Volume 14 Issue 12 - December 1999 The GIFT "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us..." (John 1:1,14a) To those in the Waco area, you are cordially invited to a special presentation called "The Gift." "The Gift" is a humorous and touching production that rediscovers the reason for the season afresh and anew. Take some time this holiday season to move beyond the hype, commercialism, and tradition to find once again with child-like wonder the true meaning of Christmas. It will be family time well spent.THE GIFT’S PERFORMANCE LOCATION:
DATE: TIME: As we’ve been preparing, rehearsing, and praying for this production, the number one cry of my heart is that God would restore to me, the cast, and all those who see this production a sense of child-like wonder and awe as we approach this holiday season. My prayer is for God to strip away the cynicism and skepticism that we have all accumulated through the years of our earthly pilgrimage to rediscover the glory of the Incarnation. That the Christmas phenomenon that has been buried under the hype, commercialism, and even our traditions would come alive in the hearts and souls of men, women, and children everywhere. That the same glory, song, and good news that resonated from the choir of the heavenly host would once again flood the world with the joyous news that man’s captivity is over, Emmanuel, God with us, our Mighty Glorious Champion has come! One of the most poignant segments of the play comes when the husband refuses to go to Church on Christmas Eve to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. He informs his wife that he can no longer be a hypocrite and pretend to be a Christian when he doesn’t believe that God (who or whatever that means) came in the flesh to this crazy mixed up world. Of course, his wife is saddened and upset by this, but proceeds in her commitment to pray for her unbelieving husband anyway. The play then creatively utilizes the old story of a skeptical farmer who tries to save the lives of cold, dying, and helpless birds. They happened to crash into his plate glass window at his farm house seeking shelter from a winter storm. The farmer goes out into the blizzard and desperately tries to lead the birds into the safety of his barn. The problem was, the more he tried to help them, the more the birds flapped helplessly away trying to escape the aid of the farmer. Finally, after he exhausted every means to rescue those lost and dying birds from perishing in the cruelty of the storm, the farmer was suddenly struck with an inspirational thought, “If only I could become a bird just like them, then I could lead them to safety.” As he was pondering that thought, off in the distance, he heard the sound of church bells announcing it was time to celebrate the Babe in the Manger that Christians claimed was God in the flesh. Like machine gun bullets his thought raced to increase the troubling of his mind, “If only I could be a bird and mingle with them and speak their language, then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to the safe, warm...to the safe warm shelter...but I would have to be one of them, so they could see, and hear...and understand.” At that moment, the church bells chimed the glorious song of “Emmanuel, God with us.” The sound reached his ears above the clamor of the storm. Suddenly he was overcome with the glorious revelation that was ringing through the glad tidings of Christmas. That Christ our Savior has indeed been born into this poor fallen world to save sinners. The farmer collapsed to his knees in the snow and through great tears of joy opened his hardened heart to receive the glorious good news. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A JESUS-FILLED NEW YEAR! Retrial in Dayton Case THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS REFILED ITS F.A.C.E. SUIT IN DAYTON, OHIO. On February 10, 2000, the United States Justice Department will again take us to court for violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances law (F.A.C.E.). On its face this ludicrous “law” is an attempt to outlaw the Christian message at local abortion mills. God so confused the “Justice” Department attorneys in the first go round that they could not even establish who was in Dayton, Ohio, during the alleged event that supposedly violated F.A.C.E. Please pray for the Department's continued confusion. For the last ten years, we have had many opportunities to pray for the Lord to send confusion amongst the Enemy’s camp. Many have beseeched God to set a heavenly ambush similar to the one experienced by Jehoshaphat and the children of Israel when they were surrounded by pagan armies. A confusing ambush that caused the three different armies that were arrayed against Israel to turn upon themselves and implode. Thus assuring Israel that the battle is indeed the Lord’s. Though most of those prayers were well intended, our