T.J.I.F.A.
THANK JESUS IT’S FRIDAY AGAIN!
PASS IT ON… & ON… & ON… & ON.
FEBRUARY 26, 2010
WELCOME BACK TJIFA READERS, WE SURE DID MISS YOU. HAS YOUR MAIL BOX STRAIGHTENED UP SINCE OUR TIME AWAY? WELL, WE’RE BACK, WITH A SMALL CHANGE IN OUR
DISTRIBUTION. STARTING NEXT MONTH, MARCH, WE WILL SEE YA ONLY ON THE FOURTH FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH. I PRAY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THE QUALITY THAT HAS
PROVEN MOST RELIABLE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT? SEND US AN E-MAIL WITH THE LETTERS TJIFA IN THE SUBJECT, OR RETURN MAIL US VIA SNAIL MAIL AND/OR FAX.
WILL WE HEAR FROM YA?
SUBJECT: ‘THE CROSS’ WERE YOU THERE? WHO OR WHERE WERE YOU?
NOTEWORTHY: WAITING ROOM FOR DOCTOR’S OFFICE
TJIFA’S BOOK SHELF: THE BOOK OF JAMES
REVELATION: HEARING HIS VOICE – OSWALD CHAMBERS
QUICK QUOTES: GOD’S BEST; INSPIRATION FROM V. D.
MILLSTONE… FORBID THEM NOT! DON’T FORGET THE CHILDREN
TESTIMONY TIME: A BLANKET, SNOW WHITE
FRIDAY’S WORD: CRUCIFIXION
IN THE MIRROR: THE HOLY SPIRIT; DO YOU KNOW OF HIS WORK?
O’ TASTE & SEE! CROCK POT O’ CHICKEN – EASY AND SO GOOD. ENJOY! TER
LOOKING FORWARD
SEE YA NEXT! TIME MARCH 26, 2010
TER & TJIFA STAFF
THE CROSS
(WERE YOU THERE?)
Isaiah 53:3-5 (KJV)
3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed
him not.
4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are
healed.
Look to the Cross of Jesus Christ! Jesus admonishes us:
Matthew 16:24 (KJV)
”Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
As we look at the Cross, a cruel point of torture, ridicule, and shame, it is difficult for the knowledgeable or worldly part of our being to accept the
reality that this vehicle will work; to transform our lives and create this needed change. It is easier to believe that the Cross will bring us the same
shame and ridicule that it heaped upon Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Is He your Lord? Is He your Master?
Who is your GOD? Your GOD will be with you always. People who smoke always have a smoke with them. If not, they have a contact that will give them
a smoke. People whose god is alcohol always know where they can pick up a little sip; even at work. (When I was young, adults carried a small flask in
their upper breast pocket, and called it medicine.)
To those whose god is food; look in their purse, or their brief cases, or their glove compartments of the car, or pockets. Their refrigerators are full
of their “I’ve got to have …”, and you can just fill in the blank.
Those of us whose GOD is the Christ of the Living GOD, we have a promise. Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)
“5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Note: Your ‘conversation’ denotes character, your way of life, or lifestyle. Something in which Jesus would always be interested in.
All other gods imitate the Holy promise ‘not to leave nor forsake’ in that they cause their victims to be enslaved to its offerings; one more smoke, one
more drink, or one more piece of cake.
Let us turn our eyes upon Jesus as He hung on the cruel Cross. We were all around the Cross in one form or another. Keep looking at the Cross.
Were you the Roman soldier who nailed His innocent hands and feet to the tree? Were you one of the thieves who heaped insults on Him as they also hung
for sin they committed? Were you Barabbas, who was released unjustly? Maybe you were an innocent by-stander who just happened by that day and joined
in the taunting of this stranger who thinks He is GOD. Did you spit in His face? Are you a Pharisee, a scribe, or a Sadducee? Are you in a position
of power like Herod and/or Pilot? Were you like one of His Disciples – missing in action? Can you relate to the women who followed Jesus, who looked
on the Crucifixion with brokenness and horror? Were you John, the Revelator, who received the commission from the Cross to care for the Mother of Christ,
and become her son? Were you like the two rich men, Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus who only kept His acquaintance in the night, and were known as
secret disciples? You were probably one who had great compassion and ran and took the vinegar sponge to rid Him of the pain and suffering that He was enduring
for all. Was that you Simon of Cyrene who had to be forced to carry the Cross of Jesus? Or did you bring your god to the foot of the Cross and gamble
for His Robe? At least you probably told the soldiers to break the legs of the trouble makers to hasten death, so that their bodies wouldn’t interfere
with a Holy day; but was that you who threw the spear into His side, and confirmed His death as blood and water ran down?
Where were you? You were there! Until you find yourself at the Cross of Jesus Christ, you will be hopelessly lost.
Even though you don’t admit your position around the Cross, you were there; because Jesus suffered and died for all. There were no exceptions. If you
are an exception, you have excluded yourself.
1 Corinthians 1:17-19 (KJV)
17”For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
Where are you? What answer will you invent when you see Him? We’re all going to see Him. Wouldn’t it be better to answer that question now, then to
wait until then? Oh Wise, Intelligent, Well Educated Man; Oh Rich Man, Poor Man, Liar and Thief; today is the acceptable year of the Lord. Today, while
the breath is still in your body, while the blood still runs warm in your veins, while you still have the understanding to deny Christ…Accept Him as your
Lord and Savior, before it is too late. Just say, “Heavenly Father, I am sorry for ignoring Your Son, Jesus. Today I turn from my past and accept your
Perfect Gift of Eternal Life, through your Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of GOD, and that You died for my sin. I receive You
into my heart as my Lord, my Savior, and my Master. AMEN.”
Now, we are…
LOOKING FORWARD
SEE YA NEXT TIME
TER
Matthew 10:37 - 39 (KJV) 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy
of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his
life for my sake shall find it.

