May 20 Kids Edition Available for Summer Outreach
By Ron Kopczick | May 18, 2012
Although its publication date is Sunday, copies of the May 20 Pentecostal Evangel Kids Edition are still available for churches, ministries and individuals who want to use the issue during children’s camps, vacation Bible schools, and other summer outreaches. Nearly 1,000 churches have requested extra copies of the Kids Edition.
“God Uses Kids Too!” is the theme of the May 20 Evangel. Readers can enjoy stories of God using boys and girls, including his own Son, for ministry throughout the Bible and how He still utilizes children today. The issue can also be used for neighborhood canvassing and placed in church welcome packets or follow-up mailings to visitors.
When a bulk order of at least 50 magazines is submitted, the May 20 Kids Edition (#69-8221) is only 25 cents per copy. While supplies last, a purchase of 400 or more copies is eligible for free customized imprinting on the back of every issue. The single copy price is 75 cents, which decreases to 50 cents per magazine for orders of two to 49 copies.
Requests for the Kids Edition can be made online or by calling Gospel Publishing House at 1-800-641-4310 within the United States or 011-01-417-831-8000 from anywhere else in the world. Phone orders are accepted from 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. (CDT), Monday through Friday. A printable order form with additional information is available.
Copies of the latest Evangelio Pentecostal (Spanish) Kids Edition may also be ordered. Just call the appropriate number above and request item #69-7155. The pricing structure for the Spanish version is the same as the English edition.
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Assemblies of God opposes President Obama’s stance on same-sex marriage
By Ken Horn | May 10, 2012
Click HERE for the story on the official AG page.
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Tactics
By Scott Harrup | May 9, 2012
During “buddy time” with Austin this morning, he and I watched a 10-minute YouTube segment of the Modern Marvels episode “The Guns of the Civil War.” A key premise of the documentary: Civil War weapons technology out-paced Civil War battlefield tactics.
Officers on both sides of the conflict applied field strategies from the Napoleonic era (perhaps best summed up as the Revolutionary War “Don’t shoot until you see the whites of their eyes” mindset). Attacking forces advanced en masse against the enemy. Those defending a position created as much firepower as possible. Sheer numbers were the determining strategy for victory.
Compared to today’s automatic weapons, Civil War firepower was primitive. Most soldiers used muzzle-loading Springfield rifles that could only be fired about three times in a minute. But a key element from the Napoleonic era — the effective range of the weapons used — had changed radically and turned the older tactic into a death trap.
Muskets of previous generations fired lead balls through smooth-bore barrels. Rifles had spiral grooves inside the barrel that sent conical minié balls spinning toward targets with greater accuracy at much greater range. Where a musket maintained accuracy for about the length of a football field, a rifle could triple that distance.
If your musket-minded commanding officer ordered you and your fellow soldiers to march shoulder to shoulder across an open field toward an enemy equipped with rifles, you had better write your last letter home. When I was 11, Doug Bast, one of my dad’s cousins, took our family on a tour of his museum in Boonsboro, Md. I’ll never forget one display — the skeletal limb of a Civil War soldier with a minié ball splitting one of the bones.
This morning’s little Civil War meditation got me to thinking about how today’s technology imperfectly meshes with our life-negotiating tactics. For example, a friend and I recently discussed the number of businesses that interact with consumers through Facebook. My friend refuses to set up a Facebook page, and it inconveniences him when he can’t take advantage of Facebook-based deals. We both mused how today’s Facebook interface mimics the “novel” Internet presence of the 1990s. It’s just one more trend in an ever-evolving communications paradigm.
I view e-books somewhat like my friend views Facebook. My Kindle, purchased a few years ago, sits on a low, dark shelf, its batteries almost perpetually drained, about 100 book files gathering virtual dust. Perhaps to my technological detriment, I still find more than 99 percent of my reading among my shelves of “real” books.
Most time-bound idiosyncracies amount to so much inconvenience, but some techno-stasis merits concern. If I remain blind to my children’s evolving world, I might fail to protect them from new dangers. Today’s parent must deal with more than the standard mass media barrage. How might tweets from a sports hero, young actor or pop music icon create a negative influence? Which web sites and online games get passed among mobile devices on 21st-century playgrounds?
