Thoughtful Inspirations

Let His Glory Fill His House

2012-01-24T09:05:00.001-08:00

Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. – Haggai 1:6

In chapter 1 God calls Haggai to deliver a message. The Jews were living in their comfortable house while God's house sat unfinished and uncared for because in the people's minds it wasn't time to rebuild. But after Haggai's message, the people got to work building God's house. In chapter 2, the people were motivated to continue building the temple and God will bless them (Haggai 2:5).

In short it is important to notice a few reminders for some and new revelation for others.

1. God wants His house to look just as good as your house.

2. God expects us to invest in His house just like we invest in ours.

3. Gods wants people to visit a beautiful house that speaks well of Him. Just like we want people to visit our houses that speak well of us.

4. Caring for God's house is all of our responsibility.

5. Lumber to build isn't free, it cost to build and it cost to keep on building.

6. God is watching how we treat His house.

Here's the point, your role is needed as a good steward to care for God's house with your presence, participation, and possessions (finance).

Let God's glory fill the house as we build and continue to build together.

My Sunday 1-22-12

2012-01-23T14:54:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was a blessed day of ministering God's word. I preached for a friend and bro, Pastor F Demond Harris of New Harvest Christian church at 8:30 am. I preached Hang In There for James 1:12. The central point of the message was "You can make it if you hang in there." I got caught up (and so did the church) as I tried to explain the principle of disposition for which if tried to argue the tension of between the word, blessed, in context with testing moments or life's pressure points. Testing points in life are generally kill joys for the believer but the text says testing points are not kill joys but blessings. Which is to say we're being blessed during testing time.

The worship was wonderful and God used me to preach with passion and power. I pushed the envelope to my full capacity.

Again, thank you Pastor Harris and the New Harvest church for your kindness and invitation.

At 11:30, I preached for my friend pastor Al Johnson and Divine Direction Church. I also was able to meet pastor Lamar Simmons for the first time of Greater Mt Olive Baptist Church. He's immediate response upon the introduction of my name was, "Smith, heard a lot about you and now I finally get to meet you." I just pray he heard was of good and not of evil...lol

The worship was good and I preached from Genesis 17:1-8: Our God Is Sufficient. The central point of that message is God is all you need to make it from day to day. God blessed the message and pushed the enveloped again to full capacity. After the service Pastor Johnson commented how he appreciated the fact that I didn't anything back based on the number in attendance. I told him I don't preach for numbers I preach for changed lives. In my opinion that outweighs numbers any day of the week.

Again thank you Pastor Johnson and Divine Direction Church for your kindness and invitation.

My throat is soar but getting better. It really hurt yesterday. But it's my fault for not pushing through my stomach and using more of my throat during my whoop or what I call singing my sermon.

After church Tracy and I got some soul food from our favorite spot Carolyn's on Manchester. Sooooo gooood!

She took a nap and watched the football games (well as much as I could).

Later we got 31 Flavors and then I crashed for the night.

Both football games were good but the Giants/49ers game I enjoyed the most. I can care less who wins The super bowl I just want good football.

Until nxt time have a God blessing week.

Ministry On The Move - Jan 22, 2012

2012-01-19T08:37:00.002-08:00

My Sunday - 1-15-12

2012-01-16T12:21:00.001-08:00

When I was a pastor I would write every week highlights of our Sunday morning worship. I got this idea from fellow bloggers. But when I stopped pastoring I stopped blogging about my Sunday morning worship life. But I've discovered a valuable lesson in recent days, my worship doesn't stop just because my pastorate stopped. No my worship continues despite my ministerial position and/or function in the church.

So like David, I too, will blessed the Lord at all times and His praises shall continually be in my mouth.

This weekend has been a blessing on so many levels.....

First, I participated in a leadership conference for Bishop Ervin and Church One where I shared a portion of material I wrote for the church last year entitled "The Soul Health of Leadership - Leading when It Hurts To Lead". The point of conference material is to inform leaders that hurt, stress, frustration, and pain is inevitable in leadership. However, how we respond to the hurt will dictate our effectiveness in our leadership roles.

It is my prayer that God used me to be a blessing to that leadership team and I thank Bishop Ervin for the opportunity and friendship we're starting to cultivate.

Other topics of the conference were...

Being Resourceful With Limited Resources - Bishop David Cooper

How To Deal With Conflict With Other Leaders and the Congregation - Co-Pastor Kimberly Ervin

Kingdom Stewardship: Order In the House - Bishop W T Ervin

Moving from Ordinary to Extra-Ordinary - Evang Pamela Edwards

I am praying for Bishop Ervin as his dad transitioned this Sunday.

Sunday was a good day of worship starting with Lift-Off which is Mt Pilgrim's 21st Century pattern for Sunday School. I am the Director of Christian Education at Mt Pilgrim and we're in the process of restructuring starting with a mass journey on Sun, Feb 5th with Bishop sharing the plan, purpose, and profit of Lift-Off for our grand re-opening in March.

This past Sunday I taught a lesson on understanding the Godhead (Trinity). Wonderful time! I enjoy teaching theology of this type because I believe it's essential in understanding God and how He operates in our lives to reconcile the world unto Himself.

Sunday morning was off the chain from start to finish.

After church, I went home to rest before Tracy and I went to Mission Viejo, Ca for a MLK multi-Cultural service where Bishop preached.

The service was filled with all nationalities. A Presbyterian church choir killed us and they were so excited about being there. My close friend, Shervonne Wells is minister of music at Mission Viejo Christian Church and it was good hearing her sing. I was also presently surprised to see my big bro, her husband, Bishop Kenneth Wells. Reunion! Love those guys for sure.

Bishop preached us crazy and then brought everybody together the O'Jays song "Get on the love Train".

I was reminded that there is diversity in worship services and no one worship is either right or wrong but diverse of which we can all feel the presence of our creator, God.

On the way home, Tracy and I stopped at Marie Callendars for pie to eat while watching our Sunday evening show.

We both were tired.

This coming weekend will be just as busy with leadership meeting on Sat and preaching twice on Sunday morning. I'm wrestling with a few different messages to preach this weekend to preach and praying God will lead me in the right direction.

I really do thank God for people who appreciate my ministry and what I have to offer. I used to think people thought my ministry was a joke and it would bother me to no end. But now God is showing me my ministry is not a joke and as long as keep Him first by disciplining myself in all areas of life He will make up the difference. I'm not a Paul but God has given me voice with His Word and I am so grateful to be used.

My devotional song this week is ...
"I Give Myself Away". It's ministering to me on so many levels.

I will publish my "Ministry On The Move" schedule for this weekend later this week.

Until then have God blessing week!

2012 Reading Goal/Plan

2012-01-04T15:21:00.001-08:00

Allow me to start this article by sharing my feelings regarding reading: "I hate it!"

I am not a big fan of reading books. But I heard a preacher say once that preachers should make friends with books. If that's true then my friend base is very minimal.

However, no matter my dislike for reading I understand the necessity to read regularly. Reading keeps my thinking juices flowing. It provides me with the ability to learn and see things differently. Reading helps me grow spiritually, mentally, and emotionally.

And during this season of my life and ministry I want to re-charge my sermon pistol with fresh information. Therefore, I've developed a reading plan for 2012 that I'm going to do my best to maintain and follow.

Bible Reading Plan - When I pastored First Goodwill we journeyed on a bible reading plan that I developed by reading the shortest books of the bible first. It worked pretty well for me because I didn't feel overwhelmed while reading. I accomplished my goal of reading the bible in a year and now I'm doing it again this year.

The Book of Revelation - I'm currently reading through the book of Revelation during my devotional time in preparation of teaching through it at Mt Pilgrim. The lesson series is entitled "Relevant Lessons From Revelation". It will be a 10-12 week course study that I'm looking forward to teaching.

Planned book reading:

- A Hunger for God - John Piper

- How much Does God Control by RBC Ministries

- Keeping Your Focus When Your Dreams Are Shattered - A Look At the Life of Joseph by Precept Austin

- How Can A Parent Find Peace - RBC Ministries

- Marriage Under Fire by Dr James Dobson

- Why Would Anyone Want To Be Holy by RBC Ministries

- Men of the Bible by D L Moody

- Surviving Storms of Stress by RBC Ministries

- Contending For the Faith by John Piper

- Most Of All God Loves You by John Piper

You will notice some of the writers repeated. There is a method to my madness. I pick 1 to 2 authors a year to read with hopes of following and understanding they're thought process when writing. Last year I read books by David Jeremiah and Tony Evans.

I like RBC Ministries because they're 30-50 page pamphlets packed with good material on handling life situations with heaven in view. Very practical how-to lessons.

It is also my goal this year to share highlights of book I've read as an article on my blog. This should be fun and helpful to those reading my blog regularly.

In addition, I started an online book on healing some years ago. I want to finish that book not online but as a published book. So I will began writing again soon with hopes of finishing by the end of 2012.

Have God blessing day!

Ministry on The Move

2011-12-30T08:25:00.001-08:00

This coming year looks to be pretty busy with ministry opportunities for which I am so grateful. I'm excited about what God is doing in my personal ministry as well as Him using me at Mt Pilgrim to assist Bishop Sanders. Here's a few highlights for the year that I'm looking forward to:

January 13th and 14 - Teaching a leadership conference for One Church Bishop WT Ervin entitled: The Soul Health Of Leadership - Leading When It Hurts To Lead

January 22 - Preaching at a Renewal Service with New Harvest Christian Church - Pastor F Demond Harris at 8:30 am. Preaching for Divine Direction Church - Pastor A E Johnson @ 11:30 am.

January 29th - Scholarship Prayer Bowl - First Missionary Baptist church @ 3 pm.

July 9th - 13th: Citywide Revival in San Angelo, Texas

Writing curriculum for the church - Theme: Shifting from Doctrine to Duty - James 1:22

Planning for True Word Conference late summer/early fall

Study/writing series in book of Revelation entitled Relevant Lessons from Revelation.

