Stars we are by Sam Swaj

This Man Is The World’s Poorest President, But The Reason Why He’s Poor Will Surprise You.

You might not believe it, but Jose Mujica, president of Uruguay since 2010, is known to be the world’s poorest president.
Jose donates more then of 90% of his $12,000 per month salary to benefit the poor and to help small entrepreneurs.  If we need more of anything in this world, it would be more people like this!


This man doesn’t put value on his appearance or clothes.  He is criticized for his posture and clothes, but Jose puts more value on other things in life instead.

Before his presidency, he was a guerilla fighter for Tupamaros, which acted like “Robin hood.”  They literally robbed evil banks, gun clubs, and other businesses to give to the poor. He truly believed that his value was not in gaining more money, it was in the wellbeing of his country and people.  He was imprisoned 2 times for a total of 14 years and shot 6 times after an escape attempt, But he still continues to fight for the people even in his high office now as president of Uruguay. 

Mujica could live in this beautiful Presidential house, but has chosen a more humble place to live.  He is a honest example of a president that gives up his own comfort for the wellbeing of others.

…And this is where he lives, on a farm with his wife and dog.  He is also working to change the fancy presidential house into a museum that pays honor to past presidents.  There’s no reason for money, fame, and a nice place to sleep when you can be humble and live on a farm.  This president lives the life!

His part time farming job, keeps him aware of the struggles and life that most other people of his country go though.  He also grows and then sells flowers from his farm.  You can see him frequently driving his old 1987 Volkswagon Beetle.  He doesn’t need a fancy Bentley, because he doesn’t care about having a extravagant appearance.  His people are what matters and what matters are his people.

Jose’s protection consists of two guards and his 3 legged dog named Manuela.

Even though he is known as the poorest president, he strongly disagrees. He says, “I’m not the poorest president. The poorest is the one who needs a lot to live… My lifestyle is a consequence of my wounds. I’m the son of my history. There have been years when I would have been happy just to have a mattress.”  
This president’s example is a testament to how we should live our lives.  We don’t need more things to be happy.  In fact, some of the most wealthy people in the world, have their wealth stored in the currency of unselfishness, kindness, and true love.  Maybe its time for a change?
The world needs more people like this.  Don’t you agree?

Train Your Mind to Remember God

Train Your Mind to Remember God

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NLT)

The Bible tells us to “pray all the time” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 MSG).
How is it possible to do this? One way is to use “breath prayers” throughout the day, as many Christians have done for centuries. You choose a brief sentence or a simple phrase that can be repeated to Jesus in one breath: “You are with me.” “I receive your grace.” “I’m depending on you.” “I want to know you.” “I belong to you.” “Help me trust you.” You can also use a short phrase of Scripture: “For me to live is Christ.” “You will never leave me.” “You are my God.”
Pray it as often as possible so it is rooted deep in your heart. Just be sure that your motive is to honor God, not control him.
Practicing the presence of God is a skill, a habit you can develop. Just as musicians practice scales every day in order to play beautiful music with ease, you must force yourself to think about God at different times in your day. You must train your mind to remember God.
At first you will need to create reminders to regularly bring your thoughts back to the awareness that God is with you in that moment. Begin by placing visual reminders around you. You might post little notes that say, “God is with me and for me right now!”
If you are seeking an experience of his presence through all of this, you’ve missed the point. We don’t praise God to feel good, but to do good. Your goal is not a feeling, but a continual awareness of the reality that God is always present. That is the lifestyle of worship.
Talk About It -

• Try using breath prayers to worship God throughout today. Do you notice a difference in your attitude and your interactions with other people?

• What visual reminders will best help you be aware of God’s presence?

• Talk about the way you learned to play an instrument or a sport. Are you applying the same disciplines and energy into developing a lifestyle of worship?

