I am a Holy Spirit filled believer in Jesus. I am still inspired by Romans 15:13: MAY THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE AS YOU TRUST IN HIM, SO THAT YOU MAY OVERFLOW WITH HOPE BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. . God has a plan and He will be faithful to carry it out. Hallelujah !!!

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Stanley Horton's last blog entry

This is the last blog entry that Stanley M Horton wrote.  He dictated it to his daughter Faith just before he began being sick in May 2014.

 A Facebook friend private messaged me and asked this question:
"Dear Bro. Horton. Ref the disciples hauling in the great catch of fish that numbered 153, I once read that this number referred to what was known as “The 153”, the mathematical sum of the letters, “I am the Lord thy God.” Is this correct?"

Here is my answer:
Working with numbers like that is not important.  The important thing is that Peter was convinced that the resurrected Jesus was the same one who had called him and given him the fish before (Luke 5:5,6).  Peter was finally ready to give a sermon like he did on the Day of Pentecost because he fully believed.

Down through history there have been people who tried to make something of different numbers in the Bible.  I believe this draws attention away from the truths being taught.  In this case when Peter threw a net over and caught 153 fish it wasn't the number that was significant but that it drew attention to the fact there were a great many fish in the net.  The Bible wants people to see it wasn't just 3 or 4 fish that were pulled up.  It was the same Jesus.

The point is the power of the risen Jesus and how he went out of his way to help one man's faith.


God wants to use the risen power of Jesus to strengthen your faith today too.

Friday, May 9, 2014

The Last 40 days of Jesus

Jesus became known as Jesus of Galilee during his ministry. He spent a great deal of time in the villages of Galilee so after his resurrection he must have wanted those people to know he was alive. A good part of his last 40 days were spent there as Paul indicates in 1 Corinthians 15.

At the empty tomb Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were told by the angel in Matthew 8:7, “And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”

Luke 24:12 Peter went to the tomb to look but after seeing the empty linen wrappings he went home again, wondering what had happened instead of being filled with belief and heading for Galilee as the angel had instructed.
John 20:8 John however saw the empty wrappings and the head piece still intertwined and he understood Jesus had risen through the wrappings and left them behind(which didn't happen with the raising of Lazarus who came out of the grave still in burial wrappings and had to be freed.)

When the men Jesus met on the road to Emmaus went back to the disciples to tell them it was a point where the disciples began to believe that Jesus was alive. It was probably hearing this that started them in the direction of Galilee.

When Peter sees the Sea of Galilee he decides to go fishing. He was still struggling with believing at this point. He catches no fish. He sees Jesus on the shore fixing a meal for them but Peter doesn't recognize him. Jesus tells them to throw out their net on the right side of the boat. They get a big catch of fish and Peter realizes that this is Jesus and he is indeed alive.

After this they went on into the villages of Galilee where Jesus blessed the people where he had ministered before. Jesus was faithful to his friends in Galilee until it was time to go back to Jerusalem and ascend from the Mount of Olives.

During most of the 40 days Jesus was encouraging the faith of the people and preparing them to become part of the church (as seen in the book of Acts.)

Jesus was especially concerned that ordinary people he ministered to would see him alive and believe.
He went to Galilee because he was just as concerned that each person would believe not just the future leaders of the church.

Your faith and belief are that important to him too.

Monday, May 5, 2014

May 4th Greeting from Dr Stanley M Horton


Update from Dr Stanley M Horton on May 3rd 2014

Thank you all for your prayers.

 I can feel my strength returning 

each day.

 The exercise I am doing with the 

physical therapist is helping.

  My daughter Faith read your 

comments from Facebook to me and

 I was praising God for each one! 

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Stanley M Horton view on the Blood Moon

Since so many people have asked for opinion about the four blood moons in April 2014 here it is:

Thursday, March 13, 2014

What about Church Music?

What about Church Music?
by Dr. Stanley M. Horton Th.d
(An update of a paper I wrote in 1943)

Over time people get stuck in particular ways of worship. 
In non-Christian religions the forms become sacred and the
ritual and music fixed.

