Fasting Day 2

Fasting -

Day 2-
quarter pot coffee
juice
water
  

GOD has been good, as HE always is. Here's some of the scriptures from today:

Check out the different renderings; the LITV is more accurate according to the Greek.

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 LITV  For God did not give a spirit of cowardice to us, but of power and of love and of self-control.

2 Timothy 1:7 NLT  For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

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I was watching Benny Hinn and GOD said-

"judge another man?"

Romans 14:13 LITV  Then let us no longer judge one another, but rather judge this, not to put a stumbling-block or an offense toward a brother.

Romans 14 extracts from the ESV
vs 3 for God has welcomed him
vs 4 It is before his own master that he stands or falls.     And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
vs 5 Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
vs 12 each of us will give an account of himself to God
vs 13 let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
vs 14 nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.
vs 16 do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil
vs 17 the kingdom of God is...righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
vs 18  Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
vs 19 let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
vs 20 Do not destroy the work of God...  it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble...
vs 21 It is good not to ....do anything that causes your brother to stumble.
vs 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 
vs 23 whoever has doubts is condemned... because [it] is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 WEB (R)  (4)  Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  (5)  There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.  (6)  There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all.  (7)  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.

Through the fasting, GOD has brought some things to my attention. I had sought to reconcile a Christian brother back in April, but it was not possible. I did everything GOD told me, but the issue has been looming over me. Some of the non-doctrines he teaches, I now don't understand. Through the scriptures above, the LORD has released me of it. The Christian brother is a servant of GOD, called of GOD, AND ANSWERS TO GOD HIMSELF. We both serve the same GOD, but in different capacities. I still don't understand, but I don't have to. I will answer to GOD for myself one day; that should be my focus. Since he is a brother, I still mention him in prayer as oft as I think of him.

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What good thing would GOD withhold?

Psalms 34:10 LITV  The young lions have lacked and been hungry; but they who seek Jehovah shall not lack any good thing.

Psalms 84:11 LITV  For Jehovah God is a sun and shield; Jehovah will give grace and glory; He will withhold nothing good from those who walk in integrity.

Galatians 4:18 NLT  If someone is eager to do good things for you, that's all right; but let them do it all the time, not just when I'm with you.

Ephesians 6:8 WEB (R)  knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.

Philemon 1:6 WEB (R)  that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.

 - -

Researchers: Ancient Human Remains Found in Israel

I'm not pushing evolution at all here. I just find it interesting that an archeological find may disprove theories of humans coming from Africa first.  Read on ... 2guntom

 

By DANIEL ESTRIN, Associated Press Daniel Estrin, Associated Press – Mon Dec 27, 6:13 pm ET

JERUSALEM –
Israeli archaeologists said Monday they may have found the earliest evidence yet for the existence of modern man, and if so, it could upset theories of the origin of humans.
A Tel Aviv University team excavating a cave in central Israel said teeth found in the cave are about 400,000 years old and resemble those of other remains of modern man, known scientifically as Homo sapiens, found in Israel. The earliest Homo sapiens remains found until now are half as old.

Click image to see photos of the ancient tooth

AP/Oded Balilty

"It's very exciting to come to this conclusion," said archaeologist Avi Gopher, whose team examined the teeth with X-rays and CT scans and dated them according to the layers of earth where they were found. He stressed that further research is needed to solidify the claim. If it does, he says, "this changes the whole picture of evolution."
The accepted scientific theory is that Homo sapiens originated in Africa and migrated out of the continent. Gopher said if the remains are definitively linked to modern human's ancestors, it could mean that modern man in fact originated in what is now Israel.
Sir Paul Mellars, a prehistory expert at Cambridge University, said the study is reputable, and the find is "important" because remains from that critical time period are scarce, but it is premature to say the remains are human.
"Based on the evidence they've cited, it's a very tenuous and frankly rather remote possibility," Mellars said. He said the remains are more likely related to modern man's ancient relatives, the Neanderthals.
According to today's accepted scientific theories, modern humans and Neanderthals stemmed from a common ancestor who lived in Africa about 700,000 years ago. One group of descendants migrated to Europe and developed into Neanderthals, later becoming extinct. Another group stayed in Africa and evolved into Homo sapiens — modern humans.
Teeth are often unreliable indicators of origin, and analyses of skull remains would more definitively identify the species found in the Israeli cave, Mellars said.
Gopher, the Israeli archaeologist, said he is confident his team will find skulls and bones as they continue their dig.
The prehistoric Qesem cave was discovered in 2000, and excavations began in 2004. Researchers Gopher, Ran Barkai and Israel Hershkowitz published their study in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.

Walk & Pray in the SPIRIT

walk in the SPIRIT and pray in the SPIRIT

Ezekiel 36:27 LITV
(27)  And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My judgments and do them.

Romans 8:1 LITV
(1)  There is therefore now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to flesh, but according to Spirit.

Romans 8:26 LITV
(26)  And likewise the Spirit also joins in to help our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes on our behalf with groanings that cannot be uttered.

