Thursday, December 20, 2007
Moving Forward
There is only 11 days left in 2007 and it's been a hectic but good year. As I look forward to 2008 I wanted to give you some thoughts on what I think God is saying as we step into the year 2008. Biblically the number 8 stood for new beginnings and brithing of something. I am 1 week into my new "assignment" for this season as the associate youth director at Abundant Life and I can honestly say that my prayer for 08 is that the fire of God will take the youth by storm. As I was driving into work today God began to speak to me about not looking back and to begin to walk forward and not allow the things that happened in 07, 06 or anything in the past to hold me back. I am excited to see what God is going to do in 2008 for our youth.
Decision Effect
I received this devotional from Ed Young this morning and I wanted to share it with everyone.
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
- Romans 7:15
Paul was the ultimate Christ-follower. He dedicated his life to spreading the message of Jesus Christ and started churches throughout the known world. He even wrote most of the New Testament, yet Paul still struggled with lining up his actions with what he knew and understood to be right.
We are not alone in our struggle to match our priorities and commitments. It has been a problem for thousands of years And has cost many Christian men and women the freedom that God desires for them. But the sad thing is that many Christ-followers do not realize they are sacrificing their freedom.
We pay attention to the major decisions of life like who we should marry and what career path we should take, yet we neglect the seemingly mundane decisions. God does not want us to live that way. He wants us to pay attention to the little opportunities that shape our lives instead of living for the next "opportunity of a lifetime."
Daily decisions can add up to shape a lifetime, but wisdom is found in making the most of both the little opportunities and the big ones. All of our decisions matter to God and they impact our lives. But if we want to live in the freedom Christ came to offer, our priorities and commitments (even the little ones) must line up with God's principles.
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
- Romans 7:15
Paul was the ultimate Christ-follower. He dedicated his life to spreading the message of Jesus Christ and started churches throughout the known world. He even wrote most of the New Testament, yet Paul still struggled with lining up his actions with what he knew and understood to be right.
We are not alone in our struggle to match our priorities and commitments. It has been a problem for thousands of years And has cost many Christian men and women the freedom that God desires for them. But the sad thing is that many Christ-followers do not realize they are sacrificing their freedom.
We pay attention to the major decisions of life like who we should marry and what career path we should take, yet we neglect the seemingly mundane decisions. God does not want us to live that way. He wants us to pay attention to the little opportunities that shape our lives instead of living for the next "opportunity of a lifetime."
Daily decisions can add up to shape a lifetime, but wisdom is found in making the most of both the little opportunities and the big ones. All of our decisions matter to God and they impact our lives. But if we want to live in the freedom Christ came to offer, our priorities and commitments (even the little ones) must line up with God's principles.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Desire - The Key To Absolute Victory
God needs us to desire what we are asking Him for. We don’t receive the fullness of what God wants us to have is lack of desire. If you look up the word desire in the dictionary you will find the following meanings. Desire (verb) – to long or hope for; exhibit or feel a desire for. Some synonyms for desire are: wish, want, crave, or covet: which all mean to have a longing for. Desire (noun) – a conscious impulse toward something that promises enjoyment or satisfaction in its attainment; a usually formal request or petition for some action. One translation of desire is: consuming passion; unrelenting undying drive; insatiable hunger; unquenchable thirst; intense fervency. Desire is the difference between winners and losers. You will never do anything great with out desire.
Those of you that know me know how much of a sports nut I am. If you have seen any type of sports program you will often hear the terms “Eye of the tiger or past his prime.” Both statements deal with desire OR lack there of. How many things have we missed out on because we don’t have the eye of the tiger for the kingdom? How many miracles have been missed; how many souls haven’t been saved; how many times has God desired to move but because of our lack of desire He wasn’t able to. I am fully persuaded to the fact that America is in the spiritual state it is because for generation after generation there has been a lack of DESIRE and we are paying the price for it.
Throughout scripture the blessing of God and desire were always in relationship with each other. If you want something bad enough then you will do whatever it takes (DESIRE) to bring the promise to pass. There’s no substitute for desire; you can’t fake desire; you can’t pretend to have desire. You either have it or you don’t. Everything that has ever been accomplished has come because of desire. It doesn’t take ability or talent it takes desire. I would much rather have a group of desirous people then a group of “talented people.” If you know your talented then you will rely on your talent to bring things to pass; if you are desirous you will rely on your desire to bring things to pass.
Everything God does for His people; comes when the fire of desire is ignited. If you trace great moves of God back through history you will see that before the fire of revival comes there was an igniting of desire first. Charles Seymour (the father of the Azusa Street outpouring) would pray with his face in a shoebox so he wouldn’t be distracted while he was praying. The outpouring in Brownsville came because a group of people got together to pray and seek God’s face. Our hunger for the word or lack there of is how God gauges our level of desire. Why is it that when ever there’s a special speaker for a revival service or for a potluck the church is packed but on a Wednesday night Bible study or a Sunday evening prayer meeting the church has 10 people?
I believe it’s because our desire for hero’s and food is greater than our desire for the move of God. We have got to get out of the hero mentality and move to a God mentality. Prominent people in the ministry are no different than you and I. They may have a different calling than us but they are where they are because of the desire in their hearts. It takes heart and desire to do something great for God.
In closing I want to leave you with a couple of things for you to keep in your memory. The story of the hare and the turtle is an amazing story that relates to desire (turtle) and lack there of (hare). This should have been no match for the rabbit; it was obvious that the rabbit was blessed more than the turtle. But the problem with the rabbit was the fact that he knew he was blessed and once he got a “comfortable lead” he laid down and took a nap. But the turtle kept on going he was reaching and struggling but he had desire to win. To make a long story short we all know that the turtle wound up winning because the rabbit got lazy. It doesn’t matter how fast others around you received their blessing all that matters is your posture of desire while you are in the race. Where there’s faith and optimism there will always be a way. I believe that your level of faith is a picture of your level of desire.
We have got to get the “push back” mentality. It’s the mentality that says you have pushed me long enough and I am going to start pushing back. That push back is called the power of the word. Jer. 1:9 says “behold I have placed my words in your mouth.” God was telling Jeremiah that His words were in Jeremiah’s mouth. The word in Jer. 1:9 is neither logos (written word) or rhema (spoken word) but it’s a connotation of the word debar which is a Hebrew connotation of an action verb. The word means that it is going to create something, do something & manifest something
It carries the connotation of dynamic action. Debar- to get behind & drive forward; or drive forward that which is behind. We have got to stop telling everyone about what we struggle with and use the debar and desire we have to drive them out. God gave us a weapon and we need to quit using it to kill people and gossip and use it to deliver. Every time fear rises up and paralyzes you; the debar word of God needs to rise up and drive it out. Once we understand this we can drive forward everything that is behind us. It’s time to tell the enemy that if anyone is backing down it’s going to be them because of the debar and desire in you
If we would begin to desire the things of God MORE than the things of this world there will be nothing that can hold us back. If God is going to do anything in our lives and through our lives our desire MUST be refreshed. David said in the book of Psalms 27:4 “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” Is that the cry of your heart for 2008? I believe that God is looking for a group of people that will allow the fire of desire to be ignited and when that happens God will begin to move. God Bless and may 2008 be the best year in your life.
