Marathon Ministry Newsletter November 2010 (archived)

Jesus said, “I have called you friends.” (John 15:15)           Volume 25 (25th year) Issue # 1 (1st Letter)
So I also address you as Friend,                                                         November 2010
Dear Friend,
* * * * *    “We’re Still Here (and there) After All These Years”    * * * * *
            Who is there to praise but God in Christ?
When God called me at midnight November 23rd, 1986 to feed the poor I could not possibly envision all that he had for this almost one-third of my life. (John 21:15-17) – Peter said: “Thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”) Yes, I love Jesus.
            He has brought me from a four year old believer at the time, to a mature preacher of His holy word in Scripture (Romans 10:14 – “and how shall they hear without a preacher?), to an evangelist with untold numbers of converts to Jesus (Acts 21:8 – “Philip the evangelist”), and to a servant to Jesus himself as I serve the poor (Matthew 25:40 – “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”)
He has made me a supplier of needs to missions and missionaries around the world, and to see numbers in items, pounds and dollars that would stagger anyone’s imagination, given into the hands of the poorest and neediest of our society here at home and other parts of the world.
Yet I write these things never for my glory but as Brother Tom Kirk, my mentor for many years, and now in heaven, used to say “Glory to God!”.
* * * * * How Much Can We Give?* * * * *
            As much as God gives to us. To date this year we have given almost $ 200,000 in kid’s clothing, blankets, toothbrushes for kids, new books, shipped medical supplies, and many more disaster relief dollars for families. Glory to God! Praise the Lord for His provision through you who donate to this ministry so that we can give. Matthew 10:8 says: “Freely you have received, freely give.”
* * * * * Upcoming Events * * * * *
November 14th Sunday I will be preaching at New Hurland Baptist Church in Hiltons, Virginia for Pastor Fred Robinette (11 AM service) Phone 423-288-2767 or 423-578-4036 for directions.
November 21st, Sunday before Thanksgiving I will be preaching at Peuther Chapel in Clintwood, Virginia for Pastor Joe Glenn Sluss. (11 AM and 5 PM) Phone 276-220-2870 for directions.
            November 28th, Sunday after Thanksgiving I will be giving my testimony at Darthula Baptist Church in Hiltons, Virginia for Pastor Layton Bentley. (11 AM service) Phone 423-361-1008 for directions.
* * * * * Where Can You Help? * * * * *
Look or listen for announcements of our distributions in your paper or on radio or television to see where God is taking us for His work. Then call me at 276-690-2130 to volunteer or donate.
I look forward to hearing from you!

Marathon Ministry Newsletter            Volume 25 (25th year) Issue # 1 (1st Letter)    November 2010 (Page two)

* * * * * Honor Gifts * * * * *
In Honor of:   Our military service men, women and veterans
Donor: Rev. Philip K. Cooper

* * * * * Blessings in the Mail * * * * *
            “Rev. Cooper, Thank you for your visits to my father. He was blessed to have good neighbors that visited often. He always enjoyed visitors. My mother-in-law met you when you spoke at Holy Week services in 2009 & 2010. She still has the book you gave to her. Hi to Ruth. JD & the C family.”
            “Dear Philip and Ruth, We are so grateful for your generous gift to the ministry. We have already started putting it to work in Guatemala and will let you know by reports and pictures. Blessings, R & B.”
            “Dear Rev. Cooper, Thank you so much for the donation to HHH. It was so much needed and very appreciated! May God bless you in your service. Please keep us in your prayers! LA”
            Ed. Note: I pray for our readers to know how much we partner with other ministries to get God’s work done. We can do more for and with Him with more hands in other places this way.

* * * * * 2011 Golf Tournament Date Set * * * * *
I know it’s early but set your calendar for June 10th 2011 for our 4th Annual Golf Tournament here at the Scott County Park in Gate City.
            Each year we have raised about $ 5,000. – enough to deliver 1,000 new blankets to needy families in Appalachia in the fall & winter.

