Happy Birthday, To Me!

Today is my birthday -- my spiritual birthday.

On December 31, 1979 I was born again and became a member of the family and body of Christ in accordance to the words and teaching of Jesus Christ and His Apostles when I received the Holy Ghost.

It was on that day that I was born of the Spirit (having been born of water two months prior) and thus received the earnest of my inheritance as a son of God.

For 30 years, 3 decades, I've been blessed to have this relationship with Jesus.  I've had ups and downs. I've rested in the valley and fought the mountain. There've been times I've made mistakes (and sinned), but God has been good and forgiving.  I've been (and remain) a student of grace as I look for the blessed hope and coming of Jesus Christ.

I try to remain busy about the Father's work and ministry, and am humbled by His constant willingness to use me for His purpose.

I'm also thankful...thankful, for His love towards me.

I also want to thank two people who played an important role in my conversion (see the picture above).  First of all, my father (Melvin E. Kuntzman), who was my pastor 30 years ago and preached the great truth of the mighty God in Christ and the message of Acts 2 and John 3 to me.  He's always been an example of a man of God who loves God and remains an example to me today.

Secondly, my mother (LouAnne Kuntzman), she was my Sunday School teacher all those years ago and she continues to teach me, by her words, love, and actions, what it truly means to be a Christian.

Thank you, Jesus, Mom, & Dad...I love you.

Happy New Year!

Water Baptized

I hope you have a blessed Christmas! Along with that blessing, I can’t think of any greater gift to give you on Christmas Day than the great blblical truth of the only way to be born again.

It's the way the Apostles were taught by our Lord Jesus Christ, the only way they taught others, and the only way we can be converted today.

Understanding the Word of God

Your Soul


The Holy Ghost

The 2009 Original Mantle Conference (video clips)

The 2009 Original Mantle Conference was fantastic: the preaching was timely, revelatory, and uplifting. Every preacher ministered in the flow of the Holy Ghost. I'm posting a video clip of one of the speakers, but you can view some of the others here: Mantle clips.

If you are interested in buying the entire set of 6 conference DVDs, for $60.00, you can call 304-525-4204 to place your order.

Conference Speakers & Sermon Topics:
Pastor Joel Urshan - "The Unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth"
Pastor Timothy Rodriquez - "Sarah Had a Tent"
Sis. Kristin Saunders - "Beautiful Binding Ribbons"
Pastor Mike Anderson - "A Rudderless Ship and a Horse Without a Bit"
Pastor Jeff Harpole - "Because God Said So"
Bishop Norman Wagner - Shekinah II: Trapped In Transition"

Voices

Travelling through this great thing we call the web and Internet the other day I was reminded of the importance of voices and how much we miss them when they are gone. Memories remain, but that voice in the present of wisdom, warmth, and compassion is longed for in times of need.

My grandfather has been dead for nearly 20 years and I still miss the rich sound of his baritone as he told a story, preached, sang the songs of Zion, or laughed richly.

Then there are the other voices, like this one: I Asked the Lord, which remind me of so many things pertaining to my spiritual growth and maturity.

1 Cor. 14:10, "There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification."

Voices are not silent. Simple, but true. Voices speak into our lives. For many, the voice of the sportcaster on the radio, or on ESPN, speak into their lives. Others allow voices of entertainment to discolor and reshape God's gifts to humanity into perversions of truth. A majority of people allow voices of gossip, backbiting, lying, talebearing, ditch-digging, and evil reporting to find purchase in their ear and they reap their reward for failing to discern the voices in their lives.

So, listen...strive for sensitive hearing...to the voice of God and His messengers. His voice is always speaking.

Remember the words of Jesus, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand" (Jn. 10:27-28).

The 2009 Original Mantle Conference

On November 5-6, 2009, The Original Mantle Conference will be coming to Huntington, WV at Apostolic Life Cathedral.

The first Mantle conference was held in 1998 (maybe 1997) in Kokomo, IN at Zion Tabernacle, and was founded by Pastor N.P. Urshan and Rev. Joel Urshan.

Mantle is a two night and one day ministry enhancing conference where you will be renewed and encouraged. Since its inception in 1998, this conference has provided a setting where pretense, position, and organizations are set aside for the pursuit of the very presence of God.