**Some of these thoughts were from a sermon Jentenzen Franklin Preached**
Those of you that know me know how much of a sports nut I am. If you have seen any type of sports program you will often hear the terms “Eye of the tiger or past his prime.” Both statements deal with desire OR lack there of. How many things have we missed out on because we don’t have the eye of the tiger for the kingdom? How many miracles have been missed; how many souls haven’t been saved; how many times has God desired to move but because of our lack of desire He wasn’t able to. I am fully persuaded to the fact that America is in the spiritual state it is because for generation after generation there has been a lack of DESIRE and we are paying the price for it.
Throughout scripture the blessing of God and desire were always in relationship with each other. If you want something bad enough then you will do whatever it takes (DESIRE) to bring the promise to pass. There’s no substitute for desire; you can’t fake desire; you can’t pretend to have desire. You either have it or you don’t. Everything that has ever been accomplished has come because of desire. It doesn’t take ability or talent it takes desire. I would much rather have a group of desirous people then a group of “talented people.” If you know your talented then you will rely on your talent to bring things to pass; if you are desirous you will rely on your desire to bring things to pass.
Everything God does for His people; comes when the fire of desire is ignited. If you trace great moves of God back through history you will see that before the fire of revival comes there was an igniting of desire first. Charles Seymour (the father of the Azusa Street outpouring) would pray with his face in a shoebox so he wouldn’t be distracted while he was praying. The outpouring in Brownsville came because a group of people got together to pray and seek God’s face. Our hunger for the word or lack there of is how God gauges our level of desire. Why is it that when ever there’s a special speaker for a revival service or for a potluck the church is packed but on a Wednesday night Bible study or a Sunday evening prayer meeting the church has 10 people?
I believe it’s because our desire for hero’s and food is greater than our desire for the move of God. We have got to get out of the hero mentality and move to a God mentality. Prominent people in the ministry are no different than you and I. They may have a different calling than us but they are where they are because of the desire in their hearts. It takes heart and desire to do something great for God.
In closing I want to leave you with a couple of things for you to keep in your memory. The story of the hare and the turtle is an amazing story that relates to desire (turtle) and lack there of (hare). This should have been no match for the rabbit; it was obvious that the rabbit was blessed more than the turtle. But the problem with the rabbit was the fact that he knew he was blessed and once he got a “comfortable lead” he laid down and took a nap. But the turtle kept on going he was reaching and struggling but he had desire to win. To make a long story short we all know that the turtle wound up winning because the rabbit got lazy. It doesn’t matter how fast others around you received their blessing all that matters is your posture of desire while you are in the race. Where there’s faith and optimism there will always be a way. I believe that your level of faith is a picture of your level of desire.
We have got to get the “push back” mentality. It’s the mentality that says you have pushed me long enough and I am going to start pushing back. That push back is called the power of the word. Jer. 1:9 says “behold I have placed my words in your mouth.” God was telling Jeremiah that His words were in Jeremiah’s mouth. The word in Jer. 1:9 is neither logos (written word) or rhema (spoken word) but it’s a connotation of the word debar which is a Hebrew connotation of an action verb. The word means that it is going to create something, do something & manifest something
It carries the connotation of dynamic action. Debar- to get behind & drive forward; or drive forward that which is behind. We have got to stop telling everyone about what we struggle with and use the debar and desire we have to drive them out. God gave us a weapon and we need to quit using it to kill people and gossip and use it to deliver. Every time fear rises up and paralyzes you; the debar word of God needs to rise up and drive it out. Once we understand this we can drive forward everything that is behind us. It’s time to tell the enemy that if anyone is backing down it’s going to be them because of the debar and desire in you
If we would begin to desire the things of God MORE than the things of this world there will be nothing that can hold us back. If God is going to do anything in our lives and through our lives our desire MUST be refreshed. David said in the book of Psalms 27:4 “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” Is that the cry of your heart for 2008? I believe that God is looking for a group of people that will allow the fire of desire to be ignited and when that happens God will begin to move. God Bless and may 2008 be the best year in your life.
**Some of these thoughts were from a sermon Jentenzen Franklin Preached**
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Discerning Between State & Fate
TD Jakes talks about this in his book "Reposition Yourself - Living Without Limits". It spoke to me and I hope it does the same for you.
We all go through situations that cause us to wonder if we are ever going to come out of it. It's our attitude in the situations that ultimately determine our attitude and progression once we come out of the situation. I am reminded of Joseph in the book of Genesis and the "situations" he went through. If you have been saved any amount of time you know that the only crime that Joseph was guilty of was being a man of integrity and a "dreamer." But it seemed like no matter what he did he could never get out of it.
He was sold into slavery by his brother's, accused of rape by Potiphar's wife, put in prison, interpreted the dreams of the prisoner's who promised to not forget when they got out, but they didn't even breath his name. Yet all the time he kept his heart pure. I am sure that during that time it would have been so easy for him to get bitter and resent his gift but he kept himself from reproach. Until the day came that no one could interpret the dream that Pharoh had except Joseph. If anyone had a right to give up and not pursue their calling it would be Joseph. The thing I love about this story was the fact that Joseph was given every opportunity to give up and be resentful but he kept his heart right.
If you are in a situation today and you think that it's not going to get any better I want to encourage you to keep doing what you're doing and you WILL come out of this thing and bring people with you. You never know you could be in a financial crisis and everything is closing in around you and God give you a dream like John Deere and it go froms a dream to a plan to a product and you come out and get out of debt and give your prosperity to the church. Keep doing what you are doing. God's not freaking out about your situation because He's already in your future. He's not looking at your present situation He's looking at your future position. Keep doing it and evantually you will get to where God is!!!
The one thing you need to do in your situation is to determine whether or not this is a temporary situation or a permanent destination. You can't succumb to fear and despair but you need to persevere. We need to also remember that if God wants to promote He'll send a person and if Satan wants to stop you he'll send a person. So either way your blessing or your cursing is going to come wrapped in some flesh.
How Do You Move From State To Fate?
1.) Take An Inventory of Where You Are
- Before we can move any further we need to do a self-analysis and determine where we are.
- You can only correct what you are willing to confront
2.) Recognize How Gifted We Are
- We must recognize the power of the gifts God has given us to escape the prison of despair and defeat. Joseph was bound by his circumstances but he overcame them by using his gifts.
3.) Keep A Pure Spirit Before God
- When all hell's breaking loose in your life and you feel it's going to be easier to quit keep your heart right and know that if God brings you to it He'll bring you through it.
4.) Learn How To Re-Create Yourself In A Time Of Need
- Joseph went from convict to commissioner in a matter of hours b/c of his creativity.
- The spirit of favor and creativity WILL ALWAYS bring you out.
We all go through situations that cause us to wonder if we are ever going to come out of it. It's our attitude in the situations that ultimately determine our attitude and progression once we come out of the situation. I am reminded of Joseph in the book of Genesis and the "situations" he went through. If you have been saved any amount of time you know that the only crime that Joseph was guilty of was being a man of integrity and a "dreamer." But it seemed like no matter what he did he could never get out of it.
