August, 2005

Wana and I are in many Churches during the year and at times I detect a note of contempt against anyone that is not Baptist. This feeling is not Christ-like. I am a Baptist, saved in a Baptist Church, Pastored several Baptist Church, Ordained as a Baptist Preacher—but The Body of Christ is much larger than the Baptist Church. Our grandparents were Primitive Baptist people, I have preached in Nazarene, Assembly of God, Methodist, Free Will Baptist, Church of God and other groups. Many of these Pastors and people love Our Lord. I am giving you some examples.

Our dear friend ‘PREACH MCGUIRE’ has pastored the West Side FWBC for 39 years. He and Mary Lou are two of the finest Christians I have ever met. I have preached so many Revivals in that Church in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

More than forty years ago I was blessed to be one of the preachers at the Holbrook Camp Ground (Methodist). I have preached there several different years. One day I was preaching and during the invitation a young fellow came forward and told us that God has called him to preach. His name is WARREN LATHEM. How God has used that man. Today he is the DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT of the Atlanta Marietta District. Dr. Lathem is one of God’s great preachers. August 4, Warren and Jane will leave for another visit in Venezuela. They have established the UMC of Venezuela.

Warren and Jane have had their cup of sorrow. In l996, you will remember that a plane went down in the swamps of Florida. Their son, Ray, was one of those killed. Under Warren’s leadership there is a seminary with over 65 students, more than 17 churches. August 12, their son Jared, will marry the daughter of one of the Venezuelan pastors. Warren is a Bible preacher.

What I am saying is that God has many choice servants serving Him across the world. REMEMBER—it is God who calls His preachers. He left that to NO one group or denomination nor to any man.

My friend, DR MATTHEW SKARIAH, was called as a young fellow while living in INDIA. Dr. Skariah is one of the most educated preachers in our nation. In his last newsletter he wrote: “JUST A THOUGHT! Imagine, George Muller, God’s anointed servant, urging believers of his day to use their credit card or asking permission to draw a certain sum each month from their checking account to support the work of the Lord! Evangelical Christianity has fallen on strange times! Let us not attempt to supplement God’s providence by our provisions. The life of Jesus is not a life of begging, shrewdness and psychological trickery but a life of faith, passion, devotion, power and purity. Let us trust God without the smallest admixture of doubt.” Matthew and Susie are godly people.

This article is special to me and I thought it might interest you. Most of us have watched or heard ‘SOUND OF MUSIC.” I SERVED IN WW II with the 86th Blackhawk Infantry Division. May 5, 1945, “Victory in Europe Day’ found many of the 86th troops in Oberndorf, Austria. This comes from Francis J. “Noot” Landry, a member of the 86th Signal Company. Oberndorf, a picture post card village at the base of the beautiful snow-capped ‘Alps’. SILENT NIGHT was composed there. It was also near the place where some other wonderful music was composed. “Noot” said German soldiers emerged from the woods with upraised hands just like in the movies. I remember how young they looked—like teenagers, tired, hungry and scared. We had been warned, however, that there could be some fanatics among them—so be alert. Early the next morning as I rounded a building I saw figures emerging from the mist in the distance. The sun was directly behind them and the lead figure seemed to be carrying a machine gun. I called out to my friend, Bob Webb, “grab your rifle, Bob, someone’s approaching and they’re armed. As we took up positions and were about to open fire on them, I shouted ‘hold your fire, I hear something.’

It was the sound of music coming down from the mountain—sung by the BARON VON TRAPP children fleeing from the Nazis. I have often been haunted by the thought of how close we came to firing on those children and denying future generations their wonderful music—THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

What a wonderful story and it all happened in the Division I was privileged to serve with, THE 86th BLACKHAWK INFANTRY DIVISION. Most of us were young and we were known as THE KID DIVISION.