The church world faces a similar challenge. How can pastors and small group leaders remain relevant while faithfully communicating a timeless gospel? Which ministry tools du jour hold genuine merit, and which represent fads that drain spiritual life rather than promote revival?
It might seem insane that Union and Confederate soldiers marched across battlefields straight into enemy fire. But they were victims of a behind-the-times leadership model. This generation needs to be able to trust parents, pastors, teachers, and any other mentors not to make the same mistake.
(For more material like this, visit Out There.)
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Pentecostal Evangel Makes an Excellent Mother’s Day Gift
By Ron Kopczick | May 8, 2012
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 13. Looking for a gift that will be appreciated all yearlong? Consider the Pentecostal Evangel. It will provide inspiration and encouragement on a weekly basis for 12 full months to that special mother or grandmother or great-grandmother in your life.
And at just $28.99 for a standard one-year subscription in the United States, the Pentecostal Evangel is an extremely affordable Mother’s Day present. However, if the gift recipient is at least 60 years of age, a domestic annual subscription drops to $18.99. If she is an American veteran or currently serves in the U.S. military, the Evangel only costs $14.49 for 52 issues.
All Pentecostal Evangel gift subscriptions can be purchased online. Just click the price of the applicable offer in the preceding paragraph for the link to place an order. Multi-year options are available on all subscriptions.
Those who prefer making a request by phone may call Gospel Publishing House at 1-800-641-4310 (within the U.S.) or 011-01-417-831-8000 (outside the U.S.). Phone orders are accepted from 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. (CDT), Monday through Friday.
When calling, code LS is to be used for the senior citizen discount, while LM along with the recipient’s branch of service should be specified for a military subscription. Senior and military pricing is only good on new or renewable orders, as neither discount can be applied retroactively to any current subscription.
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Day of Prayer
By Scott Harrup | May 3, 2012
Perhaps, like me, you find opportunities to pray every day. But I take special notice of each year’s National Day of Prayer. Today spotlights not only our God-given privilege to pray, but the freedoms of faith expression we continue to enjoy in this nation. Today is right up there with Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving in my book.
I also enjoyed visiting with friends this morning at the 9th annual Disability Prayer Breakfast held at Bethel Assembly of God here in Springfield and sponsored by Through the Roof, a supportive ministry for the disabled and their families. We shared food, Scripture, prayers and encouragement.
Everyone attending the breakfast either faces unique physical challenges, or has loved ones whose needs are close to their heart. What a great opportunity to build a solid prayer life.
Of course, every life challenge gives us the same opportunity, as does every blessing. Whether we’re rejoicing or recovering, each day can be transformed when it is our personal Day of Prayer.
(For more articles like this one, visit Out There.)
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May 20 Kids Edition Available for Bulk Orders
By Ron Kopczick | May 3, 2012
Churches, ministries and individuals wanting bulk copies of the newest Pentecostal Evangel Kids Edition by the May 20 cover date are encouraged to place their orders now. More than 960 churches have already requested extra copies of the issue.
“God Uses Kids Too!” is the theme of the May 20 Evangel. Readers will enjoy stories of God using boys and girls, including His own Son, for ministry throughout the Bible and how He still utilizes kids today.
A must-have for kids camps, vacation Bible schools, and other children’s ministry, the issue can also be shared through community outreaches like neighborhood canvassing and placed in church welcome packets or follow-up mailings to visitors.
When a bulk order of at least 50 magazines is submitted, the May 20 Evangel (#69-8221) is only 25 cents per copy. And while supplies last, a purchase of 400 or more copies is eligible for free customized imprinting on the back of every issue. The single copy price is 75 cents, which decreases to 50 cents per magazine for orders of two to 49 copies.
Requests for the May 20 Kids Edition can be made online or by calling Gospel Publishing House at 1-800-641-4310 within the United States or 011-01-417-831-8000 from anywhere else in the world. Phone orders are accepted from 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. (CDT), Monday through Friday. A printable order form with additional information is available.
Copies of the latest Evangelio Pentecostal (Spanish) Kids Edition are still available. Just call the appropriate number above and request item #69-7155. The pricing structure for the Spanish version is the same as the English edition.
