His Grace Magazine

Grace His

February 2021

Photo by Donna Wood

Twillingate

Newfoundland & Labrador

WOOD

"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." Ministries

John 3:16

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Table of Contents His Grace Magazine!

February 2021

"In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

John 14:2

Comic.................................................................................Page 3 From the Pulpit.................................................................Pages 4-7 Book in Review..................................................................Page 8 Prayer Page........................................................................Page 9 Recipe Page........................................................................Page 10 News...................................................................................Pages 11-14 Poetry Page........................................................................Page 15 Timeless Truths.................................................................Pages 16-17 Athletes for Christ.............................................................Pages 18-19 Bible Study.........................................................................Pages 20-21 Movie in Review................................................................Page 22

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Comic...

February 2021

His Grace Magazine!

The Word According to Elijah

Oh great, I guess we're not in their bubble!

Wait!

Matthew 18:20

“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

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From the Pulpit...

Owner/Publisher: Rob Wood

T

His Grace Magazine!

his week, I'm going to split up From the Pulpit with two articles in one.

First of all, we are going to talk about hell; then the second half of this article will be about heaven.

What comes to mind when you think of hell? I know a lot of people think that hell will be one big party. They think that there will be drinking, women, fun, hanging out with their buddies...one big party. When they tell me this, I look into their faces and think to myself, 'Wow, they really believe what they just said to me!'

But let me tell you, my heart wants to scream out to them.

Nothing can be further from the truth; hell is not a picnic!

It's not a fun place to

Is there a Hell?

be at all. In fact, hell is a horrible place to have to go for all of eternity. It's a place of terror and fear; it is total darkness, one where you cannot see your hand when you stretch out your arm... pitch black, where you can't see anything at all. All you can hear is the screams of those burning. It's a fear that is totally unmeasurable and a place where your body burns for all of eternity. But most of all, there is so much hatred there you can almost smell it. I can tell you what's not in hell...there is no love there. Hell was never made for man; it was only made for the devil.

So let's back up a bit...The bible continually warns us all of that place called hell. There are over 162 references alone in the New Testament, and over 70 references was spoken by Jesus Christ. One scripture where Jesus talks about hell is in Luke 16:22-29. It says, "So it was that the beggar died, and was

carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom.

The rich man also died and was buried.

And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.' Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'

Abraham

Februray 2021

said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'"

For everyone who thinks that they're going to hell, there are dozens of people that believe they're going to heaven. A lot of people think they are going to heaven, even though Matthew 7:1314 says, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." So what would keep us out of Heaven? Sin would: Romans 3:23 says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Sin is what has separated us from having a relationship with God. Isaiah 59:2 says, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear."

Hell will be the place for people who haven't

His Grace Magazine!

From the Pulpit...

February 2021

received God's gift of grace in Jesus Christ.

Revelation 20:12-15 says, "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened.

And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."

Those who live in sin without repentance and say, 'I don't need Jesus' ... they cannot enter into the presence of our holy and just God, and they will have to be put into the place of everlasting torment and destruction.

Is there a Hell?

Matthew 13:40-42 says, "Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."

At that point, Jesus Christ will say to them who are not saved and covered by His blood, as in Matthew 25:41: "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels."

The reality of hell is horrible. It should break our hearts and make us drop to our knees and pray for all those who do not know Jesus.

Unfortunately, even with some Christians, the 'hell' word has become a word they don't like to talk about. The word 'hell' isn't even in some

evangelistic books.

One of the professors from a certain publication said, "I consider the concept of hell as endless torment in body and mind an outrageous doctrine ... How can Christians possibly project a deity of such cruelty and vindictiveness whose ways include inflicting everlasting torture upon his creatures, however sinful they may have been? Surely a God who would do such a thing is more like satan than God." How sad is that?

They want to think this way because they think that a loving God could never put anyone in hell.

So does that means we all go to heaven?

Some even embrace universalism, their belief that everyone will be saved, right?

Wrong!

Although many books do deny hell, Jesus talked about hell more than anyone else in the bible did.

Matthew 10:28 says, "And do not fear those who kill the

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body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell."

Jesus talks about how long hell will last.

Matthew 25:46 says, "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

In the same sentence, Jesus used the same word, 'eternal' to express the length of both heaven and hell.

So if heaven will be consciously experienced forever, hell then must also be consciously experienced forever.

