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I could sense from the first moment I heard him speak that Scott Brill was different. What I didn’t know was just how different he was!

This week I was in Virginia where I met with a group of pastors from up and down the east coast for an annual meeting we have to pray, share, and encourage one another. One afternoon we took short “day-trip” to the world-famous Luray Caverns. When we arrived, we all climbed out of my SUV, looking somewhat like a pastor version of circus clowns climbing out of their tiny little car. We had all shared and laughed during the entire drive, and were quite ready to walk around, even if it were hundreds of feet below ground!

As we began our tour of the caverns, we met Scott, our tour guide. Of course, being a tour guide, he was the kind of person who liked to talk. But, he had a slightly different way of speaking, an incredible memory about every possible detail about Luray Caverns, and an especially corny sense of humor. And, unknown to him at that time – a group of pastors among those he was leading on the tour. As he led us down deep into the earth, sharing more detail than any of us could remember, he also shared his humorous anecdotes. And my friends and I just picked up on it, and carried on the banter with him!

But something special happened as we reached the mid-point of our tour, some sixteen stories deep beneath the surface of the earth above us. Scott said that he wanted to share something that really didn’t have anything to do with the caverns, but that he felt it important to say.

Scott told us that just months before, he had undergone open heart surgery. And, during the surgery, his heart had stopped beating for 80 minutes. From his perspective during the surgery, time had become suspended. And he had an experience that would change his life – both physically and spiritually. While the doctors at the University of Virginia Medical Center worked to repair the valve in Scott’s broken heart, a heavenly doctor – Doctor Jesus – began spiritual surgery on Scott’s spiritual heart.

As a result of that experience, Scott told us that his entire life had been changed. The things he used to do, he no longer did. The sinful activities that had been a defining part of his life before surgery were now a thing of the past. Before the surgery, Scott didn’t go to church, didn’t read the Bible, and rarely had any spiritual thoughts at all. Now, Scott’s heart has been healed physically, but he has a new spiritual heart, a new drive and ambition, and a passion to tell everyone that “God is good!”

While I was impressed with his incredible recovery, and the fact that he walks an average of 800 miles every year – underground (he is hoping to set the Guinness Book of World Records for walking the furthest distance underground) – I was more impressed with Scott’s drive to share of his new life with everyone he meets.

Scott experienced the greatest miracle ever – new life through Jesus Christ! And, he is committed to tell people about his new faith in the Lord.

Has God done heart surgery on you? What has God done for you that has literally changed your life? Be sure to tell others about the goodness of God, and what He has done for you!

This week I saw one of the greatest wonders in the world! Oh... as a side note, I also saw Luray Caverns!

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 8.04. Live for God, on purpose, for He has made you a new creation through Jesus Christ!

2008 World Missions Convention

WFA’s annual World Missions Convention began this past Wednesday, and continues through the next two weekends. During these special meetings, we will focus on reaching EVERYWHERE in the name of Jesus!

God is not willing that anyone would perish, but that all men – everywhere – would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Missions is an integral part of the “dna” of WFA! Our vision is to reach out – EVERYWHERE. Our goal is to plant ten churches in ten years here in Delaware. Work is well on its way in planting our fourth church, Indian River Assembly of God – in south Sussex County. And, world-wide, we are reaching out as WFA supports EVERY world missionary of the Pennsylvania-Delaware District of the Assemblies of God.

This past Wednesday, Rev. Joe Lear shared his ministry with us, as they have transitioned from ministry in Africa and are preparing to begin their new missions assignment in Croatia. This Sunday morning, our good friend, Rev. Jim Wellborn will join us here at WFA. For nearly two decades, Jim has been linking other missionaries together with young people from across our nation, in a ministry called Ambassadors in Mission. As the “missionary liaison” for AIM, he travels all over the world, and coordinates short-term missions trips for Assemblies of God youth, to provide tremendous evangelistic outreach with missionaries around the globe.

Jim Wellborn

Next Wednesday, Rev. Kent Linneweh, missionary to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, will join us. Kent and his wife, Leslie, find themselves in a society of highly educated and a proud people with a rich heritage, they have been given over to the bondages of liberal thinking complete with legal drugs, government sanctioned prostitution, and pornography. Statistics report that fewer than 3% of the people in the Netherlands have any kind of connection at all to biblical Christianity. They believe that God wants to send a spirit of repentance, salvation, and revival to the Netherlands, complete with eye-opening and heart-rendering signs, wonders, and miracles!