Topics: Gospel Publishing House, Evangelio Pentecostal, Pentecostal Evangel, Spanish, Bible, children, Uncategorized | Comments Off
National Day of Prayer
By Ken Horn | May 3, 2012
Today is the National Day of Prayer and several from the Assemblies of God National Offices attended the breakfast in Springfield. Other AG members are honoring the day throughout the nation. It’s a good day to remember to pray for our nation … and many other needs.
The program below gives you a glimpse at the various topics that were prayed for:
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Church of God General Overseer Visits Springfield
By Ken Horn | May 2, 2012
Yesterday I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Raymond Culpepper, general overseer of the Church of God International. This was a great, candid interview. Look for it in an upcoming Pentecostal Evangel. Dr. Culpepper was at the Assemblies of God National Resource and Leadership Center with Dr. Floyd Carey, another Church of God leader.
From left: Dr. Floyd Carey, Dr. Raymond Culpepper, Ken Horn
(Photo by Marc McBride)
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Y, 2Ks
By Scott Harrup | May 1, 2012
No, this is not a misspelled meditation on the turn-of-the-millennium hype that kept computer programmers writing software patches around the clock to avoid a prophesied techno-meltdown with the arrival of two lowly zeros in the date. Rather, I’m referencing the other most famous combination of a Y and two Ks.
Whether your wardrobe leans toward blue jeans or bespoke, there’s a good chance you will find YKK engraved on the majority of your zippers. YKK, or (Jeopardy enthusiasts take note “What is…?”) Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha, is the Japanese firm responsible for roughly half the zippers on the planet — manufacturing more than 7 billion a year.
In a Slate article posted yesterday, writer Seth Stevenson notes Tadao Yoshida established the company in 1934, and went on to develop processes for every level of zipper construction. Quoting a 1998 Los Angeles Times article, Stevenson reports YKK “‘smelts its own brass, concocts its own polyester, spins and twists its own thread, weaves and color-dyes cloth for its zipper tapes, forges and molds its scooped zipper teeth …’ and on and on.”
I found Stevenson’s explication fascinating, precisely because my randomly musing brain has often noted those three little letters when zipping up a jacket or even the heavy sleeping bag of which my youngest son is fond (with a zipper that faithfully jams, but only because an errant fold of quilting tends to slip between the teeth).
YKK zippers are the picture of efficiency and long life. Many clothing manufacturers wouldn’t think of substituting another brand of zipper when such a relatively small item can monopolize a garment’s functionality. To top off my takeaway, I learned something about YKK’s corporate philosophy in Stevenson’s article that could substitute for a life theme I’ve long admired.
Yoshida built his corporate giant on a simple idea that, roughly translated from Japanese, could be called “The Cycle of Goodness” and might be worded as, “No one prospers unless he renders benefit to others.”
Or, as the greatest Teacher of all time would have said (this time translated from Aramaic): “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
(For more articles like this one, visit Out There.)
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Think and Believe
By Scott Harrup | April 27, 2012
Researchers in the social sciences appear to have come up with another way to ridicule people of faith. Or—to give the benefit of the doubt to a study team at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada—they have unwittingly given the media their latest opportunity to do so.
Yesterday’s Los Angeles Times headline is laden with scorn—“Thinking can undermine religious faith, study finds.” If you take that announcement at face value, anyone with deeply held religious convictions must avoid thinking like the plague, and all the real “thinkers” among us must be wary of any religious claims.
You can read the article here, and decide for yourself just how neutral the actual study or the reporter’s analysis was. My point is, clear thinking should be at the root of genuine faith. Faith and analytical thinking go hand in hand.
At first blush, secularists might see my claim as an impossible contradiction. My Christian frame of reference defines genuine faith as an acknowledgment of my need for redemption, as well as my acceptance of God’s offer to meet that need through the death and resurrection of His Son. How could such concepts possibly connect with analytical thinking?
But the “outrageous” nature of the Christian faith demands careful analysis. You don’t step into the arena of religious claims to truth and swallow them without evidence. Intangible elements such as sinful human nature, divine forgiveness, and key redemptive events removed from us by some 2,000 years all call for scrutiny before one takes that leap of faith. Frankly, the idea of a “leap of faith” falls more solidly within metaphysical philosophy than biblical faith. New Testament faith isn’t some blind, random leap over conscious thought. It is a settled conviction in God’s ability to save and transform a life.