It is pretty clear as to what we must do in order to stay out of that horrible place... we must give our lives to Jesus before it's too late. We must also start to preach about this topic to both believers and unbelievers.

Jesus took the sins of the world upon Himself when He died so that we can have eternal life with Him in heaven, if we only believe! Now is the time, let's not waste another day.

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W

His Grace Magazine!

From the Pulpit...

ell, this is a much nicer topic isn't it... The future home where all Christians who believe in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will go.

A lot of people I have talked to about heaven always say the same thing to me, "Won't heaven be boring? After all, you sit on a cloud playing a harp for all eternity." Or, "Won't it be like being in church forever?" The answer to that is 'NO,' it won't be boring at all. Yes, we will always worship God, but true Christians do that now here on earth. And, 'NO,' we won't be sitting on a cloud for all eternity; it will be so much more than that. But I will go into more detail on that subject and so much more on heaven later this year, as I will be running a series simply called, 'Heaven.'

As Christians, we live our lives here doing God's work, doing whatever He has told us to do. After we pass from this life,

February 2021

Are you going to Heaven?

we go to heaven to be with the Lord. Some people don't believe this; they believe that when you pass, you sleep until the rapture.

I don't think that is true; I believe you go to be with the Lord.

Revelation 6:10 says, "And they cried with a loud voice, saying, 'How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?'" Clearly, this is telling us that the martyrs are in heaven asking the Lord when is He going to avenge their deaths with the ones that killed them.

Also, 2 Corinthians 5:8 says, "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."

We will be in the presence of Jesus Himself; we can go for walks with Him; we can talk to Him; we will worship Him, and on and on. The things we will be able to do in heaven will be beautiful and endless.

Just think about it, we can sit down and

talk to Paul or Peter, or anyone that is in heaven, anyone that gave their lives to Jesus. We will see our family members, children if we lost them earlier in life.

Heaven will be a beautiful place and a fun place, with lots for us to do; it will not be a boring place at all. We will also have new bodies and they will be perfect bodies, fitted for eternity. Philippians 3:20-21 says, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."

The Bible reminds us that we will be given crowns for our works here on earth and Scripture urges us to be faithful so that we'll receive them. There are five crowns that we will have a chance to receive, depending

on our works. They are: the Victor's Crown, the Crown of Rejoicing, the Crown of Life, the Crown of Righteousness and the Crown of Glory.

Matthew 16:27 says, "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works." Revelation 22:12 says, "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work." Also, 1 Peter 5:4 says, "And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory."

The Heavenly City, the New Jerusalem, as the Bible refers to it, will be so big, it is mind blowing!

Revelation 21:15-16 says, "And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve

From the Pulpit...

February 2021

thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal."

It will be 1,500 miles wide, 1,500 miles long and 1,500 miles high. That is approximately two million square miles on the first floor alone! That is incredible when you really think about it.

Heaven will be a holy place and everyone in it will be holy as well.

There will be no sin nor death, no jails nor funeral homes. It is a place for those who have been made holy

by God's infinite grace through the blood of Jesus.

The Lord Jesus in His glorification will be the light and radiance of this beautiful place.

Its atmosphere will sparkle and glow. It's so very difficult to envision our eternal home that God has prepared for us.

Is this a place where you would like to spend eternity? A loving relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to get into heaven.

John 14:6 says, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the

His Grace Magazine!

Are you going to Heaven?

way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" Right there, He is telling us that if we don't have a relationship with Jesus, then we cannot go to the Father, and where is the Father?

He is in heaven, so if you don't have that relationship with Jesus, then you just can't enter heaven.

It's so important for all of us, every single day, to read our bibles so that we know the will of God for our lives. It is also important to pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:1618 says, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Listen to God... through His word in the bible, through dreams, and don't listen to anyone else, especially if God has told you what He wants you to do for Him; just do it. No matter what people say to you, it's not important; what is important is to follow

Jesus and remain obedient to Him. Luke 12:51-52 says, "Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three."

You truly have to be saved, before entering heaven. You have to be born again and you have to know that Jesus died on the cross for us all; He took all our sins upon Himself. After three days, He was then resurrected from the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:3 says, "For I delivered to you first

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of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures." And also, Luke 24:4647 says, "Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

Remember, Jesus loves you very much; repent and come to Him. 1 John 4:19, says, "We love Him because He first loved us."

