Holy Spirit, move on our World.

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (NKJV Heb 12:14).

 

Mary Hunt practicing classical organ worship music.

I hear the Holy Spirit, as others also say, calling us to new and surprising things. Pray and Witness daily. He will use us in new places of ministry, spiritually and physically. Do not seek provision for these, he will so provide his way. Also, prayer is very powerful, as incense rising to his Throne. Believe by faith, know he hears and acts on every prayer divinely, whether you see or do not see visibly. Tend to scriptural teaching. Rid yourselves of things that block God. Dwell in his Divine Love. “Forgive fast! Love slowly!” as some say.

A Gift. Your salvation or religious faith does not depend on church, doctrine, works, good deeds, prayer, reading the Bible. These things will not save you. Only your relationship with his wonderful person will save you, Jesus Messiah, the Son of God. He gives this to you as a free gift, you can not earn it. Ask him. Repent of your sins, and believe wholly in him. Receive the gift of his loving relationship. Practice the daily Presence of God.

Consider, 150,000-180,000 people die worldwide everyday. How many actually expect death today? Have you ever helped anyone prepare for death? How many live for Jesus Messiah? How many actually enter Heaven? Most people, I've seen, die as they live, in love or hate. Why is there a Hell? Who goes there? Who goes to Heaven? What does God's Word say? And what is your destiny?

Why these severe winter storms? The Northeast is the most unchurched attending, non-Bible believing section of the USA. Even TV News surveys have reflected this. Does God care? Time to turn to Jesus Messiah and reflect on God. Job writes,

“From the chamber of the South comes the whirlwind, And cold from the scattering winds of the North. By the breath of God ice is given, And the broad waters are frozen. Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds. And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, That they may do whatever He commands them On the face of the whole earth. He causes it to come, Whether for correction, Or for His land, Or for mercy” (NKJV, Job 37:9-13).

Pornography is a great deception gripping the world, society, and the church. Pornography hinders a man's love relationship with God, as it hinders and hurts the love relationship with his wife. Likewise, this occurs with women as well as men. This tears children, marriages, and families. Pornography is the addiction link to world prostitution and trafficking. God warns,

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (NKJV Heb 12:14).

Witness Report. My brother's feet and my hands were very cold this morning as we two friends ministered and prayed for healing in the town market barn. Jesus was standing with us from our starting prayer. We talked with many people, a Jewish man, Philippine woman, couple of Spanish ladies, a seasoned Veteran crew chief from a C-130, teens, singles, the elderly, mothers, children, dads, many women and many men. “I also send the children,” Jesus whispered to me earlier. They too are important. Oh yes, four or five truckers came in separately at different times to ask for red witness stickers for their trucks. Go figure! We used Arthur Blessitt reds as well as Way of the Master witness dollars and pennies. Adults and children loved them. We gave out 117 reds even in the cold. How can you be so cold and have so much fun?

Must Christians pray for the World? I call it World Power Prayer!

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for All Men, for Kings and All who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires All Men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for All, to be testified in due time” (NKJV 1 Tim 2:1-6).

Must Christians actively witness, teach, and preach the Word?

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.

“Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (NKJV 1 Tim 4:1-4).

Too many Police Officers are attacked. Lord, divinely protect our just officers who serve our neighborhoods and our nation to uphold our laws. Remind them to pray. Bring them home safely to their families each day. God bless our nation.

God of Love, I pray for your Spirit to move on this Whole World.

Power Pray for this World,
opendoorsusa.org
 

Bill Hunt
bill.hunt.108@facebook.com

 

Don't Say Hell!

The ultimate choice in life is eternal heaven or eternal hell. Every man or woman has a lifetime to make that choice!

"The Lake of Fire is the Second Death."

(Photo by Kim Newberg, PDPics.net)

Jesus is walking along the Judean road with his disciples teaching them. He said that if anyone leads a child astray, it would be better for him to be cast into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck. He talked on, teaching about hell, saying if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off, rather than enter hell, where--

“Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.”

And and if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off, rather than enter hell, where--

“Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.”

And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out, rather than be cast into hell fire, where--

“Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:42-48 NKJ).

His short teaching clearly describes the severity of hell, the body infested with worms in the lake of fire for eternity. How sad it is to hear some say, they don't care about hell, or they even wish it to others.