Breaking the Complacency Habit: 10 Ways to Grow Spiritually

1

How do you plan to grow, spiritually, in the next 12 months?
I had to start asking myself that every January to ensure that I didn't end the year in the same place spiritually as I was when the year started. Year by year, we might not notice a lack of spiritual growth in our lives. But you'd be surprised how quickly ten years can pass without having memorized one more verse of scripture, without confronting a habitual sin in your life, without having shared the gospel with an unbeliever, without having experienced a point in your walk with God that lit a fire under you and caused you to live differently.
I guess what I'm saying is that spiritual complacency isn't ever an intention, but too often it can creep into our lives unnoticed -- a tragic consequence of failing to be intentional in our spiritual growth.
Instead of making "new year's resolutions" each year, I sit down with God and set some spiritual goals for the next year to ensure that during the time I am aging another year, physically,  I will also be aging another year, spiritually. I want to make sure, also, that there is fruit developing from my life instead of being a sponge that continues to soak it all in, but gives little out.
Here are some examples of spiritual goals that I've set through the years, many of which repeatedly stay on my list from year to year. Try a couple of these, and maybe even come up with some of your own, so that you are one year closer to Christ -- and more effective for His kingdom -- by the time next January rolls around:
1. Read through the Bible in a year. There are several good resources available to help you do this. If you've already done it, do it again, but in a different translation. (Even better, team up with a friend to do this with you and hold each other accountable).
2.  Choose a book of the Bible to study. The next step after simply reading the Bible is to study it, go beneath the surface, uncover the truths, principles and insights in Scripture. You may want to study one book of the Bible each quarter...or one for the entire year. Try picking up the New Inductive Study Bible which actually teaches you how to study the Bible on your own. Make sure you regularly share with others what you are learning.
3. Study a topic that will help you grow. Ask yourself where you want to be in your relationship  with the Lord by the end of the year and then set tangible goals for getting there. For instance, if you want to know Him better, consider a study of His names in the Old Testament and Jesus' "I am" statements in the New Testament. If you need to slow down and learn to listen for His voice, study all the Word says about "rest" or "hearing" or  His "voice." If there are character traits you know you need to work on, consider an in-depth study of some or all of the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
4. Participate in a weekly small group Bible study or lead one among your friends, neighbors, or co-workers. We can grow at a faster rate in community because we are able to share our experiences with one another and hold each other accountable.
5. Read three books to deepen your devotional life. Set a goal to read a book every month, every three months, or whatever is realistic for you. Also consider reading books that will challenge and convict you...that's where the growth comes.
6. Start a weekly prayer group with others who share similar concerns on your heart.  (For example, praying with other moms for your children, praying with other wives for unsaved spouses, praying during your lunch hour with co-workers, or  praying with friends or church members for a specific burden God has placed on your heart.)

7. Start a journal to record your growth.  Start journaling your thoughts as you read the Word. How did a certain passage compel you to pray? What changes are you asking God to make in your life? What discoveries have you made about His character or His Word? Date each page. By the end of the year, you'll have a record of where God took you and what He has shown you through the past 12 months.
8. Record your blessings and answered prayers. Keep a "blessing book" in which you record every blessing that comes your way throughout the year, adding a prayer of thanks or praise. In addition, write out your prayer requests and record the answers as they come. By writing out these types of things, you will not only be more keenly aware of how God is working in and around your life, but you will be able to see your progress in becoming one who does "everything without complaining or arguing" (Philippians 2:14) and a person who gives thanks "in all circumstances" (First Thessalonians 5:18).
9. Disciple a young believer. We learn the most when we teach it to others. And seeing them grasp truth for the first time gives it a fresh impact on our lives as well. Pick up the One-to-One Discipleship manual from Multiplication Ministries and take a young believer through the adventure of living the Christ-directed life.
10. Pick a 'theme verse' for the year. Say it aloud every day. I guarantee if you do this, by the end of the year -- and probably a lot sooner -- you will have memorized that verse. And that's one more verse in the Word of God that you will have memorized during your lifetime. Choose from Psalm 90:12, Psalm 119:32, Psalm 119:133, Galatians 5:16, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 4:6-7, or find one of your own.

Spiritual Growth: Growing in Your Relationship with Jesus

With the Holy Spirit directing your life, you will experience a deeper relationship with God and you will grow in your ability to trust Him.
What does it mean to grow in your relationship with Jesus?
Growing in your relationship with Jesus means to know Him better, to love and obey Him more. “And this is the way to have eternal life-to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth” (John 17:3).
“Jesus replied: ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.’” (Matthew 22:37-38)
Your growing love for God will lead you to obey His commandments.
[Jesus speaking] “Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them.” (John 14:21)
Just as it’s natural for a child to grow in a loving relationship with a parent, it is also natural for you to grow in your love relationship with God.