He was sold into slavery by his brother's, accused of rape by Potiphar's wife, put in prison, interpreted the dreams of the prisoner's who promised to not forget when they got out, but they didn't even breath his name. Yet all the time he kept his heart pure. I am sure that during that time it would have been so easy for him to get bitter and resent his gift but he kept himself from reproach. Until the day came that no one could interpret the dream that Pharoh had except Joseph. If anyone had a right to give up and not pursue their calling it would be Joseph. The thing I love about this story was the fact that Joseph was given every opportunity to give up and be resentful but he kept his heart right.
If you are in a situation today and you think that it's not going to get any better I want to encourage you to keep doing what you're doing and you WILL come out of this thing and bring people with you. You never know you could be in a financial crisis and everything is closing in around you and God give you a dream like John Deere and it go froms a dream to a plan to a product and you come out and get out of debt and give your prosperity to the church. Keep doing what you are doing. God's not freaking out about your situation because He's already in your future. He's not looking at your present situation He's looking at your future position. Keep doing it and evantually you will get to where God is!!!
The one thing you need to do in your situation is to determine whether or not this is a temporary situation or a permanent destination. You can't succumb to fear and despair but you need to persevere. We need to also remember that if God wants to promote He'll send a person and if Satan wants to stop you he'll send a person. So either way your blessing or your cursing is going to come wrapped in some flesh.
How Do You Move From State To Fate?
1.) Take An Inventory of Where You Are
- Before we can move any further we need to do a self-analysis and determine where we are.
- You can only correct what you are willing to confront
2.) Recognize How Gifted We Are
- We must recognize the power of the gifts God has given us to escape the prison of despair and defeat. Joseph was bound by his circumstances but he overcame them by using his gifts.
3.) Keep A Pure Spirit Before God
- When all hell's breaking loose in your life and you feel it's going to be easier to quit keep your heart right and know that if God brings you to it He'll bring you through it.
4.) Learn How To Re-Create Yourself In A Time Of Need
- Joseph went from convict to commissioner in a matter of hours b/c of his creativity.
- The spirit of favor and creativity WILL ALWAYS bring you out.
Know When To Bend
I received the following this morning from Michael Pink, author of Selling Among Wolves Without Joining The Pack. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
"Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him; and I will (1) loose the armor of kings,(2) to open before him the two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; (3) I will go before you, and (4) make the crooked places straight: (Isa 45:1-3)
So I ask you, what makes a crooked path? I believe there are two causes of the crooked path and they both serve a purpose. The first cause of the crooked path is God Himself. It is on the crooked path that we learn to rely on Him. It is on the crooked path that we come to the end of ourselves. It is on the crooked path that we behold the beauty of the Lord and His glory. It is on the crooked path, that we must bend our will to His way. It is on the crooked path that we become entwined with Him. We injure ourselves when we try to straighten what God has made crooked. We must learn to bend with the Father and conform to His "way". He is taking us to school along the crooked path. Learn to enjoy the scenery.Charles Kuralt of CBS fame once said, "Interstate highways allow you to drive coast to coast, without seeing anything". It's the curse of the straight path. While it's true that the shortest path between any two points is a straight line, the straight line is not always best. The devil always tells us, we deserve it now. Get rich quick. Take the shortest path. Don't wait. Time's a wasting! If you get on the straight path, (the interstate highway), before you have the Father's heart built in and the old nature brought under, you may find yourself broadsided by a fast moving 18 wheeler, you didn't see coming!Give a young man his inheritance before he has the wisdom to steward it and you will lose both the inheritance and quite possibly your son. Before you give your child any inheritance, make sure you have passed on the inheritance of your heart. A great way to do that is on the difficult path. The crooked path. The inheritance of your heart is more "caught than taught" and the trials of life provide the perfect context to pass on the wealth of understanding God has deposited in your heart as you learned to bend to His will and His ways along the winding path.
"Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him; and I will (1) loose the armor of kings,(2) to open before him the two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; (3) I will go before you, and (4) make the crooked places straight: (Isa 45:1-3)
So I ask you, what makes a crooked path? I believe there are two causes of the crooked path and they both serve a purpose. The first cause of the crooked path is God Himself. It is on the crooked path that we learn to rely on Him. It is on the crooked path that we come to the end of ourselves. It is on the crooked path that we behold the beauty of the Lord and His glory. It is on the crooked path, that we must bend our will to His way. It is on the crooked path that we become entwined with Him. We injure ourselves when we try to straighten what God has made crooked. We must learn to bend with the Father and conform to His "way". He is taking us to school along the crooked path. Learn to enjoy the scenery.Charles Kuralt of CBS fame once said, "Interstate highways allow you to drive coast to coast, without seeing anything". It's the curse of the straight path. While it's true that the shortest path between any two points is a straight line, the straight line is not always best. The devil always tells us, we deserve it now. Get rich quick. Take the shortest path. Don't wait. Time's a wasting! If you get on the straight path, (the interstate highway), before you have the Father's heart built in and the old nature brought under, you may find yourself broadsided by a fast moving 18 wheeler, you didn't see coming!Give a young man his inheritance before he has the wisdom to steward it and you will lose both the inheritance and quite possibly your son. Before you give your child any inheritance, make sure you have passed on the inheritance of your heart. A great way to do that is on the difficult path. The crooked path. The inheritance of your heart is more "caught than taught" and the trials of life provide the perfect context to pass on the wealth of understanding God has deposited in your heart as you learned to bend to His will and His ways along the winding path.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Stuck On Standby!!!
I know that Pastor Clint Brown used this title for a recent sermon that I ministered in Michigan. I feel that it was a "now word" for a lot of the youth and young adults that were in attendance and I wanted to share some points with you.
I ministered out of Deut. 1:5-8; here are some key points; the children of Israel had been stuck in the wilderness for 40 years because of the negative report of 10 people. The journey should have only taken them 11 days but they were "stuck on standby" for 40 years. I feel that the church of America has been "stuck" for too long and it's time to move on. There were three things God told Moses before they were to possess their promise.
The word standby means: held near at hand & ready for use.
1.) Realize They Dwelt Here Long Enough
- You've been at the same place for too long and it's time you realize it and move on.
2.) Break Camp
- Before you can FULLY move into your destiny you have to break the thing that is "comfortable" to you and start progressing.
- We need to forget who has wronged us and ran us through the mud and move on. We have got to quit talking about the "used to" move and start talking about the "NOW" move. People aren't interested in the used to they want to know the now move.
- You can never fully get "here" until you are willing to leave "there."
3.) Go & Occupy
- The word occupy in v 8 literally means to possess the land. The word possess means to drive out other tenants. We have tenants that are "squatting" illegally on our land & it's time we go and drive them out.
Hope you enjoyed.
I ministered out of Deut. 1:5-8; here are some key points; the children of Israel had been stuck in the wilderness for 40 years because of the negative report of 10 people. The journey should have only taken them 11 days but they were "stuck on standby" for 40 years. I feel that the church of America has been "stuck" for too long and it's time to move on. There were three things God told Moses before they were to possess their promise.
