4Winds

Monster Mash Rap - Family Fun 2!

2010-10-19T14:41:00.000-07:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Monster Mash Rap - Family Fun!

2010-10-19T14:23:00.000-07:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Not sure this is as good as being Elfed at Christmas, but still pretty fun!

Yes -Christians do have fun!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Artful Askers Workshop - GSL - Oct 15

2010-10-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I'm involved not only in my own prison ministry, but also with Freedom Ranch/Wings of Freedom and God's Shining Light Church and we are sponsoring a workshop which will be of great benefit, if you need to raise money for your ministry.

If you have a ministry which needs funding - then this is the workshop you MUST attend. This workshop is different and far more helpful than most on this topic. You'll gain the knowledge and skills to access resources yourself and to help others, so that you can reach your ministry goals from a financial standpoint and accomplish the outreach goals you've set. Please let anyone who might benefit know about this workshop. One of the cool things about it is that once you've attended, you can attend any future Artful Askers Workshop for no charge--just bring your own materials.

Jim

Do you need new ways to fund your vision? If so, GREAT news:

The Oklahoma Office of Faith-Based
and Community Initiatives
and
The Freedom Ranch/God's Shining Light
presents
The "Artful Askers Workshop"
in Tulsa, OK on October 15!

Providing technical assistance for capacity building,

fund development, and building relationships
with funders following a proven model.

You are invited to a one-day, 7-hour workshop
that will equip you to meet the needs in your community. . .

A 1-day workshop to EMPOWER you!

October 15, Friday
9:00 am to 4:00 pm

The workshop will be at:

God's Shining Light Church
9897 East 11th Street
Tulsa, OK 74128

Sponsored by

The Oklahoma Office of Faith-Based
and Community Initiatives (OFBCI)
and God's Shining Light Church.

For information, call the OFBCI office at (405) 522-0606
or visit www.FaithLinksOK.org.

Get simple directions to the location at www.mapquest.com.

Cost is $75 per person
Previous Artful Askers Workshop attendees are FREE
(but bring your own materials and please let us know you are coming)

The cost includes a 120-page workbook, many pages of research and leads, a CD of templates,
samples of proposals and resumes, snacks, and lunch (total retail value of $200 worth).
Pre-Registration is required--limited seats available.

To pay with credit card and Pre-Register using PayPal
for Friday, October 15, Click HERE: http://www.artfulaskers.com/catalog/item/1196526/5372354.htm

Anyone who wishes to pay with credit card will need to register online. Cash or Check only at the door.

The schedule will be:
8:30 am Doors open (bring brochures and business cards to share with others!)
9:00 am Workshop starts
12:00 noon Lunch break
12:30 pm Workshop starts again
4:00 pm Workshop ends (Yes, breaks in-between, too!)

Registration Options:
1. To pay with PayPal, credit card or e-check, Visit www.ArtfulAskers.com and follow workshop posting from HomePage.
2. To pay with check/cash that morning, please e-mail Bob that you are coming: Bob@ArtfulAskers.com and you can pay cash or check that morning. OR send a check to Artful Askers, P.O. Box 1225, Warrensburg, MO 64093.
3. Walk-ups that morning (paying check/cash only) will be allowed as space/materials permit. If you plan to come and pay at the door, please let us know because limited seating exists.

Please help promote this Workshop to friends and colleagues who live in the surrounding area by forwarding this e-mail.
MANY research and resource materials will be distributed FREE at the workshop. Some support items will be offered "for sale", but NO "hard sell" will take place!

Past attendee comments: "I've been to a lot of these BUT this is VERY different!" "I'm leaving here today KNOWING what is 'my part to do' so that God will do His part!" "This is truly an eye-opening experience!" "This day is worth more than the $10,000 that I paid my last consultant--and now I KNOW what I didn't know before!" Consultants say: "After studying the materials and presentation, it is our opinion that the average organization would pay a consultant about $5,380 to get what people are taught to do for themselves in this one-day workshop."

Who should attend and how will they benefit?
Board members, ministry leaders or leadership team members of any nonprofit (faith based or community) will derive great benefit from this training. The workshop teaches techniques that help ministers, missions, congregations, faith/community-based nonprofits establish relationships with potential funders, develop positive grant writing skills, and build lasting relationships with funding partners. Over the past 18 years Artful Askers founder and President Bob Vickers, a trained and educated social scientist, has taught 14,000 ministry and community leaders this process. For more information about the process, go to www.ArtfulAskers.com.

Important additional information:
o You will be empowered to DO this yourself, NO need for consultants!
o After workshop coaching is available at no charge to coach and encourage you.
o The workshop, workbook and presentation provide fundamentals for those new to the grant writing and fundraising process, as well as advanced information for those already experienced in grant writing.
o Information will be provided to help you access FREE stuff through gleaners. Free Website Builder, access to food, computers, clothing, etc.
o You will learn to leverage resources and get MORE with what you have—leverage $10,000 to get the value of $50,000.
o We will empower you with leads to funding and other resources.

What primary concepts will be taught?
Billions of dollars are changing hands now through individuals, foundations, corporate-giving programs, churches, and the state and federal government. There is money for ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING you can imagine if you follow simple principles like being other-oriented and clearly communicating who you are and what you do—especially in writing. The Artful Askers Workshop is designed to answer common questions and help people know how to engage in relationships to support what they have been called to do, how to share their vision, and how to make an “artful” ask.

The three workshop (process) components are:
1) A convincing, compelling, and concise vision that is “other-oriented” and written in a professional format. You will be taught how to create and present this with a 1-1/2 page cover letter that includes a statement of the problem as well as your mission, vision and strategic plan to address the problem.

2) How to research and where to find individuals, corporations and foundations in your area of interest. You will also learn to whom you should make your “ask”, timing, what to ask for, etc.

3) Developing the relationship whether it starts with an approval OR rejection. Ten lepers got what they wanted and had their full grants approved but only one returned to show sufficient appreciation and engage in a relationship. The widow gave MUCH by her standards but not much compared to others—can you appreciate the small gifts as much as the large? What about when you are rejected—can you still be appreciative of their consideration?

Bob Vickers and Artful Askers believe and teach that you already have enough contacts with first or second-generation relationships, geographic relationships, and/or field of interest relationships to fund every need in your community. BUT YOU must BE and DO YOUR part by being a good steward and yielding, so that He can accomplish through you what you cannot even dream of but He wants to do. The KEY is stewardship of ALL relationships. You will leave this workshop EQUIPPED AND EMPOWERED to engage in the entire process of building relationships with funders and will be able to help yourself without dependency on consultants!

Learn more at www.ArtfulAskers.com "Connecting a cheerful giver and a grateful recipient by an 'artful' ask."

Robert Vickers
Artful Askers
P.O. Box 1225
Warrensburg, MO 64093
(660) 747-6390, Fri-Sat, 8:00 - 5:00 CST
www.ArtfulAskers.com or www.BobVickers.com
bob@ArtfulAskers.com

"Philanthropy is the 'art' of connecting a cheerful giver and grateful recipient, by an 'artful' asker."

Empowering Servants to meet needs in communities by cooperating and collaborating to build relationships.

ALL relationships are important! Healthy relationships involve many characteristics including:

R espect, Honor, and Dignity to ALL.
E xpressions of Encouragement.
L isten, Acknowledge, & Consider Response.
A ppreciate and Affirm.
T RUST In-Spite Of/Through Brokenness.
I dentify and Build on Commonalities.
O rder in Place and Deliberate Actions.
N urture and Understand.
S elf-less Orientation.
H ope, Faith, and Pursuit of Consistency.
I ntegrity Journey.
P ardon, GRACE, and Mercy MUST Abound.

Happy Birthday, Danna!

2010-04-19T19:36:00.000-07:00

Today is the 36th Birthday of one of the most amazing people I've ever known.

A few years ago, Danna was a nurse and single mother of a special needs son.

As Danna struggled to keep up with life, she began to use meth to keep herself going. Soon she was not just using it, but cooking it and selling it.

As I said, she is an amazing woman, and she managed to keep it together for much longer than most people would be able to do.

But, Danna was more than just a typical meth addict, she became a powerful and mighty servant of darkness and an enemy of Jesus Christ and His church. Unless you understand how very, very real are the great spiritual battles going on all around us, you cannot begin to understand what I'm saying.

But, as the Bible tells us, while we were enemies of God, He loved us so much He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to die for us!

God passionately loved Danna, just as He does all of us sinners - and God miraculously began to work in Danna's life - and when I say miraculously, I mean in ways most people could not believe if they were told.

Eventually, Danna ended up in court over drugs, with everyone wanting to send her to prison and to, of course, take her child.

Instead of the judge sentencing Danna to prison as everyone expected, she "sentenced" her to Wings of Freedom - and the rest is "HIS-story"!

Danna, by the power of Jesus Christ and with the help of Wings of Freedom, got her life squared away and is now a "House Mother" for Wings, a wonderful mother to her son, Trenton, a great nurse and a powerful and mighty servant of Jesus Christ and His Church.

Danna has such a heart for people and is SO kind and loving and such and encourager - yet, she is SO bold in her faith! Or maybe fearless in her faith is a better way to say it!

And, Danna is a powerful, powerful intercessory prayer warrior! I know if I find myself is a spiritual battle, I want Danna to have my back!

I am blessed and humbled to call her my friend - and my sister in Christ - and to be able to serve beside her and the 100s of other amazing people at Wings of Freedom and God's Shining Light Church!

Happy Birthday, Danna! I know with all my heart that God has wonderful, amazing plans for you in this year and in the years to come!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

My Hero!

2010-03-28T18:56:00.000-07:00

My brother, Joel, is one of my heros. He has been a minister of the gospel for almost 30 years. He is currently the Sr. Pastor of First Christian Church in Langley, OK.

We come from a long line of preachers. Our grandfather, dad, uncles and a bunch of cousins are all preachers. God has greatly blessed so many in our family with the ability to preach - the charisma to lead - and the ability to touch people's hearts for Jesus Christ.

As talented as are many in our family, as big as the churches they pastor, I think that my brother is the most truly spiritual of the bunch.

And, he is a GREAT dad, who very much loves his children. Joel was divorced when his 4 children were still very young and he raised all 4 of them. I'm sure he is not a perfect Dad, nor are they perfect children, but I now he always did (and still does) his best and they are all turning out pretty well, with families and kids of their own.

One year ago, today, Joel's 20 year old son, James (everybody called him "Spudd") Daniel Rutherford, died in a car wreck.

Joel and James were SO close! As close as any father and son could be.

More than 850 were at James' memorial service. I had the very great privilege of doing the service. He was a great young man - greatly loved.

I know that this year has been so hard on Joel - and that today, must be especially so.

I love you, Joel!

You are in my prayers!

You are my hero!

Jimmie

What is the Bible to you?

2010-03-09T10:42:00.000-08:00

This video is both funny and sad!
(check out more of these at www.skitguys.com)

Did you know that most Christians only read their Bible in church?

I have found that when I'm reading my Bible every day, that life goes MUCH better.

I think that is true, because in reading God's Word each day, you are inviting God into your life.

You are allowing His Word into your heart and mind.

God gave us His Word for a purpose. There is POWER in His Word.

Imagine God speaking directly to you, offering words of wisdom to you each and every day - that is what happens when you read the Bible!

If you don't read your Bible every day - you ought to give it a try.

Just do it for one month - just read one chapter from Proverbs each day - 31 chapters - 31 days - and see for yourself, if your life is not going much better than it was before you started letting God speak a little wisdom into your life each day.

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

I Married a Television Star!

2010-02-23T20:35:00.000-08:00

I don't have any pictures to post, yet, but my wife, Sheila Hambrick - a top law firm Administrator - the best Praise & Worship leader in America - a wonderful mother and wife - is now a television star!

Sheila, along with three other Christian women, are hosts of a new television talk show for women about issues of interest for women - a little bit like "The View" only much better and from a Christian perspective. The show "Real Sisters" can be viewed on Channel 47 (Cox Cable 7) in northeast Oklahoma on Tuesday evenings at 6:30.

They are already working on syndicating the show, so you may soon be able to see it all across the country.

The debut show, which was on tonight, was on depression. They have upcoming shows about gossip, suicide and Christian women in business. The show features the four women in a coffee shop setting with a small live audience. They will take questions from audience members as well as via email.

Every other episode will feature an interview of a person or people who would be of interest to women.

Please watch if you have a chance - or check out Real Sisters on the web at: www.realsisters4.com

I can't tell you how proud I am of Sheila and how proud, pleased and blessed I am to be her husband!

I love you, honey!

Jim

Praying for Joel - Chemo Begins

2010-02-17T19:50:00.000-08:00

My great-nephew, 1 year old, Joel Green, is scheduled to begin what is planned to be 54 weeks of Chemo and Radiation tomorrow to treat a very aggressive cancer. PLEASE PRAY!

A brain tumor near his brain stem was discovered about 4 weeks ago, surgery was done. Almost all of the tumor was removed, but Doctors had to leave one tiny piece of the tumor which was wrapped around a major artery and nerve. The piece which was left behind was so small it could not even be seen on an MRI, yet with the short delay in beginning Chemo due to Joel developing meningitis, the most recent spinal tap revealed this tiny bit of cancer which was left has spread cancer cells into his spine.

Doctor's believe the cancer is still treatable - if they can begin to treat it now and attack it as aggressively as it is attacking Joel.

Please continue to follow this journey of faith and healing - http://joelevangreen.com - and please continue to pray - daily - fervently!

Pray not only for Joel, but pray for his doctors - pray for his mom and dad, Amy & Ryan Green - pray for his big brothers, Caleb (4) and Isaac (2). Caleb asked the other day if Joel was going to have to live at the hospital forever.

I am believing God for health and healing and for at least 80 years of life for Joel, as many, many people are touched and brought to salvation by his testimony of God's healing power!

In Jesus name, Joel - be well! In Jesus name - all cancer be destroyed. In Jesus name - many years and many souls! Speak it in heaven, Lord, and let it be done on earth!

Amen, Amen & in the powerful name of Jesus - Amen!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Baby Joel - Bad Report or God Report?

2010-01-30T14:14:00.000-08:00

At Denver International Airport - after two days of canceled flights - getting ready to board.

I have seen God's hand at work, even in the delays.