Questions about faith? Bring your doubts
Why would I need faith?: Find some answers

How can you grow in your relationship with Jesus?
Communication is vital to any relationship. Four aspects of communication will help you develop your relationship with Jesus.
i) God communicates with us through the Bible, revealing His character and His will.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
ii) We communicate with God through prayer, sharing our thoughts, our needs and our desire to do his will.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
“And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for.” (1 John 5:14-15)
These verses tell us we can pray about everything. When we pray according to God’s will, he hears us and answers us. Thanking God is also part of praying.
“No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
“And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20)
iii) We communicate with Christians through fellowship, encouraging and building up one another.
“Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
It is important to spend time with other Christians to encourage each other to love and do good. The Greek word for fellowship, koinonia, means “sharing in common.” We need to share our Christian experience with others who love God, and likewise allow them to share with us. God appoints the church as a place for us to meet other Christians and learn about God. Bible studies and other meetings are also helpful.
iv) We communicate with others who don’t know God personally by sharing about our relationship with Jesus.
“There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them.” (Acts 4:12)
Suggestions for Further Growth
Set aside a time and place for daily personal Bible study and prayer. A good book to begin with is the New Testament Book of John (included in the next section). As you read, underline verses you find particularly meaningful. Pray and ask God to show you who He is and how you can respond to Him.
Study other passages, such as the ones in this lesson. Also read Psalms 1, 34, 103 and 145; Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 9:23-26; John 15:1-7; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; and Colossians 1:9-12.
This is the beginning of your Christian life and there is much more to discover than what’s covered in these four lessons. Take the initiative today to find a church in your neighbourhood, and make plans to attend regularly. For additional Christian materials, check out your local Christian bookstore (try looking under “books” in the Yellow Pages). Or call New life Resources at 1-800-667-0558.
Summary
As you rely on the Holy Spirit for power, read the Bible, pray, spend time with other believers and tell people about Jesus, God will produce His character in you and you will mature spiritually.
Keys to spiritual growth:

• Understanding your relationship with Jesus
• Experiencing God’s love and forgiveness
• Power for living a dynamic Christian life

Five Principles of Growth

By Reap Spirit And Life 

Step 1: Christian Adventure

• 1: The Christian's Certainty
• 2: The Christ-Controlled Life
• 2: The Christ-Controlled Life
• 3: Five Principles of Growth
• 3: Five Principles of Growth
• 4: The Christian's Authority
• 4: The Christian's Authority
• 5: Learning to Pray
• 5: Learning to Pray
• 6: The Importance of the Church
• 6: The Importance of the Church
• Recap

You made the most important decision of your life when you chose to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. At that moment you were born into God's family, and you received everything you need to live the abundant Christian life.
But that does not mean you are as spiritually mature as someone who has walked with Christ for many years. The Christian life is a process that begins with an act of faith and is lived by faith.
What do you suppose would happen to a child who doesn't grow properly in his physical body? In his emotional life? In his spiritual maturity? Just as physical life requires air, food, rest, and exercise, so does spiritual life require certain things for growth and development.
This lesson deals with five principles of Christian growth. The first two, We Must Study God's Word, and We Must Pray, help us deepen our relationship with God. This could be called our vertical relationship. Through the Bible, God communicates to us; through prayer, we communicate with Him.

The next two principles, We Must Fellowship with other Christians, and We must Witness for Christ, help us reach out to others. This could be called our horizontal relationship. In fellowship, we communicate wth other Christians about our Savior and the bond He gives us with one another. In witnessing, we communicate with non-Christians. We tell them about Jesus, what He has done for us, and what He desires to do for them.
Principle Five, We Must Obey God, is the core of growth. As we obey Him, we experience increasing joy, peace, and fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ and fellow believers. We also become increasingly more mature in our Christian walk.
If you follow these principles, you can be sure that you will grow toward maturity in Christ.

Principle One - We Must Study God's Word

Read James 1:18-27
You would not think of going without physical food for a week or even a day, would you? It is necessary for physical life. Without food, we become weakened and eventually may become ill. Lack of spiritual food produces the same results in our spiritual lives.

1. What is the food of the young Christian? (I Peter2:2)
   
   
   In what ways have you made it a consistent spiritual diet?
   
   
   
   
   Read Psalm 119. Write down several ways God's Word can help you in your daily life.
   
   
   
   
   Psalm 119. Write down several ways God's Word can help you in your daily life."
   
   
   
    
2. Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone." How did He say we should live and be nourished? (Matthew 4:4) Have you applied this to your life? Describe how it nourishes your spiritual life.
   
