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
10 September 2009
26 August 2009
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.
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.
28 July 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.
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.
01 July 2009
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).
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
08 June 2009
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.
24 April 2009
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).
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).
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