The extreme is those who deny hell all together. Jesus and the scriptures teach many times on hell. About a news disaster of his day when Pilate, the Roman Governor, slaughtered a group of Galileans, Jesus instructed –

“Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no;

"But unless you repent 

you will all likewise perish.”

Jesus continued speaking of another news event.

“Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:1-5 NKJ).

Who will be sentenced to hell? John writes in Revelation--

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev 21:8 NKJV).

Paul wrote to the Corinthians--

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor 6:9-10 NKJV).

He also lists in his Epistle to the Galatians--

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:19-21 NKJV).

The Bible teaches the full Truth. God has perfect holiness and he can tolerate no evil or sin. His plan for mankind is heaven, but man's free choice to sin demands hell. We can clearly see the sin of evil men that slaughter one, or hundreds, or thousands, or millions of innocent people. But to an all perfect God all sin against the Ten Commandments is horrific.

Only one man ever obeyed all

Ten Commandments.

God has perfect justice, love, mercy, and forgiveness for those who repent. In fact, he gives each man or woman a lifetime and a conscience to choose a right relationship with Him.

He sent his Divine Son, Jesus, to ransom mankind with his Blood and to give every man and woman the opportunity to believe, to repent, and to turn to God to enter eternal life.

“Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways'!” (Ezk 33:11 NKJV).

Or as John the Apostle writes--

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJV).

Don't say Hell, say Jesus!

--Bill Hunt

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A Cup of Cold Water for Muslim Women

Miracle Witness
Q.  A Cup of Cold Water rings a scriptural promise. Could a male traveler dare to overcome a taboo and relate to Muslim women wearing black burkas?  

PRAY FOR MUSLIM WOMEN IN BURKA
Photo by Bill Hunt (c) 2010. 

We traveled across the lowlands toward the steep mountainous terrain of the Hindu Kush in Northern Pakistan. The rickety black bus periodically braked along the very narrow roads more intended for lumbering ox carts and gala painted rickshaws.

We stopped for a few occasional villagers here and there who waved to travel in the same direction. Giving rides seemed the tribal touch of hospitality in rural Pakistan. 

On the last pickup, our Pakistani driver boarded three women wearing black burkas which covered their heads and bodies full-length. They carried two little children on their arms, one a young baby. 

These women sat down quietly in the back of the bus apart from the others. They selected one seat behind me just across the aisle. The children, however, soon began to fuss. On a very hot, typical summer day, the temperature broiled about 120 degrees. 

As the fussing babies in the stifling bus cried, I thought about a story I'd heard where a husband knifed a young American visitor in the back for trying to help the native wife to her feet when she stumbled and fell. 

The babies cried.

Unsure of relating to these women, I sought a non-threatening way to help them.  The babies continued fussing from the heat, and the women nervously tried to calm them.

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward” (Matt. 10:43 NIV).

The words of Jesus rang repeatedly in my spirit. I could not succeed in ignoring them to avoid my inner fear. Finally, I unscrewed my red thermos cap, poured it with cold water, and daringly turned to hold it out toward the women. 

"Here, a cup of water in the name of Jesus for your babies," I spoke softly. 

Quickly, they took the thermos cup and gave the drink to their babies who stopped crying. Unexpectedly, the women let their veils fall open, and I was most surprised to see their youthful beauty. They were very pretty. One spoke in clear English.

"Thank you," she said sweetly. 

The women began to chatter busily among themselves as women do. 

Our bus suddenly lurched sideways.

I saw a gasoline tanker truck push pass in a flash forcing us off the main road. 

The frontier roadbeds are paved only wide enough for the wheel track of one vehicle. Two vehicles oncoming from opposite directions “played chicken” as a matter of custom. The first to flash his headlights took the right of way. We braked and skidded to a stop in the side gravel, scoring second best. 

Something felt very wrong.     

Our front left wheel hung out over the abyss, an 8000 foot cliff, balancing at a dangerous point in the Hindu Kush Mountains. 

“Freeze!” a man in the front of the bus ordered.

I looked down through my open window.

I could make out tiny specks, trucks and vehicles that dropped in past times all the way to the bottom of the mountain. 

