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CFGC Newsletter March 2008
1) What a Father Will Do
2) From the Deputy Director
3) Finding Hope in this Election Year
4) A Thank You from the Past
5) From our President
6) Home in View!
7) CFGC Staff Schedule
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What a Father Will Do
Many of you may have seen these words in the past and thought nothing of their content. After seeing them for the third time, I was prompted in my spirit to look deeper into their sayings. I obeyed. What I found was profound. If you have read them, maybe you will agree with me that they really are a representative of our Lord and the decision He made to “Save” mankind. What a blessing. The author is unknown, but having come from one of our own this time around, I thought it would be appropriate to use. If you have never encountered this email before, read and be reminded of what our Lord went through for us.
- Hosea Amos
After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave his sermon for the evening, he briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening. In the introduction, the pastor told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak.
"A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the pacific coast," he began, "when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized." The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story.
The aged minister continued with his story, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy would he throw the other end of the life line. He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that his son's friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. As the father yelled out, 'I love you, son!' he threw out the lifeline to his son's friend. By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered.”
By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister's mouth. "The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus, and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son's friend. How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us. Our heavenly father sacrificed His only begotten Son that we could be saved. I urge you to accept His offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line He is throwing out to you in this service." With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room.
The pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the end, however, no one responded to the appeal. Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely stated one of them, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."
"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face! He once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But, I'm standing here today to tell you that this story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me.” You see...”I was that father, and your pastor is my son's friend."
- Author Unknown
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From the Deputy Director
February has come and almost gone in, virtually, a blink of the eye. Life is just plain short. The harvest fields are plenteous, and we’re grateful for our CFGC laborers of this end-time harvest. Your labors of love are not forgotten in Heaven.
This last month included our Annual Conference. What a blessing; so many ministers who love God and have a passion for souls. We’re still feeling the residual positive affect from the fellowship Michelle and I had with so many wonderful brothers and sisters.
CH (MAJ) Gail Porter, USA (Ret.) represented our office in the Seattle, WA area for a new endorsee’s promotion ceremony at his church. CH (CPT) Tommy Reeves requested a representative of our office to attend this landmark event. He and his family were grateful that Gail was able to be there for the pinning of CPT and the chaplain crosses on his class A uniform. Thank you for your service Gail.
– Todd Wolf
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Finding Hope in this Election Year
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
It has been said: When one is hungry for the Word, but not really for the messenger, one must “Chew up the meat and spit out the bones.” Another saying is: “One must take the bitter with the sweet.” The below article is one of such magnitude. It may not be designed for every Chaplain in CFGC, but it is from a Chaplain and should be read with understanding.
– Hosea Amos
Once again our nation is in the midst of an election season, but it is unlike any I can remember. The very existence of America, as we have known it, is threatened as never before. We have enemies outside and inside our borders who would destroy us just because of who and what we are. Our politicians have spent us into a debt from which many economists say we will never recover. Illegal immigrants are jumping our borders and flooding our cities, putting a strain on our infrastructure that ultimately will bankrupt us. A large segment of our population can see nothing wrong in taking the life of an innocent child before he or she has the opportunity to see the light of day, thus murdering millions of our unborn children. Filth and heresy have flooded our airwaves. Apostasy has overtaken our churches. Crime and violence have infiltrated our streets and our schools. Some have even said that we are in a "Post Christian" era.
The enemies of God are rising up and making a concerted attempt to take over our government, our schools and colleges and even our churches. Much of our leadership would prefer to hand over our country to those who would destroy it than to fight to preserve all that has been so dear to us. While our President and Senate are working on a bill that will assist in the surveillance of our enemies, our House of Representatives is obsessed with baseball players who may or may not have taken drugs ten years ago. Let’s put first things first. So we vote the bums out; right? And replace them with whom? Who is there who will fix our country? Who will restore our Judaeo-Christian values, rescue our economy and protect our loved ones from our enemies? Who does the Christian vote for? Who can save our nation from utter destruction? Our leaders have failed us. The selection process has failed us. Frankly, our churches have failed us. Is God's judgment upon us? Or do we have one last chance? What do the people of God do when their leadership has failed them? To whom do we turn?
II Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Those words are straight from God, written in the Scriptures. "When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they (the people) groan." Proverbs 29:2. We must repent for our ungodliness, personally and as a nation, then pray that God will put a godly (righteous) person in office to lead us. After you have prayed, get out and vote for the one who God says is the righteous person.
This message was given from God to a people of a nation similarly plagued nearly three thousand years ago. Instead of complaining about the wickedness of the people around us and trying to change the behavior of those who do not know their Creator, God is saying to His People, "Get your own act together and I will heal your land." Our hope is not in our President; our hope certainly is not in our Congress. Our hope is not in our religious leaders and our churches. Our hope is not in changing the behavior of the ungodly. OUR HOPE IS IN THE LORD!
- Anonymous
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A Thank You from the Past
Sir, I wrote to you in 1986 with a problem. I was, and am, a Holy Spirit-filled Christian who believes in all of the gifts of the Spirit. I was facing a medical board action to remove me from the Army as a Paranoid Psychotic because, primarily, I believe and practice what our Lord taught us about Himself and who we are in Him. I now attend Church on the Move under Pastor Willie George (from Gospel Bill fame). I was a 1LT when I had my problems with the Army.
I’m now a LTC and will probably soon be retiring from the military because I will be reaching my MRD (mandatory retirement date). I’m in Ramaldi, Iraq currently on my second tour. I was not selected for promotion to Colonel. There is one more Special Selection Board I’m eligible for and being considered for, but I wanted to praise God and thank you for your assistance, wisdom and guidance when I faced my darkest hours. Actually, when I was not saved, those were probably my darkest hours, but I didn’t know it at that time.
Anyway, I heard your health was not good lately. You and your family will be in the prayers of my family and me. You did a lot with your encouragement and support. Thank you.
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From our President
When I appointed Rev. Dr. Hosea Amos as Director (which I did with CFGC Board approval) I moved aside and let him fulfill that office. (I no longer have an office in the ’Home Office’ building, only a reading file folder. However I am and will always be Founding President.)
Concerning the February 2008 CFGC Conference, I asked Hosea if I could bring the opening Sermon, and would he consider modeling the Conference as “an old-time camp meeting?” He concurred on both!
My sermon was from John’s Gospel Chapter 14:12, “Greater Works.” (After all, aren’t we Full Gospel Chaplaincy?!)
The Conference was the best ever !! Wait until you get your CD’s! And the attendance was as large as ever, which attests to the strength of CFGC right now. PTL!
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Home in View!
This is the last of the ministry updates from Iraq. I thought I would recap all that has been done here. I was honored to baptize 8 soldiers this past year, The Christmas services that our worship band put together ministered to over 400 soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. I witnessed the changing of Ramadi, Iraq which, before the 1BCT, 3 Infantry Division took the battle space, was the most dangerous city in the world. Now through the many sacrifices, it is now the pattern for other units to use and bring peace to their regions as well. I have given many messages to the troops of the gospel and the good news that God loves and forgives them through Christ. My counseling of over 1000 soldiers has seen many of them find healing from the suffering in their lives. I have witnessed the group of men in the weekly Bible study become more mature in their faith and realize the need for God in their lives. To this end, the time is winding down to return home to my loving wife and family. Thank you all for the support, prayers and gifts we have received. None of us may ever see the impact that we all have made in the lives of those whom we have been honored to minister to. May God continue to bless you in the ministry you give to all who ask and need. Thank you again. –
- CH (CPT) James B. Russell
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CFGC STAFF SCHEDULE
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05-06 |
Board Meeting of “Bible Curriculum in Public Schools”, Greenville, NC (Jim A. is Vice President.) |
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09 |
Presenting of Doctor of Divinity to Rev. David Newberry for many years of missionary service in Africa (at Ken Copeland’s Church) |
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12-13 |
Ft Dix, NJ to support a CFGC Chaplain |
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