Doctor's Report: Yesterday the pathology report was presented to Amy and Ryan. By human standards it was pretty bad. The tumor was the AR/TR cancer the surgeon feared it was. It is very, very rare and so they have very little direction when it comes to treating it. Basically, they treat it as aggressively as possible without the treatment becoming fatal - at the risk of many side effects and possible complications from the treatment.

Doctors say it is their only option.

The most extensive study on treatment and survival rates on children with AR/TR was just recently completed. It was a two year study, but the cancer is so rare it only included 12 children. The survival rate for that two year period was 50%

Joel is scheduled to undergo 6 weeks of intense radiation, followed 46 weeks of chemo.

It is only very recently that they have treated children under 3 with radiation.

Of course the radiation and chemo can be greatly damaging to Joel, as well as to the cancer.

Please, please pray that God will see Joel through this treatment with no permanent damage - and little or no pain or side effects!

The most difficult thing for Amy & Ryan is that there is no longer any medical measure which might show that God has healed Joel and spare him all or a part of these treatments.

The MRI they did after surgery was clear - yet, the surgeon knows that he left a small bit of the tumor which was right at the bottom of the brain stem and had a major artery and nerve running through it, making it too dangerous to remove.

There will be many tests along the way, but none that will show him to be healed.

I would ask you to pray fervently for Ryan and Amy as they journey through this next year - that they would turn to each other, support each other, encourage each other, grow in love for each other - and have God's peace which passes all understanding - and that God would increase their faith daily as they are bombarded with difficult information and circumstances - and that through it all, they would keep their eyes and hearts on God and be able to hold fast to Him and His work in Joel!

Pray for their two other boys, Caleb and Issac.

Above all - keep praying - keep following the blog - http://joelevangreen.com - and keep posting on the Facebook group - I Believe! Praying for Joel's Healing

I have been so honored to be here, to pray over Joel and, because of flight cancellation, to be able to pray with Ryan and Amy right after they had received the pathology report.

This may all seem to be devastating news - it may even seem to some that our prayers for Joel were not answered - but let me assure you of this -

GOD'S REPORT IS THAT JOEL HAS A 100% CHANCE OF SURVIVAL
WITH NO COMPLICATIONS - THAT HE WILL LIVE 80+ YEARS, HAVE A POWERFUL TESTIMONY - AND THAT MANY SOULS WILL BE SAVED BECAUSE OF THIS THING WITH SATAN MEANT FOR BAD!

I thank you for your many, many prayers - more than 3000 people from 29 countries have seen Joel's blog and are praying.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR JOEL AND FOR AMY & RYAN!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim
.

Great Report on Joel!

2010-01-28T15:11:00.000-08:00

This is Joel yesterday - less then 24 hours after brain surgery to remove the tumor from his brain stem! Looks great, doesn't he!

My flight home today was canceled due to ice & snow in Tulsa and I've been re-booked for a flight out late tomorrow afternoon! The ways in which God moved to get me out here, I can only believe that God wants me here for another day, so I'm rejoicing in the delay.

So much good news today in regard to Joel!

The pathology report on the tumor will be available tomorrow. I'd ask you to continue to pray that it is a less aggressive form than the surgeon expects - or, better yet, that it is not even cancer at all!

Amy and Ryan were told today not to be overly concerned with the very low survival rates they have seen for this type of cancer for children Joel's age. Denver Children's Hospital is one of the 4 leading hospitals for research/treatment of pediatric brain tumors - sharing treatment advances with the others four. AND - new and successful advances in treatment are moving so quickly that published statistics cannot keep up with the reality. So, even it if is the type of cancer they suspect, Joel's chances of cure are much better than we first thought.

Joel is recovering from his surgery in miraculous fashion! Generally babies his age do nothing but lay still for several days. 48 hours after surgery, Joel is rolling over, reaching for things with both hands and pulling and pushing them to and from him. He is awake and alert!

AND - he has already been moved out of ICU!

A couple of years ago, Joel's older brother Issac had to have surgery on his skull shortly after he was born. There was one nurse who was especially helpful at that time. Guess what nurse was assigned to Joel in his new room? This nurse has set the goal to get Joel eating on his own, all tubes out and ready to go home ASAP! In fact, she was going try to have the feeding tube out and Joel eating this afternoon, so that when his brothers came to the hospital this evening, Joel could be brought out of his room for them to see him!

Joel cannot go home till the fluid draining from his brain is clear. Right now it is still pretty red from the normal bleeding following the surgery. Please pray that it becomes clear very quickly! They said it could happen tomorrow or next week - just no way to tell. Pray it is tomorrow!

Twice, once the night before surgery and again yesterday afternoon, Joel was very fussy, but as I began to pray for him, he got quiet and still and fell asleep. I'm not sure if it is the power of my prayers or if I'm just really boring!!!

I cannot tell you what an honor it has been for me to be able to be here to pray over Joel!

The first few days after the news they had found the brain tumor, I felt very uneasy, even as I prayed for his healing. But, as I began praying aloud as I drove from the airport to the hospital, I began to have a peace about the outcome of this journey. As I prayed over Joel that first night and each time I have prayed over him since, I have felt more and more certain this is just the beginning of not only a long life, but an amazing testimony for Joel, which will result in many people being saved.

Our prayers have accomplished much - but now is not the time to stop, but to pray all the more fervently that our gracious heavenly Father will continue His work in completely healing Joel!

For more detailed updates - http://joelevangreen.com

If you are a FaceBook junkie (like me), you might want to become a fan of:
I'm Praying! Believing for Baby Joel's Miracle

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Baby Joel Update

2010-01-26T22:53:00.000-08:00

I love this picture done by Joel's dad, Ryan Green.

I stand amazed at the faith of my niece, Amy and her husband, Ryan as they continue to believe God for complete healing for Joel.

Joel was in surgery only half as long as the surgeons had expected. They were able to easily remove almost all of the tumor and are confident neither the surgery nor the tumor harmed any of Joel's nerves or brain function. The tumor has been sent to pathology for them to determine the exact type of cancer.

The neuro-surgeon said that the tumor was not the type he expected it to be, but rather a type called ATRT. This is a rare type found in only 2% or so of tumors. Survival rate in children under 3 years old (Joel is 12 months) is a very low 11%-17%. He did say that he could not say for sure that this was the type of tumor it was, and that we will need to wait on pathology for a full report. We expect that report by Friday or Monday. We are praying that pathology will find it to be a more easily treatable form of tumor - or that it is not even cancer at all!

Joel did GREAT in the surgery! He was strong and stable. And, he was resting very comfortably when I left the hospital this afternoon about 4:30. Joel was breathing on his own and looked super, especially for just undergoing brain surgery. He has tightly sutured incision running from just behind his left ear to 2/3 the way to his right ear, low on the back of his skull. No bandages and very clean.

He already looks so much better to me. Amy reported that his eye brows were already again moving in unison.

I prayed over Joel again right before I left the hospital - that in the Name of Jesus he would be healed, fully & completely, that he would live a long life and that by his great testimony many souls would be saved.

Please continue to lift Joel up in prayer as we await the MRI and pathology reports, that God would be gracious and the Joel's healing be made complete!

And, continue to life up Amy and Ryan. Their faith is so strong, yet constantly being bombarded with these bad reports. Help them to hold to the fact that God's report is the only report that matters - that His word is the final word!

You can follow Amy and Ryan's thoughts and get the latest updates on Joel at:
http://joelevangreen.com

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Praying for Baby Joel

2010-01-26T09:47:00.000-08:00

We learned last week that my great-nephew, Joel Green, has a tumor on his brain stem. Joel just turned 12 months old about 10 days ago.

People, literally, all over the world, are praying for complete healing for Joel!

You can learn more about what has happened over these last few days, and follow his journey forward, by going to Joel's blog - http:joelevangreen.com.

I am in Denver to be with family and to pray in person for Joel.

I arrived in Denver yesterday (Monday), early evening and was able to pray over Joel for 20 minutes or more last night at the new Childrens Hospital (one of the nation's top 10 hospitals for children.)

He was fussy and restless as my sister, Julie (his grandmother), and my niece Sarah (his aunt) began to pray, but he became very calm, and, as we prayed, Joel drifted off to sleep.

He had the most restful, peaceful night he has had in some time, certainly since he has been here. He was more alert and responsive this morning than he has been and even tried to smile at mom and dad.

They took him to surgery about 7:30 this morning. We just now at 10:30 (11:30 in Tulsa) - received our first report. Surgeons have reached the tumor and are taking pieces from different areas to test and will proceed based on the results. Joel is doing great! Strong and stable!

Please continue to pray!

We have all been praying that God would heal Joel and that surgery would be unnecessary, but we trust God when He says His ways are higher than our ways - and the He works all things for the good for those who love him and are called according to His purpose. We know that Joel was knit together in Amy's womb by God Himself and that God has directed and will continue to direct his course. We know that Joel has been called for God's purpose, so, as we move forward, we trust and believe that God is at this very moment working all of this for GOOD! And, that it is still His great intention to completely heal Joel.

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim Rutherford

The Rutherford Cousins - Elfed!

2009-12-05T21:14:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Watch the video - check the blog post below!

Jim

The Rutherford Cousins - Elfed!

2009-12-05T21:03:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The Rutherford Cousins Elfed - Hip Hop Style!
Jim Rutherford (me), Katie Rutherford, Drew Rutherford, Parker Gene Ayers & Savannah Snyder.

The cousins - Drew & Parker - were down to visit this week-end from Ozark Christian College in Joplin, MO!

They came to hear me preach at God's Shining Light on Friday (and Sheila & Broken Yoke do Praise & Worship). We are SO sad that this is probably their last visit before semester ends and they head to California to continue their education!

I have SO much enjoyed getting to know Drew & Parker - and I very much hope this in not the end of our friendship!

I do wish them the very best as they make career decisions and preparations over these next few years, but mostly I hope they always place themselves right in the very center of God's will, purpose and calling for their lives!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Wishing You a Merry Christmas!

2009-11-12T08:12:00.000-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

From our "elf"ed family to yours -
First a little song, then a little dance -
to wish you a Merry Little Christmas!

(Jim, Sheila, Savannah, Katie & Houston)

BE SURE TO WATCH BOTH VIDEOS!

Jim

I Am Second!

2009-10-18T21:50:00.000-07:00

No matter what college football team you pull for - no matter what college team you hate - Sam Bradford, QB for the Oklahoma Sooners, has the perspective on life we should all have!

Who is in 1st Place in your life?

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen?

2009-08-18T10:38:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder why and all-powerful, all-loving God allows bad things to happen?

Watch this and you'll never ask that question again.

No more explanation needed - check it out:

Sheila - More Precious than Rubies!

2009-07-12T23:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Sheila!

Today, July 13 is Sheila's Birthday. Today is also the anniversary of the day I asked Sheila to marry me. She said, "Yes."

Although not a day goes by that I don't think how fortunate I am that God brought Sheila into my life, I am especially mindful of it today.

A person could not have a better friend and a man could not have a better wife!

There is no question that I married up in life.

If you know Sheila, then you know how truly wonderful she is! She is loving, caring, compassionate! She is very wise and really smart! She is way funny, always quick to smile and laugh and a joy to be around.

Everyone loves Sheila, but nobody loves her more than I do!

Sheila is incredibly talented! She manages a good sized law firm. She handles all the financial stuff and all the HR stuff and everything else that makes a law firm run, so that the lawyers just have to worry about practicing law. On her job, she ministers to people and she is a constant witness to people, with her life and with her words.

Sheila plays keyboards. Took classical piano from age 4-19, winning many, many awards!

At age six, she started playing piano for and singing with her family, The Singing Hambricks, and did that for 30+ years. She turned down offers that would have made her both rich and famous, because she loved her family and she loved the Lord and those two things were far more important to her than personal fame or fortune. The Hambricks won many, many souls to Jesus!

She has a servant's heart!

Sheila is currently the Praise & Worship Pastor at God's Shining Light Church in Tulsa. OK. She has a band called Broken Yoke. I think I am being very objective when I say that I've heard many of the most renowned worship leaders of our time and Sheila is better than any of them. The Lord has placed an anointing upon Sheila to lead people into worship which is unmatched - and anyone who has been in a service she has lead with testify to that. I can barely make myself listen to Contemporary Christian radio, because Sheila and Broken Yoke do all the songs so much better!

Personally - Sheila is the love of my life. She always treats me with respect. She supports me in ministry, evangelistic work, our business, prison ministry - you name it! Sheila, to my knowledge, has never said anything about me to anyone, except to praise me. A man could not ask for a better wife!

Sheila is a wonderful mother to our two children, Houston and Savannah, that she brought to our marriage - and to Katie, who I brought to our marriage. She treats Katie like a mom treats a daughter, not like a step-mom treats a step-daughter. She gives wonderful and wise advice and is quick to show her love and support in so many ways.

When Solomon wrote in Proverbs 31:10 "A wife of noble character, who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. (11) Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. (12) She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." I'm sure he must have been writing about someone exactly like Sheila! She is of noble character and worth far more to me than all the world's rubies.

It was 8 years ago today, that I asked Sheila to marry me. We didn't wait long. We were married on Sept. 5th. July 13th and September 5th of 2001 are two of the very best days of my life!

Our life has not always been roses - there have been a few thorns. There have been good times and tough times. Ups and downs. But, I would not trade one moment of life with Sheila for any moment of life without her! I know that she is a better wife then I am a husband - but she always loves me anyway!

All in all, I think we make a great team! An inseparable team!

I can't really remember what life was like without her - and most certainly, I don't every want to be in that position again!

On this, your birthday, Sheila - and on this day that is the anniversary of you agreeing to marry me - I say "Thank you! I love you - so very, very much! I hope this year is your best yet - and our best yet! And, I will do everything I can to be the husband you deserve!"

Because - (Proverbs 31:29) Many women do noble things, but you, Sheila, surpass them all!

To my wonderful, fantastic, incredible wife, Sheila - I love you! Happy Birthday! Thank you for being my wife!

Your very devoted husband!

Jim

Today is Father's Day!

2009-06-21T21:59:00.000-07:00

My Dad - James K. Rutherford - A Genuine Hero - standing next to a statue of some actor!

Dad - an OU fan - headline on paper doesn't look so good!

My Daughter, Savannah - 12 going on 20!

Dad - Almost 60 years of preaching! Many souls in the Kingdom as a result!

My Daughter - Katie - Senior Picture - Currently on European trip - in Venice today.

