In 1982, Ruby Holland Hutchins was diagnosed with cervical cancer and was told she would never have children. In 1997, she learned she had a rare disease called pulmonary sarcoidosis. In 2000, doctors told her she had stage-four lung cancer and would die in three months.

Today Hutchins has two adult daughters, no longer has pulmonary sarcoidosis, and her doctor told her she has been “healed” and no longer has lung cancer. The Memphis, Tennessee, resident says it was her faith in God that made the difference in her recovery.

“Faith is not a feeling and it’s not a fact,” she told Charisma. “To have faith is to know God and believe His Word. When I responded to the ordeal in faith, the Word became flesh to my very body.”

Before Hutchins was diagnosed with pulmonary sarcoidosis, she says she was sick regularly and didn’t understand what was happening to her body. “I would get bronchitis every four months, and I would catch frequent colds,” she remembers.

Hutchins was also treated for whooping cough, but it wasn’t until she dropped down to 89 pounds that she realized something was “terribly wrong with her health.”

“Food was abrasive to my esophagus, so I couldn’t eat,” she said. “It got to a point that it hurt so bad, I couldn’t even swallow my saliva.”

Hutchins’ life was deteriorating before her eyes, but she was determined to beat her sickness with home remedies and prescribed medications. But when the Holy Spirit spoke to her one day, she began to question her medical regimen.

“I was extremely sick, and I heard a voice say to me, ‘If you don’t get up and go to the emergency room, you will not be alive this time tomorrow,'” she remembers.

Hutchins initially disregarded the prompting but says the Holy Spirit spoke again: “If you don’t go to the emergency room, you will not be alive this time tomorrow.”

“I got up and rushed to the hospital,” she says.

When doctors diagnosed her with pulmonary sarcoidosis, she was “finally able to put a name with the monster” that plagued her body.

According to the Ohio State Medical Center, sarcoidosis is a rare disease prevalent in African-Americans and occurs in the lungs in 90 percent of cases. It typically results in inflammation and causes small lumps or granulomas to form in a person. In most cases, the lumps heal and go away, but in Hutchins’ case, the lumps became inflamed. The late actor and comedian Bernie Mac also had sarcoidosis.

Though Hutchins underwent surgery for the disease, in 2000 doctors once again gave her a dreaded diagnosis. This time she was told she had stage-four lung cancer and would die in three months. But Hutchins said she responded to the news not with fear, but faith.

“Doctors told me I had to get an artificial voice box … take chemotherapy and radiation … and carry around an oxygen tank. I told them to save it for somebody who don’t have faith,” she told a rousing crowd of 19,000 attendees last November at the Church of God in Christ Holy Convocation.”God can do anything but fail!”

Today she is a sought-after evangelist who travels the U.S. and abroad preaching the gospel and declaring God’s healing power, especially to people battling terminal illnesses.

In 1999, she founded Touch the World Ministries Inc., a global ministry of preaching, teaching and community outreach. The ministry is committed to “finding the need and meeting it, finding the hurt and healing it.”

Says Hutchins: “The prognosis looked bleak, but faith says, ‘God, if You healed me of cervical cancer and gave me children when the doctors said I would never have kids, and if You can heal me of pulmonary sarcoidosis, You can heal me of lung cancer.”

In 2007, Ruby Holland Hutchins shared her testimony of healing before a crowd of 19,000 attendees at the Church of God in Christ Holy Convocation in Memphis, Tennessee.

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A growing number of Christian college students are showing their support for Israel by forming student-led campus chapters of Christians United for Israel (CUFI).

Andrew Summey, national director of CUFI on Campus, estimates the organization has a presence on roughly 150 campuses and that 35 colleges have a designated CUFI liaison or pro-Israel group. In April, the first campus Night to Honor Israel event was held at the University of Oklahoma.

“What we try to do is raise the awareness of students on moral reasons to support Israel,” Summey said. “We want to create a positive view of Israel. It’s quite a challenge for most of these students. It’s tough to be a Christian on many secular campuses, then you add the Israel support to it and it makes it even more challenging.”

