Springs are Flowing Again
Another Day Along the Way
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Another day,
We often crave a return to good old days. More often and more real, are our longings for true, fresh, alive wells of living water. Though we think former forms are preferable, what works best is new life of ancient tradition.
Here is a news story from Sara Ray in "Columns," the Emmanuel College newspaper. Read the report and see what you crave to come alive in your true self. And pray, for the river to flow.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Springs are flowing again
Last October, one of the EC maintenance men made a surprising discovery at the Pavilion. A natural spring has begun flowing out of an old city well, much like mineral springs for which the City of Franklin Springs earned its name. The water from this spring has been steadily flowing for the past four months, and a second spring has been bubbling up as well.
"It really is kind of a miracle that the water started flowing again," observes Franklin Springs City Councilman Charles Powell.
"Getting the water flowing again will be a huge thing for our area. This is tremendous for city pride," he explains.
Although many students do not realize it, Franklin Springs used to be known for more than Emmanuel College. About 100 years ago, the land now owned by EC was once occupied by a resort. Locals and tourists came to the area for vacations and therapeutic visits to the mineral springs flowing out of the natural wells, which were shaded by a wooded pavilion. When the resort closed down shortly before World War I, the original hotel remained and became what is now the eastern portion of Jackson Hall.
According to research by Franklin Springs resident Beth Kidd, the natural springs continued to flow and be enjoyed by EC students and local residents until the 1950s. It was during that time the city diverted the water from springs, causing them to cease flowing, as they developed a new city-wide water system.
Although the springs have been dry since that time, the original pavilion remained as a monument to the glory days of the springs. During the 1990s, Franklin Springs Mayor Brian James, who was then EC Director of Alumni Affairs, headed an effort to rebuild the pavilion and restore the area. Part of the landscaping project included a fountain and stream flowing into a small pool reminiscent of the springs.
The water for the fountain was supplied by a new well. Now, however, Mayor James is excited that the fountain may soon be powered by a real spring.
"It's a monumental thing because this place was completely dry seven or eight years ago to the point that you couldn't find water down here anywhere. For it to becoming out of the ground now is amazing," Mayor James says.
EC plans to partner with the City in order to get the water flow under control before any serious damage is done to the pavilion area.
"It all started out really slow, but I would say that in the last two or three weeks the water has begun to flow at a much faster pace. At first it was not really a big deal to us, but all of a sudden it has become what you see now," Director of Campus Operations Ron McCullar says as he motions toward the soggy ground and rapidly growing mud hole around the pavilion.
"For the time being, students need to use some common sense and not come down here and wade around in it. We are working with the city to resolve the issue and take advantage of the water coming out of the old city wells by diverting it back into the stream that is part of the pavilion's original design. Hopefully, we can get that work started in the next several days as soon as we determine what needs to be done. It shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks to complete the repairs," McCullar adds.
For many involved with the community and the campus, the rejuvenation of the springs symbolizes a great deal about life.
"Many associated with the springs see a real connection between the physical water supplied for the weary traveler and the spiritual implications of a small spot in Georgia where students, community residents and visitors can sense the presence of a Savior who supplies a life with living water which will never run dry," Kidd writes.
No matter what you make of it, the Franklin Springs are flowing again, and it looks like they are here to stay.
http://www.emmanuelcollege.edu/Special/Columns/default.asp
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Another day,
We often crave a return to good old days. More often and more real, are our longings for true, fresh, alive wells of living water. Though we think former forms are preferable, what works best is new life of ancient tradition.
Here is a news story from Sara Ray in "Columns," the Emmanuel College newspaper. Read the report and see what you crave to come alive in your true self. And pray, for the river to flow.
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Springs are flowing again
Last October, one of the EC maintenance men made a surprising discovery at the Pavilion. A natural spring has begun flowing out of an old city well, much like mineral springs for which the City of Franklin Springs earned its name. The water from this spring has been steadily flowing for the past four months, and a second spring has been bubbling up as well.
"It really is kind of a miracle that the water started flowing again," observes Franklin Springs City Councilman Charles Powell.
"Getting the water flowing again will be a huge thing for our area. This is tremendous for city pride," he explains.
Although many students do not realize it, Franklin Springs used to be known for more than Emmanuel College. About 100 years ago, the land now owned by EC was once occupied by a resort. Locals and tourists came to the area for vacations and therapeutic visits to the mineral springs flowing out of the natural wells, which were shaded by a wooded pavilion. When the resort closed down shortly before World War I, the original hotel remained and became what is now the eastern portion of Jackson Hall.