Me - Uncle Shan Rutherford (youngest of the brothers, preaches in Greenwood, Indiana) - Dad (World's Greatest Father) - Uncle Dean (middle brother, Outreach/Evangelism Pastor in Clovis, California - my Brother Joel (preaches in Langley, Oklahoma.)

I had the privilege of preaching today at First Christian Church in Langley, Oklahoma - filling in for my Brother, Joel, who is in Alaska, with his family, where his wife's sister is getting married.

It was wonderful to preach on Father's Day with my Dad in the audience. He even stayed for both services! His wife, Eva Jo, was kind enough to take the both of us out to lunch after the second service!

I love my Dad and am so grateful for his example of a minister, a father and a man that I had growing up.

Dad turned 79 just a couple of weeks ago. He spent almost 60 years preaching the gospel as a pastor, evangelist, church planter and more. He was a tremendous one on one soul winner!

I've learned so much from Dad - and could have learned so much more, if I'd just paid better attention.

I love you, Dad! It was great to spend part of this Father's Day with you. I hope there are many more to come!

I did miss my daughter, Katie, this Father's Day. I've spent every Father's Day with Katie since she was born more than 18 years ago - except for this one! Katie is on a trip to Europe. She went with her American Sign Language Class and her mother went as a sponsor and arranged for she and Katie to take an extra couple of weeks, just the two of them. They have visited France, but have spent most of their time in Italy. Today, Father's Day, they were in Venice. Katie did call to wish me a happy Father's Day. It was good to hear her voice, but I sure did miss not spending at least part of the day with her. I'm thrilled that Katie has been able to see so much of the world already - China for almost a month last year - and now France and Italy for three weeks! But, I still missed her today! As a Dad, I am so proud of Katie and the fine young woman she is becoming - and the goals she has for her life - to work with deaf children - maybe on the mission field.

I did have Savannah - in person - to wish me a happy Father's Day! As it says by her picture, Savannah is 12 going on 20. I can't believe that Savannah is going to be in the 7th grade this year! She is a basketball player and will get to start playing volleyball this year! She is small, but very quick and very tough! She is also very smart! When I'm not preaching, I usually run the sound and video at God's Shining Light, but when I am preaching, Savannah takes over for me! There are not many 12 year olds who are sharp enough and could be trusted enough to take care of the sound and video projection at the level we run it at God's Shining Light, but with Vanny in charge, I don't even worry about it when I'm off preaching. I know it will be done perfectly. Of course, she did learn from the best!!!

It was, I guess, a Father's Day of mixed emotions! But, life is like that, I guess.

Another Genuine Hero - Joe Hambrick - Sheila's Dad - World's Greatest Father-in-Law!

I am also thankful on Father's Day, that my wife, Sheila, had such a wonderful Christian Father!
Joe has served the Lord for many years and passed that servant's heart along to his children. Joe is a black and white sort of guy - not much gray! What's right is right and what's wrong is wrong! Joe is a man's man, a wonderful father, a loving husband, a terrific grandfather - and, as I said, the World's Greatest Father-in-Law. Joe and his wife, Bonnie, live right across our long private drive (officially, Hambrick Hill Road) from Sheila and I. Between us, we have 8.5 beautiful acres. I'll bet there are not too many people out there who would want their in-laws living right across the street, but I wouldn't have it any other way! Joe is the heart and soul of Hambrick Hill - as well as the Hambrick family. I know this - I would not have the wonderful, loving, Christian wife I do, were it not for Joe Hambrick! Thanks, Joe!

I love you, Dad! I love you, Katie! I love you, Vanny! I love you, Papa Joe!

Happy Father's Day to all of you!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Becoming a "Mega" Church

2009-06-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

I saw this article in MinistyToday, and it really struck a cord with me.
Far too many denominations and churches are declining in membership and attendance today and I have long believed the primary cause is that so many are afraid to see the supernatural power of God at work in the church, yet it was the expression of that power which caused the New Testament Church to grow. At God's Shining Light, we see the kind of things Maloney talks about on a regular basis and it is because we are reaching those which most of society and, most unfortunately, most of the church rejects - the addicts, alcoholics, the homeless, those just released from prison. Maybe we, as the church, need to be reminded that these were the same type of people to which Jesus ministered.

Take a look at this article and let me know what you think!

"Recovering Great Power and Great Grace"
God often has a different plan for churches becoming ‘mega’
by James Maloney in MinistryToday

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In my early days of pastoring, I would sometimes complain to God, “How am I supposed to build a big church for You, Lord? Oh, God, please don’t let something weird happen today. Just let it be a normal service, please!” And invariably, some witch (and I mean a bona fide witch) would show up and start gagging and screaming during the praise and worship time. Yeah, that’ll make a good impression on the visitors.

I’d spend 15 minutes ministering deliverance to her; she’d roll around, foam at the mouth. The devil would go out and God would go in, and the witch would get saved. I’d bumble through the rest of the service and the moment the benediction was given, visitors would fly out the back doors, the windows; it was terrible. And I’d complain: “Lord, how can I grow You a big church if You let stuff like that happen? I can’t get people to stick around when we’ve got somebody foaming at the mouth!”

To which God would reply, “Well, you’ve got one new member.” I wanted the doctors and the lawyers; but He wasn’t interested in my desire to have the largest church in Small Town, USA. He was interested in a church that would turn that witch into a testament of His miraculous dominion.

Acts 4:33 says, “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” Megadunamis (“great power”) is that explosive supernatural, miraculous power released in the church on a mega scale. Megacharis (“great grace”) is where we get the word charismatic—“God’s grace freely given [manifested] in the ordinary course of people’s lives.” As with Antioch, God is establishing a church today with great power and great grace. The apostolic spirit creates a grace-filled congregation that operates with impressive authority. God is creating a church that is attractive, involved, reproducing and multiplying.

Why people will come, stay and grow in your church will correlate directly to the level of mega-grace and mega-power that operates in your services. It’s not just about your community outreach programs (and, yes, those are vitally important!); or your rockin’ praise and worship (keep it up!); or your carefully constructed, three-month membership program (don’t stop that either!). Ultimately, working with all of the above, it’s your desire to permit the prophetic and apostolic anointing to have pre-eminence in your services. It becomes your passion to maintain a legitimate expression of God in your meetings.

God must peel off the exterior of your church and reveal the muscle underneath—that is His power moving apostolically and prophetically through the body. You must want to get back to the rawness of the Holy Spirit moving like a rushing, mighty wind. This only comes from church leadership having a sense of security in God. They know He won’t lead them astray, so they permit Him to move as He sees fit.

When that kind of operation is permitted, your congregation gains a level of recognition. The glory they receive in church rubs off on the people around them, at work, at home, at the grocery store. Powerful Christians become extremely attractive to the outside world. It’s divine magnetism, where people are drawn to them saying, “I want what you have!”

And sure, you might have to put up with a little foaming at the mouth at first as these new people come in. But once they’re set free, some of them become the greatest movers and shakers for the Lord. I don’t know about you, but I want those kinds of people.

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James Maloney is president of The ACTS Group International and author of The Dancing Hand of God.

You are God's Masterpiece - Excellent!

2009-06-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

I just saw this video today - EXCELLENT!

Check it out!

It says/shows what so many of us struggle with day in and day out.
Most of the time we try to just ignore the areas of our life where we fall short, but when we really look at our lives and we see all the areas of failure and shortcoming and it can be overwhelming to the point that we begin to believe that not only could God never use us, but that God could never even love us.

NOT TRUE!

God loves us even when we fail, even when we sin, even in our apathy.
We - YOU and I - are special - we are, and always will be God's Masterpiece.
We just need to yield ourselves to Him fully and completely, so that He can chip away all the junk we've collected and to make us into the Masterpiece He created each one of us to be.

Father - Make me YOUR Masterpiece!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Guilty or Not Guilty

2009-06-03T12:51:00.000-07:00

The nephew of some very dear friends of ours, was on trial this week. He had been charged with a very serious crime which he did not commit. We all want to have faith in our American System of Justice - that every crime will be punished and every innocent person be set free. Unfortunately, our justice system is NOT perfect. Sometimes criminals go free - even worse, sometimes innocent people are found guilty.

Sheila was in court with the family these last few days, but I was not able to go to the trial, except today for closing arguments. In this case, justice was served and this young man was found not guilty.

We all wanted to believe that would be the outcome. We felt the defense attorney did an exceptional job in his handling of the trial. But, when that jury goes out and begins to deliberate, you cannot help but be extremely concerned about what they will decide.

As I sat in the courtroom today, I was reminded of the couple of times when I have stood before a judge and a jury, with my future at stake, awaiting the reading of the verdict, never knowing for sure what the outcome would be - Guilty or NOT Guilty.

I was reminded, too, that one day each one of us will stand before God Almighty and it will not be just a few years or even the rest of our life which hangs in the balance, but our eternal future will hang in the balance. Only there will not be a jury, there will be no prosecuting attorneys and no defense attorneys. There will be no questions about the facts entered into evidence - no defense - no argument. God and God alone will decide the verdict. Our life will be reviewed, laid open, and the verdict read. And we will be forever and eternally either Guilty or Not Guilty!
No appeals, no probation, no parole.

God, as judge, cannot be anything other than just. And, the Bible tells us that the wages - the reward - the verdict - for sin is DEATH!

But, God is also LOVE! And He does not want anyone to be found guilty and to die, but He wants everyone to be found NOT guilty and to live eternally in His presence.

John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world (that includes me and that includes YOU) that He gave his one and only Son (Jesus), that who ever believes in Him might not perish, but have eternal life."

But, here is what many people don't understand - when we stand before God on that Day of Judgment. The verdict has already been decided!

John goes on to say (3:17) "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (18) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned ALREADY because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

When you and I stand before God for Judgment - the verdict will have already been decided - and WE are the ones who make that decision!

You see - we are ALL GUILTY - but in God's great love for me and in His great love for YOU, He sent in one and only Son to this earth, to be born as a baby, to live a sinless life, so that He could take the punishment of all of your sins and all of my sins upon himself and die on a cross 2000 years ago in your place and in mine - so that we might be found not just Not Guilty, but INNOCENT on that Day of Judgment - IF - and it is a big IF - we have believed that Jesus was the Son of God and we have asked Him to be our Savior and we have allowed Him to become the LORD of our life.

Really, it is that simple!

Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life, and NO MAN comes to the Father, except me.

Are you ready to face the Judgment?

Are you prepared for the Verdict?

If you've never accepted Jesus as your Savior and made Him the LORD of your life, then you need to do that TODAY!

It is the most important decision you will every make on this earth, because it is the only decision which has eternal consequences.

If you want to be forgiven of you sins, to have Jesus be your Savior and Lord, to receive God's Spirit to live in your life to help you become the unique and special person God made you to be and to know absolutely and for sure that when you stand before God you will stand INNOCENT, just follow the instructions on the right under How to Find Jesus!

And then let me know of your decision!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

"I Love Jesus"

2009-03-30T07:47:00.000-07:00

It is not right for a parent to lose a child!

My brother, Joel lost his son, James, last Saturday night.

Joel, I am SO sorry!

His name was James - same as mine and my Dad's and his Dad's, but to most people, he was "Spudd."

I'm not totally sure how that came about, but when he was young and playing soccer, there were several boys on the team named James, to they needed a way to differentiate them and my bother mentioned that they used to call his James by the nickname Spudd - and it stuck!

James was 20 years old - would have been 21 in May.

He was a handsome young man with a tender heart. He was a super soccer player, had been captain of his High School football team, was a track star who qualified for State several years. He played in the band. Spudd was very smart.

He was a nice young man with a great future ahead of him. He was loved by all who knew him.

He died way too early.

He was headed home from Miami, OK about 11:20 p.m. Sat. night when he missed a curve and hit a tree and was killed. We don't know all the details, probably never will - and we really don't even need to know all the details.

The police showed up at my brother's house a little after 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning to tell him his son was dead.

It is not right!

No parent should lose a child! No one should have to suffer that kind of hurt!

James was very much loved - and everyone who knew him will miss him!

He was not a perfect kid, but then none of us are perfect. He was a great son and a wonderful brother - and a great friend to everyone who knew him! He had a good heart and would do anything for anyone.

I preached for my brother on Sunday and will fill in for him again next week. I wish I could do so much more!

I love you, Joel!

The services will be at Pryor High School, Pryor, OK - 1100 SE 9th St. - at 11:00 a.m on Tuesday. I will be there for my brother. My wife, Sheila, will sing. I can't imagine it being anything but very, very sad.

James had a Facebook (doesn't everybody?) and I noticed that by this morning, 85 people had left messages. I was looking at all his pictures - and my favorite is the one posted above.

Joel and James - big OU fans - loved each other far more than either of them could ever express.

Parents should not lose their children! It is just not right!

Facebook is cool, because it gives you a look into someone's life.

James' last comment was made on Saturday afternoon about 3:30. He said "Keep my feet on the ground, keep my head in the clouds."

But - here is the thing on James' Facebook that meant the most to me. In his profile, under Religious Views, James wrote "I love Jesus."

That pretty much says it all, because that is really the only thing that matters. The Bible tells me that is the key to eternal life. "I love Jesus" was James' heart. And, so when James left this life on Sat. night and stepped into eternity, I know the first person he saw was Jesus. And, you know what Jesus said to James? "I love you, too, James! Welcome home!"

I love you, Joel!

Jimmie

Real Ministry

2009-03-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

A little more than a year ago, Sheila and I became involved with God's Shining Light Church (GSL) in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

GSL does amazing ministry by which life, upon life, upon life has been and continues to be dramatically changed. It is the most incredible church I've ever seen.

I was talking to a local television station manager not too long ago and he saying that he couldn't understand why more churches were not reaching out in the same way as GSL. I told him that the answer was easy - most churches wouldn't want the kinds of people GSL is reaching to ever come to their church.

You see, GSL is reaching drug addicts and alcoholics and men & women just out of prison and the homeless. If you'd ask on any given Sunday how many people used to fit into one of those catagories about 80% of the congretion would stand.

Through a related program, Wings of Freedom, a sober-living environment is provided and through the Sunday service, the Wed. night Celebrate Recovery and the Fri. night service and 12-Step Study, 100s and 100s of lives have been change through love and acceptance and encouragement and accountability - but most of all through the power of Jesus Christ.

Over the next few days, I'm going to tell you more about God's Shining Light and Wings of Freedom and I'm going to introduce you to some AMAZING people - the kind of people that Jesus was thinking about on both side of the equation when he said, "Whatever you do to the least of these, you do it unto Me." At God's Shining Light, it is the former "least" reaching out and ministering to the current "least."

