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Pastor Tom Hughes' Open Letter

Email: TomHughes@ProphecyWatch.biz  

 

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. t's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. Philippians 4:6-9 The Message Bible

Scripture Quotes Source: www.BibleGateway.com

 

The political season this year has had many twists and turns. For a while,
it looked like it was going to be a lock for the Democratic party to move
back into the White House. Now I'm not so sure. Obama and Clinton are so
evenly supported, it's hard to see how they will work together when the
rhetoric has been so heated on both sides. Let me share some thoughts on
some of the recent developments. Keep in mind I am a John McCain supporter
and have been since 2000. I have always admired his courage and
forthrightness. He is the only one to oppose Rumsfeld and advise the surge,
which has been very successful.

To me it seems ridiculous to not keep a presence in Iraq, a central country
in the Middle East. It is rich in oil, and to leave it unprotected would
surely increase Iran's power in the region. Just like we are in South Korea,
we need a presence there. The other view is abandon the region to the
terrorists which would lead to disaster there and surely violence in our own
cities. When it comes to national security, he is the big dog, the dems are
the Chihuahua as Romney says. He is also the only one who has consistently
opposed government spending, which Bush has done like he's been on a binge.
He also has a sane immigration policy. Deport the lawbreakers, and give the
honest hardworking immigrants a clear path to legalization. So I will be
voting for John McCain. That having been said, let's take a peek at the
Dems.

Hillary Clinton spent years positioning herself as a moderate, avoiding her
true liberal label, and preparing to be Commander in Chief. Both she and
Obama have received the top rating every liberal group. She would be a good
president, but would be too liberal for my tastes. She is the first woman to
get this far, and I do hope if elected she will help the health care system
to become more accountable to the people they are supposed to serve. I
admire her strength, and dignity. She has shown great determination and true
grit. The people around her have been excessive at times, but she is the
candidate and has been a good senator and a hard worker. She also was told
by Republicans that she shouldn't be running the "Health Care" committee,
and that she shouldn't be involved or meddle in her husbands administration
and now they say she didn't "DO ANYTHING" and that she has no experience.
Sorry boys, you can't have it both ways! It's totally chauvinistic for them
say her experience as First Lady doesn't qualify her for the oval office.
She observed first hand the real workings of the most powerful job in the
world. She got on the job training for eight years!

Barack Obama is a nice person. His family is wonderful. They are being
savaged for the church he attended. I can understand why they may have some
latent anger. Many blacks do, and it is not unjustified. It's easy for white
people to demand they act forgiving and accepting toward them, forgetting
all the abuse blacks have taken for over 400 years. Obama seems to have
gotten past all that. Even though his pastor said some evil things, Obama
has not taken that position and is sincerely trying to be the candidate who
heals and doesn't divide. His speech on race was candid and significant. It
contained many self serving parts that were transparent, but it was a good
attempt to put perspective on a difficult subject. He would be a good man in
a tough job. So was Jimmy Carter, who was a disaster as a president. Because
Obama is so inexperienced, he just might be the biggest risk, but one
America might be willing to take.

So who should you vote for? That's UP TO YOU! This year, we have three
excellent choices, and America will survive and thrive no matter who is
elected. God Bless America! And God bless those who take their patriotic
duty seriously and VOTE!

Pastor Tom Hughes

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

 

 

 

 

As a pastor God has given me so many blessings!

 

This Christmas season is a time for reflection and prayer.  As I think about all that God has done for us this year, my heart is filled with gratitude -

...our new church members, the many who have found Jesus as their Savior, the young people who have grown spiritually, the renovation of the church

and school, the new Community Services Center.   ...I could go on and on.  I'm grateful for all my church family who love people as they are and accept them--faults and all.  I'm thankful for the way they give people time to learn and grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ.

So my prayer is that God will continue to bless each and every one as you join with me in being most grateful for having a Savior worth dying for and a loving friend worth living for!  To Jesus, be the power and the glory forever and ever, amen!