Summey said that even at some Christian colleges, Israel is “being attacked” by those who hold to replacement theology, which teaches that the church has replaced Israel as God’s chosen people. Meanwhile, he said, popular culture tends to view Israel as the aggressor in the Middle East conflict and Palestinians as victims. “That narrative in and of itself carries the day on many campuses,” Summey said. “You see that very strongly on secular campuses, and you see that on the Christian campuses.”

CUFI, founded by Texas pastor John Hagee to rally Christian support for Israel, helps student leaders develop educational presentations about threats to Israel’s survival. This summer, CUFI on Campus will send several students to CUFI’s annual summit in Washington, D.C. The group also plans to sponsor 40 students to attend a March of Remembrance, which will tour sites in Poland and Israel to commemorate those who suffered during the Holocaust.

Scott Mason, president of CUFI on Campus at the University of Oklahoma, said CUFI on Campus has given Christian college students an outlet to show their passion for Israel. He said many Christian students believe it is their duty to educate their peers about the importance of supporting the Jewish nation.

“This generation, my generation, is the future if we’re going to have continued biblical support for Israel,” said Mason, who helped organize the Night to Honor Israel event on his campus. “From everything I’ve seen, there are students who are hungry to get involved. There are those of us out there who are not willing to be silent anymore. Christians United for Israel on Campus has become that vehicle that has opened that door to where we don’t have that excuse to be silent … or to sit back.”

This season of the outpouring of the Spirit is bringing with it exciting new glimpses of the kingdom. With that comes a renewed passion to know God and to make Him known. As we enjoy the freedom to swim in the river of our Lord’s presence, we sense a greater power and authority to pursue His purposes. Personal renewal fuels our desire for fruitfulness in preparation for the coming harvest.

Read Ps. 1:3, Jer. 17:8, Ezek. 47:1-6, Ezek. 47:7-12, Joel 3:18, Rev. 22:1-2

Heart Issue

The Christian experience is inherently fluid—full of change and movement—like a river. The process of renewal exposes us to challenging new dimensions of spiritual power, truth and refreshing. You know when you’re in the flow of God’s river. If you aren’t, just ask, and God will refresh you with His presence. Why would you miss this hour of visitation?

Prayer Focus

Father, thank You for visiting us with the refreshing waters of Your Spirit. We would never choose to return to the dry season we knew before this time of refreshing. We are so very grateful for what we’ve seen. But now, we want more. Make us Your wellsprings. Let the rivers of renewal overflow every obstacle, and draw every thirsty one to Your stream. Amen.

Brenda J. Davis is the associate editor of Creation House and former editor of SpiritLed Woman magazine.

Remember several years ago when Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake were performing at the Super Bowl Half-Time Show, and he ripped off her costume exposing her chest to nearly 90 million viewers?

The performance caused uproar in the public arena over indecency on TV, and led to bills being passed increasing fines against broadcasters that violate decency standards. But despite federal regulations, the push to saturate our kids’ minds with sexually explicit content and products is alive and well in our culture.

The assault on young girls is especially heinous. I was taken aback the other day when I walked into a store and saw racy underwear on sale for girls as young as 5 years old. It’s only a matter of time before our sex-crazed society causes kindergarteners to lose their innocence.

I thought I would talk about this issue because Pure Freedom, a ministry founded by Dannah Gresh that promotes modesty and sexual purity among young girls, sent me a petition created by Dannah and other leaders concerned with the exploitation of young girls by the fashion industry and advertisers. The petition calls on Fashion Designers of America and Footwear Manufacturer’s Association to create age-appropriate clothing for girls and stop producing sexually explicit advertisements.

It’s important to take a stand because clothing says a lot about what a girl thinks of herself. Let’s help our kids develop a positive self image based on God’s Word.

I know some Christians think it’s old fashioned to tell their daughter the crop top she has on looks sprayed on. They think it’s legalistic to talk about what not to wear. I sometimes find myself in awkward situations with my daughter, but the Bible tells us to dress in “modest apparel.”

A young girl’s self image is strongly shaped by what she sees and hears at home and the culture in which she lives. And I believe it is up to us to make sure our kids’ wardrobes reflect His image.