If you live anywhere near Tulsa or ever visit Tulsa - you need to come to God's Shining Light. Sunday service is from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and features a band called Broken Yoke, which happens to be the best Praise Band in America - and maybe the world! Wednesday night, you can come for dinner at 6:00 and stay for Celebrate Recovery from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. And, Friday night, you never know exactly what you'll get, but you'll get it from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. - and you might, on occasion, even hear me preach! The church is located at 9897 East 11th Street, which is about a quarter mile west of Highway 169.

You can learn more about the church at www.gslchurch.com and you can find out about all the other events that are scheduled, like the "Setting Captives Free" Revival May 13-17 and the 3rd Annual Freedom Run motorcycle rally on August 29.

Again, starting tomorrow and for the next week or so, you'll meet some amazing people doing REAL ministry!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Pray for Sarah Palin

2008-10-02T14:21:00.000-07:00

This evening, Sarah Palin will debate Joe Biden on national television. And, I would ask that you pray for Sarah Palin.

A dear friend of mine called me this afternoon regarding a revelation God had given him about how to pray for Sarah Palin prior to and during tonight's debate.

I'm going to share it with you as succinctly as possible and you still be able to understand it.

My friend said that God likened her situation to the story of David and Goliath.

Everyone told David that he could not defeat Goliath, but David knew that with God's help he not only could, but would defeat Goliath and the whole Philistine army.

1. Pray that Sarah Palin will be firm in her faith, go out with confidence, trusting in the Lord knowing that He will give her the victory.

Saul tried to get David to wear his armour and carry his sword, but they were too big and heavy for David.

2. Pray that Sarah Palin will not try to answer with the answers other's have given her, but to trust that God will provide the right answers and the right words for her to speak.

David went to a fresh water stream and found five smooth stones.

3. Pray that Sarah Palin will go the the Living Water which is the Holy Spirit of God and find the five points which God has for her to use tonight.

David went out against Goliath, loaded up the first stone in his sling and let it fly with all his might and it found the one spot on Goliath which was not covered - his forehead - and it knocked Goliath down and out.

4. Pray that Sarah Palin will deliver the first point with confidence and force so that it will knock Joe Biden off his feet and disarm him.

David then took the giant's own sword and cut off Goliath's head.

5. Pray that Sarah Palin will take the second point and attach with such force that it will destroy any ability for the opposition to fight back.

David then lead the charge to destroy the whole Philistine army.

6. Pray that Sarah Palin will use the other three points God will give her to open the eyes of this nation to the fact that John McCain will do the right things and lead this nation to where God desires it to be.

The last part of the revelation revealed to my friend was to:

7. Pray that Sarah Palin, as she walks off the platform tonight, will raise her hands, praise God and give Him all the glory!

I've already been praying about these 7 areas and will continue to pray until and through the debate tonight - and I hope you'll join me.

I really believe that Sarah Palin has been lifted up to be the Esther of our time - that she has been brought forward for just such a time as this!

Just as Esther lived in a foreign country where God's people were persecuted and looked down on, as Christians, we live in a country where more and more we are scoffed at, mocked and are even beginning to feel the first waves of persecution. There is no doubt we are under attach and that many in this country would like to see us destroyed, or at the very least, to see our influence destroyed.

I believe we have an opportunity to have, in Sarah Palin, an Esther in the inner court of government, to open the eyes of our leaders as to what is right and to make a way by which God's people will not be trampled on and destroyed, but lifted up and restored.

I was thrilled to see the video of her speaking before her home church. While many in the media and many in this country laughed and tried to portray her as a religious fanatic or nut, I saw a woman who is strong and unashamed in her beliefs and in her faith - and that is just the kind of person God can use in a place and time such as this.

Pray for Sarah Palin!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Why God Allows Bad Things To Happen

2008-09-23T10:14:00.000-07:00

When I was a Pastor, and now as as Evangelist, I have often had people express their doubts about the effectiveness of prayer and, ultimately, their doubts about God, when bad things happen and God does not seem to answer their prayers.

Most often this happens when someone becomes stricken with a disease such as cancer, but it might be a financial situation or a child or other loved one who has become involved in drugs or alcohol or some other destructive and sinful lifestyle.

When we, as Christians, are faced with these kinds of tragic or crisis situations, we begin to pray in tears and with great passion and in faith and with belief that God will answer our prayers and we ask other Christians to pray with us. We pray for God to miraculously intervene in the situation and provide a resolution to the financial problem or a complete healing from the disease or that our child or loved one would change their life.

There are times when God does miraculously intervene, but there are many more times that it seems that God does not intervene - that He has not heard our prayers - or that He does not care. It is then a very short step to begin to question if God ever answers prayer or even if there is a God. We begin to ask "Why didn't God answer my prayers?" And, then we begin to even question if God has ever answered any prayer we've prayed or was it just happenstance or coincidence that seemed like an answer to prayer and the outcome would have been the same whether we prayed or not. We begin to ask, "What's the point?" And, it is not long before we become discouraged and disappointed and far too often our faith begins to fail.

Maybe you're in that kind of place right now. Maybe you've been praying and praying and it seems God is doing nothing and you are beginning to question if He hears your prayers, if He cares about you and your crisis, or even if God is even real. The fact is that all of us will be tested in this manner at one time or another. If you're not there now, you've been there or you'll be there sometime soon.

I wish I had a word for you that would remove all your doubts and restore your faith, but I don't. It is something each of us has to work through on our own. Each of us has to make the personal decision that even in those times when I can't see God working, even in those times God does not seem to hear, even in those times when it seems that God doesn't care - I'm going to keep praying and keep believing.

You see, there comes a point in faith, when the only way you can continue on is by faith. Does that make sense? We can try to figure it out logically, but, in the end, we have to continue on in faith, by faith. We can read our Bibles, we can review the miracles in answer to pray which God has previously done in our lives, but when faced with a crisis which only God can solve and He does not bring the solution we've prayed for, it is only human to question it all.

And, in that, I think we find the key. We have to stop looking at things through human eyes and stop trying to understand with human understanding and, instead, begin to see things through God's eyes.

I heard my Pastor, Dixie Pebworth, tell a mother who had for many years prayed that her son would be turn from the lifestyle he was living and, yet, he seemed only to get deeper and deeper in that lifestyle, "God is has not finished writing your son's testimony."

Another friend of mine, Jim Murphey, who was a preacher before the effects of a brain tumor caused him to have to step from the pulpit was once confronted by a man who was crying that he had prayed and prayed in belief and with great fervor that his wife would be healed from cancer and asked "Why did God let her die? Why didn't He answer my prayers? Why didn't He heal her?" And, Jim said, "Brother, God did heal your wife. She doesn't have cancer anymore. She is completely healthy and more alive then she has ever been." Jim passed away less than a year later, but we didn't have a funeral, we had a "home-going" celebration!

When we can move beyond seeing with our human eyes and begin to see with God's eyes, then we begin to see that God always answers our prayers, even when He doesn't answer with our preconceived and sometimes even selfish idea of how He should answer. When we can move beyond seeing with our human eyes and begin to see with God's eyes, we begin to realize how much He loves us and how He pours blessing into our life - even in the most tragic circumstance.

I have never seen such a great illustration of what I'm talking about then this video. Have some tissue ready, because I guarantee you will cry, but you will also see God's hand and God's blessing and God's love and God's eternal promise in what would be with human eyes the most tragic of situations.

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Shall We Pray?

2008-08-08T16:16:00.000-07:00

Stuart Shepherd, of Focus On The Family, does a weekly video commentary called Stoplight, which during this Presidential Campaign season is often political. If you are a conservative Christian, I think that you'll like his commentaries as much as I do.

His latest edition of Stoplight is titled, Pray for Rain.

Watch it and see what you think.

I don't know about you, but I think it is a pretty good idea and I'm going to join today with Stuart Shepherd and, hopefully, hundreds of thousands of other conservative Christians in praying that God will open the heavens and pour down a drenching, soaking, torrential, big time rain in Denver on August 28 just as Barrack Obama begins his acceptance speech.

Will it rain?

I don't know, but I'm going to pray, in faith, that it does, because as Caleb said when he, as a very old man, began the conquest of the promised land which had been given to him personally, a land which was mountainous and occupied by giants, "Who knows, God may be gracious!"

After all, we are not asking for God to send down fire and brimstone (although that might be appropriate), just a little rain on BO's parade!

Shall we pray?

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

2008-06-14T18:20:00.001-07:00

The handsome gentleman above is my Dad - James King Rutherford!

On June 6th, we celebrated his 78th birthday with a dinner prepared by his wife, Eva Jo, in their home. It was wonderful to see Dad, as it always is. Even though I only live about 45 miles from Dad, I don't see him nearly enough. Each time I see Dad, I always make a mental note that I need to see him more often, but, I am, as most of us seem to be, far too busy with life, to always make the time for the things I intend to do - even when if involves someone as special as my Dad.

Last spring, Dad retired from 50+ years as an evangelist, preacher and pastor. My Dad was a great preacher - one of the very best! I had the great privilege of preaching at the service to honor him, even though both his brothers, each great preachers in their own right, were present at the service. It was truly one of the greatest honors of my life.

I am so thankful that Dad has been able to witness the changes God has brought about in my life over the years. For many years I was a prodigal son, not so much from my earthly Dad as I was from my Heavenly Father, but still there were too many years when our relationship was not as close as it should have been and I wish now it had of been.

I am so thankful to my Dad for being the kind of Dad he was. Dad was busy as a minister, but he did lots of things with me. He taught me to hunt and fish and to play golf and lots of other stuff. While Dad was sometimes not very outwardly expressive in his love for me, I never doubted that he loved me or that he was proud of me. And, Dad never gave up on me or quit praying for me all those years I was away from God and the church. Most of all, Dad was an example of a preacher who had a passion for lost souls. Dad was not only a great preacher, but he was a great soul winner! I wish I was half the one on one soul winner as my Dad!

I know that it is in large part because of the foundation of faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ, that was build in my life as a boy and young man by my Dad (and my Mom) and the example of a Christian man I saw in my Dad, that has made me the man I am today.

So - Happy Father's Day, Dad! It is my great hope that we celebrate many more!!!

Jimmie

Cardboard Testimonies

2008-06-13T09:36:00.001-07:00

I just saw this video this morning and was struck by how much it really said.

This is actually a video on tithing and giving by making the point that church changes people's lives and so it worth supporting with your tithes and offerings.

While there is no question that people's lives can be dramatically changed by the grace, love and power of God, this video, to me, raises the question which all of us should be asking ourselves - "Are people's lives being dramatically changed though MY church?"

I believe with all my heart that the Church of Jesus Christ was intended to be a dramatic and powerful agent of change -that people lives should be dramatically different because of what they experience in and through the Church.

I also believe that many, many churches in America today are NOT the powerful agent of change which our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ intended the church to be. Far too many churches are not much more than social clubs using ritual and religion to make themselves feel like they are doing something good for themselves and society. That is why polls show over and over again that the lives (the words and actions) of people who consider themselves to be good church-going Christians are not much different than the lives of people who never go to church and have little use for spiritual things.

So - I'd ask you today to take an objective look at YOUR church and to come up with an honest answer to the question - "Is MY church really being The Church?" Is the church you attend and support making a dramatic and powerful difference in people's lives. Are souls being saved? Are people living changed lives?

If the answer is "NO." - then you either need to change your church or change churches!

If you are in Tulsa, you need to check out God's Shining Light Church at 9897 E. 11th Street, if you are looking for a church that is being The Church of Jesus Christ - a church where souls are being saved and lives dramatically changed. I can promise you this - you may not be comfortable there, but you will marvel at all that is being accomplished for the cause of Christ.

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Pastor George Nowlin

2008-06-02T10:53:00.000-07:00

I had the great privilege of meeting George Nowlin, a pastor from Duncan, Oklahoma, several weeks ago when he was a part of a "Setting Captives Free" Revival at our home church, God's Shining Light in Tulsa.

I have always loved the singing of Al Green (who is now a pastor in Memphis, TN) and George reminds me a lot of Al Green - except, as I told George, there is a very special anointing on his singing that you find in very few people.

I'm not sure this is George at his very best, and you most certainly will not be able to sense the incredible anointing and power that you would experience hearing George live, but you will be very blessed by his music.

Check it out!

George Nowlin

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

The Cross Within Us

2008-05-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

This is an amazing video, which will give you a new perspective on how much, not only God cares about your life, but of how and why you were created - how special your are to God - and what a wonderful plan He must have for your life.

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Katie Is Home

2008-05-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

Well - long time no write! But - I'm going to do much better, because I have so many wonderful things to share!

First - Katie is home from China. She is safe and sound and had a wonderful time. The last full day she was with Iris and her family in Chengdu was Easter - Resurrection Sunday! It was just a God thing I am sure, but we had bought a decorative cross to hang on a wall for Iris's family and sent it as a gift, but Katie had overlooked it when she gave out gifts, so she was able to pull it out on Easter Sunday and explain that this day was not special because of Easter Bunnies, dyed eggs and candy, but because Jesus Christ rose from the dead to give to us the promise of eternal life after dying on the cross three days before to pay the price for our sin so that we might have forgiveness. I'm not sure how it all came out in translation, but please pray that the real meaning of Easter would resonate and grow in the hearts of Iris and her parents.

As you know, the area around Chengdu was hit last week by a monumental earthquake. Iris and her family and friends are all fine, but please keep the people if that area in your prayers.

Katie had just been invited to go on a Mission Trip back to Chengdu this summer. She would have gone as an Assistant Teacher for a two week intensive English course at one of the universities, but the program had to be canceled due to the earthquake. They are hoping to be able to re-schedule it over Christmas, but will plan to go next summer, in either case.

As Katie was in China, God placed a love in her heart for the Chinese people and a calling upon her life to return to China to share the Gospel. Please pray for Katie and that opportunity.

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Katie & the Squatty Potty

2008-03-22T12:46:00.000-07:00

Unless you've been to China, you've probably never experienced a public toilet like the "Squatty Potty."

The idea, which my seem obvious to you, is to place you feet along the grooved edges, squat down and holding your pants, skirt, underwear and whatever out of the way and off the ground as you take care of your business with whatever comes out going down the hole in the bottom and plopping onto the ground below. There is no water to flush, so whatever falls outside to hole just kind of stays where it falls.

