apostolic accent august issue

Cramming for Finals | Singles Conference | The Danger of Murmuring at Home | Ladies Conference

The O�cial Magazine of the Oregon District UPCI August 2012

accent

A Note From the EditorOregon District Apostolic AccentVolume 48, Number 1

www.ORUPC.com

Editor……………………..........…………….Kassie [email protected]

(503) 689-3589Graphic Assistance............................Jason Di Senso

District OfficialsSuperintendent……………......……………Ted GravesSecretary/Treasurer……..........……..Dan Sargeant

PresbytersSection 1…………………......…..…………Gary GleasonSection 2……………………........…M. Dennis JohnsonSection 3………………………......……..Kevin GoodwinSection 4…………………………......Steven L. Johnson

Honorary Board MemberM. David Johnson

North American MissionsDirector…………………………….......…..Steve HansonSecretary…………………….……….....…Virgil Alldritt

Global MissionsDirector……………………………….......James Bigelow

Apostolic ManDirector……………………………..……......Mark Edday

Ladies MinistriesDirector…………………………......….Geanice LangleySecretary…………………...…….....…….Rachel Sparks

Sunday School Director………………………….…......…Darrell SparksSecretary…………....………………….....…..Joe Higgins

Oregon YouthPresident…………………………….......…Stan GleasonSecretary………………………………......……Kevin Neu

Spanish MinistriesDirector……………………………………......Fito Avenia

Life in Focus Coordinator…...........Bill TittsworthPrison Ministry Coordinator….....….Doug LethinMedia Missions Director……......David P. JohnsonA.C.T.S. President………...….......M. Dennis JohnsonSenior Quiz Coordinator.…......…..Brian HuffmanJunior Quiz Coordinator.…......…Jonathan Toews

What are your talents? What are you doing with your talents? God has designed us all with different talents and different abilities and it is what we do with those gifts that God has given us that matters. He is looking for a willing vessel , someone who will stand up and say, “I’ll say Yes Lord, yes, to Your will and to Your way.” I will use what I have for Your kingdom.

There was a time when I was at the alter and I was praying for God to anoint my hands to play the keyboard, to give me musical talent. That moment transformed my life when God said, I have given you talents and abilities...use what I have given you for My kingdom.

That is not to say that God will not anoint my hands to play the piano but first I must use what He has given me for His service . Are you gifted in art? Use that talent to bless others and the kingdom of God...paint the nursery with amazing pictures children will love, create pictures for the church walls or for a children’s book, help make the Sunday school classrooms amazing, etc.

Has God blessed you with musical talent to play the piano? Use that talent to bless others with music to the King. Help wherever you can help. If your pastor allows, reach out to other churches without music. Be a blessing to others!

Did God give you humor as a talent? Use it to do church skits or to reach people that others would not be able to reach ...be a light in this dark world where there is a lack of joy...I know humor can bring joy!

Put your best foot in to use your God-given talents to bless the kingdom of God and He will bless you beyond what you could ever think or imagine and your life will be more fulfilled.

He has made each and every one of us so uniquely and He has given us all different talents...what are you using the talents God has given you for? I challenge you to find an area that could use your talents and bless the kingdom of God with them!

Kassie Meyer

2 APOSTOLIC ACCENT August 2012

Inside this IssueArticles/Columns2 A Note From the Editor KASSIE MEYER

4 Cramming for Finals DENNIS M. JOHNSON 6 Reaching Portland JR MEYER

7 Thoughts on Love based Convictions JAMES CRAWFORD

9 Keep Going STAN GLEASON

12 The Bound are Free JAMES BIGELOW

14 The Danger of Murmuring at Home DAVID REYNOLDS

Promotions8 Singles Conference 10 Ladies Conference LADIES MINISTRY

11 Ladies Conference - Registration Form LADIES MINISTRY 13 Missionaries in Oregon GLOBAL MISSIONS

16 WCWC Consignment Shop LADIES MINISTRY

12345

One amazing experience!!