WOOD Ministries Publisher/Sales/Graphic Designer/Writer: Rob Wood wood.ministries.2020@gmail.com

Editor/Writer: Donna Wood

wood.ministries.2020@gmail.com

Writer: Lynne Wood

wood.ministries.2020@gmail.com

Owned and published by Rob Wood of Wood Ministries.

Contact us @ 905-380-4489, or email us at wood.ministries.2020@gmail.com

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His Grace Magazine!

Book in Review...

Tipping Point

Book by: Jimmy Evens

February 2021

Is the end here?...

Written by: Lynne Wood

T

ipping Point is an amazing read on the subject of biblical prophesy. Jimmy Evans is the author of Tipping Point. He is a very knowledgeable person about biblical prophesy,

as he has studied this for more than fortyfive years. He is also a senior pastor at Gateway Church in Dallas, Texas.

Only God knows every detail of our future and certainly nobody can

predict the exact time when all this will take place.

Jimmy Evans doesn't try to predict the timing of events to take place, as it's all in God's hands.

He is in control and always has been.

Jesus wanted us to know about His second coming and all that takes place before and after.

It's all there in the Bible for us to see.

It takes someone like Jimmy Evans to point it out and explain everything. He is such a good teacher on this subject; he explains it in a way that is so easy to understand.

He believes the end times officially began in 1948, when Israel became a nation in one day. Israel is very important to God's plan; he tells you how Israel's history pertains

to today. The Bible is thirty percent prophecy because God wants us to know so that we can be comforted when things happen in the world.

Many people are frightened to read about what is to come; don't be. This book will give you hope and peace and a greater insight.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover to cover. The clock is ticking; Jesus is knocking at the door.

The time is now to get ready.

Jimmy Evans says, "Plan like Jesus isn't returning for one hundred years, but live like He's returning today!"

Revelation 1:8 says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

"For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.."

2 Peter 1:21

Prayer...

February 2021

His Grace Magazine!

To be more like Him

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Almighty Father, Thank You for the precious blood of Your dear Son, which He shed for our sake.

Thank You for Your unspeakable love.

Give us Your grace and Your great compassion that we may praise You in every act of our lives for evermore.

In Jesus' mighty name we pray,

Amen “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

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Recipe...

His Grace Magazine!

Honey Raisin Tea Buns

February 2021

• 1 c Butter • 4 c Flour • 3 heaping tsp Baking Powder • 1/2 tsp Salt • 1 c Raisins • 1 Egg, beaten • 1 c evaporated Milk • 1 can crushed Pineapple • 1/4 c Honey • 2 tsp Vanilla • Rub butter into flour, b. powder, salt & raisins • Mix egg, milk, pineapple, honey and vanilla together • Make a well in center of dry mixture; add egg mixture • Mix only enough to form a ball of dough • Press out to 1" thickness; lay in parchment lined 9" x 13" pan • Bake for 35 min at 375 deg or until light brown • Lightly score to make 20 buns

Ecclesiastes 9:7 “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do.”

February 2021

His Grace Magazine!

Dr. David Jeremiah!

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Turning Point Ministries... First Christian show to ever be aired on History Channel!

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avid Jeremiah's Turning Point Ministries will be the first Christian show to ever air on the History Channel.

Dr. David Jeremiah's Turning Point program, which provides us with "Biblical teaching, musical selections and seasonal faith centered productions", will now air on the History Channel every weekday at 6:30 a.m. ET/PT. It is the first Christian show and first show of any religion to be aired on this channel.

Dr. David Jeremiah serves as the senior pastor at the Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California. He said, "The achievement is not only a testament to the faithfulness of God's promises, but also demonstrates the growing desire to hear uplifting and encouraging messages from God's Word." He also said, "It's such a humbling opportunity to be the first religious programming broadcast on the History Channel.

but we're offering far more than just religious instruction;

over the years.

Dr. David Jeremiah is a bestselling author;

we're offering hope for a world in need of healing, and it comes from the greatest pages ever written in history."

Dr. David Jeremiah's ministry is also available on other prime television networks, including Lifetime and USA Network, and just started on the Hillsong Channel and GOD TV in 2021.

Turning Point Ministries was founded in 1983; it has produced uplifting spiritual encouraging messages in a culturally relevant way and continues to reach millions of people

his books are great if you're eager to learn more about God and to go more in-depth in His word. In the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown early last year, his ministry gained extraordinary numbers of people because of the message of the Gospel, and his audience on his online services really increased. He said, "The church is alive and well and may be more responsive now than I can ever remember, except for the possible exception of 9/11." He also said, "What we've learned from all of this

is God doesn't need a building for there to be a church."

