Bench Press Chest Injury and Sore Back

All That & Kayla

This week my family and I went to Myrtle Beach, SC for vacation. My oldest daughter (Kimberly) and her husband (Grant) and their 7-month-old son (Gunnar) went with us. Also, Gunnar's other grandfather (Gary), Grant's dad. We had a blast. My youngest (Kayla) was supposed to stay an extra week and work with Carolina Opry's own All That clogging sensation group, along with several other guest cloggers, to reproduce another show. Unfortunately, that got postponed until later on in the year, but really this ended up being a greater blessing to Kayla. All That clogging team (consists of 4 guys) are well-known in the competition clogging world. They are regulars at the Carolina Opry and have been for years. They, instead, invited Kayla to join them for 2 shows this week. They are all about 30 years old and Kayla is 19. She was the star of the team being the only female among the 5 cloggers. Very cool.

Kayla's Solo with All That

I learned as the week went on that Grant was having a terrible time sleeping because a few days before vacation he had dropped a barbell on his chest while doing some bench press exercises. The spotter didn't catch it in time and the bar hit him squarely across the ribs, right about solar plexus level. Grant couldn't get comfortable because any way he lay it would put pressure on his ribs and he couldn't breathe without sharp pain.

Grant, Kimberly & Gunnar

So, he was telling me one day while we were down at the beach he had only slept about 30 minutes the night before. With the waves washing over our feet, I said, "Grant, you know Father wants you to sleep and not be in pain. Can I lay hands on you?" He agreed. Grant's dad, Gary, was standing there too. They are both believers in God's goodness and I have laid hands on both of them before. Once for Gary's back, which he got major pain relief from, and once for Grant having a fever of 103, which Grant was healed in about 30 seconds from that. His temperature dropped to 99 degrees in a matter of seconds and he broke out in the sweat. (Awesome Jesus). So, both Gary & I laid our hands on Grant right there on the beach. Jesus must've been standing in the water too because instantly Grant got pain relief (he said about 90%).

Gary then asked me to go ahead and lay hands on his sore back too. He'd had a very successful back surgery several weeks ago but still had some soreness. Me & Grant commanded soreness to leave... it did. Jesus is so reliable!

I don't know what passerby's were thinking about 3 men laying hands on one another in the surf, but, who cares? It worked, and Jesus was honored and happy, I'm sure, to join us in the surf... LOL!

As the day wore on, the little pain that was left for Grant kept diminishing. The next morning he got up and as we were getting some breakfast in the kitchen he said, "Greg, watch this." And took the heel of his palm and smacked his ribcage about 5 times right where the severe pain used to be! Before, he couldn't even touch it without pain, now he's pounding away at it with his fist! Amazing!

Jesus is the same, yesterday, today & forever. His attitude toward sickness has never changed. Wherever there was a crowd of people and Jesus was present, He always healed the sick. It is a very ordinary expression (and proof) of His presence. It should be the same today. Don't sit on your blessed assurance in the pew and do nothing. Don't sit there and waste your life trying to get all your doctrine right. Get up, walk out, and allow Jesus to express His most common attribute through you... healing the sick. If you will believe and understand He is reliable, you will have great results and the greatest fun you've ever had in your life! Every day will become an adventure. I promise. I've never had so much fun!

The Lame Walk & Godly Persistence

Brother Albert

A dear brother (Albert) in the Lord posted this on his website the other day. Very encouraging. Please notice the persistence that is sometimes necessary when getting the sick healed and notice the open honesty at which Albert reports what happens; even his failures. Here is his post:

"Grace [Albert's wife] and I were called to heal a woman who was paralyzed waist down. For four months, her husband carried her from the bed to a chair before he went to work. During the day, the woman's mother took care of her. When the husband returned in the evening, he carried her back to the bed.