Two dynamic night services

Three inspirational days

Four anointed speakers

Five power-packed day sessions

/shoutoregonLIKE US AND UPDATES:

shoutoregon.comREGISTER AND MORE INFO: INFO: SCAN HEREInternational evangelist Jason Sciscoe has

ministered for more than twenty years in churches, singles events, youth camps, healing crusades, leadership meetings and

prayer conferences. For contact info and resources, visit him at www.triumptoday.org.

ONLY $45

EVENING SERVICES

OPEN TO ALL!

SALEM, OREGONSEPTEMBER 27-29, 2012

SINGLES CONFERENCE 2012SHOUT

SPONSORED BY THE OREGON DISTRICT UPC | HOSTED BY CHRISTIAN WORLD FELLOWSHIP 4932 LIBERTY RD. S SALEM, OR 97306

West Coast Women’s Conference

October 18—20, 2012 Seaside Convention Center

415 First Avenue Seaside, Oregon

For more information go to www.orladiesministries.com

Debbie Sanders Hawaii

Linda Gleason Oregon City, OR

Thanks to everyone who

gave to Mother’s Memorial

this year. We appreciate all the sacrifices

that were made toward this

worthy cause.

May God richly bless each of

you as we continue our

untiring efforts to reach the lost

and hurting

around our world before He comes!


Cramming for Finals

M. Dennis Johnson

One little boy asked another, “Why is your grandmother always reading her Bible?”

His answer was, “She is cramming for finals.”

One of the questions that will affect us all is emphasized in an old hymn of the church: “Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid, YOUR HEART, DOES THE SPIRIT CONTROL?”

Our heart will control our thoughts, feelings, judgments, and actions. The serious question is, Does the Spirit control our heart, or do we allow influences from our journey through this world to fashion our heart?

“Take up thy cross and follow me” is the call each of us heard at the start of our Christian walk.

However, surrendering all to Him is not finished in one trip to the altar! We must time and time again re-surrender to His lordship as our understanding grows on the journey toward home. Satan has laid land mines and snares of all descriptions to keep us from fully serving Jesus,

and seeks to knock us out of the race if possible. The blows may come from within the church or from the outside. It is a continuous fight against the world and the Devil to keep our heart fully submitted to God and His will.

THE DECEPTIVE HEARTJeremiah warns us that the heart is

deceitful, and asks, who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9). Since one’s own heart can deceive him, and we all are facing the “finals,” how can we be sure?

We must stay close to God and study His Word. Staying close to God in much prayer and fasting opens up our understanding to the Word. We dare not take a chance on failing the finals!

Jesus said that many on that Day are going to plead that they did many mighty works in His Name, but He will say to them, “Depart from me” (Matt 7:22, 23)!

How could this be? Part of our answer may be found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:8) where Jesus taught, “Blessed are the Pure in heart for they shall see God.”

August 2012 APOSTOLIC ACCENT 5

In Hebrews 4 we learn that the Word of God has the ability and power to examine and reveal the heart’s condition and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, and that all things are naked and open to the eyes of God--the One we all will answer to. And of His appearing, John writes, we will be made like Him and will see Him as He is (I John 3). Then John continues, “Everyone who has this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”

We must keep ourselves pure before Him even though we are surrounded by temptations from the world and even within the church. For example, everyone will have opportunities to get offended at someone in the church, even at leadership. Some have allowed the contamination of a grudge to lodge within their heart for years! We are tempted with envy, jealousy, strife, covetousness, pride, competition, etc.

THE PRE-EXAMThe Word shows us ways to examine

ourselves. How do I measure up to the standards of 1 Corinthians 13, the great love chapter? And some meditation on Matthew 5:44 that tells us to “love your enemies” and to “bless those who despitefully use you” could be very revealing. Remember, “Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind and strength, and thy neighbor as thyself” (Mark 12:30, 31).