What kind of evidence comes to light in support of this conviction? In my life there has been abundant human evidence. I was raised in a minister’s home, and from a young age I realized that my rational and well-educated parents operated on a belief structure that held no hint of fantasy for them. Decades of prayer and worship and interaction with other Christians had consistently rendered proof for their beliefs about God. As I grew up, I met doctors, professors, lawyers, mathematicians, theologians, and many other analytically minded people who exhibited no disconnect between their faith and their intellect.
The historic evidence takes my individual experiences and multiplies them billions of times.
Canadian research with college students working math problems, staring at statues, and squinting over illegible text may appear to separate analytical thinkers from the faithful. I’d be interested in learning how the participants defined their faith perspective to begin with. If the students were not strongly attached to a faith community, their answers regarding religious faith should be questioned regardless of the experiment’s initial stimuli.
In the mean time, I’ll keep analyzing the abundant data around me of God’s clear interaction with humanity, as well as the wealth of structured input for daily living available in His Word.
(From Out There)
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Monster?
By Scott Harrup | April 26, 2012
I’m wrapping up an Old Testament class this semester at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. One of the textbooks, Paul Copan’s Is God a Moral Monster?, has been a wonderful read.
No textbook will resonate with every reader on every theological point, but Copan’s basic premise should hold true for the great majority of his audience — that even the most difficult passages in the Old Testament, when examined fairly and with a high view of the Bible as God’s inspired Word, will demonstrate God’s undying love for humanity.
This is too brief a summary to go into the intricacies of Copan’s scriptural and historical analysis, but I was reminded again and again as I worked through the book that God’s interaction with my life, as with anyone’s, is supremely benevolent.
Scripture honestly presents life’s pain, as well as the painful questions of men and women through the ages. That inspired and frank record — one that allows the reader struggling in faith to echo those same questions — makes the Bible an amazing reservoir of compassion we can access when life seems to bottom out.
Yes, there are monsters all of us face in life. But they should send us running into God’s embrace, not fleeing Him in mistaken fear.
(From Out There)
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Magazine’s Weekly Drawing Grows in Worldwide Appeal
By Ron Kopczick | April 26, 2012
Thanks to readers from Guyana and Togo, the number of nations represented during the six-year history of the Pentecostal Evangel Weekly Drawing has reached 47. Since its March 2006 launch, the Weekly Drawing has consistently received entries from around the world.
Although website visitors from 46 nations outside the United States have participated in the drawing, there are only five international winners among the nearly 320 entrants who’ve won the contest.
On a state-by-state basis, Missouri has produced 21 drawing winners, followed closely by Arkansas and Texas with 19 each, while 18 California readers have won. Other states with double-digit winners are: Florida (15), Michigan (15), Pennsylvania (12), New Jersey (11), Minnesota (10), Ohio (10), Oklahoma (10), and Wisconsin (10).
Readers who haven’t done so can still enter the May 3 drawing until 11:59 p.m. (CDT) on Saturday, April 28. A copy of Theology in a Nutshell by Pentecostal Evangel Editor Ken Horn and a six-month Evangel print subscription will be awarded to the contest winner.
Each reader is limited to one entry per drawing. Multiple entries from an individual or email address shall result in disqualification, as will an incomplete submission.
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Tiny Huge
By Scott Harrup | April 19, 2012
What is about the width of a human hair yet covers 71 percent of the planet? I discovered the answer, without actually asking the question, while reading a short online Popular Science article.
The answer: the ocean’s microlayer, the interface between the atmosphere and the saltwater surface. Turns out, it’s an entire ecosystem all its own, with gelatinous polysaccharides covered in bacteria that attract grazing amoebas.
I’m amazed at the abundant life all around us. Our planet teems with evidence, large and small, of God’s creative work. And, in this case, the evidence really is both large and small. A whole world of activity spread thin over millions of square miles of ocean.
“For this is what the LORD says — he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited — he says: “I am the LORD, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:18, NIV).
(For more blogs like this one, visit Out There.)
