Actually, as of this writing, we are home in North Carolina. We pulled in yesterday, Monday, 7/21, and will pull back out Friday, 7/25, for another three weeks with twelve to thirteen ministries scheduled in South Carolina. It is good to be home, but the time will go all too quickly, wishing for more time with friends, family and co-ministers.
Our northern trip went well. To be open, we both do not feel that our time in the north is over. We had quite a few divine appointments that had nothing to do with “platform ministry.” We were blessed to share a meal with a couple in New Jersey that is just starting in prison ministry. Their zeal, excitement and love for the adventure God has for them was contagious. Their hearts to serve the Lord were so pure and so fragile—so careful not to do anything that would be embarrassing to the Lord. They will be fine as long as they stay close to the Lord.
We were also able to rest and pray at a campground in New Jersey that has been placed geographically as a witness for the Lord. Several times we were able to minister encouragement to the owner who is experiencing major spiritual battles. His wife had just had surgery and was having health issues and the lake on the campground property was dry because of a repair that could only be made by the state of New Jersey.
The last prison at which we ministered seemed to entertain a stronghold that held the men back from entering into the presence of the Lord. They seemed to say the right things, do the right things, but there was an emptiness in their eyes. I must also tell you that 6 men accepted the Lord and about 10 men wanted the Lord to “do what it takes” to turn their lives around. As we all know, “whatever it takes” can be a STRETCHING time in one’s life.
Two of our services were at a church in New Jersey. It was one of the freest churches we have EVER been in. We thought we had seen a lot of free services, but this one seemed to not have any restraints. Even after the service was “over” there were many that stayed, praying and ministering one to another. The pastor told us that sometimes services last until midnight.
Since the end of May we have traveled over 5200 miles in the van and 1802 miles in the motor home. (As of this writing, we are still driving separately, but The Father’s Heart Ministries has offered to loan us a tow dolly. We still need to get a Drive Shaft Disconnect for the van in order for this to be useful.) We have spent a little over $2,000.00 in gas (with the cost being almost equally divided between the two vehicles) in the past two months, BUT having the witness of the Holy Spirit that we have been where HE wanted us to work has been priceless!!!
To finish out the summer ministries we will travel about 1000 more miles for the motor home and twice that mileage for the van. Thank you Lord for sending us…
Thanks also to those who have prayed and have supported us financially on this trip. ♫
Last update: 31-07-2008 19:29
Looking Up
Written by Les
Thursday, 31 July 2008 18:16
Looking Up
But when these things come about, let your heads be lifted up, because your salvation is near. And he made a story for them: See the fig-tree, and all the trees; When they put out their young leaves, you take note of it, and it is clear to you that summer is coming. In the same way, when you see these things taking place you may be certain that the kingdom of God is near. Luke 21:28-31 BBE)
The Word of God clearly tells us, in both Matthew 24 and Luke 21, that we are to be looking for the signs of Jesus’ return to this earth. “But when these things come about…” How are we to know that they are coming about if we are not looking? What things? Well, in both Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospels, Jesus gives us a laundry list of events and occurrences that He says will be like the signs that herald a change in seasons. On our website (http://www.livingpraise.org) we are compiling a list of news articles that relate to the “signs of the times.” Below is a small sampling of some of the articles that have come across our desks. To see the entire articles, click on the "Looking Up" link.
Waiting for Islam’s Messiah
Iran's president believes Allah has chosen him to prepare the world for the coming of an Islamic 'savior' called the Mahdi.
But before the Mahdi's return, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad believes there must be global chaos - even if he has to create it himself.
Whether it's his belief that Israel should be wiped off the map, denials of the Holocaust, obsession with going nuclear, or support for radical Islamic terrorist groups, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a man on a divine mission.
Bin Laden Planning Hiroshima-Type Destruction?
Does Osama bin Laden possess nuclear weapons? Has he smuggled these weapons into the United States? Does he have a plan to detonate these weapons in multiple American cities if Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear facilities? Dr. Hugh Cort, president of the American Foundation for Counter-Terrorism Policy and Research, believes the answer to all of these questions is yes.
More Shakin’ Goin’ On
Something is happening deep beneath the Earth's crust. There are currently three very active earthquake swarms occurring along the Pacific Rim. It would appear something "big" is brewing. If geological teams from the US, Italy, Germany, and Japan are correct in their suspicions, we may be witnessing the precursor of the feared, yet inevitable Cascadia Subduction Zone eruption.
