Articles from the Hour of Power's monthly publication called, Powerlines. To see the PDF version or to view older issues you can visit the Powerlines archive.
"What I would challenge people to embrace, today, is to fall in love with our Liberator. His name is Jesus. And if you fall in love with him, he will take you places you, never dreamed of. God's plan for our lives is much bigger than anything we can ever dream. You're talking about Possibility Thinking. Most of what has happened to me, I could have never even dreamed of. That's the big God I love and serve."
62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate
Author, From the Hood to the Hill
By Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman
In the Broadway musical, 1776, John Adams sings the lyrics, "Is anybody there? Does anybody care? Give up the fight, John! They want me to quit!"
What if John had given up the fight? What if he had quit? America exists today because a handful of brave men (and women) refused to quit, refused to give up the fight. Even though there appeared to be no hope, even though by all accounts they should never have won, they believed in the impossible and the rest is history!
My husband, Jim, my sons, and I watch the movie version of the Broadway musical, 1776, every year on the fourth of July as a family tradition. It is a delightful reminder of the faith and courage of America's founding fathers and the freedoms that we enjoy as a result.
Today, there are so many of you who are facing the impossible. Some of you have prayed and prayed and are not seeing the answers that you had hoped for. I wonder, have any of you called out in the dark silent night, "Is anybody there? Does anybody care?"
Well, this ministry is here to remind you week after week that we are here! We care! That's because Jesus cares about you! He came to earth to die to show you just how much he cares for you. And he has commissioned us to
show you that he is there for you and he will never leave you or forsake you!
So, we will not give up the fight! We will not quit! We will keep on striving until we climb over, find a pass through, or simply stay and turn this mountain into a miracle with God's help-so we can be there for you and for the many others who write and call us every week, saying:
"Sheila, I gave my life to Jesus. Thank you for saving my life."
"Sheila, I am on death row. You are my spiritual lifeline. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Sheila, I have never been to church in my life. I saw you throwing sandbags off the pulpit. I have never watched you until I was surfing the channels and saw you. I lost my twin babies this past week. Please pray for me."
Thousands and thousands of these letters, phone calls, and emails-telling of lives being saved-arrive every week. Many of them are from struggling young people who cannot afford to give.
YOU are the stars of this ministry, keeping it sparkling bright to shine God's light on viewers near and far. YOU are the stripes of this ministry, helping to move it straight forward in its God-ordained mission to save lives through a message of hope. And, in the process, YOU are saving lives!
Any gift you give this year means that hope and love and life can be born in the hearts of millions of people who cry out, "Is anybody there? Does anybody care?" Because of you, they are hearing the message, "Yes! God is there! Yes! God cares! God loves you and so do we!" Thank you for being there for us so we can let the world know that God is there for them!
On Sunday, July 4, 2010, America celebrates her 234th birthday. On this day, beneath the 120-foot glass ceiling of the Crystal Cathedral (and seen on the televised Hour of Power), you'll witness the raising of the giant nine-story high American flag—the world's largest indoor flying flag. The presence of this huge flag awes persons into tearful and pride-filled silence. Why does this flag flown on this holiday inside this church affect our emotions in this powerful way?
It's because God Almighty, through his Son, Jesus Christ, has proclaimed unlimited freedom, liberty, and grace for all. Forever. His love is boundless, for...
"Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17).
The Bible is filled with stories of human beings struggling to grasp and apply the immeasurable value of God's greatest gift—freedom. Freedom from slavery (Romans 8:15). Freedom from selfishness (Galatians 5:13). Freedom to choose leaders (1 Samuel). The Independence Day event we commemorate on July 4 is a celebration of freedom—the freedom that inspired one of the most recent, greatest, and most successful endeavors to build a nation governed by values based on God's biblical truths.
America's Declaration of Independence remains an unparalleled example of Possibility Thinking...a goal on the horizon...clearly in view...sometimes within reach, sometimes not. Whereas the Declaration of Independence announced the intention, the United States Constitution became the framework for achieving the dream. And symbolizing all the possibility-filled ideals found in these two documents is the American Flag.
In 1973, Dr. Robert H. Schuller had an inspiration. He asked himself, "If the American Flag could talk, with the wisdom of nearly two hundred years of history behind her, what would be her words for us today?" With this unique idea as his inspiration, he wrote and delivered a message from the pulpit of what was then the Garden Grove Community Church, and it was seen and heard over his new weekly televised program, Hour of Power. He titled his new message:
"I AM THE AMERICAN FLAG."
The message was received with overwhelming ovation. It immediately earned the esteemed Principal Award from the Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge for "the most outstanding sermon in the United States." This bronze medallion is still one of Dr. Schuller's most cherished awards. Since 1973, "I Am the American Flag" has been delivered several times on Hour of Power...and printed and distributed to hundreds of thousands of persons both in America and beyond her shores. The ideals of America still inspire hope in the oppressed wherever they may live.