Speakers this year include:
Bishop Norman Wagner (Youngstown, OH)
Pastor Joel Urshan (Cincinnati, OH)
Pastor Mike Anderson (Houston, TX)
...and others.

Mantle was born out of a desire to bridge the gap between our Apostolic heritage and our future. We do this by placing seasoned preachers and pastors together with young ministers of the Gospel in an atmosphere of anointed worship, preaching, and ministry.

It is our desire that relationships will be developed between the elder ministers and the younger ministers, like Elijah and Elisha.

We want to see the Apostolic Movement, as a whole, continue forward with the same commitment to Christ and the Gospel as our forefathers had - Mantle works to aid in this endeavor.

If you have any questions please call: 1-304-781-2015, or email: outreach@lifecathedral.com

Genesis! Grace Youth Reunion Choir Concert

I enjoy this song...makes me want to shout...especially the first 3 minutes. I just wish the sound was better.

Genesis 1:1-31 (KJV)

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. 11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. 21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing F7 seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, F8 I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Cliff Beckett

Our church (Apostolic Life Cathedral) celebrated the homegoing of a precious man of God Tuesday. Although I've only been in Huntington, WV for about four months now, I remember my first Friday night at the Greene Kitchen Activity Center and the kind man I met there. The following is an article published about that man:

Beckett remembered for giving back to community

September 10, 2009 @ 12:00 AM

LEE ANN WELCH

The Herald-Dispatch

Many words have been used the last few days to describe Cliff Beckett. Among them have been hero, hard-working, Christian, compassionate, faithful, gentle giant, sweet spirit, shy, peaceful and mentor.

Nearly 1,000 people filed through the doors of Apostolic Life Cathedral in Huntington Tuesday night to pay their final respects to the man everyone -- child and adult alike -- called "Mr. Cliff."

Beckett, 46, died Sunday, Sept. 6, in Cabell Huntington Hospital, where he had been since a Sept. 1 motorcycle wreck in Huntington. He was laid to rest in Forest Memorial Park, Milton, on Wednesday morning.

"He was evidence that an employee, no matter what position they hold in the schools, has an impact on students," said Jedd Flowers, director of communications for the Cabell County Board of Education.

"Mr. Cliff was always there to encourage kids," said Becki Carpenter of Huntington. Her sons Isaac and Isaiah were students on Beckett's bus. "If a child missed a day of school, Mr. Cliff would ask the other kids if they were OK. He genuinely cared."

Formerly a school bus driver, Beckett had switched positions to night shift maintenance. The reason? To spend more time mentoring students and ministering to the community, said Dave Stephens, an Elder at his church, Apostolic Life Cathedral.

"Mr. Cliff" was more than a mentor to students at the county's Alternative School, Flowers said. Beckett also delivered Summer Lunch Program meals on a daily basis; quietly provided money to teachers to buy clothes or shoes for students who needed them; and paid for trips to King's Island amusement park to recognize kids who maintained good grades.

Beckett himself was recognized by the school board. He was named Service Employee of the Year for 2002-2003.

Beckett maintained his job with the county schools, drove for charter bus companies on the weekends and had a heating and air conditioning business.

And for the last 17 months, Beckett provided a meal feeding up to 200 people every Friday night in the Guyandotte community, Stephens said.

This was paid for from Beckett's own pocket. He didn't always know where the money was going to come from for the Friday night feed, but said on more than one occasion, "God will open a door," Stephen recalled, estimating it cost at least $300 every week, depending on the menu.

Beckett never in 17 months missed seeing the doors opened at the family life center of the church to provide a meal on Friday nights to those wanting one, Pastor Edwin Harper told friends and family gathered at the memorial service Tuesday night.

Just what will the legacy of "Mr. Cliff" be?

"Helping kids become better adults," Flowers said. "He was a living example of how to treat others."

Stephens said the church is going to attempt to continue the Friday night meals, something Beckett did to "bring the community together." There was no official tie to the church, no mandatory service attendance to take part in the meal, Stephens said.

So why was this man so concerned with making the world -- his community -- a better place by helping folks crossing all boundaries of age, social and legal status?

