As Good Friday and Easter are approaching, I was reminded of this article of Larry's that really captures the spiritual climate that we are living in now.

The Cross Made the Difference

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Andrew Murray wrote: "It is the great need of the church today to have the crucifixion of the flesh preached, and the cross restored to its place (the cross of Christ)." Some of us recall the "deeper life" conferences which revived the emphasis upon the Christians' deliverance from the power of sin. It was, as Paul Harvey would say, "the rest of the story." It is part of the message that has fallen into neglect. Too often, we are offered a "cheapened gospel"-just pray a prayer and then go do as you like! Can the reason be the same as was indicated by Murray? He wrote: "It is easy for man's wisdom to win men to a cross that leaves them uncrucified."

A sad proclamation that is often heard is, "you can't tell the difference between the church and the world" (referring to the lack of seeing a lifestyle change, of course). When we are saved, our lifestyle and lip-style should undergo a noticeable change. That's called the "Crucified Life!"

Many are faithfully led to the cross for salvation from the penalty of sin. Few of them are led into deliverance from the domination of their old, carnal nature. They have come to the cross of Christ, but have not gone with Him to the other side to live on resurrection ground.

To go through the cross is consent to the death of one's self-life. It is to recognize that it was not only His death; it was our death, too! When He died, we died. When He rose, we rose with Him, ascended with Him, and are seated together with Him at the Father's right hand (II Cor. 5:14-15, Eph. 2:5-7). In Romans 6, we learn of our identification with Christ in His death and resurrection and how to apply it to our daily walk.

It is time for another revival of this truth. The time has come to rally around the preaching of the cross that crucifies the flesh, disturbs the self-life, plucks out the carnal eye and cuts off the offending hand. It puts the "self" in us to death.

Often, the reason why Christians do not grow in grace, or become more effective witnesses for Christ, is that they haven't died to the flesh and taken on the identity of Christ. The world needs to see the difference-the change in our lives!

There is a lost and dying world that needs the Gospel message. Let's be faithful as "Crucified-with-Christ" Christians to point others to the cross of Christ. Let others see what a difference the cross has made in your life!

Amen! May you have a weekend that is blessed with His grace, love and overcoming presence.

4 cups cooked ham, diced

1 cup green pepper, diced

1 (7 oz.) jar pimentos

1 cup celery, diced

½ cup sweet pickle relish

¾ cup mayonnaise

2 T. prepared mustard

1 tsp. finely grated onion

Stir mayo and mustard together and add remaining ingredients. Great way to use up leftover ham!

Greetings from the Gulf Coast - specifically Biloxi, Mississippi!

We drove in here last Friday night and are perched in an RV park until Friday when we drive to Metairie, Louisiana (New Orleans) for our Sunday morning service. Larry is "itching" to get back into the pulpit!

Speaking of Larry...thank you to all of our family, friends and partners who have held him up in prayer. He's doing good - he's just a bit tired and lacking a little physical strength. Good news though...he came through the TIA without any side effects! We praise God for His almighty hand on him at that time - and five baby aspirin. In case you wonder what that's all about - when this impending stroke hit him, we were sitting in a restaurant. LaShawn and I knew something was going very wrong when Larry looked confused and had trouble talking. (He usually doesn't have that problem - Ha!) I gave him 3 baby aspirin, and five minutes later I gave him 2 more. A long, long story made short, the Neurologist and Cardiologist approached me in the Emergency room while they were doing tests on Larry, looked at me with piercing eyes and asked, "Are you the one who gave him 5 baby aspirin?" I was scared to admit it, not knowing if I did something really wrong, but I let them know I had. Well, the Cardiologist looked at me and proclaimed, "Those baby aspirin saved him from a massive stroke!" He smiled, held up his hand, gave me a high-five and said, "Good girl!" Wow, you'll never know how relieved I was to hear that!

So anyway, God is very good, He's always good. Now it's just the task of keeping Larry from being overly active and keeping him off ladders...it's a huge security job for me - ha!

First Assembly of God of Greater New Orleans

A Minnesota couple decided to vacation to Florida during the winter. They planned to stay at the very same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier. Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel schedules. So, the husband left Minnesota and flew to Florida on Thursday. His wife would fly down the following day.

The husband checked into the hotel. There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send an e-mail to his wife. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her e-mail address, and without realizing his error, he sent the e-mail (without realizing he sent it to someone else).

Meanwhile.....somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. He was a minister of many years who was called home to glory following a sudden heart attack. The widow decided to check her e-mail, expecting messages from relatives and friends. After reading the first message, she fainted.

The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:

Rainbow Cake

Mix the above ingredients. Pour 1/3 into a bowl and add 1 small can of Hershey's syrup. Add a food coloring to the other 2/3. Use a Teflon Bundt pan, or grease a Bundt pan and pour chocolate mixture into the Bundt pan, then pour colored mixture over the chocolate. Run a knife through to marble. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.

When beating egg whites do not tap the beater on the bowl of the egg whites. The jarring of the beater will cause the whites to lose a great deal of their fluffiness. The beater should be tapped on the hand to clear off the whites.