 

Pastor Tom Hughes  December 2007

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Click> Women in Ministry - by Pastor Tom Hughes  Today’s Bible Study is a double feature, or shall we say, two studies for the price of one! The first is "Ordained to Serve". This sermon was recently preached in our district. The second study is "Should Women be Ordained as Elders in the Morgantown Church, USA?". I have chosen to include it as a guest editorial, because it is well written, and covers areas not covered in the sermon. Nancy Krone is a dear personal friend, and more importantly, she has been a church Elder for many years. She has served on the Conference committee, and is a wife and mother. God has preserved her life, helping her to defy terminal cancer. Many years ago, she was given only a short time to live, but through God's healing power, she continues to minister as an Eder in the local church. It is an honor to share the thoughts of my "fellow worker" for Christ's church!

 

 

 

To: Mr. Michael Shearer

Letter to the Editor

Newark Advocate

August 3, 2007

 

Dear Editor:

 

This letter is in response to the Pastor's Column "Worshiping God Should Be a Priority", by Dr. John C. Minihan, which ran in your paper on July 14^th, 2007. With much respect and Christian love in my heart for my colleague, I would like to share a different point of view.

 

While I am sure the good doctor speaks for most Christians when he says, Besides the commandment about honoring the Sabbath day which as Christians we worship on Sunday, The Lord's Day, the new day of creation celebrating the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, he does not speak for ALL Christians.

 

There is a sizeable and ancient minority that continues to keep the biblical Sabbath as commanded by God in the Ten Commandments. As a Seventh-day Adventist of Welsh ancestry, I can assure you that my people kept the 7^th-day Sabbath from the time of the Apostles until 1100 A.D. when change was forced upon them.

 

Seventh-day Adventists in particular believe the only day God ever commanded to be kept weekly is the 7^th-day Sabbath, written in stone with his own finger. The only day ever called the Lord's Day in the Bible is the Sabbath, not Sunday. Sunday was bequeathed to Protestants by the papal church and originated in paganism, not the Bible. The Ten Commandments call the Sabbath the Sabbath OF THE LORD THY GOD Ex 20:8-11. In Isaiah 58:13, 14 the Sabbath is called MY HOLY DAY by God himself. Jesus announced that he was Lord also of the Sabbath in Mark 2:27, 28.

 

Nowhere in scripture does Jesus ever mention Sunday or command it to be kept holy. Wouldn't you think, if it was his will that we do so, that he or his disciples would have made such a dramatic change explicitly known. It's unimaginable that a change of such mammoth proportions, directly changing a commandment of God, would be made with not so much as a mention, let alone a countermanding commandment? And what about when Jesus warned the disciples about the impending destruction of Jerusalem? He obviously expected them to be keeping the Sabbath, which historically they were, or he wouldn't have said, And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.

 

No, my friend, there are many examples of worship in Scripture, but not Sunday worship. All are examples of Jesus' followers being faithful to God by keeping his Ten Commandments and honoring the true day of Creation: "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: WHEREFORE THE LORD BLESSED THE SABBATH DAY AND HALLOWED IT". Who can unbless or unhallow what God has blessed and hallowed?

 

The first day of the week is mentioned only eight times: six are about the resurrection, one was about Christians laying aside offerings in their own homes, and one about a Saturday-night dinner meeting to see Paul off on his mission journey, for which he departed on that same first day of the week when he finished speaking past daybreak. None of the First day of the week verses mentions any commandment to keep the day Holy, though there are over 66 verses in the Bible that indicate one should worship God on the seventh-day Sabbath.

 

Keep in mind that we are saved by grace through faith alone and rest in the saving work of Jesus Christ. We are not saved by keeping any particular day. The act of obedience is an expression of love for Jesus, not a work to earn merit. That having been said, Scripture tells us it is our duty to be obedient, faithful children, which would include following the Sabbath-keeping example of Jesus and his Disciples: . . . as his [Jesus'] custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up for to read. (Luke 4:16) and Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, (Acts 17:2).

 

While we respect others' opinions, we want to make it known that we believe the Bible is clear on which day has received God's blessing for those who choose to worship him in spirit and in truth: the biblical holy day of the Lord, the seventh-day Sabbath. Seventh-day Adventists continue to honor God's Sabbath from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. We invite you to try keeping the Sabbath according to the commandment as well, and we can assure you that God will bless you for doing so!

 

Yours in the service of the King!