   
   
   
    
3. List the two characteristics of the workman God approves, according to II Timothy 2:15. What steps have you taken to make these characteristics true in your life?
   
   
   
   
    
4. What did Jesus say about those who read and believe God's Word? (John 8:31-32) What does this mean to your way of life?
   
   
   
   
    
5. When does the man who is spiritually mature meditate on the Word of God? (Psalm 1:2-3) How can you do this in our hectic, pull-apart world?
   
   
   
    
6. In what specific ways do you expect God's Word to affect you?
    

Principle Two - We Must Pray

Read Matthew 26:31-75
Have you ever considered that you have immediate access to the most powerful Person in the universe? Whatever you need, whatever the time, you can call upon Him. His calendar is cleared to be with you. His schedule is open for your appointment; His full attention is devoted to you.
Prayer is the inspiring experience of conversing with, and praising God as our loving, heavenly Father. Few experiences can equal prayer in empowering us and lifting us above our problems. But prayer is not just an "escape hatch" for us to get out of trouble, please ourselves, or gain our selfish ends. Rather, it is inviting Him to talk to us as we talk to Him. There is more to prayer, but this is basic to true prayer. Study the above passage and answer the following questions:

1. What was Jesus command in Matthew 26:41 and why did He command it?
   
   
   
   
    
2. Why did Peter fail to resist temptation?
   
   
   
    
3. What is the most serious result of Peter's prayerlessness? Think about your own life. What has been the result of prayerlessness in your life?
   
   
   
    
4. How did Christ experience inner power to face the severest test of His life?
   
   
   
    
5. How often are we to pray? (I Thessalonians 5:17)
    

Prayer without ceasing involves conversing with our heavenly Father in a simple and free way throughout the day. Our prayer life should be such that we come to know the Lord Jesus in an intimate, personal way. Our prayer life becomes effective as our relationship with Christ becomes more intimate.
"I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:13-14)
List ways you can increase the amount of time you spend in prayer.

Principle Three - We Must Fellowship with Other Christians

Read I Corinthains12:12-27
Fellowship is spending time and doing things with others who love Christ. Several logs burn brightly together, but the fire goes out if one is placed alone on the cold hearth. In the same way, Christians need to work together or the fire of enthusiasm will go out. Fellowship is vital for Christian growth. That is why active participation in church is so important.

1. As God's children, what should we not neglect? (Hebrews 10:23-25 )
   
   
   
    
2. According to the above verses, what should we do for one another? In what ways have you done them recently, and for who?
   
   
   
    
3. The new believers in Acts 2:42 continued steadfastly in what four things? Why is each one so vital to spiritual growth?
   
   
   
    
4. In what ways do you profit from Christian fellowship? Be specific.
   
   
   
    
5. Answer the following questions below:

Why is it important that a Christian be part of a small group with other Christians sharing the Word of God?




Why is is necessary to work out conflicts with members of your Christian circle? What can happen if you don't?



What steps can you take to resolve conflict with others? (I Peter 3:8-11)

Principle Four - We Must Witness for Christ

Read Acts 26:12-29
A witness is a person who tells what he has seen and heard. He shares his own personal experience. Anyone who has a vital personal relationship with Christ can be a witness for Him. Witnessing is the overflow of the Christian life. A vital Christian life is contagious. As our lives are filled with the presence of the Lord Jesus, we cannot help but share Him with those with whom we come into contact.

1. In Romans 1:14-16, Paul tells us his own attitude about sharing the Gospel with others. Using his three "I am's" as the keys to the passage, describe his attitude in your own words.
   
   
   
    
2. Compare your own attitude concerning witnessing, with Paul's. (Colossians 1:28)
   
   
   
    
3. What did Peter tell us in I Peter 3:15 that we should always be ready to do? Where and when can you do this?
   
   
   
    
4. What was Jesus' promise in Acts 1:8. How is this promise shown in your life today?
   
   
   
    
5. Name at least three people to whom you are impressed to witness to in the power of Christ. Prayerfully ask God to show you ways to share your faith in Christ with each one.
    

It is the privilege and responsibility of every Christian to reach his world with the message of Christ.

Principle Five - We Must Obey God

Read Romans 6:14-23
The key to rapid growth in the Christian life is obedience to the will of God. Knowing the principles of growth is of no value unless we actually apply them to our lives. To be disobedient to the one who loves us and who alone knows what is really best for us would be sheer folly. Remember, He is even more desirous than you are that you have an abundant life.