Thanking God for ministry opportunities.

Christmas Time is Jesus Time

2011-12-14T08:43:00.001-08:00

This Sunday (12-18-11) @ 4 pm. Come be blessed!

Looking Ahead - 2012 Here I Come

2011-11-28T10:39:00.001-08:00

I can't believe that we're just about done with 2011. Wow! Each year this is a time when I reflect over the year personally to see what plans I accomplished, where have I grown, what do I still need to work on, who have I wronged, who do I need to forgive, and who do I need to ask for forgiveness.

Needless to say, nothing went as I hoped for, planned for, wished for... well you get the picture. And I mean nothing!

It is true when the bible says "Only God knows the plans for a person's life."

There is so much I can complain about as it relates to what didn't go right. But unfortunately to complain would be the direct opposite of trusting God no matter what cards life deals to me.

Therefore, I don't want to focus on what didn't go right, instead I want to focus on what I've learned and what I need to do become the man, husband, father, and preacher/pastor God desires me to be.

I will write this in sections because there is a lot for me to say as I look back over 2011.

Life's Adjustments -

There has been so many adjustments this year beginning with walking away from what I love to do the most...pastoring, to getting a new job, to changing churches, to developing new friendships, and praying for old relationships that have become distant for so many reasons. What I've learned is that adjustments are inevitable in life! I (we) will always experience adjustments whether we like them or not. How we handle adjustments is key to our spiritual development. How we respond to adjustments will dictate and determine how effective we are in our ministry service for God. Paul explained to the church at Corinth that he had plans to come visit but kept getting detoured. He also explains to the church at Philippi while in prison that his life adjustment turned out for the furtherance of the gospel (Philippians 1). When reflecting on Paul's statement of what happened to him turned out for the furtherance of gospel, I ask myself, has my life's adjustments furthered the gospel in any way, shape, or form? I answer honestly.... I don't know! Personally, I say know because I don't see any fruit. On the other hand, I don't know because what I see is not what I really see. God works out the details which we don't always see physically with our eyes.

Staying focused in life's adjustments is staying focused on furthering the gospel. Detours will happen but it can't stop the gospel from moving forward and drawing someone to Christ. The best sharing of the gospel is not preached but lived through each of our lives.

These adjustments are teaching me to be patient with myself, others, and circumstances. I have a tendency to want to move things quickly ahead before its tome if i can. So much for that now. I have no choice but to wait on God.

I hear all the cliches...
"Waited time on God is never wasted time on God".
"Time heals all wounds!" "Recovery/forgiveness is a process!"
"It just takes time!"

Yea, ok!

Let's just be true to ourselves, it's hard waiting on God when you want/need immediate deliverance.

However...

Here's what I have learned so far, waited time is necessary and needed time!

We need waited time....

- To grow
- To forgive others
- To regain trust
- To discover and/or re-discover God's will for your life
- To re-adjust priorities
- To seek God for direction
- To correct a wrong
- To establish boundaries
- To re-focus
- To spend time with family (children, husband, wife, mother, father, brothers, sisters, etc).
- To prepare yourself for the next assignment. I know my calling in ministry as being a pastor. Why because after all I've been through, I still have a desire and burden to shepherd God's people.
- To develop a financial plan.

Will To Live

2011-11-08T09:05:00.001-08:00

Recently I've been intrigued with the stories on TvOne's documentary show entitled: "Will To Live". It is true stories of survival against all odds. The only way I can describe each story is by using one word...AMAZING!

As I watched an episode this weekend sitting on the couch my sermon brain began to kick in because their were a number of people with a Will To Live against (and in the midst) of impossible situations. It led me to a preaching/teaching outline that I pray to share some day soon (hopefully in my next pastorate).

- Will To Live With Determination - Mark 5:24-34

- Will To Live With Dependency - Proverbs 3:5-6

- Will To Live With Dedication - Romans 8:35-39

- Will To Live With Direction - 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

- Will To Live With Decision-Making- Joel 3:14

Pray God blesses my study time and presentation!

Church Dropout

2011-10-31T07:43:00.001-07:00

Last night on KJLH Beyond the Pulpit with Pastor Xavier Thompson pastor of Southern MBC, they discussed the topic "Church Dropout" with special guest pastors of our city, Pastor L A Kessee of Bethany Baptist Church and Pastor Melvin Von Wade of Mt Moriah Baptist Church both in Los Anageles, Ca. Good listening piece of material from seasoned pastors on the subject at hand.

Why do people stop attending and being committed to church?

Here are a few of the responses from callers and guest (that I can remember):

1). Lazy pastors and preachers

2). Church has become a distraction for some people. The caller explains that for them church politics, fighting, etc is too much to handle and therefore resolves that staying home is better to getting closer God.

3). Churchless Christianity- people who use TV, internet, and radio as they're church fellowship

4). Pastor Wade says church dropout is due to "church frailty".

5). Rev Melvin Wade Jr says that the church is not bridging the generational gap to reach young people. When God led the people of Israel to the promise land with Moses they crossed a Red Sea but with Joshua they crossed the Jordan River. Two different bodies of water but headed in the same direction.

6). Entertainment - the church has allowed the entertainment world to enter into the worship service to compel men, women, boys, and girls to come to Christ.

7). Mixed priorities of what's important

8). Lack of developed leadership resulting in senior leadership staying too long as the church's pastor.

9). Under-developed leadership, lack of training, or lack of mentorship in young preachers. Therefore, throwing them into the fire before their time.

10). This one is my thought on the issue....lack of sincere reverence in the church. I believe our reverence for God has lost its sincerity. And churches that strive to maintain reverence are labeled as traditional for which I take exception. I love contemporary, exciting, lively, enthusiastic, zealous worship. However, I believe we can't allow our contemporary worship overshadow our reverence for God. There has to be a limit where we don't push the envelope so far that God is pushed to the back of the line. God is to be the centrality of our worship whereby leading us to worship Him in spirit and truth. In laymen's terms, watch how we treat God in our worship service. Both saved and unsaved attendees need to know that they are in the presence of God.

What's the solution? Writing my thoughts to publish soon

Recovery!

2011-10-30T06:50:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Tracy and I were going to Walmart to do a lil shopping. While driving, she says to me: "Clint, have you noticed that for the past few months we have not discussed our departure from First Goodwill". I looked at her and said: "No, we have not and that's a good thing to give us time to heal". I have discovered in the past few months that sometimes you have to step away from intense situations to clear your mind, to guard your heart, protect your family, and listen to God. Unfortunately, the enemy is not happy when he can't and couldn't destroy you in a situation with the hope that you will doubt God and turn away from Him. So he (the enemy) will throw at you nuggets of past hurtful situations that will cause you to feel the sting of pain, loss, frustration, guilt, unforgiveness, depression, discouragement, and frustration. So, a few weeks ago, we started receiving calls that we thought were calls of concern about our well-being that ended up being a strategic plan of attack to pull us back into feelings of hurt and pain and frustration by discussing events that took place earlier this year. Blood starts boiling! Eyes filled with drops of sadness! Heart is pounding hard and fast! Mind is racing faster than words can come out! We've been incognito on purpose and staying in Lakewood not bothering anybody trying to move on. Why are we being pressured into having feelings failure and that we've done something wrong by moving on. I write this experience as help to others because I know i'm not the only who has been attacked with the weapon of pulling you back into past hurt to get you off the course of recovery. Recovering from any hurt in life is a long process and even still some people still do not recover. The memories still linger in the air of our minds as a dark cloud covering portions of a blue sky. We may never forget the hurt but God will take the pain away. Here are a few suggestions that has helped me recently keep on track to recovery while being attacked at the same time.

1). Pray - this seems simple and easy but also hard to do when the heat is on. Ephesians 6:19-20 teaches us that the best defense in heated situations is a praying offense. Pray about it!

2). Speak the truth in love (confrontation) - Many of us don't like tough conversations. At least I know I don't. However, I've found myself as of late doing it more an more often. The difference is that now I'm slow to speak. Confrontations are difficult but is do-able without breaking fellowship with the other person. Matthew 18 outlines for us how to handle disagreements between two people. Moreover remember, the end goal in confrontation is reconciliation.

3). Control your anger - When I started receiving phones calls immediately my blood started boiling when i discovered the true nature of the call and I was about to burst like a screaming tea kettle. A few months ago, I received some information that again made me boil on the inside. In time past I would have unleashed the dragon but I didn't. I waited for a few weeks before having a conversation with the other person so I could be clear and plain about what I needed to say. I made my point and ended the conversation so that I didnt violate Paul's exhortation to be angry but do not sin.

4). Move on - what happened yesterday cant stop you from moving on not unless you allow it to. I've vowed to the best of my ability to not speak of any issue that will cause me to loose focus. So unfortunately for others but fortunate for me, I kill the subject before it starts. This Sunday I heard one of the greatest messages on Genesis 13:11-16 when Abram and Lot split. One of the points in that message was that we need to find peace in parting. In other words, we need to split from some things so we can be successful in other things. Find peace so that it doesn't bring you down and move on.

5). Surround yourself with godly people who are really concerned about you and not the situation - it's amazing that when I was in the heat of battle I heard from people that I normally don't hear from and now that the dust has settled some I don't hear from them much anymore. But God has placed some genuine people in my life now that is not concerned with what was. We talk about what God has on the other side of it but most of all we just have fun together period. We pray together. We encourage each other. And we hold one another accountable. Without any hidden agendas.

6). Be honest about your feelings - if it hurts it hurts! God created with emotions but we can control the emotions that we feel. We can hurt and still maintain our faith and character. When I broke my hand years ago it hurt pretty bad. Now, I have scars but no pain.

7). Recovery is a process, so don't rush it

8). Be cautious with whom you share your dreams and successes - everyone can't handle the success (or even potential success) of others. They will celebrate but it will be what I label as "coveted celebration". Some people celebrate and covet your success at the same time with hopes of your ultimate failure. I heard a preacher say once "you can't share your dreams with everyone".