To sign the Fashion Petition or get more information, e-mail Eileen King at [email protected].

For many Christians, it would be a dream come true to take a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and watch the Bible unfold before their eyes. But due to a failing economy, times are tough and people are saving their money until times get better. But I took a journey to the Holy Land Experience in Florida and had a wonderful time without leaving the U.S.

It’s not the real thing, but vacationers can get a glimpse of Jerusalem this summer in preparation for a trip to Israel one day.

The Holy Land Experience is a reproduction of Jerusalem. Once inside the City Gates, parkgoers can mingle with first-century soldiers or stroll through the Jerusalem Street Market to browse in quaint stores such as the Old Scroll Shop, where souvenirs and books are sold. The Smile of a Child Adventure is a play area and one-stop shop for youngsters touring the park.

Visitors can then tour the Dead Sea Qumran Caves, a replica of the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, or scurry to the Theater of Life to catch a 55-minute airing of One Night With the King, starring famed Hollywood film actor Omar Sharif.

Inside, it’s easy to be drawn in by the lifelike sights, sounds and exhibits at the park. Visitors can stroll through a scaled-down version of the Via Dolorosa, the street Jesus walked on His way to Calvary, or reflect on the resurrection of Christ at the reproduction of the Garden Tomb.

At the six-story Temple Complex, performers re-enact popular Bible stories, such as the account of the centurion whose servant was healed and the crucifixion of Jesus.

The park is also home to The Scriptorium: Center for Biblical Antiquities, where some of the world’s rarest Bibles and oldest religious artifacts are housed. The Van Kampen Collection consists of scrolls, manuscripts and scribal tablets that date back to the seventh century B.C. Inside, visitors get a 55-minute history lesson on some of the earliest printings of the Bible, such as the Esther scroll, which dates back to the 17th or 18th century.

Every seven minutes in the Scriptorium, doors open and guests are guided through an automated tour replete with the history of how the Bible was written, translated and spread around the world. A narrator informs listeners that John Wycliffe’s gospel printings, dating back to the 1300s, were the first translations of the Bible from Latin to English.

He explains that texts were created to make the Scriptures accessible throughout England and adds that Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press made the Bible so widely available that British leaders could no longer deny commoners the right to read the Scriptures. The tour culminates with a dramatic presentation of both Old and New Testament characters such as Isaiah, Ezra, Joshua, Moses, and the apostles Paul and Peter.

The Jerusalem Model A.D. 66 is intriguing to say the least. The replica measures 45 by 25 feet and is believed to be the world’s largest indoor model of Jerusalem.

There’s nothing on the planet that can replace Jerusalem, Israel, but the Holy Land Experience is a good place to get familiar with what awaits pilgrims destined for the real thing.

James W. von Brunn, an 88-year-old white supremacist, opened fire in the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, killing security guard, Stephen T. Johns, before being critically wounded by museum guards.

Officials say when Johns opened the door for von Brunn to tour the museum, the suspect shot Johns in the chest, killing him before he could draw his weapon.

President Barack Obama condemned the gunman’s actions in a statement released by the White House. The president said he was “shocked and saddened” by the attack, and that “no act of violence will diminish our determination to honor those who were lost by building a more peaceful and tolerant world.”

According to authorities, von Brunn is no stranger to hate crimes and often wrote about his disdain for Jews and blacks. “The Holocaust is a lie. Obama was created by Jews. Obama does what Jew owners tell him to do. Jews captured America’s money. Jews control the mass media. The 1st Amendment is abrogated –henceforth,” von Brunn wrote.

In past writings, von Brunn claimed the Jews were conspiring “to destroy the White gene-pool,” and called the Holocaust a “myth.”

Officials from the Simon Wiesenthal Center and other leaders in Jewishis communities denounced the shooting. “It is not surprising that someone who espouses white supremacy would want to attack an institution like that, since Holocaust museums are the antithesis of this person’s racist ideology and anti-Semitism,” said Efraim Zuroff, SWC’s Israel director.