Pastor Tom Hughes, Senior Pastor

 

 

 

 

Radio Station Refuses Ads About Female Pastor  
BY RENEE K. GADOUA                                                                  

Mars Hill, a Christian radio network based in Syracuse, New York, won't accept paid advertising for an upcoming Christian crusade in Syracuse because a female pastor is participating. "We can't comfortably promote women in the role of pastor," said Wayne Taylor, the general manager.

Source/Story: http://www.adventistreview.org/article.php?id=1181#3

 

Ordination of Women  The Priesthood of All Believers... The Ohio Conference and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church does not discriminate when it comes to men or women in ministry. The policy of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church:
           ...both men and women can be elders,
           ...both men and women can be deacons,
           ...both men and women can preach;
           ...both men and women could be deaconesses.Do you know why? Because it all comes from the same Greek word. “Deacon” or “deaconess” does not exist in the Scriptures. There is no gender differentiation there. It’s the same word used for both. More...

 

 

Pastor Tom Hughes' Bible Biker Blog  

 

Last week was an incredible week! For the first time in 38 years I didn't have to work at camp meeting.

My Conference Secretary gave me the week off, except for the last Sabbath. That was great because there

are two things I miss every year due to camp meeting. My granddaughters birthday, and Father's Day.

This year I got to do both. My granddaughter Haley had her birthday party last Thursday night, a day early.

I got to go and eat cake, watch kids run around, and see her open her presents! She is a beautiful girl, and it

was an absolute delight to share that day with her. The next day, June 15th, her actual birthday, Andrea, my daughter in law

gave birth to Haley's sister, on her birthday! Now big sis and little sis have the exact same birthday, 7 years apart!

I couldn't make this up if I tried! What are the odds of that happening? It's obvious to me that God wanted to weld

Haley and her new sister Cara Lynn Hughes, (lbs..6oz.; 19 in.long) together in a special way. It's way cool!

 

  < Click to enlarge. 

 

Cara was born on the Sabbath, Friday at 11:08. Michael her dad was born on the Sabbath, Friday at 10:55 PM! Thirteen minutes

apart, on Feb 13, 1970. I love Sabbath babies! God does his best work when he's resting! :) It just makes the day

even more special. Then to top it off, I had a fantastic Father's day. My son, daughter in law and all my grand children

made me feel very loved indeed! Mike gave me a motorcycle movie, and Debbie took us both out to dinner while Mom

was nursing her new addition in the hospital! We missed Andrea, but had a wonderful fathers day with Carter and Haley.

 

So even though we are living in the last days, and funerals are happening every week, life goes on. Babies are born, new hope

springs forth, and the future is in the hands of those we leave behind. When we look at this world, the church, the community, we cannot afford to turn into critical cynics. We need to remember that God is in the house, the world, and most of all that HE IS IN CONTROL! Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me! I can't be cynical when I look into

the eyes of a beautiful grandchild! And ALL MY GRANDCHILDREN ARE BEAUTIFUL! So what if I'm prejudiced!

They are the treasure of my heart! So fear not, believe, hope, trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to lead you through this

troubled world to the New Heavens and New Earth, where families will never again be parted!

 

Pastor Tom Hughes

 

 

 

Faith can be cast off   2Th 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all [men] have not faith.   Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.   Some say sinners don't have faith because God didn't predestine them to be saved. Others say they just didn't use it. A grain of a mustard seed isn't very big, but it can move mountains. So if the Holy Spirit puts it there, does he take it away when he is grieved?   For me, I believe every man can find God is he allows the Spirit to draw him to him. I do believe you can choose to accept Christ, and that you can walk away from him, if you don't persevere in the faith. These men were given a measure of faith, but lost it through neglect of so great a salvation.   Faith can be:   1.     Little Mat 6: 30; 17: 20 2.    Found Mar 11:22 3.  Increased Luke 17: 5; 2 Cor 10: 15 4.     Great Luke 7: 9 5.     Continued in Col 1: 23 6.     Denied,  1 Tim 4: 1; 5: 8; Rev. 2: 13 7.     Cast off,  1 Tim 5: 12 8.     Erred from 1 Tim 6: 10, 21 9.     Steadfast Col 2: 5; 1 Pet 5: 9 10. Overthrown,  2 Tim 2: 18 11. Kept,  1 Tim 4: 7; Rev 12: 17 12. Void Rom 4: 14 13. Universal, all men were given a measure Rom 12: 3 14. Weak Rom 14: 1 15. Obedient Rom 16: 26 16. Vain,  1 Cor 15: 14 17.  Heard Rom 10: 6, 17; Gal 3: 5 18. Tried Jam 1: 3; 1 Pet 1: 7 19. Dead Jam 2: 26 20. Contended for Jud 1: 3 21. Hard to find Luke 18: 8 22. Saving Luke 18: 42   As you can see Faith can be denied, cast off, erred from, overthrown, made void, tried, hared to find and even dead! So God obviously wants us to seek an increase of faith by exercising it so it can be great, continued in, steadfast, kept, obedient, tried and saving.   Obviously if you can loose your faith, and deny it, cast it off, overthrow it and even kill it, you can be lost for not persevering in it. Once saved always saved? I think not. Once saved almost always saved? OK! It's hard to be lost and fight two thirds of the angels and the Godhead! Once people have fallen in love with Jesus, it's hard to imaging giving him up. But the foolish are always free to abandon their relationship with Jesus and walk away.   May we not be among those so foolish as to deny Jesus, and return to our past lives of sin and shame. Let us be among those who contend for the faith and finish the race!   Pastor Tom Hughes, Saturday, July 28, 2007