Christianity, as it lost its spiritual power, fell into the same rut,
and produced such things as the Roman Catholic Mass.


But the spiritual power of the Christian Church could never
remain dormant.  It has constantly reasserted itself and brought
with it new expressions of worship in word and song.

Naturally, hymns that have blessed us in the past will be
cherished and newer music not always be appreciated.  I
imagine that lovers of Gregorian chant were horrified when
hymns became popular in worship.  And I feel quite certain
that many were sure that those "frivolous little ditties," as
they were called by his contemporaries, but which Watts (early
church song writer) and his friends called hymns, could never
replace their beloved metrical Psalms which were so stately
and worshipful.  We are seeing that the gospel hymn is
changing in the same way.

There is no doubt that change is the rule in the music of a
living Christian church.  I think there is a reason.   Real
Christianity can use the best from the past but it should never
become lost in the encrustments of time.  The power of the
Holy Spirit keeps it a living, vital thing, and keeps it a
religion of the heart instead of focusing on the externals.

Here, I think, we have the secret.  Whatever reaches the heart,
touches every part.  Christianity reaches into all of life and
becomes a part of everything we do.  And because Christianity
is so closely interwoven with experience, its expression
changes and is molded to fit the needs of the time even though
its basic Truth does not change.

Back in the eleventh and twelfth century came the type of song
called the discantus.  Two sets of words and tunes were
adapted to each other.  It created a pleasing effect and did much
to raise the interest in music.  In fact, it was so popular that
there weren't enough of the old religious tunes; so they took
folk songs, secular music, and set religious words to them. 
They did not bother to adapt the music of the secular piece to
the atmosphere of the church.  Due to their nature, they could
not last, and it would seem that they were merely a passing
blotch on the history of music. However, they were from the
experience and lives of the people, as folk music really is.
Once church music had touched the lives of the people, it was
hard for them to remain unmoved.  We owe much of the rapid
progress of measured and harmonic music from that time on
to this "secular" influence.

Church music will live only as it touches the lives and meets
the needs of the people.  There is some music that has come
out of a deep and timeless human experience.  That will
remain.  Much of the rest will only remain as it continues to
fill a need in the lives of the people.  Just what is permanent
of contemporary music would be extremely difficult to say.
John Wesley wrote hundreds of songs and set them to all kinds of
 music to share Bible truth and worship God.  Luther and Wesley
 could not have predicted which of their hymns would endure
(and they all wrote a lot of hymns that did not endure),
 and it is probable that those which did the greatest service
 in their day are now forgotten.

Today's choruses, which are sung because of the easy way to
learn a message and a catchy tune, fit in the lives of people
and are a part of the atmosphere of this age of speed and
communication. 

We must use the best of today's music to reach and teach the
people.  We must use the best of the past and present for
heartfelt worship of God.

  ©2014 Dr Stanley M. Horton Th.d




Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Some New Friends

On Monday afternoon Peter Andersen who had heard about me in Southern California brought Tony and Brenda Krukow and Dr. Shelli Baker Manuel to see me.

We had a nice time talking about the Lord and they asked me questions about how the Lord had lead me.
They shared some of their experiences.

 Dr. Manuel told about her concern for preserving our national anthem which some people want to change.
She wants to get people to come together to express their appreciation for the US national anthem and take a stand against those who would want to change it.












 She wants people to practice the national anthem and then record yourself or your group at https://www.facebook.com/events/713557518677724/
 or www.SingItAmerica.com.  September 14th is its 200th birthday!  You can help make a difference.

We had about a half an hour of prayer together before they left.
They were a blessing.


Thursday, February 27, 2014

Movies about Jesus

A friend on Facebook asked me this question:

" What is your opinion on these movies, Dr. Horton ! I have read so
 many different opinions on them !!!! Everything from saying almost
 they are heresy, to devil inspired, to thinking they are fine !!
Please give us your wisdom on these !!! Thank you ,We can always
 learn from you !!!!!!!"