usual experience was that our prosecutors had all their ducks in a row and the system hammered us. Not so in Dayton. Truly the Lord indeed sent major confusion upon the “Justice” Department attorneys. They were so inept that the pro-abort judge presiding literally screamed at them a few times in his chambers for their shoddy handling of our case. In conjunction with the Dayton case, Flip Benham and other good friends from Florida are facing another F.A.C.E. trial in Washington DC, on December 9th. In response, a dear pro-life brother from Ft. Worth, Dan LaFreniere, contacted me about speaking at a prayer meeting. A meeting called to intercede on the behalf of those who have endangered themselves by standing in the gap and making up the hedge for the most defenseless and helpless amongst us. These brothers and sisters in Christ will have to endure yet another miscarriage of justice as they stare down the barrel of the unjust F.A.C.E. bill. Regrettably, I already had a prior commitment, so I decided to send them a written prayer to be read at the meeting. The following prayer is submitted to you in the hopes you will mix your faith, add your agreement, and declare an “amen” on the behalf of these brave defenders of life. Heavenly Father, in the awesome, wonderful, and mighty name of Jesus, we approach your throne of grace to obtain something of heaven here tonight. We come on the behalf of your people who are being unjustly pursued and persecuted by a corrupt system that has abandoned their primary responsibility before you, which is to protect life and stop the shedding of innocent blood. Father, we have gathered together to obtain mercy and help and to stand in the gap for those who have risked their lives, freedoms, and livelihoods. Brethren who have attempted to rescue those who are being led to the slaughter with the silent consent of the Church and the blessing of the State. First of all, we desire to hallow, consecrate, and honor your Holy Name and on that basis declare thy Kingdom come and thy will be done, on earth, especially as it relates to these trials, as it is in heaven. Lord you told us in your word several truths concerning situations just like this. In Hebrews 13:3, You commanded us to, "Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being also in the body." Help us this evening to identify with our brethren that are being targeted and threatened for standing for righteousness in the midst of this crooked and perverse nation. By your good Spirit, help us to cry out for them, their families, their persecutors, and on behalf of our beloved land that has lost her way. Oh, Father, hear us. Oh Lord, forgive, oh Lord, deliver your people from the snare of the fowler. May every weapon that is being formed against them come to naught and may every tongue that rises up to condemn them be silenced in the mighty name of Jesus. For this is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is a gift from you, oh God. Lord, we pray specifically for the trials that are being formed to crush the Gospel witness at the "Gates of Hell." First of all, grant those who suffer for following your example even greater boldness to proclaim the truth of your Word and confirm thy Word with powerful signs and wonders following. Move, oh God, like the days of old, on the behalf of your people. Set your face against this system that kills your babies and persecutes your people who seek to save them according to your commandment. Use these trials as a witness and testimony against the kings, magistrates, and authorities that have trashed your commandments, defied your authority, and have misused their God-ordained power to punish the good and protect the evil in direct violation of your holy command. Lord, we pray you would thunder from Heaven and once again demand of this nation that they would "Let the babies go" and "Let your people go" in Jesus’ name! Lord, we understand that the U.S. Government would have no power over your people whatsoever if it were not first granted to them by you, our heavenly Father. Lord, you know our fragile frame. It is always our first instinct to recoil and try to flee from hardship and suffering, but we understand through the example of our Lord that if we suffer for being a Christian that this is well pleasing to you and the Spirit of God and your glory rests upon us. If indeed you do allow our Government the mastery over your people, then God, please receive their suffering as a drink offering and redeem it by your mighty power. For we know that through Christ, the innocent always end up paying for the sins of the guilty. Please take that sacrifice and use it to crush the "Powers of Darkness" that are lying, killing, stealing, and destroying the mankind for whom Christ died to redeem. Plunder the abortion industry! Use these trials to pluck this foul murderous spirit up, cast it out, and drive it back to hell