Jewish Priests Fitted for Service in Future Jerusalem Temple
Confident that Israel's Temple to the Almighty will be rebuilt atop Jerusalem's Temple Mount in the very near future, the Temple Institute this month began fitting Jews from the biblical priestly tribe for their holy garments.The Bible describes a very specific set of garments to be warn by members of the priestly tribe when they are serving in the Temple. This month's fitting was the first time since the destruction of the Second Temple over 2,000 years ago that potential Jewish priests had been measured for such garments.
Food Shortages in Syria, United Arab Emirates
This year's wheat harvest in Syria will be the lowest in nearly two decades, the Syrian business newsletter The Syria Report reported.According to the newsletter, the news could not have come at a worse time for the Syrian government: Instead of being able to export wheat and enjoy the current high prices on the world market, the government will now have to import wheat, adding an extra burden to the country's economy.
Current Water Crises is Unprecedented
"This is the worst crisis since records started being kept 80 years ago," Water Authority head Uri Shani declared Tuesday morning at a special press conference in Tel Aviv. "Like most countries, Israel is dependent on rainfall and the amount of rainfall is decreasing. There is a drop of 100 million cubic meters per year."
Roadmap to Peace or Blueprint to Disaster?
Bill Koenig, founder of Koenig International News Service: "In the time from October 1991 to today, there have been 61 major catastrophes or political crises, 85 percent within 24 hours, that occurred immediately following pressure to have Israel give away land acquired in the Six-Day War."
"Those crises include everything from Hurricane Katrina to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 - and all happened within 24 hours of a U.S. leader putting pressure on Israel to find peace by returning a piece of the holy land.""The prophecy says that God will come down and discipline any nation that does not stand with Israel," Koenig said. "We have already seen signs of that. If anything it has made it more dangerous over in the Middle East, but this is a fun time to be alive."
Blood-red Moons
Pastor Mark Biltz of El Shaddai Ministries in Puyallup, WA found that we have had blood-red moons on the first day of Passover and the first day of Sukkot on back-to-back years seven times since 1 A.D. Three of these occurrences were connected to 1492 (the Spanish Inquisition), 1948 (statehood for Israel and the War of Independence), and 1967 (the Six-Day War) — some of the most significant days in Jewish history.The others were in 162/163 A.D., 795/796 A.D., 842/843 A.D. and 860/861 A.D. We don’t have any historical connections for these years at this time, but we do know of significant Jewish persecution during the eighth and ninth centuries.In all eight examples, the eclipses have fallen or will fall on the first day of Passover and Sukkot.The eighth occurrence of back-to-back, blood-red moons will be in 2014–2015.
The Mark?
SOMARK Innovations, Inc. recently completed a field demo of its patented Chipless RFID Ink Tattoo animal ID system. According to the company's website, one of the secondary applications for this system is for military personnel. In other words, a 15-digit identification number could be tattooed on a human in less than 3 seconds. It could be either visible or invisible. It is not dependent upon an energy source such as would be needed to power an implantable microchip. It can be read up to four feet away with the appropriate scanner. It is permanent and tamper-proof. ♫
We left McBee, SC on Tuesday, June 10th and, after an over-night stop in Boonville, NC, we arrived in Elkins, WV on Wednesday.
Let me paint a picture for you: This campground, in Elkins, WV, is called Pegasus Farm Campground and Music Park. Literally, it is the back acreage of a farm that has been turned into a campground. Now understand that it is a very nice campground. The roadsand sites are graveled and the sites are level. The bathhouse is clean and nice and new. The RV sites are in a semi-circle around the edges of the property. Across the open field, there are two good-sized stages, equipped with lights and sufficient electricity for Woodstock-era outdoor festivals.
Last update: 02-07-2008 15:21
The Crippled Church
Written by Des
Wednesday, 02 July 2008 14:25
Anyone who knows me knows that I don’t beat around the bushes well.I either avoid, or I have to get right to the point.That is what I am going to do now—get right to the point.The other day I was listening to a message and the speaker stated that he believed that less than 5% of all believers know what their God calling and purpose is.Under 5%!!!!!
Is that a shock to you?Of course you may be included in the 95%, so please don’t take this article as condemnation; instead take it as a wake-up call.I Corinthians 12:20says: “What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place.No part is important on its own” (The Message). May I also add that NO part in unimportant on its own.The way I look at it, with figures like that, the body of Christ (right now) is paraplegic.The earlobe is trying to do the foot’s job, etc.
