Wayne Murphey
As I begin to write these editorials, I am thinking of a great event which is scheduled to take place.
I Thessalonians 4:17 says, "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
To see Christ and the bride rejoicing together will be a spectacular jubilee. The yearning and anticipation of His return will be instantly satisfied as the One whom the saints have loved appears.
Perhaps this is the viewpoint which has always provided a stimulus to the children of God to remain faithful. But surveying the event from what Christ has planned reveals to us just how momentous it will be.
Note where Christ planned this special convocationãin the air. He could have arranged for it to happen upon earth, or devised it take place in heaven. But instead this celebration will be initiated in the air.
Consider the significance of the following scripture in regard to "the air."
Ephesians 2:2 says, "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience."
There is a direct correlation to air and spirit. "Air" comes from a Greek word which means "breath," which is defined in the Greek language as "life, spirit and mind." This is the battleground of Satan in our world. Many downplay what is taking place in these spiritual realms by assessing problems as temporal pitfalls.
The report of an address given before the House Judiciary Committee's sub-committee on May 27, 1999, by Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, who was a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, CO, refers to this spiritual battleground.
Mr. Scott said, in part, "The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother, Abel, out in the field. The villain was not the club he used. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.
"In the days which followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy, it was a spiritual evil that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves.
"Spiritual influences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation?
"We have refused to honor God, and in doing so, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs, politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode our personal and private liberties.
"We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts."
How utterly true that is! The devil has been the prince of the air ever since Adam and Eve opened the door of their minds, hearts and spirits to him. He has polluted the mind, overcome the heart and worked through the spirits of people to do evil.
But, thank God there are some who have found the cleansing power of the blood of Christ and experienced His keeping grace. And Christ has a happening of divine proportions planned for them! He is going to meet the saints in the very seat of authority from which Satan has ruled.
When the trumpet sounds all will experience it. Those prepared for this climactic event will brighten with joy, their hearts leaping with gladness. The minds of those unprepared will recognize the sound and sight with dread, their hearts crying in fear, their spirits hopeless.
Satan will no longer rule the air. Christ's return will mean the ultimate overthrow of corruption and the beginning of the marriage feast of the Lamb.
We are grateful for the way God is blessing the work here at the Print Shop. We continue to make progress in moving to our new facility. The entire stock of books and tracts has now been transferred and stored at the new location.
Our plans for the month of February are to move the darkroom and offset plate department. Although some work is yet to be completed before the new darkroom is ready, we feel we are on the way to achieving this goal.
Some of our readers are already planning vacations to coincide with various camp meetings. Therefore we plan to print as complete a list of meeting dates as possible in the March Faith and Victory paper.
If you desire your camp meeting to be included on this list, please send the necessary information to this office by the 20th of February.
I recently received word from Sis. Charlotte Huskey that she does not feel able to continue writing the Junior Beautiful Way Sunday School papers. Sis. Charlotte has done an outstanding job in the past, instructing and inspiring the hearts of many children. We thank her for her faithful, loving labors in this capacity over the last 15 years.
In answer to prayer, Sis. Nelda Sorrell, of the Guthrie congregation, has expressed a burden to take up this responsibility. We are confident that she will excel in fulfilling it, and that the children who read the Sunday School lessons will have something to anticipate.
I also appreciate Sis. Joanna Booher and Sis. Connie Sorrell who edit the Primary Beautiful Way. God has blessed them in supplying Christian lesson material.
In like manner, I would also like to recognize all the time and diligent effort put into the writing of the Bible Lessons by Bro. Leslie Busbee.
As noted in the "Window to the Past" column, the saints have had the blessing of singing out of the Evening Light Songs hymnbook for fifty years. We would like to recognize the part which Sis. Ruthe Taylor, of Kingsburg, CA, had in compiling these inspired hymns while she worked at Faith Publishing House.
Uncle Lawrence Pruitt, who is deceased, was also instrumental in providing the saints with this heritage of songs.
With love in Christ, ãBro. Wayne Murphey
Sis. Lydia Bennett
Sis. Alscene Breckenridge
Bro. Jon Busbee
Sis. Mamie Butcher
Bro. Nathan Carver
Sis. Estelene Cramer
Bro. Daniel Davis, Jr.
Bro. Dale Doolittle
Sis. Elaine Dunn
Bro. Ben Harrison
Sis. Janice Johnston
Bro. Louis Kimble
Sis. Helen Lambright
Sis. Betty LasschÈ
The Lounds sisters
Sis. Loraine Lucas
Sis. Mattie McIntyre
Sis. Bertha Miles
Sis. Virginia Myers
Sis. Dollie O'Neal
Bro. O. C. Porter
Sis. Melba Powell
Sis. Rose Samons
Sis. Myrtle Savoie
Bro. Rudolf Schmidt
Sis. Kay Stover
The Mitch Taylor family
Sis. Marie Weatherford
Bro. Curtis Williams, Sr.
Bro. Max Williamson
Sis. Esther Wilson
IL-"Bro. Wayne, wife and all at the Print Shop: I am doing fairly well, but not as well as I should. I need prayer for both soul and body. I don't live where I can go to a Church of God." ãSis. Hallie Pinkerton
"Dear saints: Please add my mother, Sis. Loraine Lucas, to the standing prayer requests list. On Nov. 21, 1999, she took ill while on vacation visiting her children and saints in Oklahoma City, OK. Many of the saints in Bro. Charles Chandler's congregation were at her bedside. Saints in neighboring cities also stopped by to pray and sing songs of encouragment. We believe Mama is still with us because of the saint's prayers everywhere. Also, it is their prayers which have sustained her children through this difficult ordeal.
"Mother has improved a little, but we are looking to the Lord to continue to do a work in her. She is not able to return to her home in Ontario, CA, as of today [Jan. 13].
"Many thanks for the phone calls and love contributions, and to those who have already been praying for our mother."
ãShelia Campbell
FLã"Would you all please remember my dad, Bro.Willard Underdown, in prayer? He is not doing well at all. God has healed him many, many times, and we praise Him for all He has done in the past. Please pray earnestly for him, if you will." ãSis. Cheryl Smith
CAã"Dear Bro. Wayne: Greetings in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.... My wife is in the hospital with bronchitis. She has been there for five days and doesn't seem to make any progress. Prayer is requested for her, both soul and body." ãBro. Bob Mickelson
NYã"Please remember me in your prayers. I fell on Aug. 6 and messed up my knee. I still can't walk, and I am in a lot of pain."
ãMargie Bolden
SCã"Please pray for me, that I will hold out faithful to the end. Also pray for my children.
ãSis. Lillie Russell
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