bible-truths.com/forums
=> Testimonies / Prayer Requests / Fellowship => Topic started by: Craig on August 20, 2010, 01:17:44 PM
-
Dear Forum and Believers:
My wife and I are planning to leave in the next hour or two for Phenix City. We will be conducting
a Bible Conference and discussion Saturday 9:45 till after lunch. I need to as for you help and
prayer for this Conference. If it were a week or two from now, rather than tomorrow, I would cancel.
It has been one of my worst weeks in the last two years. Hospice and my medical doctor have both
insisted that I double my morphine which I have done. About last Sunday I started feeling pretty bad,
with accompanying severe pains. I cannot even raise my arms to comb my hair. I slept only a few
hours most of the week. One night not at all. My wife stayed up with me all night long, and she is
almost in as much pain as I am. I'm not asking for you to feel sorry for us (well, maybe a little), but really,
what we need is your prayers. I know that God hears us. You pray for us, and we'll pray for you.
I feel like what Paul described in I Thes. chapter two. He had a great desire to visit with the Church, but
confesses in Verse 18 that "Satan hindered us." Just pray for my wife and me, that we can get through
this ordeal and still be effective in bringing more people into the Truth. Most of the people coming, know
very little about the truths you and I share, but Timothy says that they are eager to learn--especially the
sovereignty of God, and the salvation of all. I copied and printed about 40 pages of notes (much from my
new paper on "HELL," which I will use to show that none of the major theological doctrines of the Church are
Scriptural: Heaven, Hell, Immortal soul, Tithing money, Parables, Saved from sin and death, Freewill, Prayer,
Judgment, etc.
I have noticed that my new paper on Hell is beginning to get circulated around the Internet. Many positive
comments and of course, a few negative comments from the Christians. There is a lot of material in this
paper. I hope that all of you will read it several times.
Well, I'm ready to pack the car and go. It's about a five-hour drive.
God be with you all, always--keep the faith!
Ray
-
God be with you, Amen.
-
Praying for them both. In Jesus name, I rebuke any attempts by the enemy to thwart this, if it's God's will to happen.
-
Praying for you Ray.
I'm excited about people getting to hear these truths straight from you to the audience you are planning to addend. Wow! are they in for a surprise.
God is with you Ray.
Peace
Roy
-
The time in South Africa is almost 7pm and I imagine, according to the time of your post Ray, that you will be in the car by now and on your way.
I feel the excitement of rising above the odds, the pain, the medical complications whilst carrying the belief, faith, confidence, trust, hope and love for our God our Creator Christ and His Spirit enabling you, accompanying you and leading all things in accord to the Council of His Will.
In my mind’s eye I can see the road ahead of you, illuminated by The Spirit of God accompanying, ordaining and blessing this journey and those souls ( those present and those beyond) to be touched, moved, inspired and lifted above the penalties of darkness, spiritual pain suffering and bondage that for so long has been held in oppression and unremitted by any Mercy that you carry Ray, with you to ease their fear, uncertainty and provide that Hope that God has assured us all ~ that by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in Hope! Rom 8 : 20
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
I am glad your wife is with you. Blessings to you both!
Deborah
-
Will continue to pray for Ray and his family.
-
Dear Ray,
My heartfelt prayers go out to you. No one can imagine or understand the physical pain your receiving unless they've personally experienced it. We hope that it's God's Will that your able to endure all of this suffering. We appreciate all that you've done in Our behalf, Chosen Elect and believers too. If it's God's Will, we look forward in the hope that some of Christendom's Ministers have their eyes opened to these truths.
Your Brother in Christ, Samson.
-
I have to confess that sometimes I forget about Ray and his suffering and that of his dedicated wife. I am glad to see this prayer request as Ray never asks for anything in return for his hard work. I pray that Ray and Manuela survive this trip and that God is merciful to Ray while he carries out God's plan.
Eileen
-
Prayers to Ray and his family. Sometimes I read his papers and forget how ill he is... Hope all goes well.
-
You are in my prayers, both today and for the journey home.
-
Just talked to Ray and he is very weak from lack of sleep.
Two of the ministers backed out.
He wants you to please keep praying for him.
-
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (New International Version)
9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Ray,
May God's grace bring you strength in your weakness.
1 Corinthians 1:3 (King James Version)
3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Brad
-
God.speed
Joel
-
My sympathies for both Ray and admiration for God, Who is doing a great Work in accord to the council of His Will.