May God help us all to be ready for finals!◊____________________________

M. Dennis Johnson is the Pastor of United Pentecostal Church in Albany, Oregon. He also serves as the Section 2 Presbyter and A.C.T.S. President for the Oregon District.

M. Dennis Johnson

In July we had an awesome group of 26 young people from across the U.S. and Canada come for the Apostolic Youth Corps trip. We were greatly blessed by their desire to be a part of this great city. From the moment they landed they grabbed ahold of the burden and vision for Portland. We had many divine encounters throughout our outreaches. Apostolic young people who were on a mission to touch lives bombarded our city with Intercession, singing, witnessing, and praying for people right there on the streets. They blessed our church by playing music and singing during the services.

On Thursday night at the College service 25 guests attended and over 90 people gather to worship Jesus and hear the Gospel message. Many of them who attended came to the altar desperate for a touch of God. A lady who was in a wheelchair couldn’t get to the altar so many

gathered around her and prayed. What a mighty powerful service

to be a part of held on the largest campus in Oregon.

Friday night at Woodstock Park we had many n o t a b l e m i r a c l e s : a diseased girl since

she was 14 and a young man with knee issues were healed instantly. 5 Received the Holy Ghost and over 20 came for their first time including many neighbors. From that service we met a man, his wife

and their10 year old son. They have been c o m i n g since and both were Refilled with the Holy Ghost and have started

in a Bible study. During our kids and neighbor

day there was 1 filled with the Holy Ghost. A woman was emotionally healed after dealing with a miscarriage for months. Her and her husband have both started in

a Bible study as well. There was a breakthrough in the Spirit and 10 first time guests attended.

We praise the Lord for 76 guests in last 2 months. Please pray that God will move on these people

as we continue to follow up to start a Bible Study and come back and obey the gospel!

On a side note: On August 1st at 1:33pm the Lord blessed our family with a handsome

little boy, Jericho David Meyer. He weighed 7lbs and 8oz and was 20 inches. We thank the Lord for a healthy child and gowth to the kingdom of God! ____________________________

JR Meyer is the pastor of Grace Point Ministries in Portland, Oregon. He also serves as the section 5 North American Missions Director.

By JR Meyer


Reaching Portland...

THE DISTANCE TO WHICH YOU ALLOW LASTING PERSONAL CONVICTIONS IN YOUR LIFE WILL NEVER BE PUSHED BEYOND THE LEVEL TO WHICH YOU ALLOW A CONSUMING LOVE FOR YOUR GOD.

There is a reason the GREATEST commandment deals with an all consuming love for God – ALL your heart, soul, might. Upon this first commandment hinges all other commandments, because this is where we gain our MOTIVATION to adhere to the commandments of God - out of a love for Him; a desire to please Him and draw close to Him, to do things that are pleasing to Him.

If you try to focus on merely having personal convictions - without the love in place as the motivating factor - then those will be hollow puffs are air that will soon pass; in not having an all consuming love for Him you are loving something else – whether it’s yourself or others, if it’s put above your love for God its sin.

The word talks about having your eye single so your body can be full of light; if you’re allowing other loves to come between you and God that is allowing your alliances to be divided. The word declares that is being double minded and that you will be unstable in all your ways. A love for God must be exclusionary –

God needs to be preeminent in our lives. I’m not saying we don’t love one another, but our love for others should be portrayed because of our love for Him, not above our love for Him.

It’s interesting in 2 Thessalonians, Paul writes that if we do not receive a love for the Truth that God himself will send us a delusion and cause us to believe a lie and be lost. Jesus cried out that he was “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” – it only stands to reason that the only way to escape being lost is to be captivated by an all consuming love for Him.