Dr. David Jeremiah said that a sermon he delivered which addressed whether COVID-19 was mentioned in biblical prophecy, received over one million views on YouTube.

He said, "We've never had anything on YouTube get that kind of attraction. When everything in which we have trusted is taken away and we are left with ourselves, we have to ask the hard questions, 'If this is it, what happens to me now?' There's a renewed interest in the Gospel and a desire to know what the Bible has to say." He also added, "Is this the beginning of a revival? This may not be a revival in the truest sense of the Great Awakening, but I believe we are seeing an online revival."

Turning Point has a long history of television, digital media and radio excellence and has a solid reputation.

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His Grace Magazine!

February 2021

New York's blessing box!

New York church installs a 'blessing box' for neighbors during this COVID lockdown!

A

local church in New York has introduced a 'blessing box' on the church property to supply the people with food and clothing for those who need help during this COVID-19 lockdown.

St. James Episcopal Church of Batavia introduced the box on Tuesday, February 8, and filled the box with all different articles such as food, toiletries, gloves, face masks, socks and hats.

The 'blessing box' was the cooperation of St. James Episcopal Church and three other nearby churches-Batavia First Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church of Batavia, and Resurrection Roman Catholic Church.

With the other churches that participated in this great cause, St.

James Episcopal has applied for and also received grant money

week and share them with a group from the church, who will begin

for this project from the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York.

Besides the food, clothing and other things that are available, the 'blessing box' also has a prayer box with an opening where prayers written on a card or on an envelope can be slid inside. Then someone will open the prayer box and collect all the prayers twice a

to pray for all the prayer requests that have been sent in by the people.

They also started a Facebook group page as an effort to grow the support for the 'blessing box.' This will help let the people know what supplies and demands are needed by the community. The 'blessing box' is out in front of the St. James Episcopal Church all

ready and set up to start helping anyone who needs help.

The 'blessing box' is the church's way to let the people know that they see them and they are not forgotten in their time of need.

They said that this is what they are doing, as in Matthew 25:35, "For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in."

The churches are working with one another to try to join in a cause of helping people and spreading the love of Jesus. In return, they are being blessed by meeting many new people on this journey.

What a great idea! We are praying that this will catch on in many other places around the world.

750 Ethiopians killed in church after attack

A

peace group is reporting 750 people killed during an attack on an Ethiopian church.

The non-profit group

said the people in the church were hiding; they were all brought out and shot in the square in front of the church.

The attack happened

in Tigray, a region in the north. This area belongs to many churches. The group said the killings were done by Ethiopian federal troops and

Amhara militia.

36 million Orthodox Christians call Ethiopia home, the second largest Orthodox population in the world after Russia.

February 2021

His Grace Magazine!

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Texas Storm!

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2 million have power restored, but 13 million face dangerous water crisis!

he winter storm that has been battering Texas is continuing, as the State is facing another terribly cold day.

Now another growing problem is hitting Texas, a water crisis.

They must now boil their water before they can drink it.

Even though power has been restored to almost 2 million homes across Texas, there are still around 325,000 homes and businesses that remain without power at this point.

The winter weather has been the cause of more than 36 people dying as a result of the cold, snow and ice.

Hospitals in Texas are using generators to continue running their medical equipment and to keep the heat and lights on.

I

The Governor of Texas, Gregg Abbott, said, "They aren't out of

his decission to leave a mistake. He said his daughter asked him to

the woods yet." He has already started working to make sure this won't happen again. "That starts with reforming the agency in charge of electric reliability in Texas," he said.

This stormy weather has been a big problem for Senator Ted Cruz who came back to Texas after he was seen leaving for Mexico on camera with his family. Looking back on it, he now calls

go on a trip with her and friends, so he went with her. He said, "I certainly regret that this has become a distraction at a time when so many Texans are hurting and fustrated."

Now adding to all the fustrating problems that winter can bring, and the power outages, 13 million Texans, which is half of the State's population, are lacking clean water.

The State authorities have begun ordering 7 million people to boil their tap water before they drink it. Because of these record cold tempatures, there will be damage to infrastructures and pipes.

