A CHRISTMAS LETTER TO YOU WHO MEAN MUCH TO US (from Dr. David & Janice Clemens) December 22, 2009 Dear One, The year’s blessings have been rich and without number. They never would have been possible without this One we call Jesus. We lovingly devote this letter to Him and His birth. Bethlehem and her inn. Totally crowded and in great fuss and bustle. So much so that there was not a place made even for a mother-to-be, due in just hours, even moments! That’s pretty incredible, to be that caught up in your own world that even a lady just about to give birth can’t get some necessary consideration. Contrast that scene with the nearby open fields and sky (GOD’S Inn, if you will). Absent was the hubbub. Present was…The GLORY! It flashed and shone all about the shepherds. They were frightened, then they were comforted by the angel bringing Good News of Great Joy. The News? Finally, the long-awaited Savior had come! Then came the instruction: “Go.” And suddenly, on that lonely, expansive hillside under that endless swath of Heaven, there appeared with the angel “an army of the troops of Heaven - a heavenly knighthood – praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth, peace among men with whom He is well-pleased – men of good will….” (Amplified Bible) Our response to that scene can only be/it must be a hushed and holy, “Wow.” Just think. If these shepherds had been in town with all the action, they would have missed the flashing lights, the “Good-News-of-Great-Joy angel, the heavenly knighthood/army, the instructions and directions to the birthplace, and, most important of all, they would have missed the God-Babe. How good it was that they were out in the fields where they could see, hear, listen to God point the way to His dear Son. Here we are, some 2000 plus years after the fact. Our inns are bustling, as is all of life around us. Even if we ourselves are not running from place to place, our hearts and minds are. In the midst of it all, today, this “grown-up” Son of God, Who was the co-equal God of the universe even before He ever was a temporary baby, is in His Heaven…and there He waits. HE waits for us. He has so much to tell us, just like the angels did so long ago. He longs for our undivided, peaceful, worshiping attention today. This Christmas, may we learn well from those wise shepherds this lesson: take time for the field, the quiet place, the place where just God, we, and His Word are alone together. And, as we do, we will be available to let the wonder in and let The Glory diffuse into even the very deepest parts of our souls. “Oh come to my heart, Lord Jesus; there is room in my heart for Thee.” In a nutshell, The Good News spoken so long ago was this: “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He even gave up His only-begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish –come to destruction, be lost- but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge- to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on- the world; but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.” (John 3:16-17 A.B.) Now, no matter where or with whom you spend Christmas, remember that the Guest of Honor always is waiting to be invited to your home and ours. May it be a happy and holy day. Wishing you special Christmas blessings, David and Janice Clemens

To those of you that follow Dr. Clemens Ministry: One prayer request, please: David’s 2nd cataract surgery is scheduled for December 28. Please uphold him in prayer, will you? Thank you. We look forward to catching you up on God’s workings (in which you have had a part) in future e-mails.