Scripture plainly teaches that we need to “purify ourselves, even as He is pure,” and that we are to “Be ye holy, for I am holy,” these scriptures and many others quickly give rise to the understanding that convictions and standards are needed–which I AM NOT writing against– but it is increasingly apparent that our motivation for these standards and convictions MUST be LOVE.

I’ve often wondered about some that have fallen away and the pattern their life takes. They go from being very conviction oriented – and being labeled border-line legalists – to an almost anything goes mentality. This is what happens when personal convictions are not motivated by

a love for Him; those convictions become bloated and expand far beyond the limits of their love for him – then like an over-inflated balloon, they burst.

Convictions that are not based in love will eventually breed contempt and rebellion (even James Dobson, a noted child psychologist, indicates that rules without relationship lead to rebellion); when that rebellion finally births forth, we find that the convictions that just a short time ago appeared to be held so firmly - evaporate into thin air.

So what’s the solution? What do I do if I find I’ve been keeping convictions in my life ‘just because’ and the standards held in my life are just to fit in? Or what if God is convicting me about something I just can’t seem to put on the altar and leave there.

The intuitive answer seems to be, especially in our convenience based culture – drop the convictions…. but God is all too often counter-intuitive and counter-cultural.

The solution cannot be found in lowering your standard, but in increasing your love. If we increase the love for our God, then our convictions or standards will be rooted in a desire to draw closer to Him which results in established personal convictions...

Jesus at one point indicated

By James Crawford

Thoughts on Love Based Convictions



12345

One amazing experience!!

Two dynamic night services

Three inspirational days

Four anointed speakers

Five power-packed day sessions

/shoutoregonLIKE US AND UPDATES:

shoutoregon.comREGISTER AND MORE INFO: INFO: SCAN HEREInternational evangelist Jason Sciscoe has

ministered for more than twenty years in churches, singles events, youth camps, healing crusades, leadership meetings and

prayer conferences. For contact info and resources, visit him at www.triumptoday.org.

ONLY $45

EVENING SERVICES

OPEN TO ALL!

SALEM, OREGONSEPTEMBER 27-29, 2012

SINGLES CONFERENCE 2012SHOUT

SPONSORED BY THE OREGON DISTRICT UPC | HOSTED BY CHRISTIAN WORLD FELLOWSHIP 4932 LIBERTY RD. S SALEM, OR 97306

that “if you love me, keep my commandments” he was referencing the concept that if you truly love someone, you will choose habits and actions that are pleasing to them ABOVE your own desires. If you love Him, it will show in the choices you make in life.

My challenge to you today, is the same one posed to the Israelites by Moses, a challenge handed down from God, inscribed in the stone tablet, and reiterated by Jesus as the first and greatest commandment:

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 KJV“Hear O Israel, the Lord our God

is one Lord; and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

May the Lord draw you ever nearer to Him, and may your spirit be meek and correctible in the Master potter’s hands…___________________________

James Crawford attends Apostolic Life Center in Albany, Oregon.

Humor from Kandi Brown...

Its very important to stay fit. My grandmother is a great example of this. She started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She’s 97 today and we don’t know where in the world she is.

What do you mean, my birth certificate expired?

All generalizations are bad!

Thoughts on Love Based Concictions Continued...


Keep GoingBy Stan Gleason

OLYMPIC RUNNER TAOUFIK MAKHLOUFI WAS KICKED OUT OF THE OLYMPICS ON AUGUST 6, 2012 FOR NOT TRYING TO WIN THE 800M HEAT. AFTER ABOUT 100M HE WAS ALREADY FAR BEHIND. IN ANOTHER 100M HE JUST QUIT RUNNING AND WALKED OFF THE TRACK.

The referee kicked him out of the games not because he didn’t win, not because he wasn’t talented. The previous day he had beat the Olympic and world

champion Asbel Kiprop in a 1500m heat. He was talented. The referee kicked him out of the tournament because “he had not provided a bona fide effort”

He wasn’t any less of an Olympian for not winning, but when he didn’t even try, he wasn’t even an Olympian anymore. You are not any less of a Christian for not being what the world would call a superstar.