 

 

The tornados rage across America, wreaking havoc upon our people.
sounding like a freight train. It roars through whole cities wiping them off
the map. 
I have been in two tornadoes personally, and I can tell you that it is a 
very frightening thing. You have never heard a roar like that roar! 
Tsunamis, Hurricane Katrina, Tornadoes - tens of thousands dying, all portend the 
coming plagues and wrath of God soon to fall upon planet earth. Their
cup of iniquity will soon be full, and God will destroy those who destroy the 
earth. (Rev. 11) People see these calamities, have their dinner, and then 
yawn, go to bed, and move on to the next news cycle. We have become so 
calloused, so hard, that it only affects us for a day or too, and then
we just change the channel. Jesus said men would become void of natural 
affection. Read 1 Timothy chapter three to see a startling picture of
our world today. While the Republicrats dance their yin and yang dance, our 
troops go without the money they need, and NOTHING IS GETTING DONE.
The sad fact of the matter is that the only way out of the problems of this
world will be UP WHEN JESUS COMES!
Even so COME LORD JESUS, COME QUICKLY, AMEN!

Pastor Tom Hughes  Friday, May 11, 2007

The Present Future Are you experiencing an abundant life and a missionary lifestyle or are you just going to church? The New Reformation is about freeing God’s people from church institution and decentralizing ministry from the church building to the community. Church members are no longer willing to have some clergyman script their personal ministry journey. The church is to be closer to the world and not aloof from it but not of it. This new movement will distinguish between merely religious church people and Jesus people.

The initial Reformation was about church. What kind of church: rejection of the Catholic Church, starting new churches, Catholic light – where they teach the same things except for one or two minor issues, but they’re basically a Protestant version of the Catholic Church: the Episcopal Church, the Lutheran Church – Martin Luther would turn over in his grave today if he new what the Lutheran Church has become; the way they have made accords with Roman Catholicism and (have) abandoned all the principles that Luther was so encouraged and exasperated about.

The old Reformation was about the church; the New Reformation is about the mission of God.

New Technology

The printing press spawned the first Reformation and new technology is spawning the second. The Internet, cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, iPods: they have spawned a new information revolution and it’s hard to keep up. The Baby Boomers all have their big, old clunky laptops and the twenty-something’s today have their hand-held with their single screen and they do all their e-mail and everything on their cell phone. They take pictures, and they take movies and they e-mail them back and forth in the palm of their hand. They’re not looking around some big, clunky laptop; and they’re not like Baby Boomers who like nothing better than to sit in front of a stupid screen and watch movies and DVDs all night. You see, the Baby Boomers, they grew up in a tough time where there wasn’t a lot of TV. TV just began when they were young; so, when VCRs and DVDs, and all these modern wonders burst on the scene they were enamored. “Wow! Look at that! Wow! Gone With The Wind in my own living room! Wow! I can stick it in, push a button! I can sit here and watch it!”

But kids today look at that as boring and dull; just sitting around doing nothing! They want to interact.    Click <here> for the rest of the story.