According to research by Franklin Springs resident Beth Kidd, the natural springs continued to flow and be enjoyed by EC students and local residents until the 1950s. It was during that time the city diverted the water from springs, causing them to cease flowing, as they developed a new city-wide water system.
Although the springs have been dry since that time, the original pavilion remained as a monument to the glory days of the springs. During the 1990s, Franklin Springs Mayor Brian James, who was then EC Director of Alumni Affairs, headed an effort to rebuild the pavilion and restore the area. Part of the landscaping project included a fountain and stream flowing into a small pool reminiscent of the springs.
The water for the fountain was supplied by a new well. Now, however, Mayor James is excited that the fountain may soon be powered by a real spring.
"It's a monumental thing because this place was completely dry seven or eight years ago to the point that you couldn't find water down here anywhere. For it to becoming out of the ground now is amazing," Mayor James says.
EC plans to partner with the City in order to get the water flow under control before any serious damage is done to the pavilion area.
"It all started out really slow, but I would say that in the last two or three weeks the water has begun to flow at a much faster pace. At first it was not really a big deal to us, but all of a sudden it has become what you see now," Director of Campus Operations Ron McCullar says as he motions toward the soggy ground and rapidly growing mud hole around the pavilion.
"For the time being, students need to use some common sense and not come down here and wade around in it. We are working with the city to resolve the issue and take advantage of the water coming out of the old city wells by diverting it back into the stream that is part of the pavilion's original design. Hopefully, we can get that work started in the next several days as soon as we determine what needs to be done. It shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks to complete the repairs," McCullar adds.
For many involved with the community and the campus, the rejuvenation of the springs symbolizes a great deal about life.
"Many associated with the springs see a real connection between the physical water supplied for the weary traveler and the spiritual implications of a small spot in Georgia where students, community residents and visitors can sense the presence of a Savior who supplies a life with living water which will never run dry," Kidd writes.
No matter what you make of it, the Franklin Springs are flowing again, and it looks like they are here to stay.
http://www.emmanuelcollege.edu/Special/Columns/default.asp
6 Comments:
We pray the springs flow and bring living water better than many years ago there in north GA.
That is really awesome! I think this maybe a huge change for Emmanuel. Already I have seen changes in students attitudes! Did you notice the great change and breaking of bondages in convocation Tuesday? I did and I know I was extremely blessed!
I wish I could see the springs.
Many of the students have been praying for revival and renewal on the EC campus that would spread to the whole town of Franklin Springs. Being known as one of the highest counties for teen pregnancy is not good for any town or county, especially one that has a Christian college in it. Also, Franklin Co. Schools have had some trouble with weapons and drugs coming into the school system. Furthermore, residents faced the rise of a liquor store in the town that would cause no telling what. I hope that the flowing of the Springs represents a new movement of God at EC and in FS. Even though most students leave FS, we are still apart of the town. I hope a revival on campus could spread to the residents of the town and even the whole county or the state. I know that God wants to do something special in this area, he is just waiting for us to get with His program!
The springs flowing are diffently a sign of how God has moved and is contining to move at Emmanuel and throughout the surronding community. God has settled in our midst. Chris, I had a dream after this story that I believe to be from the Lord. Remind me to share it with you!
The Coming Great Awakening: "Old Wells, Fallen Mantles, and New Fountains"
by Michael Edds
I moved to a major U.S city in June 2000 to assume the position as Head of School for an interdenominational Christian High School. The school was new but had numerous problems, the most severe totally unknown to me. Prior to my arrival, a teacher had been arrested for involving a student in pornography. The teacher had been convicted and sentenced. Upon my arrival, the incident had become front-page news in the community. To say the least, I was shocked and stunned.
One night I could not sleep. I was very angry with the Lord for putting me into this greatly stressful mess. “Surely, I thought, I deserve better than this.” Around 2 am, I got up to sit on the couch and pout. In spite of my upset state, anger and disgust, the Presence of the Lord settled in the living room. God did not even pay attention to or address my complaint. Instead, His presence was so strong that I physically trembled. He spoke these words, “Old Wells, Fallen Mantles, and New Fountains.” He instructed me to get my Bible. By that time, I too had set aside my complaint. His Presence was so great that I did not know if I could survive it.
I opened my Bible to Isaiah 35: 3-7: “The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing, for IN THE WILDERNESS SHALL WATER BREAK OUT and streams in the desert. AND THE PARCHED GROUND SHALL BECOME A POOL and the thirsty land SPRINGS OF WATER.”