The purpose of these movies is not to teach Theology and that
 is a good thing!

 Its purpose is to get the attention to Jesus and his disciples.
 
Since so many people don't read anymore if the truths of the Bible can be pictured in a movie it 
will at least give them some understanding of God's plan of salvation.

If you take a non-Christian friend you will find the movie may touch their emotions and make them willing to listen a little more to what you share with them about Jesus.

It should also help your Christian friends to draw closer to Jesus and His Word by making it new
and fresh and alive to them.

I plan to go and see these movies if I can and I will let you know what I think.

Remember Jesus said we are to make disciples or learners and that means you must get them interested in studying the Bible.

The movie can be a first step to that.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

We All Grieve

Our entire community grieves with the family of Hailey Owen, the 10 year old who was abducted and murdered yesterday here in Springfield MO. 

 It is impossible to comprehend how any person could do such a thing.  We grieve.

Jesus wept and there are many places in the Bible that show we need to grieve with those who grieve.

Jesus wept, those words cover it all on a night like tonight.


Jesus wept and so do we all.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

A Heart for Jesus



Do you remember being a kid and hearing about giving your heart to Jesus?

Since it is almost Valentine's Day I thought we could talk about hearts and how we give them.

Giving your heart to Jesus.  It implies giving your whole self to Him to do His will for your life.  This implies faith and obedience.


In the Bible the heart is treated as the center of your whole being and includes your desires, your will, your thoughts and your feelings.  So that means that it includes your mind as well.

This is something that calls for a daily turning our minds and hearts to Him.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with grief today, give that to Jesus.
If you are struggling with situations you can't tell anyone about, give that to Jesus.
If you have temptations, look to Jesus for victory over them.

Wherever you are, whatever you are going through, Jesus is here in the midst of your life.  Jesus is always ready to listen and to help you. 

He is always there to help you tell others about His love and what He has done for you.  Jesus said He would send another Helper - the Holy Spirit.

So where is your heart, your focus today?


Thursday, February 6, 2014

Our Heavenly Home


I wish the King James Version hadn't mistranslated the Greek word 'monas' in John 14:2.

The KJV translated it 'mansions' and it should be 'rooms'.

The important thing is we will be in the same place and we will be in close in fellowship with the 
Father and Jesus and with each other.

We won't be thinking about one of us having a bigger mansion than someone else.

Instead we will have wonderful eternal fellowship.

God has an eternal plan for each of us and that will mean that He has something for each of us to do.

Our new bodies will be free from pain or sickness or decay and will be well suited for enjoying what God has prepared for us... and perhaps for enjoying the New Jerusalem and exploring the new heavens and the new earth.

When Paul was caught away to heaven he was not able to describe all that he experienced there.  It will be beyond anything we can imagine with our present limited frame of reference as human beings here on earth.


Even so come Lord Jesus.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

In the Beginning

Genesis 1:1 emphasizes the idea of a real beginning by putting it first in the sentence.  None of the ancient religions had the idea of a real beginning.  That means that God is the Creator of the entire heavens and the earth.

Not until modern science was the idea of a real beginning confirmed by anything outside of the Bible.

The beginning calls for a Beginner.  Most ancient religions had  different gods bringing different parts of the universe including different parts of the earth into being.

But the Old Testament makes it clear that there was only one God who began everything. 

All through the Bible God is addressed as the Creator of the heavens and the earth (Isaiah 42:5) He has ultimate control of everything. 

 He gave us free will because he wanted us to be more than puppets.  He wanted us to love Him as He loves us.

  His creative powers raised Jesus from the dead.  That gives us a sure hope of the future.  God will be Victor and if we believe in Jesus we will share in His victory.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Another cold day

Another cold day. I finished reading Luke and am about to start reading Acts again. It is so good to be able to read the Bible on my computer.

Faith and Zachary are here. I really appreciate them.