When we stand before God He will say “Well done though

good and faithful servant.” God’s not looking for a superstar, He’s looking for faithfulness. God’s not asking you to be the Apostle Paul. He’s not asking you to be your Pastor, He’s just asking you to be the best that you can be..◊____________________________

Stan Gleason is an Evangelist from Oregon City, Oregon. He also serves as the Oregon District Youth Presisdent.

West Coast Women’s Conference

October 18—20, 2012 Seaside Convention Center

415 First Avenue Seaside, Oregon

For more information go to www.orladiesministries.com

Debbie Sanders Hawaii

Linda Gleason Oregon City, OR

Thanks to everyone who

gave to Mother’s Memorial

this year. We appreciate all the sacrifices

that were made toward this

worthy cause.

May God richly bless each of

you as we continue our

untiring efforts to reach the lost

and hurting

around our world before He comes!


West Coast Women’s Conference Seaside Convention Center Seaside, Oregon

October 18th—20th, 2012

Registration Fee Info: Other Information: Postmarked by October 5th $35.00 Our young ladies 13-17 welcome—must be Postmarked after October 5th $45.00 accompanied by an adult. (Fees apply regardless of how Nursing babies 1 year and under allowed to attend Many sessions or days attending) All ladies attending must be from a UPC Church (No Banquet this year) You may bring guests but they Must register and pay registration fee.

Headquarters Hotel: Rivertide Suites Hotel, 102 N. Holladay, Seaside, OR 97138 (See all motel info on our website at www.orladiesministries.com)

Thursday: 5:00 p.m. Registration at Seaside Civic and Convention Center 7:00 p.m. Evening Service Saturday: 10:00 a.m. Morning Service 12:30 p.m. Drawings/Dismiss

Friday a.m.: 10:00 a.m. Service Friday p.m.: 7:00 p.m. Evening Service

********************************Registration Form**************************

Make Checks payable to “Oregon District Ladies Ministries” and mail to Rachel Sparks, 6720 S.W. 198th, Aloha, OR 97007

Name:_________________________________________________________________________ Address:______________________________________________________________________ City:___________________________________________________________________________ Phone( ___)________Pastor_______________________________________________________ I am an Oregon District Minister’s Widow_______Home Missionary Wife____________ (Must be in the 5 year status) Registration for Widows and Home Missionary Wives is Free but you must register.

Linda Gleason Oregon City, OR Debbie Sanders

Hawaii

In today’s global crime market, a new form of crime that is making money for organized crime cartels is kidnapping for ransom. This activity involves gangs who kidnap people and then hold them for a ransom payment. According to police reports all over the world, this crime has become very profitable for criminals. It takes place often in countries such as Mexico, Somalia and Pakistan. The ransom payment sometimes runs into millions of dollars.

We all know about people being kidnapped, or taken hostage, and the kidnappers asking relatives, groups or governments for a ransom price in exchange for the lives of their victims. Canon Andrew White, Vicar of St. George’s Church in Baghdad, is an extraordinary man. One of his self-imposed tasks has been to offer himself as a hostage negotiator for people kidnapped in Iraq. Recently a kidnapped Israeli soldier was exchanged for a huge number of Palestinian prisoners.

In today’s global crime market, a new form of crime that is making money for organized crime cartels is kidnapping for ransom. This activity involves gangs who kidnap people and then hold them

for a ransom payment. According to police reports all over the world, this crime has become very profitable for criminals. It takes place often in countries such as Mexico, Somalia and Pakistan. The ransom payment sometimes runs into millions of dollars.

We all know about people being kidnapped, or taken hostage, and the kidnappers asking relatives, groups or governments for a ransom price in exchange for the lives of their victims. Canon Andrew White, Vicar of St. George’s Church in Baghdad, is an extraordinary man. One of his self-imposed tasks has been to offer himself as a hostage negotiator for people kidnapped in Iraq. Recently a kidnapped Israeli soldier was exchanged for a huge number of Palestinian prisoners.

