everyone the same,though, and gave each a grateful smile and a kind‘thank you’.One day, however, after a rich man had boastfullygiven his oering, a woman approached the box. Shewas elderly, dressed in rags, and clearly one of thepoorest people in the kingdom. Many scoed at herand wondered how she could give anything of value.The king, on the other hand, was silent, and stared atthe woman curiously as she made her way up to thebox. The woman kept her eyes on the ground, evenwhen a rude man walked by and spat at her face. Shequietly approached the box, heaved a sigh, anddeposited a single black rock into the silver box.As she turned to go, the king called out to her. Hereached into the box and drew out the rock. It was sougly that it marred the beauty of the other jewels in thebox. “Why did you give this?” he asked calmly.The woman turned terried eyes toward the king,fearing that he’d be angry with her. “It…was all had togive,” she whispered, so quietly that only the king wasable to understand her.I“How dare you give the king a rock!” one of the king’sadvisors exploded.“Explain,” the king said calmly, motioning for silence.The advisor respectfully backed away. The womanquietly responded, “I know it’s not much, but you are akind and just king, and I wanted to give you somethingto show my gratitude and love for you.”The king smiled and kissed the woman’s wrinkledhand. “Thank you for your gift,” he said, and thosewatching had to admit that this was the sincerestreaction the king had given yet. The woman smiled aswell and turned to leave.“Why would you accept such a ridiculous gift?” one ofthe advisors asked in bewilderment. The king’s smilewidened as he turned the rock over in his hand. “Thatwoman gave the greatest gift, because she gave theonly thing she had,” he explained simply.The advisors shrugged their shoulders, and everyoneelse muttered about the silly woman who had givensomething so worthless to the king. However, the nextday all the murmurings were silenced when it wasrevealed that the ugly rock, when it was cleaned, cut,and polished, was actually a beautiful gemstone thatshone more radiantly than any of the others. The kingeven made it the centerpiece of his new throne.Touched by her generosity, he asked the woman whathonor she wanted for her reward.“My only honor,” the woman responded, smiling, “isthat I’ve given my best to my king.”And so, boys and girls, my question to you is this;what can you give to the King to show Him your love?“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about withso great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside everyweight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, andlet us run with patience the race that is set before us,Looking unto Jesus the author and nisher of ourfaith;” Hebrews 12:1-2aI never had the privilege of knowing mypaternal grandfather, John Holt. However, I had theprivilege of growing up hearing about the legacy heleft for those coming behind him. My grandfather’s lifeand homegoing left a testimony and a set of godlyfootprints that-- although dicult to ll-- have led aclear path to Jesus. He was a gentle, loving man whonever met nor treated anyone like a stranger.On the day my grandfather completed hisearthly race, he began to talk about the new light hewas seeing. My father, Rev. Ira E. Holt, had recentlyinstalled a new bulb in the light of the room andthought that was what my grandfather wasreferencing. When my father mentioned the bulb,however, my grandfather-- with his gaze heavenward--replied, “No. It’s a new light.” He then began talkingabout seeing Jesus. Realizing the signicance of thecomment, Dad climbed up on the bed with mygrandfather, gathered him in his arms, hoping to get aglimpse of Heaven as well.My grandfather then began to mention seeingdierent ones who had gone on before him and at onepoint stated, “And there’s the baby we never got toname.” My grandmother had lost a child about sixweeks into a pregnancy several years prior.Although it was apparent my grandfather waspreparing to cross the line of worlds, he was still a partof the earthly world as various ones stopped by to seehim and tell him goodnight. He was able to recognizethem, speak a few words to them and encourage themnot to cry because “Daddy’s not crying.”Yet, it would appear God had begun to blot outof his memory those things that would bring mygrandfather sorrow. One of my grandfather’s brotherswas there. He was a known alcoholic and somewhatof a wicked man. When the brother spoke to mygrandfather, uncharacteristically for my grandfatherwho knew no stranger, he calmly replied, “I don’t knowhim.” Even when another tried to explain to mygrandfather that it was his brother and mentioned thebrother’s name, he gently repeated, “I don’t knowhim.” Neither medication nor memory issues werefactors; God had simply started clearing those thingsthat would hinder his eternal joy.As his homegoing drew closer, my grandfatherbegan clapping his