NOTEWORTHY
Office Visit
Six things to do in a doctor's waiting room.
Waiting for a doctor can get frustrating, especially if you're in a hurry. Just last week I cooled my heels for more than an hour when I took my son to
get a flu shot. While I paced, he texted his friends (and the doctor kept coming out to check the football game scores). As a physician myself, I got to
thinking there must be things patients can do to make their wait more productive and less irritating. The next time you're kept waiting, you may want to
consider these:

1.) Make a list of your top health concerns:
If you organize them in advance, it can help us concentrate on your problem and provide you with optimal treatment. If you're a new patient, we want to
know the main reasons you're here. If you're a returning patient, we'd like to hear how you've been feeling since your last appointment. Focus on your
most frequent or most severe symptoms, noting when they began, how often they occur, what makes them worse, and what makes them better. Try to keep your
explanations clear and to the point, without too many tangents. That will help us evaluate your complaints and arrive at the right diagnosis. And bring
complaints up early enough during your visit to discuss them. Nothing's more disruptive than a patient who mentions an urgent symptom just as we're about
to move on to the next patient.
2.) Write questions down:
It's the easiest way to remember to ask them, and it will save you the hassle of making a follow-up phone call. Glance at the list as your appointment
is winding down to see whether you've covered everything. It can also be useful to repeat the answers back to your doctor. That helps avoid potentially
dangerous misunderstandings.
3.) Make a list of all your medications:
I've seen more medication errors than I care to admit. Some were due to drug interactions, others to dosage errors, and still others to drug-name mix-ups.
That's why I advise all of my patients to keep a complete list in their wallet of all the prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and dietary supplements
they take, and update it whenever there's a change. Ideally, this is something you should take care of well in advance of your appointment. One of my patients,
for instance, writes her list on an index card cut in half, then covers it with clear, extra-wide packing tape. People who prefer computerized lists can
use a free software program like My Medication Tracker (go to
www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org
and enter "medication tracker" in the search box), or a simple text file. That's how one of my favorite patients has been keeping me updated for the past
10 years, and he's 94! If you haven't planned ahead, though, now's a good time to get started.
4.) Ask the office to check on your test results:
We're better able to give you answers during your visit if we have all your test results on hand, something that can't be taken for granted in our fragmented
system. If you've had any tests done since your last visit—laboratory work, scans, X-rays—ask the receptionist to see if the results are on file. If not,
there may still be time to get the reports faxed to the office before your appointment starts.
5.) Confirm that the office has the correct insurance information:
We need this to get pre-authorizations for diagnostic tests and referrals to specialists, and to make sure that billing goes smoothly. Incorrect or expired
information can hold up your treatment and lead to billing hassles later for you and your doctor.
6.) Read something besides the magazines:
In addition to brochures and pamphlets from patient organizations, waiting rooms often have reprints of articles we've found particularly helpful. While
the Internet can be a great source of medical information, much of the material in our offices provides the added advantage of having been vetted. Just
make sure you check the source; pharmaceutical company sales representatives like to leave promotional material, and they don't always ask for permission.