Matt.20:28 says “the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Jesus paid the price of his own life as a ransom to release us from the slavery and consequences of sin. The Greek meaning for that little word “for” has the sense of “in the place of” or *as a substitute for.”

Christ died for all; he negotiated total freedom for all men

everywhere. In Revelation 5:9, the Apostle John was caught up in the Spirit and saw into the future as the people of God worshipped the Lamb that was slain, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” The ransom price paid was his precious blood.

It’s a done deal: his precious blood has been shed as the ransom price; the bound are free. The scripture of truth declares, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). But this raises some important questions…

“How then shall they [who are unaware that the ransom has been paid] call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” (Romans 10:14-15)

Allow me to rephrasing Isaiah 6:8. When the voice of the Lord said, “Whom shall I send to Bolivia, and who will go for us? Then said

By James Bigelow

Ransom (World English Dictionary)Noun- 1. The release of captured prisoners,

property, etc, on payment of a stipulated price.2. The price demanded or stipulated for such

a release.Hold to ransom: a. to keep (prisoners, prop-

erty, etc, in confinement until payment for their release is made or received b. to attempt to force (a person or persons) to comply with one’s demands


James & Stacy Marse August 28-September 2 (Tue- Tigard)Bolivia

Cynthia White September 4-9Middle East

Steve & Loy Bennett November 6-11Israel/Pal

Keith & Elizabeth Ikerd November 13-18 (Sat/Sun AM/PM- Oregon City)Namibia

James & Stacy Marse (who will be in Oregon August 28 – Sept 2), “Here we are; send us.”

When the voice of the Lord said, “Whom shall I send to Jordan and the Middle East, and who will go for us? Then said Cynthia White (who will be in Oregon Sept 4 – 9), “Here am I; send me.”

When the voice of the Lord said, “Whom shall I send to Israel and Palestine, and who will go for us? Then said Steve & Loy Bennett (who will be in Oregon Nov 6 – 11), “Here we are; send us.”

When the voice of the Lord said, “Whom shall I send to Namibia, and who will go for us? Then said Keith & Elizabeth Ikerd (who will be in Oregon Nov 13 - 18), “Here we are; send us.”

Others are being sent who will be in our district next year: Oscar & Erin Rodriquez, Stephen & Lynette O’Donnell, John & Vonda Guidry, Steve & Yvonne Nix, Charles & Stacey Robinette, Dan & Debbie Barkley, Shane & Dena Hayes, Joe & Fanny Cooney...

“And the Lord said, Go, and tell

this people…” (Isaiah 6:9).Our missionaries have been

sent by the Lord, but they also need churches who will partner with the will of God by providing a prayer covering for them and by contributing to their financial support. I think they might like to say something to us similar to the words of another missionary named Paul, which are found in the Amplified Bible rendering of Phil 4:15-19. (Replaced wording is in bold font).

“15 And you Oregonians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when we travelled on missionary deputation, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with us and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except you only. 16 For even in the churches of Oregon you sent [us contributions] for our needs, not only once but a second time. 17 Not that we seek or are eager for [your] gift, but we do seek and are eager for the fruit which increases to your credit

[the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account]. 18 But we have [your full payment] and more; we have everything we need and are amply supplied, now that we have received from the Global Missions Division the gifts you sent us. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights. 19 And our God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

We rejoice in the wonderful promise found in that last verse but I fear that too many of us claim it out of context. In its proper context, the promise that God will supply all our needs is contingent upon us supplying the needs of our missionaries. Selah. ____________________________

James Bigelow is the Oregon District Global Missions Director.