His Singular Gift – For All of Humanity…

His Singular Gift – For All of Humanity… I have been pondering this Christmas Blog Post in my heart for over a month now. Coming into this Christmas of 2009, my wife and I have carried a plateful of troubles and worries (losing site of that wonderful chapter John 14). That being said; I had several different messages I thought of bringing to you wonderful folks, yet this is the one He has laid on my heart as a Christmas Gift & Message. Please, forgive this layman's attempt at transcribing such a precious message. By one man, Adam, our complete fellowship with our Heavenly Father was disrupted. A veil between HIS Holiness and our Humanness was introduced through Adam’s choice to go his own way. God’s desire was to receive the unconditional Praise, Worship and Love of HIS creation. It was God’s design for us to walk with HIM in the cool of the evening, to commune as one family. His Love For Us – established before the very foundation of the earth. Adam chose to defy our Precious Father – hence convicting every single generation of his offspring to pain, suffering and death. Both spiritually and physically – death was the ultimate penalty for this transgression. There were several major transactions that took place that day in the Garden, not the least of which was curse of sin. Adam’s race through one simple act of eating of the forbidden fruit was condemned to slavery. Every child of the human race since that day has been born a sinner, born into the bonds of sin slavery, the direct results of a choice to have our will and not God’s. To fully understand the significance of a baby born in Bethlehem 2000+ years ago, you must fully understand the Theology of Creation, and the doctrine of sin. If you don’t understand or believe these things, then this celebrated day of remembrance has no meaning or value to you. The post modern culture that we find ourselves immersed in, simply replaces the True meaning, with symbolism and materialism to fill that emptiness. Truth be told, those things never truly fill the void of not having God present in a man’s heart. Satan has sold the lie to the world quite well, and he is smiling and rolling on the floor laughing in cynical joy for the souls he has destroyed. For the Truth of Christmas is that of a miracle, that a young Jewish girl named Mary was touched by the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit planted the seed of Truth & Life in this woman that the Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God could come into this fallen world. That a Single Child, one lone being (God incarnate) came into this world on a dark cold night with one purpose – and one purpose only. He came to save the human race from the curse of sin bondage. HE was born of a virgin, walked this earth for 33 years, ministering to common man, the down trodden, the oppressed, the poor, the sick, the needy and the dying. Jesus came to us and corrected our view of the Law by showing us the Heart of God, and announced to the world that He was here to fulfill the law and prophesy of old. He commanded us to LOVE one another, as He loved His Church, to the point of spreading HIS arms wide open, and dying for those that literally nailed HIM to the cross. A SINGLE GIFT OF SACRIFICE – He offered up Himself from his first breath in that manger in Bethlehem, to the last breath He took as He laid down His life on that Cross 33 years later. HE came to this earth with one purpose; to bruise the head of that old serpent with the heel of His foot, saving humanity from the bonds of sin. That Christmas gift of long ago tore the veil that separated us from the Heavenly Father giving us un-tethered access to God. For through accepting His gift (once again a choice we must make), dying to ourself, and yielding to Him we can once again stand before GOD – wrapped in the Love and Righteousness of HIS Son – Jesus Christ, the TRUTH in Christmas! Please, please let me introduce you to this Wonderful man that has called me friend! For yet a little time, HE holds the door of Grace open for those to walk through that heed the call. Don’t spend another Christmas without HIM, don’t be left to a dark empty eternity. Choose Christ, and have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Your Friend,

RC Hall

O What a Savior! - © 1948 Marvin P. Dalton

Today was a day of mourning, a day of reflection and a day of prayer. I played this song 10+ times to help my mind, spirit and emotions stay in check. Trying to answer the questions - "did I say enough", "did she see Christ in me", "Lord, keep my head straight and seek Your Face"....... We will continue to miss my wife's dad, and now we will miss his wife Barbara as well, we can only pray they found the Christ and are of the Elect. O What a Savior! © 1948 Marvin P. Dalton (My favorite rendition of this song is by Rozie Rosell) Once I was straying in sin’s dark valley No hope within could I see They searched through Heaven And found a Savior To save a poor lost soul like me. (Chorus) O what a Savior, O hallelujah His heart was broken on Calvary His hands were nail scarred His side was riven He gave His life-blood for even me. Death’s chilly water I’ll soon be crossing His hand will lead me safe o're I’ll join the chorus in that great city And sing up there for evermore. (Chorus) O what a Savior, O hallelujah His heart was broken on Calvary His hands were nail scarred His side was riven He gave His life-blood for even me. 2 Samuel 22:3; "The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour." John 3:16; For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

He said, if ye be ashamed of me....