9). Trust people again - I know this sounds like a contradiction after saying be careful with whom you tell your dreams. But it's not. You can develop relationships without sharing your dreams. The point is we can't judge new relationships on past hurtful experiences. I know for a fact God will move some people and bring new people to your life.

10). Keep trusting God - oftentimes when bad things happen the first person to get attacked is God. Why did God allow this happen? It's hard to accept the sovereignty of God most times. However, I've learned a valuable lesson over the years and certainly within these past few months. That is, most times we see the agenda of others before it's revealed and God will throw up a red warning sign saying: "Be careful danger lies ahead!" However, we put on our ignoring blinders saying to ourselves "they won't do that". And then when it happens, we start to blame God. There are some things that happen in life that we can't control and then there are some things in life we can control with discernment.

Keep it pushing! I believe things will get better!

Tithing....Mandatory or Optional

2011-09-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

I am a part of a clergy discussion group on Facebook that is utilized for pastors, preachers, and lay leaders to pose questions for discussion to help increase our knowledge and understanding about God, salvation, Christian living principles, practical ministry helps, etc.

Most of the questions and responses are very beneficial and affords us the opportunity to learn from one another as well as see things from a different perspective.

I’ve decided to take some questions, comments, suggestions, and post my response on my blog. Others discussions I will respond with the group on Facebook. The purpose of me blogging my response is not to bash anyone’s ideas or theology but to respond according to what Scripture teaches on a particular issue in a more thorough way.

In recent weeks there has been much discussion on the topic of tithes/offerings. Should believers tithe? Should tithing be mandatory? Should leaders be required to tithe? And so many questions and concerns.

I want to post my response to this question that was directed towards the group…

“What does your church teach about tithes and offerings? Manditory or optional?

I teach the tithe as a standard practice of Christian living just like every other biblical principle given in Scripture. The issue for many believers however, is whether or not tithing is relevant for us today? The tithe was never the standard of Old Testament generosity, nor is it the standard of Christian generosity today. Tithing may be a helpful guideline as we strive to develop a lifestyle of even greater giving, but it was and is possible to tithe faithfully while neglecting true, biblical generosity (as Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees; see note on Matthew 23:23). First, a close look at the Old Testament and other ancient Jewish evidence shows that the tithe (as a mandatory gift equaling a tenth of one’s income) only applied to crops and animals from the promised land, not to all income in any time and place. Moreover, 10 percent was never “the standard,” for there were three tithes (two every year, one every three years) and many other offerings and gifts that were also part of Jewish life. In the Old Testament and today, God usually requires far more from his people than the 10 percent we typically assume.

However, the NT teaches a radical generosity. The idea tends to strike us as strange, but only because of our modern, secular assumptions about money. In the Bible, giving away large parts of one’s income is quite realistic. John the Baptist taught that the man with two tunics should share with the man who has none (Luke 3:11). Zacchaeus the tax collector, when he converted to faith in Jesus, thought it fitting to give half of all he owned to the poor (Luke 19:1-10). Jesus praised a certain widow in the temple who gave away the last pennies she had to live on (Luke 21:1-4). The first Christians in the Jerusalem church willingly sold their own possessions to give to those in need (Acts 2:45). They were normal people, just like us. The only difference is that the life-changing power of the gospel had made its way even into their personal finances. And the same is possible for us, as well—though it is important to note we are not directly commanded to give all away, as the rich young ruler was. Above all, we should remember that Jesus promises that we cannot out-give him. Whatever we do for his sake, he will take care of us and reward us. If we give away a fortune for Jesus’ sake and earn a lower living standard, social status and health care, he may not give it back all in this life; but we do have the promise that our blessings soon will be eternal and that we can “store up treasure in heaven” rather than on earth precisely by doing such acts for the poor. And we may just find ourselves “reaping generously as we have sown generously ... having all that [we] need, [so that we] will abound in every good work ... rich in every way so that [we] can be generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 9:6, 8, 11).

In short, the tithe of a tenth is a good starting point for generous sacrificial giving is the teaching for NT believers.

But, there are still so many questions about the principle of tithing that many of us need an answer. So, I want to address a few questions regarding tithing and a Christian’s responsibility:

If I choose to tithe, does God expect more than a tithe from me? For most Christians the answer is a resounding “yes.” The Old Testament sets forth a system of tithes (10 percent offerings). For this reason, many Christians conclude that by giving 10 percent, they fulfill God’s requirement and are absolved of further responsibility. But interestingly, the tithe is mentioned only rarely in the New Testament, not because God expects less from the majority of us, but because far more is possible.

If I am not required to tithe, am I free to give whatever I want?
Yes, but this doesn’t mean we give whatever we wish, no questions asked. The apostle Paul did say, “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Will God really “throw open the floodgates of heaven” if I start to tithe?
Perhaps. But we must recognize that this oft-quoted passage (Malachi 3:10) was written not as a blanket promise to Christians in all times and all places, but to a very specific group of people in history—the impoverished, insecure Israelites living in the land after their return from exile in Babylon. Many “health-and-wealth” teachers today misuse this passage to guarantee that God will give us prosperity in this life if we only start to tithe, especially to their ministries. (Other pastors use this passage less controversially as an encouragement to people who hesitate to give.) But do these same teachers also promise that God will send us into exile in Babylon if we don’t tithe? Such promises tend to ignore the context of Malachi 3, which is tied intimately to life in the promised land of Israel after the people returned from exile. Interestingly, God requires more here than just tithe (Malachi 3:5): He requires his people to be generous in mercy and justice.

Should I tithe on my gross or net income? I answer this question with another question, which do you want God to bless.

Why should you give? We might ask instead, “Why should we not give?” We often assume that money exists for our own benefit, rather than for God or others. Pastor Andy Stanley tells a story about a little boy who was scolded by his mother because he refused to share his lunch with a classmate who had brought no lunch to school that day. The ironic point, Stanley says, is that we expect our children to know that possessions are for sharing, yet when it comes to our own affairs, we act as if possessions are for keeping. First, we should give because it is a reasonable response to all God has done. Because God has shown such great mercy to his people by sending Christ to suffer in our place, it is fitting that we should offer ourselves as sacrifices to him (Romans 12:1) and specifically in part by giving our money (2 Corinthians 8:8-9). Generous giving is an act of Christian worship. Second, we should give to show the genuineness of our Christian confession. Many people say they know Jesus, but those who really know him show it by their lives, especially by their generosity (Matthew 25:31-46). Third, we should give because the Lord Jesus (Luke 12:33) and his apostles (2 Corinthians 8:7) command us to give. Christian giving is certainly much more than a duty, but the biblical commands are unavoidable. Fourth, if specific instruction from the Scriptures were not enough, we should give because God promises to reward us for doing so (Luke 12:33). As it turns out, to give is not to throw money away, but rather to invest it for a staggering return. The Bible is certainly not lacking for reasons that we should give. Why would we not give?

What is sacrificial giving, and why is it important? Sacrificial giving is the kind that is done at great personal cost to the giver. In other words, give until it hurts. It doesn’t cost you anything it won’t mean anything to you.

Why should I be a generous giver? Jesus measured generosity by a radically new standard: the condition of the giver’s heart. The apostle Paul said that even the most lavish donations are empty acts in God’s sight if the giver’s heart is hardened toward him (1 Corinthians 13:3). So a truly generous giver is, first of all, a person who has been reconciled to God through faith in Christ, whose perfect life and sacrificial death can generously free any person from sin. Once this gospel works its way deep into that person’s heart and mind, the stage is set for a new person to emerge: a generous giver.

The bible speaks about money matters in such way that the measure of a person’s maturity is measured by their generosity (or their continued sacrificial investing) in kingdom business.

I believe tithing is a Christian principle to be practiced by every believer.

Did You Pray About It

2011-08-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

The pressure was on some months ago while I was faced with situations that had me stressed, frustrated, discouraged, anxious, and disappointed. The pressure was so thick it was affecting me physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I was totally drained! Never in my life have I experienced anything like it before. It seem like crying was a daily occurrence to the point my wife and family were really worried for me and my well-being.

During this time, two of the most precious people within our church were dying together, husband and wife. Never seen nothing like it before in my life. And then, family members died. In all within a 3 month time period, 6 people passed away. Never seen nothing like it before. During the funeral of one of my members, I tried to keep it together but when I stood to preach my last sermon for the member who passed and members of the church, I completely lost it. Weeping uncontrollably! Thank God for sustaining grace which allowed me to pull it together and complete my assignment.

During these most difficult months I was asked on several occasions….

Did you pray about it?

When asked the question, I was spending a tremendous amount of time praying about all the situations I was facing. My prayers were not long but quick and short prayers:

“Lord, protect my heart, mind, and ego!”
“Lord, give me peace about the situation!”
“Lord, help me to understand what’s going on!”
“Lord, search my heart!”
“Lord, protect my wife and teenage children through this process!”
“Lord, protect me from the wolves. Those who are only looking for a reason to gossip about my situation rather help me navigate through the situation!”
“Lord, let me not loose my love for ministry and preaching!”
“Lord, restore the joy of my salvation!”
“Lord, forgive me for past mistakes!”
“Lord, hold my wife together as my help mate but now let me help her!”

I’ll be the first to admit that my prayers were short and quick because I found it extremely hard to pray during a time when I was experiencing extreme loss everywhere imaginable.

Did you pray about it? And the follow up question was….

What was God saying?

If I can be extremely candid and honest, I prayed but had no clue what God was saying at the time. The pressure was so thick that it placed a dark could over my faith which had me doubting if this is all worth it. I was doing everything I could to make sense of all that was going on but was becoming more and more confused, irritated, stressed, and frustrated. I tried using church clichés to encourage myself but that wasn’t working. I tried to sing some of favorite hymns and that wasn’t working. I ran out of options and yet the question(s) still remained...

Did you pray about it? What is God saying?

Did I pray about it? Yes, I did! What is God saying? Honestly, I don’t/didn’t know!