Information on each missionary and country, plus many helps, can be viewed or downloaded at www.globalmissions.com Pastors can place their request for specific missionaries to visit their church by contacting James Bigelow at:

541.756.7141 or 541.217.4310 [email protected]


“They despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:

But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord” Psalms 106:24,25

“Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God: And ye murmured in your tents…”

Deuteronomy 1:26,27

When I was young I lived in a Pastor’s home. At times there were problems in the church and at times the saints’ did not treat my father with respect. I remember at times my mother would mention something about these problems at the table only to be cut off by my father—“Helen, the kids!”. I usually was the last person to know about these issues—thus I grew up hearing nothing negative about the church or about God’s people. That is probably why I am in the church today.

By David Reynolds

The Danger of Murmuring at Home


You and I may not live in tents any more but there is far too much murmuring in our homes—in front of our young people. The sin of murmuring is as current as today’s newspaper.

Discontent with the workings of God and/or God’s people is very serious in the eyes of God. When discontent is voiced at home you may think that no one hears—but your children hear. You may as well be living in a tent. Adolescents have big ears. If you want to assure that your young person will leave the church and go to hell—just make a habit of murmuring in your tent.

The children of Israel murmured when the water was bitter [Exodus 15:24]. They murmured again when the water was lacking. [Exodus 17:3]. They forgot so quickly the miracles just performed. They murmured for want of bread and because they had left their fleshpots in Egypt. [Exodus 16:2].

When God promised them a land flowing with milk and honey, and all they had to do was to go in and claim it, ten of their men brought back an evil and discouraging report. “And the men which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land, even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord” [Numbers14:3-6].

The saddest incident of all, however, was when Korah, Dathan and Abriram rose up against Moses and Aaron, saying. “Ye take too much upon you,

seeing all of the congregation are holy—every one of them.”

Moses invited them to come up before the Lord. They refused and stood “with their wives, and their sons, and their little children” in the door of their tents.

“And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me. But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord.

And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them:” [Numbers 16:27-33].

Murmuring in their tents led to rebellion against God’s chosen leaders. This is not a light thing to God. God’s judgement fell not only on the parents but also the children and the little babies. Innocent children are always hurt by the rebellion of parents. If you want to destroy your children—then complain against the ministry and the people of God.

Even after God judged Korah and his friends the people again murmured, questioning the justice of the judgement of God. When will we ever learn. Murmuring destroys the faith of our children in God, the ministry and God’s people. Discontent brings about murmuring and murmuring leads to rebellion

God--give us a spirit of contentment! Let our children only hear words of thanksgiving and praise for the goodness of God. If we cannot say words that build faith in the hearts of our children -–let us not say anything.

God help us to say only words that build-- and not words that destroy. Let us not murmur in our homes; for if we do, like Israel, we will die spiritually and our children will wander in a spiritual wilderness.

“Godliness with contentment is great gain” I Tim. 6:6.◊____________________________

David Reynolds has been

the Minister of Discipleship

at Portland Pentecostals

since 2007. He is a gradu-

ate of Conquerors Bible

College, Cascade College,

Portland State University and post graduate

work at the University of Oregon. He served

as a teacher, assistant Principle & Principle.

Since retiring from public education he has

traveled extensively to over 37 countries

preaching & teaching in Bible Schools and

has written several books on Education, The

Family & Parenting.


WCWC Consignment

Shop!

Attention Ladies!

WCWC will be having our 1st

Ladies Consignment Shop opening this year! Please bring your clothing items and join in the fun! We

will be accepting: Modest clothing for women & children

(In good condition only) Dresses and tops on hangers Purses & shoes welcome too!

This will give you an opportunity to sell items to make money for you! And a percentage will go towards your

Adopted Missionary Offering. This will be included in your MM offering for your church next year.

If you have questions, please email

Dawnella Higgins at [email protected]

apostolic accent august issue

Documents

talents god

kingdom of god

different talents

godgiven talents

musical talent

focus coordinator

different abilities

oregon district upci