Wana and I thank:

a. Dr. Don Richards and the Corinth Baptist Church, Loganville, GA, they print our bulletin, fold it and get it ready to mail and do our business cards. Mrs. Nancy Wiseman does much of this.

b. All those who support the Winfrey Evangelistic Association. Your gifts allow us to help support 21 Missionaries, Mission Work, and older preachers.

c. Dr. Ken Martin, Dr. Billy Wood and the people of Grace Baptist Church, Powder Springs, GA. They have done so much for us.

d. Dr. Ralph Easterwood and the people of the Glen Haven Baptist Church, McDonough, GA. They have done so much for us.

e. We thank all the Pastors who have invited us to preach and sing in their Churches.

f. Dr. Brad Davis, Pastor of the Antioch Baptist Church, Bristol, VA. Brad and Sandra have helped us in so many ways

g. Mr. Glenn and Mrs. Mary Labbie. He prepared our website and keeps it up-dated. He helps me with my computer and other equipment.

h. I thank God for WANA, my lovely wife of 63 years. She is always ready to go and we are on the road so much. She helps me drive and sings & plays the accordion in our services. People love to hear that accordion. She is one great prayer warrior.

i. Wana and I especially thank SANDY EDWARDS, owner of the CARVER TAX & ACCOUNTING, INC., 1975 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, Georgia 30068. Because of her—each gift you give can be used for Income Tax purposes. Thank you Sandy!

j. So many of Our Lord’s people has been so good us. We do not have words to express our thanks to them and to Our Wonderful Lord.

I wonder who pays for JESSIE JACKS0N’S travels? He is one of the most hungry men—to have his name known I have ever heard of. Let anything happen in the world—usually for the wrong cause, and he appears. I don’t know of any good he has done. I wonder where he will be next? While I am on that subject one of the saddest things that could happen to our nation—is Hillary Clinton running for President.

DYING WITHOUT CHRIST! Most people have never seen a sinner die without Christ. As a young preacher boy I was called to two men who died in one night. They lived a couple of miles apart. I knew them both and went to school with their children. One was saved and the other was a sinner (GM) who had never repented and accepted Jesus Christ. I asked permission to pray with him. His daughter said, “Can’t you see Daddy is so very sick. Don’t bother him.” As she was telling me not to pray with him—he screamed and stood up in bed (before he could not even turn himself over in the bed.) He screamed, ‘my feet are on fire, someone help me, I am burning and then died—died screaming. I am lost, I don’t know God. I am going to hell.’ I said to the daughter, ‘ so your daddy does not need prayer.’

I remember that early dreary morning in Germany while in battle. Someone said, ‘Preach, Sgt. is dying. I went to him and put his head on my arm. He looked up and said, “ I did not mean for it to end this way.”

Today we send them to the hospital and they are medicated, therefore, we don’t see the ‘real thing’ much now. Read Luke 16-19-31. This death story is told by Jesus! The preacher that won’t preach on Hell-fire and how terrible it is to die without Christ is not a GOD-CALLED preacher. Listen to the rich man cry, 16-23,’In hell (hades) he lift up his eyes, being in torments—24 and cried Father, Abraham, have mercy on me—I AM TORMENTED IN THIS FLAME.

The noted French infidel, VOLTAIRE, while dying, at times would gnash his teeth

in rage against God and man. Other times he would plead, “O Christ! O Lord Jesus! Then would turn his face he would cry out, “I must die—abandoned of God and of men. His door was guarded so others could not see how terrible it was for a man to die without Christ. His nurse said, “For all the wealth of Europe, I would never see another infidel die.” It was a scene of horror that lies beyond all exaggeration. Voltaire had so much natural intellect, and an excellent education, great wealth and much earthly honor. I could give you case after case of how terrible it is to die without Christ.

Jesus described it in Matthew 13-43. “And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth,” also Matthew 13-50. Matthew 5-22, ‘shall be in danger of hellfire (Gr. gehenna). 5-29, ‘if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out—so that thy whole body should not be cast into hell (Gr. gehenna), again in verse 30.

My unsaved friend will you take time to read Revelation chapter 20-10—15, and 21-8.

It is appointed to man to die—and die you will! In the Atlanta area the young are dying as well as the older people. Your death is not IF, rather WHEN. The lake of fire is a place of loneliness such as men has never known. A place of suffering beyond description. It is an eternal state—not just a day, a year but FOREVER. We are facing ETERNITY—all of us. If you are lost you go over The Cross and The Death of Jesus, the Bible—the Word of God.

Why are you not saved? Why have you not bowed your head and heart and confessed your sin and asked Jesus to save you? Excuses will not work! It is each person’s—personal—responsibility to take care of this MOST IMPORTANT EVENT IN LIFE. You may not believe the Bible nor in Hell—but you will five seconds after death. THERE ARE NO ATHEISTS in hell! They all will know there is a God. Every knee will bow, every mouth will confess that He (Jesus) is LORD.

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