I am really looking forward to seeing so many of you at the Society for Pentecostal Studies at the 2014 SPS Annual Meeting, hosted by Evangel University, being held here in Springfield, MO, March 6-8, 2014.

Every day I am thankful for the many wonderful promises in God's Word. God is so faithful to them.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Are you ordinary people?



I have finished reading Matthew and I have jumped to Luke and I am impressed again how the Lord used very ordinary people whom God enabled to do extraordinary things.

In fact God's choices have not always been the ones you would expect. David's brothers didn't expect him to do anything great, he was the youngest and as far as they knew he had only taken care of sheep. They probably didn't know about him being able to kill the lion and the bear.

When we come to the New Testament we see that John the Baptist's parents were very ordinary people who had gone for years just doing their duty without anything spectacular happening. Zachariah didn't even have the faith to believe the angel who prophesied the birth of John.

The disciples of Jesus were not extraordinary people but yet God used them and sent his angels to some of them and brought about great events through them.

In the early Pentecostal movement I saw God using ordinary people to do extraordinary miracles. You can read about some of them in my biography that Lois Olena put together.

If you are discouraged about your ordinary life, take heart! You are exactly the kind of person God is looking for.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Some thoughts on Joseph

I heard Byron D. Klaus, D.Min. of AGTS
speak last night.

Here is his outline:

Joseph: Man of Integrity
Matthew 1:18-25

A Righteous Man (v 19) Joseph does not use h is privilege inappropriately.

A Level-headed Man (v 20-21) Even with disaster in the making, Joseph does not over-react but keeps his focus on God's direction.

An Obedient Man (v 22-24) An amazing response by an ordinary man.

A Discerning Man (v 1:20;2:13,19) Spiritual maturity that is revealed in a very complex set of circumstances.


My thoughts on Joseph:

Joseph was quick to obey the angel's direction to take Mary as his wife and later to take Jesus to Egypt. All of this was in fulfillment of prophecy.

Later Jesus said that it was his custom to go to the Synagogue on the Sabbath and as a child he had to be brought into the Synagogue by his father first to be circumcised and to have the sacrifice the law called for the first born son.

As Jesus grew he would be taught the law by his father (scripture mandated that parents were to teach their children the law at home) and his father had to see that he learned to read and write. Joseph was the one to lead his family to the festivals in Jerusalem as well.

Joseph was not only a righteous man but he was one who knew God.

Jesus as the Messiah

Some Jews argue that if Jesus was the Messiah He should have fulfilled all the prophecies in the OT including those in Ezekiel 38. Actually, Jesus fulfilled all that was necessary to bring salvation and to make it possible for both Jews and Gentiles to be part of the Church, the body of Christ. He will fulfill the rest in His Second Coming.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

It's cold outside but warm in my heart

I am thankful I was able to stay indoors during the last three days of extreme cold. The kitchen staff brought me my lunch each of those days and I am really grateful to them for bringing me good portions that were ready to eat. It was also good to be able to get out today and take the bus to the Community Center to eat and then to exercise on the New Step for half an hour after eating.

I am so thankful that in these times where I was alone I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and was blessed as I prayed in the Spirit. I have started reading the New Testament again and I have read about 10 chapters in Matthew so far. I also did some reading in Psalms and Proverbs.
I have a list of people I pray for and I am always looking to God for Him to bless and guide them all.

I was very happy to have my daughter Faith and her family come over and take care of things that needed to be done here and to provide a nice supper of pizza. Very good pizza!

Last Sunday churches in this area were closed because of the extreme cold. I am looking forward to next Sunday when the temperature should be about 50 degrees and church services should be open.


May the God of Hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13














If anyone has access to old audio tapes or video tapes or any that have been converted to digital files I would appreciate getting a copy of them. I want to make a collection of my sermons and teaching on Youtube. Thank you.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Happy New Year 2014 from Dr Stanley M Horton

Video New Year's 2014 greeting from Dr Stanley M Horton.



I would like to share my favorite verse with you today:
May the God of Hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13