While you are thinking that might not be that bad, the reality is that this must be a brand new Squatty Potty which has never been used! From what I have heard, most of the time the area you place you feet, any where you might put a hand to steady yourself and most every where else, is very, shall we say, "soiled." Also, unless you bring your own, there is most likely no toilet paper and if there is, it is a little like using a newspaper.

There are a few American style sit-down toilets in public restrooms, but these are usually only for the handicapped.

Katie has only had to use a Squatty Potty a few times. But, I think that has been a few times to many!

I was reading just a couple of days ago, that thanks to the Olympics, China has decided that they will put many more American style toilets in Beijing. I'm sure for those planning on going to China at a future date, that is great news.

To update you on the latest culinary delights Katie has tried in China.

At the wedding she attended, they served either fried or baked grub worms covered in sugar (I guess if I was eating a grub worm, covered in sugar would be best), baked bugs of various sorts (eyes, legs, wings and everything). Katie ate one worm and several bugs. She said that Iris' parents were laughing at her, because they won't even eat those. They were also served a bowl of seafood, only instead of chunks of filleted fish and maybe a peeled shrimp and a scallop or two, this was a bowl full of small fish, shrimp and numerous other sea creatures that we're cooked, but still just like they were when they were caught.

Katie went to an out-of-the-way BBQ place the other night. Now, I've been to a lot of out-of-the-way BBQ joints, because those are usually the best BBQ, but this one was, as you might imagine, a little different. It was out under a tarp and it was raining, so they had to keep poking the tarp with a long stick to keep it from filling with water. There was a large refrigerated (we assume) box that was filled with various types of meat on sticks and you would pick out what kind of meat you wanted and they'd grill it for you. Katie tried a number of different kinds of meat on a stick, including duck intestines!

Katie has eaten duck stomach, the Achilles tendon of a cow, cow tongue, calves throat (the esophagus), various animal intestines, duck (and other bird) eggs, a chicken kidney, cow lung, soft shelled turtle and much more which I've blocked from my mind. She did have Tex-Mex one night at Peter's Tex-Mex and said it was just like American Mexican food. She has had Pizza Hut and McDonalds, which she said were just like you'd find in America - except that the most popular item at McDonalds in China is fried chicken.

The grossest thing she has eaten was a little brown soft cube, which she thought was maybe some kind of tofu, but was actually coagulated duck blood - a real delicacy in China. Katie said it just about made her sick when she found out what it was and was glad she'd only eaten one instead of the whole bowl full. Me, too!

Katie said that most of the food has tasted good, but that the texture of some of of it was really unusual and sometimes pretty gross to an American.

Katie picked up her hand made, custom fitted, traditional Chinese dress - a "Qipao" (pronounced "Chee-Pow") and says it is beautiful. She will wear it to church the Sunday after Easter - the first Sunday she'll be back - and I'll get some pictures up for everyone to see. And, Katie has requested a special Sunday dinner - Dad's BBQ Brisket, Garlic Smashed Potatoes and Glazed Bacon-wrapped Green Beans. That sounds good even to me!

Katie has bought lots of gifts and souvenirs to bring home. Much of the shopping is from street vendors and haggling over the price is expected - at least to a point. Katie and Iris were shopping along a street filled with vendors and Katie saw something she wanted to buy for her sister. Iris asked Katie what she was willing to pay and apparently the merchant thought the offer was insulting and began to yell names at Iris and Katie that Iris would not interpret. That didn't deter Iris who yelled right back and Katie ended up having to pull her away! Way to go, Iris!

As I write this blog on Saturday afternoon about 4:15 p.m., Katie just has one full day (Sunday) and then Monday morning with Iris and her family and then Katie and her group will fly to Shanghai for a couple of days before arriving back home in Tulsa on Thursday night. Please pray for Katie, especially over this next 30 hours. I know that she will want this last bit of time to be special and for her to have an opportunity to somehow make her stay with Iris and her family not just a lasting impression, but an eternal impression.

More on Katie in the next few days - and many pictures upon her return!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Pictures from China

2008-03-15T16:05:00.000-07:00

I've heard from Katie several times since the last update, but only briefly. She is, of course, still in China. It seems like she has been gone a very long time, but her trip is only half over. Katie said that she is a little homesick, but I know that will quickly pass in the next few days as the time in China draws shorter and she'll be wishing she had more time there. Katie did say the other day that it was pretty difficult not knowing the language and only being able to understand the few people there who do speak English well. How did she put it? "It's like being in a 24 hour nail salon."

Each student on the trip had to give a presentation to the student body of the High School they are visiting in Chengdu. It is supposed to be something that represents a part of American life and is of special interest to the student giving it. Katie gave her presentation on the Girl Scouts. She has been involved in scouting since she was in 1st grade and this summer, I think, will receive her Gold Award which is about a good as it gets.

I don't know how her presentation went, because I haven't really talked with her at length since then. She also helped judge an English Contest, attended a wedding and the Opera, but I'll have to update you on those when I get an update.

The good news is that we finally got some pictures! And, that is better than me writing anyway!

Iris meets Katie at the airport in Chengdu! What beautiful flowers and what two beautiful young ladies!

Iris's Mom with western jacket we sent as a gift, Katie, and Iris's Dad with the western shirt we sent for him!

Iris holding a book which Savannah picked out for her, because it is about the moon and Iris's Chinese Name "Yue" means "Moon." At the last minute before Katie left, we were trying to find some Moon Pies to send, but apparently they are not a plentiful as I imagined!

I bet you thought blue cotton candy was all American!
(Katie and three fellow students from Jenks High School)

Katie must have eaten more than her fair share based on the color of her tongue!
(Isn't she pretty even with a blue tongue!)

Katie was measured for a traditional Chinese dress (don't remember what it is called) which will be hand made and ready just before they leave Chengdu. Even in China, it was very expensive. Katie said it is red and black with gold trim. Some of the kids on the trip adopted Chinese names as did the Chinese students when they came to America, but since Katie did not have a Chinese name, the just put "Pretty Girl" on her dress order to identify her. AWWWW!

Katie in front of a temple (I think). Katie said that the temples are beautiful there, but it also breaks her heart to realize that so many millions do not know Jesus and their Savior and Lord.

I think this is the area which Katie said reminds her of the River Walk in Jenks. Shops, restaurants and entertainment built along the river. It must be a little bit of a tourist area, because it has the street name in English.

The Katie we all know and love! It says on her MySpace - "I'm a really big dork, but you'll probably love me anyway!" I'm not to sure about the dork part, but to know Katie is to love her.

We were hoping that Katie would have an influence on Iris, but I'm not sure this is quite what we had in mind!

Katie must feel right at home in Iris's home. With three beautiful women and a Dad lucky enough get to hang out with them, it is just like our house!

Is that a design on those chopsticks, or is she eating ants? Katie must be enjoying the food and adapted to using chopsticks, because she said she thought she'd gained a little weight.

Stay tuned for more updates! Keep Katie in your prayers!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Katie in China (Update)

2008-03-08T22:28:00.000-08:00

After having not heard from Katie for several days, she finally called Saturday morning, Sunday morning and again this morning.

On their second day in Beijing, they had gone to see the Great Wall (stay tuned for the video of Katie "galloping" along the Great Wall of China!) and then on a tour of the 13 Tombs of the Ming Dynasty. On the first day, they had seen Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City Palace and Museum, the Temple of Heaven and the Lama Temple and had seen a Kung Fu performance that evening.

Katie said she was so tired after the trip to the Great Wall, that she decided she'd wait till the next day to call and she had also needed to purchase another Calling Card, which she did before leaving Beijing the next day. After lunch on Friday, the group of exchange students, flew to one of China's ancient capital cities, Xi'an and that evening saw a dinner theater performance of Tang Dynasty Song & Dance. Back at the hotel room, Katie discovered that the Calling Card she had purchased was only good in Beijing, so could not call home.

Saturday morning, she toured the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Museum of Terri Cotta Soldiers and the HuaQing Hot Springs and then caught an afternoon flight to Chengdu, the home of their Chinese exchange students.

The picture above is of Iris (our exchange student) and the rest of the Gao family. From the left are Mom, Grandmother, Iris and Dad.

Katie was telling me how beautiful their home was. I thought that I remembered Iris telling us that they lived in an apartment, but Katie told me that it was a very spacious (by China standards, at least) townhouse and that she even had her own room. She would find out later that they had rented the townhouse just for Katie's visit, so that she would have her own room! What gracious hosts!

We had purchased gifts for Katie to take to Iris and her family. We went mostly with a Cowboy theme, since, after all, this is Oklahoma. We sent Iris's mother a beautifully detailed tan suede jacket in a western cut with western designs. It fit her perfectly and she loved it! We sent Iris's dad very fancy, retro western shirt - black and red with black diamond shaped pearl snaps. And, we sent Iris a black cowhide messenger bag that still had the cow hair on one side and a pink "Genuine American" Levi tee shirt. We sent a crystal cowboy hat to decorate their home, as well as a cross to go on the wall. Next time you go shopping notice how difficult it is to buy anything that is not "Made in China."

Katie has, of course, eaten from interesting food! So far, she eaten a pig's ear, beef lung, frog (not legs, but a skinned body), whole shrimp (eyes and all), a whole fried fish (head, eyes and teeth) on a stick, hot soup made of wine and tofu, a cold drink of wine with watermelon and other fruit and opium balls.

Yes - Opium Balls! I don't know the details, but they had something called opium balls and when you eat them, it makes your mouth tingle and then go numb. The Chinese call them "Sustenance from the gods." Katie says she ate 5 at once - a feat matched only by one other person.

Chengdu, a city of 11.5 million people, is in Sichuan Province which is known for spicy food. It is a different kind of spicy than we think about and Katie is finding most of it to her liking. She said they had Bamboo stuffed with meat and rice and another dish which was rice and corn wrapped in leaves and that both were spicy, but not "hot" in the way we think of spicy, and they were very good. Some of the other kids were served fish eyes and I'm betting those were not so good.

In Chengdu, Katie and the other exchange students will be spending some time at the school with Iris and the other host teens attend. It is Chengdu's top high school and a great honor to be able to attend there. Katie and the others were presented with official school uniforms upon their arrival and also picture ID badges. Katie says the school grounds are beautiful. They had "American Hamburgers" prepared for their lunch. Apparently these were prepackaged and heated and Katie says they were the worst thing she has every eaten! Remember, that includes frog back and fried fish heads! When she met Iris for lunch, Iris told her that they are allowed to go off campus to eat lunch and that is what all the kids do. Apparently school cafeteria food is the same throughout the world!

Katie was one of five American students selected to judge an English Competition at the school on Friday - a great honor! (They must not have seen her current grade in English!)

Yesterday, they toured the Panda Research Center and were able to have their picture taken with a baby panda. They couldn't touch it for fear of making it sick, but, hopefully, we will have a picture of Katie with the panda to post sometime soon.

Wednesday night, they go to the Chinese Opera.

Do keep Katie in your prayers. Yesterday, she was walking across the street in a crosswalk - turned around talking - and would have been hit by a speeding cab, except one of the boys pulled her back out of the way and it missed her by inches. After experiencing traffic and driving in China, Katie has decided that her dad is not such a bad driver after all, so I'm thinking about sending Sheila on a trip to China!

The group has visited many temples, shines and other places of worship while in China and Katie says she has almost cried several times at the thought of so many millions of people who do not know the one true God and His son and our Savior and Lord, Jesus, but instead worship these gods who are not really gods at all. She was also deeply touched when their bus was detoured off the highway by a wreck and had to go through a very poverty stricken area. In fact, Katie said she had a dream that night that she was out in the country side in China delivering food and medicine to the people and preaching the Gospel. I told her it might be God beginning to reveal to her that He will someday call her back to China.

That is a thought that, on one hand, makes me very proud, but, on the other hand, makes me pretty sad, because I really do believe deep in my heart that one day way too soon God will call Katie to a far off country to use in an incredible way for His magnificent purpose! That will be so cool! But, I can't imagine how much I'll miss her!

I love you, Katie! And, am more proud of you than you could ever know!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Katie In China

2008-03-04T09:12:00.000-08:00

I received a call this morning at 6:10 a.m. from my Daughter, Katie, to tell me that she'd arrived safely in Beijing, China!

Katie is 17 years old and a Junior at Jenks High School. In September a group of 16 High School students from Chengdu, China, came to spend about 3.5 weeks and yesterday morning at 6:08 a.m., the 16 Jenks High School hosts left Tulsa for 3.5 weeks in China, including about 10 days in the homes and school of what are now their host students.

In September, Katie was host to a beautiful, personable and very bright young lady who took the American name of Iris while she was here. Her name is actually Gao Yue. Gao is her family name and her given name is Yue, which means Moon.

This is a picture of Katie and Iris (Katie won't like that picture, because she still has her braces on) and one of our family, including Iris who we feel is a part of our family now. (That is Savannah down front, Iris on the left, then Katie, my incredible wife Sheila and yours truly on the right!)

This a quite an adventure for Katie, but Katie is quite an adventurer, so it should work out well. The group will be in Beijing for a few days seeing all the sites there (and shopping!). They will visit the Great Wall tomorrow! Then they will take a plane to Chengdu - China's 5th largest city at 11.5 million! Katie will spend the 9 or 10 days there with the Gao family and go to school with Iris. She will also see the Panda Research Center, which is in Chengdu. They will spend the last few days shopping in Shanghai and fly home from there.

Katie has felt God's call on her life to be a missionary, maybe working with the deaf and/or orphaned children and that is a part of the reason she wanted to go to China. One of Katie's High School teachers asked her to please not get arrested while she was in China for trying to smuggle in Bibles or telling people about Jesus. We have been praying, since Iris was here, that through her visit with us, the Fire Bible we sent home with her and Katie's visit there, that Iris would come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and I hope you'll be praying with us in that regard.

Katie said that last night they had a meal with lots of vegetables and rice, as well as some beef and pork, fish with their heads still on (eyes open and teeth showing) and some kind of intestines!!! But, she said that she really liked what she ate.

Today, they are seeing Tienanmen Square, the Forbidden City and, I believe, the Temple of Heaven and tomorrow Katie has promised to shoot some video of her skipping along the Great Wall.

Katie is a most amazing young lady - and I am so very, very proud of her - and love her very, very much! She is beautiful, very personable and has a tender heart for the Lord and for others, especially those less fortunate. I am certain that God is going to use Katie in an incredible way.