The word standby means: held near at hand & ready for use.
1.) Realize They Dwelt Here Long Enough
- You've been at the same place for too long and it's time you realize it and move on.
2.) Break Camp
- Before you can FULLY move into your destiny you have to break the thing that is "comfortable" to you and start progressing.
- We need to forget who has wronged us and ran us through the mud and move on. We have got to quit talking about the "used to" move and start talking about the "NOW" move. People aren't interested in the used to they want to know the now move.
- You can never fully get "here" until you are willing to leave "there."
3.) Go & Occupy
- The word occupy in v 8 literally means to possess the land. The word possess means to drive out other tenants. We have tenants that are "squatting" illegally on our land & it's time we go and drive them out.
Hope you enjoyed.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Pictures Of Recent Evangelistic Trip To Michigan
I was in Michigan ministering two weeks ago and wanted to share some pictures with everyone.
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The First Step Of Restoration Has Come!!!!!
In my past blogs I have eluded to a situation that was handled poorly on my end and the other parties end but there seemed to be no restoration in sight or ever from where I stood. Through it all I had been speaking with a really good friend of mine in Southern Ohio and he told me that the same thing had happened to him as far as people running his name through the mud and people constantly talking about him. I asked him what he did to keep the bitterness feelings from setting in.
He told me that everytime that person would come to his mind he would say a simple prayer "God let your kingdom come" and then move on. He encouraged me to do the same and he said that he felt if I did it with a pure heart that God would move and change the situation. When you have a 55 minute drive to and from work you have a lot of time to think and pray about things. Every time this situation and person would come to my mind I would pray the very thing that Billy told me to pray. Although the first couple of times it was prayed through "gritted teeth." The more and more I prayed that prayer the easier and easier it got.
Then last Wednesday (10-31-07) I received breakthrough. The person that I had an "issue" with and they had an "issue" with me called and apologized for everything. They said that they were wrong in what they did and they regretted it. Of course I forgave all and I apologized for the attitude that I had given as well, we hugged and were able to talk with no animosity at all. I am so thankful that we are able to start reconciling the relationship and I am anxious to see what's going to happen. If you are in a situation and you need God to restore; take heart and know that the restoration is only a prayer away.
He told me that everytime that person would come to his mind he would say a simple prayer "God let your kingdom come" and then move on. He encouraged me to do the same and he said that he felt if I did it with a pure heart that God would move and change the situation. When you have a 55 minute drive to and from work you have a lot of time to think and pray about things. Every time this situation and person would come to my mind I would pray the very thing that Billy told me to pray. Although the first couple of times it was prayed through "gritted teeth." The more and more I prayed that prayer the easier and easier it got.
Then last Wednesday (10-31-07) I received breakthrough. The person that I had an "issue" with and they had an "issue" with me called and apologized for everything. They said that they were wrong in what they did and they regretted it. Of course I forgave all and I apologized for the attitude that I had given as well, we hugged and were able to talk with no animosity at all. I am so thankful that we are able to start reconciling the relationship and I am anxious to see what's going to happen. If you are in a situation and you need God to restore; take heart and know that the restoration is only a prayer away.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
It's Your Wake Up Call
For those of you that read this blog quite regularly (I don't know who you are) you know that a couple of days ago I wrote about God telling me to tell the kids at church that it's time to get serious. Matt called me last week and asked that I teach the kids one more time on Sunday morning. The moment he asked me to teach God spoke to me and said preach on "It's Your Wake-Up Call."
I was past the point of worrying about the kids feelings towards me and I decided that I was going to minister what God told me to minister. Up to that point the kids in the youth really hadn't shown a "true" interest in spiritual things. There was one young lady in the group that has really been through a lot and God was able to use me to give her a prophetic word that really changed her life.
Her mom came to me the following Sunday and thanked me for "reading her mail" because all she did was talk about how awesome she was feeling. I know that this was a "destiny" word and I am excited to see where God is going to take us as a youth ministry.
I was past the point of worrying about the kids feelings towards me and I decided that I was going to minister what God told me to minister. Up to that point the kids in the youth really hadn't shown a "true" interest in spiritual things. There was one young lady in the group that has really been through a lot and God was able to use me to give her a prophetic word that really changed her life.
Her mom came to me the following Sunday and thanked me for "reading her mail" because all she did was talk about how awesome she was feeling. I know that this was a "destiny" word and I am excited to see where God is going to take us as a youth ministry.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Time To Get Serious!!!
Tell the kids "It's Time To Get Serious!!!" It was Sunday morning during praise and worship at church. (www.myspace.com/abundantlifetabernacle) I was contacted at 9:59am that morning to teach the youth (thanks Chewie - you have taught me to be instant in season and out). I was asking God what He wanted me to teach and I heard nothing until about 15 minutes until it was time to go back to class. I was praying and seeking and asking and all of the sudden I heard God tell me to tell the kids It's Time To Get Serious!!!
God brought me to Revelation 3 where God is telling the church that He wished they were hot or cold. But because they are lukewarm He was going to vomit them out of His mouth. I can honestly say that God came in the room and I was literally weeping as I was teaching. I kept telling the kids that God's heart cry for us is to get serious about our walk with Him and the lack of care we have had. If America needs anything right now it's for the youth and the church of America to stand up and declare the word of the Lord to a lost and dying world. He's tired of our lackadaisical lifestyle and He's going to start requiring us to change so we can walk into what He has for us.
God brought me to Revelation 3 where God is telling the church that He wished they were hot or cold. But because they are lukewarm He was going to vomit them out of His mouth. I can honestly say that God came in the room and I was literally weeping as I was teaching. I kept telling the kids that God's heart cry for us is to get serious about our walk with Him and the lack of care we have had. If America needs anything right now it's for the youth and the church of America to stand up and declare the word of the Lord to a lost and dying world. He's tired of our lackadaisical lifestyle and He's going to start requiring us to change so we can walk into what He has for us.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Keeping The Right People In & The Wrong People Out
“He Who Covers a Transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.” – Prov. 17:9 (NKJV)
For the past 21 days I have been going through the book of Proverbs and reading one chapter a day for each day of the month. I am absolutely amazed at the “nuggets” of truth that have been uncovered; they aren’t necessarily “heavy revi’s” but they are scriptures that speak to me where I am. That’s the amazing thing about the Bible; although it was written thousands of years ago it can still speak to you today where you are in life. That’s the difference between truth and revelation. Truth is where God has been; revelation is where God is.
After reading this verse I stopped everything and read it again. I began to think of situations and people in the past that I have trusted and other’s have trusted that haven’t covered transgressions but have told everyone about what happened. If you want to be a person of trustworthiness then we need to become “covering” people. I am sure we all go to church with the “concerned prayer people.” You know the person I am talking about; they are the ones that, when word gets out about someone OR something they go to that person and tell them that they want to pray for them and they need to know what happened. They are no more concerned about what happened then I am a Rhoad’s scholar. They don’t care about the situation they only care about gossiping about it to other people.
That’s why we need to be careful with who we allow access into our lives. We need to have people in our lives that are doors AND walls. The door people are the people that see a good thing coming your way and open they way for you to receive it. Those same people need to be walls and when there is a bad thing coming they block it and don’t allow it.
