Many are the tribulations of the righteous but God .... All throughout the Scriptures, we find that the servants of God have periods of difficulty before God does something big through them. Well, we are expecting something big to happen in this ministry.

Unsaved people, and care-free "Christians" are on our heart. Some of them are close to us; probably some of them are close to you. Recently, while we were in Orlando, I could not help but notice the great number of people rushing to Disney World and other sites of entertainment, places that please the flesh part of man. I thought, "Do they have the same fervor for a Bible Study; do they talk about the LORD like they talk about the pleasures of this world; how many of these people love God so much that they rush to a gathering for the purpose of praising Him?"

Severe pains in JoAnn's chest caused us to drive on Sunday as we returned from Orlando. Traffic was heavy; I wondered how many were going to church and how many were going to a place of pleasure. Was pleasure winning? This question has caused me to pray for a greater anointing of the Holy Spirit. This is the only power that performes the works of God, acts with demonstration of power beyond the understanding of man's mind while showing the tangibility of God.

On Friday, June 27, 1997, JoAnn entered the hospital because of fluid in her right lung. The doctors put a tube in her side and for four days they drained. Another two days were required for a process which would prevent this from happening again.

I thank God for my Godly wife. While in great pain she was still praying for others. One day, while in the hospital, she was standing at the window, looking at the activity around Rescue Seven, the helicopter that had just landed six floors below. She was crying, and praying for the broken man being unloaded, praying for his life here on earth and for his life in the hereafter. As I watched this scene I thought about how many people were hurting and dying without anyone standing in the window.

I know that we all have the same heart for people that do not know the LORD as their personal savior. For this cause I ask that you join us in seeking a great anointing of the Holy Spirit. Pray that as many of us as possible can go to the unsaved with a message, and in a fashion, that thousands will come to know Jesus and His freedom from everlasting torment.

While watching Christian Television or listening to Christian Radio one hears a lot about the anointing of the LORD. This is good because a special anointing is available to people in "Covenant" with God. His special anointing does not however come to people who are focused on the things of this world. It only comes to people focused on Him, people that desire to be close to Him, becoming one with Him (John 17). The Hebrew word for "sacrifice" (Korban, le-hakriv) means "to come near, to approach. ... to become closely involved in a relationship with someone." With this in mind, consider Romans 12:1-2.

... present your bodies as a living acrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

JoAnn is home, and improving. Thank you for standing in the window for her, and for the unsaved of this world.

P.S. We are ministering to more people than ever before but, our financial obligations continue to increase. One person's prayers and/or gifts makes a difference in what the LORD can do through us.