1 Corinthians 14:15 LITV
(15)  What then is it? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the mind; I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the mind.

Galatians 5:25 LITV
(25)  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

----------------------------
Monday Prayer Meeting-

John 16:33 LITV
(33)  I have spoken these things to you that you may have peace in Me. You have distress in the world; but be encouraged, I have overcome the world.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 LITV
(17)  Pray without ceasing.

Psalm 139, in particular verse 7
Psalms 139:7 LITV
(7)  Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your face?

Psalms 119:2 LITV
(2)  Blessed are those keeping His Testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart.

Psalms 119:10 LITV
(10)  I have sought You with my whole heart; do not let me wander from Your Commands.

Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV
(3)  You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
(4)  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

 - -

Demonic Strongholds

Back in August of this year, GOD was calling a fast.
8-19 blog post 
It wasn't just me, others in the church were being called too. I was kind of hit and miss and didn't do very well. With the exception of my wife, I don't have any evidence that anybody else did anything either. Actually, quite the contrary, all evidence shows that we did NOT fast as GOD said.

[Side note: my wife's fasting ushered in the beginning of Children's Church, and we saw a soul saved.]

Meanwhile, the pastor's health has been failing, one of the elders had colon cancer, a stroke, and is still suffering through chemo. Another elder has gone from a cane to a walker.

I prayed, prayed, prayed some more. So many things coming at me... 

Joel 1:12b LITV   ...joy has dried up from the sons of men

Joel 1:16 LITV  Is not the food cut off before our eyes, joy and gladness from the house of our God?

Some of the new church members are not what they portray themselves to be. 

GOD said "pray without ceasing" [1Thessalonians 5:17] and "wait" [Isaiah 40:31].

I put the pastor on GOD's altar and took my hands off. His health got worse.

I asked GOD if I could stand between HIM and HIS altar and move the hindrance that was preventing the pastor from being healed.

GOD showed me a stronghold, a demonic stronghold.

My question is, 

"How do we 'invite people to church' without inviting unwanted spirits and other evil things into the church too?"

Seeking GODly, wise council [Proverbs 1:2-5, Psalm 1:1], I was advised to fast, pray, and seek GOD for names to the spirits occupying the stronghold.

Here's the WORD of GOD-

"Strongholds"

2 Corinthians 10:4 LITV  (4)  for the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful to God to the demolishion of strongholds,
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"Infirmity"

Luke 13:11 LITV  And, behold, there was a woman having a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent together and was not able to be completely erect.

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"Fornication"

Romans 1:28-32 LITV  And even as they did not think fit to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do the things not right,  (29)  having been filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, iniquity, covetousness, malice, being full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, evil habits, becoming whisperers,  (30)  slanderers, God-haters, insolent, proud, braggarts, devisers of evil things, disobedient to parents,  (31)  without discernment, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful,  (32)  who knowing the righteous order of God, that those practicing such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but also approve those practicing them.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 LITV  (1)  Everywhere it is heard that fornication is among you, and such fornication which is not named among the heathen, so as for one to have his father's wife.  (2)  And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that did this deed might be taken from your midst.  (3)  For as being absent in body, but being present in spirit, I have already judged the one who has worked out this thing, as if I were present:  (4)  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, you being gathered together with my spirit also, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,  (5)  to deliver such a one to Satan for destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.  (6)  Your boast is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens all the lump?  (7)  Then purge out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For also Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us.  (8)  So let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of malice and of evil, but with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.  (9)  I wrote to you in the letter not to associate with fornicators;  (10)  and not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or with plunderers, or with idolaters, since then you must go out of the world.  (11)  But now I wrote to you not to associate intimately; if anyone is called a brother and is either a fornicator, or a covetous one, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a plunderer, with such a one not to eat.  (12)  For what is it to me also to judge the ones outside? Do you not judge those inside?  (13)  But God will judge the ones outside. "And you shall put out from yourselves the evil one." Deut. 17:7

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 LITV  (9)  Or do you not know that unjust ones will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be led astray, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals,  (10)  nor thieves, nor covetous ones, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor plunderers shall inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:13-20 LITV  (13)  Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods, but God will destroy both this and these. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.  (14)  And God both raised up the Lord, and  He will raise us up through His power.  (15)  Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Then taking the members of Christ, shall I make them members of a harlot? Let it not be!  (16)  Or do you not know that he being joined to a harlot is one body? For He says, "The two shall be into one flesh."  Gen. 2:24  (17)  But the one being joined to the Lord is one spirit.  (18)  Flee fornication. Every sin which a man may do is outside the body, but he doing fornication sins against his own body.  (19)  Or do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit in you, which you have from God, and you are not of yourselves?  (20)  You were bought with a price; then glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are of God.

1 Corinthians 10:8 LITV  (8)  Nor should we commit fornication, as some of them fornicated, and twenty three thousand fell in one day.