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Sunday School Teacher Tributes
By Ken Horn | April 19, 2012
Do you have a Sunday School teacher that impacted your life? We are soliciting BRIEF tributes for inclusion in an upcoming issue of the Pentecostal Evangel. Several will be selected for the magazine and several more will be posted to our website. Tell us who, where (church and city), and how this teacher impacted your life. Please put “Sunday School teacher tribute” in the subject line and email to Emily at etharp@ag.org. Deadline June 1. (By emailing, you grant permission to print or post online.)
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April 29 Pentecostal Evangel Highlights Key Bearers
By Ron Kopczick | April 19, 2012
More than 11,000 copies of every Pentecostal Evangel published are provided to 500-plus correctional facilities throughout the United States. Key Bearers, the ministry that supplies those magazines to the incarcerated, will be highlighted in the April 29 issue of the Evangel.
Due to the ongoing incredible support of compassionate Christians, churches, and businesses since 1996, Key Bearers has provided approximately 9.94 million copies of the Pentecostal Evangel and Spanish Evangelio Pentecostal to prisons and jails during the past 16-plus years. Every dollar donated to Key Bearers covers the printing and shipping of four magazines.
A single copy of the Evangel is typically read by at least five prisoners, and as a result, approximately 9,500 inmates report committing their lives to Jesus Christ since late 2003. Thousands more have relied on the publication to help maintain their Christian walk behind bars.
Additional donors are needed to extend the ministry of Key Bearers in reaching those serving time. Further information about Key Bearers and the option to donate are available online. Donations can also be made by calling Assemblies of God Contributor Services at 1-800-840-4800 and specifying project 028001-0085928.
Anyone making a monetary commitment to Key Bearers may receive a complimentary one-year Pentecostal Evangel print subscription or a gift copy of Theology in a Nutshell by Evangel Editor Ken Horn. When giving online, indicate in the comments box on the donation page which gift is preferred. Callers should tell the representative their choice, while those donating by mail should include a note specifying their selection.
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Review of “Joseph” From Sight & Sound Theatre
By Ken Horn | April 16, 2012
I was privileged to attend the premiere of “Joseph” at Sight & Sound Theatre in Branson, Missouri, on April 14. The production was stunning, and the show’s message of integrity and forgiveness was gripping.
An admittedly Christian production with the purpose of sharing the gospel, “Joseph,” like all Sight & Sound Theatres productions, does not skimp on quality.
Go just for the show and you won’t be disappointed. Go for the message and … likewise.
“Joseph” brings to the stage an epic story that features:
• A soundtrack with 13 original songs by composer Don Harper whose credits include National Treasure, National Treasure 2, Disney’s Lion King 1 1⁄2
• 30-foot-high Egyptian palaces on a 300-foot stage that wraps around three sides of the audience
• A cast of more than 40 professional actors
• Dozens of live and exotic animals
• A family-friendly script appropriate for all ages
• Several large scale and interactive production numbers
• Special effects that include large scale media projections, flying rigs and atmospheric elements that allow audiences to witness Joseph’s dreams come to life
• Sight & Sound’s own interpretation of Joseph’s colorful coat
Sight & Sound Theatres is the nation’s largest Christian theatre company with locations in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and Branson, Missouri. While it is a ministry, the company is not affiliated with any external organization or any particular church denomination. It is a for-profit organization and operates without charitable support.
Sight & Sound’s purpose is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ by visualizing and dramatizing the scriptures, through inspirational productions, encouraging others and seeking always to be dedicated and wise stewards of God-given talents and resources.
The Pentecostal Evangel ran a feature story on Sight & Sound, including a profile of its founder, Glenn Eschelmann, in its June 8, 2008, edition, as the new Branson location launched with its production of “Noah.”
I give an unqualified recommendation to “Joseph.” I encourage you to go, and take your friends and family.
“Joseph” will run through December 29, 2012. Visit www.sight-sound.com.
A few shots of this outstanding production:
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Titanic Farewell: The Band Played on
By Ken Horn | April 15, 2012
Today, April 15, is the centennial, the 100-year anniversary, of the sinking of the Titanic. A century has passed since one of history’s great tragedies.