hands, praising the Lord andsaying, “Here He comes! Here He comes! Bye,everybody! Bye!”There was a period, however, when he becamequiet and asked, “What is it, Lord?” Those whowitnessed it said there were a few moments of soul-searching until my grandfather’s face again broke intoa huge smile with him exclaiming, “It’s okay now!Everything’s okay! Let’s go, Lord! What are Youwaiting for?”With my father’s arms wrapped around him, mygrandfather began saying, “I’m prepared, I’mprepared, I’m prepared.” And he continued to repeatthose words even while his voice grew weaker andweaker, becoming a whisper.As his frail, earth-worn body began to slump inmy father’s arms and down the bed, my grandfather’seyes drifted shut, his lips still moving, “I’m prepared,I’m prepared, I’m prepared.”And Jesus--standing there with outstretchedarms-- welcomed him home: “Well done, thou goodand faithful servant, John Holt: thou hast been faithfulover a few things, I will make thee ruler over manythings: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”My grandfather had “fought a good ght,nished his course and kept the faith.” He hadattained the prize.And there is no doubt that he is one of those inthe “great cloud of witnesses,” cheering us on topatiently run the race, nish our course and keep oureyes on the Author and Finisher of our faith.January–February 9Thy FaithfulnessHE
From the Archives - Originally published in 2010The LittleChurch That Could2022CalendarJane PerryDing! Ding! Ding! Went the church bells as they rang outon Sunday morning. She was a happy, little church withclasses for everybody.There were classes for the little boys and girls withannel lessons, songs and stories, and a Scripture eachSunday, set to music that the children were familiar with.There were papers to color related to the Bible story,puzzles to work and behavior rewards forencouragement at the end of each class.But that is not all! Some rooms were set aside for olderchildren and teens. The teacher was prepared eachweek for whoever came. She planned things related toeach age group or talked of the issues of the dayrelating to them and gave a Scripture verse to back upher view on each issue.There was a big room (some called it the sanctuary) forthe adults, where they worshipped, discussed theScripture, prayed and sang.This little church opened its doors to any and all whowere interested in learning more about Jesus andtrusting in Him. But there was a problem. They werekind of at a standstill. It was not growing. The peoplewere discouraged.The pretty, new church downtown said, “Close yourdoors and come join us. We have two services in themorning, one for the traditional, older people and onefor the younger, contemporary set, where you can sitaround a table and enjoy coee and donuts while yousing from a screen.” And the people at the little churchsaid, “No, we cannot worship under thosecircumstances.”So, the pretty, new church downtown said, “Come joinus and feast at our church suppers and sh fries, ourcarnivals and garage sales, where we make lots ofmoney to support the church and missionary families.But the people from the little church said, No, we don’tfeel that God is pleased by supporting the church withchurch suppers and garage sales.”So, the people at the little church called their people toprayer and after quite some time, God heard and gavethem answers as to what they could do. The pastor saidthat he would spend more time in prayer on hismessages and for his people. The Sunday schoolsuperintendent said that he would spend more timevisiting those who came spasmodically. The Sundayschool teachers said that they would give more prayertime to God’s direction for teaching each class andasking God for more love for each student. They wereeven willing to give time to their students outside ofclass. The congregation said that they would give more.The song leader said that he would get God’s directionon the songs to sing. They all said that they would beprayed up before each service and be as clay in Hishands.Before they knew it, that little church began to grownumerically, spiritually, and nancially. God blessedbecause each one did their part. They united, workedtogether as a team, and believed until God saw t tohelp them become the little church that could.January 20227 – Indiana Rally Salam Park Church, 7:30 PMFebruary21 – General Board Meeting, Calvary Bible Wesleyan, Plainfield, IN; 6 PM22 – Nominating Committee Meeting, Calvary Bible Wesleyan, Plainfield, IN;1-3 PMGeneral Board Meeting, Calvary Bible Wesleyan, Plainfield, IN; 3-5 PM22-24 – ICHA Preacher/Lay Convention, Calvary Bible Wesleyan, Plainfield, IN1stservice 7 PM (Rev. Paul Kaufman/Cole Family)March11 – Rally Linton, IN, 7:30 PMApril17 – Easter Sunday World Mission Offering! Goal – One Week’s Salary!May6 – Camp Meeting Rally, CFC Greenfield, IN; 7:30 PM7 – Credential Committee Meeting, CFC Headquarters Building; 9:30 AM9-13 – Camp Work Week CFC30 – Picnic CFC 12 PMJune6 – Credential Committee Meeting, 1-3 PM;Resolutions Committee Meeting, 3-5 PM6 – Quadrennial Representative Assembly Opening/Keynote Address, 6-9 PM7 – Quadrennial Representative Assembly, 9:30 AM7 – Camp Meeting, 7:30 PM; (Rev. Jeremy Fuller and Dr. Robert Bolois/MikeMayhle Family)27 – July 1 Youth Camp (Rev. Matt Maloyed); Registration 12 noonJuly19 -21 – Kids Camp; Registration 10 AMAugust8 -14 – Lower Lights Petersburg Michigan Regional Camp (Rev. Mark Mowery& Rev. Tim Wiford/Paul and Judy Shelton)10 January–FebruaryGreat isHE