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Open Letter:

 

March 27, 2007 Have you noticed the circus in Washington DC lately? What are the Senators and Congressmen concerned about? Show trials, and meaningless resolutions. They are more interested in interviewing Carl Rove for political revenge than in fixing the nations problems. Millions go without health care. Social Security is rapidly heading towards bankruptcy. Illegal immigrants live in limbo at the mercy of  abusive corporations, bosses, and coyotes while the border agents who try to enforce the law are arrested, jailed and sued by the illegal immigrants! The Veterans have no or substandard health care. Why don’t veterans get a health card where they can go to any hospital in the country for care? Why not save billions and close all the VA facilities and put the money into insurance to cover them in our nations finest hospitals? Give them a universal card that would be guaranteed anywhere! But no, the leaders in Washington DC are worse than useless. Would it be possible to stop arguing about the firing of political appointees for “political reasons” and address real issues? They are political appointees who serve at the pleasure of the president. Clinton fired all 93 of them! Duh! It’s a non-story that is wasting our valuable time and resources for nothing but a way to embarrass the administration and have a political show trial. The drive by media is always ready to ambush anyone in authority. Remember they are comprised of many of the dopper communist leaning sixties crowd who are so good at anarchy they are their willing accomplices. Newsflash to the media and the do nothings in Washington: WE WANT REAL ISSUES ADDRESSED AND IMPROVED! Close the boarders! Give those who live here a fair way to become citizens! Fix health care! Fix social security! Fix the broken Veteran’s Health care! Address real issues. Stop passing non-binding resolutions, having useless show trials and DO THE BUSINESS OF THE NATION FOR THE GOOD OF IT’S CITIZENS. Do what’s right for the county for a change? Am I an optimist or what? OH YEAH!   February 17, 2007 Take a gander at Washington DC these days. Are they not the very definition of insanity? They vote unanimously to confirm the nominee for Commander in Iraq, whose main plan is to beef up security in Baghdad with more troops and regain control of the city to give the fledgling government a chance to take hold, and they voted a meaningless non-binding resolution of no confidence in the general's plan! A political stunt if ever there was one. If those who voted for the unenforceable resolution really wanted to stop the war, they would have voted to cut off funding. That is their constitutional right and duty if they really believe what they are professing. Why don't they? Politics pure and simple. They don't want to be seen as undercutting our troops. But what do you think Alquaida is going to think when they see them undercutting the Presidents plan and declaring it a failure before it even began? Insanity! The President shook up his entire military and defense personnel, instituted a new initiative and got the message the voters sent. That message in my opinion was "WIN OR GET OUT". Those who won't even allow him the time to win are enthusiastically waving the white flag of surrender. Have they thought about what will happen if we do just cave in and run home? All the Alquaida in Iraq will through a big celebrations, and then go to Afghanistan or New York to continue the battle against the "Great Satan". By the way, that's us! The loss of life if we do that in Iraq will dwarf any death toll we are seeing now. Just like the slaughter that resulted in Vietnam when we cut and ran, there will be one in Iraq. No one even addressed this issue in the house as the measure was being debated. The Middle East is where Abrahams descendents are battling, and the bible predicts that this region will lead the world into the battle of Armageddon. The only real solution to this regions problems will be UP when Jesus Christ Comes Again. May the Senators think about the way their actions look to our enemies, and take into account the bloodbath that awaits those we would abandon to the mercy of the Jahadists. May God guide and bless America is my prayer today.   February 7, 2007 In Ohio where our ministry is based, we have been battling record cold weather, Zero and even below zero weather. Every living thing exposed to cold so brutal is at risk. During flu and sinus season, many are suffering from the bugs going around, and January and February are considered the most risky for people suffering from mental health problems. During this deepest part of winter, I'm reminded that even when Jesus was in the cold ground, during the winter of his life, God watched over him. He arose in the darkness to shine a light on a dying world.   "Peace I leave with you, but not peace like the world gives, let not your heart be troubled". John 14: 27 National Wars: when our country is at war, it is good to remember that Jesus is alive, sitting in heaven and will soon come again to take us home to be with him for eternity! All wars will cease.   Family Wars: dysfunction, where people fight, reject one another, misunderstand one another, and hurt one another for the most superficial reasons will also cease. The family wars will not be continued in heaven. Those who cannot forgive others and love them in spite of their mistakes and problems will not be in heaven. Jesus said "Unless you forgive others, your heavenly father cannot forgive you". If we can't love one another down here on earth, what makes us think we will be able to in heaven?   Religious wars will also cease. The Buddhists, Muslims', Jews and Christians that make it to heaven won't be fighting over their religions there. If they are, they won't be taken to live in peace in that sacred place. "Jesus is the light that shines unto every man that comes into the world" John 1: 9   Every man? That's right! In Africa, China, France, and Bolivia! The ghetto and the palaces, every man in every place has the light of God shining on them. If they accept the light, they are accepting Jesus, and he will lead them to glory. He is the only way, the truth and the life. He is the light.   May all men allow the light of Jesus to draw them to the Father. May they not resist the grace of God. May we embrace that peace today, and "Let not our hearts be troubled". The wars all around us will one day cease. May we not allow any of these wars, in the world, the family or the religions to trouble us. LET NOT!