2 Corinthians 12:20-21 LITV  (20)  For I fear lest somehow, coming, I not find you as I wish, and I be found by you such as you do not wish; lest somehow there be strifes, envyings, angers, rivalries, evil speakings, whisperings, puffings up, disturbances;  (21)  that it not be, in my having come again my God may humble me with you, and I shall mourn many of those having previously sinned and not having repented over the uncleanness and fornication and lustful acts which they have practiced.

Galatians 5:19-21 LITV  Now the works of the flesh are clearly revealed, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness,  (20)  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, fightings, jealousies, angers, rivalries, divisions, heresies,  (21)  envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and things like these; of which I tell you beforehand, as I also said before, that the ones practicing such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:3-8 LITV  But let not fornication, and all uncleanness, or greediness, be named among you, as is fitting for saints;  (4)  also baseness, and foolish talking, or joking (the things not becoming), but rather thanksgiving.  (5)  For be knowing this, that every fornicator, or unclean one, or covetous one, who is an idolater, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  (6)  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for through these things the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience.  (7)  Then do not become partakers with them;  (8)  for you then were darkness, but are now light in the Lord; walk as children of light.

Colossians 3:5-10 LITV  Then put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil lust, and covetousness, which is idolatry;  (6)  on account of which things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience,  (7)  among whom you also walked at one time, when you were living in these.  (8)  But now, you also, put off all these things: wrath, anger, malice, evil-speaking, shameful speech out of your mouth.  (9)  Do not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his practices,  (10)  and having put on the new, having been renewed in full knowledge according to the image of the One creating him,

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 LITV  (3)  For this is God's will, your sanctification, for you to abstain from fornication,  (4)  each one of you to know to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor,  (5)  not in passion of lust, even as also the nations do, not knowing God;  (6)  not to go beyond and to overreach his brother in the matter, because the avenger concerning all these is the Lord, even as we told you before, and solemnly testified.  (7)  For God did not call us to impurity, but in purity.  (8)  Therefore, the one that despises does not despise man, but God, even He giving His Holy Spirit to us.

Jude 1:7-8 LITV  as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them, in like manner to these, committing fornication, and going away after other flesh, laid down an example before-times, undergoing vengeance of everlasting fire.  (8)  Likewise, indeed, also these dreaming ones even defile flesh, and despise rulership, and speak evil of glories.

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"Silent", as opposed to a talkative spirit

1 Corinthians 14:33-35 LITV  (33)  For God is not of confusion, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.  (34)  Let your women be silent in the assemblies, for it is not allowed to them to speak, but to be in subjection, as also the Law says.  (35)  But if they desire to learn anything, let them question their husbands at home; for it is a shame for a woman to speak in an assembly.

1 Corinthians 14:28 LITV  (28)  And if there is no interpreter, let him be silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.

1 Corinthians 14:30 LITV  (30)  But if a revelation is revealed to another sitting by, let the first be silent.

1 Corinthians 14:40 LITV  (40)  And let all things come to be done decently and according to order.

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"spirit of heaviness", depression, misery

Isaiah 61:3 KJV  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

(a curious distinction between the KJV and Green's Literal)

Isaiah 61:3 LITV  to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of the spirit of infirmity, so that one calls them trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, in order to beautify Himself.

Romans 3:10-18 LITV  according as it has been written, "There is not a righteous one, not even one!"  (11)  "There is not one understanding; there is not one seeking God."  (12)  All turned away, they became worthless together, not one is doing goodness, not so much as one!"  (13)  "Their throat is a tomb being opened;" "they used deceit with their tongues; the poison of asps is under their lips;  (14)  whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.  (15)  Their feet are swift to shed blood;  (16)  ruin and misery are in their way;  (17)  and they did not know a way of peace;  (18)  there is no fear of God before their eyes."

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Jealousy, Envy

Numbers 5:14 LITV  and a spirit of jealousy has passed over him, and he has become jealous of his wife, and she has been defiled. Or, a spirit of jealousy has passed over him, and he has become jealous of his wife, and she has not become defiled:

Proverbs 14:29-30 LITV  One slow to anger is of great understanding, but he who is short of spirit exalts folly.  (30)  A healthy heart is the life of the flesh, but envy is the rottenness of the bones.

Proverbs 27:4 LITV  Fury is fierce, and anger overflows, but who can stand before jealousy?

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Ecclesiastes 4:1 LITV  So I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter! And at the hand of those who oppressed them was power; but there was no comforter to them.

GOD said,

"I will thoroughly purge my floor..." [Luke 3:17]

And GOD said, 

"I'm going to lay the axe to the root of bitterness..." [Luke 3:9, Hebrews 12:15]

The good news: GOD has remained steadfast and faithful. As we seek HIM, HE reveals HIS plans to us. The "annointing", fire, and mantles have been shown to us. 

The fire is being held back...

The annointing will come when the mantles are given by GOD for HIS work...

Pray...

Wait...

John 16:33 LITV  I have spoken these things to you that you may have peace in Me. You have distress in the world; but be encouraged, I have overcome the world.

