By One Spirit — Holy Ghost Ministry

Lary and his beloved dog Champ welcomed by Jesus into a radiant garden of flowers, waterfalls, and golden light
Remembering the ministry and teachings of Lary R. Hale

Faith carried forward

By One Spirit is a lasting home for Holy Ghost ministry, preserving the teachings of Lary R. Hale and the memories of the people whose lives he touched.

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Just a few thoughts today on idolatry

A woodworker pauses beside a wooden idol covered in gold and silver foil, lowering his hammer and holding his chest as he looks toward a bright doorway.
© By One Spirit Ministries

Just a few thoughts today on idolatry. Why did the people in ancient times make idols to themselves, and worship these false dieties? I mean it really doesn't make much sense in any way, on the surface at least. Well, it doesn't make any GOOD sense, period, but there is one key element involved in the equation that causes it to make sense to the mind that is inclined to do evil. That is what I would like to point out today, mainly because this key element of idolatry has not gone away. It has just changed forms, and it still bedevils the people of God today every bit as much or more than it did in the days of the great prophet Jeremiah: "For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good" (Jer. 10:3-5). My goodness, what a description of religious insanity!! There it is my friend. A god made by man, for man, and for man's own purposes. Not a single one of these idols, great or small, could even EXIST apart from man's imagination and the work of his hands. What a god! They couldn't speak, they could not do ANYTHING, good or bad. Why, they couldn't even MOVE on their own. And there were MANY idols and false gods that were worshiped by the heathen in old times, and these idols quickly became household names among God's people of Israel also. And it's quite interesting how that ALL of these "gods" had varying purposes and supposed powers, but they all had one really BIG thing in common as well. That one thing was that they ALL PROMOTED WICKED PRACTICES!! All of them sanctioned things that were contrary to the law of God, and to his holy commandments. Of course all of this was actually man-ordained, but the idols were given credit for sanctioning the practices that were common to those who were in their service. So then it was all about serving sin and the wicked spirits of this world that encourage and promote sin in the lives of men. Man just had to have gods that would accommodate and facilitate all of his pride and his worldly lusts that he so desperately wanted to hold to. And just how backward is the mind of man from the mind of God? Well, every last one of man's idols that he has EVER made, has been made in his own image, spiritually and morally at least. Not one false god in the history of the world has been made with the holy and pure love of God in mind. How about that?!

So the question becomes this: WHY DID THEY BOTHER?? If they were intent on sin, then why not just go ahead and sin? Why go to the trouble, and expense, and time of making gods to themselves? They could have just lived how they wanted to live, and spared themselves of all the trouble of going to the temples of their gods regularly, and having all that time and money invested into all of that fruitless service. This is it friend, and this is why all of these people HAD to waste all that time, money, and trouble to make and worship these vain idols: THE CONSCIENCE!! God made man with a conscience that tells him loud and clear that THERE IS A GOD ABOVE! In fact, every idol or religion that man has ever made bears glaring witness to the reality of God. And if people are not willing to come clean with God, and get seriously real with him; they will gravitate toward something that they can CALL God, that will give them justification for their sinful ways. It takes a lot to completely extinguish the conscience in a man. God is just that good, and that merciful, to ensure that man has every chance till the end to get right with him and be spared eternal damnation. So as long as there is a conscience in man, and as long as he still wants to live apart from God's holiness, there will ALWAYS be idolatry. The world today is full of idolatrous worship and service to vain "gods," and sadly that idolatry is overly abundant among God's own people who have come into covenant with him through the baptism that Jesus suffered, died, and rose again, to make available and to administer (I Cor. 12:13; Heb. 10:14:17). That is correct, I am saying that the body of Christ is bowed down backward by the idolatrous worship and service that has been dictated to it by the religion that projects a very poor facsimile of "the faith that was once delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3). Yes, that religion is known as Christianity, and the devil behind it wants you to believe that it IS "the faith that was once delivered to the saints;" when in reality it is the "other gospel" and the "other Jesus" that the apostle Paul warned the early believers about (II Cor. 11:4; Gal. 1:6,7). The "one faith" that was delivered to the saints from above, is the gospel of the deliverance POWER of God's Spirit that Jesus sent back from heaven when he left here (Acts 1:4,5,8; Acts 2:1-4; Rom. 1:16; I Cor. 4:20). The power of God that delivers the hearts and souls of true believers from sin, IS "the faith that was once delivered to the saints." On the other hand, Christianity with all of it's vain, powerless form and show, is nothing but futile religious idolatry for those who want to fool themselves into thinking that they are serving God while yet remaining in sin (II Tim. 3:5). Idols in ancient times could not deliver anyone from anything at all, and Christianity actually comes right out and SAYS that it doesn't literally deliver anyone from sin; in proclaiming "believers" to be "sinners saved by grace." My friend, the only thing that takes anybody anywhere with the true God is to get real with him from the heart, and lay hold on his righteousness by that means alone. So forsake the powerless traditions, doctrines, commandments of men, ceremonies, and vain religious service of Christianity; and boldly follow after the holy Spirit of God's love, and power, and truth (Rom. 5:5; Acts 1:8; Jn. 16:13). For truly EVERYTHING apart from THOSE elements is nothing more or less than idolatry, and will never deliver the soul from sin and death (Rom. 8:2). Amen.