Orly Avitzur, M.D., M.B.A., is medical adviser to Consumers Union. Board certified in neurology, she is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and
a clinical instructor at the Yale University School of Medicine. She is also a medical consultant to the New York Rangers.
www.ConsumerReportsonHealth.org
JANUARY 2010
Submitted by WHS
TJIFA’S BOOKSHELF: THE BOOK OF JAMES
THE HOLY BIBLE
Welcome back Readers! Have you been traveling on the Bible Bus with Dr. J. Vernon McGee? Hasn’t it been wonderful? Yes it has.
We have just entered the Book of James, and we’ve learned that this book is a practical book. In fact, Dr McGee teaches that many people shun this book
because of its practicality. He said, “The Epistle of James is the answer to all of these ‘How to Books.’ Today we are flooded with books telling you
how to stay well, and GOD wants you well, He wants you prosperous, He wants you successful, and He wants you happy all the time, and He wants you to have
a ‘bed of roses,’ and that the Christian life is really great fun. Well James is going to contradict that. He is going to say, ‘GOD is going to test
you,’ by not letting you have enough money. He may test you and you may not be well, or He may test you and you may not be successful. The fact of the
matter is that the Book of James, is so practical that many of us veer away from it; because we don’t want to hear James say some of the things that he
says. Actually the Epistle of James can mean more to us and be more practical in our everyday life than you can possibly imagine.
James reveals that you really don’t have to be a howling success in the business world, or a social lion in the world of today in order to be a Christian.
In fact you can be a very ordinary person, and live a very ordinary life and GOD will test you with many things. All of this He is doing to develop you
to make you the kind of a person that He wants you to be… GOD is using this life, down here, not as a bed of roses; but as a testing ground for us, and
that is the primary purpose.
My friends, if you are having difficulty finding that peace of mind this day, and if you feel like the Lord ought to treat you as a special person and
that you happen to be His favorite child…Well forget it and let’s go through the Epistle of James and let him tell you that you can be happy in this life
even if you are on a bed of pain and sickness.” Dr. J. Vernon McGee.
From the radio broadcast on February 12, 2010.
NOTE: Readers, why not buckle down to a practical Christian Life Style? It fits this walk to be practical. Jesus is Practical. He came so that we would
eventually taste of His Great Goodness. His offer of Eternal Life is extended to everyone, rich and poor alike. Jesus leveled the playing field so that
no one has advantage over anyone else to admission into His Kingdom. The rich man cannot buy his way into GOD’S Kingdom, and the poor man cannot beg his
way. Jesus said it . . .“You must be Born Again.”
Come on. Let’s ride this Bus together and learn about Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, GOD Our Father, and The Holy Spirit, Our Comfort.
Looking Forward
TER
Romans 10:8 - 9 (KJV) 8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be savedREVELATION?
HEARING HIS VOICE
February 13