1 John 4:4 LITV  Little children, you are of God and have overcome them, because He in you is greater than he in the world.

HALLELUJAH!!!

 - -

WTB Shotgun

WTB means "Wanting To Buy". I'm not looking for just any old shotgun; I've got those.

I need a "spiritual shotgun"!!! 

It's those stupid ravens!  You know:

"... and the fowls came and devoured them up:"  (Matthew 13:4b KJV)
"... and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up."  (Mark 4:4b KJV)
"... and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.  (Luke 8:5b KJV)

Okay, "fowls".

What are thes fowls, you ask?

"...Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts."  (Mark 4:15b KJV)

That would be Satan or one of his minions, coming to steal the WORD of GOD no doubt.

So, if you come across a shotgun that will kill (no phasers set to a politically correct "stun" please) spiritual fowls, call me, fax me, send me an email, send smoke signals...

... don't send any birds with a note tied to their foot. Those will get shot down with my other shotgun ;)

 - -

Sunday Afterthoughts, Besetting Sins

Last week I finished a book, "The Price of GOD's Miracle Working Power", by A. A. Allen.  It's a good book, by the way; I highly recommend it. It's been out of print for many years, but you can find it online for free download.

Anyway, at the end of the book Allen mentions "besetting sins".  You know, "...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us..." Hebrews 12:1b.

You know, those sins that completely overthrow us, those pet sins we've kept around, those "little" sins that we justify in keeping, those sins that nobody knows about but us.

Besetting sins, sins that overthrow...

A couple of verses came to mind, verses on "blotting".
Psalms 51:1 KJV  Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Psalms 51:9 KJV  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

In confessing our sins to GOD, HE "blots" them out.
But what about those pet sins that we keep around?
Those sins that easily "beset" us?

Revelation 3:5 KJV   He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.


If your name is not in the LAMB's Book of Life, you do not get to go to Heaven. According to the above verse, it is possible to have your name blotted out of that book! If we do not "overcome" these "besetting" sins, we are in danger of hell's fire!


Scared yet?


Our society is one of consumers. We live to consume. We work to get money, so we can buy stuff. One job isn't enough. Mom and dad both work. Dad sometimes works 2 jobs; mom sometimes does too. More stuff, never enough, never satisfied. More stuff, more bills, just can't seem to "get ahead"...
Now we're so tired from our labors that we need to "entertain" ourselves so we can relax.
"Entertainment", pleasure, playing, but where is time for God?


Exodus 32:6 KJV  And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

1 Corinthians 10:7 KJV  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Substitute the word "consume" for "eat".
These verses are about the Hebrew children led by Moses. They put other things before GOD. They consumed and they played. They also angered GOD continually and did not get to go to the promised land.

Proverbs 30:20 KJV  Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness. 

We are consumed with the things of this world and this life. The cares of this world take priority.

What about GOD? What about Holiness?

Are we overcoming this world, or are we overcome by the world?

Are we going to set aside the besetting sins and have them blotted out, or are we going to have our name blotted out of the LANB's Book of Life?

Are we too busy working so we can eat, then playing to relax from all the working?

Matthew 7:21, 23 KJV  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.



Choose you this day whom you will serve...

--

Mountain Vision Ministries

I was at the VA (veterans hospital) today.  Wait, let me back up.

Last week, I dropped off one of the church elders at the veteran's hospital in Johnson City.  He had an infection in his spleen caused by complications from a previous surgery.

I called his room a few days later, but they had moved him to another room. I talked to the new room occupant for just a few moments. He said, "pray for me." And I did. But it seemed like something else was needed.

So, today I was at the VA hospital to pick up the church elder. His paperwork was still in process so it was going to take a while. What a beautiful opportunity to go visit the guy in his old room that requested prayer.

This room was one of those rooms that has the weird airflow.  If you have something contagious, it stays in that room.  They call those zero somethinerothers.

I went through the first door, but stopped at the second. I couldn't explain the hesitation, but it was there. I began to survey my surroundings and saw gloves, masks, and warning placards that were not there before. I felt strange, like I shouldn't be there, so I left.

A little later, a man from the Chaplain's group came to the church elder's room. His name is Charlie. He was working in an official capacity for the chaplain so I asked him some questions. 

As it turned out, you can't just go visiting people at random.  The good news is I can become a volunteer with the chaplain's group. That is in process. Pray with me about this.

Charlie has a ministry in Greeneville, just down the road from my church called Mountain Vision Ministries. It is a warehouse where food, clothes, and furniture are stored for people in need. For some of the people I have met with needs, I wish I would have met Charlie sooner!

I think Charlie is needing some help too. I'm not sure what my involvement with Charlie is going to be, so pray with me about this. I know that there are no "chance" meetings.

http://www.calvarygv.org/news/033009.php

Mt. Vision Ministries Forms to Aid Needy
The Greeneville Sun, March 30, 2009
By Nelson Morais

A new Christian benevolence ministry, or charitable organization, has been formed with the goal of meeting the basic physical and spiritual needs of people in the area.