The 40-year Hour of Power will NOT survive the summer of 2010 without thousands of supportive Summer Partners…partners who each pledge to give $30 a month for the four months of summer—$30 for June, $30 for July, $30 for August, $30 for September—or a one-time summer gift of $120. And, to thank you for your Summer Partner support, the ministry will send to you these exciting items:
The beautiful, "coffee table" sized book, A Place of Beauty - A Joy Forever, 230 pages featuring interesting, inspiring and historical information about the founding and evolution of the Crystal Cathedral and Hour of Power... articles on architecture, gardens, sculpture, artwork, and much more.** The book, CD & DVD are all in current ministry inventory. So, no additional cost will be incurred to produce these inspiring items for you. All of your Summer Partner giving will go right into paying television airtime bills.
By Don Neuen, Director of the Crystal Cathedral Choir
Most every year, the Crystal Cathedral presents George Frideric Handel's beloved Messiah with choir and orchestra. The house is always full for these performances. Why?
Beyond the fact that it is an extraordinary work, its musical moods and sacred message-with every lyric taken directly from scripture-are able to touch the soul deeply and set our spirits soaring like nothing else. We are particularly blessed as we lift ourselves out of everyday life to praise God and thank him for the gift of his Son, our Messiah.
Within the piece, the "Hallelujah Chorus" is especially powerful and popular with listeners as it lifts Christ up as the King of kings and Lord of lords. As Handel was writing this portion of the work, the composer's assistant walked in to find the master musician in tears and holding up the score to this movement, saying, "I thought I saw the face of God."
This is how many feel when listening or singing along with the "Hallelujah Chorus"- a blessed opportunity to praise God mightily and be thankful, even during the tough times.
By Dr. Robert H. Schuller
The year 2010 celebrates the 60th Anniversary of Dr. Robert H. Schuller's ordination, the 60th anniversary of his marriage to his beloved Arvella, and the 40th Anniversary of the Hour of Power! In joy and thankfulness, we shout "Hallelujah!" It's very rare that a pastor continues his work into a sixth decade, so at this historic time in Dr. Schuller's life and ministry, PowerLines asked him: "Dr. Schuller, when you look back at 60 years as a pastor, a preacher and a minister, what do you see as your greatest achievement?" He answered: I don't remember exactly when it happened, but, after we went on TV in 1970, very early in our television history, we started receiving letters that said: "You saved my life."
Now, over the last 40 years, I've read it repeatedly- thousands of times. It's really quite a remarkable thing. I wondered how it was possible that so many people would tell us: "You saved my life."
I must say, when I graduated from seminary in 1950, if somebody would have told me then that my life of ministry would actually help save a single life, or even two lives, I think I would have been profoundly shocked to consider that God would use me to make that kind of impact on human lives. Now, 60 years later, after reading or hearing that sentence countless times from countless people, it is still truly amazing. It has to be a "God thing."
I say this because we've always preached the positive love of God. And it's God, alone, through Jesus Christ who has the power to save and redeem. I am humbled and exhilarated that God has used this ministry like an electrical power cord to transmit the positively charged and encouraging gospel of Jesus Christ. I have so often said, "All I did was show up for work every day." And, I truly believe it. Arvella and I came to work every day with a sincere desire in our hearts to share our faith in our living Lord with everyone we met.
"You saved my life"- this is the great legacy of our work for Jesus Christ from the Crystal Cathedral to the people of America and the world.
By Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman
How do we praise God when everything is going wrong? When we get bad news? We praise God because God is God and God is good and God will have the last word and it will be good! When trouble hits, when suffering strikes, say, "Ha! Take that! Hallelujah anyway!"
The last few months, as our finances here at Crystal Cathedral Ministries have continued to suffer, I walk the grounds and see weeds growing where flowers had once bloomed. With tears in my eyes, I force myself to say aloud and mean it, "Hallelujah anyway! This is just a tough phase, but I believe in a tough God!"
When passing our statue of Job here on campus, seeing the fountain that surrounds it dry (the electric bill had to be cut wherever possible), I say aloud, …meaning it, with tears in my eyes, "Hallelujah anyway! Thank you, God, that even though you are trying us, we shall 'come forth as gold'" (Job 23:10).
And, indeed, I have seen that God allows our trials, our sufferings. He doesn't cause them, but he allows them—not to punish any of us, not because we have done something to deserve them, but that his glory will be revealed!
Yes, I have seen the glory of God revealed like never before in this ministry because of what we are going through. Probably the most beautiful phase of our ministry has been in April when thousands of ministry friends like YOU, in response to the financial downturn we have experienced, responded with an outpouring of love through the “icount” campaign, sending in $10 or more each through text, mail, 800 line, or online. (Note: At print date, over $300,000 dollars was raised through your "icount" donations.)
So, whenever you get afraid, join me in saying, "Ha! Hallelujah anyway!"
Say it whenever you are grieving: "Ha! Hallelujah anyway!"
Say it when you are having trouble believing: "Ha! Hallelujah anyway!"
I believe God allows suffering so all of us will be unified and connected in a common cause—a cause that is bigger than we are, requiring all of our efforts—large and small—to save something as significant as Crystal Cathedral Ministries.
I also believe that God allowed us to go through this difficult financial season so all of you would see that we are no different —we, too, are in the trenches. Over the years, many have seen the ministry's beautiful buildings and garden grounds and assumed that there was not an ongoing need for support - but there is. The ministry, which continues to deliver a message of faith and hope, is suffering like many others in this tough economic climate. So, despite the hard times, we join you in saying, "Ha! Hallelujah anyway!"