"He was a little wild growing up," Stephens said. "He didn't want to see kids travel the road he'd taken."

Beckett is survived by his wife Donna, daughters Sarah and Hannah, and his parents, John and Dorothy Barnett Beckett of South Point, Ohio.


SOURCE:
http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x265526786/Beckett-remembered-for-giving-back-to-community

Adrian Rogers Offers Five Reasons We Can Trust the Bible

A friend sent me this today and I like it so much I'm going to post it here.

What evidence is there that the Bible is in fact God's Word?[1]

By: Adrian Rogers

I want to give you five reasons to affirm the Bible is the Word of God.

First, I believe the Bible is the Word of God because of its scientific accuracy. The Truth of the Word of God tells us that God “hangeth the earth upon nothing” (Job 26:7). How did Job know that the earth hung in space before the age of modern astronomy and space travel? The Holy Spirit told him. The scientists of Isaiah’s day didn’t know the topography of the earth, but Isaiah said, “It is [God] that sitteth upon the circle of the earth” (Isaiah 40:22). The word for “circle” here means a globe or sphere. How did Isaiah know that God say upon the circle of the earth? By divine inspiration.

Secondly, the Bible is affirmed through historical accuracy. Do you remember the story about the handwriting on the wall that is found in the fifth chapter of Daniel? Belshazzar hosted a feast with a thousand of his lords and ladies. Suddenly, a gruesome hand appeared out of nowhere and began to write on a wall. The king was disturbed and asked for someone to interpret the writing. Daniel was found and gave the interpretation. After the interpretation, “Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.” (Daniel 5:29). Basing their opinion on Babylonian records, the historians claim this never happened. According to the records, the last king of Babylon was not Belshazzar, but a man named Nabonidas. And so, they said, the Bible is in error. There wasn’t a record of a king named Belshazzar. Well, the spades of archeologists continued to do their work. In 1853, an inscription was found on a cornerstone of a temple built by Nabonidas, to the god Ur, which read: “May I, Nabonidas, king of Babylon, not sin against thee. And may reverence for thee dwell in the heart of Belshazzar, my first-born favorite son.” From other inscriptions, it was learned that Belshazzar and Nabonidas were co-regents. Nabonidas traveled while Belshazzar stayed home to run the kingdom. Now that we know that Belshazzar and Nabonidas were co-regents, it makes sense that Belshazzar would say that Daniel would be the third ruler. What a marvelous nugget of truth tucked away in the Word of God!

Third, from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible reads as one book. And there is incredible unity to the Bible. The Bible is one book, and yet it is made up of 66 books, was written by at least 40 different authors over a period of about 1600 years, in 13 different countries and on three different continents. It was written in at least three different languages by people in all professions. The Bible forms one beautiful temple of truth that does not contradict itself theologically, morally, ethically, doctrinally, scientifically, historically, or in any other way.

Fourth, did you know the Bible is the only book in the world that has accurate prophecy? When you read the prophecies of the Bible, you simply have to stand back in awe. There are over 300 precise prophecies that deal with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament that are fulfilled in the New Testament. To say that these are fulfilled by chance is an astronomical impossibility.

Finally, the Bible is not a book of the month, but the Book of the ages. First Peter 1:25 says: “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” No book has ever had as much opposition as the Bible. Men have laughed at it, scorned it, burned it, ridiculed it, and made laws against it. But the Word of God has survived. And it is applicable today as much as it was yesterday and will be tomorrow.

It’s so majestically deep that scholars could swim and never touch the bottom. Yet so wonderfully shallow that a little child could come and get a drink of water without fear of drowning. That is God’s precious, holy Word. The Word of God. Know it. Believe it. It is True.

---

[1] SOURCE: http://bible.christianity.com/11542346/ ACCESSED: 8/26/2009

Divine Counsel, Emotional Response, and Trial

"I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons" (Ps. 16:7).

How do we respond to the tug of God on our emotions?

Do we follow His lead obediently?

Do we try to grab the bit in our own teeth and rely on human counsel?

Do we allow others to rein us in?