It’s been a few months and while things are still somewhat fresh God has been showing me some things that I believe is helping me to keep moving forward with Him and not give up.

First lesson, back off from the situation. The pressure got so thick that I made a decision to take my hands off and let God deal with it. This was not an easy thing to do. I’ve learned that there are times when there’s nothing more you can do about it. I went into a shell mode so to speak where I didn’t talk about the situation (as best I could). I stop taking some phone calls. And, I even backed off by taking a few Sundays off to spend with the family. I’ve found that by backing off, it afforded me the opportunity to clear my head from all that was taken place and see it from a different perspective.

Second lesson, pray anyway. It’s said that the best time to pray is when you find it hard to pray. That’s true! I know I didn’t loose it totally because I kept praying even when I thought it was useless. In John 11 Mary and Martha went to Jesus about Lazarus but He stayed where He was and didn’t run to raise Lazarus immediately. Paul prayed in 2 Corinthians 12 asking God to remove the thorn in his side but God said “NO!” I’m learning that God’s no really means a slow yes. He’ll show up when the time is right. But in the meantime He will keep you covered with His strength. And trust me, I know He will.

Third lesson, be quiet. Let me say it this way, keep your mouth shut. Sometimes I believe we talk ourselves out of our own blessing simply because we don’t know how to be quiet. I made a selective choice as to whom I spoke to about what I was going through. And with others I developed a generic one sentence answer where a follow up response couldn’t take place. I shot it down before it got started.

Fourth lesson, don’t spiritualize everything. This particular lesson may sound blasphemous to many of you reading this blog. But hear me out first before closing your ears. There some decisions we will make that are business transactions for which we can’t spiritualize. Having to close a business, sale a home, change stock, laid off a job, etc are all business transactions while living in an economic downturn. However, the decision is business not spiritual but how you handle the decision then becomes spiritual. Therefore, your prayer then becomes…”Lord, guard my heart and ego!” “Lord, give me peace about this decision!”

When the pressure is on it makes praying and hearing God’s voice difficult. But whatever the dilemma, distress, and/or difficulty you’re facing don’t stop praying.

Lesson Clarification

2011-08-04T10:47:00.002-07:00

Bishop Sanders has started a lesson series for Wednesday Night Bible Study entitled "What God Thinks About Same Sex Marriage" which in my opinion is a good topic of study at the moment because of the push to teach homosexuality in schools to our young people.

Last night was the second session of lessons of which Bishop and I did tag team teaching. I was giving the assignment to build a biblical argument on how God views homosexuality.

I wasn't sure exactly where I would pick up so I wrote the following outline to be on the safe side.

"God's View Of Homosexuality"
Select Scriptures

My thesis: The holiness of God disgust Him because it's against His creative design for humanity for men and women.

1. Humanities Design - Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:23-25
Point: God created marriage relationships for one man and one woman.
Anything outside of this design is totally against the will of God.

2. Humanities Perversion
Genesis 6:1-7 - an indication of demon perversion whereby evil spirits enter into the human body to pervert God's intentional design for man and woman.

Genesis 19:36 - Incest - Lot sleeps with his daughters and they have his children.

Genesis 38:15-18 - Prostitution - Lot meets a prostitute and pays for sexual favors

Genesis 19:5 - Homosexuality - Men show up at Lot's with a bold request to send the men so they can sleep with them.

Point: Evil spirits coupled with humanity has perverted God's intentional design for sexual pleasure of which He made and said it was good to shared between a man and a woman in marriage relationship.
Anything outside of this design disgust God's holy nature.

3. Humanities Disgrace

Deuteronomy 22:5 -The Disgrace of Woman - it doesn't look good for women to be wearing men's clothes. In other words, women should not be sagging and men should not be switching.

Deuteronomy 23:1 - The disgrace of man –Verse 23 deals with transsexual/transgender activity whereby a man will cut off his organ to become what he believes to be a woman trapped in a man’s body. The statement here in verse 1 is deliberate and alarming because the text say no one who cuts of his sexual organ will enter the assembly of God. This should be alarming to those who consider doing and those who have done it. But also upon further review of the God we serve extends forgiveness in Isaiah 56. Leviticus chapter 20 teaches us that there is mercy before death and mercy before judgment to those who repent.

4. Humanities Decision – Ezekiel 16 – There were all kinds of iniquities characteristic of this particular city but none of them was more shocking than homosexuality. Adultery, and fornication and polygamy and incest and rape and prostitution are already present in the world by the time we get to Ezekiel. But none so ugly has homosexuality. The question is how do we handle such perverted sin as a whole that is corrupting humanity in a major way. The text helps us in handling the issues:

- Confrontation – v. 1
- Point People To God – v. 8,14,19,23,30,35,34,63
- Humiliation – v. 63

Point: God will break us down only to draw us to Him!

Lesson clarification: Time was running out so I didn’t time to elaborate further so I want to do it now. I stated in the lesson that people who live the lifestyle of homosexuality oftentimes carry feelings of humiliation, anger, depression, discomfort, and loneliness. Further my statement was …. “And that’s how God wants them to feel.”

I need to clarify this statement because it would seem that I was saying God is a vindictive God who rains down His wrath on people who are hard-headed.

Let me be very clear, we do not serve a vindictive God. He is a forgiving and loving Father. However, feelings of humiliation, depression, anger, loneliness, and discomfort are produced as a consequence of our disobedience to a holy God. Further cross reference helps us to understand that our God is not vindictive but that our sins produce consequences for our sin. Ezekiel 36:31-31; “Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and abominations. It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord God; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel”. This text again supports the argument that God is not vindictive but that our sins causes after guilt and shame. These feelings are not God-inflicted but sin-inflicted.

This clarification was necessary because I don’t want us communicating to others an untruth about God. I hope I clarified the statement with biblical backup to support my argument.

My thoughts on Sunday’s Best

2011-08-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

First I want to state that “I love gospel music”! I loved it from the day of my childhood. I also enjoy watching the Christian reality TV show “Sunday’s Best”. However, I do have a dislike with the show…the judges who are judging the show. Grant it, I do recognize the difficulty of judging contestants because this is gospel music in which each person is singing about and to God who is worthy of our song of praise. Yes, I recognize the difficulty of judging the show because of our personal preferences of gospel music and for those who sing it. For instances, I’m not a big fan of Mary Mary nor Kirk Franklin. I can listen to the music but it does not invoke the presence of God into my life in most cases. Their music actually creates a party atmosphere that makes me want to dance (and I’m not talking about Holy Ghost dancing either). Much of their music, in my opinion, is not meant for worship service (maybe a concert but certainly not a worship service).

I, personally, don’t see how Mary Mary’s hit single “Walking” can be sung in a worship service preparing the congregation for hearing the Word of God. Now, I will agree that the Christian community does need some type of alternative music outside of R&B, Rap/Hip Hop, Jazz, etc. We do need something for us to listen to that is clean and that we can enjoy without feeling guilty of what we just listened too. But I also believe we need music that will point us to God even while we’re bobbing our heads to the beat. Unfortunately, I sometimes can’t hear the words without hearing the beat first.

I love me some Kim Burrell and her new single is killing! Tracy called me one day after hearing the song and asked if I heard. “I did”. She then asks me “what do you think about it? She’s not saying anything about God.” I told her “I love the song”. Then I said to her…”You know I haven’t paid much attention to the words.” The next time the song came onto the radio I listened very close to the words to see if God was mentioned in the song. Sure enough He (God) was mentioned in the song as Lord. I didn’t pay attention to the words because I was wrapped around the jazzy melody of the song and being able to distinguish the song from jazz and gospel was a difficult thing for me to do.

My thesis for writing this article is simple and clear….

Gospel music should point us to God and God only!

Many of you who are reading this article would/will say….”He’s traditional”. My response to you is “noooooo, I’m not”. I have a concern that gospel music is crossing over into secular music (in some cases) to reach a larger audience which anyone who is serious about ministry would love to do. And (let’s be honest) to make the almighty dollar of which every one of us as to eat. So why not make money doing what you love to do. I understand all of that! But, I believe the gospel is being taking out of Christian music.

I also believe that personal preference is also displayed in the judging of the show. For instances, last night, there were three ladies competing for the final 10th spot; Shanandolan Reynolds – Dallas, Texas, LaTrice Smith – Macon, Georgia, and Timesha Sampson – Memphis, Tennessee. In the end Timesha won the 10th spot….why??????

I think LaTrice out sung her for the spot. And even with Timesha’s opening song, Pastor Donnie commented that “they made the right choice”. How is that? Again, personal preference is my thought on the judging.

However, there is one other dislike for me that is much more important and possibly damaging to those competing for a recording contract. It’s the constant statements relating to the anointing. How does a person judge who has and/or has not the anointing? Is it based on if someone shouts at the end of their segment? Is it based on how the contestant reacts after they’ve song? Is it based on the audiences reaction after the song ends? Is it the antics of Kirk Franklin after each contestant? Is it emotional charge? Is it how they came onto the stage or left the stage? Does what they wear dictate how much anointing a person has during the competition? How do you judge the anointing?

Or, is personal preference basis for judgment of who has the anointing or not?

I think its personal preferences. We see the same anointing judging method of personal preferences in the life of the church. The choir wasn’t anointed because they didn’t sing our favorite song. The band was too loud so they weren’t anointed. The microphone system is this or that so the service wasn’t anointed. The deacons keep singing hymns each week during devotion. The pastor wasn’t anointed because he took a stand in a message on abortion, homosexuality, adultery, or some difficult topic that challenges us to stop a life of sin. Well, I believe a pastor/teacher who stands on the uncompromised Word of God is anointed because it takes the anointing to stand bold against issues that rub the congregation the wrong way in their sinful lifestyles.

Again, I say personal preference is the measure of our judgments. The church we attend, large or small. The preacher we listen too (I can/will write an article on this one soon). The people we hang out with. The topics we study in scripture. The money we give in worship services. And so many other choices and judgments we make based on personal preferences.