1. What did Christ teach concerning the possibility of serving more than one master? (Matthew 6:24 )
   
   
   
    
2. How much should you love the Lord? (Matthew 22:37 )
   
   
   
    
3. How can you prove you love Him? (John 14:21 ) How have you done this today? This week?
   
   
   
    
4. What will be the result of keeping Christ's commandments? (John 15:10-11)
   
   
   
    
5. Where do we get the power to obey God? (Philippians 2:13) What happens if we try to obey God's commands in our own efforts?
   
   
   
    
6. In light of Luke 6:46-49, why do you think obedience to Christ is imperative for your life?
    

Life Application

List the five key principles of Christian growth, a key verse relating to each one, why it is essential to spiritual maturity, and at least one way you can apply each principle to your own life.

Biography - Kenneth E. Hagin

Kenneth E. Hagin Kenneth Erwin Hagin (August 20, 1917 - September 19, 2003) was an influential American Pentecostal preacher. He is often referred to as the "father" (or "grandaddy") of the "Word of Faith" movement. Many of his followers often refer to him affectionately as "Dad Hagin" or "Brother Hagin". Hagin never received any formal theological training, however, he received an honorary doctorate from Oral Roberts University in the 1970s.

Biography

Personal life

Kenneth Hagin was born in McKinney, Texas, the son of Lillie Viola Drake Hagin and Jess Hagin. He was so small and lifeless that the doctor thought that he was stillborn. He had two children, a son named Kenneth Hagin Jr. who is presently the pastor of Rhema Bible Church and President of Kenneth Hagin Ministries, and a daughter named Patricia Harrison. She is the widow of the late Doyle "Buddy' Harrison and is the owner and publisher of Harrison House, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was married to Oretha Rooker.
On many occasions Kenneth Hagin demonstrated his ability to memorize large portions of scripture and other materials. Testimony of friends and family indicate that he possessed an amazing memory with which he could recall specific details such as the day of the week that a specific date fell on and that days weather.
Hagin died five days after lapsing into a coma due to a heart arrhythmia in September 2003.

Claimed he was healed

According to Hagin's testimony, he was sickly as a child, suffering from a deformed heart and what was believed to be an incurable blood disease. He was not expected to live and became bedfast at age 15. In April 1933 during a dramatic conversion experience, he reported dying three times in 10 minutes, each time seeing the horrors of hell and then returning to life. He also claimed that he was raised from a deathbed in 1934 by "the revelation of faith in God's Word". There is no firm evidence of the original diagnosis.
Two years later he preached his first sermon as the pastor of a small community church in Roland, Texas, 9 miles from McKinney.
His favorite scripture was Mark 11:23: "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith".

Beginning to preach

During the next 12 years he pastored five Assemblies of God churches in Texas: in the cities of Tom Bean, Farmersville (twice), Talco, Greggton, and Van.

Establishing a faith-based corporation

In 1949, he began an itinerant ministry as a Bible teacher and evangelist. Hagin was at this time also given full admission to the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International (FGBMFI) which had been established in 1951. He was also a part of the Voice of Healing Revival in the U.S. in the 40s and 50s together with Oral Roberts and T.L.Osborn. In 1963, Kenneth E. Hagin Evangelistic Association was incorporated, and the offices of the ministry moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1966. That same year, he taught for the first time on radio — on KSKY in Dallas. In 1967, he began a regular radio broadcast that continues today as Faith Seminar of the Air. Teaching by his son, Rev. Kenneth Hagin Jr., is also heard on the program.
Since its inception in 1963, his organization grew to include numerous media outreaches and ministries. These are:

• Faith Library Publications – with 65 million book copies in print
• "RHEMA Praise" – a weekly television program on the Trinity Broadcasting Network
• "Faith Seminar of the Air" – a radio program heard on many stations nationwide and on the Internet
• "The Word of Faith" – a free monthly magazine with roughly 250,000 subscribers
• crusades conducted throughout the nation
• RHEMA Correspondence Bible School
• the RHEMA Prayer and Healing Center, located on the Rhema campus in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

In 1974, Hagin founded RHEMA Bible Training Center USA, which now has training centers in fourteen countries and has 23,000 alumni. In 1979, he founded the Prayer and Healing Center there to provide a place for the sick to come to "have the opportunity to build their faith",. Its Healing School continues to be held free of charge twice daily on the RHEMA campus. There are many other outreaches and RBTC graduates throughout the world.