Mt. Vision Ministries, located in a large storehouse at 155 Black Road just off of the Blue Springs Parkway, will officially open its doors Tuesday, April 7.

The nondenominational ministry has unofficially been operating during the last two years.
During that time, Mt. Vision Ministries has supplied beds, other furniture, clothing, appliances and a limited amount of emergency food supplies to those in need, primarily in Greene and Sullivan counties, according to ministry organizer Charlie Cornett.

EMERGENCY ITEMS
"We basically have household items that a person would need in an emergency," said Cornett. He runs Mt. Vision Ministries with his wife, Earlene.

Recipients must be referred by a church "or document their needs in other ways," Cornett said.

"We pray that the Lord will send us those He wants us to help," Cornett said.

On Friday morning, Ed Reynolds, a carpenter and volunteer at the Tabernacle Soup Kitchen, loaded an older model pickup truck with living room furniture, food, toys, children's clothing and baby clothes.

The items were for a young, single, pregnant mother with a small child who Reynolds had referred to Mt. Vision Ministries.

AIDS SINGLE MOTHER
Cornett said another woman on Friday stopped by to get food and clothes set aside for her.
He said he expected to deliver the following to her on Tuesday after she moves into an apartment: a sofa, love seat, dresser, cabinet, dining table and chairs, food, clothes, mattress and box springs.

The woman is a single mother living with two teenage sons, he said.
"She lost her job, was evicted from her apartment and lost her furniture she had been renting," Cornett recalled.

He added, "Today, the Lord gave her a job, furniture (supplied by Mt. Vision Ministries) and a new place to live -- all on the same day.

"I don't believe in coincidences," Cornett marveled. He added, "According to me, that was God's work."

"I don't believe it's Walmart's responsibility to care for the needy," said Cornett, adding, "As Christians, we're told by the Lord to do that."

Mt. Vision Ministries stores and then distributes items donated to it as needs arise.
Somewhat unusual for a benevolence ministry, otherwise known as a charity, is that it delivers items to the home of the person in need if no other transportation is available.

"We're beginning by establishing a benevolence ministry to meet physical needs" in order to "gain the trust necessary for us to minister to their spiritual needs," Cornett said.

STOREHOUSE
"We gave away donated items stored in our garage until we acquired the storehouse a year ago," which was also donated to the ministry, Cornett said.

The ministry is supported by individuals and churches, including Calvary Chapel Greeneville, Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, Grace Fellowship Kingsport and Denton Bible Church in Denton, Texas.

The ministry will initially be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and other times by appointment. Cornett said he hopes to expand its hours as volunteers step forward.

The Cornetts grew up in Erwin and Banner Elk, N.C.

From 1975 to 1994, they lived in Montana.

They then moved to Denton, living there from 1994 until their move to Limestone in 2007.

He returned to this area two years ago as a missionary for Denton Bible Church.

Charlie and Earlene are domestic missionaries with Serve International.

Cornett said the couple purchased a home in Limestone because it is centrally located between Greeneville, Johnson City and Kingsport.

Mt. Vision Ministries is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation of Summit Leadership Foundation in Johnson City, he said.

MISSIONARIES TRAINED
Cornett said he received a lot of training before being sent to this area.

Opening a benevolence ministry in this area has been a dream of Cornett's for nine or 10 years, he said.

"Making this move was not a recent decision," Cornett said. "We have been planning a ministry in the Appalachian area for more than nine years." He added, "However, I realized that the gifts God had given me were not properly developed. To accomplish a task this big, I needed training." Before moving here, Cornett served in a lot of different capacities at Denton Bible Church.

He was educated in the Bible Training Center for Pastors program at Denton Bible Church, essentially getting seminary training without a degree being conferred on him.

His wife, Earlene, completed the Bible Training Center for Leaders at Denton Bible Church.

On Friday, a reporter saw food, as well as clothes, neatly folded and divided by type on shelves stacked over 15 feet high along one wall of the 1,650-square foot structure. The storehouse, with a ceiling 25 feet high, had several pieces of furniture and more clothes waiting to be sorted and stacked.

Mt. Vision Ministries is supported entirely by donations, including the items it distributes to the needy. It currently receives no state or federal grants, Cornett said.

FAITH-BASED MINISTRY
"It's a faith-based ministry with no denominational affiliation," Cornett said.

Mt. Vision Ministries assists residents of Greene, Hawkins, Sullivan and Washington counties, Cornett said.

"We hope to develop this ministry and other ways to reach the entire Appalachian Mountain Range in God's name and for His glory," Cornett said.

Cornett said that on Tuesday, April 7, the day it officially opens, the ministry will give away a wide variety of clothing to qualified people who have a need. The event will take place on the grounds of the ministry from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To donate to the ministry or to seek help, call Cornett at (940) 368-4885.

Re: Live Music

LIVE Music, FREE!!!

Defender is coming to Greeneville, TN this Saturday October 16th, 2010 !!!