from whence it came. Father, we plead with you to take what the Enemy means for harm and turn it to the good in order to preserve the sacredness of life that you have ordained in Jesus' name. And finally, Father, grant the families and churches of our brethren who stand in the cross hairs of this ungodly witch hunt your tender mercies and your loving kindness. May your grace be sufficient and may it be more than enough to follow hard after Jesus and fulfill your will and advance your Kingdom in the earth in Jesus' name! Amen! It would appear that Psalm 94 was inspired specifically for America in the grave hour in which we live. Always remember, God hears the righteous complaint of His people as their souls are vexed by the abominable laws and practices of the wicked. For a season, it seems as if injustice, tyranny, and oppression will continue indefinite, but the Scriptures assure us of God’s victory. This, too, will pass, so keep pressing on in Jesus’ name! Ministry 2000 As we seek the Lord to bring a righteous closure to our lives, family, and ministry in 1999, we are renewed in our zeal to move further up and further in concerning God’s purposes for us in the New Year. I want to send a profound, heartfelt thanks to all who stood with us through the good, the bad, and the ugly this year. Your commitment to pray, write, call, and to financially support us has made all that was accomplished this year possible. May God add to your heavenly account all the godly fruit that has been produced by sharing in our labor. A soldier is only as good as the army that is supporting him in the fight. The following is a brief summary of how the year 2000 is shaping up. I pray you will see the value and will continue to stand with us as we seek to expand our heavenly Father’s business in the earth. Our desire is to make Jesus famous in this generation and to rescue America from the pit of blood and perversion that she is currently wallowing in. Operation Save AmericaFlip Benham and Operation Save America will continue to be a priority at Elijah Ministries. I know that God has called me to serve brother Flip as he seeks to storm the "Gates of Hell" with the transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ. 1) National and regional events 2) "God is going back to school" campaign 3) Street activities at death camps throughout America 4) Court trials (prisoners of the Lord to testify against a corrupt system that has abandoned God and His Law) Elijah MinistriesThe vision for Elijah Ministries remains the same, for repentance, revival, and reformation to sweep America. 1) Preaching and teaching the word of God 2) Newsletter and tract ministry (the pen is indeed mightier than the sword) 3) Drama and singing ministry (writing, directing, and performing skits and plays to advance the cause of Christ) 4) Evangelism (youth prison and other outreaches) Kingdom Leadership InstituteElijah Ministries will devote a lion’s share of our time, effort, and devotion to identify, equip, and send forth the next generation of true, godly, and righteous leaders. We have submitted this vital ministry to Flip Benham who will be joining me in challenging young people to embrace the courage, vision, and Biblical worldview necessary to turn this nation upside down in Jesus’ name! We have received 4 requests thus far for establishing KLI in various cities throughout America this new year. Soon, there will be a website devoted entirely to the KLI vision. We will keep you updated on its progress. March For JesusWe will be working with the local churches in Waco as the organizer for the March for Jesus 2000. The event is scheduled for June 10th, 2000. This is a tremendous undertaking to mobilize the entire Body of Christ in a city to publicly honor, worship, and exalt Jesus as Lord over Waco. University of RighteousnessLiz and I will continue to homeschool our 7 (soon to be 8) children to the glory of God.
Please keep this picture as a reminder to pray for Elijah Ministries and the Thomas family. Liz is great with our 8th child which is due on February 25th, 2000. I just found out it is a boy. We’ve had four girls in a row and now we are rejoicing for our fourth boy in a row. His birth will come right after our FACE trial in Dayton. I know you are being inundated with requests this holiday season for financial help to close out the year in the black. We are not a huge ministry with national resources at our disposal and yet that is our desire as well Our mailing list is about 650 precious folks. We are needing about $5,000.00 to face the new year debt-free. Whether you can give a lot or very little, every gift will be deeply appreciated. We can’t send you books or tapes in return, only a pledge that as long as we have breath, we will continue to serve the Lord. Thank you and the Lord richly bless you and yours this holiday season! IN KING JESUS’ SERVICE, Rusty Lee Thomas |