If we compared God’s kingdom to a store like Wal*Mart’s, it would mean that there would be two-to-three employees in the WHOLE STORE working and the rest would be sitting and waiting (or maybe greeters).Now, I know that some of you feel that that is already true of some Wal*Mart’s, but they really have a lot more than that.I know my calling and I know that almost every message I preach is about “the callings and plans of God.”Do I have a God given calling and gift?Yes.Everyone is born for a purpose.
I have this theory.I see a lot of people who either change jobs a lot, or are just miserable in what they are doing.Nothing seems to suit them.Nothing seems to fit, and they just can’t find that “ah” place in life.They are not walking out the calling of God in ministry or vocation.It is the difference between having a “job” and having a career.A job is where you are just trying to make it, and a career is where you are trying to make a difference.Everyone was/is born with a God-given purpose.The problem could be that we either really don’t want to know what it is or we are afraid of failure.
As you know Les is a very talented and trained musician and so is his brother, Bill.Both of them were schooled in music for years and years.When one of them plays an instrument, people are always very complimentary of their talent, but they worked hard at learning their craft.Usually if someone is talented but not trained, it still takes practice to develop the talent.Most of you know that I don’t believe that “music” is one of the “gifts” from God, but I do believe that “talent” is God-given.In our case, Les’ music has been used as a tool.But the calling and purpose of God for Les is much, much deeper than music.The calling and purpose for Bill is much deeper than music.AND THE CALLING AND PURPOSE FOR YOU IS MUCH DEEPER THAN THE NATURAL ABILITY YOU HAVE.We all are called to do things that are far beyond our God-given talents.We are ALL called to walk on water, like Peter.We are called to speak the Oracles of God to one or to thousands.
"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out--plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen."When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else,I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." GOD's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"--GOD's Decree--"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.(Jeremiah 29:11-14 The Message)
Please note that the above passage says: “when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else…”Most of us do not go after God like we go after getting a promotion at work.We don’t go after Him like we go after a degree.We don’t go after Him like we go after a new car.We go after Him with the attitude of “If He wants me to have it, He will give it to me!”We need to wake-up and go after Him.He needs to be our primary priority.We should not be fitting God into our lives and families, but we should be fitting our lives and families into God.
Each day, each one of us needs to pray for God to show us where we are to be and what we are to be doing.He may want you to change jobs.Your calling may be in the business world.He may want you to change locations.Your work may be waiting somewhere else geographically for you.Your calling may be in the vocation of ministry, but where?Our mind-set needs to move beyond these 80 years on earth and get heavenly minded.
God has gifted and anointed some of us to minister in the workplace; some to minister in the home; some to minister in the marketplace; some to minister in pulpits; some to minister in prisons, nursing homes, convalescent facilities, homeless shelters, on the streets; some to minister in foreign lands.Where has He called you to minister?
Twenty years ago, we stood at that crossroad.We wanted to make a difference, but we didn’t know how, where, or to whom.Rather than waiting for the “Great Assignment” to come to us, we went looking for it.The old adage says that you can turn the rudder on a boat all day long, but unless there is some momentum, it will not budge (except to maybe go in circles).We contacted nursing homes, homeless shelters, and prisons in our area and asked about opportunities to minister.Trust me, for those types of ministries, there are not an abundance of people breaking down the doors.When we ministered in our first prison, we knew we were where God wanted us.Were we scared when we went into those places?Terrified!We had no idea as to how to relate to the elderly, infirmed, homeless, or incarcerated.But God did!All He asked from us was our availability.All He asks of you is your availability.He will do the rest.He will fill your mouths with the words to say.He will give you grace to love the unlovable.He will anoint your hands to heal the sick.He will overwhelm and amaze you at the YOU you can be!He will cause you to fall in love with Him all over again.He is an awesome, wonderful, omnipotent God and HE WANTS YOU!Won’t you join Him today?
Now we beseech you, my brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you should not be soon shaken in mind or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word or letter, as through us, as if the Day of Christ is at hand. Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away [apostasia—A defection from the truth: Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance G646], and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God. Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? And now you know what holds back, for him to be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only he is now holding back until it comes out of the midst. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved. And for th is cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, so that all those who do not believe the truth, but delight in unrighteousness, might be condemned. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 MKJV)
But the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith [conviction of the truth of anything, belief; Thayer’s Greek Definitions], giving heed to seducing spirits and teachings of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, being seared in their own conscience (1 Timothy 4:1-2 MKJV)