The concert is hosted by my brother in the LORD, Danny Ricker.

It will be in the Big Lots parking lot across the 11E bypass from "the Commons" (Kmart).

The concert begins @ 5PM

Bring a chair, come prayed up and ready for a blessing!

Here's a link to a video featuring clips from the last concert in Greeneville

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UXvtggBj1s

YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDefenderband

WebPage
http://www.defenderchristianrock.com/

Defender is a ministry of Victory Harbor Church
http://www.victoryharbor.com/

 - -

Baptism And Blessings

Oh! What a joy!

Sunday after church, we had 11 that got baptized!

Let me set the scene in your mind so you will understand why I want to run around and shout every time I think about it.

Our pastor has been struggling health-wise so he was advised NOT to go in the water. And, this was not an indoor baptism with warm water either; this was in Cherokee Lake.  It was raining, windy, and about 40-some degrees out. (It has been in the 70's and 80's so it felt really cold!)

Since the pastor couldn't go in, he asked me to help with the baptism!
What an honor!
What a privilege!
What a blessing!
This was my first time ever doing this.

On the van ride there, I asked everybody to pray real hard for some sunshine. I know God heard our prayer, but we got rain instead of sunshine.

As we stood on the bank singing, it rained and the wind blew. I was shivering.

Next brothers Chuckie and Ernest head out into the water.

Pastor asked us all to join hands and I led them out into the water

At first, the water felt cold, then a warmth started to take over from my feet to my head. I continued to shout praises to GOD. I told everyone that the devil wasn't going to take my joy! And if he tried, there was enough of us there to beat him up and take it back! (1Samuel 30:7-8)

I'm in the far right of the next picture

This is my dear brother (in the LORD) Scott.  A few months ago, he repented and rededicated his life to CHRIST.

This is his girlfriend Kristy.  She had been praying for Scott for a long time.
Ain't GOD good?!
(ALL the time!!!)

These next ones are very special. In the red shirt is Kenny. The young lady next in line is Trish.
One of the ministries at the church put me in a position to minister to Trish. Trish started regularly attending our church and immediately began witnessing for CHRIST. She let nothing hinder her when she witnessed to Kenny. Kenny, at that time was in bondage to alcohol. While she was witnessing to Kenny, Billy (in the grey shirt with maroon sleeves) overheard the conversation. Amazed at what he heard he followed Trish to church and rededicated his life to CHRIST. We all got to see Kenny come forward and pray. Kenny later came forward and asked for prayer as alcohol continued to afflict him. He asked my wife to pray with him that he would throw up if alcohol ever touched his lips again.

Are any of us that dedicated to the cause of CHRIST to pray a prayer like that?

So, ministry led me to Trish,
Trish witnesses to Kenny,
Billy is converted from Trish witnessing to Kenny,
Trish and Billy witness to Kenny,
Kenny gets saved,
and I get to help baptize them all!
OH! What joy the LORD affords us!

Kenny was so excited! And he probably still is!

Bobby and Charlotte were acting on
Revelation 2:5 "...and do the first works..."
In these next pictures I'm not sure if I was shouting or laughing or both, but I did a whole lot of both that day!

Sister Charlotte testified last night. She said she had a terrible cough BEFORE she was baptized, but afterward she felt great!

Ain't GOD good?!
(ALL the time!!!)

Oh! I just want to thank GOD for this wonderful blessing!
I thank GOD for my wife- she has spent a lot of time witnessing to Kenny, and ministering to others!
I thank GOD for my children and their testimony!
I thank GOD for Full Gospel Christian Fellowship Church!
I thank GOD for brothers Tony, Chuckie, and Ernest for letting me help baptize!
I thank GOD for all the faithful believers who were obedient that day and got baptized!

Oh! That the joy will never end!

Cleaning Bathrooms For Christ?

We make GOD out to be some big Meanie. Don't we?

I've always said I just do whatever the LORD puts before me, whether it be running the sound room, praying, cleaning the bathroom...

Well, yesterday I cleaned a bathroom for a brother at the church. He's been laid up in the VA hospital for weeks. He needed his place scrubbed down so he had a "semi-sterile" environment to change his bandages in. My wife and kids took the kitchen and living room, and I took the bedroom and bathroom.

It would be easy to say, "You've always said you'd scrub toilets if GOD put it before you. Now HE called you on that one."

???

Is GOD some BIG MEANIE, or BULLY that pokes, prods, provokes HIS children to anger?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

Remember, it is the enemy that provokes.

In Matthew 4, the enemy is called "the tempter". Chapter 4 verse 3 he accuses, "IF you are..."

Ya, if you are the Christian that you think you are, you'll scrub that toilet. Ya, GOD called you on that one! Ya, open your mouth again and see what GOD does! Ha! That'll teach you, huh?!

GOD does NOT treat HIS children that way. Luke 11:11-12 shows us this. If earthly fathers can take care of the needs of their children, how much more will our HEAVENLY FATHER provide what is needful?