When you allow someone close to you that doesn’t know what to be when to be that they will be doors when they need to be walls and let bad things in and they will be walls when they need to be doors and not allow good things to come. The people you allow in your “inner circle” need to be people that will “cover” you and not speak of things you have spoken to them about. I have three people that I can confide in and talk to about issues that I am facing and I KNOW that they aren’t going to tell anyone. It didn’t happen overnight and it came with time. I was able to tell them little things and over time I began to realize and trust them that what I was saying to them would not go any further. There was a situation that one of them could have sold me out and told everything we talked about but they covered me and didn’t say a word.
We need to be careful of the people that will, as Solomon told us, “…speak a matter and separate friends.”
I haven’t traveled extensively in ministry but the places that I have traveled I have seen churches “killing” their wounded. The church and the church body need to be a place of refuge and healing but it has become a place of haughty attitudes. The church was established not so we could “show off” our gifting or our suits but it was established to be a place that people could come and receive love and healing. A church is always going to reflect the attitude of the pastor. I have seen some churches on the verge of dieing and then a new pastor comes in that speaks on life and not death and the church growth explodes because the people will ultimately become a reflection of the pastor.
That is why you have to be careful when seeking counseling and guidance from your pastor. Just because he’s behind the pulpit doesn’t mean that he doesn’t gossip. Before you bare your soul to the wrong people give it time for them to earn that right.
Remember this: If a person gossips to you; they WILL gossip about you. Check back often as this is a subject that I am going to discuss and write my thoughts about regularly.
For the past 21 days I have been going through the book of Proverbs and reading one chapter a day for each day of the month. I am absolutely amazed at the “nuggets” of truth that have been uncovered; they aren’t necessarily “heavy revi’s” but they are scriptures that speak to me where I am. That’s the amazing thing about the Bible; although it was written thousands of years ago it can still speak to you today where you are in life. That’s the difference between truth and revelation. Truth is where God has been; revelation is where God is.
After reading this verse I stopped everything and read it again. I began to think of situations and people in the past that I have trusted and other’s have trusted that haven’t covered transgressions but have told everyone about what happened. If you want to be a person of trustworthiness then we need to become “covering” people. I am sure we all go to church with the “concerned prayer people.” You know the person I am talking about; they are the ones that, when word gets out about someone OR something they go to that person and tell them that they want to pray for them and they need to know what happened. They are no more concerned about what happened then I am a Rhoad’s scholar. They don’t care about the situation they only care about gossiping about it to other people.
That’s why we need to be careful with who we allow access into our lives. We need to have people in our lives that are doors AND walls. The door people are the people that see a good thing coming your way and open they way for you to receive it. Those same people need to be walls and when there is a bad thing coming they block it and don’t allow it.
When you allow someone close to you that doesn’t know what to be when to be that they will be doors when they need to be walls and let bad things in and they will be walls when they need to be doors and not allow good things to come. The people you allow in your “inner circle” need to be people that will “cover” you and not speak of things you have spoken to them about. I have three people that I can confide in and talk to about issues that I am facing and I KNOW that they aren’t going to tell anyone. It didn’t happen overnight and it came with time. I was able to tell them little things and over time I began to realize and trust them that what I was saying to them would not go any further. There was a situation that one of them could have sold me out and told everything we talked about but they covered me and didn’t say a word.
We need to be careful of the people that will, as Solomon told us, “…speak a matter and separate friends.”
I haven’t traveled extensively in ministry but the places that I have traveled I have seen churches “killing” their wounded. The church and the church body need to be a place of refuge and healing but it has become a place of haughty attitudes. The church was established not so we could “show off” our gifting or our suits but it was established to be a place that people could come and receive love and healing. A church is always going to reflect the attitude of the pastor. I have seen some churches on the verge of dieing and then a new pastor comes in that speaks on life and not death and the church growth explodes because the people will ultimately become a reflection of the pastor.
That is why you have to be careful when seeking counseling and guidance from your pastor. Just because he’s behind the pulpit doesn’t mean that he doesn’t gossip. Before you bare your soul to the wrong people give it time for them to earn that right.
Remember this: If a person gossips to you; they WILL gossip about you. Check back often as this is a subject that I am going to discuss and write my thoughts about regularly.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
A Must Read
The Courage To Confront
Recently I purchased TD Jakes newest book entitled Reposition Yourself – Living Life Without Limits. I knew that it was going to be good just by reading an excerpt of it on the internet. The first chapter deals with confronting the things in your life that need changed. By the end of the chapter I was in tears because it hit home and “punched me in the mouth.” I know that by the time I am done with this I will be living the life of my dreams because I am going to have to deal with things that I have run from.
One of the points that Jakes made that hit me the hardest was an illustration of an intervention with “people” that are in your life. The four “people” that were at the intervention was: Distant Dreamer (the part of you that dreams); Listless Lover (the part of you that looks for love in all the wrong places); Manny The Manager (the rational part of you); Blinded Believer (your spiritual self). These are the voices that we all have and we attempt to muzzle them and not listen to them. By the time I was done with Manny I was in absolute tears because the things they were saying was were I am.
Another point he made that totally made sense was on page 10. He was talking about having the “courage to confront” and he said “You can only correct what you are willing to confront.” This hit me like a ton of bricks because for so long I was content to live in the past life of hurt & regret. I used these two things as a crutch to not living to my full potential. I know have the understanding that this wasn’t only holding me back but also my wife and child. I made the decision last night (9:14pm) to not live in the past; I will learn from the past and use it to thrust me into the future.
Look for more updates as I continue this journey to Reposition Myself.
Recently I purchased TD Jakes newest book entitled Reposition Yourself – Living Life Without Limits. I knew that it was going to be good just by reading an excerpt of it on the internet. The first chapter deals with confronting the things in your life that need changed. By the end of the chapter I was in tears because it hit home and “punched me in the mouth.” I know that by the time I am done with this I will be living the life of my dreams because I am going to have to deal with things that I have run from.
One of the points that Jakes made that hit me the hardest was an illustration of an intervention with “people” that are in your life. The four “people” that were at the intervention was: Distant Dreamer (the part of you that dreams); Listless Lover (the part of you that looks for love in all the wrong places); Manny The Manager (the rational part of you); Blinded Believer (your spiritual self). These are the voices that we all have and we attempt to muzzle them and not listen to them. By the time I was done with Manny I was in absolute tears because the things they were saying was were I am.
Another point he made that totally made sense was on page 10. He was talking about having the “courage to confront” and he said “You can only correct what you are willing to confront.” This hit me like a ton of bricks because for so long I was content to live in the past life of hurt & regret. I used these two things as a crutch to not living to my full potential. I know have the understanding that this wasn’t only holding me back but also my wife and child. I made the decision last night (9:14pm) to not live in the past; I will learn from the past and use it to thrust me into the future.
Look for more updates as I continue this journey to Reposition Myself.
Amazing Thought
I received the following article from Michael Pink. It's an awesome article that deals with focus. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Intensity.