 

January 12, 2007

As the political rhetoric continues to flow out of Washington, I'm afraid we are receiving a demonstration of Congress at it's worst. They seem absolutely incapable of coming to any conclusions that would actually benefit the country. Instead they are insisting on "political theater". It's quite a sad display. People who were on record supporting the war in Iraq are now claiming "If I knew then what I know now, I wouldn't have voted for it". Well isn't that true for most things we regret or find difficult in life? Hindsight is always 20/20! We can't afford the luxury of looking into some crystal ball to dictate US military policy. It's sad when our elected officials are more concerned about their own re-election than they are about what's good for America. Meaningless, toothless resolutions that give aid and comfort to the enemy, but that give them political cover are the order of the day.   If we leave Iraq before the government is able to defend itself, Iran will come in and double it's reserves and capability to undermine our interests through weapons of mass destruction, (yes Saddam had them, and used them, if your still not believing that talk to a Kurd!) and to send more terrorists to our shores. Iran already has cells around the globe just waiting to be called into action. They are going full speed ahead toward becoming a nuclear power. Their threat to Israel is deadly serious. Their president has said on numerous occasions that he want to see Israel wiped off the face of the earth. The threat is real, and the politicians simply stick their head in the sand and ignore it.   My faith is in the US Military, with the best young men and women - they are the best army in the world. They are there, and know how important it is to be there. I remember in the cold war, the US had a race with the Soviet Union. We won the race. In the Soviet Press they reported "Russia wins, US finishes next to last". There were only two countries in the race. Sometimes liars figure and figures lie! I hope you don't get too concerned about the polls your always hearing about. Certain networks always twist the reports to reflect their view. Pray that these politicians will do what's right, and not just what's popular. The most important poll was on election day. In two elections this president was elected to keep our country safe, wage war on our enemies, and pursue the peace. It is my hope that these politicians will actually start trying to do something to help our country pull together so we can be victorious and stabilize a part of the world that is in our national interest to help.   Sometimes I really think my generation, at least many of the baby boomers I see, are trying to relive their war protester glory days. (i.e. Jane Fonda) The only problem with that is that the Vietnam War and the Iraq War are totally different. The middle east is an area that has an incredible amount of oil reserves. Whoever controls the worlds oil controls the worlds economy, and the world. With Afghanistan and Iraq having governments that are friendly to the US, we will have a much stronger position in the world economy. This will affect our children for generations to come. Vietnam on the other hand was fought to prevent a domino theory take over of the world by communism, which did not occur when we left. However my war protester friends have only themselves to blame for the millions of Cambodians who were butchered by Pol Pot when the US unceremoniously left Vietnam. No one in the news media mentions those uncomfortable facts.   So it is my hope that we will be successful in strengthening the Iraq government to the point where like Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, they can be constructive players in the region. There have been breakthroughs before, and there will be again. Without one, our children and their children's children will be far less safe than if we do. Let's all pray for our Armed Forces safety, and for the success of our countries efforts to establish a strong, free Iraq. Next to Israel, Iraq is mentioned more than any other country in the Bible. May they fulfill a noble purpose by adding to the peace and safety of the world. May God's word go forth in this troubled country, for it is prophesied "This gospel shall be preached in all the world, and then shall the end come". Let it be so, Amen

 

January 12, 2007

Have a Question or Comment? Send me an email at TomHughes@ProphecyWatch.biz

 

 

January 10, 2007

 

January 5, 2007

Two Thousand Seven is already shaping up to be a historic year. Nancy Pelosi
was sworn in as the first woman speaker of the house, now third in line for
the presidency. Whatever your politics, women everywhere can take pride in
her accomplishment. She talked about people cooperating and working
together. It made me smile to hope, even a little, that she really meant it,
and that we would see some genuine attempts to do what's best for the
country.