The Devotion of Hearing
“Samuel answered, ‘Speak, for Your servant hears’ ” (1 Samuel 3:10).
Just because I have listened carefully and intently to one thing from God does not mean that I will listen to everything He says. I show God my lack of
love and respect for Him by the insensitivity of my heart and mind toward what He says. If I love my friend, I will instinctively understand what he wants.
And Jesus said, “You are My friends …” (John 15:14). Have I disobeyed some command of my Lord’s this week? If I had realized that it was a command of Jesus,
I would not have deliberately disobeyed it. But most of us show incredible disrespect to God because we don’t even hear Him. He might as well never have
spoken to us.
The goal of my spiritual life is such close identification with Jesus Christ that I will always hear God and know that God always hears me (see John 11:41).
If I am united with Jesus Christ, I hear God all the time through the devotion of hearing. A flower, a tree, or a servant of God may convey God’s message
to me. What hinders me from hearing is my attention to other things. It is not that I don’t want to hear God, but I am not devoted in the right areas of
my life. I am devoted to things and even to service and my own convictions. God may say whatever He wants, but I just don’t hear Him. The attitude of a
child of God should always be, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” If I have not developed and nurtured this devotion of hearing, I can only hear God’s voice
at certain times. At other times I become deaf to Him because my attention is to other things—things which I think I must do. This is not living the life
of a child of God. Have you heard God’s voice today?
From: “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers
QUICK QUOTES: GOD’S BEST
Have you prayed for GOD’s Best?
Quoting a Prophetess: “We have prayed for houses, cars, furniture, clothes, food, and much more. These things were granted you by Our Father…BUT, have
you prayed for GOD’s Best? Have you prayed for the pain, rejection, persecution etc. That precedes GOD’S Best? GOD wants you to have His Best; and it
comes with a price. His Best isn’t given to you just because you asked for it. (It isn’t like material things that can be bought with carnal monetary
means.) His Best is the result of obedience to His Word.”
What has He told you to do lately? Did you do it? Are you looking for GOD’S Best? ***
The following quotes, inspired by the Word, were given to TJIFA by a long time friend who just wanted to encourage other Believers.
“Adversity is the bridge to a deeper relationship with GOD.
The awareness of GOD’s presence energizes. 2nd Timothy 2: 8-13.
No Christian has ever been called to go it alone on his or her walk of Faith.
2nd Timothy 4:9-18.
Finishing well does not happen by accident.
Brokenness is GOD’S requirement for maximum usefulness.”
Submitted by: V.D.
Thank you for sharing your inspiration with TJIFA Readers.

MILL STONE…FORBID THEM NOT!

Matthew 18:5-7 (KJV)
5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better
for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Do not forget
about the Children.
U.S. Troops scale back their numbers leaving the ports of Haiti.
The country of Haiti suffered a devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010, which nearly knocked out its government and infra-structure in less than
a minute.
The Haitians have generally greeted the Americans with warmth and appreciation, despite the language barriers in the Creole and French speaking Caribbean.

One day at the gates of the collapsed Hotel Montana, a group of Haitian children greeted Soldiers with the 82nd Airborne with a rendition of Michael Jackson’s
‘Moon Walk.’ The Soldiers replied with a ‘Moon Walk’ of their own. “Hey you’re good!” One of the children shouted.
From The Associated Press News, February 14, 2010.
Whenever there is a catastrophe, I wonder about the children who are caught in its midst. There have many reports of missing people in Haiti; but the
imagination begins to soar when faced with the dilemma of a missing adult possible having one, two, three or more children in his or her care. What does
the child do? Do we remember to pray for displaced children? It’s a large point in a small package.
Credit must be given to the party or parties who immediately placed a band on removing the children from this devastated country without papers. It is
said that every child that crosses the border of Haiti, must have papers signed by the Government.
Credit should also be given to the Orphanage that readily prepared their children for transport out of the country and was given passage to America where
there were families waiting for their children; but because of previous paperwork, the long sought for union was delayed. Let’s not forget about the children.
TER
Mark 10:13-16 (KJV)
13And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the
kingdom of God.
15Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”
Matthew 18:3 (KJV) 3And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.