From the Preserved Writings of Lary R. Hale

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Jesus Is All

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In loving memory

Lary R. Hale

Lary smiling with his beloved dog Champ
Lary with Champ

A Hero Finally Rests.

Lary Redman Hale of Louisville, KY entered into his greatest joy, the presence of King Jesus himself, welcomed by the cheers of angels and the saints of God on Sunday night, April 21, 2024.

What the outside world would see as the untimely passing of a humble, local minister, heaven saw as the triumphant finale of a valiant warrior's life. He fought the good fight, having kept the faith, and received what Christ himself called "The Champion's Wreath of Victory".

Lary was born November 13, 1954 to Marvin and Norma Hale. Being the youngest of his siblings ensured he had lots of time with his loving mother, from whom he undoubtedly developed his profound sensitivity, heartfelt sentimentality and emotional comfortability - characteristics that were trademarks of his life. He grew up surrounded by cousins and classmates that became his best friends.

At his 50 year class reunion he was overjoyed and excited to catch up with so many of them, smiling and laughing more than he had in a long time. He would often tell stories of how he treasured those times as a young boy riding bikes, shooting B.B guns and playing with his childhood dog Peanuts; all while getting into assorted harmless mischief. He cherished the time he spent living on his parents houseboat and helping his dad, a united states marine veteran, take care of the boat and dock.

His relationship with his dad was only strengthened in their later years as they watched boxing matches almost every weekend for the remainder of his dad's life. He admired his brother Gary for his athleticism and industrious attitude, and thought his sisters Vicki and Mila had hearts of gold just like his mother. In his teen years Lary developed three of his lifelong loves: swimming, cool cars and lifting weights.

Some people said Lary was part fish because of how well he swam, but Lary would correct them, he was actually part dolphin. As a young man he managed a health club where he helped multiple people lose weight and counted that a huge joy. He loved nature and taking photos of it, honing his skills and knowledge in cameras. His vocabulary was second to none and he enjoyed learning new words and using them especially in his writings.

Before he passed he still exercised as much as his body would allow and he longed to return to the ocean and the white sands of Destin, Florida.

Like most disenfranchised teens in the early 70s, Lary indulged in countless vices that left him empty and searching for more. Although his long black curly hair, loud clothes, muscles and muscle cars made him the envy of the boys and the heartthrob of the girls, none of these things satisfied his heart. He pursued a college education briefly, desiring to be a marine biologist or philosopher but found that this was not what he was missing either - he longed for true fulfillment.