* * * * * Speaking of Golf * * * * *
Call me toll free at 866-206-8247 to order our exclusive specially crafted “Praise the Lord Putter” for yourself or as a gift, there are only a limited number available. We give one for a special $100 donation. On the grip “Jesus is Lord”, on the edge of club “Jesus” and engraved on bottom of the club face “Praise the Lord”.

* * * * * A Personal Note * * * * *
If I had one wish before I die it would be to once again travel to the many areas of the United States, Canada and other countries where God has allowed me to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of untold thousands.
Because it is in all those places that Jesus has given to me family that He promised when I invited Him into my heart to be Lord and Savior in 1982.
He said to me these words: “I will give you (me) a family larger than you (me) could count, that would love you (me) more than any natural earthly family ever could.
And I tell you that God in Christ never lies, never fails to fulfill a promise, and will never let me or you down.
And especially for those of you here in all parts of the U.S. who have befriended me and loved me and given into this ministry, I pray I may see you again soon, if not here, then in heaven where we will have eternity to talk of that which we have seen God do.
No, to the best of my knowledge, I am not dying now, but this thought came to my heart and I wanted to share it with you as I weep for the joys that I have had, and how I miss them and you all. May God bless you as we confirm our thanksgiving to him this month and ever.

Marathon Ministry Newsletter – November 2010
“THE SPIRITUAL PAGE”

“What’s Your Altar?”

Shall we ask this question of ourselves? “What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?” (Joshua 22:16)
          Need I recite here the multitude of altars that we build for ourselves that are not God’s? No! Let us each search our own hearts and look in our own mirrors to see where we have strayed from God’s altar. Nor do I need to list every possible worldly altar that would make us stray from that altar of love and forgiveness, which is God’s alone. His altar is a Cross. The one on which His only begotten Son died for you and for me.
          I must confess that when I started to write this message I thought of the founding fathers of our country who might be “turning over in their graves” over what we call America now.
          And I confess also that I fail too often to go to that Cross where He forgave my sins and presented me an opportunity to live a different kind of life from that which I lived before.
          How did God do that? He did it by the giving of Jesus Christ on that crucifixion cross at Calvary.
          We have forgotten the admonishments of Jesus to the woman caught in adultery (John 8:11) and to the crippled man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:14): “Go, and sin no more.”
So what’s your altar?
          We have come to think that we can get away with whatever, whenever, and with whomever. And too often, for a time, we may.
          We may even avoid getting caught and standing in judgment while living on this planet. But there is One, who knows it all, knowing your heart, your mind, your thoughts, your actions and your inactions.
          The Bible tells us we will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (II Corinthians 5:10) That judgment is for the believer.
          Yet there is another judgment. “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.” (Revelation 20:11) This judgment is for the non-believer. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (verse 15)
          Yet with all this, God still leaves us with a promise of His goodness: “For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive (their sins and those who lead them into sin), so that they shall come again into this land (eternal life in heaven): for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him. (II Chronicles 30:9)
          I believe we are in the final days before the Lord Jesus Christ returns in what is known as the “second coming”. I also believe He has delayed His return, to give to those unbelievers who would call on His name an opportunity for His salvation. But be assured He will not wait forever.
          If not saved, repent of your sin and ask Christ into your life NOW before it’s too late!
If a strayed believer, return to your Savior NOW before it’s too late!

* * * * * Marathon Ministry Prayer List                July to October 2010 * * * * *

Family of Gloria Jean “Jeanie” Altizer * Family of Ryan Finch * Family of Elmer Prado – Guatemala * Family of Victor H. Ratcliffe * Family of Roger – Guatemala * Family of Benny Vermillion * Family of Louise Vicars