There's something about intensity that generates results like nothing else. I watched a documentary yesterday on the life of Keith Green. Talk about intense! His passion was a consuming fire! His music moved a generation of young Christians in the early eighties. And I was stirred, just watching.
Where does intensity come from and what happens when you have it? Well, first of all, it's highly contagious and anyone with any contact with you will catch your intensity. If they don't appreciate your intensity, it will drive them away, but others, many others will be drawn to it. Therefore, make it about the right things. Until you value intensity or as some call it, passion, you will never have it. You may be moved by it in others, but you will never be possessed by it, consumed by it, animated by it. You will never benefit from it directly, nor will others be benefited by the potential of it in you.
Think about this... How long does it take to weld a bridge using a candle versus a blowtorch? Which are you? Have you lost your intensity lately? It happens. It's time to relight the blowtorch. It's time to ignite the passion, the intensity for what you are doing with your life. It's time to ignite the passion for your product or service if you are in business. And always, it's time to keep your intensity strong for the Lord.As they say, I would rather burn out than rust out. How about you?
I want to continue the discussion on intensity. Where does it come from? I submit that intensity is the result of FOCUS. When I was a child, I guess I had a cruel streak or at the very least an insensitive streak. On a lazy summer afternoon, we would grab a magnifying glass and go looking for ants.Some of you already know where I am going with this. We would find some slow moving ant near an ant hill and try to focus the light of the sun upon the ant. If we were way out of focus, there was no effect. If we were nearly in focus, it got us excited, but the ant didn't seem to pay any attention.It was only when we sharpened that focus to a virtual pinpoint that suddenly the ant upon which that light beam fell, suddenly withered and fried before our eyes. The ant represents the goal, the objective, the thing you are in pursuit of. With poor focus, nothing at all happens. With some focus, you get excited, but with precision, pinpoint focus, your actions become like a precision guided laser and the goal is accomplished with remarkable speed.But focus requires intentionality. Deliberateness. That's the subject of my next blog, but in the meantime, if you want to grow your mental capacity a bit, meditate on what it takes for you to focus. When you know that, you are well on your way.
Intensity.
There's something about intensity that generates results like nothing else. I watched a documentary yesterday on the life of Keith Green. Talk about intense! His passion was a consuming fire! His music moved a generation of young Christians in the early eighties. And I was stirred, just watching.
Where does intensity come from and what happens when you have it? Well, first of all, it's highly contagious and anyone with any contact with you will catch your intensity. If they don't appreciate your intensity, it will drive them away, but others, many others will be drawn to it. Therefore, make it about the right things. Until you value intensity or as some call it, passion, you will never have it. You may be moved by it in others, but you will never be possessed by it, consumed by it, animated by it. You will never benefit from it directly, nor will others be benefited by the potential of it in you.
Think about this... How long does it take to weld a bridge using a candle versus a blowtorch? Which are you? Have you lost your intensity lately? It happens. It's time to relight the blowtorch. It's time to ignite the passion, the intensity for what you are doing with your life. It's time to ignite the passion for your product or service if you are in business. And always, it's time to keep your intensity strong for the Lord.As they say, I would rather burn out than rust out. How about you?
I want to continue the discussion on intensity. Where does it come from? I submit that intensity is the result of FOCUS. When I was a child, I guess I had a cruel streak or at the very least an insensitive streak. On a lazy summer afternoon, we would grab a magnifying glass and go looking for ants.Some of you already know where I am going with this. We would find some slow moving ant near an ant hill and try to focus the light of the sun upon the ant. If we were way out of focus, there was no effect. If we were nearly in focus, it got us excited, but the ant didn't seem to pay any attention.It was only when we sharpened that focus to a virtual pinpoint that suddenly the ant upon which that light beam fell, suddenly withered and fried before our eyes. The ant represents the goal, the objective, the thing you are in pursuit of. With poor focus, nothing at all happens. With some focus, you get excited, but with precision, pinpoint focus, your actions become like a precision guided laser and the goal is accomplished with remarkable speed.But focus requires intentionality. Deliberateness. That's the subject of my next blog, but in the meantime, if you want to grow your mental capacity a bit, meditate on what it takes for you to focus. When you know that, you are well on your way.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Holy Ghost Outpour!!
This past weekend (July 13th, & 15th) I truly feel that God quit visiting Mansfield and He is beginning to go from visitation to habitation. On Friday night from 10pm - 6am we had an all night prayer meeting and, needless to say, God showed up. I had a softball game that was SUPPOSED TO end at 10:00 pm. But the teams that played before we played started late and the second game went into extra innings.
We should have started our game at 8:00 but didn’t get started until around 8:45; which put the ending time for our second game at 10:45. Needless to say I was upset because of the situation. I get in the car with the guy I was riding with and about 15 minutes from the church his tire blows. By this time it was 11:15 and I was at the point that I didn’t want to go.
With the tire changed we were off again and I got to the church around 12:05 am. Everyone was praying and I just slipped in the back; and sat there and prayed. I was in no mood to pray like everyone else; I knew I had to get my attitude right before that would happen. Once I felt the “change” I really started seeking God’s face for my church, my family and myself.
About 1:30 Darren asked if anyone had anything and I fought it because I wanted to make sure that what I had was really God. He kept looking at me and I kept saying “no” because I thought it would go away. Finally I couldn’t handle it anymore and I took the mic and told the church that I was feeling that God was taking us back to our first love. The power of God hit me while I was talking and I couldn’t stop shaking.
Sunday morning was the same type of atmosphere and God showed up again. I am so thankful that I went and that God is using me again in the gift of the prophetic.
Be Blessed & Walk In Your Identity
We should have started our game at 8:00 but didn’t get started until around 8:45; which put the ending time for our second game at 10:45. Needless to say I was upset because of the situation. I get in the car with the guy I was riding with and about 15 minutes from the church his tire blows. By this time it was 11:15 and I was at the point that I didn’t want to go.
With the tire changed we were off again and I got to the church around 12:05 am. Everyone was praying and I just slipped in the back; and sat there and prayed. I was in no mood to pray like everyone else; I knew I had to get my attitude right before that would happen. Once I felt the “change” I really started seeking God’s face for my church, my family and myself.
About 1:30 Darren asked if anyone had anything and I fought it because I wanted to make sure that what I had was really God. He kept looking at me and I kept saying “no” because I thought it would go away. Finally I couldn’t handle it anymore and I took the mic and told the church that I was feeling that God was taking us back to our first love. The power of God hit me while I was talking and I couldn’t stop shaking.
Sunday morning was the same type of atmosphere and God showed up again. I am so thankful that I went and that God is using me again in the gift of the prophetic.
Be Blessed & Walk In Your Identity
Failure
I came across the following quote on the internet and it really jumped out at me and I have been "chewing" on it for about a week now. It's for those people that feel that they have failed someone or something in their life and they can't seem to get over it. The quote was made by Henry Ford and it's such a powerful quote.
"Failure is only an opportunity to begin again more intelligently." After I read it I began to think of a situation that occured about 3 years ago. It was something that I really did "screw up" in. Through it all I have realized that once I am in the same type of circumstance I will be able to do it again more intelligently because I have learned more about myself, God and my calling.