Organizations are in Texas now helping the people cope. They have brought much needed supplies to the state, including cases of water, blankets, hand sanitizers and much more.

The help is so critical at this point. As of Thursday afternoon, there were more than 1,000 public water systems with disruptions because of the weather.

Thank you to all the volunteers who have gone there to help the people of Texas. God bless you all.

Air Force Trainer Jet crashes, killing 2

n Montgomery, Ala., two Air Force pilots were killed on Friday when their trainer jet crashed around an Alabama airport, the Air

Force has comfirmed.

The T-38 trainer aircraft was assigned to the 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi.

Officials confirmed the crash in a news release.

They reported that both pilots in the jet were killed. They were flying on a training mission.

The jet crashed at 5:30 p.m. around Dannelly Field in Montgomery.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the 2 pilots.

His Grace Magazine!

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February 2021

Tim Tebow Retires!

C

Tim Tebow has retired from Baseball!

hristian athlete, Tim Tebow, who began his minor league baseball career in 2016, has now announced his retirement from the New York Mets baseball team on Wednesday, Feb. 17th.

Tim said he "loved every minute" of his baseball career but feels "called in other directions."

Tim took the time to thank the fans and teammates; he also thanked the Mets' team president, Sandy Alderson.

In an announcement by the Mets team, Sandy Alderson said it "had been a pleasure to have Tim Tebow in the organization. He's been a consummate professional during his four years with the Mets.

By reaching the Triple-A level in 2019, he far exceeded expectations when he first entered the system in 2016 and he should be very proud of his accomplishments."

Tim Tebow had signed with the New York Mets on September 2016 at the age of 29. Before joining with the Mets, he was a NFL first round

draft pick and a Heisman Trophy winner, who had not played baseball

because of COVID-19.

Tim had notably more fans than most minor

since high school.

Tim played in a total of three minor league seasons; he had a .223 batting average with 18 home runs, 48 doubles and five stolen bases in a total of 287 games played.

Tim Tebow had played for three Mets minor league affiliate teams; they include: the Columbia Fireflies, the St. Lucie Mets and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies. In 2019, Tim had played 77 games for the Syracuse Mets, the team's Triple A affiliate, before he had a season ending injury.

Tim didn't play any games in the 2020 season, and the minor league canceled their season

league players; his fans were called the "Tebow Effect."

Baseball America figures that Tim Tebow helped to deliver an extra $1.6 million when he was on the road in the 2017 season.

Tim had played quarterback in the NFL during 20102012; he played for the Denver Broncos, the New York Jets to name a couple. Tim played college football with the Florida Gators and won two National Championships.

Tim would kneel and pray on the football field and he would write Bible verses on the black tape under his eyes, verses such as John 3:16 and John

14:6. He was known for his strong faith, whether he won or lost.

Tim joined the ESPN sports network in December 2013 as a College football analyst for "SEC Nation," he would often appear on ESPN and SEC network programming.

Tim Tebow is the fifth child of his missionary parents; they would often go to the Philippines.

Tim is the founder and chairman of the Tim Tebow Foundation.

His organization is to help "serve children and share God's love" through special needs ministry, orphan care and prevention for children with profound medical needs, as well as anti-human trafficking efforts. The Tim Tebow Foundation is partnered with Christian organization CURE International to construct a hospital in the Philippines that was opened in 2015.

Tim was married in 2020 to his wife, DemiLeigh. Tim is a threetime New York Times best selling author.

Poetry...

February 2021

Listen

His Grace Magazine!

The most powerful gift we can give is to relate to each other with openness.

By learning to simply listen, we can dissolve any separateness.

Listen with an inclusive heart For it is simply about being; not trying to change or fix the other person's pain or feeling.

Be willing to embrace whatever is being conveyed or expressed.

For those we find challenging, God will give us the strength.

When we love God with our whole being, Then listening becomes an art.

We are able to be compassionate and love with the healing balm of our heart.

(Galatians 6:2)

“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

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H

ave you ever given much thought to your mortality? What do you think happens once you leave this earth? Is there really life after death, or do we just cease to exist? Do you believe that this is all there is?

Are you afraid of dying? As a child, my thoughts were consumed with dying. I was terrified that I would die alone, and not knowing what would happen to my inner being, my very soul, was very unsettling for me. As a child, I was a troubled sleeper and waking up crying from a nightmare was a common occurrence; it was frightening. I think sometimes that my parents didn't know what to do with me.