From the Archives - Originally published in 2010The LittleChurch That Could2022CalendarJane PerryDing! Ding! Ding! Went the church bells as they rang outon Sunday morning. She was a happy, little church withclasses for everybody.There were classes for the little boys and girls withannel lessons, songs and stories, and a Scripture eachSunday, set to music that the children were familiar with.There were papers to color related to the Bible story,puzzles to work and behavior rewards forencouragement at the end of each class.But that is not all! Some rooms were set aside for olderchildren and teens. The teacher was prepared eachweek for whoever came. She planned things related toeach age group or talked of the issues of the dayrelating to them and gave a Scripture verse to back upher view on each issue.There was a big room (some called it the sanctuary) forthe adults, where they worshipped, discussed theScripture, prayed and sang.This little church opened its doors to any and all whowere interested in learning more about Jesus andtrusting in Him. But there was a problem. They werekind of at a standstill. It was not growing. The peoplewere discouraged.The pretty, new church downtown said, “Close yourdoors and come join us. We have two services in themorning, one for the traditional, older people and onefor the younger, contemporary set, where you can sitaround a table and enjoy coee and donuts while yousing from a screen.” And the people at the little churchsaid, “No, we cannot worship under thosecircumstances.”So, the pretty, new church downtown said, “Come joinus and feast at our church suppers and sh fries, ourcarnivals and garage sales, where we make lots ofmoney to support the church and missionary families.But the people from the little church said, No, we don’tfeel that God is pleased by supporting the church withchurch suppers and garage sales.”So, the people at the little church called their people toprayer and after quite some time, God heard and gavethem answers as to what they could do. The pastor saidthat he would spend more time in prayer on hismessages and for his people. The Sunday schoolsuperintendent said that he would spend more timevisiting those who came spasmodically. The Sundayschool teachers said that they would give more prayertime to God’s direction for teaching each class andasking God for more love for each student. They wereeven willing to give time to their students outside ofclass. The congregation said that they would give more.The song leader said that he would get God’s directionon the songs to sing. They all said that they would beprayed up before each service and be as clay in Hishands.Before they knew it, that little church began to grownumerically, spiritually, and nancially. God blessedbecause each one did their part. They united, workedtogether as a team, and believed until God saw t tohelp them become the little church that could.January 20227 – Indiana Rally Salam Park Church, 7:30 PMFebruary21 – General Board Meeting, Calvary Bible Wesleyan, Plainfield, IN; 6 PM22 – Nominating Committee Meeting, Calvary Bible Wesleyan, Plainfield, IN;1-3 PMGeneral Board Meeting, Calvary Bible Wesleyan, Plainfield, IN; 3-5 PM22-24 – ICHA Preacher/Lay Convention, Calvary Bible Wesleyan, Plainfield, IN1stservice 7 PM (Rev. Paul Kaufman/Cole Family)March11 – Rally Linton, IN, 7:30 PMApril17 – Easter Sunday World Mission Offering! Goal – One Week’s Salary!May6 – Camp Meeting Rally, CFC Greenfield, IN; 7:30 PM7 – Credential Committee Meeting, CFC Headquarters Building; 9:30 AM9-13 – Camp Work Week CFC30 – Picnic CFC 12 PMJune6 – Credential Committee Meeting, 1-3 PM;Resolutions Committee Meeting, 3-5 PM6 – Quadrennial Representative Assembly Opening/Keynote Address, 6-9 PM7 – Quadrennial Representative Assembly, 9:30 AM7 – Camp Meeting, 7:30 PM; (Rev. Jeremy Fuller and Dr. Robert Bolois/MikeMayhle Family)27 – July 1 Youth Camp (Rev. Matt Maloyed); Registration 12 noonJuly19 -21 – Kids Camp; Registration 10 AMAugust8 -14 – Lower Lights Petersburg Michigan Regional Camp (Rev. Mark Mowery& Rev. Tim Wiford/Paul and Judy Shelton)January–February 11Thy FaithfulnessHE
U. S. PostageNonprot OrgShoals, INPermit No. 16Holiness Evangelist710 Fairview RoadGalax VA 24333Preacher LaymensConvention 2022Mike Marshall Tim Cole Sr, Family February 22-24ServantLeadersPAIDNonprot OrgU.S. PostagePAIDShoals, INPermit No. 16Holiness Evangelist710 Fairview RoadGalax VA 24333