My exhortation to you is don’t be a Pharisee and allow your personal preferences cause you to miss out on the effectiveness of a person’s ministry.

There is a God

2011-07-26T08:54:00.001-07:00

For the past few weeks while getting ready for work I’ve been watching my 2nd season of Good Times DVD set. I loved this show as a kid and I still love it has an adult. While watching shows back-to-back, there was one episode that I’ve watched over and over again but never really paid close attention to…..”One Nation Under God”.

This episode deals with Michael receiving the highest honor in high school to lead the “Pledge of Allegiance” in an assembly. It was such an honor that his mother, Florida and close Wilona, was shopping for something to wear during the assembly. JJ and Thelma are home. JJ is cleaning after losing a bet to Thelma and is now her servant for one week. He starts to cleaning Michael’s drawer only to find a letter addressed to Florida that he will not lead “The Pledge of Allegiance” during the assembly due to his belief.

When Florida returns from shopping, JJ hides the letter in her apron for which she request to start preparing dinner. After a while, Florida notices Thelma movements as she is pointing to the letter in Florida’s apron alerting JJ to grab it. TOOOOO late! Florida sees the letter and reads it. Of course she’s disappointed at the note informing her that her son will not lead the “Pledge of Alliance” during the assembly due to his belief.

When Michael comes home, naturally Florida wants to know what happened and why he’s not leading the “Pledge of Allegiance”. Michael’s response startles Florida as he tells her that he doesn’t believe in the statement….”One nation under God”. As far as he was concerned there is no God because his employer Mr Dickson says…”God doesn’t exist”. Florida tries to convince her son that God does exist and that he needs to acknowledge God’s existence. But stubborn Michael holds to he’s convinced of by Mr Dickson that “God doesn’t exist”.

I don’t have time to go through the entire episode (you can watch it when you get a chance). However, at the end of the episode Michael gets fired from his job because of his mother and convinced by Mr Dickson that he doesn’t have to believe what he believes. If God exists to him then he should believe that God exists.

What a noble move of Mr Dickson but reality is that there are many people within our society who says “God doesn’t exist!” As a matter of fact, my boss is adamant about not believing in God and doesn’t mind saying it openly and argumentative. I have on some cases tried to defend the reality that God does exist without being argumentative with my boss. Honestly, I thank God I’m still working. I’ve learned for sure that if take care of God’s business He will take care of your business.

I write this blog as an open conviction that I do believe God exists. One of the questions in the Good Time’s episode that Mr Dickson had for Florida is “How do you know God exists”. This a theological question demanding a theological answer for which Florida did not provide. So let me answer it in this blog….

The existence of God cannot be proved or disproved. The Bible says that we must accept by faith the fact that God exists: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). If God so desired, He could simply appear and prove to the whole world that He exists. But if He did that, there would be no need for faith. “Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’” (John 20:29).

That does not mean, however, that there is no evidence of God’s existence. The Bible states, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4). Looking at the stars, understanding the vastness of the universe, observing the wonders of nature, seeing the beauty of a sunset—all of these things point to a Creator God. If these were not enough, there is also evidence of God in our own hearts. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us, “…He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.” Deep within us is the recognition that there is something beyond this life and someone beyond this world. We can deny this knowledge intellectually, but God’s presence in us and all around us is still obvious. Despite this, the Bible warns that some will still deny God’s existence: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1). Since the vast majority of people throughout history, in all cultures, in all civilizations, and on all continents believe in the existence of some kind of God, there must be something (or someone) causing this belief.

In addition to the biblical arguments for God’s existence, there are logical arguments. First, there is the ontological argument. The most popular form of the ontological argument uses the concept of God to prove God’s existence. It begins with the definition of God as “a being than which no greater can be conceived.” It is then argued that to exist is greater than to not exist, and therefore the greatest conceivable being must exist. If God did not exist, then God would not be the greatest conceivable being, and that would contradict the very definition of God.

A second argument is the teleological argument. The teleological argument states that since the universe displays such an amazing design, there must have been a divine Designer. For example, if the Earth were significantly closer or farther away from the sun, it would not be capable of supporting much of the life it currently does. If the elements in our atmosphere were even a few percentage points different, nearly every living thing on earth would die. The odds of a single protein molecule forming by chance is 1 in 10243 (that is a 1 followed by 243 zeros). A single cell is comprised of millions of protein molecules.

A third logical argument for God’s existence is called the cosmological argument. Every effect must have a cause. This universe and everything in it is an effect. There must be something that caused everything to come into existence. Ultimately, there must be something “un-caused” in order to cause everything else to come into existence. That “un-caused” cause is God.

A fourth argument is known as the moral argument. Every culture throughout history has had some form of law. Everyone has a sense of right and wrong. Murder, lying, stealing, and immorality are almost universally rejected. Where did this sense of right and wrong come from if not from a holy God?

Despite all of this, the Bible tells us that people will reject the clear and undeniable knowledge of God and believe a lie instead. Romans 1:25 declares, “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” The Bible also proclaims that people are without excuse for not believing in God: “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

People claim to reject God’s existence because it is “not scientific” or “because there is no proof.” The true reason is that once they admit that there is a God, they also must realize that they are responsible to God and in need of forgiveness from Him (Romans 3:23, 6:23). If God exists, then we are accountable to Him for our actions. If God does not exist, then we can do whatever we want without having to worry about God judging us. That is why many of those who deny the existence of God cling strongly to the theory of naturalistic evolution—it gives them an alternative to believing in a Creator God. God exists and ultimately everyone knows that He exists. The very fact that some attempt so aggressively to disprove His existence is in fact an argument for His existence.

How do we know God exists? As Christians, we know God exists because we speak to Him every day. We do not audibly hear Him speaking to us, but we sense His presence, we feel His leading, we know His love, we desire His grace. Things have occurred in our lives that have no possible explanation other than God. God has so miraculously saved us and changed our lives that we cannot help but acknowledge and praise His existence. None of these arguments can persuade anyone who refuses to acknowledge what is already obvious. In the end, God’s existence must be accepted by faith (Hebrews 11:6). Faith in God is not a blind leap into the dark; it is safe step into a well-lit room where the vast majority of people are already standing.

What does this mean? It means God exist in all facets of our lives from the time we wake up to the time we lay down at night. It means God exist from birth to death. It means God exist from beginning of time to the end of time. It means God exist in good times and in bad times. It means God exist in poverty and in wealth. It means God exist in sickness and in health. It means God exist when the sun shines and when the clouds form for a storm. It means God exist during hard times and good times.

Bottom-line; there has never or will ever be a time when God does/has not existed.

Does God exist? Yes, He does….

Study To Show Yourself Approved

2011-07-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

During my down time from pastoring, I recognize I still have an obligation as a preacher to continue sermon preparation. My assignment may have changed but my responsibility as a called man of God still requires me to study the word for my own personal development and pulpit presentation.

Its amazing how my mind has been clicking lately as it relates to study topics. Here's a few ideas that have crossed my mind of late...

* Praying With Meaning - A Look At The Model Prayer - Matthew 6:1-13

* Living With Purposeful Intentions - A Look At the Be-Attitudes - Matthew 5:1-12

* Fighting To Win - A Look At Spiritual Warfare - Ephesians 6:10-20

* Daily Spirit Filled Living - Handling Relationships Properly With the Spirit's Help - Ephesians 5:18-6:9

* The Type Of People God Uses - A Look At the 12 Disciples - Matthew 10:1-4

* A Path For Your Life - A Study Of Micah

* "I AM" - A Look At the "I AM" Statements of God - The Gospel of John

* God Is In Charge - A Look At 2 Thessalonians

* The Joy of Partnering in Ministry - A Study of Philippians - This one I need to complete.

* Psalms 119

This will be good study and writing. When my next assignment comes I will be locked and loaded. Not just for the pulpit but also personally.

Look Out!

Preaching is my medicine!

2011-07-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

Several years ago I read a book entitled "Preaching through a Storm".
Unfortunately (or fortunately), I gave the book to someone else to read so I don't remember much. But I do remember a few thoughts of the book (paraphrased) that has come back to me in recent days. One of those thoughts is when a preacher goes through a storm that storm will do one of two things: draw the preacher to the pulpit or push him away from the pulpit.

As we have seen, there are many pastors being pushed away from the pulpit and pastoral ministry. However, for me PREACHING IS MY MEDICINE and PASTORAL MINISTRY IS MY DESIRE! In other words, I'm drawn to the pulpit and not from the pulpit when going through a storm.

While in transition, it has been a challenge for me. I miss preaching/ teaching and shepherding God's people on a weekly basis. While it's important for me to be poured into after 9 years of pouring out, I feel like Jeremiah...I got to say something on God's behalf weekly.
I also recognize the difficulty this transition has been on my family.

And therefore, I recognize that I'm not alone during this challenging time. This has led me to pray daily for my family to protect us from bitterness, hurt, and unforgiveness. Tracy loves ministry work just as much as I do. So for the both of us the transition is challenging.
Yet, we both look forward to getting back to work in building God's kngdom. I thank God for her and love her for her support.

While times have been difficult, I thank God for my church family...Bishop Sanders and Mt Pilgrim. They have received me and the family so graciously and with warmth that it has lightened the load of this season. They didn't/dont ask me why i'm not at First Goodwill anymore. As a matter of fact they've been pushing for me to get busy.
Well, I am ready to get busy! I truly thank God for my pastor and church family. May God bless you all!

God has also allowed me to form a bond with brothers, some pastors and others who are not, that's been praying and encouraging me on a regular basis. Thank God for each of you. Our talks and prayer times has also helped me to stay focused on my calling and they don't treat me any different now that I'm not "pastoring". Actually, it seems as if they're respect for me has increased. Nevertheless, I thank God for you brothers. Let brotherly love continue!
Sunday, I had the privilege of worshipping with pastor Stan Richards and the Beacon Light Church family. What a wonderful time of worship!