They admitted him, did all the tests, and all looks well, except an artery in the back of his neck, which is very narrow. We asked about putting in a stint, and they said, "NO", as it is too dangerous. They have tried in the past and the patient died! So we voted that idea down. They said this may never happen again (happened 7 years ago) or it could happen in a hour, day, months or whatever. They changed his medication to something stronger to hopefully blast out any swimming clots that would surface.

Greetings from Florida! How great are the mercies of the Lord! That song has danced through my head most of the night…His mercies are forever and ever!

Lemon Chiffon Salad

1 pkg whipped cream

Mix pudding as directed. Set aside. Mix Jello as directed and let set till jelly-like. Fold in whipped cream. Mix all together. Then add the pineapple (drained), the marshmallows, and bananas. Let set for about two hours.

To hang those adorable scarfs in your wardrobe, put shower rings on a hanger and hang each scarf through a shower ring!

Larry and I have dedicated the past couple of weeks to prayer, study, booking and office work and seeing God's will and direction for the future. As usual, January is a tough month to book rallies as churches are "recovering" from the busyness of all of the December Christmas programs and activities. For churches, January is usually the month for refocus and in house fasting and prayer as they prepare for the 2013 church calendar. We have taken the past three Sundays to attend different churches here in Florida. It has been so refreshing to "sit and take in". One never knows how spiritually hungry they are until the spiritual hunger pangs hit! I was feeling it and the messages have been so inspiring and challenging.

I tell Larry, "I want to attend church but I want to be anonymous"…(hard to do when Larry is so recognizable and "talky" - ha!). Because of our hearts for people and the nature of evangelism, we are often the ones to be ministering to others. We truly feel this is our calling and we genuinely love all the ways God uses us to connect His heart to others. But, there are times I feel the need to be able to be in a service for the sole purpose of soaking in truth and basking in His presence. I just love that connection with Jesus…I just need to feel His touch, hear His voice, drink in and let His Word give strength to move ahead. Again, let me reaffirm something here, I love people and I love to minister and to be with people, but then there are those times that I just need the focus and stillness of Psalms 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God." I know God has a hard time getting me to just being still. I am a go-do-go-do person. I'm sure there are many of you who can relate. There are times I just need to stop…and listen. So, for me, this time of focus, study and stillness has been precious.

Forty-some years ago my mother gave me this poem with the instructions, "Missy, read it, and do what it says." (I still need more practice on this one). Please enjoy and share with others!

Slow Me Down, Lord

Slow me down, Lord.

Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.

Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.

Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory.

Teach me the art of taking minute vacations - of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to smile at a child, to read a few lines from a good book.

Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life's enduring values, that I may grow toward my greater destiny.

Remind me each day that the race is not always to the swift, that there is more to life than increasing its speed.

Let me look upward to the towering oak and know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well.

- Orin L. Crain

Well, if you are in the Midwest or in the subzero temperatures, I hope that you're staying warm. If you are in the warm temperatures and have sunshine, palm trees and sand, I hope you are enjoying it and not taking it for granted - ha! Be blessed until we talk again.

1 lb. hamburger

1 onion, chopped

2 T. shortening

1 pt. canned tomatoes or tomato juice

½ c. rice

1 T. salt

2 tsp. chili powder

Pinch of dried red pepper

1 pt. canned kidney beans

1 ½ c. water

Put meat, onion and shortening in pan. Place beans and spices on top of that and stir. Add rice and tomatoes. Mix well. Bake at 300 degrees for 2 hours, covered.

wonderful relief to be out of the bitter Midwest cold.

Our cousins, Gary and Janet Stubenrach offered to pick us up at the airport. Waiting at the curb of the terminal, we looked like eskimos with heavy sweaters, gloves and our big winter coats draped over our arms. They laughed, "You won't need all that hot stuff here, as it is 83 degrees." May I add, it was a welcomed 83 degrees. Seriously, our hearts go out to all of you having to deal with this cold weather. Every time we have a tour going to Florida, my brother Bill says, "Boy aren't you glad that people in warm weather need Jesus and encouragement too - ha!" Yes, we are glad.

Larry loves one-on-one witnessing and yesterday we had the opportunity to visit with a very successful business man for about 2 hours. When he found out that we were in ministry and Larry was a preacher, he shared his story and personal journey with us. He went from a background with no church to Mormonism, in which he became a student of the Bible and memorized most of it and was a missionary for two years. He was so steeped in the Word that he was allowed to read, that after a while the Word began to convict him that there was something wrong. The Word convinced him that Mormonism was not for him. He admitted, "They are good people who work hard and eat right, but use works to make it to heaven." The more he read the Word, it made him dig deeper to find out who God really was and the truth about this man, Jesus.

In his deep hunger and desire to know more, the pendulum swung to the extreme, and he came to a conclusion that not everything is convincing about the Bible and believed there is possibly a heaven, but no hell. As he continued to share, he admitted that he is really now confused as to what he believes and why.