All too often, people get their counsel from some other source than God (i.e., friends, family, television, radio, Internet, etc.). So, when they find themselves alone and in the darkest night of their trial they have no reference point for hearing the Word of God, or being sensitive to the tug of God's Spirit.

The psalmist was aware of his need for sensitivity to God. Especially when walking a dark and uncertain path. Learn to hear the voice of God and allow Him to gently lead you on the road of life.

I know that I'm mixing the two meanings of this one word, but I hope that you can relate to the emotional aspect of your reins and the comparison to the reins of a horse. Unless you allow God to control the emotions of your life there will be times when you run rampant and scared away from His will for your life.

Debates Updated: Oneness v. Trinitarianism

I was trying to access some of the debates on here today and found that the urls had been changed. I corrected that problem and now you should be able to once again access the debates posted on December 24, 2007 by clicking "HERE."


Also, here are some more audio debates found on Oneness Resource: http://www.freewebs.com/onenessresource/audiodebate.htm
(these include other debates dealing with Duality v. Trinity, Creation v. Evolution, the Duration of Miracles, and the Existence of God).

"Exalting the Name of Jesus in the Last Days" - Joel Urshan

Pastor Joel Urshan preaching at Greater Emanuel Apostolic Temple (Cincinnati, OH) for Bishop Bowers' 50th pastoral anniversary. This is a wonderful example of anointed Apostolic preaching.

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxBcrUI8Ieo
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU7mgjUI6ak
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOhKwaZRS2w

Elder Shawn Tyson - We Have Come To Praise

There is such power in this type of praise. It is Christ-centered, from the heart, and resonates in the spirit of the Spirit-filled believer.

My brother and I call these "Jesus songs." Jesus songs are songs of praise and worship that focus totally on Jesus. They magnify, identify, and portray Him as our Lord and Savior.

So, I share this with you today in the hope that you'll share in worshipping with me the Mighty God in Christ.

Be a Risk Taker & Trust the Riskbreaker

You know how it is. You start writing something that then loses its fire. Well, here's a post that began like that a few weeks ago (3-31-09) and then reignited today. I hope it blesses you.

Oh, the title is partially a shout out to my good friend -- Stewart Bertram.

Psalm 20:7-8, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright."

There are some who have traded their trust in God for that which they've made with their own hands. They trust in chariots and are more confident in human talent, philosophy, and ability than in the provision and strength of the Lord.

They trust in human sufficiency and abort God's will by their doubt and forgetfulness. They trust in their own ideas and manufacture scenarios thinking their finite understanding better than the infinite wisdom of the LORD.

They use the policies of the world to obtain that which can only come by the proven principles of the Word of God. They invent strategies without prayer and forget (or ignore) to call upon God. They’ve forgotten His name, fame, and reputation. What He's done and what He wants takes a backseat to what these purveyors of self foist onto the good and trusting flock of God.

Lack of trust is evident by their preoccupation with what they can form, cultivate, or influence. Afraid to show faith in something outside of themselves they resist what they don't understand and grasp onto that which is temporal, known, and comfortable.

Isaiah 31:1, “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!"

Some have forgotten the freedom and liberty that comes with trust in God and have traded that assurance for the illusion of control. They’ve trusted in horses. They trust in what they think they can direct. Their attempt at control and manipulation is a mirage. The only control they have is the choice to trust in God, or to trust in their own frail human ways.

I was with Pastor Edwin S. Harper for a few days this week. He asked me this question (once asked of him), "How do you spell faith?" My first thought was the predictable one, "F-A-I-T-H," but he said, "Faith is spelled R-I-S-K."

RISK! You get nowhere in life without taking a risk. The four bearers of the Ark of the Covenant took a risk by stepping out into the Jordan, but their risk was rewarded with the miraculous parting of the waters, and, as I heard Buddy Buie say recently, "When they stepped into the Jordan their feet kicked up the dust in the dry riverbed." God doesn't just answer prayer, He goes the extra mile in displaying His majesty as He works on your behalf.

It is easy to sometimes be paralyzed by the need to know for sure what a decision will bring to pass before we do something, but this is not faith. Faith is taking God at His Word and risking everything of comfort for uncertainty.