"The interesting thing was that the husband was a Chinese medical doctor who tried to heal his wife with acupuncture. However, after many sessions of treatment, nothing happened. Apparently all her nerves in the lower part of her body were not connected to the brain. 

"When we arrived, we found her sitting on the chair. After explaining about the love and miracles of Jesus, we commanded her to rise up in the name of Jesus. My wife and a few sisters from our church were standing by her left and right sides so as to catch her if she were to fall. She was a heavy-set woman and that explained why her husband was the only one strong enough to carry her. 

"On the first command, I pulled her up and she stood for two seconds and then screamed that she could not stand any longer. She collapsed back to her chair and was shaking with fear. 

"The second command in the name of Jesus got this lady to stand a little longer. To cut the story short, on the fifth command, she got up and walked around the living room by herself. Absolutely, without anyone holding on to her - she had recovered completely.

"What happened? The truth is that when I commanded and all my assistants followed every word in command, the faith was not dependent upon the woman's own. The faith had to be ours! This meant that during the healing ministry, my assistants and I had to believe completely that the power of Jesus was there to heal. We had to have no doubt that the woman could be healed. Thank God, she was healed and walked in the name of Jesus.

"Did we have any failures? Yes, there were some who were not completely healed in spite of our faith and belief. We do not understand why but we just continue to utilize our authority and power to command the diseases and pain to leave in the name of Jesus. 

"One man who had a frozen shoulder was healed only after three days of intensive commanding. His wife who had the same condition was healed on the very first command on the first day. An elderly lady was healed of deafness immediately on the first day but an elderly deaf man was healed only on the third day. A lady pastor had 9 arthritic fingers healed on the first day and the final finger was healed only the next day. 

"We never fully understand why such discrepancies in time of healing but we know only of one thing, we have to keep commanding by faith.

"Hope this little write-up will help you in exercising your faith to heal others in the name of Jesus."

Amen, brother Albert. Thanks so much for your encouragement!

Jesus at the Rasnake Reunion

Aunt Martha & Uncle Neil's View

Yesterday (Saturday, 18-Jun-2011), my family and I went to the Rasnake Reunion at my aunt and uncle's house (Martha & Neil). They live on a beautiful farm spot on top of a hill in Lebanon, VA. They have a huge pool! Breathtaking views and awesome food and a great time of just getting together with family and talking. I found both volumes of "Some Descendants of John Counts of Glade Hollow" books and we looked up family names to see how we were all kin. Discovered a few mistakes in the genealogies which we corrected. My older sister (TammyC), one of my first cousins (Brett) and my middle daughter (Karahann) got out the instruments (banjo & guitars) and we all played and sang some old familiar songs as well as some of Karahann's new ones. There was a thunderstorm afterward that made us all gather in the house and on the back patio. But it quickly passed and the kids could all swim in the pool again.

Just as we were leaving, my mom (Janice) came and got me and said that Aunt Judy (mom's sister) needed me to lay hands on her because she was in pain. My mom is the oldest of 12 (5 sisters and 6 brothers), so I have tons of first and second cousins. I discovered Judy had had a tooth pulled and she had a severe case of "dry socket" (her words), and the pain was about an 8 out of 10! I asked her if I could lay hands on her. I also got my older sister (TammyC) because she believes in healing like I do.

My Big Sis (TammyC), Aunt Judy, Me & Jesus

We laid hands on my Aunt Judy's jaw and commanded pain to leave her body and for the dry socket to be healed. Immediately the pain began to go down. She indicated it immediately jumped down to about a 5 and then 4, 3 and then completely gone. She opened her eyes and said, "It is totally gone." I said, "100%?" She said, "Absolutely gone. No pain at all." She hugged our necks.

This took about 10 minutes.

Was it real? Was it psychosomatic? Well, it was real, that's for sure. The pain was really gone. Was it psychosomatic? I don't know. Was it placebo? I don't know. But you know, it was relief for Judy, and Jesus Christ was glorified.