We all need to do the same in our homes and churches as well. Love each
other, work together, and build trust and good will by being kind and
willing to be merciful to others. Let's do it, even when it's hard or takes
swallowing our pride and turning the other cheek. A new year, a new
beginning for all! Why not? Why can't we genuinely do better this year by
really trying to be merciful and loving. This is going to be a good year, a
year of love and hope.

Christians sometimes get cynical and sour. Pain and hurt cause calluses to
form, and we get hard. But Jesus has a way of softening our hard hearts and
giving us a heart of flesh! Every year is a new opportunity to get it right,
to realize that there are others on the planet besides ourselves! To
understand that we need to get through life without pushing and shoving. I'm
ready to give it a shot, how about you? Let's ROLL!

 

Dec. 17, 2006

How would you like to be nine months pregnant and have to travel 20, 30, 40 miles on a donkey?  Forty miles on a bumpy road, on a donkey!  I'm sure that was a hard journey for Mary.  Poor Mary had been told that she was going to get pregnant  even though she wouldn't know a man and that the whole world would think she was an unwed mother.  They would want to stone her, but Joseph would protect her.  And the angel said to her, that holy thing shall be born unto you. Jesus had an unusual birth.  He was born a holy thing.  I was born a holy terror.  I don't know what you were born!  When we're born, we're carnal, sold unto sin.  But when Jesus was born, He was holy from the moment of His birth.  He was a blessing to his mother.  He did everything His mother asked Him to do; including making wine at a wedding.

 

Mary did not understand Jesus' mission as fully as you might think.  She was just a very young girl when the angel explained to her that she would conceive immaculately.  In her womb, a miracle would take place and God would create there a divine human being: God and man.  Not blended, yet blended.  Remember we've talked about paradoxes.  Fully God, fully man.  All in one but not blended, but blended.  I don't get it.  That's why I worship Him.  He's bigger than me; He's smarter than me.  Okay? 

If He was smarter than Einstein, and Einstein worshiped a God who was intelligent and Einstein thought of God as brilliant but far beyond his comprehension, where does that leave me?  I'm lucky though.  All I have to do is read it in the Bible and that's it.  I believe it.  I may be luckier than Einstein.  I may be wiser than Einstein in one way; he didn't read the Bible and believe it by faith.  He was looking for the proof.  He said something interesting though.  He said if you look for the beauty, the most beautiful aspect of anything you're studying, in the beauty, you will see God's fingerprints. 

 

When I look at Mary, and when I look at Jesus in her womb, a little baby growing there, I see the most beautiful thing the universe has ever beheld!  I see the most unselfish, kind, loving, giving person that has ever existed.  I see a God who was so humble that He was willing to go and live in a woman's body for nine months. We see a young woman with God in her belly walking around for nine months; and we see God submitting Himself to that experience. Behold Jesus placing Himself in that womb to exist in that world for nine months.  The God of the universe who had created all things!  Nothing was made that He didn't make, and yet He submitted Himself to this kind of restrictive lifestyle for nine months.

 

The world was afraid of God.  They saw God as a harsh judge who was going to condemn them.  In the Jewish faith, God had tried to reveal Himself as a God of love: as a lamb.  But somehow they had missed it.  They had crafted in their own image, a God who was judgmental and condemning.  And this God, who was so judgmental and condemning, could never be thought of in a way that was comfortable or kind because at any moment He could kill you!  At any moment He could burst forth and destroy you.  Like when Uzzah touched the ark (of the covenant), God could strike you dead!