Here are a couple of recent pictures of Katie that will not only show you what a beautiful young lady she has become, but also give you a glimpse of her personality.

Please pray for me over these next few weeks, because I'm already really missing Katie. With her being 17, there are lots of days I don't see her, but it is somehow different knowing she is clear on the other side of the earth!

And, please keep Katie in your prayers over these next few weeks while she is in China, not just for her safety and that she has a good time, but that God will use her in some way to impact someone for Jesus Christ (I know that is what she wants) - and that she won't get arrested!!!!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Larry Norman

2008-02-24T18:45:00.000-08:00

Larry Norman passed from this world and into heaven early this Sunday morning.

If you are not nearly as old as I am, that might not mean much to you - or might not mean much to you as you realize, but were it not for Larry Norman and others like him, we might have all been singing hymns in church today, instead the wonderful praise and worship music most of us were singing.

Larry Norman was a pioneer in contemporary Christian music. Larry, along with others like Phil Keaggy, Randy Stonehill, Randy Matthews, in the midst of the Jesus Movement of the early 1970s began to put Christian lyrics to rock/pop music. They endured a lot of criticism from many mainstream Christian leaders for the songs they wrote and preformed, but through that music, they reached a generation of young people with the saving message of Jesus Christ - and in the process changed Christian music forever.

Larry asked the question in one of his songs "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?" and he and his contemporaries set out to change that - and did they ever!

I had met Randy Matthews at Ozark Bible (now Christian) College in Joplin, Missouri in the late 1960's. Randy was in a gospel quartet, but it would not be long before he began writing Christian lyrics to rock music. I lost track of Randy for a couple of years, but heard that he was doing a concert in maybe 1971 or 1972 in Tulsa, Oklahoma with a guy named Larry Norman. What an experience that was! Randy had let his hair grow pretty long, but Larry Norman had long blond hair well past his shoulders. Both of them were doing their own songs and they were like nothing I or any one else had ever heard before. One of the songs Larry did that night was "I Wish We'd All Been Ready." Now, if you are more my daughter's age, then you may think that is a DC Talk song, but the truth is that if I had not been for the courage of Larry Norman and Randy Matthews and others like them, there might not be a DC Talk or a Steven Curtis Chapman or any of the other great Christian contemporary artists of today and we might still be singing hymns to organ accompaniment.

So on this day, even if you have never heard of Larry Norman, you ought to say a little prayer of thanks to God for Larry Norman and for the amazing way God used him in his short time here on this planet. And, when you're in church singing the wonderful contemporary songs that have taken us from just singing songs to truly praising and worshiping God with our music, every once in a while, think about Larry Norman and Randy Matthews and the other brave servants who had the vision and the courage that would launch a new era in Christian music.

See you in heaven, Larry!

(He'll be the guy with the long blond hair!)

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

2008 - Your Best Year Ever!

2008-01-01T14:20:00.000-08:00

Are you hoping that 2008 is a better year for you than was 2007?

It can be, if you'll just to a few things differently.

1. Spend at least 15 minutes talking and listening to God each day.
I read that the average Christian in America spends less than 10 minutes in prayer each day, so if you spend 15 minutes, you'll be well above average. Divide the time 5 - 5 - 5. Spend the first 5 minutes praising God and thanking Him for the many ways He continually blesses your life. Spend the next 5 minutes confessing sins, seeking God's wisdom, grace and mercy. Spend the last 5 minutes being quiet, just listening for God to speak to you.

2 Spend at least 15 minutes reading God's Word each day.
If you'll spend just 15 minutes reading your Bible each day, you'll read about 3 to 4 chapters a day and you'll read through the whole Bible, the entirety of God's written word, in less than a year.

3. Get involved in a ministry.
Each one of us has been not just called to ministry, but gifted for ministry. If you're not sure what your ministry area is, then try a few different things till you find it - or take one of the "gift evaluations". For the Church to function properly, each person needs to be contributing by using their gift - their calling. You'll also find yourself being more focused on spiritual matters as you beginning laying up treasure in heaven.

4. Tithe
If you don't consistently tithe (giving 10% of your gross income to the church or in support of ministry), then you need to start. God promises that if you will bring the first 10% and the full 10% to Him (the work of the Kingdom), then He will open the windows of heaven and pour out more blessing into your life than you can imagine. But, as with all of God's promises, if you refuse to do your part (the first and full 10% of everything you make) then God cannot bless your life.

5. Live a Holy Life.
You need to decide today that in 2008, you are going to live as holy a life as it is possible for a sinner to live. If you've let some little sin creep into your life, confess it, repent of it and get rid of it today! The Bible says you cannot serve two masters. You cannot cling to those little "pet" sins that we so easily justify as not hurting anyone and expect God to bless you and use you. If you want to live up to your potential, live fully and completely for God. If you want to be the person God created you to be, then honor God in all you say and all you do, all you watch, what you wear, what you listen to, the effort you give to your job, etc. Do all as if doing it for Jesus!

Want to make 2008 your very best year ever?
So does God!

All you need to do is these few small things and God will pour blessings into your life beyond anything you can imagine!

Happy New Year!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Please Don't Pray for Me!

2007-12-31T12:15:00.000-08:00

As you may have seen on the news (or experienced in person), Tulsa suffered a major ice storm a few weeks ago. At the height of the storm, almost 90% of the city was without electricity.

We were very fortunate to only have our electricity out for about 36 hours, but many people were without electricity for a week or more.

We (our family and Sheila's mom and dad) have a total of 5 houses, several outbuildings, more cars than we can drive and a bus on about 8.5 beautiful acres with lots of trees - all of which suffered at least some damage. Literally hundreds of tree limbs, many of them very large, broke and fell during the ice storm. We were very blessed in that we did not suffer any major damage to any of our structures or anything of value, although limbs fell all around everything.

I guess another blessing is that we (by sometime this summer when we are finished cutting up all the downed limbs and taking out the trees that were too damaged to survive) will soon have a lifetime supply of firewood!

Many people were not so fortunate.

Sheila and I both work in the legal field. Sheila is the Administrator (financial and HR manager) of a law firm and I manage our business which is a placement agency for legal professionals.

One of the great tragedies of the ice storm was that a couple, both well known and respected Tulsa attorneys, had their house catch on fire in the middle of the night as they tried to use their fireplace for heat. Both of them died of smoke inhalation. He was dead by the time the firefighters found him and she passed away about a week later, never having regained consciousness.

I did not attend the funeral, but heard that at his service, the minister reported that the prognosis for the wife was very bleak and she was not expected to live, and he asked that people pray for her passing.

Now, while I think I understand what he was asking, it also really bothered me.

You see, when I read my Bible, I see a God who could heal any disease, who could perform any miracle, who could even raise the dead.

My Bible also tells me that my God is the same yesterday and today and tomorrow - that He does not change.

My Bible tells me that I should pray for anyone who is sick and that God will raise them up, that the fervent prayers of a righteous man avails much, that whatever I ask in Jesus Name will be done and that if I command, in faith, a mountain to move that it will move.

Now, I am realistic enough to know that God does not always answer prayers exactly the way I pray them. Everyone I've prayed for to be healed, has not been healed exactly like I've prayed it. God has not granted me everything I've asked in prayer and not everything I have prayed for has come to pass.

I understand that God will not heal everyone, because my Bible also says that it is appointed to man once to die and so there will come a time for all of us that we will not be physically healed and will die. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but Lazarus is not still alive. Each of us will die sometime.

BUT - I have also prayed when God has been gracious and has provided the healing for which I and other were praying.

Last year, I prayed for a young man named Tommy whom I had never even met (and still have not) who had been diagnosed with Schizophrenia.

His mother said that about 4 years previous, he had gone from being a happy, normal teenager to being unable to function on his own, his life destroyed by this affliction and that he had to be heavily medicated just to be managed. I began to pray that God would deliver him and after a week or so of fervent prayer, I felt a real peace about the situation. About 6 weeks later, I received an email from his mother telling me that he was so much better, that it was like he had been healed. I emailed back that maybe it seemed like her son had been healed, because God had healed him.

Several years ago, our sister-in-law, fell into a coma following knee replacement surgery. Doctor's told us that MRIs, CT scans and brain scans showed severe brain damage. They said that there was a 92% chance that she would never come out of the coma and that if she did (an 8% chance of that), she would remain in a vegetative state, unable to communicate or care for herself in any way. There were a lot of us who refused to believe that and we began to pray. Every time I visited her, I would whisper in her ear, over and over again, "In the name of Jesus, wake up and be well." About 6 weeks later, she woke up and was immediately able to to understand us and to talk to us. It has been a long haul, more than 100 days in the hospital and much therapy, but today, other than some short term memory issues, she is fully healed.

I could list several other instances when prayers have been miraculously answered.

And, I could also tell you of times when they have not.

I don't think that any of us will fully understand in this life, why God answers some prayers just as we pray them and other time it seems in our limited view that He does not. I don't know why sometime God still does the miraculous and some times He does not.

But, I think that we must, in faith, continue to pray for and continue to expect the miraculous. I think we must never sell God short, never limit Him with our prayers.

On those occasions when God is gracious and sends the miracle, then we praise Him and give Him all the glory!

On those occasions when God, in His great purpose and wisdom, does not send the miracle (at least not as we've prayed it), then we praise Him and give Him all the glory!

So - back to the title of this post. If I am ever diagnosed with a life threatening disease, if I ever suffered severe brain damage, please do not pray for my passing, but leave that part up to God. In fact, if you are not willing to pray, in faith, for my complete and miraculous healing, please do not pray for me!

If God decides to heal me, then we can praise Him together! But, if God decides instead that it is my time to be called home, then throw me a going home celebration filled with praise and worship and great joy and tell everyone you know how good God was to Jim Rutherford!

BTW - if you ever ask me to pray for you, please know that I'll be praying and expecting a miraculous healing from God on your behalf!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

A Great Christmas Gift

2007-12-21T11:09:00.000-08:00

There is a guy named Stuart Shepard who does a kind of Op Ed series called Stoplight for Focus on the Family. Usually these pieces are pretty humorous and kind of a "you need to really stop and think about this." And, some of them can be pretty hard hitting - again, in a humorous way. You ought to check out his archived videos, you'll really enjoy them.

He recently took a different approach in a video editorial he called "A Christmas Story" and I think you'll both really enjoy it - but I also hope you'll act on it. Just click on the link below and then click on the red light.

A Christmas Story by Stuart Shepard

Hope you and yours have the most blessed Christmas ever - and make it extra special by being a blessing in some way to someone who really needs to be blessed!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

A Side of My Wife You've Probably Never Seen!

2007-11-26T20:45:00.000-08:00

http://www.southheightschurch.com/Podcasts/Pods/KissingThePig.html

You have got to click on the link above and watch this video!

My beautiful, fantastic, incredible wife, Sheila, (in addition to being my partner in ministry) is the worship leader at South Heights Assembly in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

She joined the staff there about a year ago, just prior to their annual pie auction which is the primary fund raiser for the Missionettes (the elementary girl's program). Since she had only been on staff for about 3 weeks prior to last year's pie auction, she was given a pass when it came to the part of the auction when the opportunity to throw a pie in the face of a staff member is auctioned off.

However, faced with taking a pie in the face this year, Sheila, who is somewhat claustrophobic and cannot stand to have anything in her face, even water from a shower, especially covering her nose, mentioned at a little after-church gathering several months ago the she'd rather kiss a pig than take a pie in the face.

Well ... guess what! Click the link above and see what happened!

I also am attaching another video below (not very good quality, but you'll get the idea) of a United Way fund raising event at the law firm at which Sheila is the Administrator, in which, try as she might, she could not avoid taking a pie in the face, but as you'll see, I have a very creative wife. Get a load of that outfit!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

It's Called Christmas with a Capital "C"

2007-11-26T11:28:00.000-08:00

Pretty cool video by an group called "Go Fish".

One of my preacher buddies, Mike Sublett, Hi-Land Christian Church in Pampa, TX sent it to me.

I've not been very good about updating this blog - but I'm making an early New Year's Resolution to do much better, so check back often over the next few weeks and hold me accountable.

There will be some fun stuff, some serious stuff, some more Christmas stuff and who knows what else.

But - right now - let me be the first to say - Merry Christmas with a Capital C !

Love in Christ Jesus!

Jim

Are Your Ready?

2007-11-05T07:51:00.000-08:00

What a powerful video!

And what a reminder that Jesus may come again at any time!

Certainly, if you read God's Word regarding what the world will be like when Jesus returns, it is apparent that those times are upon us. It may be 10 years or 20 years from now, but as this video portrays, it might be in just a few minutes.

Let me ask you this - if you knew Jesus were coming in 30 days, is there anything about your life that you'd change?

Is there something that you'd stop doing and for which you'd seek repentance, because you'd be afraid it would keep you from heaven?

Is there something that you should be doing that you'd start doing? Maybe you've been intending to talk to a loved one or a friend or a co-worker about Jesus and trying to lead them to salvation, but just keep putting it off because you are afraid you'd offend them? Maybe you keep telling yourself there will be a better time?

It is so easy for us to think that we have plenty of time, that we can change later or we can talk to that person about their soul some other time, but the fact is that Jesus could come at any moment - and, as Christians, we ought to be living our life with that realization - with that kind of urgency - no only in regard to assuring our own salvation, but is reaching the lost around us.

The fact is - THERE IS NOT PLENTY OF TIME!

THE TIME TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT IS NOW!!!

It may be that Jesus doesn't return for another 20 or 30 years, but you might not have more than today - more than these next few hours.

Last week, an 18 year old girl who had graduated last year from the same Christian school two of our kids attend(ed) was driving home from church and another car clipped her car causing her to spin into another lane of traffic where her car was hit and she died from her injuries. She was a wonderful Christian young lady. She'd made straight "A"s, was a star athlete, a beautiful and sweet girl and I am sure that death was far from her mind and that anyone who knew her would have thought that she had many wonderful years ahead of her. Yet, her young life ended in a moment.

The Bible tells us that, at best, our life is like a mist which appears for a moment and then is gone.

Let me ask you that question again - Are you ready?

If not, you need to get ready - TODAY!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Joseph Harp Correctional Facility

2007-10-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon Sheila and I made a drive we've made many times before. We left Tulsa about 4:30 and drove (too fast) the 150 mile, 2.5 hour trip to Joseph Harp Correctional Facility near Lexington, Oklahoma. I've been going down there for 9 years, most of that time for a once a month Chapel service. Sheila has been going with me for almost 7 years. About a year ago, because of time constraints and the high price of gas, we cut back from once a month to once a quarter.