I surrendered my life now to the hands of the Lord.

"Jesus, if I live I live and if I die I die."

I quietly prayed in his name. Fear kept me from saying much more. I knew this was God's call.

With one man directing, the other men from the front of the bus moved one-by-one, step-by-step, hand-over-hand along the seats. They crept very slowly back toward the mid section of the bus to balance the vehicle hanging over the cliff.

The Pakistani driver, under direction, very, very carefully pulled the shift lever and changed gears. 

He slowly accelerated the gas pedal, keeping his other foot on the brake. The engine pulled against the brakes. The driver reversed the bus inch-by-inch on to the solid roadbed to all four wheels. 

A sigh of relief sounded through the bus.

A beautiful day now blessed us. Around one bend in the road, we waved at mountain women bathing clothed, waist deep in a stream-fed pool of flowing water. 

Unlike the desert village women, the mountain women did not wear burkas and appeared to be quite free in their actions. They returned a dozen cheerful smiles and waves to us as we passed. This friendly scene marked such a contrast to the precarious experience of just a few miles earlier.

I reflected within my thoughts. 

In impossible danger, I yielded myself to God. His Word proved true. He cares for us. 

In exchange for a cup of water, God granted me back the Gift of Life.

– Bill Hunt © 2010   

Black Cobra and a Mysterious Angel

Miracle Witness

In this true story of a cobra and a mysterious angel, God saves me from a venomous death-bite and delivers a surprising message about my future wife. 

SNAKE CHARMER AND BLACK COBRA
Photo by Bill Hunt (c) 2010

East meets West. There's no more strange a day. On my adventurous arrival in Pakistan, I settled my bag into a temporary stay at the white-walled hostel, and headed right into the sun-hot streets to see what I could see. 
 

From a dirt mound nearby on the outskirts of the City of Karachi, I sat down and watched the activities of a desert nomad encampment of Bedouins. This was an intriguing scene right out of the Bible. 

The tribesmen, camels, donkeys, sheep, dogs, brown cloth tents, campfires, and shade overhangs were a sight that reminded me of Jacob and the twelve patriarchs. 

Along the outer road, I came upon three snake charmers stationed at the side of the road. Being an avid photographer, I squatted down with my movie camera near one snake charmer to get vivid pictures of the snake. 

These were not the giant king cobras, but the black cobras, hooded cousins, considered one of the most deadly venomous snakes on earth. They can paralyze and kill a full-grown man within fifteen to thirty minutes. 

With my camera, I moved in very, very close to the cobra swaying from the basket and the charmer with his wood flute. The snake abruptly turned his black, sinister hood toward me, eye-to-eye. 

“Ooh!” 

The small group of Pakistanis around me distinctly groaned. I suddenly knew my assumption of safety mistaken. 

Face to face, the snake waved, dangerously excited at my presence. He was set to give me a venomous death-bite. 

In emergency prayer mode, I struggled to crawl back very slowly and smoothly not to startle the snake to strike. 

I backed on my hands and feet right through my now very serious case of double-layered goose bumps. 

The snake charmer capped the cobra back into the red straw basket. I noticed he, too, was sweating and trembling. 

"Thank you, Jesus," I said as I stood up relieved, "for delivering me from that snake -- and death."

The Mysterious Stranger

At that moment, a handsome Pakistani in his thirties, spoke. 

"Are you married, Sahib?"

"Am I married? No!" 

I wondered what he wanted.

"Do you have a picture of your lady friend, right now?" he asked. So I reluctantly pulled out a wallet portrait.

"This girl is not the girl you will marry!" he stated. 

"No, the girl you will marry has brown hair like this one, but she is taller. In fact, you have already met her. Where does this one live?"

"On Long Island, New York," I said.

"The girl you will marry does not live there," he said. "She lives up, further north." 

"My parents live in Maine." I tested him by giving leading information.

"No, she is not from Maine," he said. "Where have you just come from?" 

"Upstate New York."

"Yes!" he said, "she is there. 

“You have already seen her. She lives there, way up, in Upstate New York, farther north. That is the woman you will marry, but not this one, Sahib.” 

I offered him rupees to test him. 

“No Sahib! Not rupees. I just wanted to tell you." 