The museum was closed to the public and flags flew at half-staff this week in honor of Johns’ death. Police believe von Brunn acted alone.

Compiled by International Christian Embassy Jerusalem; icej.org

Remember several years ago when Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake were performing at the Super Bowl Half-Time Show, and he ripped off her costume exposing her chest to nearly 90 million viewers?

The performance caused uproar in the public arena over indecency on TV, and led to bills being passed increasing fines against broadcasters that violate decency standards. But despite federal regulations, the push to saturate our kids’ minds with sexually explicit content and products is alive and well in our culture.

The assault on young girls is especially heinous. I was taken aback the other day when I walked into a store and saw racy underwear on sale for girls as young as 5 years old. It’s only a matter of time before our sex-crazed society causes kindergarteners to lose their innocence.

I thought I would talk about this issue because Pure Freedom, a ministry founded by Dannah Gresh that promotes modesty and sexual purity among young girls, sent me a petition created by Dannah and other leaders concerned with the exploitation of young girls by the fashion industry and advertisers. The petition calls on Fashion Designers of America and Footwear Manufacturer’s Association to create age-appropriate clothing for girls and stop producing sexually explicit advertisements.

It’s important to take a stand because clothing says a lot about what a girl thinks of herself. Let’s help our kids develop a positive self image based on God’s Word.

I know some Christians think it’s old fashioned to tell their daughter the crop top she has on looks sprayed on. They think it’s legalistic to talk about what not to wear, but the Bible tells us to dress in “modest apparel.”

A young girl’s self image is strongly shaped by what she sees and hears at home and the culture in which she lives. And I believe it is up to us to make sure our kids’ wardrobes reflect His image.

To sign the Fashion Petition or get more information, e-mail Eileen King at [email protected].

Circumstances do not change the goodness and faithfulness of God. He is always worthy of our praises. When we’re in the valley, our thanksgiving lifts us into heavenly places and enlarges the vision of who our God is. The greater our sacrifice of praise, the greater will be our joy and assurance of victory.

Read Ps. 34:3-10, Ps. 50:14-15,23, Ps. 107:1-32, Phil. 4:4-13, Col. 2:6-7, 1 Thess. 5:16-24

Heart Issue

Where is your concentration today? Is it on the trial or on the Victor? Release your sacrificial praise to God. Your thankfulness will always re-establish your heart in hope.

Prayer Focus

Father, we feel insincere if we praise and thank You when things aren’t going well. But we know that at all times You are worthy of our love and adoration. So, we praise You, even in the midst of the storm. We won’t side with the enemy and believe that You are anything but loving toward us always. Help us to encourage one another and ourselves as we wait for You to work out every detail that concerns us. Amen.

Brenda J. Davis is the acquisitions editor for Creation House (Strang Book Group) and the former editor of SpiritLed Woman magazine.

The southern area of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem houses many archaeological finds including 200 ton stones, bath houses, and what is said to be the oldest interchange in the world. It was built more than 2,000 years ago during the Herodian period. To tour the ancient biblical site watch the video below.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded positively to U.S. President Barack Obama’s address from Cairo to the Muslim world on Thursday, voicing hope that the speech would foster reconciliation between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

“The government of Israel expresses hope that President Obama’s important speech will lead to a new period of reconciliation between the Arab and Muslim world, and Israel. We share Obama’s hope that the American effort will bring about an end to the conflict and to pan-Arab recognition of Israel as the Jewish state,” the prime minister’s office said in a statement.

“Israel is obligated to peace and will do as much as possible to help expand the circle of peace, while taking into consideration our national interests, the foremost of which is security,” the statement concluded.

President Shimon Peres also praised Obama’s speech as one “filled with a vision.” Defense Minister Ehud Barak added, “We praise the president’s commitment to the existence and safety of Israel, as well as his clear call for Israel’s integration in the region.” But right-wing cabinet minister Daniel Herschkowitz insisted that Israel is not “America’s lackey.”

“The relations with the Americans are based on friendship and not submission, and therefore Israel must tell Obama that stopping natural growth in the settlements is a red line,” Herschkowitz said.

Compiled by International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (icej.org)