 

And so the universe was afraid and they looked at God with fear.  And God shows up on their doorstep and the first thing that this awesome, terrible, fearful, powerful God says to the world is, Ooh, goo, goo, gah, gah  The first words out of this God's mouth is, �Waaaaaaaaaah!  Where's my mommy?  Where's my milk?  I'm thirsty.  I'm hungry.  I'm dependent on you. So here is this God in the form of a little baby; so helpless, this baby can't live for one day without his mother's nurturing milk.  And what is the welcome He gets?  An evil king sends soldiers to slaughter Him and forty babies die!  That's the welcome the world gives to this God who humbled Himself and became a little child.

 

Why do you think Jesus said, Except you become as a little child you cannot enter in to the kingdom of heaven?  He knew what it was like to be a little child. So as our mother is afraid that something bad is going to happen to us, Mary is afraid.  And she holds in her arms her little bundle of joy.  And, moms, as you look into the face of that little baby, behold your God who has come to save you, to redeem you.  Look into the eyes of that little baby boy and see His little helpless fingers, His little helpless toes.  How can you be afraid of a God like that?  And so they went to their city.  They registered.  They gave birth in the stable behind the Inn and the shepherds came and worshiped Him.  And Jesus grew.  And in verse 39, it says, So when they had performed all things according to the law, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth, and the child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him.

 

Think of that little boy as He grew up and became strong!  Think of that strong fifteen-year-old boy filled with the Spirit, filled with wisdom, with the grace of God upon Him.  How can you be afraid and terrorized of a little baby who grows into a strong, wise, graceful young man? You know the devil said that God was evil, that He was harsh, that He never sacrificed anything, that He was mean.  Then Jesus is born.  He lives as a kind young man, strong and wise, and He wishes you no ill.  He comes here and is born in Bethlehem, grows up and becomes a godly young man who grows into a powerful young man.  At the prime of His life at thirty years of age, when He was old enough to become a priest, He enters the ministry.  Mary watches Him minister for three-and-a-half years.  She expects Jesus to be made king of the Jews and for the glory days of Solomon to return, for the gold to be the currency of the realm, and silver becomes like useless and unwanted stones.  Everybody�s got gold, and everybody's rich.  Instead, they take her baby, now a man, and nail Him to a cross. She watches in horror as her son is treated like a criminal and brutally murdered. 

 

And now this little baby that she held in her arms and raised, who became a wise and strong and graceful young man, who became a teacher and went into the ministry, who made her proud as He went from place to place healing the sick  she thought Surely, they're going to love my boy.  Look at all the good He's doing.  Look at all the people He's healing!  The glory days of King Solomon are just around the corner!  And the apostles were telling her Your son's going to be the king of Israel!

She saw Judas as he scurried around trying to get the people to make Jesus king.  The little boy she carried in her arms and heard Him cry the first time and fed Him at her breast; the little boy that she had raised and watched grow strong and beautiful; the little boy who became a man and went into the ministry, Who had made her so proud, was now was taken down form the Cross His body broken and beaten and bruised.  His body was laid once again in Mary�s arms!  This is what they did to the kind, loving baby God who showed us His love.  They broke Him apart and they crucified Him.  And yet He went from the cradle to the Cross because that�s why He was born.  As horrible a thought as it may be, He was born to die! He had to die.  That little baby had to die!  That baby had to grow up  He had to die because we would be lost if He didn't sacrifice himself. This Jesus was given to us as a gift by God, and as a gift of service from a young teenage girl, who was willing to give her life if need be, so that the plan of salvation could be fruitful.

 

Are you still afraid of God?  How can you not love baby Jesus? I know He died on the Cross for each one of us.  I know He came as a baby so we wouldn't be afraid of Him.  This Christmas, don�t be afraid.  Love God.  Thank Him because He loves you.

 

Father in heaven, thank you for sending Jesus to the cradle so that He could go to the Cross. 

Please forgive us for doubting You, for being afraid.  Please forgive us for not believing; that You really do love us; that we can trust You, and that that little baby is who You are.  We love you.  Forgive us for our sins.  May the baby Jesus live in the cradle of our heart as we die with Him on that Cross to live a life by faith in Christ.  May we follow in the footsteps of this unselfish young woman. May we be willing as she was to lay down her life for others. May we follow Jesus and give all that we have for others that men may find this loving God and surrender to him we pray in Jesus name.  Amen.

 

Merry Christmas to you and your family! Christmas is not to celebrate the birthday of the department store, it's to Celebrate Emmanuelle, GOD WITH US! J