He said, if ye be ashamed of me, then I will be ashamed of you – before my Father! Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. My dear grandmother Hall had a real heart for Christ. She stood maybe five foot tall, but she had the over flowing Holy Spirit in her that made her a giant in the sight of ridicule or mockery. She was never ashamed or afraid to share the Gospel message. She tried to instill that in me, and thank our precious almighty God she was given plenty of opportunity to show me how it is suppose to work. I was with her when she talked with my aunt Mary on the street corner down town, sharing the gospel. A few other ladies gathered behind my grandmother listening, nodding their heads in agreement and moving on. She would talk to anyone on the street, some it was an unwelcome intrusion to their day, others stood and listened and would take the little tracks she carried with her. I have prayed to let the Holy Spirit fill me with that gift of boldness for the Lord. Many times I have been guilty of squelching the very thing I have prayed for. Our society – culture demands that we exercise political correctness in the public arena these days. Freedom of speech only applies if you have nothing related to Christ to say. You can talk profanity, talk about Buddha, talk about Mohammad, but look out if you whisper the name of Christ with any reverence on the street corner today. Why have we allowed ourselves to be stripped of the very rights this nation was founded on? Truth is – we haven’t – at least not totally yet! Most of our fear is that of public opinion and groups like the ACLU. It is the power that we have let the media confiscate and run amuck with, that holds our ability to articulate the Gospel message to those that need to hear it most. We have conveniently let the circumstances of the day create the excuse that we don’t want to get in trouble at work or in public places for sharing that which he commanded us to share. In which that message in itself is another topic for another day. We have lost Reverence for God, misunderstand His holiness and sovereignty and His commands are no longer the moral compass to live by; or so goes the world! As long as you believe, your OK? The demons believe folks – and they quake! They understand that God is a jealous God, and He is Sovereign and He alone can and will damn them eternally. God has commanded us through His Son’s ministry here on earth to Love and Honor Him as God, and to love one another! Matthew 22:37-40 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (38)This is the first and great commandment. (39)And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (40)On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. I have said many times echoing great ministers and pastors of the day, we have lost our first love. In the process we have allowed ourselves to become fearful of speaking the truth outside our close circles. Whether it be real or implied – it shouts shame of our Lord and falling short of His two greatest commandments. God forgive this nation! Search your hearts, pray to Almighty God to give you the strength – to Trust Him, and to let Him mold your thoughts and words when presented with an opportunity to share the Gospel. Maybe, He will Bless you with the chance to introduce our Dear Jesus to a stranger, a friend, a brother, a sister, a family member or even your Spouse!God Bless, till next time - Keep Going!

Cause for concern and prayer....

Dear Folks, I have been blogging here for half a year now. Many of you have sent me encouraging emails, which I give all the Glory to our precious Lord. Quite a few months ago I was reading a blog on another site concerning the marriage of one man and one woman. It was meant to be a blog area for Christians supporting the issue. However; it became extremely diversified in opinions and rhetoric from all walks of life. I must admit, I had to leave the site because some of the conversations taking place were beyond vulgar. However; one young lady (from one of our universities) who made a post said something that may very well become reality in this country. So I grabbed a copy of her comment on my way out, and wanted to share it with my Brothers, Sisters and Friends here and over on the Gaither Community site as well. Please read it carefully, understand that this young lady is speaking from a student’s perspective, as well as from one of our Universities today here in this country. Also understand that her comments represent a very real and true agenda of Satan as he is grasping for ground before the King Returns! Here is the post: Chastity Hartman University of New Orleans '11 Academy of Our Lady '07 New Orleans, LA Chastity Hartman posted her comment at 2:22am May 2, 2009 "I truly empathize for the people who are strongly opposed to gay marriage. They're making fools of themselves by standing in the way of inevitable social progress. They'll soon be dismissed as extremists along with every other hate group." Please pray for wisdom, please pray for healing, please pray for "unconditional love", please pray for revival and more than anything please pray for His quick return... This nation has lost sight of our past, because things are being rewritten or dismissed as not factual or believable. We are bound to repeat the mistakes and sins of the past, because we as a nation, maybe even the world at large, has elevated man to God's status in the universe. Dear Father God please forgive us as a nation; pour out Your Spirit on your children to strengthen them in these trying days. Let us fall to our knees and pray that you may heal this land Father. In you Dear Son's name we pray, In Jesus the Christ we bind these prayers, Amen. Thank you, RC