TESTIMONY TIME: A BLANKET, SNOW WHITE
We’ve had a cold winter, in the South, this year, and this month, February, we’ve even had a healthy dose of snow. As snow does, it blanketed all of the
errors, the trash, and the downright ugly. For a moment in time, we lost sight of our sinful ways. The broken glass, the McDonald french-fry containers,
the broken down cars that were sitting on the ground, the lost umbrella, the doll that had been ripped up by a playful dog, the chalk marks on the sidewalk,
and the grass that needed mowing since last October. We lost sight of everything that would remind us of our weakened existence, and instead we comforted
ourselves in the covering of purity, and leveling of the playing field.
We were all engulfed in the BEAUTIFUL, UNUSUAL snow. We all felt the touch of the Master’s Hand, as He projected the awesome Truth of His Word …We are
the Bride of Christ. We will all wear white. We will all be changed in the twinkling of an eye. We will live with Him Forever. If you are not washed
in His Blood on the inside, you’d better get busy, because one day your heart will be as evident as the snow that falls from only GOD knows where, and
covers everything in a perfect bed of white.
You’re going to spend Eternity somewhere…Why not spend it with Jesus?
From a testimony given February 14, 2010 at, Just Like Jesus Christian Fellowship Church. FRIDAY’S WORD: CROSS, CRUCIFIXION The method the Romans used
to execute Jesus Christ. The most painful and degrading form of capital punishment in the ancient world, the cross became also the means by which Jesus
became the atoning sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. It also became a symbol for the sacrifice of self in discipleship (Rom. 12:1) and for the death
of self to the world (Mark 8:34).
Historical Development Originally a cross was a wooden pointed stake used to build a wall or to erect fortifications around a town. Beginning with the
Assyrians and Persians, it began to be used to display the heads of captured foes or of particularly heinous criminals on the palisades above the gateway
into a city. Later crucifixion developed into a form of capital punishment, as enemies of the state were impaled on the stake itself. The Greeks and Romans
at first reserved the punishment only for slaves, saying it was too barbaric for freeborn or citizens. By the first century, however, it was used for any
enemy of the state, though citizens could only be crucified by direct edict of Caesar. As time went on, the Romans began to use crucifixion more and more
as a deterrent to criminal activity, so that by Jesus’ time it was a common sight.
The eastern form of crucifixion was practiced in the Old Testament. Saul was decapitated and his body displayed on a wall by the Philistines (1 Sam. 31:9-10),
and the “hanging” of Esther 2:23; 5:14 may mean impalement (compare Ezra 6:11). According to Jewish law (Deut. 21:22-23) the offenders were “hung on a
tree,” which meant they were “accursed of God” and outside the covenant people. Such criminals were to be removed from the cross before nightfall lest
they “defile the land.” During the intertestamental period the western form was borrowed when Alexander Janneus crucified 800 Pharisees (76 B.C.), but
on the whole the Jews condemned and seldom used the method. Even Herod the Great refused to crucify his enemies. The practice was abolished after the “conversion”
of the emperor of Constantine to Christianity.
A person crucified in Jesus’ day was first of all scourged (beaten with a whip consisting of thongs with pieces of metal or bone attached to the end) or
at least flogged until the blood flowed. This was not just done out of cruelty but was designed to hasten death and lessen the terrible ordeal. After the
beating, the victim was forced to bear the crossbeam to the execution site in order to signify that life was already over and to break the will to live.
A tablet detailing the crime(s) was often placed around the criminal’s neck and then fastened to the cross. At the site the prisoner was often tied (the
normal method) or nailed (if a quicker death was desired) to the crossbeam. The nail would be driven through the wrist rather than the palm, since the
smaller bones of the hand could not support the weight of the body. The beam with the body was then lifted and tied to the already affixed upright pole.
Pins or a small wooden block were placed halfway up to provide a seat for the body lest the nails tear open the wounds or the ropes force the arms from
their sockets. Finally the feet were tied or nailed to the post. Death was caused by the loss of blood circulation and coronary failure. Especially if
the victims were tied, it could take days of hideous pain as the extremities turned slowly gangrenous; so often the soldiers would break the victims legs
with a club, causing massive shock and a quick death. Such deaths were usually done in public places, and the body was left to rot for days, with carrion
birds allowed to degrade the corpse further.
Four types of crosses were used: 1) The Latin cross has the crossbeam about two-thirds of the way up the upright pole; 2) St. Anthony’s cross (probably
due to its similarity to his famous crutch) had the beam at the top of the upright pole like a T. 3) St. Andrew’s cross (supposedly the form used to crucify
Andrew) had the shape of the letter X; 4) the Greek cross has both beams equal in the shape of a plus sign.
From: Holman’s Bible Dictionary
1 Corinthians 1:17 - 18 (KJV) 17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should
be made of none effect. 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