Two of the ministers backed out.
2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
There it is ~ two of the ministers, no doubt who do not have cancer, who are not weakened by pain and physical weakness and THEY BACKED OUT!
That's GOD who is Mighty pulling down strong holds.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
God, through Ray, is doing a mighty work ~ be assured.
Please read our messages to Ray, Dennis. We are with him in empathy, spirit, heart and prayer. He is part of us.
Arc
-
I join with all the members in prayer for Ray.
When I think how difficult this trip is for him and his wife I am amazed that they have the will to go. It must be of God who gives us strength and desire to serve and to promote the truth.
Bless this man Lord and hold him up. Annoint him with your Holy Spirit. This is a man who knows your mercy and your enveloping saving love. Be especially good to him today God and give him a temporal award so that he is aware of the pleasure You take in him. Amen
-
Continuing in prayer!
Kathy
-
Just talked to Ray and he is very weak from lack of sleep.
Two of the ministers backed out.
He wants you to please keep praying for him.
sounds half good half bad.
Two of the ministers backed out.WHY ? What is their concern (is it Ray's health)?
if so,I really worry about Ray.God,please breathed into his body the breath of life as you did befor,Amen.
-
My heart aches and my eyes are filled with tears.
Lord Jesus here our prayers, may Your will be done. Your servant are making thier requests known to you. Grant Ray, his wife friends and family peace, understanding, grace, healing and comfort as they travel about spreading the Truths of God, in the mighty name of Jesus we pray. Amen
-
This whole meeting might have been for the sake of one or two people that went. We don't know, but the Father knows and that is good enough. God's strength in made perfect in weakness...it must of been powerful. It should all be over and done and may God give them traveling mercies back to their home.
-
Ray...you are in my prayers...
Iris
-
Isa 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.
"Leaning on Him, make with reverent meekness
His own thy will,
And with strenght from Him shall thy utter weakness
Life’s task fulfil." J.G. Whittier ~ founding member of the American Anti-Slavery Society and signed the Anti-Slavery Declaration of 1833, which he often considered the most significant action of his life. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Greenleaf_Whittier
Arc
-
Ray was definitely fatigued. All I kept thinking post-conference was.. "I really hope he gets some rest tonight..". I can only imagine the pain he went through this previous week, and the effort it took to continue on with the conference.
Will continue to pray for him and his wife.
-
Ray was definitely fatigued. All I kept thinking post-conference was.. "I really hope he gets some rest tonight..". I can only imagine the pain he went through this previous week, and the effort it took to continue on with the conference.
Will continue to pray for him and his wife.
shawn, is there any feedback you can give us about the conference? how many were in attendance? were any ministers there? anything else about ray? i guess i am just hungry to know how he did, how he was, how he is, how manuela is. just wishing i could have attended. :(
claudia
-
mharrell08
Global Moderator
Bible-Truths Forum Member
Offline
Posts: 1974
Re: Short and informal Bible Study August 21, 2010 in Phenix City, Alabama
« Reply #35 on: Today at 09:46:46 AM » Quote
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello all:
The study went well yesterday. It was very similar to the study from last year, with a few other subjects talked about as well. I don't believe anyone recorded video or audio, so we won't have anything to post beside pics. I believe Vangie has a few along with whatever copies Ray's wife, Manuella, gives her.
Thank you to Timothy Littleton for organizing the event. Timothy makes every conference and is always helpful with Ray as well as the brethren. And the food was good too!
Everyone was real nice and respectful...even one or two attendees who may not have agreed with Ray's teachings from the scriptures. From what Timothy told us, everyone felt Ray's study was something they had never heard before. If God is opening their understanding, they'll continue to grow in the Truth, so that is comforting.
Marques
Report to moderator Logged
Dennis Vogel
Administrator
Bible-Truths Forum Member
Offline
Posts: 1167
Re: Short and informal Bible Study August 21, 2010 in Phenix City, Alabama
« Reply #36 on: Today at 10:19:58 AM » Quote
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ray said none of the ministers attended. They all backed out.
-
:-\ so we even don't have the Transcript?
-
shawn, is there any feedback you can give us about the conference? how many were in attendance? were any ministers there? anything else about ray? i guess i am just hungry to know how he did, how he was, how he is, how manuela is. just wishing i could have attended. :(
claudia
I'd say there was about 25 - 30 people there. I did a head count early on and there was 22 people there but I know some people came in late, some left early.
