9 September 2024
Dear Friend,
- “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
- Joshua 1:8 kjv
So shalt thou find favor and good understanding
in the sight of God and man.
– Proverbs 3:4 kjv –
The slip of paper is long since lost; but the spiritual direction hasn’t changed.1Something happened this past month that put those two verses (above) into a different focus. Way back around October 1969 I attended a Saturday morning meeting somewhere in Southern California, where I lived at the time. The speaker was evangelist Dick Mills, a man soaked in the Scriptures, and a great Bible teacher (as I recall) with a one-of-a-kind prophetic ministry.
After Bro. Mills preached, he would invite folks forward for prayer. Then he and his wife would go down the prayer line. He would pray over each person, after which he would speak forth a Bible reference or two as the Holy Spirit led. Let me be clear: he wouldn’t speak the text of the scripture(s). Rather, he would give out the reference(s). His wife carried a small pad of paper in the palm of her left hand, on which she would pencil down the reference(s) Dick spoke. Then she tore off the sheet and handed it to the person just prayed for; whereupon they’d move down the line to the next person and repeat the process, until everyone in the line had received prayer and the references that were spoken.
Nobody in that meeting knew that the Lord had called me into the ministry of Bible teacher. Those verses were an unsolicited “confirmation” of that calling from the Lord. They have been an inspiration, challenge, and guide for me for over five decades of ministry and Bible teaching.
NFTS Graduation Day, August 17, 2024Why do I bring Dick Mills and those verses up just now? Because the Lord brought it all back to mind, and here’s the reason why. I was asked by Alix Compere, the president of North Florida Theological Seminary, to give the commencement address at their graduation ceremony last month. In conjunction with that, NFTS awarded me an honorary degree—a D.D., or “Doctor of Divinity.” In many cases, the degree amounts to something akin to a “lifetime achievement award,” a recognition of long-term service to the Lord and the Body of Christ, and Bible training and teaching in my case.
Alas, my cap and gown regalia was still packed in a storage pod somewhere in Jacksonville. (But not for much longer!)2Several years ago, I had turned down a similar offer from the school. But this time the Lord indicated I should acquiesce and accept it. So I did so, but I asked the Lord why I needed to. He reminded me of those two guiding verses from back in 1969, especially the last phrase, that I would have good understanding—which other translations render as good repute (NASB), high esteem (NKJV), [grace and] good favor (JPS), good reputation (ISV), and good success (ESV)—in the sight of God and man.
So, I thank God for the D.D. if it means I have God’s promised “high esteem” and “good success, repute, favor, and reputation” with man (and most especially if it’s “with God”). But since I’m only a very small fish in a very large ocean, it doesn’t seem to make much sense to label myself as “Dr. Small Fish,” does it? I’m still “just Jim.” Save the “What’s up, doc?” jokes for Bugs Bunny, please!
Brother Mark
Pastor Mark Sellers3Perhaps I should be asking, “What’s up, Mark?” If anyone is “to blame” for connecting me with North Florida Theological Seminary (NFTS) and Morningstar Family Church (with which the seminary is associated), the “guilty party” would be my friend Pastor Mark Sellers of Christian Faith Center, one of our new Finest of the Wheat board members.
Mark was saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit in 1984, and that same year started prison ministry, teaching Bible studies, while also working as a painting contractor. His “real world” life experience, all while learning ministry by doing and following the leading of the Lord, makes him very relatable in his preaching and counseling. Combine that with his ability to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and Mark is worth listening to every single Sunday!
Mark was ordained in 1988, becoming the associate pastor of a church in Jacksonville. He founded another church in 1990. In 1996 he joined Pastor Wendell Shaw at Christian Faith Center (CFC), co-pastoring with him from 2000 to 2013. (I’m jealous. Bro. Wendell was an envy-worthy mentor!)
From 2013 to today, Pastor Mark has been the senior pastor at CFC, where I hear him every Sunday. He and his wife Peggy have five children and fifteen grandchildren. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from NFTS in 2010. To conclude the biographical note he sent me, Brother Mark wrote, “I have been involved in various ministries and served on several ministry boards since 1990.” One of those boards is now Finest of the Wheat Teaching Fellowship. Thanks, Bro. Mark!
A Plethora of Publishing
Available online for freeor as a Kindle e-booklet
Available online for freeor as a Kindle e-booklet
Available online for freeor as a Kindle e-booklet
What’s up with the writing ministry? Because we’re working towards the publication of several books (one by the end of this month), we had a productive publishing month in August.
For The Curious Corners of Christmas, we finished, posted, and published the final chapters A Name More Intimate Than Immanuel and Overshadowed! We also finished the “Deeper Dives” for the same book. These are titled:
- Is Saul (of Tarsus) Also Among the Prophets? and…
- Prophesying for Profit: The Chrēmatízō Family and Its Root (both of these were posted separately on our website, but included as part of the e-book version of Intimate), as well as…
- Magi, “Kings,” and Camels: A Poorly Applied Prophetic Interpretation.
I’m currently taking the compiled e-book of “Curious Corners” for a long editorial “test drive.” Or (to switch analogies) I’m in the mode of
Catch us the foxes,
The little foxes that spoil the vines,
For our vines have tender grapes.
–Song of Solomon 2:15 nkjv–
“Foxes,” in this case, are typos, faulty internal links, missing endnotes, and such, that always pop up during pre-publication inspections. The production schedule has slipped a bit (happy, believable alibi supplied in the next section!), but the e-book should still be available by September 30, with the paperback following about two weeks later.
Looking forward to the launch of Percy Gutteridge’s The Holy Spirit and His Emblems at the end of October, we have also published the e-booklet version of The Holy Spirit as Salt.
The near-final updates of The Holy Spirit as Wind and The Double Portion of Elisha are on my clipboard patiently awaiting my somewhat divided attention.
What’s Up, Lord? An Answer to Prayer!
Perhaps some day soon we can welcome you in through our new front door!4Here’s the aforementioned “alibi” and the reason for the “somewhat divided attention.” You have been praying for us, and God has been preparing to answer. The Lord worked it out for us to buy a house! His hand is evident, our patience is rewarded, and we are deeply grateful and give Him praise. Lord willing, we will close on a new-to-us home within a few days of when you receive this newsletter.
If things work out as anticipated, we should take possession no later than Thursday the 12th of September and start moving our long-stored furniture (and my library!) into the new digs two days later. Thank you for your faithful intercession!
Much love in Jesus,
Jim
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