IN THE MIRROR:
“ I do not intend to make this lengthy. In my mind I have composed page after page to tell you what your teaching of the Word has meant to me and my husband.
We were in the same boat, floating along without a navigator. Some day I hope to be able to tell you how joy has been brought into our lives at a time
of many family problems and unanswerable questions, how in our middle years we know more love and hope and zest for living than in our younger years, how
our Father used sorrow and you and the “Thru the Bible” ministry to be a great part in bringing this about. I want to point out three things that neither
of us (reared by believing parents, and ourselves lifelong church-goers) knew until two years ago when we started tuning you in. We don’t know why we didn’t
see for ourselves. We had teachers who tried to tell us, and we read the Bible. I think the Lord was preparing us. I’m able to see His providence now.
But we knew nothing of our sin nature or of the Holy Spirit except as mentioned In the Apostles’ Creed. We knew the Holy Spirit came upon Mary, and we
believed this. But we didn’t know that the Holy Spirit was within us. Nor did we know of the resurrected life. We were fighting the losing battle of trying
to be good and had just about given up on it when we started listening to “Thru the Bible.” We then realized that indeed we did have to give up and that
God would start us in the right direction through His grace manifested by Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Quoting J. Vernon McGee, “When it [the Bible] gets into your life it does something that no other Book can do because it is the very Word of God.” This
comes from his teaching on 2nd Timothy 3rd chap. in the “Thru the Bible” series. We have often referred his radio messages to you in our publications of
TJIFA.
It’s easy to underestimate the significance of how much it matters to listen or not. Or, when we read the Bible, is this a ‘take it, or leave it’ issue?
Jesus said, “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Meaning, ‘it’s man’s duty to hear the Word of God.’ The preceding letter that was written to Dr. J.
Vernon McGee helps me to communicate what I believe what God is saying to the Church today.
I’ve recently been working on a series of messages entitled, “Is The Bible Important?” and it has ignited a fresh and new awareness of the relevance of
the work of the Holy Spirit, Who has seemed to be almost left out of the primary position He holds in the Body of Christ, and the work of the ministry.
That’s why when I read this letter written to Dr. McGee so many years ago by this couple, I was able to see the confirmation God was giving me that I was
continuing to go in the right direction from the very beginning of my call in the ministry.

What I would like for you to notice and pay careful attention to in the above mentioned letter is the recognition that people can be in Church for many
years and never recognize the most important aspect of the Christian life (The Holy Spirit). “But we didn’t know the Holy Spirit was within us. Nor did
we know of the resurrected life.”
How did this impact me? I’m glad you asked! The same way I’m hoping it will affect you and your whole Christian perspective, escalating your intensity
and determination to allow this awesome power of God to live within you to carry out that which the God who created you will perform until the day of Jesus
Christ (Phil.1:6).