Larry joyfullyshared Christ with him, we were serious, we laughed, and we shared. When we got ready to leave, this business man smiled, "You two should be in sales...you could really sell. You're happy, you truly believe what you believe, and you are convincing...in fact...I can tell that what you represent is real. You both show the joy and it's very convincing that you definitely have something that I need to think about."

Well, we didn't get to pray with him...but we planted a seed and were able to be a part of God showing Himself in that man's life. One of his statements was, "What you believe is so simple and convincing." We took that as a compliment.

The Gospel is not brain surgery...it is heart changing. In this new year, may God help each of us to demonstrate and display the love of Jesus. Take the challenge: Each person you meet or come in contact with, sow a seed and water with love...and prayerfully it will grow, creating hunger for God, and change their lives.

Burger Beef Soup

On December 29^th LaShawn took us to the Nashville airport and we arrived at 12:00 for a 2:00 flight. Of course, the lines were extremely long due to holiday travel (oh, did I fail to tell you that when we arrived at the airport in Fargo, ND on December 19^th and Larry went to give the ticket agent his driver's license as his ID that it was missing? At that second my holiday joy and peace turned into complete panic. Thank God and for favor from the security and TSA, they were so kind to work with us and we came up with enough identification to get us through. When they gave us the "go" sign, I felt like I definitely needed a fresh application of deodorant and two aspirin!)

I was reminded again; it's not always about me. Often we are tempted to whine and fuss and complain about things that 100 years, or even one year, from now...won't make a bit of difference. It's not always about me...it's others. I like the verse in Philippians 2:3-4, " When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves. Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others."

As you embark on the new year of 2013, be reassured with one of my favorite verses, Deuteronomy 31:6, "He will never leave you nor forsake you..."

Apple Salad with Feta Cheese

1 large head of lettuce, torn in bite-sized pieces

Softly falling snowflakes, carolers singing, trees brilliantly adorned, lights twinkling, packages brightly decorated , cookies bursting with the aroma of Christmas, families gathered, nativities exhibited, Jesus Christ glorified...all of these together spell Christmas!

This year, we are excited as we will share a Tennessee Christmas with Donovan, LaShawn and her husband, Liam, as well as LaDawn and her children, Danté and Myanna. The few days together will fly by only too quickly but the memories will last a lifetime.

"Thanks so much for your ministry to our 50 Plus group. Everyone enjoyed it so much. I felt we got more than I could imagine in a message and songs thatwere pointed and relevant to our church body. We are the body of Christ and if so, we should be about His mission. 'Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to eternal life.'"

Your brother in Christ,

Pastor Wayne Fischer

"Their songs always tell an uplifting message of God'spromises."

Larry and I are now settled in to our home and home office, booking, finding rallies and events for 2013. It's good to be settled for a few weeks before we hit the road again. I love my chair in the living room and our stationary bed, with no wheels under it - ha! Larry loves being in his home and enjoying home cooking. I should say he loves to eat, period. I always tease him when I tell people, "Larry is truly a light eater - as soon as it gets light...he starts to eat...and he eats all day." HA!

We know that December is a busy month, and often there is more stress than rest. But it's our prayer for us personally, and for you, that you would take the moments to relax and to be grateful for what the real reason is for Christmas. It's a reminder of the hope, peace and comfort that He can give to us all year long.

Stir chocolate chips with water over low heat until melted (cool). Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth; add chocolate mixture. Fold in 3 ½ cups Cool Whip. Spoon half the mixture into crust; sprinkle with candies, pressing down gently. Spread remaining chocolate mixture on top. Chill 3 hours.

{ November 21, 2012 }

First of all, Larry and I want to wish you a blessed Thanksgiving! We feel so blessed to have you as part of our On the Roadfamily. Many of you will be gathering with friends and family, making a special time of connection and building or rebuilding relationships.

On the Road News: Cumberland, MD

"Larry and Gloria, your love for God and people are very evident. Your service was powerful and encouraging. God bless your ministry!" - Laura

We arrived home last night (Tuesday) from our 6 week east coast tour. Last Sunday we parked out motor home at a friend's place in Lake Wales, Florida which is near Orlando. On Monday we flew from Orlando to Minneapolis and came back to Sisseton last night. It was truly and exciting ministry tour!

Before we end this On the Road Update, I want to share this article from our newsletter several years ago that seemed to ring true for today in light of Thanksgiving:

I sense such a grip of worry, fear, and anxiety on God's people. Philippians 4:6 says, "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." In another version, "be careful" is interpreted as "don't worry" or "don't be fearful" for nothing.

Let me address this verse a bit further. "Be careful for nothing"...When you fear or worry, you sacrifice your faith - like gas and water, faith and worry don't mix. Notice the Scripture continues on, "but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

If during this Thanksgiving season, you are worried or overtaken by crisis, loss, disappointments, deteriorating health, financial stress...call out to God right now...address the need of Him and then verse 7 of Philippians 4 will kick in, "...and the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." That's His promise!

This Thanksgiving...despite what trials you are going through, choose to thank Him and praise Him and see what happens next!