They eventually moved me and my single bed out of my room and into my brothers' bedroom.

That did help somewhat; at least the nightmares stopped, but my fear of dying didn't.

As a young girl, I attended church and Sunday school regularly.

I learned all about God, His Son, Jesus, and Jesus' twelve disciples.

I loved the nativity story of the birth of Christ, but

His Grace Magazine!

February 2021

What do YOU fear?

the Easter story deeply troubled me.

Why God would let His only

resonated with me in such a way that, while listening to one of his

Son suffer and die on a cross was way beyond my comprehension. My sentiments were that, if God would allow His own Son to suffer, then He didn't care much about me, either. Thus, I still felt alone and my fears continued to grow.

As I grew into my preadolescent years, my mom and I would watch evangelistic services on television every Sunday.

Billy Graham's altar call always tugged on my heart strings and I can still remember watching Oral Roberts' program as he talked about Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for the redemption of the world. That thought

messages, I conveyed to my mom how much I wanted the 'Cross of Nails' that he was offering to his viewers.

My mom helped me write a letter to him, and shortly after that, I received the cross of nails in our mailbox. I still treasure that little plaque to this day.

It was years later though, when I began reading the New Testament, that everything fell into place.

I started to understand that Jesus really is 'God in the flesh.' John 10:30 says, "I and My Father are one." In John 14:911, Philip was still struggling to absorb

all that the Lord Jesus Christ had been teaching him and the disciples, even though they had followed Jesus for three years during His time on earth. Jesus said to Philip, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father, so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves."

The Lord Jesus perfectly reveals the Father, for Jesus is the very image of the invisible God, for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead body - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

It was this revelation that ignited my heart to the fact that God really does love me, because He became the ultimate sacrifice, not just for me, but for the sins of the entire world. He died in your stead and mine

February 2021

because of His love, mercy and grace for us.

He took my sins and yours upon Himself and nailed them to the cross.

After three days, He was risen from the dead and now sits on the right hand of the Father.

Does Christ's words still ring true for us today?

Yes, absolutely, simply, YES! This wonderful truth is as real as it was two thousand years ago.

Believe and the eyes of your understanding will be opened, the shrouds of doubt will be lifted, and one day we will be with Him and see Him face to face. Jesus is the Light and the Love of our lives.

Will everyone go to heaven when they die?

Unfortunately, there are too many people today embracing the false doctrine of universalism, which basically means that, no matter what your belief, all human beings will ultimately be saved and restored to a right relationship with God. Universalism focuses exclusively on God's love and mercy.

It ignores His holiness, justice and wrath and negates the very reason for the cross and the necessity of the saving work of Jesus Christ.

His Grace Magazine!

What do YOU fear?

God's word tells us that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works (Ephesians 2:8-9). God loves, forgives and saves us, not because of who we are or what we do, but because of the work of Christ. Our best efforts cannot be good enough to earn our salvation, but God declares us righteous for Christ's sake. We receive that grace through faith alone. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ. The Bible makes it clear - we need to have a personal, saving relationship with Jesus in order to go to heaven.

God's plan allows people an opportunity to place their trust in Christ to enter into an eternal relationship with Him. He doesn't want anyone to perish or die. God doesn't desire anyone's damnation, but He does not force anyone to be saved, either.

Does this truth then, take away all my fears of dying? Most definitely!

If we have a personal, saving relationship with Jesus, then when we die, we won't be doomed to eternal hell, but we will spend all of eternity in His presence in a place

that He is preparing for us; a place far better than we could possibly ever imagine. I can rest assured that, because I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in my heart that God has raised Him from the dead, that I am saved from hell's destruction (Romans 10:9).

The Bible teaches us that those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved; those who reject Him as Savior will not be allowed to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.

John 3:36 says, "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." Hell is a very real place, and we know this because scripture confirms it.

Jesus preaches on hell several times in his parables and sermons. Bible passages describes the reality of hell as separation from God. Matthew 25:41 says, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."Matthew 25:46 says, "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

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How do I know that my soul is safe with the Lord when I die? Because in John 14:2-3, Jesus tells us: "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." If you have a saving relationship with Jesus, you need not be afraid of hell or dying.

Fortunately, we have a God who came to earth, died, and resurrected, so that we may have new life, new hope of salvation, and an eternal home in heaven when we die. Acts 16:31 says, "So they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.'"