I preached a message entitled: Living Above the Worry - Matthew 6:25-34. The point of the message is that God warns those of us who do worry to stop it and to those who are not worrying, don't start! God, your heavenly Father, will take care of you. The church received the message well and I believe I needed the message just as much as the next person in the church. I do worry a lot about many things. But thank for confidence in knowing that my worry is really not necessary when I look at all that God has done, is doing, and will do as long as I trust Him. Thank you to Pastor Richards for being so warm in his introduction and for being a true brother and friend. I look forward to us worshipping together again!

This coming Sunday (God willing), I will be preaching at Village Baptist Church with Pastor W Charles Harris for their Men's and Women's Day service at 3:30 pm. It is my plan to preach: We Can Do It Better Together - Acts 2:42-47. If you're not busy please come out and receive worship and the word.

I Wish I Knew

2011-06-29T10:24:00.000-07:00

I received this email today from Sermon Central and wanted to share it as a blog…

10 Ministry Principles I Wish I Knew When I Started

Brady Boyd

I have been a pastor for about 15 years now, and it has mostly been a fantastic journey with some of the best people on the planet. I did not attend seminary or have much formal training when I started out, but I sure wish someone had told me these ten things in the beginning.

1. Sheep bites can’t kill me, but the gnawing will make life miserable a few days each year.

2. No matter how hard I try, I will always be tempted to measure my success by attendance numbers.

3. The best thing I can do to build and grow God’s kingdom is to be myself and not compare myself to others.

4. It takes a long time to become old friends so nurture and cherish the old friendships God has given me.

5. I will only have as much spiritual authority as I am willing to submit to myself. Independence will destroy me, but there is power in submission.

6. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. Challenge people to go deeper even when the message is unpopular.

7. My brain will always feel like scrambled eggs on Sunday afternoon so don’t make any major decisions until Tuesday morning.

8. Some people will only trust you after a really long time of proving yourself, and another group will never trust you no matter what you do.

9. Don’t feel guilty about taking a Sabbath. It was not a suggestion.

10. I will never regret spending time with my family instead of saying yes to a church meeting that someone else could lead.

I hope this is helpful to other young leaders who are launching out into ministry. What are some of things you wish someone had told you before you started ministry in the local church?

Now here is my response to the question at the end of the blog….

11. Be careful you who share dreams and successes with. Everyone cannot handle what God wants to do in your life.

12. Be careful how much information you share about your personal life with others. Some will use it against you when the time is right.

13. Going with the goers is not easily identified. Some hang around for what they can get from you rather than what they can contribute to the progress of God’s work and the progress of your spiritual maturity.

14. Eliminate distractions immediately. Letting them linger can be detrimental to your focus.

15. Be careful to not allow others to validate your worth, work, and witness. People forget what you’ve done today as quickly as tomorrow arrives (or they remember a past failure). In addition, compliments are not compliments but is patronizing covered with cute words to make you feel good with a hidden agenda.

16. Guard your family from the wolves. Wolves in sheep’s clothing are not always distant. Some of them are those closest to you!

Many of these I’ve heard before but did not really understand until I’ve experienced them for myself.

Blessing Or Burden

2011-06-27T11:38:00.001-07:00

We left the hospital from visiting my grand-daughter and sister-in-law on yesterday afternoon. We were in a hurry to get home to watch the BET Awards. Traffic was moving wonderfully on the Santa Monica freeway and in the transition from the 10 to 110 Harbor freeway. We got into the carpool lane with a straight shot home until the transition from 110 to the 105 freeway and that’s when traffic became slow moving the rest of the way home (and at times a complete stop for about 20 to 30 seconds). If things were to move like they were we would have been home in time to see the opening act of the BET Awards. However, it didn’t happen that way so we missed out but was able to watch the balance of the show.

While driving into work today, I started reflecting on my drive home and two (2) different transitions I found myself in trying to get home yesterday. My reflection showed me that life presents transitions that can be a blessing or a burden.

The transition with a straight shot home is considered a blessing because I would have got home in time to see the opening act. We don’t have problems with transitions that work in our favor. We enjoy life’s transition of a job promotion, finding a job, open doors, good health, decent money in the bank (whatever that means to you), well-behaved children, a growing church ministry, continuous preaching engagements, that one opportunity to show you can do it. See, transitions with a straight home are easy to handle because it worked in your favor.

On the other hand transitions that become slow moving in life’s traffic jams are considered a burden. We don’t like it when life slows down, especially, when we need/want to get to our final destination. It’s during life’s slow down moments that we become stressed, frustrated with God, anxious, worrisome, burdensome, afraid, doubtful, angry, jealous, faithless, and impatient. However, we must remember that life’s traffic jams are not all bad. Some of life’s traffic jams protect us from potential arm that we don’t see coming our way. Some of life’s traffic jams makes us slow down to here from God. Some of life’s traffic jams affords the opportunity of reflection with the end of goal being thankful for what all God has done in your life.

I speak from personal experience while in transition. I will be totally honest that I have mixed emotions about life’s transitions as I have both feelings of blessing and burden during this transition. So driving in this morning, I started to ask God to help me understand this transition. Of course, the following scriptures started coming to mind….

Psalms 1 - Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law [fn] of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. There is a threefold lesson to learn during life’s transition in this passage: (1). Be careful who listen to and what advise you follow – v. 1, (2) Let the Word Of God stabilize you – v. 2-3, (3). God knows what He’s doing in your life – v. 5-6.

Psa 25:5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Learn what you can during life’s traffic jams.

Pro 20:22 Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you. God is fighting for you during life’s traffic jams.

Isa 49:23 Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame." God is promoting you during life’s traffic jams.

Gal 5:5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. You will be made all the better after life’s traffic jam.

(Disclaimer: The above text(s) is being worked into a sermon series/book entitled, Handling Life’s Traffic Jams – Trusting God during Life’s Transition)

New Scripture Memorization/Devotional Plan

2011-06-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

Have you ever struggled with scripture memorization or finding a realistic scripture reading plan?

I will be honest I struggled with memorizing scripture as well as with a realistic plan for my scriptural devotional reading with all the demands life has for me.

Well, with God’s help and technology, I’ve discovered an easy way to memorize scripture and develop a plan for my scripture devotional reading that’s been working pretty well for me so far.

I use my Microsoft Outlook to assist me in the area of personal development with scripture reading and memorization…

The changing of my password during login helps with my plan. At work, we are required to change our password every six (6) weeks. I’ve been using the Psalms as my password beginning with Psalms 1 and each time I change it goes from Psalms 1, to Psalms 2, and so forth.

Once I change my password, I then schedule my reading in Microsoft Outlook Calendar by placing Psalms passage in the body of my calendar. I then set a scheduled reminder for each day for the next six (6) weeks with a time that is usually in the early AM (like 6 am). I do this so that no matter what time I log onto my computer, a reminder notice will pop up of my need to read the scripture selected as my password.

By doing this, I’ve conquered two (2) birds with one stone (so to speak). I have plan for reading and memorizing scripture using the one thing we all use the most these days the computer.

If I can’t remember a passage of scripture in six (6) weeks no matter how long the passage maybe then there’s another problem. Also, it helps me to take small bites for a sense of achievement rather than a large amount that usually cause feelings of failure when I don’t complete my commitment.

Try it, it just may help you and let me know how it goes!

Seasons!

2011-06-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

A good devotional on seasons from Today In The Word...

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. - Ecclesiastes 3:1
Scientists working at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colorado, recently created the world’s most accurate clock. Called an “optical atomic clock,” it’s made of an oscillating laser, a mechanism called a “comb” that counts oscillations, with a single mercury atom as the point of reference.The optical atomic clock “ticks” one quadrillion times per second. Research is ongoing, but this type of clock could be up to one thousand times more accurate than current atomic clocks. Such precise timekeeping might be applied in navigation, communication technology, and deep space exploration.Time, no matter how it’s measured, is one of the inescapable realities of life. God ordained seasons in nature; He built them into the rhythm of life.

There are seasons in our lives as well, and in God’s plan for history (cf. Dan. 2:21; Titus 1:2–3; 1 Peter 1:3–5). The observation about times and seasons may be simple, but it’s important for keeping a sense of balance. Today’s reading sets forth a principle, then fleshes it out with contrasts. Some events are pivotal, such as birth and death, war and peace. Others describe basic emotions, such as love and hate, weeping and laughter. Still others highlight fundamental patterns of action, such as speaking or keeping silent, searching or giving up. These events, emotions, and actions are the stuff and substance of life, the threads of which it’s woven.Getting hold of the truth that life has times and seasons can be one of the keys to inner peace and contentment

Favorite Quotations

2011-05-31T07:18:00.000-07:00

During my reading of Being Holy, Being Human by Jay Kesler there are a few quotes that stand out to me that I want to share with those who are reading this blog:

Gregory the Great says, "The pastor should always be pure in thought... no impurtiy ought to pollute him who has undertaken the office of wiping away the stains in the hearts of others ... for the hand thought would cleanse from dirt must be clean, lest, being itself sordid with clinging mire, it soil whatever it touches all the more."

C.S Lewis says, "When a man is getting better, he understands more and more clearly the evil that is still left in him. When a man is getting worse, he understands his own badness less and less.

Marting Luther says, "Our office ... subjects us to great burdens and labors, dangers and temptations, with little reward or gratitude from the world. But Christ Himself will be our reward if we labor faithfully".

John Newton says, "The Christian ministry is the worst of all trades but the best of all professions".

Be Still...

2011-05-24T16:57:00.000-07:00

“Be still and know that I am God.” This has been my intention over the past two (2) weeks, “Be still…”

While this is a challenge for me because I work it is a necessity for me as it relates to my ministry…publically and privately. I try my best to hear from God and sometimes for me it’s best that I go into a shell mode or as Jesus declares in Matthew 6…”go to your secret closet”. The time has been very enriching. There have been challenges along the way that tried to get me out of my “Be still…” moment. Nevertheless the time has been extremely wonderful for me.