Over that time, we have ministered in other prisons, doing bigger events and to more people and every once in a while even had a church or organization at least cover our costs, but there is something really special about Joseph Harp!

Prison ministry is an amazing thing. I will readily admit that there are many times, when we are trying to get away from our jobs and rushing to get to the prison on time and trying to figure out what to do with kids that we don't have a very good attitude as we are heading out. We are both so incredibly busy with our jobs and family and other ministry, that as we prepare to head out to Joe Harp, it sometimes seems like a pretty big burden.

Even though we often leave Tulsa out of almost grudging obligation, once we walk into that prison, God does something amazing (because that is just the way He is!) While we have gone to Joe Harp hoping to bless the men who are incarcerated there, to encourage them in some way, God uses the services there, the men there, to bless and encourage Sheila and I far, far more than we ever bless them. We have so many times walked into that prison beaten down, discouraged, worn out and heavily burdened and we walk out refreshed, renewed, revived, encouraged and with a reminder of how greatly God has blessed us in calling us to ministry.

God has blessed both Sheila and I in allowing us the opportunity to minister to congregations of hundreds of people and I am thankful for that. There is a certain synergy in large crowds of people and it is always humbling to me to see large numbers of people coming to the alters at the end of a service in response to the way God has spoken through me. And, I'll admit that there was a time in my life when I would have said "I'd a lot rather preach to 500 or 5,000 or even 50,000 than to preach to 50." And, I hope and pray that God is gracious enough to use me to preach to hundreds of thousands of people, that many people are healed and many souls saved.

But, God and I settled that numbers thing a few years ago - and there is nothing quite like being with those 30 or 40 or 50 men who pack themselves into that little Chapel at Joseph Harp. You see, as odd as it may seem, I think that God uses Sheila and I more effectively in that little prison Chapel then He does anywhere else. And, a large part of it is those men. Sheila and I show up just in time for the service and the men are already packed into the Chapel just waiting on us and they are there with an expectation and an excitement. They are there ready and anxious to worship and to hear God's word. They are expecting to be encouraged, touched and changed. When those men worship, it is genuine and it is passionate. They respond to God's word in true repentance and humbleness. Our service there starts at 7:00 and we are supposed to be off the prison yard by 8:50, but we never make it because I'm still trying to pray with men who have responded to the invitation. The prison officials used to threaten to not let us come anymore, if we wouldn't leave on time, but God has been gracious and, I think, they've just kind of accepted it.

Sheila told me last night that actually about a year ago when the guy that is kind of in charge of our services told us that they had moved the time up that we had to be off the yard from 9:00 to 8:50 (allegedly because of us!) that I said "No problem! We'll just make sure we are leaving the Chapel no later than a quarter after nine." And, that he and she just looked at each other in disbelief and it has been a standing joke ever since. I don't think that could possibly be true, but she claims it is! They would probably ask you to pray that those in charge at the prison continue to be understanding (or at least tolerant), because I think they've both given up on me conforming to the time constraints.

Seriously, I do want you to pray for our ministry at Joseph Harp, as well as the other prison ministry we do from time to time. We go to Joseph Harp every time there is a 5th Tuesday in a month, so mark it on your calendar and keep us in mind as we drive down and back (5 hours total) and from 7:00 till 9:00 p.m. while we are in service there.

I also ask that you pray for four men specifically.

One is named Patrick. It is not important for you to know why Patrick is in prison, but I do want you to know that he is a new man in Christ Jesus. He is the reason we started going to Joe Harp and one of the main reasons we continue to go. Patrick may be the finest Christian man, friend and brother-in-Christ that I've every known. He is an encourager to so many, and not in the least to Sheila and I. Please pray that God would encourage and strengthen Patrick and his wife, Amy. Please pray fervently that God would make a way for his release. Patrick has been used greatly over these last 10 years and he has been so faithful and such an example of the joy we can have in Christ no matter our circumstances, but I believe it is time for the next chapter of his life and for physical as well as spiritual freedom.

Also, pray for John and Robert. They are the leaders of a Christian Club (or organization) in the prison called The Brotherhood of Jesus Christ. It is the oldest and largest such group or club in the prison and they do such wonderful work and are so effective in their ministry within and even outside the prison, but they have been informed that they must take the name of Jesus Christ out of the name of their organization and that they must take all reference of ministry and of Jesus from their bylaws. I'm not sure of all the whys, but they seem to believe, at least at this point, that they will still be allowed to continue the club and the ministry they do, and that they will just have to call the club and the work they do by some other name. Both of these men really need Godly wisdom, direction and strength as these changes are made and other men look to them for leadership.

Finally, pray for Chaplain Ron Grant. Ron is a good man and I know that he is doing all he can for the cause of Christ within the constraints of the system. Ask God to bestow upon Ron strength and wisdom and as much freedom to do his job as is possible.

Thank you for your prayers in these matters!

Love in Christ Jesus!

Jim

My Friend Sonny!

2007-10-10T10:51:00.001-07:00

I know it is hard to believe, but those three old guys along side me in the picture above were classmates of mine at Ozark Christian College! (Just kidding about that old thing, guys!)

We recently had a small reunion at Baker's Catfish House just north of Muskogee, OK. Our wives were with us and I've got pictures of them, too, but they all look so good, that including them would really make us look old!

From left to right is yours truly, Phillip Walton (a preacher in San Antonio, TX), Sonny Scott and Dan Wilson (a preacher in Bixby, OK.)

The picture on the left is a close-up of our dear friend Sonny Scott from that same evening. On the right is a more recent picture of Sonny with another friend from college, George Williams. Sonny has been undergoing some heavy duty chemo and has lost that beautiful head of hair he always had. George doesn't have an excuse! Actually, George shaved his head in a show of friendship when Sonny lost his hair, but I'm not sure how much hair George had to start with.

I love you, Sonny! But, I'm not shavin' my head!

Actually, I think Sonny looks pretty good with his head shaved - a little like actor Woody Harrelson - don't you think?

Sonny discovered right around the first of the year that he had cancer of the esophagus and stomach and had surgery in which they removed almost all his esophagus and about half his stomach and made a very small esophagus and stomach with what was left of his stomach. He, also, underwent chemo at that time.

Everything was going well, until about a month ago when a PET scan showed two spots on the back of his stomach and a more recent test showed four other spots.

Sonny is in the midst of 12 weeks of chemo and radiation.

I want you to join me in praying and believing that God will supernaturally and miraculously heal Sonny! The God we read about in the Bible and His son, Jesus, while here on earth, was a God of miracles - a God of healing - and my Bible tells me that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow!

I know that God will heal Sonny one way or the other. Either he will be miraculously healed, as we are praying, here on earth to God's great glory - or he will be ultimately healed with a new body in heaven.

The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:21 "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two; I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body."

Sonny said the other day "Either way, I win!"

Sonny's life has been one of "fruitful labor" as a minister of the Gospel and one of Oklahoma's most progressive prison wardens. He even gave the okay for this old outlaw to go into prisons to preach the Gospel! And, I have a feeling that Sonny still has a lot more to accomplish before God calls him home. So, while it would be better for him to be with the Lord now, I'm praying that God will be gracious and that Sonny will be with us for a long time to come as a living testimony to the fact that God is still doing miracles today!

I have two other friends going through similar trials with cancer and I'm going to ask that you also pray with me on their behalf.

Cheryl Thompson is a wonderful Christian woman, wife, mother and grandmother! She is a member of our church and the grandmother to two of my families favorite young men, Kyle and Kory Miller. Christian young people today are under constant attack from every side and it can be really tough on the ones striving to live a life which reflects Jesus Christ. It becomes even more difficult when Satan has the opportunity to whisper in their ear "If there really was a God, how could He let something like this happen? You might as well not even bother praying because God's not going to answer." I know with all my heart, that God has great things planned for both Kyle and Kory, but right now, those boys still need their grandma and I know that they need to see a miracle from God and so I'm praying as much for them as for Cheryl. When you get as far down life's road as I am, you can look Satan in the eye and say "I know my God is able, because I've seen Him do miracles again and again and again, so even if He doesn't do one now, I'll trust Him still." But, when you are just 16 years old, your faith is not supported by that foundations of miracles and it is far more easily shaken. Join me in praying for Cheryl, and also for Kyle and Kory.

Jo Burchett is a long time friend of my wife, Sheila, and has been like a grandmother to our daughter, Savannah. Jo has been battling lung cancer for the past few years and I'm going to ask you to pray for her, as well. Jo's husband, Tom, is also one of our favorite people and it would do that old cowboy a lot of good in a lot of ways to see his dear wife miraculously healed.

You pray - and I'll pray - and I'll keep you posted!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

2007-10-09T11:49:00.001-07:00

As I've gotten older, family has come to mean a lot more to me than it did when I was a kid or even a young man.

The picture on the left is my Grandpa and Grandma on my Dad's side - James A. Rutherford (although everyone called him "Brother Jim") and Millie Rutherford.

My grandpa did not become a Christian till he was in his thirties, but when he did give his life to the Lord, he was serious about it! It was not too long after he became a Christian that he felt there needed to be a church in Tulsa that was just interested in following the Biblical example of what church was like. No denominational affiliation, no man-made doctrine. He got a few other people together (about 14, I think) and they started a church in an old barber shop.

They had a part-time preacher, who was also a part-time school teacher, but it was not long before the part-time preacher got an offer of a full time teaching position in another town.

The church looked for a preacher, but wasn't having an success and as a few of the member left, the remaining men came to my grandpa and told him that since he was the one who really got the church going, that he would have to preach till they found a real preacher. He agreed on the condition that they would keep looking for a preacher. He was the "fill-in" preacher for the next 26 years at what became Cincinnati Avenue Christian Church in Tulsa, OK. By the mid-50s the church was running 800+ people and 100+ were being saved and baptized every year.

The picture on the right is of the church in the early days on a church picnic/camping trip to Missouri. My grandpa and another man from the church spent all night catching frogs and then woke everyone else up about 6:30 a.m., gave everyone a frog (or two) and took this picture. My grandpa is the dark haired man in the upper right and my grandma is the young woman who is the third from the left. The three kids in front are (l to r) my dad, Jim, my uncle, Dean and my aunt Ann.

I've had a lot of people tell me what a great preacher my grandpa was and how there has never been another preacher like him. And, he must have had a great influence on a lot of people - especially his own family. My Dad and both his brothers, Dean and Shan, became preachers. They all three were/are great soul winners and church builders. Between my brother and me and my cousins, there are 6 more preachers. My uncle Shan, preaches in Greenwood, Indiana at a church of 2000+, my cousin David preaches in Clovis, California at a church of 3000+ (and my Uncle Dean is one of his associate pastors) and my cousin Dudley preaches at a 10,000 member church in the northwest part of Los Angeles. One minister friend of mine referred to our family as a legacy of preaching.

My dad and I were talking not long ago and he said that by most standards that my grandpa was not really that great of preacher - that he really just stood and read his sermons. Dad said that if just judged on speaking ability, eloquence, etc. that grandpa was not really all that good at preaching.

So - what was it that caused him to be such a great soul winner and such a great church builder? Why do so many people remember him as being such a great preacher?

It was because when he became a Christian, he was serious about it. When he gave his heart to God, he gave 100%. When he became a Christian, he took the great commission as his personal calling. Everything else became secondary. Because he had given his heart so completely to Jesus, his heart became like the heart of Jesus - especially concerning the lost. He had a great compassion for the lost and a great passion for winning them to Jesus Christ. And, that came through in his preaching. It came through one on one. It came thorough in the way he lived. And, it touched people. He would cry over people. He would stay up all night praying about someone. He'd get mad at people. He'd even tell them off (in love and truth), if that is what it took. His purpose in life became telling others about Jesus. And, he was relentless. A man told me that he gave his heart to Jesus during a service my grandpa was preaching and he came on the 23rd verse of Just As I Am! My dad tells me that if grandpa knew there was someone in the service who needed to make a decision, he'd just keep singing the invitation till they came. He'd even stop in-between verses and plead with that person, doing every thing but calling them out by name.

When was the last time you even gave any thought to the condition of someone's soul, let alone wept about it or stayed up all night praying about it? How seriously do you take the work of Christ?

Roy Lessin wrote:
God in not looking for those who are clever,
But for those in whom He can be wise;
He is not looking for those who are talented,
But for those to whom He can be all sufficient;
he is not looking for those who are powerful,
But for those through whom He can be almighty!

If you want to be really used by God - used to a far greater measure then you could ever imagine - all you have to do is to give your heart to Him 100% - live as holy a life as you can - pray that God will lay upon your heart the same compassion that Jesus had for the lost - and then just be ready and willing to be used! AND GOD WILL USE YOU!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

A Mother's Love

2007-10-02T13:45:00.000-07:00

If you've not seen this music video by Sara Evans and Brad Paisley, you need to watch it. It is a duet over video taken from the Mel Gibson movie "The Passion of the Christ".

I remember that as I watched the movie for the first time, that these scenes were the most touching to me. I'm not sure I had ever thought about the incredible pain and sorrow which Mary must have felt watching her son beaten and crucified.

Even though I am a father, I don't really believe that I can fully understand the depth of love that a mother has for her child. It is just not the same. God just did not wire us up that way.

We often talk about how great is God's love for us in that He sent His one and only Son to die for our sins that we might have forgiveness and eternal life with Him in Heaven, but just as Jesus was God's Son, He was also Mary's son. There is no question that it must have broken God's heart to see His Son rejected, beaten and crucified by the very people He'd been given to save, as He watched the sins of the world be placed upon His perfect, sinless Son. But, as Jesus was beaten and crucified, God knew that His death was not permanent, that the grave could not hold Him, that in three short days, Jesus would walk out of that tomb more alive then ever and would be restored to the full glory and honor that were His.

But what about Mary? As she had seen Jesus rejected in his ministry, as she watch him be arrested, beaten and crucified, as she went with the others to place his beaten, broken, lifeless body in the tomb, she must have be certain that it was the end, that her precious son was dead, gone, that she would never see him again - that it was over, finished. How her heart must have broken? There must not have been an once of comfort. She must have asked "God, how could you let this happen?"

If you are a mother, maybe you can imagine the pain she felt over those next few days. They must have been the longest, darkest days of her life. Imagine the sorrow and the tears. Imagine the questions. God had selected Mary above all other women to be the mother of Jesus, so we know she was a Godly woman, yet, in her sorrow and pain, she must have questioned God.