Dear heavenly Father, Thank You for making us Your children and for preparing a heavenly home for us. Thank You for Your provisions for us now and in the world to come, in Jesus' precious name we pray, Amen.

WOOD

Ministries

Written by: Donna Wood Photo by: Rob Wood

His Grace Magazine!

Athletes for Christ...

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Laurie Boschman Laurie's faith made him strong!

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he Toronto Maple Leafs in their 1st round, ninth over all NHL draft choice in 1979 was Laurie Boschman.

He finished his rookie season with 16 goals for 48 points. Laurie played well as he

Laurie Boschman Toronto Maple Leafs 1979 - 1981

February 2021

centered between John Anderson and Rocky Saganiuk. But in just his second year, the 1980-1981 season, he was diagnosed with mononucleosis.

When Laurie came back to play, he came back too soon after being sick. He had no energy and felt really sluggish on his skates.

But to make things worse, the Toronto Maple Leafs owner, Harold Ballard, didn't like the fact that Laurie was a born-again Christian. Ballard claimed that was too "soft" and his Christian beliefs was the reason for his poor play.

Laurie's playing time came to an end with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was traded to the Edmonton Oilers on March 9, 1982, for Walt Poddubny and Phil Drouillard.

Laurie had then finished the 1981-1982 season with the Edmonton Oilers, where he played in 11 games. He scored two goals and had five points.

Laurie struggled with the Oilers and was traded to the Winnipeg Jets. In the 1983-1984 season, he had a break-out year, scoring 28 goals with 74 points

in 61 games. He would go on to have several good seasons with the Winnipeg Jets where he would have four seasons of over 25 goals.

Laurie started playing a relentless in-your-face style of hockey. This went on to bring him opportunities to fight and score goals. Over the seven years of hockey he played, he became a solid two-way player who consistently put the points on the score board. Laurie played both ends of the rink very well offensively and defensively and played with the aggression of his game. Laurie then was traded to the New Jersey Devils in 19901991 where he played for two seasons.

Laurie was picked in the expansion draft by the Ottawa Senators as their first ever captain. He played in their inaugural season in 1991-1992.

Laurie was always strong in his faith during his hockey career. He ended up playing over 1,000 NHL games scoring over 300 goals with over 2,200 penalty minutes. He played a physical game where he could fight and score. He proved that his faith didn't make him weak like Ballard had stated.

February 2021

His Grace Magazine!

Athletes for Christ...

Laurie Boschman with the Hockey Ministries International

Laurie Boschman is currently living in Stittsville, Ontario, a part of Ottawa, with his three sons, Brent, Mark and Jeff. Laurie's wife, Nancy, passed away on January 20, 2006. Laurie is now part of the Hockey Ministries International, a ministry that shares hockey and Christianity.

Laurie Boschman

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His Grace Magazine!

Bible Study...

February 2021

John 10:30

"I and My Father are one."

n John 10, Jesus was in Jerusalem since His arrival for the Festival of Booth in chapter seven, teaching regularly in the temple.

His teaching caused much discussion concerning His identity, origins and authority and resulted in quarrels among the people. Jesus presented Himself as the Good Shepherd, who gives eternal life, and promises that no one will be able to be snatched from His hand. Jesus says in John 10:28: "My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish."

Some time had passed between that discussion and the discourse that began in John 10:22, which took place at the time of the festival of the Dedication (Hanukkah).

Once again, Jesus was at the temple, and some religious critics gathered around Him, cornering Him, daring Him to repeat His former claims about being the Messiah.

Jesus had claimed earlier that He was the only source of salvation

and that His salvation was eternal, permanent and irrevocable. Jesus offered eternal life; He first referred to His people as being held in His hand, then referred to the same people as being held in God's hand.

This statement suggested that Jesus and God were unified as one, in the sense of Jesus being equal to God. Jesus did not claim

was His Father, making Himself equal with God." John 1:1 tells us: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The unity between Christ and God the Father is again revealed in John 10:30.

Further along in the chapter, Jesus claimed preexistence

to be merely a messenger or prophet, but of equal power with God, which enraged His critics.

Jesus had healed a man born blind, but the Pharisees saw only that Jesus had healed on a Sabbath. John 5:18 says, "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God

in the Father's presence when He said that the Father sent Him (John 10:36). No biblical prophet had ever made such a claim before, yet Jesus claimed to exist before Abraham.