I considered it a privilege to help out my brother in the LORD.

I mean, who else was available? who else was willing?

I'm not special, don't get me wrong.

I'm called.

That doesn't make me special either.

Many people are called of GOD, but it would seem most are too busy to answer the call.

That's one call you want to take!

Romans 11:29 KJV
(29)  For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Ya, that's what I was trying to say.

Matthew 9:37-38 KJV
(37)  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
(38)  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.


Ya, that too.


That was something the LORD is still showing me.  No matter how busy I get during a given day, what am I doing that I can take with me? What am I doing that has "eternal" value?


Oh! But I have to get "this" or "that" done...


Do you?



Are you sure?



Is that what you said, or is that what GOD said?




Did you ask HIM?


Don't worry, there is no "Judgement Seat of 2guntom". You do NOT have to answer to me.

 - -

Prison, Church, News Headlines...

59 total came forward during the revival in Morgan Co prison.  The revival ran Sunday thru Thursday.

Now that I've been back to the reality of my world, I'm finding myself asking a lot of questions.
Actually, 2 questions:
WHY?
and
HOW COME?

The LORD had shown me that I was supposed to be going to the hospitals every week. HE also showed me that I was supposed to be going with somebody (or he with me). That somebody moved to another state a week ago.

The LORD showed me I am supposed to be helping the pastor. He's so weak right now...
...that really bothers me.

The pastor is not the only one that's suffering from an ailment of some sort. All the elders are being afflicted somehow or another. That really bugs me!

I understand this is indeed spiritual WARFARE! In war, you knock out all the ranking leaders and the underlings will scatter. I understand that.

Now the attacks are coming in different forms and to everybody.

So, WHY and HOW COME?

We have prayed, and prayed, and prayed...
and prayed some more.

Here is the scripture that I can't shake-

Matthew 17:14-21 KJV
(14)  And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
(15)  Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
(16)  And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
(17)  Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
(18)  And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
(19)  Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
(20)  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
(21)   Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Unbelief, Prayer, Fasting.

It's like I'm right back at the beginning again.

Prayer and fasting- the cure for unbelief.

I'll get to that news article in a minute.

Testimony Of Joseph Rojas

Went to Prison cont.

Wow! What a time!

Fishers of Men Ministries has been having a tent revival all week inside the Morgan County Corrections Complex.

Yes, there is a REAL tent inside one of the sections of the prison!

I went to minister, but I have been ministered to! It has been a truly amazing time!
Monday, 28 came forward,
Tuesday, 12,
Wednesday 11,
and tonight is the last night.
There have been some getting saved every night.

And the singing? Oh! What a time! I have to stop and remind myself while I'm there just exactly WHERE I'M AT!!! I've got my eyes closed, my hands raised to the heavens just worshiping GOD (1Tim 2:8), and then I realize I'm standing in a prison amongst convicted felons. Then I'm reminded of Paul and Silas.

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." Acts 16:25-26 



Oh! I pray that ALL the prisoners would hear us pray and sing.
I pray that the LORD would shake the earth!
I pray that the LORD would open the doors of the their hearts and loose the bands of sin!



It is so hard to find words to describe what I've experienced this week.


This much I do know: when it started Monday night I was ashamed of myself. I am a free man and I go to church every time the doors are open. I "go" to church. These guys in prison "have" church! They don't have freedom to come and go as they please; church really means something to them! They NEED that place of refuge; they DEPEND on the hope that Jesus gives them.
I had to repent of that! These men in prison have taught me a lot, and I am thankful! It is my hope and prayer that GOD turns this back to them and blesses them 100 times over!

Went To Prison

Wow!!!

I went to Morgan County Prison last night with "Fishers of Men Ministries".

It is hard to describe what went on if you weren't right there beside me.

28 came forward, at least 2 got saved!

More soon!

GospelGunTom?

GospelGunTom?

I thought you were 2guntom?

GOD changes things.

I used to be all about guns, but that has changed.

I'm 40 years old now. I have to ask myself what those 40 years have produced that I can take to eternity with me? The guns didn't do much, not much at all.

I've been selling off my guns as the LORD allows. I used to have a 1911 for every day of the week, and a downright pretty one for Sunday, but what does that avail in or to the Kingdom of GOD?

I asked GOD if HE wanted me to sell off all my gunsmith tools and stuff. I told HIM I was certainly willing if that's what HE wanted.

Then a slew of repair jobs came in.

Okay, so I remain a gunsmith.

I used to live for that stuff, but it just doesn't have the same appeal anymore.

I like to see people get saved!!!

I like to watch GOD move on people and set them free!!!

I love to be in the presence of GOD!!!

That, that I can take with me.

That matters!

The Kingdom of GOD is at hand!

Missionary To Greeneville?

Missionary to Greeneville?  But don't you live there, you ask.