I do not think it was by happenstance or chance, but by God's great love and mercy, that Luke records that Mary was with the other women who were the first to arrive that glorious Sunday morning to find the tomb was empty - that her precious son, Jesus, was risen! And, in that moment, everything that had been so wrong was made so right - all the pain and sorrow was, in an instant, replaced by overflowing joy.

If you are a mother (or father) and your heart is broken today over your child, remember Mary and her broken heart. It may seem to you today that your child has turned their back on home and on God and that all hope is lost and the pain and sorrow are unbearable. Maybe it even seems to you that God is doing nothing, that He has not heard your prayers and your cries. Maybe you are questioning how God could have let this happen. It may seem that not only has God deserted your child, but that He has deserted you as well. But, the truth is this: God's heart is broken over your child! And, God is heartbroken by your pain and your tears. And, even though He may seem to your eyes to be doing nothing, God is working in ways which you cannot see, ways that you cannot understand and He will make right all that is now wrong, because that is His promise and God is faithful!

My precious mother must have prayed many prayers and shed many tears and her heart must have broken again and again as I wandered in that "far country" for 18 years. There must have been many times that she was tempted to give up hope, that she must have questioned if God was hearing her prayers and she must have wondered how God could have let her son go so far astray. And, yet, through it all, God was still working in my life, always protecting me, always calling me back to Himself, always working to bring me to my senses. I guess that I must be pretty stubborn, because it took a long time, but I finally did come to my senses and made my way home.

My mom just saw the beginning of my coming home, but there has not been, nor will there be, one time that I preach, that I do not think of my mom and the joy that must fill her heart as she looks down from Heaven at her son who has come home! Her son whom she will see again and for all eternity!

I love you, Mom!

Jimmie

Our New Friend Gao Yue aka Iris

2007-09-26T06:55:00.000-07:00

We had the wonderful privilege of having Gao Yue from Chengdu, China with us from Sept. 1-23. Iris (the American name she picked for herself) is part of an exchange program through Jenks High School and Chengdu High School #7. Our daughter, Katie, will be going to China in March '08 to spend a little over 3 weeks, two of which will be spent with Iris.

I think that Iris was very impressed with the USA and especially Tulsa. We treated Iris to all kinds of "American" food while she was here. In China, the only American food they have is KFC, McDonalds and Pizza Hut. The picture at the upper right is our first Sunday dinner with Iris and her first chance to sample Italian food. Clockwise from the lower left: Me (Jim Rutherford), Sheila (my beautiful, wonderful, incredible, fantastic wife!), Houston (our son), Kyle Miller, Amy Gibson, Kory Miller (all three from our church youth group), Katie (our daughter), Iris and our friend, Tim McClung.

Iris got to meet the Mayor of Tulsa, visit Philbrook and Gilcrease Museums, see the famous "Blue Whale" on Route 66 in Catoosa, visit a working cattle ranch, go to a football game (Jenks v. Union, one of the great high school rivalries in America). You can follow this link to see many more pictures. http://shoutlife.com/profile-view.cfm?uid=48729
You'll have to sign-up for a ShoutLife account to view the pictures, but you should do that anyway. ShoutLife is a Christian Alternative to Facebook or MySpace. When you sign up, let me know by inviting me to be your "friend"!

Or, you can go to http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=15565&l=b732b&id=526231179 to access the pictures on Facebook, even if you don't have an account.

Iris was asked to come to Wright Christian Academy to talk to our daughter Savannah's 5th grade class and this is a video of Iris rapping to the 4th and 5th grade class at WCA in response to their request to hear what Chinese sounds like.

Iris experienced many "firsts" while with us - Barbeque (no better place then Oklahoma for that!), Mexican food (Chimichungas were the favorite) and a lot of other new foods, wearing high heels and wearing a formal, she learned many new words (wait till you see the next video I'm going to post of Iris) and made many new friends.

The most important "first" that Iris experienced was attending Church for the first time! I'm not sure she understood much of the preaching, but she told Sheila after the service that "The music warmed my heart."I believe that the Holy Spirit was softening her heart through music to create a desire to better understand what Christianity was all about - or better yet, to understand the One who Christianity is all about! As Iris asked us many questions, we were able to share some of our beliefs. Iris and her family do not practice any Religion, as is the case with most in China. If they have learned anything about God, it is that he is an imaginary figure. The night before Iris left for home, our last gift to her was a Bible in Chinese. I hope that you'll agree with me in prayer that the Holy Spirit that warmed her heart through the music she heard in church will continue to create a desire in Iris to learn more about God, until not only He, but His wonderful Son, Jesus, are no longer imaginary figures, but have become REAL to Iris. And, that through Iris, He will become real to her family and her friends and to many more in China. Pray also, that, like the Ethiopian eunuch, as Iris has questions, that God will send someone to her with the answers that she might understand and believe!

We often speak of the power of the Gospel and the power of God's Word. Pray with us that Iris will experience that power as she reads God's Word for the first time!

I'm going to write more about Iris in a few days and will, of course, keep you posted as Katie goes to China in March.

Love in Christ Jesus!

Jim

Message "Living Above Lukewarmness"

2007-09-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

The following in a link to a sermon I preached at South Heights Assembly of God in Sapulpa, Oklahoma a few weeks ago, when Pastor Bob Warman was gracious enough to let me preach for him.

http://www.we-stream.net/Video/LukewarmChristianity.swf

I want to thank my dear friend Duane Conatser (pictured here) for not only being the videographer who recorded the message, but for being the computer guru who set it up as streaming video.

Duane and his wife, Marilyn are two of my very favorite people! The were a vital part of SouthWest Christian Fellowship when Sheila and I were the pastors. They have been members of South Heights, where Sheila was called as the Worship Leader in October, for the last 4 years.

Duane is quite a guy. He is a self-taught computer genius. He is so good at what he does that that not only has he been employed for years by the Bayer Corporation to create training and instructional videos for some of the complex medical equipment they sell, but they have allowed him to work from his home in Tulsa, instead of moving to corporate headquarters in New York.

The exciting news is that Duane is retiring from the Bayer Corporation, but he is not retiring from computer work. Duane is gong to devote his skills and expertise to helping churches and ministries with websites, videos, etc. - including helping me update our 4Winds Ministries website! So, keep an eye out in about 30 days or so as that takes place. We'll be adding sermon video and audio to the site and some of Sheila's music and maybe even some praise and worship.

Again - Thanks, Duane - for the blessing you are to me!

And, it is my hope that the video Duane created of this message is a blessing to each of you who watch it!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

The Most Powerful Video I've Ever Seen!

2007-09-12T09:05:00.000-07:00

My cousin, Dudley Rutherford, is the Pastor of 10,000 member Shepherd of the Hills Church in the northern Los Angeles area. He is a very gifted preacher, as are many in my family, and this is truly one of America's great churches. Dudley also has a blog which I check out every few days and this video was on his blog. It is, as he described it, the most powerful video I've ever seen.

It reminded me of three great facts:

1. We are in a constant and fierce battle against evil every moment of every day. Even at those times when it does seem that we are under attack, Satan and his demons are still at work in ways he hopes we won't notice until it is too late.

We must never let down our guard and we must never give up the fight, for if we will but fight, we can be certain that Jesus will come to the rescue!

Paul reminds us "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:12-17

2. Even in those times when it seems that all is lost, in our darkest hour, when it seems as if we have gone too far to ever make it back - God loves us! And, He will make a way even when it seems there is no way! After all, He loved us so much that He gave even the life of His own Son on our behalf!

3. There is always hope that the prodigal will return! Maybe you have a loved one who has given in to the enemy, who has made wrong choices, who is at this moment running after sin. Take hope in the great fact that when they "come to their senses", that Father God is waiting with open arms to welcome them home and to restore them to Himself. Even though it may seem to our eyes that God is doing nothing now, He is moving in ways that we cannot see or understand and when the time comes that your loved one reaches out to Him, He will in strength and in power to break every stronghold and loose every chain that has kept His dear one from Him. Remember, too, that God loves the one you love even more than you love them.

Love in Christ Jesus!

Jim

Tears & Trials

2007-08-27T11:02:00.000-07:00

It seems to me that over the last month or so, I have had so many dear friends and even family who are going through times of tears and trial. For some of these dear Christians, the trial is physical as they face cancer and other serious health issues and the uncertainty those problems hold. Several others are facing serious issues with their teenage children and the decisions they are making about their lives - and it just does not get much more emotional and tearful than that. I have several friends who are in the midst of legal problems and the uncertainly as to how those issues will be resolved.

When we face life's most difficult trials, especially those which seem to drag on and on, it is so easy to get discouraged and to become weary even in our faith. Even as we are surrounded by caring and praying friends and family, it is often hard not to feel that we are facing our trial all alone and that, perhaps, even God has forgotten about us.

If you are in the midst of one of these trials and you feel yourself worn out, cried out, all alone and forgotten, it is my prayer that you might find encouragement in this quote from Charles Spurgeon:

"When a tear is wept by you, don't think that your Father does not see it. Your sigh is able to move the heart of Jehovah; your whisper can incline his ear to you; your prayer can stay his hands; your faith can move his arm. Do not think that God sits on high in eternal slumber, taking no account of you. Engraved on the Father's hand your name remains, and on his heart.
He thought of you before the worlds were made. Before the channels of the sea were scooped or the mountains lifted their heads in the clouds, he thought of you.
He thinks about you still."

The Bible promises that our Heavenly Father knows when even a sparrow falls, that He knows the number of hairs on your head, that He knows you by name, that He loves you and that He will NEVER leave you or forsake you. God knew you before you were born and he has a plan for your life and it is an eternal plan, it is not on hold or forgotten. God thinks of you still!

The trials and tears of today are known to your Heavenly Father. He knows what you are facing and He sees every tear that falls and because of that, you can be certain that it will be alright, that soon God Himself will wipe away every tear. He has not forgotten you, He thinks of you still and always will.

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Preaching at South Heights

2007-08-16T22:04:00.000-07:00

What a privilege it was for me to preach at South Heights Assembly of God in Sapulpa, Oklahoma this past Wednesday evening!

South Heights is the church at which my wife, Sheila, is on staff. She was hired last October to be their worship leader and, if I do say so myself, is doing a fantastic job. Sheila would very humbly tell you that all the credit goes to God who has so richly blessed her with the talent to do what she does and so faithfully pours out the anointing of His Holy Spirit each time she leads. I think it is that humble dependency on God that sets her apart from so many other worship leaders.

I've been in services with well known worship leaders like Darlene Zschech of Hillsongs and Lindell Cooley when he was at Brownsville Assembly (Revival at Brownsville) and God has blessed Sheila with that same ability to lead people into truly anointed worship in which the Holy Spirit is able to move in powerful ways and the manifest presence of God can genuinely be felt.

When Sheila and I pastored at SouthWest Christian Fellowship, we were in service together every Sunday, but now that I am involved in evangelist work and, especially since God lead Sheila to South Heights, it is a rare privilege for me to preach when Sheila is leading praise and worship.

I want to thank Pastor Bob Warman for being so gracious in occasionally asking me to preach for him. I know that it is difficult for a pastor to give up his pulpit, but it is real blessing to me to get to preach at my "home" church - and all the more so, since Sheila is leading worship!

I think the service, or at lest the message, was video taped and if I can get a copy, I'll see if I can't get it uploaded to the blog! God was so faithful in touching His people through His Word. As I preached from Revelation 3 on Living Above Lukewarmness, a spirit of conviction feel upon many in the church and I hope you get a sense of that on the tape.

The truth is that all of us could be a little hotter in our relationship with Jesus and in our desire to serve Him by telling others about Him.

Love in Christ Jesus!

Jim

What is His Name?

2007-08-12T21:20:00.000-07:00

Most of the Book of Proverbs is written by Solomon, the king of Israel, who was the son of David, king of Israel, but the 30th Proverb is written by a guy named Agur.

He starts out asking a question that each of us must answer.

In Proverbs 30, verse 4, he asks "Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!

Almost everyone believes in some kind of god or higher power, but the truth is that there is only one true God and it is the God who created the universe, who created man, who knew you before you were ever born, who has directed and numbered your days, who even knows how many hairs you have on your head - who knows YOU by name! And believe it or not - GOD LOVES YOU!

God has only one son and his name is Jesus. And, the Bible says (John 3:16) that God loved the world (and especially you) so much that he let his only son Jesus be put to death on a cross so that who ever believes in him (and that includes YOU) might not perish (die), but have eternal life!

That is pretty awesome!

No matter what the circumstances of your life, no matter what kind of things you've done, no matter how badly you've fouled up your life, God still loves you and wants nothing more than for you to have a personal and eternal relationship with him through his son Jesus.

What is his name and who is his son? That's the question you need to be able to answer!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Part 3 "Keys to New Beginnings"

2007-08-11T21:03:00.003-07:00

The following three videos (in reverse order) are parts 1, 2 & 3 of a message preached at Victory Christian Church in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on the Sunday prior to the arrival of their newly called minister.

This message from the Book of Joshua is filled with great lessons for anyone who is ready to move from the circumstances in which they've been to a place of new beginning.

I believe it will be not only encouraging, but life changing if you've felt you've been wandering through life not knowing what to do next, trapped by circumstances and are ready to move to a living a life of purpose and blessing.

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim

Part 2 "Keys to New Beginnings"

2007-08-11T21:03:00.001-07:00

Part 1 "Keys to New Beginnings" Sermon at Victory Chrsitian Church

2007-08-11T20:58:00.000-07:00

Dailymotion blogged video
8057p1
Video sent by VictoryofTahlequah

Welcome to my Blog!

2007-08-11T18:33:00.000-07:00

It is my hope that the words, stories, pictures and whatever else I'm lead to post, will be a help and an inspiration to you - that they will in some small way help you make it through a difficult circumstance in your life - or encourage you to turn to Jesus as your Savior and to make Him the Lord of your life. Those are life's most important decisions, because they are the only decisions you'll ever make in this life that have eternal consequences.

Some will be funny - others will be touching - some will be uplifting - and others will just reveal a little about how God is using me and my wife, Sheila, through 4Winds Ministries and Project Turning Point.

May God make Himself ever more known to you and may He bless you richly as you give more of your life to Him.

If you are touched by something I post or just need someone to pray for you, please let me know!

Love in Christ Jesus,

Jim