Rev. Kent and Leslie Linneweh

Next weekend, Rev. Gary Sapp and his wife Dee of Mission of Mercy will join us for our World Missions Banquet on Saturday evening, February 2nd, and Sunday morning, February 3rd.

What a great opportunity to hear first-hand what the Lord is doing around the world! Don’t miss it!

Stronger and Greater

Fear is unquestionably a problem common to all. Somebody has said that there are 365 “fear nots” in the Bible-one for every day of the year!

Healthy fear is a God-given emotion. Without it we would get into all sorts of dangerous situations. We rightly fear, or should fear, driving through a red light or walking alone at night (or in broad daylight) in a dangerous area. If we don’t, we’re out of touch with reality.

The fears that give us problems are those that cause anxiety, sleepless nights, give us ulcers, cause us to fail in our relationships and in our work, etc., etc.

On the surface these fears may seem to be irrational. Usually they’re not in the sense that they have their roots in past frightening or traumatic experiences. Even a dog, if it has been abused by a human in the past, will be afraid of humans. So will people.

So how do we overcome our fears?

First, like David, we need to trust in the Lord and seek his guidance to find the help we need to resolve our fears.

Second, if our fear is caused by a traumatic experience in childhood or in the past, very often skilled therapy is needed so the root cause can be resolved and trust restored.

Whether God heals us directly or through a counselor doesn’t matter. The important thing is that we choose to trust God and ask him to give us the courage to face our fears-and lead us to the help we need to overcome them. As King David said, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.”

When I am afraid, I keep quoting David who also said, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do unto me?”

May our trust be stronger than our doubts and our love greater than our fears – for the God who brought us this far will not desert us now.

A Snapshot Report of Moral and Social Concerns

What are the most pressing moral and social issues of our day? What concerns Christians the most? The following new study from The Barna Group reveals the top 10 perceived important issues in the here and now:

(1-3) Three types of issues are of particular concern, perceived as “major” problems facing the country by three-quarters of the population. These include poverty (78%), the personal debt of individual Americans (78%) and HIV/AIDS (76%).

(4-7) A quartet of issues emerged as moderate concerns, including immigration (60% of adults said this is a major problem facing the country), global warming (57%), abortion (50%) and the content of television and movies (45%).

(8-9) Homosexuality was identified as a major problem facing the nation by about one out of every three Americans. This issue was assessed with the use of two separate survey questions, to determine if Americans have different degrees of concerns about “homosexual lifestyles” or the “political efforts of homosexual activists.” One-third of Americans said they were significantly concerned about “activists” (35%) and the same proportion felt “lifestyles” (35%) were of major concern. In fact, out of more than sixty different subgroups reviewed, there were no differences of opinion on these two survey questions, suggesting that the two issues are linked in Americans’ minds.

(10) Will there be a backlash against Christian voters this November? To help gauge that possibility, the study also examined the percentage of Americans who said they believed “the political efforts of conservative Christians” are a major problem facing the country. While this was the least significant of the 10 issues explored, nearly one out of every four Americans (23%) – representing about 51 million adults – described this factor as a major source of distress.

For more information on the breakdown by born-again and evangelical believers, party lines and faith allegiance, visit www.barna.org for a complete report.

as seen in the January 25, 2008 edition of “The Pastor’s Weekly Briefing”

Worthy of the Name

When Alexander the Great ruled all the known world, he made it his policy to hear any appeal made to him. One day a young soldier was brought before Alexander for trial. The young man wore the tunic of Alexander’s Army. “With what is he charged?” asked Alexander – who held absolute authority in all matters. There would be no appeal of his verdict. “He is charged with cowardice in battle,” answered the prosecutor.

A great hush fell over the crowd gathered in the judgment hall. They knew Alexander as a general who expected his men to be valiant since he, himself, did not push his soldiers, but led them into the thick of battle. Alexander looked at the young soldier who was a mere youth, fair haired and still too young to shave. The angry scowl on his face slowly changed into an understanding smile, “What is your name, soldier?”

“Worthy King,” responded the youth, “my name is the same as yours – Alexander.”

Anger came back into Alexander’s face, and he leaped to his feet. Alexander grabbed the soldier’s tunic. “Young soldier.” he said with great control, “either change your name, or change your behavior.”