Jesus, though not a Rasnake, showed up because He was invited. He is not ashamed of calling us His brothers and sisters. Hard to believe, I know, but so be it! :)

Lungs Healed & Strength to Quit Smoking

Last week on my visit to NHC nursing home to visit my father-in-law (Bobby) I was talking to one of the fellows that works for NHC maintenance (Ronnie) and he told me about trying to quit smoking. He wasn't having much luck but he figured he'd better because lately he's been finding it hard to breathe. I asked him, "Are you having trouble breathing right now?" He said he was. I said, "Well, Ronnie, I don't know what you believe, but do you mind if I just lay my hands on you and pray for you?" He said he believed God would help him and agreed it would be great. So I pulled him over out of the way of the hall, put my hand on his shoulder and said, "In the Name of Jesus I command Ronnie's breathing to be healed right now." Then I immediately told him to take a deep breath. He did and his eyes got big and he smiled and said, "Wow. I'm not kidding. I can breath easy again!" That fast! I kept my hand on his shoulder and then said, "Father, give Ronnie strength to quit smoking and power to overcome the desire." Then I told Ronnie that I believed he would continue to get stronger and stronger as the Lord worked in his body and mind. He thanked me and agreed.

Two days ago, I was there visiting Bobby again, and Ronnie came up to me in the hall, grabbed my arm and said, "I just wanted you to know that ever since we prayed that day I've been able to breath normally. Also, this is the 5th day since I've had a cigarette. It was hard at first but I decided to use the patch. So, I've got a patch on, and I have no desire to smoke. I've emptied all my ashtrays and cleaned out my car. It smells a lot better!" LOL... bless his heart, Lord!

Jesus will heal you even if you are the very cause of your physical problem. He will also help you to keep from causing it again in the future. His mercy and grace are for all forms of deliverance... including a life-long habit of smoking. And Jesus and "the patch" are on the same team, BTW. Amen!

Crossing Over

Wayne's Family

On Friday (13-May-2011) I had the privilege of visiting an elderly woman (Betty) who was about to cross over into the great peaceful unknown. A friend from high school (Wayne) has a daughter (Bethany) who contacted my wife (TammyM) and asked that I come and pray for her grandmother (Wayne's mother-in-law) as she was "going downhill" and wasn't expected to live much longer. I arrived at the NHC nursing home after work in the evening. When I approached the room, the door was ajar and I could hear the family talking softly. I opened the door and met Wayne's wife (Glenda) and their two daughters (Bethany & Lorrie); Wayne was on his way. They all thanked me for coming, although I wasn't really sure why, because I didn't know what they wanted me for. I sat with them a while and asked about Glenda's mother (Betty) who was lying in the bed semi-conscious with Bethany & Lorrie sitting beside her. Bethany was holding her hand. Betty had lived at NHC for a few years due to her deteriorating mental state. Wayne arrived. I asked them all what they wanted for Betty and they all agreed they wanted her to peacefully pass over to her real home, heaven. I did not feel up to what was happening, but I knew Jesus is always ready. I told them about my cousin, Rosemary, who, several years ago was in a terminal illness state. 