Ray was noticeably fatigued, but overall I think he did great with all things considered. Like he stated in his prayer request email, he had been in severe pain the entire week leading up to the conference, and he had only gotten about 6 hrs or so sleep for the entire week. Personally, I'm surprised he decided to go on with it. But it's just a testament to where this man's heart is.
He touched on many different subjects. Here's a quick summary that Marques posted under http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,12098.40.html (http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,12098.40.html)
* Understanding how we got the bible (which was based on his 2007 Conference (http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,5815.0.html))
* Body, Spirit, & Soul (an attendee thought 'Jesus body died, but He didn't' instead of simply Jesus dying)
* Believing the scriptures (notes contained an excerpt from Lake of Fire 5 (http://bible-truths.com/lake5.html))
* Baptism (there is an entire section of email reply from Ray under 'Baptize (http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,3108.0.html)'
* Tithing (same notes from tithing paper (http://www.bible-truths.com/tithing.html))
* Spurious passages (touched on this list (http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,6638.0.html))
* Is Hell literal? (notes contain section from Exposing 23 minutes in hell paper (http://bible-truths.com/23-minutes-in-hell.html))
* Why the Resurrection is important (mostly pointed out the scriptures from 1 Corinthians chapter 15)
* Explained, in great detail, all the signs, symbols, & metaphors from the book of Revelation & Daniel
Hope this helps,
Marques
P.S. Just kidding about that last one up... ;D
The ministers didn't show up, though one attendee did disagree with Ray regarding Jesus' death (as Marques noted above). Ray covered many angles on the Body, Spirit, & Soul; and most importantly, how important Jesus' death was.
Overall, I'd say for most forum members, you probably are already well-versed in most of the subjects that were covered if you've read the material on the site, watched videos, listened to the audio, etc. The conference was really geared towards people who were really new to most of the things we've already been exposed to, which I think is what Ray was hoping for. Still though, I had a great time getting to meet Ray and others. I just hope and pray his health will be restored so he can have future conferences and writings.
But always, as God wills.
-
Sometimes I regret I don't live in the USA, because there is no chance for me to attend Bible studies conducted by Mr. Smith. His illness is very depressing news :-[ :-[ though it's interesting that many valuable, good and brilliant people (Mr. Smith is an example of them) suffers from very troublesome diseases, when others, opposed to them, enjoy good, long and smooth life.
-
Sometimes I regret I don't live in the USA, because there is no chance for me to attend Bible studies conducted by Mr. Smith. His illness is very depressing news :-[ :-[ though it's interesting that many valuable, good and brilliant people (Mr. Smith is an example of them) suffers from very troublesome diseases, when others, opposed to them, enjoy good, long and smooth life.
Dawidos,
I know where your coming from, was it Asaph who asked God: " Why does it seem the Wicked always prosper." Brother, all I can say is what My Forum Friend John Popovich always says: " God is doing a strange work." Of course it's not strange to Him, but strange to us, at times.
Kind Regards and Carry On, Samson.
-
shawn,
thanks bunches for the info regarding the bible study and ray. he is most definitely a dynamic man of God, and his passion is for his Saviour Jesus Christ and His Father, as well as defending the True Words of the Scriptures. ray continues to run the race on the narrow road, as depicted in the Scriptures. even when that race is routed through the valley of the shadow of death. the race we are all running. we must attain to endure and overcome the danger lurking in the largest potholes of our race course. wherever that may be. the fact that none of the ministers attended ray's bible study speaks volumes to me regarding the state of the church today. without the miracle of God opening their ears to hear, and their eyes to see the Truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ they will remain ignorant of the peace which passeth understanding. i am humbled that God the Father has/is opening my spiritual eyes and ears, as He is also doing for many on this forum and many whom we may never know about on this side of Christ's return. it is exciting to think about the many wonders that our Father does which we are never, ever aware of. just to think about His wisdom and love is beyond words.
claudia
-
could I get a link on Ray's teaching Body, Soul, and Spirit? I can not find it. Thank you, Margo
-
Thank you!
-
I can count on one hand the men that God has used to make an impact on my life and Ray Smith is one of them.
I would have liked to have been there also.
Was there not video or transcript done so that those ministers that MIGHT have attended would feel more at ease?
Joel