Dr. Paul Spence, Chaplain Chaplain Spence Services

A Full-time Independent Chaplain

Serving Care Facilities In Southwestern Pennsylvania

For More Than 24 Years

This Week

OCTOBER 25th; LORD'S Day (Sunday); 2020.

THIS WEEK'S HYMN. “Near The Cross” by Miss Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915). Miss Crosby was blinded by an incompetent Doctor when she was six weeks of age. Nevertheless, she went on to write more than 8,000 Hymns and was one of the best known women in the United States in her time. She wrote this Hymn in 1869.

THIS WEEK'S THANKSGIVING. There were answers to Prayer last week. 1. A young Lady in a wheelchair was saved from rolling down a very dangerous hill. 2. Dr. Spence was invited to conduct a special Outdoor Church Service last week. The Meeting went well. 3. Besides the special Outdoor Church Service, all the other regular Care Facility Meetings went well last week. THE LORD was present blessing His Word. 4. Dr. Spence heard from a former Resident's Family last week. They sent a Card and a Letter. Included was a generous check. 5. A Resident's Daughter sent a Card, Letter, and Gift too. These kindnesses will certainly help out significantly in the Care Facility work. Thank you very much. I Chronicles 16.35 says: “That we may give thanks to Thy Holy Name.”

THIS WEEK'S PRAYERLIST. These Prayer Requests have been made by different Residents and Staff in the Care Facilities. 1. A Lady asks Prayer for her Son and Family. 2. Others are concerned for their Families and ask Prayer for them also. 3. Pray for those who lately received new Bibles. Psalm 119.18 says: “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy Law.” 4. Those who seem to be steadily declining in health. 5. A Gentleman who was having several difficult days last week. 6. Those who are often in pain. 7. A Lady passed away last week. Pray for her Family and Friends who remain. Genesis 14.19 says: “The Most High God, Possessor of Heaven and Earth.” *In the Thanksgiving and Prayerlist sections, the names of the people have been withheld to protect their privacy. Nevertheless, the Thanksgivings and Prayer Requests are real and actual. Respect for privacy is also the reason there are usually no photos of Residents on Dr. Spence's website.

THIS WEEK'S COLPORTAGE REPORT. 1. Last week, besides Dr. Spence's visits in his weekly Care Facilities, on one of his days off, he conducted a Colportage Day. On this day, 146 Printed Sermons and 71 Voter Guides were distributed in 1 Hospital and 11 Care Facilities located in New Stanton, Scottdale, Connellsville, New Salem, Normalville, North Huntingdon, Irwin, and Manor. Some Notes on the day— First: On the Interstate, there was a near wreck between a transfer-truck and a pickup-truck. Second: This was the first time the Sermons were distributed in Normalville. There is nothing “normal” about Normalville! Perhaps this place was named in the same way Iceland was? The place is simply beautiful. There was a different world of Care Facilities out that way. The Aides and the Residents were calm. There were no worries over the virus. All this was pleasant to see. 2. Besides these 146 Printed Sermons that were distributed on the Colportage Day, 50 more Sermons were distributed in various places. 3. Would you read a King James Version Bible, New Testament, or the Book of Psalms in Braille? These dear Books are gently used. They come in all sizes. Different Residents have given these Books to Dr. Spence during the past year. If you or someone you know would use one or two of these Books, please contact us. The Books and postage are free.

SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST. Please continue to pray for the Sick and Elderly who daily live under the heaviest part of the virus impositions. Many will live never to forget these days. Others were killed by them. Specially because of the isolation. In this instance, our federal and local governments have violated two essential Verses of Scripture. 1. The Golden Rule. Luke 6.31 says: “As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them.” I wonder, could those in leadership live month after month (as in the case of the Skilled Care Facilities) isolated the entire time in their bedrooms? Many of those in leadership have broken the very rules they are forcing others to keep under threat of punishment. The Care Facilities themselves (with all their knowledge and expertise) would have done a much better job in setting the standard as to who enter their doors. 2. The Fifth Commandment. Exodus 20.12 says: “Honour thy father and thy mother.” Is this the way to “honour” the Sick and the Elderly? Is this the way to treat the Sick and Elderly in their hardest years? Does not such isolation only double their troubles? Instead, should not Mercy have been showed them? In many ways, these people have more social graces than most of us. Why was it not more carefully considered what the painful sting of isolation would do to such dear people bearing such commendable qualities? One Owner was lately telling Mrs. Spence on the phone that isolation is the real killer. And how come Governor Wolf and his health secretary keep so many Care Facilities in the dark as to what the next step really is? THE LORD have Mercy! What a state of confusion things are in! I Corinthians 14.33 says: “God is not the author of confusion.” Please keep the Sick and the Elderly in Prayer. They need our Prayers at this time. Psalm 142.4 says: “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.”