I thank God for failure. If it had not been for the "failure" in this situation then I don't think that I would be where I am today.
Remember this: if you feel that you have failed take heart and remember that it's an opportunity to begin again more intelligently.
God Bless
"Failure is only an opportunity to begin again more intelligently." After I read it I began to think of a situation that occured about 3 years ago. It was something that I really did "screw up" in. Through it all I have realized that once I am in the same type of circumstance I will be able to do it again more intelligently because I have learned more about myself, God and my calling.
I thank God for failure. If it had not been for the "failure" in this situation then I don't think that I would be where I am today.
Remember this: if you feel that you have failed take heart and remember that it's an opportunity to begin again more intelligently.
God Bless
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Valuing Your Salvation
Until your walk with God becomes your own you won’t appreciate it. A couple of weeks ago Misty and I attended a wedding for a close friend of ours in Michigan. During the reception I was talking with another one of my friends that has recently rededicated his life. The one thing that he said to me struck me so hard was “Until your walk with God becomes your own you won’t appreciate it.”
I could have jumped out of my skin sitting at the table with him. It answers so many questions that I have/had in regards to why some of my friends and even some youth that I used to minister to aren’t walking with God right now. Their walk with God wasn’t their own.
Paul admonishes us to “…work out OUR OWN salvation with fear and trembling.” Your salvation isn’t based on what you “feel” it’s based on what you know. If you are riding the coat tails of your parents or even your pastor’s walk with God then it won’t truly be yours. I was the same way until the summer of 1998 when I went on a short-term missions trip and I saw countless miracles and I had no argument that God doesn’t perform miracles today. It was on that trip that my walk with God became my own. Until you really experience things for yourself you will never value or appreciate certain things.
While I’m on the subject of “feeling” I won’t to stop and encourage you in something.
If you don’t feel God, and you are living a life above reproach, then God is closer to you then He was before. Because when you “feel” Him you are relying on your soul to tell you that God is near. When you don’t feel Him you are relying on your spirit and that makes Him closer to you then you even realize.
For instance; I never fully understood the love of Jesus until I became a father myself. I now know why Jesus chose to come and assure our salvation by dying on the cross so we can spend an eternity with Him. Until you really know and appreciate who Jesus is and what He can do your walk with Him won’t really be your own and the first sign of trouble or questioning your faith will begin to waver.
Take the opportunity over the next couple of days and give yourself a “spiritual gut check” and find out if your walk with God is your own.
I could have jumped out of my skin sitting at the table with him. It answers so many questions that I have/had in regards to why some of my friends and even some youth that I used to minister to aren’t walking with God right now. Their walk with God wasn’t their own.
Paul admonishes us to “…work out OUR OWN salvation with fear and trembling.” Your salvation isn’t based on what you “feel” it’s based on what you know. If you are riding the coat tails of your parents or even your pastor’s walk with God then it won’t truly be yours. I was the same way until the summer of 1998 when I went on a short-term missions trip and I saw countless miracles and I had no argument that God doesn’t perform miracles today. It was on that trip that my walk with God became my own. Until you really experience things for yourself you will never value or appreciate certain things.
While I’m on the subject of “feeling” I won’t to stop and encourage you in something.
If you don’t feel God, and you are living a life above reproach, then God is closer to you then He was before. Because when you “feel” Him you are relying on your soul to tell you that God is near. When you don’t feel Him you are relying on your spirit and that makes Him closer to you then you even realize.
For instance; I never fully understood the love of Jesus until I became a father myself. I now know why Jesus chose to come and assure our salvation by dying on the cross so we can spend an eternity with Him. Until you really know and appreciate who Jesus is and what He can do your walk with Him won’t really be your own and the first sign of trouble or questioning your faith will begin to waver.
Take the opportunity over the next couple of days and give yourself a “spiritual gut check” and find out if your walk with God is your own.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Pics Of Paige From Memorial Day!!!
Paige & Grandma Letner
Four Generations Of Letner's
Paige In Her First Bathing Suit
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Outpour!!!
I believe with all of my heart that God is getting ready to send a spirit of refreshing & renewal to not only Mansfield but the entire world. This past Sunday was absolutely incredible!!! In our pre-service prayer I felt in my spirit that God was going to do some awesome. Needless to say He didn't disappoint. We were about three songs into praise & worship and the fire came down. God reminded me of a word "Unless Your Salvation Is Your Own You Will Not Appreciate It."
Much to my surprise Pastor Jerry called me forward to share what God had given me. He also brought me to Eph. 5:27; "being made clean to the washing of the water of the Word." I then went on to share that it's time to get cleaned up so we can properly carry the move that God is sending to the earth. It felt so good to be in a service like that because I could hear God speaking so clearly to me.
Pastor Jerry couldn't preach & I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that I will never be the same again. God has touched me & changed things on the inside of me & am I ready for the doors he will open in the future. I have positioned myself to receive everything He has for me.
Much to my surprise Pastor Jerry called me forward to share what God had given me. He also brought me to Eph. 5:27; "being made clean to the washing of the water of the Word." I then went on to share that it's time to get cleaned up so we can properly carry the move that God is sending to the earth. It felt so good to be in a service like that because I could hear God speaking so clearly to me.
Pastor Jerry couldn't preach & I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that I will never be the same again. God has touched me & changed things on the inside of me & am I ready for the doors he will open in the future. I have positioned myself to receive everything He has for me.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Give Him The Battle!
"Give Him The Battle and He'll Give To You The Victory."
I have heard these words numerous times as I have listened to "The Crabb Family" sing them. They have never really meant anything to me except for these last couple of weeks. My family and I have been going through some pretty insane stuff and I have (with the advice of my mentor) kept my mouth shut. I have about a 50 mintue drive every day to and from work. Needless to say I have a lot of time to think and pray about things in my life. As I was thinking about the way we have been treated I started to get upset and in the background I heard the words to the song from The Crabb Family that told me to give Him the battle and He'll give to me the victory.
The funny thing about this is the fact that I asked God what to do. I said "Do I call the person and talk to them or should I let it go." I'm not one to say that everything is spiritual but I really feel that God was telling me to give Him my feelings and frustrations and He will come through.
I have heard these words numerous times as I have listened to "The Crabb Family" sing them. They have never really meant anything to me except for these last couple of weeks. My family and I have been going through some pretty insane stuff and I have (with the advice of my mentor) kept my mouth shut. I have about a 50 mintue drive every day to and from work. Needless to say I have a lot of time to think and pray about things in my life. As I was thinking about the way we have been treated I started to get upset and in the background I heard the words to the song from The Crabb Family that told me to give Him the battle and He'll give to me the victory.
The funny thing about this is the fact that I asked God what to do. I said "Do I call the person and talk to them or should I let it go." I'm not one to say that everything is spiritual but I really feel that God was telling me to give Him my feelings and frustrations and He will come through.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
More Pics Of Us & The Most Important People In My Life
These two make my life complete!!!
What Did We Do Without Paige McKenna Letner?
In Depth Reporting or Secular Humanism At It’s Finest?
