Reminiscing Revival

I remember so well my introduction to the Holy Ghost outpouring of the nineties. Not talking about the 'Toronto Blessing', but actually that which led up to it as well as subsequent moves of God, i.e., the Pensacola outpouring at Brownsville Assembly, and even the latest---the Todd Bentley revival currently being broadcast nightly on Godtv.com.
Oh yeh, man is still managing to mess things up, as he did in the revival of which I wrote first, the 'joy' outpouring introduced to America through the ministry of Rodney Howard-Browne. God in His infinite mercy loves us so much, He allows us to have such wonderful adventures in His manifest presence, knowing we're going to mess things up by ultimately moving in the flesh. Still He gives us these "times of refreshing" (Acts 3:19) in order to prove to us once again just how great is that love He has for us... Shame He has to prove that---I'm just glad He does.

I, for one 'reminisce' and rejoice in these wonderfully 'refreshing' times, all the while praying for another. Too bad, it seems, so many are too busy criticizing the men and women God chose---I said, "GOD CHOSE" to use, that they scarce have time to stir up some of their own memories (if they have any). If they have no such memories of their own, they remain busy trying, in vain, I might add, to steal the joy of those memories from people like myself... Fat chance!

Could I but put in words, what it was like to be in special meetings in a church in Charlotte, in 1993, just prior to my stepping out in faith to pioneer a church in Charleston, WV. As the revival was 'breaking out' in this particular church, I stood, worshipping, like the rest of the saints there, that night... Skeptical of the things I had heard concerning this outbreak, mostly due to the fact I had been unable to attend the meetings until that night, I just enjoyed the wonderful praise and worship and CHOSE to 'enter in', seeking God for whatever He had for me.

On the platform, with our worship team, was Maurice Sklar, (click on the link for more photos and to experience his music) violinist virtuoso, graduate of Juliard---but filled with the Holy Ghost and very much a part of the revival, ministering nightly, not only during that special series of meetings at our church, but for the rest of the weeks, months, and years that were soon to pass, at Rodney Howard-Browne's services and Camp Meetings. As Maurice played, the notes of his violin suddenly seemed to be visible to me, and I watched, as the rest of the room grew more cloudy. I watched the notes swirl through the room as if they were searching me out. They found me and wrapped around me, taking me to a place where I could see no one or nothing but the cloud. And in this wonderful vision, I began to dance, myself swirling and twirling, until I crashed into something---something firm but not hard, and draped with a fabric, as it were. The fabric turned out to be a garment, like a robe and I had buried my face into the bosom of a huge bodily form---shoulders so wide and strong but a manifestation of love like I had never experienced, flooded my soul. I realized I had danced into the embrace of the Almighty. I clutched His garment with both hands and buried my face deeper yet into His bosom. As I did, He slowly put His majestic arms around me and doing so, I burst into flame. I heard His voice say to me... "You have danced into My presence, now dance with me and He took my hand and spun me---sending me spinning across the floor, through the cloud. As this happened, little bits of the flame that had engulfed me flew off of me, landing here and there in the cloud.

He continued to speak, saying, "This is how I am sending you to Charleston. Whomever becomes part of your ministry will be touched by the same fire, as it flies off of you, for as long as you dance with Me, in my Presence.

I had hardly opened my mouth and began to testify and preach, in the very first worship service of our new church (several months later) when 'joy like a river' began to break forth in my brand new congregation of 22 people, most of whom I had never met. They had only heard of me through my weekly radio broadcast, which I had been producing in my home in Statesville, NC and sending to Charleston's Christian Radio Station. Actually, I had not even moved there yet. I commuted back and forth from NC on Wednesdays for three weeks before moving my family to St. Albans, WV, just outside of Charleston. We started the church in a clubhouse in Cross Lanes, WV in May of 1994.

Just like God would have it, it started through a child---an eight year old boy, normally very quiet in his nature, but that night was different... He just started laughing. And laughing. His parents and grandparents looked a little embarrassed, but could not quiet him down. Then an older lady, at the other end of the same row of seats began to laugh... and laugh... later testifying that such a thing had never happened to her. That first Wednesday night service revealed what church could be without any of my plans in operation. God knew how to 'break the ice' in a room full of strangers, who very quickly became no strangers at all. Nothing 'breaks the ice' any better than a few tongues of 'fire', sent by the Holy Ghost.

Oh what a season of Joy in the Holy Ghost. By the way, dear brother or sister... Should you be one of those sad souls who cannot accept God's supernatural joy, or perhaps one of those who do not even believe God does such things; let me encourage you to pick up that Bible of yours, dust it off, and read it... "In the presence of the Lord, there is fullness of joy"---that's the deal. Get yourself in His presence---experience His joy. C'mon now, it can only do you good.

The 'wells of salvation' contain all the blessing of God, He has intended for you... "Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation" JOY IS THE BUCKET!! It is the 'bucket' with which you 'draw' those blessings from God's well. Get with it, you sad, sad person you... A little laughter never hurt anyone. But you say, "I just can't bring myself to laugh or rejoice, or be happy, just on a whim or something. Why not?... It doesn't take so much to make you grumpy. Please forgive me if I just made you mad. I love ya... Just want to tell you the truth. It really is, good for what ails ya.

It comes my way now and then---a little dose of supernatural joy, that is---reminding me of the mercy of God and just how marvelous is His touch. Please don't find yourself a critic of those whom God is still touching in such manner today... You may find yourself outside of His wonderful plans for His church in these last days.

By the way...
If you did not click on the 'Maurice Sklar' link, by all means do so and if it takes a few minutes for the music to start, be patient, wait for it, and set your heart in position to hear something special from God Almighty---something personal and powerful for you, TODAY! Check out his itinerary and if you ever get a chance to be in one of Maurice's meetings, don't miss it, by any means.

More Missionary, Medical, and Miracle Updates

Our 'Missionary-in-training' daughter, Andrea had apparently recovered enough to motivate her back to work. We delivered her to the Pittsburgh YWAM Base recently from where she was to travel to Baltimore with the team, to help in a 'Joshua Generation' event... But such was not to be, as there turned out to be a lingering weakness in her bones from the disease (Dengue Fever) she picked up in Samoa. This lingering weakness was instrumental in her receiving a broken bone in her foot as she was teaching a dance move, which was part of a drama team gospel skit. So, we found ourselves back on the road to Pittsburgh to bring her back home, where she is recovering again---rejoicing in Who Christ is and in His amazingly sufficient grace.
Keep her in your prayers, that patience---not discouragement---have its perfect work.

CANCER UPDATE...
I humbly request your continued prayers in my situation as well, as tomorrow, July 7, I am scheduled for a PET/CT Scan. The cancer is obviously still there, and whereas the tumor had shrunk significantly in previous months, there have been consistent signs recently of the opposite. But Joie and I also, are consistently rejoicing in the prevailing power of God's amazing grace and its sufficient ability to destroy the works of the devil. God is still good... His Word still heals... And His anointing still shatters all forms of satanic oppression, including cancer.