Over the past two (2) weeks I’ve read 2 books, “Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry” By John McArthur and “Character Forged from Conflict” by Gary D Preston. Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry is a re-read for me so I read what I thought was needed information. However, “Character Forged from Conflict was a must read for me and I’m glad I read it. I started a new book this week entitled: “Being Holy, Being Human” by Jay Kesler. The thesis of the book is on being transparent without being hypocritical as Christians. I’ve read the introduction and chapter 1, so far so good. Another must read.

I’ve also used this time to spend with the family. For the first time in years, Tracy and I rode our bikes to El Torito for brunch. Good time of eating and talking with Tracy something we haven’t done in a minute. We ate so much that riding back home was a BIG challenge. But we made it home. We tried to train our puppy cocker spaniel (Rocky) to go outside without running crazy in the streets after cats. However, that joker did what we thought he would do run down the street after cats. It was short lived as he got tired and just wanted to lay around afterwards. But it was cool, watching Tracy do her HGTV thing in the rose garden, Aysia on the phone sitting on the back of the truck, Myles playing football (or something in the street), and me running in/out the house watching Cooley High (my favorite movie).

Later that evening Kari and lil Jimmy met us at Blizz for frozen yogurt Sunday. Then they played a Operations game while I watched my Bulls struggle playing the Heat. They had no answers for Chris Bosh. He did whatever he wanted to do. And then, lil Jimmy beat me in Michael Jackson’s dance game to “Billy Jean”. He knew all the moves. So, later Sunday night I practiced so he won’t beat me again. It’s on lil boy! See you on the dance floor!...lol

Much Needed

2011-05-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

Over the next couple of weeks I will be taking a much needed time of rest (it’s called vacation). The first five (5) months of this year has been challenging, a blessing, tiring, frustrating, prayerful, and fulfilling. I guess the best way to explain it is I’ve been a bag of mixed emotions since 2011 started. So, the church and I decided, I need to rest as I seek God for direction for the future of ministry.

However, as life would have it the challenges keep coming as my wife received the news Sunday morning that my brother-in-law, Ronald (Ronnie) Spears pasted away at age 47. Totally unexpected and it’s taking the entire family/friends for loop trying to understand what happened. We may never receive an answer but I do believe in the sovereignty of God. He and I had a wonderful relationship coupled with mutual respect for one another. And I will miss him dearly! RIP in peace my brother. And please keep the Tracy and the entire family in prayer. Tracy and Ronnie had a wonderful relationship that expressed love, joy, and respect. Literally, people seeing them would think they were husband and wife the way they spoke and laughed with each other. Needless to say, she’s taking it pretty hard and I request the prayers of the righteous to help her make it through this loss.

This week I started taking intentional steps in my devotional time by making sure I’m not reading my favorite topics but reading material and scripture on what will renew my spiritual strength and vitality. By doing this, I realized I made one of the best purchases of my life; Logos Bible Study Software. I’ve heard about the software but never purchased it because it was a little expensive in my opinion. However, in Dec of 2010 a representative came to our church to do a show-in-tell of the software and after that I was sold on the product. I’m so glad I got it!

The resources and accessibility available are priceless. My iPhone has become my best friend. I was able to download software app on my phone to access all resources for study, devotional reading, and pastoral assistance material. Wow! Before I purchased this product, each week after church I would copy, paste and print study material to read on the bus, at lunch, or wherever I could fit in study time with me being a bi-vocational pastor my study time is limited. My bat cave for study is wherever I make it at the time. But now I can study from my iPhone and no matter where I leave off on my iPhone or laptop computer I can pick up where I left off with my study. I love it!

Not only is study material limitless but resources for pastoral ministry, church administration, leadership development, sermon preparation, marriage counseling, singles ministry, and more are available as well. Books I’ve always wanted purchase is now on my iPhone thanks to Logos. Wonderful purchase, thank software developers.

Also, over the years I’ve developed my own sermon preparation worksheet. Here it is…

Monday:
BIBLE TRANSLATIONS

Tuesday and Wednesday:
VERSE BY VERSE OBSERVATION WORKSHEET

SCRIPTURE CROSS REFERENCE (S)

KEY TERMS (look for long words, big words, sophisticated words, repeated words, central words, emphasized words, words that catch your attention)

DETAILS – WHY (look for therefore, for, since, and, but, that, because) – why is this here? why is he saying this?

DETAILS – WHAT (look for verbs and actions taking place) – what’s going on?

DETAILS – WHEN (time chronology-appointment) – when did this happen?

DETAILS – WHERE (geographical location and spiritual location) – where did this happen?

DETAILS – WHO (look for people in the text) – who’s in the text?

DETAILS – HOW – how does it happen?

DETAILS – HOW – how does it apply?

ATMOSPHERE (sensing what you read – the Bible is about people let them live – 5 senses HEAR, SEE, SMELL, FEEL, LISTEN)

Thursday:
WORD STUDY AND SYNTAX WORKSHEET

COMPOUND WORD YES NO
VERSE
WORD
STRONG’S NUMBER
GREEK WORD
PRONUNCIATION
PREFIX
SUFFIX
BASE WORD

ORIGINAL GREEK DEFINITION

TYPE
MOOD
TENSE
VOICE
CASE
GEBDER
PERSON
NUMBER of TIMES USED in Script.

OCCURENCES IN THE BIBLE
# of times it occurs in Scripture:

Authors usage in the same book and other books he has written:

Authors first occurrence of the word:

First occurrence in the Bible:

Other writer’s usage of the word:

Ways it is translated:

CONCLUSION BASED ON CONTEXT AND COMPARISONS

DEFINITION (your definition is the final product)

Friday
STUDY TEXT OUTLINE:

Saturday:
COMMENTARY NOTES

Commentary By:

Notes

Saturday PM and Sunday AM:
Sermon Writing

This may like a lot to do but sermons don't grow on trees and this works for me and keeps me focused.

National Day of Prayer Request

2011-05-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

A Prayer for our nation: 1 Timothy 2:1-6 - First of all I urged that prayers and supplications with thanksgiving be made for all people everywhere as well as those in high positions that we may live a quiet, peaceful, and godly life. This good and well pleasing to God who desires all men to be saved.

A prayer for help: Hebrews 4: 10-12 - we have a high priest who can sympathy with our weaknesses because He was tempted on every side just as we are. Therefore, we can go boldly to the throne of grace to find help in our time of need.

A prayer for the church: Ephesians 4:1-4 - I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace

A prayer for our children: Luke 2:40 - And the child grew and became strong; filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

A prayer for pastoral leadership: Ephesians 6:19-20 - Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
A prayer for finances: 2 Corinthians 8:7, 13-14 - " ... But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving ... "

A prayer for time management: Ephesians 5:14-16 - This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

A prayer for spiritual strength: Ephesians 3:14-19 - For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

A prayer against stress and frustration: Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

A prayer for ministry commitment: 1 Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Good Week

2011-04-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

Holy Week (Passion Week) was extremely wonderful but tiring. FamRoyal held our first passion week revival (Tues, Wed, and Thurs). Attendance was great and the people came to have church the entire week by checking stress, frustration, cares, worries, and whatever else at the door to hear the Word and experience God’s presence.

I preached Tuesday night. I preached a message last Sunday entitled “The Gospel Deserves Our Best” out of 2 Timothy 2:8-13. The primary theme of the message is “The gospel still works!” It was still in my spirit and had more needed to be said and I got it out. It was the first time many in attendance have heard me preach but they received me and the message very well. From there it kept going higher, higher, and higher. Wednesday nite Pastor F Demond Harris preached and Thursday Pastor Duane Moore preached. Both blessed us in a mighty way. Thank you to FamRoyal for your love and support as well as a great week of revival that I so desperately needed.

On Good Friday, I shared in service with my brother Pastor Raymond Chandler of Three Oaks Church. Another good service! I was given the assignment to preach on the meaning of Calvary which was a breathe of fresh air from preaching the 7 Last Sayings.

Thought: Lead Me To Calvary
Text: Luke 23:32-33
Theme: Calvary had to happen.

Calvary is a place of Prudence – Jesus was judged at Calvary for our sins
Calvary was a place of Pain – Calvary was know for execution
Calvary was place of Promise – Calvary promises forgiveness and eternal life for all who will accept it.

It was a good week of preaching. Tracy was a trooper and went with me to church each night as I believe we both needed the week of revival together. Thank you for support all week long.

Before preaching on Tuesday, my pastor whispered in my ear; “Preaching is good medicine!” I’ve heard statements similar to this one a many of times over the years but now I know what it means personally. These past few months have been so stressful in my ministry with a decision that I thought (as well as hoped) that I never would have to make. And at times it was difficult organizing sermons and bible study lessons. I’ve had one prayer for the past few months, “Lord, guard my heart of pride and ego and give me peace with those things I don’t understand.” I will admit. I’m still struggling with my understanding and don’t fully have peace but over time God will see me through.

I never wanted a ministry that had to endure storms before God opens the floodgates. But that’s why He’s God and I’m Clint. He knows better than I do about what’s best for my ministry.

Resurrection Sunday was good! However, I’m little hesitant of getting excited about those who attend church on Easter because for many people it is tradition to go to church this day. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see people who visited our church a few weeks ago come back to worship with us yesterday. I believe we planted seed on good soil.

I’m preparing a very special message this coming Lord’s service from one of my favorite passages, Hebrews 6:10. I pray God keeps me focused to complete the work at hand.