Controversial legacy

Hagin was considered by his followers to be a dynamic preacher, teacher, and prophet known for preaching divine healing and prosperity through searching God's word and believing God in faith for financial gifts, then claiming and receiving them by faith. His Bible teaching focused mainly on faith and the victorious life of a Christian. Hagin's critics, however, including a large number of charismatic critics, believe a number of his teachings including the born again Jesus (as contained in "The Name of Jesus," 1978 ed., pp. 29-33) and 'God has faith' to be outside the confines of Christian orthodoxy.

Plagiarism Controversy

In 1983, two students at Oral Roberts University alleged that the bulk of Hagin's theological teachings were lifted verbatim from the writings of other authors. D.R. McConnell, who wrote his Master's thesis about the Word of Faith movement alleged that Hagin had plagiarized the writings of evangelist E.W. Kenyon, teaching not only the ideas of Kenyon but also lifting text word-for-word from many of Kenyon's eighteen published works.
Dale Simmons, one of McConnell's colleagues doing research for his paper entitled "An Evaluation Of Kenneth E. Hagin's Claim To Be A Prophet", discovered what he has described as plagiarization by Hagin of an author named John A. MacMillan. In this case it is alleged that Hagin not only plagiarized word-for-word, but also the title, "The Authority of the Believer".
Upon discovering Hagin's use of MacMillan's material, Simmons contacted the publishing house that published MacMillan's original work. The president of the publishing company confronted Hagin with evidence of the plagiarism. Hagin's response was to claim that he had not plagiarized anyone but that his acknowledgment of MacMillan had been an oversight. Hagin then implicitly claimed that the plagiarism was actually proof that his teaching and MacMillan's teaching were from God. In a portion of a letter printed on page 68 of "A Different Gospel" by D.R. McConnell, Hagin argued that persons speaking on the same subject use 'virtually the same words' because 'it is the same Spirit that is leading and directing.' Simmons did not accept this argument, noting that it begged the question why Hagin felt it necessary to read any books at all if God was going to inspire him to have the same thoughts and words as another author. This information is available from Oral Roberts University in Dale H. Simmons' Master's thesis, An Evaluation of Kenneth E. Hagin's Claim To Be A Prophet. Simmons repeats these charges in his 1997 book, E.W. Kenyon: The Postbellum Pursuit of Peace, Prosperity, And Plenty. Hagin did, however, give credit to MacMillan when a new copy with a new title ("The Believer's Authority") was released in 1984.
The real question, however, is not whether Hagin plagiarized. That fact has been established in numerous places. The question is whether or not Hagin received the plagiarism from God as he alleges.
At present, Kenyon's Gospel Publishing Company, based in Washington state, argues that Hagin did not plagiarize based on the fact that his books were merely sermons that were converted into book form. This claim, however, contradicts the statements of Ruth Kenyon Houseworth, Kenyon's daughter, given to both Judith Matta and D.R. McConnell in 1982.
William DeArteaga, a defender of the Faith movement, acknowledged that Hagin was guilty of plagiarism in his 1992 book, "Quenching The Spirit" (p. 243-245 of the 1996 edition). Geir Lie, a scholar who is favorable to E.W. Kenyon went so far as to say that Hagin's plagiarism was conscious and systematic (according to DeArteaga). Derek Vreeland, another charismatic scholar, presented his findings at the Thirtieth Annual Meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies ^[1]. Vreeland, too, believes Hagin unintentionally used the thoughts and ideas of Kenyon without properly attributing them to Kenyon.
Dale Simmons, who discovered Hagin's plagiarism of John A. MacMillan, concurs that Hagin plagiarized, but he theorizes that it was an instance of informal borrowing in Hagin's early preaching ministry.
The 'informal borrowing' that is common among preachers may account for some of the instances of plagiarism. Hagin lived near Dallas in his formative years, and E.W. Kenyon's works were very popular in the Dallas area at that time (the 1930s). Although this fails to explain the massive amount of plagiarism Hagin apparently committed, it is worth noting that in many instances he has cited by name sources that he used including Dr. Lillian B. Yeomans, Smith Wigglesworth, Corrie ten Boom, Ethan O. Allen, and some other (mostly Pentecostal-type) preachers. He has also favorably remarked about the ministry of Charles G. Finney.