Depressed, empty, and feeling hopeless, Lary heard about a particular beautiful girl he had a crush on that was attending a small church where the "Spirit of God" was changing people's lives. After wondering why someone like her would attend a church like that, he began to attend also.

After a few months, he made a simple prayer on his hands and knees, saying "God I can't stop smoking, drinking, raging or any of the other countless vices I have - but if you can set me free from these things, I'll know you're real and that you want me to serve you". The next morning Lary woke up and described the next few hours as "walking on air" realizing he was, in his words "delivered" and never going back to those vices.

This began his life long commitment to glorifying Jesus, the king of glory, for how he transformed Lary's life from darkness to light. Lary would marry that same beautiful girl, the love of his life, Fay Kustes, and they would have two sons together, Benjamin Isaac and Elisha Daniel. Lary's greatest joy in life was being a husband and father.

He was happiest when he was sharing what he was learning in the bible with his family, and teaching them that knowing God was simplistic and yet powerful - that God was not merely a religious concept, but a powerful savior on a day to day basis. As Lary made it his life's goal to find "the lost sheep", he would tap into his multifaceted creativity that went largely underappreciated.

Lary produced well over a thousand episodes of gospel presentations: self-producing, mixing, editing and encoding both a radio and television show. Between the two, he broadcast for over 30 years. All of this in the analog age, where self produced radio and TV shows were nearly unheard of, especially without any budget whatsoever.

Lary was an evangelist in Louisville and southern Indiana, being asked to preach and teach in multicultural and multi-generational churches across the city. The churches he was most loved and welcomed by were the African-American Baptist and Pentecostal churches that loved and welcomed his passionate, excitable and action packed style of preaching.

Once the dawn of the internet came, he immediately worked to have a website published, making his literature and gospel teachings available. Eventually he'd use social media to teach, preach and encourage believers all across the world. He would spend every night praying with and encouraging christians from every nation until the end of his life. Many of which saw him like a second father and all of whom greatly mourn his passing.

Even though he produced over a thousand episodes of media, taught in multiple churches, mentored in multiple countries, and had multiple printed works of literature, he considered his greatest life's work to be his two sons. One of their earliest memories is Lary saying "the most important job in the world is not preaching the gospel, it's raising kids in the gospel". This threaded through his entire life.

In his final week on earth, he reminisced on his life saying "I see my life as the highest success, because my life's work are my two sons, who I am so incredibly proud of - not for their natural achievements but for their love, humility and personal faith in Jesus that is not only evident in their lives but also in their love. Because of them, I know my life is a true success - and I credit Jesus for all of it".

His sons today see him as the most successful man they will ever know. He succeeded in loving them and never hurting them. Leading them and never controlling them. Being there for them and never leaving them. He was a man that would apologize quickly, forgive quickly, and always encouraged his sons to "get up and go from here". He succeeded in teaching them faith, hope and love in a world starving so badly for all three. His ministry lives on in them.

The lives of everyone touched by their lives are forever indebted to this humble, prayerful man of faith.

He is preceded in death by his father Marvin, mother Norma, sister Mila, sister-in-law Marlene, nephew Adam, aunts, uncles, treasured cousins, and his beloved dog of 18 years, Champ.

Until they are reunited in the glory of heaven, he is survived and will be missed by his sons, Benjamin and Elisha (Katrine), his wife of 30 years, Fay, his brother Gary, His sister Vicki (Dan), his cousins, nieces, nephews, his friends, and those that called him their pastor and teacher.

"The righteous perish, and no man lays it to heart: merciful men are taken away and no one considers that the righteous person is being spared from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: he shall rest in his bed, having walked in uprightness." Isaiah 57:1&2

A life in pictures and film

Watch the tribute video shared with Lary’s obituary. It brings together moments from his life and footage of the man so many loved.

Video hosted by Tribute Slides through Newcomer Kentuckiana.

Original obituary at Newcomer Kentuckiana

Memories of Lary