Rosemary's Story

Rosemary had had a life full of pain and sorrow and was then dying of lung cancer. Before she got really bad off she had called my mom (Janice) and asked to see me. I went to her home and she was already in the state of not being able so speak. I took her hand and asked her what she needed. She couldn't answer but just looked at me and squeezed my hand. I got the feeling it was about her eternal salvation, so I asked, "Rosemary, do you want to be assured of your salvation?" She immediately smiled, shook her head "yes" and squeezed harder. I led her in a prayer to Jesus. She cried and hugged my neck. A few days later she was in the hospital not expected to live much longer. She had suffered terribly. She had been unconscious for several days when I got to her in the hospital. There were a dozen or so family members around her bed. I asked the Lord to let me have some time alone with Rosemary and suddenly, even before I got to say "Amen" to the prayer, every single person in her room left! I was in shock. The Living God had heard me and inspired them all to leave immediately. I imagined an angel whispering in their ears that they needed to get some food in the cafeteria. I was greatly humbled. I walked over to Rosemary and bent down to her face and asked, "Rosemary, do you want to be healed? Or do you want to go home?" Suddenly her eyes opened and she looked at me and smiled. At that very moment a verse rose in my heart very loudly, "Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints" (Psalm 116:15) and I knew it was the Lord speaking and that Rosemary wanted to go home. She closed her eyes. I read healing scriptures to her and prayed, "Father, let Rosemary's homegoing be glorious and without pain." As I prayed this, her family had started coming back into the room. Two days later, after resting peacefully since the prayer, Rosemary sat up in bed, smiled, looked around the room at her suddenly hushed family, spoke Jesus' name and went home without any suffering. Glorious indeed!

Betty's Story

This story greatly moved Glenda and the family I was now with. I told them of the Lord's great love for Betty (I was feeling it very strongly at the moment) and that it would be the same with Betty. She would go very peacefully and be received into Jesus' arms. I had them all gather around, Glenda, Wayne, their two daughters, Bethany and Lorrie. We all held hands with Betty completing the circle. We worshiped Father & Jesus and thanked the Spirit for His presence. Then I just prayed a similar prayer, "Lord, let Betty's homecoming be glorious and without pain and suffering." A very strong presence of the Lord made itself known in the room. Tears flowed. We all felt His love filling us. It was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. Very humbling and sweet. Two days later, Betty simply fell asleep and crossed over peacefully with her family at her side holding her hands.

The day of her funeral I had been working out in the yard and was very dirty and sweaty, but my wife really wanted to go by and pay her respects. We drove by, but I was so dirty I didn't want to go in. My wife went in and visited and then came out crying. She said that Glenda said for me to get in there they needed to see me and didn't care I was a mess. So I did. Glenda and Wayne hugged me and thanked me for visiting when I did and told me about the way Betty passed away. It meant a lot to them and me. Again, I did not feel up to their gratitude nor the task to begin with. Humbled is all I can say, greatly humbled.

Such beauty, such passion, such gratitude, such graciousness, such kindness... such is our Lord Jesus.

30-Apr-2011 (Sat) - Wrist Cyst Healed

My Mom

Saturday, 30-Apr-2011, after working in the yard all day, I had settled down on the couch in anticipation of the upcoming NHL playoff hockey game between the Nashville Predators and the Vancouver Canucks. My wife and daughters were in town and I was by myself. My cell phone rang and my mom (Janice; see pic right) was on the other end. She said she had a cyst come up on her right wrist a few days ago and it had gotten worse. It was now at the point that it was throbbing painful and she could not bend it without sharp pain. She asked if her and Amelia (my niece) could come over and if I could lay hands on it. Of course! We should be instant in season and out (2Timothy 4:2).

She just lives about 7 miles up the road, so she was here in a flash. She came in and sat down on the couch with me and demonstrated her pain. I could see the swollen portion. OK, let's do this. I commanded healing and told the cyst to leave and that Jesus had bore all her pain. Nothing. Commanded again. Nothing. Did this about half-a-dozen times... still nothing. But rather than get discouraged, as I could see my mom's face getting that way, it occurred to me something I've been meditating on lately. If you ever read the Bible much, one thing that strikes you as a huge difference between the Old and New Testaments is the epic feel you get about God the Father in the Old Testament. I mean, it is like God is B-I-G in the Old Testament; what with epic battles and the rise and fall of nations. I noticed David did not ever settle for a partial victory. After soundly defeating his enemies, he would even chase them. And when they regrouped, he would pursue, besiege, and run them completely out of the country or annihilate them. Of course, these things are types and shadows of our battles in the Kingdom of God. What God had given David was land, and he didn't rest until all enemies were banished from what God had given him. Likewise, my heart was encouraged by these thoughts. I thought, what God has given my mom (healing), I would not rest until the cyst was banished. I thought the God of the Old Testament, the BIG One, was the One Jesus worshiped; the One that worked so effectively through Him.