The last image that many survivors of the Titanic recounted was the band playing steadfastly to soothe the passengers while the waters rose and the ship went down, while people struggled for survival. That last song was a hymn, “Nearer My God to Thee.”
That band was led by Wallace Hartley. Hartley had previously played aboard the Lusitania, another doomed ship. He thought he had played his last concert aboard a cruise ship, since he was engaged to be married—until he was recruited at the last minute to play aboard the maiden voyage of the “unsinkable” pleasure ship Titanic.
It was after the Titanic hit the deadly iceberg that Hartley brought together his orchestra of five with another trio of musicians who were also performers aboard ship to form that impromptu heroic band of eight. They would go down in history—though they had never played together before. Not all agreed what the final song was, but many survivors recalled that the combined orchestra played “Nearer My God to Thee” as the ship slipped beneath the waves.
The members of this combined musical group acted selflessly, a genuine picture of grace under pressure, lives ready to be lost doing all they could to calm the souls of those who were about to lose theirs—and others who would be saved.
It was after midnight when the musicians began to play as if nothing were wrong. The heroic band played as the decks continued to slant higher and higher. Though their repertoire included “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” as the stern rose steeply they began the strains of “Nearer My God to Thee.” How many souls found that nearness to God at the last moment because the band played on, only eternity will tell.
Hartley’s body was retrieved two weeks after the sinking and his funeral was held at Bethel independent Methodist Church in Colne, England. 30,000 people came. At his funeral, the orchestra played the music of the hymn that he had played until he could play no more—”Nearer My God to Thee.” The song was played a second time at his graveside service. The words of the hymn are engraved on his tombstone.
100 years ago today, the band played on … a song that would echo into eternity.
Here are the words of that great hymn:
Nearer, My God, to Thee
[Public domain]
Words: Sarah F. Adams (1805-1848)
Music: Lowell Mason (1792-1872)
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
yet in my dreams I’d be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;
all that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
so by my woes to be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
A contemporary drawing, by Walter R. Allman, published in the Toledo News-Bee in 1912
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Hundreds of Churches Pre-Order May 20 Kids Edition
By Ron Kopczick | April 13, 2012
Well over 900 churches have pre-ordered bulk copies of the May 20 Pentecostal Evangel Kids Edition. The issue is expected to be available within two weeks. Any other churches, ministries, and individuals wanting bulk copies of the children’s issue are encouraged to place their orders now to guarantee availability.
“God uses kids too!” is the theme of the May 20 Evangel. Readers will enjoy stories of how God used boys and girls, including His own Son, for ministry throughout the Bible and how He still utilizes kids today.
A must-have for kids camps, vacation Bible schools, and other children’s ministry, the issue can also be used for community outreaches like neighborhood canvassing and in church welcome packets or follow-up mailings to visitors.
The May 20 Evangel (#69-8221) is only 25 cents per copy when a bulk order of at least 50 magazines is placed. And while supplies last, a purchase of 400 or more copies is eligible for free customized imprinting on the back of every issue. The single copy price is 75 cents, which decreases to 50 cents per magazine for orders of two to 49 copies.
Requests for the May 20 Kids Edition can be made by calling Gospel Publishing House at 1-800-641-4310 within the United States or 011-01-417-831-8000 from anywhere else in the world. Phone orders are accepted from 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. (CDT), Monday through Friday. A printable order form with additional information is available.
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Help for the Hurting
By Ken Horn | April 12, 2012
I received a letter from a reader going through a severe trial and finding difficulty sensing God’s love. I sent, and prayed over, a personal response, then enclosed a copy of the following editorial I wrote many years ago. Perhaps you also need this today.
Help for the Hurting
A lot of you reading this are hurting — or know someone who is. Some are facing the greatest battle of their lives. Some of these trials will pass quickly; some will persist as God strengthens those in the midst of them.
I am certain that, given the choice, all of us would choose Plan A: “pass quickly.” No one relishes the idea of a prolonged pitched battle against the forces of darkness. And yet, if my experience is any indicator, nearly all of us will face such a long-term battle at some time in our lives.
The good news is this: God is still on the throne! If Satan has attacked your home, your body, your finances, or any other part of your life, the truth remains: “Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). He has all the strength you need to fight — and win — no matter how deadly the assault.