We are called “Christians”. Are you worthy of the name?

Something Better than Guidance

by Rick Ezell

Though the Bible never uses the word guidance, it does speak of a Guide. We may seek guidance, but God provides something better-Himself.

God’s guidance rests on two facts: One, the reality of God’s plan for us. God has formed us for an “eternal purpose” (Ephesians 3:11) (literally, a “plan of the ages” or “a plan for the fullness of time") “according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:11).

The second fact is our ability to communicate with God. Since we are communicative animals, so our Maker is a communicative God. He made his will known to and through Old Testament prophets. He guided Jesus and Paul. Acts records several instances of detail guidance.

And why wouldn’t God want to communicate his plan to us? We are his children. If human parents have a responsibility to give their children guidance in matters where ignorance and incapacity would spell danger, we should not doubt that in the family of God the same applies. He has given us his Word, the Bible, which in my opinion contains 95% of his will for our lives. He has left us the indwelling presence of his Holy Spirit to prompt and direct our lives. He seeks his glory in our lives, and he is glorified in us when we obey his will.

Yet many of us struggle to understand and discern God’s guidance for our lives. We ask questions like: Should I marry or not? Should I marry this person or not? Should we have another child? Should I join this church or that one? Which profession should I follow? What job should I take? Is my present line of work the one to stay in? Herein lies the major distortion of knowing and doing God’s will. Does God lead and direct in these areas? Yes. Does he come out and overtly tell us what to do? Rarely.

So how does God guide us? What does God’s guidance look like? Let me give you a few clarifying statements.

God’s guidance concerns itself more with our steps than our overall journey. Meaning, if we are taking the right steps, the journey will take care of itself.

God’s guidance is more preoccupied with the present than with the future. God dwells in eternity; he is not bound by time. If we become preoccupied with the future journey, we may miss the present step.

God’s guidance has less to do with geography and more to do with morality. His supreme plan for you and me is to be like his son (Romans 8:29). He can accomplish that plan whether you are living in Montreal or Miami, working for Lucent or Lipton. In other words, it is better we make a mistake about geography than about the morality.

God’s guidance is more interested in our character than our comfort. God’s goal always has been to perfect us spiritually, not to pamper us physically. Americans read the Bible with distorted lenses. We read “over” the suffering, persecution, toil, and pain that most believers in the Bible endured. Too often we equate God’s will with success and comfort, and think we are outside God’s will when we are faced with failure and pain.

God’s guidance is not insider information. Often, we want to know beforehand which step will lead to money, happiness, and success. Let me give you a test. Do you really want God’s guidance? Then, how often do you seek God’s guidance when you are not facing trouble or a difficult decision?

God’s guidance is that we pursue the Guide more than guidance. In seeking God, his plan will be revealed.

If the step is more critical than the journey, and the present is of greater consequence than the future, and the Guide more essential than the guidance, what is needed? We need to know the right step to take. We need to know what we must do in the present. We need to know the Guide. God does not guide us magically; he guides us relationally. Therefore, the Bible must be studied, so we may become acquainted with the ways and thoughts of God. God’s aim is that we become his companions that walk with him. He already knows us. Now he wants us to understand and know him. The more we understand him, the more real the relationship, and the more likely we are to keep in step with him, in the direction he is taking us.

as seen in Rick Ezell’s “One Minute Uplift” weekly email devotional of January 24, 2008. Dr. Ezell is pastor of First Baptist Church in Greer, South Carolina.

God and Barbers

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: “I don’t believe that God exists.”

“Why do you say that?” asked the customer.

“Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn’t exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can’t imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.”

The customer thought for a moment, but didn’t respond because he didn’t want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: “You know what? Barbers do not exist.”

“How can you say that?” asked the surprised barber. “I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!”

“No!” the customer exclaimed. “Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.”

“Ah, but barbers DO exist! That’s what happens when people do not come to me.”

“Exactly!” affirmed the customer. “That’s the point! God, too, DOES exist! That’s what happens when people do not go to Him and don’t look to Him for help. That’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world.”

The Last Impression

As we prepare for our Missions Convention Banquet, for those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on nutrition and health. It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

So, in conclusion – eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

I am glad to be back home in Delaware! And, I am thrilled that our annual World Missions Convention is here! This is an exciting time, and you will not want to miss a single opportunity throughout these very special gatherings! Hope to see you here at WFA this weekend!