I had no idea who this man was, or whether I should consider anything he said. He did not seem ominous. 

I looked down at the snake charmer and raised my head again to look at the stranger. 

He wasn't there!

I turned to look for his face in the crowd of bystanders. He had vanished! There was no one like him in sight along the open road. 

Was he from God? Was he an angel? 

Puzzled, a stranger in a strange land, I wasn't sure how to judge what had just happened. 

A year later, I met the girl he described in the place he foretold. He spoke a true word. She would, indeed, become my wife. But that's another story. 

Our lives are meant to walk with God. 
-- Bill Hunt (c) 2010

Death by Stoning at the Steps of the Mosque

Miracle Witness

Q. How do you respond to severe trials in life?

MOSQUE COLLECTIVE PRAYER
Photo by Bill Hunt (c) 2010.

I wondered as I walked if God's presence was in this Mosque for the prayerful Muslim.

The artistry of intricate, multicolored, inlaid tiles covered the walls of the Mosque in a tree-shaded village in Northern Pakistan. The decor glittered in streams of hot sunlight.

Off the open central court, beyond the rectangular reflecting pool used for prayer washing, we found within the outer walls a hidden sanctuary, an open alcove shaded and cooled by a high curved ceiling.

Within a few moments, my Christian friend, Chris, another young American serviceman, with our Pakistani host, and I, each dressed in casual clothes, exited the Mosque and leaned over to tie on our shoes.

"Stand still. Don't say a thing!

“Don't move!" our alert Pakistani host exclaimed.

I looked up alarmed to pay more attention to our surroundings. Before us a crowd of Pakistani villagers assembled, and a strong-voiced spokesman addressed them.

"They plan to stone you!

“They believe you are spies!" our guide warned under his breath.

Sure enough, the men throughout the crowd threateningly held big gray stones in their fists and shouted toward us angrily. 
 

"They won't stone you as long as you stand here on the steps of the Mosque," said our guide.

Instantly, the thought came, I'm not leaving these step!

Could there be food in a Mosque? Could one live here for days?

The gravity of the situation turned my thoughts quickly to Jesus and I surrendered my life to him.

In a few moments, I could die a painful, bloody death as a target of heavy flying, fist-thrown rocks.

I thought of Jesus in the courtyard facing Pontius Pilate. I thought of Steven or Paul before crowds of bloodthirsty men. But now I prepared for death. In my spirit, I began to pray.

Never had I planned to die in such a way.

Our brave Muslim host suddenly acted on an idea. He approached the crowd and began shouting to the assembled men. He seemed quite a spokesman in his native dialect, but I couldn't understand his Pushtu or Urdu language.

"These men are not your enemies, they are our friends," he may have said. "Look, they have visited the Mosque with me. This agitator is lying to you and dishonoring our nation. These men have come in peace, not as enemies." 
 

All I know is, by God's wonderful grace, the crowd amazingly turned on the agitator.

He darted up the street trying to escape as the angry villagers quickly followed around a corner after him.

Our Pakistani host, my Christian friend, Chris, and I escaped down the street, not knowing what would befall us.

"Keep running!" they yelled back at me.

I noticed both my friends racing a distance ahead. My lungs hurt, my feet grew sore. I ran as best I could. I ran with my face in the air, swinging clenched fists.

Something made me look up. The sunlight slapped through tall leafy treetops over my head all along the village way.

In such an anxious moment, I recognized the unmistakable presence of the all-seeing God.

Amazed, I realized at the same time absolutely no one else appeared on this wide village street which served as our avenue of escape. No one peered out a window, no one stood in a doorway. One woman closed her shutters as we hurried by.

Running for my life, physically, I felt my heart beat a strained rhythm in my chest. At the same time, spiritually, I found myself experiencing an incredible, overwhelming inner peace.

…..

Note

In CORNER RETREAT, among things we can talk about are faith, hope, love, prayer, scripture, miracles, blessings, marriage, and living through trials in the neighborhood, the nation, and the world today.

I'm a BLOG neophyte. I request prayers to develop this BLOG.

Your comments are extremely Valuable. Leave your comments following the A-B-C's, as one teacher said. Make them Audible (clear), Brief, and Christ-centered.

Blessings to you,

Bill Hunt (c) 2010