While surfing the web the other day I came across an article in the latest edition of Rolling Stone entitled “Teenage Holy War.” Exercise caution if you decide to purchase this article because the front page is a picture of a scandily clad Rosario Dawson & Rose McGowan in nothing but a strip of bullets for a cover story on Grindhouse. It says that it is an in-depth look at the latest youth revolution entitled Battlecry. In my opinion it’s an in depth look at liberal media and humanistic ideas. The reporter, Jeff Sharlet, writes this article in such a sarcastic tone that it almost infuriated me then I realized that people will ridicule what they don’t understand. The perfect example of this was Jesus and the ridicule He endured while on this earth.
The thing that upset me the most about this article was the close mindedness that it was written in. I am not saying that I haven’t ever had a close mind about things but there are certain things that you need to have an open mind on. In high school I was part of our school paper; the one thing that our teacher told us was “…no matter how we feel on certain things write the article as if you believed in what you were reporting on.” That’s the problem I have with Jeff; and his story on Battlecry is the “tone” in which it was written in.
You can tell from the first line that Scarlet’s only responsibility in writing this article was to “push” his humanistic thoughts on life and religion on Rolling Stone readers. Maybe he didn’t know that Christians would read the article, maybe he did, but none the less the article is nothing more than “Jesus Bashing” at it’s finest. Granted what I read was only an excerpt but from what I read it appeared that the article was nothing but a bashing of Christian beliefs.
In closing if you read the article and have some response to what I wrote and think that I am totally off then please let me know. I will add to this in the coming weeks, please check back often for further updates.
The thing that upset me the most about this article was the close mindedness that it was written in. I am not saying that I haven’t ever had a close mind about things but there are certain things that you need to have an open mind on. In high school I was part of our school paper; the one thing that our teacher told us was “…no matter how we feel on certain things write the article as if you believed in what you were reporting on.” That’s the problem I have with Jeff; and his story on Battlecry is the “tone” in which it was written in.
You can tell from the first line that Scarlet’s only responsibility in writing this article was to “push” his humanistic thoughts on life and religion on Rolling Stone readers. Maybe he didn’t know that Christians would read the article, maybe he did, but none the less the article is nothing more than “Jesus Bashing” at it’s finest. Granted what I read was only an excerpt but from what I read it appeared that the article was nothing but a bashing of Christian beliefs.
In closing if you read the article and have some response to what I wrote and think that I am totally off then please let me know. I will add to this in the coming weeks, please check back often for further updates.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Though Provoking Statement
I received the following statement this morning in an e-mail and it really got me thinking of who I am .
What you seem to be, be really - Benjamin Franklin
It goes along with the saying "Character is what you are when no one else is around." My prayer for 2007 is not just to start walking in the Perfect Will of God but that I will also be the same person no matter who I am around or who's around me. I understand that in order for God to use me I have to be a person of solidarity and a person of no compromises.
I encourage you to write this statement down and look at it daily; let it be your pray that who seem to be, be really.
Have a blessed and favorable day.
What you seem to be, be really - Benjamin Franklin
It goes along with the saying "Character is what you are when no one else is around." My prayer for 2007 is not just to start walking in the Perfect Will of God but that I will also be the same person no matter who I am around or who's around me. I understand that in order for God to use me I have to be a person of solidarity and a person of no compromises.
I encourage you to write this statement down and look at it daily; let it be your pray that who seem to be, be really.
Have a blessed and favorable day.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Power Of The Anointing
I have been taking Bible College courses from World Harvest for the past year. The one course that I am in the process of completing right now is "The Anointing & You." It's an amazing lesson that talks about how we as a born-again, spirit filled believer can walk in the Anointing on a daily basis. The one thing that Pastor Parsley talked about is being the "breaker." The illustration that he used really stuck with me. We all know that the anointing is also referred to as "power."
He used the example of how electricity travels from Point A to Point B. He said that in order for electricity/power to be manifested contact must be made. The one thing that I understand is that although God is not confined to human limitations He still needs humans on the earth to do His will. That’s why in John God said “That greater works than these we will do. (12:33)” Going back to what Pastor Parsley said that all of the power cords and outlets are hard wired to a breaker box. In order for the power to come to fruition a the breaker box must be switched.
The Bible declares that it’s the anointing that breaks the yoke. It’s time that the church in America become that contact switch that is connected to the breaker box and bring freedom to our land. Be blessed.
He used the example of how electricity travels from Point A to Point B. He said that in order for electricity/power to be manifested contact must be made. The one thing that I understand is that although God is not confined to human limitations He still needs humans on the earth to do His will. That’s why in John God said “That greater works than these we will do. (12:33)” Going back to what Pastor Parsley said that all of the power cords and outlets are hard wired to a breaker box. In order for the power to come to fruition a the breaker box must be switched.
The Bible declares that it’s the anointing that breaks the yoke. It’s time that the church in America become that contact switch that is connected to the breaker box and bring freedom to our land. Be blessed.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Learning To Keep My Mouth Shut
The Bible says that a soft answer turns away wrath; this is something that I am still trying to learn as I walk with God on this journey. Misty and I have been through one of the longest years so far in our marriage. We have experienced major transition; from having our first child to leaving our comfort zone, I must tell you that it hasn't been easy.
I think that it's worth saying that your true friends are the ones that will be there with you during the times of transition. The people that said were our true friends are no where to be found except for 2 or 3 couples that we still talk to and hang out with on a weekly basis.
With all of that being said I want to address the fact that it's so hard for me to keep my mouth shut when people are saying things about me and trying to ruin friendships. I am the type of person that will tell someone how I feel and not care what happens. This is one thing that I know God is working on in me to change before He opens the door for me to go full time in ministry.
I spoke with my mentor, Robert Yanok, about a certain situation and he told me what I needed to hear. It wasn't necessarily what I wanted to hear but what I needed to hear. That's the true test of a mentor/mentee relationship. Do they tell you what you want to hear or what you need to hear? He told me to keep my mouth shut and just let things die. That is what I am doing (as hard as it may be) and I am starting to move beyond the situation.
As I close today I just wanted to offer encouragement and tell someone that is reading, if you are in a situation then know that the anointing in you is greater than the situation that happening to you.
Thanks For Reading.
I think that it's worth saying that your true friends are the ones that will be there with you during the times of transition. The people that said were our true friends are no where to be found except for 2 or 3 couples that we still talk to and hang out with on a weekly basis.
With all of that being said I want to address the fact that it's so hard for me to keep my mouth shut when people are saying things about me and trying to ruin friendships. I am the type of person that will tell someone how I feel and not care what happens. This is one thing that I know God is working on in me to change before He opens the door for me to go full time in ministry.
I spoke with my mentor, Robert Yanok, about a certain situation and he told me what I needed to hear. It wasn't necessarily what I wanted to hear but what I needed to hear. That's the true test of a mentor/mentee relationship. Do they tell you what you want to hear or what you need to hear? He told me to keep my mouth shut and just let things die. That is what I am doing (as hard as it may be) and I am starting to move beyond the situation.
As I close today I just wanted to offer encouragement and tell someone that is reading, if you are in a situation then know that the anointing in you is greater than the situation that happening to you.
Thanks For Reading.
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