With this, I talked to the cyst and told it these things. I told the cyst I was here to stay and I was not going to stop until it moved. This time I put my hand on mom's shoulder because I didn't want the heat from my hands to heat up her wrist and give a possibly false indication of progress. I was so encouraged by David's example, that I felt my confidence soar. I commanded the cyst to be removed and for some reason I said, "I command veins to be healed right now!" Then I told my mom she was probably feeling something now. She was. She felt heat and cold surge and then a tingling started in her wrist and ran up her arm for about 3 or 4 minutes all while my hand was merely on her shoulder.

When she tested it, pain was reduced, she said, by 99%! Praise Him! She could no longer make it get the sharp pain she had before and there was now no longer any throbbing. Amen! She said, "I know we were connected to God. I know that what He started right here He will finish." Amen again!

I didn't get to talk to her until this morning (03-May-2011, Tuesday). She called me at work very excited and praising the Lord. She said she woke up this morning and her wrist was 100% healed; no pain, no swelling, nothing!

Thank You, Jesus, that you have provided for us and you are always willing for us to have the things you provided for us. Thank You, Jesus, that we have a divinely-given right to physical healing just like David had a divinely-given right to the Promised Land!

Infections, Wheezing & Pains From Surgery

Our Friend Becky

Saturday (23-Apr-2011) I learned that one of my wife's (TammyM) friends (Becky; see pic left) had to have emergency surgery due to a severely infected appendix. She started having pain and getting sick at her stomach and her family took her to the emergency room where they immediately admitted her and performed an emergency appendectomy. She was in recovery Saturday, but her white-blood-cell count was up and she was still in some pain. Me, my wife and one of my daughters (Kayla) went to visit her in her room. My wife fixed her hair and put some makeup on her while we all small-talked. Becky is a strong believer and has seen the Lord work in her life to perform miracles for many people. She asked for prayer and agreement that her infection would die and she would be free from pain. So we all laid hands on her and commanded pain to leave and infection to die. She felt some soreness leave immediately. The next day, after some tests, she was released to go home feeling much better. Amen!

Jennifer & Her Family

Later that evening I also learned that my sister's (Jennifer) husband's (Jimmy) dad (Big Jim) had just had surgery for a bad rotator cuff. (See pic right of Little Jimmy and his family) He had been in severe pain for several days. His surgery went well, but he was in a lot of pain. Also, while there, he picked up pneumonia and was wheezing pretty bad. He went back to the doctor who prescribed something for the pneumonia. Big Jim was raised in church and is a very sweet man. He was my late dad's very good friend and was present when my dad went home to Jesus. But, being raised in a Baptist church, he's been extremely schooled in many beliefs against healing. Me and Jimmy went to see him at home and before laying hands on him I discussed Jesus with him for a while. I gave him a testimony about healing and he said, "Well, maybe we need to go where that guy was because I don't think the Lord heals that fast around here." Of course, he said that partially jesting with a smile on his face. I asked him if he thought Jesus is the only One that truly represented Father God perfectly. He answered, "Yes, of course." I told him Jesus is the one that said we could do His works, and He never healed slowly. He had to agree. So, I laid hands on his shoulder and after feeling heat in the 3 holes he had in his shoulder from surgery, he said the pain went from about 8 to about 4 or 5. Amen! Then I commanded his lungs to clear and immediately told him to take a deep breath. He did and his eyes widened. He said, "Now the Lord is definitely doing something in my lungs. I'm not wheezing like I was." He took several deep breaths easily and couldn't make himself wheeze anymore.

Thank You, Father God, for your steadfast kindness toward us. I love You.