Yes, yes I do.  Let me explain:

Yesterday was September 9th.  Let me back up a little further to Wednesday the 8th. There is a new family that has been coming to church.  The LORD nudged me and I knew I needed to talk to them. I encouraged them to grab me after the service so we could swap phone numbers. We talked for a while after church and swapped phone numbers. There was a need there, a monetary need.

I thought to myself, "Well, I don't have any money, so I can't help them there. I'll visit with them and pray and let GOD take care of their needs."

See, I'm virtually unemployed.  I say "virtually" because I do work ONE day a week. This is all of the LORD's leading. I had asked GOD about this many times initially. Many jobs made themselves available and I asked GOD which one should I take. HE was silent. I spend my days praying and reading my Bible, but wondering what the LORD has in store for me. I begged GOD one day to PLEASE let me know what job I need to pursue.

HIS reply was, "Don't you enjoy the time we spend together each day?"

What? Of course I do! But don't I need to work?

GOD did let me know that I will have a job at a specific place as soon as a position is open.

But as time goes on, it appears that I am moving into a FULL TIME ministry...

Back to the topic at hand.

So, I am as poor as poor can be, but I'm not.  I draw a measly unemployment check, and work one day a week. I drew up a budget and there is not enough money coming in to pay the bills.
But,
ALL the bills are paid.
But, there's more.
Not only are the bills paid, but there is always money to give when someone is in need; ALWAYS.

That's what happened yesterday. See, these people that are coming to church just moved to this area. They didn't have enough money to get their electricity turned on. I was planning on going to the power company to pay my bill, and I thought it would be nice if I had "some" money to put toward their deposit. I sat down with the checkbook, receipts, and slips. I started adding and was shocked!

WHERE DID ALL THIS MONEY COME FROM?!

I mean, I know every check, every deposit, but the bills should have the account sucked dry, including sucking the ink off the pages. I checked, rechecked, and asked my wife if she had receipts that she forgot. She brought me a DEPOSIT slip; there was even more money!

It was real obvious that I was going to do something new today. I ran to the bedroom and went to my prayer "spot".  I said, "GOD, do you want me to pay these people's deposit? Is this money for something else? I don't want to be hasty and..."

Then a flood of scriptures came to mind.

I got up and asked the LORD to slow down; HE was going too fast!

"...Freely you have received; freely give." Matthew 10:8

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer..."Philippians 4:6

"...but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing." Psalm 34:10

"...no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11

Then I went back and started reading Matthew 10, the whole chapter, verses 7-42 in particular.
Then I heard GOD say my full name, followed by "Missionary to Greeneville".

I cried.

It had been bothering me for a little while that I didn't have a specific title or ministry.  You know, like pastor, deacon, chaplain, soup kitchen worker, whatever. I didn't have a "focus" or an outline for what I was supposed to be doing. Of course, I always do what GOD puts before me whether it's driving the church van, putting gas in somebody's car, buying someone some food, going with the ministers to the jail, praying with someone in need, or what ever. I just didn't have a specific "thing" to do or to be called.

But now I do. GOD said I am a "Missionary to Greeneville"!

PRAISE GOD!!!

Then after all of this, GOD confirmed HIS word with HIS word and what I was supposed to do yesterday.

Proverbs 3:27-28
" Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee."


Yep, I had it by me. Time to go to the power company.


It came with a certain amount of resistance. If we doubt, then our faith falters. If our faith falters, then fear creeps in. If there is fear, then the enemy can have his way with us. I was not afraid; I was on a mission.


The lady at the power company was not necessarily joyful of what I wanted to do. I explained that I had a name, and I wanted to pay the deposit. She had a similar name listed, but I didn't have their address. She didn't want me to just pay for "a" account and turn on the wrong person's power. I gave her the phone number I had and asked if it was the same she had. The numbers matched. She quit resisting and gave me a total.


I'm not bragging on me; I'm bragging on GOD.  One plants, another waters it, but GOD makes it work!

1 Corinthians 3:7-9 KJV
(7)  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
(8)  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
(9)  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

Ya, that's what I was trying to say.

So here it is the 10th. The family called me. I left no name at the power company because I wanted anonymity. She called and thanked me. She was crying and praising GOD. She said "they" turned on the electricity today and she knew it had to be the church. I didn't tell her any different. I read the 2 verses from Proverbs 3 and said that's what we're supposed to do. See a need, fill a need. I told her to praise GOD. She informed me she had been calling her friends, praising GOD and running around the house.

I love it.

GOD is so worthy of our praise.

We don't praise HIM nearly enough for HIS bountiful, and manifold blessings.

Psalms 107:8, 15, 21, 31
"Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!'


Halelujah!


GospelGunTom, Missionary to Greeneville

--

!!! Welcome !!!

Who is "2guntom"? 

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far...

Everybody at work was talking about this ebay thing. I got my first computer (circa 1996) and went to check out ebay. Much to my dismay, I could NOT look at a thing. A "username" and password were required for viewing.

A username? Ya, I got your username... 2guntom.

Then I started buying stuff and building a reputation.  Then I started selling, then came 2guntom.com .

Needless to say, the name stuck.