If you are facing increased spiritual warfare, let me offer the following simple suggestions from God’s Word:
1. Stand on God’s promises. Put your faith in the strong assurances of His Word. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
2. Practice God’s presence. Learn to live in constant communion with God. “Walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16) and “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
3. Receive God’s touch. It brings “the peace of God, which passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). I have marveled at believers in the midst of devastating circumstances with a supernatural calm that exceeds any human comprehension.
4. Experience God’s joy. You can have it in the deepest valleys, and, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).
5. Go to church! An isolated believer is easily defeated (Hebrew 10:25). We draw strength from worship and fellowship with the saints.
6. Think godly thoughts. Don’t feed a negative spirit by continually drinking in the ungodly messages of the world. We’ve been given “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). We need to use that mind for the good, healthy thoughts for which it is intended (Philippians 4:8).
7. Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). How does this help you? In two ways: First, by getting your mind off self and onto the needs of others. “The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends” (Job 42:10). And secondly by giving you confidence that as you hold up others in their time of need, they will do the same for you.
Remember, circumstances do not determine your victory in Jesus. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
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A Real Sports Hero
By Ken Horn | April 10, 2012
My friend Steve Humann has recently been going through some severe health trials. As always, his wife, Joyce, has been alongside him as he has been in and out of the hospital, and through the needed care at home. Steve and Joyce have faced this same journey for many years. As a tribute to these dear friends, and to recruit more prayer for them, I offer this repeat of an editorial I wrote many years ago:
Steve Humann paced the sidelines like a caged tiger, barking at players and referees. As head coach of the Southern Oregon State College men’s basketball team, Steve was intense and aggressive. And he was successful.
Steve broke into coaching at a young age and quickly worked his way through the ranks at several schools. During 6 years of coaching at Cornell University, he developed relationships with many of the top names in sports. At 37, Steve was on top of the world.
But that was about to change.
During practice one day, Steve unexpectedly lost consciousness. More blackouts followed, and Steve was diagnosed with a life-threatening mass on his brain stem. Surgery was scheduled.
At first, Steve’s wife Joyce was told the 7-hour surgery had been a success. But there were complications, and events turned tragic. Steve was comatose. He was given a 50-50 chance of survival.
Joyce, a Catholic charismatic, prayed through days of excruciating uncertainty. She knew Steve had never really received Christ as Lord. There was more at stake than his life.
Christmas came and went for Joyce and her three daughters. When she thought, I can’t do this, God reassured her that Steve was in His hands. Three weeks after the surgery, Steve came out of the coma. He had lost functional use of everything except his left arm, and his speech had become slurred. Life had changed.
Years passed and Steve made little progress. When even that ceased, Joyce was advised to put him in a nursing home. She wouldn’t. In desperation, she prayed, “Lord, I need something more.” That was when the Lord directed her to an Assemblies of God church where “the presence of God was so strong I knew that’s where I should be,” she says. The people of the church reached out to Joyce—and then to Steve. The day came when he told Joyce, “I think I want to start going to your church.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, struggling to restrain her joy. When she walked out of his room, she pumped her fist in the air and whispered, “Yes!”
Shortly after Steve first wheeled into the sanctuary of Ashland Christian Center, he received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. His life was again drastically changed. Today, at services, Steve can be found in his wheelchair at the front of the sanctuary—praising God and inspiring those who worship with him. Joyce too has been an inspiration—an example of persistent devotion through years of hard times.
Steve has made some progress and has even returned to a degree of coaching. But his disabilities remain. Bitterness would be understandable for this former high-powered sports personality. What is his attitude? He’s thankful. And he has faith that he can be healed—but he lets others do the praying for him. He prefers to invest his prayers in others. “It’s OK if I’m not healed,” he says; “I will still love the Lord. I’d rather be in this chair and know where I’m going for eternity than to be out bip-boppin’ around and going straight to hell.”
God has opened many doors for Steve to share his testimony. He and Joyce have touched the lives of believers and unbelievers. He no longer paces the sidelines, pushing college athletes to victory on the court. Now he touches lives in a far more powerful way—leading them to victory in Jesus.
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