John 8:58 says, "Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.'" Colossians 1:16-17 affirm this

teaching: "For by Him all things were created; that are in heaven and are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist."

Some believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and others believed that He was a blasphemer.

The Jewish leaders rejected Jesus' divinity and they were armed for violence (John 10:31).

The critics tried to stone Him, as these claims were blasphemous according to the Jewish Law and it was the legal, God-given punishment for such a claim.

Jesus then escaped and left the area. He returned to the region where John the Baptist had once preached.

Jesus' claim to have equal power as the Father however, was not blasphemy. It was the plain truth. The Son of God, united together with the Father and the Spirit is the undisputed second person of the Holy Trinity - infinite, perfect,

February 2021

Bible Study...

gracious and good. Yet this God-Man humbled Himself and clothed Himself in the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

For thirty-three years, the eternal Son of God lived the life of a man in humble submission and perfect obedience to God, full of wisdom, grace, in perfect union and fellowship with His Father by the power of the indwelling Spirit.

Though He was God, Christ lived as man in

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John 10:30

utter dependence upon the Father. His entire life on earth consisted of doing His Father's will.

He said, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 6:38).

Even while Jesus' flesh cried out on the cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?", His spirit still bowed and said, "Not My will, but Yours, be done."

So He became obedient, even to death.

Philippians 2:8 reads: "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

In the same way, we are called to live in total dependence upon the Son, in joyful obedience to His will. Not only does He understand our temptations, He also shows us an example of perfect obedience to the Father. 1 Peter 2:21 says, "For to

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this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps."

When Christ returns to earth at the hour of His Father's choosing, He will receive to Himself all who are in Him, submitted to the Father as He is. All who enjoy eternity with Him in the Father's house will be there by His grace, because of His perfect submission to the Father. Are you ready?

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His Grace Magazine!

Movie in Review...

February 2021

Faith under Fire “The Courage to Rise Above”

he movie, Faith Under Fire, is a strong heart-wrenching movie about a fireman whose Christian faith is put to the test during which his wife passes away from cancer. Now, his 6 year old daughter has been diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor.

Regardless of the movie's heart-wrenching story, Faith Under Fire gives us an important uplifting message that will lift up your faith,

hope and bring comfort to anyone that is or has faced any suffering or a tragedy in their lives. It may be hard to watch for some people who have gone through something like what is in this movie, but at the same time, they may find healing from watching it.

The movie opens with the movie's fireman, Tom Hatcher, in a house where he saves a little girl during a brutal fire.

The movie shows us that

Tom had lost his wife two years before to cancer, and now his daughter, Tiffany, is in the hospital herself starting chemo treatments for her cancerous brain tumor.

After Tom's wife passed away, Tom then stopped going to his church.

One Sunday however, he does go to his old church where there is a new pastor, Dan Underwood, who starts to preach his sermon about dealing with pain and suffering, based on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

Tom angrily interrupts the service. When pastor Dan walks up to talk with Tom, he tells him about the benefits of having faith in God. Tom replies, "I'm all out of faith." Then Tom punches pastor Dan and ends up in jail.

Pastor Dan then goes and bails Tom out of jail; he even offers Tom a ride home. Tom unenthusiastically agrees.

Tom then says he is sorry to Dan for hitting him, but still doesn't want anything to do with God, Jesus or Pastor Dan. But still Dan tells him that he is willing to talk with him

anytime he needs to talk.

Tom doesn't want to talk to anyone about what he is suffering through inside...to pastor Dan or anyone else, which includes his best friend David and a nurse from the hospital.

It might be only one person that can break through to him and help him rediscover his relationship with God. His very sick daughter may be the one to make him think about who he is missing and who he truly needs in his life now, the only One who can heal him inside.

Starring: Nick Vlassopoulos, Dean Cain, Kevin Sorbo, Tenley, Jesi Jensen, Joel Paul Reisig, Grover McCants, Keyna Reynolds, Mara Kanyon, Daniel Jefferies, Jeff Priskorn, Valentina Arnold, Dennis Doyle, Jr., Colleen Gentry.

Producer: Melissa Kerley, Greg M. Morrison, Joel Paul Reisig.

Writers: Gary W. Allison, Joel Paul Reisig.

Runtime: 88 minutes Faith Under Fire is available on Blue ray and DVD.

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February 2021

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New stories every month!

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WOOD

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February 2021

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