The Lord led me to Isaiah 41:17 -18, "The poor and needy seek water but there is none. Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the Lord, will hear them. I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers in the desolate heights and fountains in the midst of valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land springs of waters."
Next came Isaiah 43:20, " I will give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert to give drink to my people, my chosen."
I was directed to verse 19 of [Isaiah 43]: “Behold I WILL DO A NEW THING. Now it shall SPRING [BURST] FORTH . Shall ye not know it?”
The Lord was moving so quickly through the scriptures that I could hardly keep up. His presence was incredibly strong. I felt like I was floating.
Leaving Isaiah, the Lord took me to Joel 2:23: “He will cause to come down for you the rain, THE FORMER RAIN AND THE LATTER RAIN IN THE FIRST MONTH.”
Then Joel 2:28 was given which states: “It shall come to pass afterwards that I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH. Your sons and daughters shall PROPHESY, YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS and your YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS.”
Finally, Genesis 26:18 finished the scriptures that the Lord was rapidly giving me: “AND ISAAC DUG AGAIN the WELLS of water which they had DUG IN THE DAYS OF ABRAHAM HIS FATHER.”
The Lord revealed the meaning of this vision:
The Early Church experienced the fullness of God. They had the fullness, the gifts and revelation of the Holy Spirit. They were full of boldness, power and anointing. God turned the world upside down through them. The dead were raised, the blind received sight, the possessed were set free, the sick healed and the Gospel was preached to the poor. The anger of Hell was violently aroused. The more the devil persecuted and killed them, the more they multiplied and spread. So Satan changed his tactics. By 300 AD, Roman Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Empire. What Satan could not do through persecution, he accomplished through promotion, position, power, prestige, acceptance and prosperity. They SOLD OUT! The Church backslid and humanity later fell into the brutality of the Dark Ages.
The purpose of each Great Awakening or the bursting forth of a spiritual well was to restore an element of truth that the Early Church possessed back to the church. Luther restored ‘the just shall live by faith’. Wesley, Whitefield, Edwards and the First Great Awakening restored repentance, inward holiness and “Christ in you.” The Second Great Awakening with Barton Stone at Cane Ridge in the West and Francis Asbury in the East brought restoration in society through evangelism, missions, and great social renewal such as abolition, child labor laws, and suffrage movement. The Third Great Awakening of 1857 restored the power of prayer. Azusa Street Outpouring of 1905 restored the in filling and gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Lord stated that He was going to reopen all of the “old wells” of revival in order to restore TOTAL truth to His church.
Fallen mantles of ministry and anointing that rested upon the great men and women of God of old would be picked up and placed on godly men and women today to finish what was started long ago. They are the “Isaacs” that will revisit the old wells of revival and reopen them. The mantles of ministry did not die nor were they buried with Asbury, Wesley, Stone, Amanda Berry Smith and others. They have only been “on hold” until a generation would be born that could relate to them and pick them up. Isaiah 58:12 refers to them: “And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places, thou shall raise up the foundations of many generations, and thou shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in.” The Lord said, “What once was shall be again.”
Malachi 4:5 prophecies that “I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” He said this was not just a generational reconciliation between the old and the young. It is a restoration of His people to the Faith once delivered to the Saints, the Faith of our fathers. The Lord said He was tired of the apostasy, deadness, programs, personality cults, plans and politics that have nearly destroyed His church. He is going to restore HIS church by returning the “Faith of our Fathers to their children (descendants) and the children (descendants) to the Faith of our Fathers.” The old wells will BURST forth and the fallen mantles will be picked up. This will be a “suddenly”. Isaiah speaks of it occurring in the desert places and on the barren heights. In other words, it will happen in the most unlikely of places. The Lord continued His interpretation of the vision by explaining to me that “NEW FOUNTAINS” would gush or break forth also.
Something that has never occurred in any Great Awakening or in any historic move of God will exploded upon the scene in our day. Joel 2:23 speaks of God sending the former rain (the Old Wells of revival) and the latter rain (The New Fountains) in the SAME MONTH!!! In other words, all of the moves of God and fallen mantles from Pentecost until now will be reopened and picked up and combined with a totally new thing from God. It will literally shake the church and the world. HE WILL RESTORE A CHURCH WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE! He will not allow the church to go out defeated. HE WILL ARISE FOR HIS OWN NAME’S SAKE!