Donald Aheron’s son * Chris, Nikki & Elijah Anderson * Brett Blatchley * Amanda Burton * Debbie Bise * Camp Jacob * Connie Castle * Zachary Clark * Judy & Jimmy Coley * Reba Collins, daughter Lori * Steve & Sandy Collins * Mason Culbertson * Lee Davis * Lester DeVincent * Maxie & Danny Dixon * Bill Draper * Barbara Elkins * Cindy, David & Jared Elzea * Larry Estep * Bea Glover * Jason & Karen Gullett * Sandra Hall * Hearts For Heaven – Guatemala * Bill & Frances Henard * Joyce Hickman * Larry, Patty & Bryan Hileman * Brad Hughes * Melissa Isaacs * P.J. Johnson & family * Jenny & Jeff Jones * Richard Jones * Susan Kilgore * Charlie & Shirley Linkous * Marley Linkous * Little Italy Restaurant * Kim Lucas * Nancy Luccini * Sean, Sarah Mullins * Jeff, Loretta & Jeffrey Oaks, Jr. * Priscilla Pendleton * Belinda McConnell Poland * Michael & Christie Porter * Sharon & Roland Ramirez * Lisa Rosenthal * Angel Ryan * Darrell Ryan * Scott County * Ed Sieber’s parents * C. Don & Dremia Smith * J. C. & Shirley Stapleton * John & Miranda Thomas & 6 children * Donald Townes * Clayton & Hazel Wallace * Jimmy Webb * Jim Weesner * Hannah Wells * Audrey & John Zanellis * Ted, Jackie, Chris Zanellis

Sarah Adams * Arrington, Schelin & Herrell * Annie & Steve Ball * Blevins Tire * Zenaida Bongato * Bookkeeping Services Coeburn * Roger & Beth Briggs * Dale & Nancy Carter * Steven, Christie, Samuel & Luke Childress * Audrey Chisholm * Beth Cooper * Scott, Jan, Ben, Natalia, & Martha Cooper * Nancy & Kenneth Couch * Steve Crumley * Eva DeHart * “Eddie” & Cynthia DeVincent * Lewis Epstein * Cherie Fields * Philip & Shelia Fleming * Ron & Terri Golding * Mark & Lynn Grimes * Larry & Betty Haas * Tommy Hartsock * Sami & Mari Havrisciuc & children – Romania * Jack & Carol Healey * Bill & Frances Henard * Jeweldine & Herman Hodges * J & C Industries * Jackie & Jane Jimeson * John & Lois Jimeson * Pastor Greg & Karin Kain * Rev. Joe & Carolyn Kost * Pamela & Scott Kroh * Alvin & Josephine Kutka * Rev. Henry Langford * Dennis & Sandra Leonard * Ernest & Bonnie Lowe * Aurius J. “Pat” & Bertha Mahue * Pastor Bruce & Joyce Martin* Cornel & Elena Marza – Romania * Chris & John Mosgrove * Bob & Shirley Mumpower * Carlin & Frances Nash * Philo Circle Ladies * Doug, Jackie, Jennifer & Jessica Pounds * Joan Preisendanz * Daniel & Constanza Purdel & children - Romania * Al & Agnes Sanchirico * George Sargent * Garrett & Elaine Sheldon * Steve & Pat Simpson – PUMA * Rev. Joe & Rhonda Sluss * The Smith Family Trust - Wayne Smith * Terry, Farnham & Evelyn Stone * Dan & Ecaterina Susman * J.B. & Bea Swiger * Goldie & Deborah Townes * Tri-State Signs * Mary & Sandy Wyatt * Yellow Springs Church * John C. & Audrey Zanellis * John M. & Denise Zanellis * Chris, Charlene, Rachel, Trevor, Matthew & Jennie Zanellis, Ted & Barbara Zanellis & children
 
For the Peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6)
Israel not to give up God’s land
Pray for one another and for our children
For God to intervene with our President our Nation and Government Leaders * For victims of terrorists, natural disasters, violence & their families to know Yeshua HaMashiach * For our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world, for God’s safety & salvation for lost * For the businesses that display our donation boxes and their customers that put in the money * That God would send in the items and funds we need to give disaster relief to the hurting * For our distributions to the poor in the Appalachia region and the world * For the Virginia National Guard members based in Gate City
As always, we ask that you keep us and Marathon Ministry in your prayers