The wonderful thing about taking a risk on God is that it's not really a risk. We need to quit forgetting about His reputation, fame, and reputation. Recall the power resident in His name, the name of Jesus.

Next time you are thinking of taking a risk remember the true Riskbreaker and personalize these words: "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" (Deut. 31:6).

Bishop Norman Wagner - Praise God

I'm really feeling this song tonight. In fact, all day long I've had this feeling of praise and thankfulness in my soul.

Remember, even in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation, where the heathen and ungodly are presented as paragons of virtue calling good evil and evil good, God is still present and in control. He is worthy to be praised!

Pamphlets from Oneness Pentecostal Writers (Part 1)

I spent the weekend in South Bend, IN at my grandmother's home (Helen v. Kuntzman).

As is my custom when I'm there, I spent a considerable amount of time in my grandfather's library looking, reading, and studying his collection.

My grandfather (Rev. E. E. Kuntzman) was an Apostolic preacher and went to his eternal reward many years ago. I treasure the library he left behind and the notes he jotted in books, pamphlets, Bibles, and sermons. They are always a blessing to me and their truths are ageless.

My grandparents have several books and pamphlets written by, or about, some of our early pioneers and proponents of the Oneness Pentecostal message. While I didn't take pictures of them all, the ones above are what I read this weekend.

Nothing Can Separate (Part I) Bishop James A. Johnson

One of my favorite preachers preaching about the intercession of Christ and the impossibility of being separated from His love.

The Quantum Leap

Today I am posting an article written by Leon Golden. Leon is a senior at IUPUI pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, a member of Moriah Apostolic Church, and one of my dearest friends.

The Quantum Leap

By: Leon Golden

The rapture, the catching-away, the Lord’s return for His saints, whatever you choose to call it, Christians have been eagerly anticipating this day for nearly two-thousand years. A day when the bodies of those who have truly served God will be instantaneously changed from their natural, physical state, to another “glorious” structure. When you stop and ponder the idea of the rapture, as I will call it, it does appear to be a somewhat ridiculous idea. Many church denominations have given up the idea of a literal “rapture” and viewed the Bible through more humanistic eyes. However, the idea may not be as farfetched as it initially appears. It is this author’s belief that the natural world offers models as well as clues as to the nature and mind of God, bearing in mind that we ourselves are fearfully and wonderfully made. Let’s observe a phenomenon recently discovered (within the last 75 years) by scientists, known as the quantum leap.

Requisite Knowledge

Scripture for consideration: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3)

The physical things that we see are made up of cells, which can be reduced to individual molecules, which can be further decomposed into atoms. The atom is the smallest elementary unit in which a substance can be broken down into and still retain its identity. In the center of the atom there is the nucleus about which the electrons orbit at an incredible speed. The electron is held in orbit by an electromagnetic force which keeps it as close to the nucleus as its energy will allow it to get. For example, the more energy an electron possesses, the further it can orbit from the nucleus. Only a certain number of electrons can orbit a given energy level, after which they must move to a higher level – in general, the lower energy levels must be filled first.

The concept of a quantum leap stems from the field of quantum mechanics, which is the branch of science that studies the motion and behavior (the mechanics) of atoms.

Nearly every crevice of the universe is constantly bombarded by electromagnetic radiation (light). As this radiation interacts with the electrons, which are the building blocks of matter, some amazing things happen. The electrons absorb and release little “packets” of energy as they interact with the electromagnetic radiation. Of course, as the electron momentarily absorbs this energy, it moves temporarily to a higher energy level and subsequently moves back to a lower energy level as it releases this “borrowed” energy. It is this interaction that commands awe and produces the phenomena called the quantum leap.

Consider the following illustration: If you want to get from your house to the end of the driveway, there is a period of transition, i.e. you must walk from point A to point B. There is a short period of time in which you are between the two places. In contrast, as the electrons absorb and release energy, there is no transition. The electron in the lower energy level “pops” out of existence and instantaneously “pops” into existence at the higher energy level – this is known as a quantum leap.

This concept is a perfect natural model of the rapture of the Church. It does appear to be a completely ridiculous idea, but is nonetheless truth. One day, we will “pop” out of existence on this earth and instantaneously “pop” into existence at a higher energy level.