God has been preparing a “Joseph Generation” that has been enrolled in the ” School of Dung .” In this schooling, they have endured the pain of rejection, slander and isolation. The ‘Word of the Lord’ has tried them severely. They cry out, “God why? All I wanted to do is serve you. All seems to have ‘gone to hell in a hand basket’. It seems just the opposite of what You promised. I am lonely, the organized church thinks I am crazy, a fanatic, out on a limb. They have rejected me and hated me because of my love for you. WHY, OH LORD?”
God has been preparing and perfecting these Josephs in the darkness and in the prison houses of loneliness and isolation for a day and hour that they will be unleashed as a secret weapon on the kingdom of darkness. He has allowed all of these things to happen to them for their good. He has prepared a people that He can trust with His power, gifts, and anointing. In holiness, humility and boldness they will fulfill His plans in our day. They will give HIM the glory. They will give HIM total control of the coming Great Awakening. The door of their prison house of utter loneliness and rejection is about to open. Their “word” is about to come. That word is “the King has need of thee.” In a moment, they will be ushered from prison to position. In a moment, they will fully understand their long and severe sufferings. In a moment, they will be brought out into the light of God’s divine destiny for them. God will greatly use them to lead the Coming Great Awakening.
Along with this final Great Awakening is coming Divine Judgment. Isaiah 35:4 declares, “Your God shall come with vengeance, even God with a recompense.” God is going to overthrow the abuse and control of man in His church. He’s going to take back the ’ship’ that has been turned into a luxury liner and restore her back to her original state: a ship of war. HE IS GOING TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF HIS CHURCH!!! The Church is HIS bride, not someone else’s. Additionally, this nation is going to be greatly shaken.
The First Great Awakening preceded the American Revolution. Before the Second Great Awakening began at Cane Ridge , Kentucky , a massive epidemic of Cholera occurred. In its early days, the Third Great Awakening saw every bank in the nation collapse. This awakening was followed by the greatest disaster in American History when the nation was ripped apart and 600,000 Americans perished in the horrific War Between The States. A great earthquake hit California at the same time as the Azusa Street Outpouring. He is going to shake the Church and this nation. Only that which is of Him will be left standing.
A great hunger for repentance, seeking God, seeking holiness and seeking truth has exploded within the ‘Joseph Generation’. They have studied, researched and sought out the Old Wells of revival. They intensely hunger for God to do it again! They cry out, “Just one more time, oh Lord!” Programs, politics, personalities, manipulation, and plans in the church sicken them. THEY MUST HAVE GOD! They MUST be in His presence! They are meeting in the homes, in the fields, in the woods, in their prayer closets and any place that they can totally seek His face. Their despair has turned into an all-consuming hunger that says, “Give me God or let me die.” GOD HAS HEARD! He is about to reopen the old wells of revival, He is picking up the fallen mantles and placing them on men and women, and He is about to do a new thing!
Every Awakening has incurred the wrath and persecution of man. When the Presence and holiness of God confronts mankind, they must make a decision for or against Him. When they choose to reject Him, they lash out and fight against His messengers. In the mid-1700s, the Baptist in Colonial Virginia were beaten, imprisoned, and killed for preaching the Gospel. The Methodist circuit riders were jailed, tarred and feathered, beaten, abused and martyred for the message of God. The reason there is little persecution against the Church in America today is that there is so little of the Presence and Message of God to confront mankind. The world has heard how to get rich, how to prosper, how to have self-esteem, and to feel good. They have not heard the message, “Repent or perish.” They have not heard the anointed Word of God that demands a decision. Be forewarned, The Final Great Awakening will usher in a wave of persecution against the true Church of God . Old Wells of Revival are on the threshold of being reopened. Fallen Mantles of ministry are being picked up. New Fountains are rumbling beneath the surface and about to burst forth. Frank Bartleman (chronicler of the Azusa Awakening) once said, “To understand what God is going to do, we must understand what He once did.” The most incredible move of God will suddenly explode upon the scene.
Judgment and a great shaking are coming to the land and to the church. Persecution of the Isaacs and Josephs, the true saints of God will occur. However, they will be covered with such zeal and boldness, they will be like the Fathers of old: “And they loved not their lives even until death.” (Rev 12:11) God will harvest a holy remnant from this generation. He will have a church that is without spot or wrinkle, a pure bride for His Son. Be encouraged. Lift up your heads. Your God has come! “The King has need of thee!”
www.greatawakening.blogspot.com
Post a Comment