As you listen, read, and meditate on the Word of God, you must remember that it is Jesus who tells us about the need for the Holy Spirit, which I believe
is best seen in the following passages:
John 6:45 (KJV) 45It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father,
cometh unto me.

John 14:26 (KJV) 26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things
to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 15:26 (KJV) 26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father,
he shall testify of me:
John 16:7 - 15 (KJV) 7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto
you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin,
because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is
judged. 12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into
all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. 14He shall glorify
me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. 15All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine,
and shall show it unto you.
If you’re a Christian today, isn’t it because you believe Jesus Christ came and died for your sins? (Romans 10:9,10) Then, if once you settle this issue,
my question would be, “Can we really afford to take lightly any of the truths Jesus came to give us that lead to our eternal life in Him?” with the apex
being, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6). In addition to my desire to help you with your understanding
of what is being written here; These are no more than “Bible Verses” until the Holy Spirit opens up your understanding that this is God speaking to you
through the written Word, in order that you might have fellowship with Him. In theology this is called, ‘Illumination.’
I don’t know if you’ve every thought about it, and willing to give any particular thought to it now, but so many people only see the Bible as a means to
accomplishing their own goals and desires, with no real thought or concern as to what God had in mind from the beginning of creation. True enough, the
Bible is the best book of wisdom and knowledge, unsurpassed by any book that has been written, and ever will be written, but I love you enough to tell
you that if you stop at any point short of God’s ultimate goal, you will spend all eternity with regrets that God never intended for you to experience.
Whoever you are, wherever you are, you’re going to make a decision today. You’re not only going to make ‘a’ decision, but throughout the day you will be
in the process of making many decisions. My question to you is, “How many of them will be for Christ? How many will be made on the basis of you will stand
before Him one day and give an account for every one of them? I smile and muse as I think of how many will read this and think in terms of me ‘not having
the right’ to ask such questions. But I’ll tell you my little secret because I’ve been doing this for a long time now. I can do this, and more, on the
basis that when I get to heaven, I’m planning on turning somersaults that equal one of our tornadoes over one person who read any one of the articles God
moved upon my heart to write, or heard any one of the sermons He blessed me to preach, and gave their life over to the Lord Jesus Christ as a result.
Christian Reader, the whole Christian life, in reality has little to nothing to do with us, and everything to do with Jesus Christ. (John 15:5 (KJV) 5I
am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.) It’s not
easy to accept this concept is it? This, and so many other New Testament scriptures support the fact that it is the ministry of the Holy Spirit that seals
the promises of God’s Redemption in our life ( Ephesians 4:30). If you are reading this from the heart today, please realize that you don’t have to be
like the couple who discovered the Holy Spirit so late in life. The Bible not only informs us, but it also transforms us. God Bless SLC

O TASTE AND SEE!
CROCK POT O’ CHICKEN

INGREDIENTS:
1 WHOLE FRYING CHICKEN – THAWED AND WASHED
1 WHOLE ONION SLICED
1 TBL SP MINCED GARLIC
SALT AND PEPPER TO TASTE

DIRECTIONS:
PLACE ALL INGREDIENTS INTO CROCK POT. DO NOT ADD WATER.
COVER CROCK POT WITH LID.
TURN ON HIGH FOR 4 HOURS.
TEST DONENESS BY TWISTING A FORK IN THE BREAST OF THE CHICKEN.
BONES WILL FALL OUT OF THIS BEAUTIFULLY COOKED BIRD. SERVE WITH FAVORITE VEGETABLES, RICE AND GRAVY. THIS IS A WONDERFUL MEAL AND YOU’LL NEVER DO IT
ANY OTHER WAY…ENJOY!
TER