I Did My Best

2011-04-04T17:25:00.000-07:00

On Mondays, I usually reflect on Sunday’s message and ministry opportunity by reading blogs of some of my favorite writers/pastors. Today, I ran across a term that was unfamiliar to me……”mulligan”. A mulligan, in a game, happens when a player gets a second chance to perform a certain move or action. The practice is also sometimes referred to as a "do-over." In golf, a mulligan is a retaken shot on the first tee box, usually due to a previously errant one. Traditionally, mulligans are allowed only on the first tee shot (one per round) and are not just taken at any time of the golfer's choosing. It is sometimes called a "Finnegan" when the second shot is worse than the first. Golf tournaments held for charity may even sell mulligans to collect more money for the charity. Some social golf games also allow one mulligan per nine holes (thus two for a round of 18). I read an article by Jack Connell who is VP and professor of pastor ministry at Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York entitled “Ministry Mulligans”. The premise of his article is that of sharing his feelings of having a second chance to do it over again as pastor of 10 years. There are decisions, choices, and ideas that many of us make that we regret, at least I know I do. If I had a chance to do it all over again (these are in no order of importance just things I know I would do differently)…. First, I would not let ministry get in the way of business. There are some business decisions I’ve made with ministry in mind that as cost me in more ways than care to repeat. I’ve learned that I can make a business decision and still maintain a ministry mindset. The church can function as a business entity while maintaining its ministry identity at the same time. I’ve learned this the hard way and unfortunately I cannot go back change it now. Secondly, I will be careful of what I share with others. All of my life I’ve been a loner and usually guarded with information about myself personally and publically. I’ve tried to change that over the years during my pastorate and cultivate relationships that would allow me to open up to others whereby I could develop a confidant with other pastors as it relates to ministry challenges for advice and guidance. I believe I cultivated relationships with some while with others it has been used against me when and where required. In addition, I did not pay close attention to those who said they had my back without any additional qualifying statements. I was also told during my pastorate to go with the goers. However, I did a poor job in identifying goers in my membership and as friends. Thirdly, I will delegate more of the small tasks. I agree with Pastor Connell in his section of the article that members need a pastor and not a CEO, CFO, or anything of that nature. However, in a small church it’s almost next to impossible for a pastor not to carry a CEO title without the responsibility as well as of carrying responsibility. This took me away from that which is most important in pastoral ministry prayer and study of the Word. While God has been gracious to me in my study and pulpit presentation, I could have done so much better. Fourth, I would keep the main thing the main thing. When I first got to the church, our building was in bad shape. There was a whole section of the church that couldn’t be used due to a number of reasons. After our renovation completion, I got so caught up in making sure that the monthly mortgage was paid that evangelism and developing small bible fellowship groups were pushed to the back burner and I started renting to the church out for revenue which became my responsibility for opening/closing the church, running sound system, cleaning up after, etc that I lost total focus and concentration on fulfilling the Great Commission. It won’t happen again! Fifth, I will make sure my family has my attention more than the church. The demands on a small church pastor (especially a bi-vocational pastor) are so great that my family was getting lost in the shuffle of things. No pulpit help meant I had to preach/teach every week resulting in extreme burnout after long hours of work during the week. My wife and kids were given a backseat while ministry took priority. Unfortunately, the truth is if I died today my family would suffer and church would get another pastor. While I would gladly like a ministry mulligan, the truth is I can’t go back and change anything in the past 8 years. While I’ve made many mistakes there has been some good as well. The people of God are trusting the man of God again. We did restore a church where ministry can be performed without hesitation in a safe, healthy, and comfortable environment. We’ve touched many lives that we will never know about through our ministry and through the ministry of Praise Chapel who minister in the small building on the grounds. The Word of God was preached/taught faithfully every week without compromise. I gave 100% of me regardless of attendance. Bottom-line: I DID MY BEST!

Should a Small Church Disband

2011-03-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

68th Church Anniversary Recap

2011-03-14T09:09:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, our church celebrated 68 years of God’s faithfulness to our ministry. We started on Friday night with a comedy show with some of the best comedians in the area (Sista Merry, Tyree Moorehead, Cizzle C, Six Foota Simm, Aaron Edwards, Sis Canteloupe, and Barry Brewer). We laughed from start to finish. Our judges were my big brother and sister Bishop Kenneth and Shervonne Wells and my friend pastor Reginald Payne. Tracy did a wonderful job decorating the sanctuary and the membership stepped up to serve all of our guest. The jokes were hilarious. Thank you to everyone who attended and participated we really appreciate it.

Saturday was cleanup….a lot of work but we got it done to prepare for Sunday morning worship. Aysia had her 1st track meet at Artesia High School. She did a good job in the high jump and long jump.

Sunday I took a break from our series in Philippians and preached Psalms 67 – “Blessed To Reach The World”.

Sermon Theme: This Psalms is evangelistic in nature and the natural response towards the blessing of salvation is “Let the peoples praise Him, let all the peoples praise Him” – v. 3

This Psalms provides four (4) reasons why we’re blessed to reach the world.

i. God’s Favor is upon us – v. 1
ii. God’s Ways are for us – v. 2a
iii. God’s Salvation is available to all of us – v. 2b
iv. God’s Praise is to be declared forever – v. 3-6

I pray all in attendance were blessed by the message!

The afternoon service went great. Tracy led worship and did a great job! Our guest churches were Pastor Michael Albert and Mt Aaron Church along with Pastor Todd Barnett and my nephew Pastor Louis Monroe and the Word of God Baptist Church. Pastor Monroe preached from Psalms 23 “What God Does when Life Hurts” but before he preached his father big Louis played “Blessed Assurance” on the organ and killed us. That man is a true church musician of which we don’t have many of these days. It was good seeing a friend I haven’t seen in years, Matt Falkner, who plays for Word of God. I started remembering our days at Mt Sinai and almost got on the drums to bring back old times but I held my peace.

My mother and aunty, “The Mothers of Judah Dance Ministry”, surprised the heck out of us with their mixing of the Cha-Cha and line dancing to gospel music. It was different and fresh to see seniors get their groove on. But I’m sure they were hurting by the end of the night…lol Great Job! We did a special tribute for a dear member, Sis Georgia Loud, who recently became ill. We just wanted to say thank you to her for all of her service over the years to the First Goodwill Church. Emotions ran high has Tracy and Sadie began talking about her and what she means to them. It’s been hard as a pastor and for the church to see her and her husband sick but has been gracious to the both of them and for that I thank God.

Last Wednesday, we as a church committed to fasting and prayer from 6 to 6 for the sole purpose of asking God to restore the joy of our salvation for effective ministry and mission advancement. I felt the help of fasting this past Sunday as I preached and decided to fast every Wednesday until Resurrection Sunday (Easter Sunday).

Overall the weekend was good!

Does Anyone Fast

2011-03-09T08:47:00.000-08:00

Do ordinary, busy Christians fast anymore?

That was the question that popped into the mind of our board of elders chairman. Pastor mentioned fasting in a sermon, and now the lay leader was getting practical: "What about it?" Should we-a large, modem church in a Minneapolis suburb take fasting seriously?"

John Wesley once said, "Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all Scripture and reason; and others have utterly disregard it". we certainly knew which category we were. So we did what any group of uneasy churchmen would do: we referred the matter to the discipleship ministry team for further study.

In a matter of weeks, a board member presented a report that didn't let us off the hook at all. He noted, among other things that:

Fast and other forms of the word are used 78 times in Scripture.
Moses, David, Elijah, Esther, Daniel, Jesus, Anna, the disciples of John the Baptist, Paul, Barnabas, and others all fasted
Jesus seemed to think of giving, praying, and fasting as a trio of spiritual disciplines in Matthew 6:1-18
There are 4 reasons to fast: (1) to better focus the mind on God; (2) to share, in some small measure. God's own grief over sin; (3) to turn attention away from material needs toward the One who supplies all; (4) to intensify our praying.

The final conclusion is that fasting is a biblical teaching and should be practiced among all Christ followers.

Guidelines for fasting

1. Reach a personal conviction on the subject through a careful biblical study

2. Make sure you are medically able to fast before attempting it

3. Enter with a positive faith that God will reward those who fast with the right motives

4. Begin with short fasts and gradually move to larger periods of time

5. Be prepared for some dizziness, headache, or nausea in the early going

6. Mix your prayer time with Scripture reading and singing or devotional reading

7. Keep checking your motives during the fast

8. Break a prolonged fast graduall with meals that are light and easy to digest.

(This is an excerpt from "Fresh Ideas for Discipleship & Nurture written by Clyde B. McDowell - Associate pastor of pastoral care, Wooddale Church in Richfield, Minnesota)

Decisions, Decisions, and more Decisions

2011-03-01T08:52:00.001-08:00

This past Lord’s Day I preached a message on A Biblical Perspective for Decision-making. I originally intended explore this topic by looking at various passages of scriptures but then landed on Philippians 1:26-27:

If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

I got stuck on “I am hard pressed between the two”. Paul has a dilemma he’s dealing with, to die or continue on living to follow God’s plan for his life.

I too am faced with decisions, decisions, and more decisions. In a survey, pastors who said they made no tough decisions during a year were more likely to be fired than pastors who could identify such decisions. Pastors willing to face decisions last longer.

Yet longevity is not the only indicator of fallout from making or not making difficult decisions. There are other, less obvious factors. To identify those, one survey asked a series of questions about the toll risky decisions take on the leaders’ personal well-being, their ministry effectiveness, and their families.

The good news from the survey results is that when a tough decision is over, most of the pastors who stayed and even those who leave see benefits from the process they have been through.

Surprisingly, tough decisions cost pastors who stayed more personal pain than those who were forced to leave. Most pastors who stayed after a tough decision said the process took a toll on their physical, mental, and emotional health. Ministry decisions take a toll on everyone in the pastor’s household, no matter what the outcome of the decision. Ministerial effectiveness, as perceived by the pastor involved, always suffer. During tough decision-making many pastors recognized that a church in pain cannot serve as well as a church in good health.

Some of the recommendations offered in my message (of which many of them I didn’t get too) were:

1. Pray before you decide

2. Study Scripture for a clear understanding of God’s will for your life

3. Seek godly counsel from those you can trust

4. Check your motives by asking yourself tough questions and be honest with yourself when answering the questions

5. Try plan for the outcome of decision being made

6. Take your time but don’t wait too long

7. Pray before you decide

Los Angeles and Inland Empire Laugh Off

2011-02-15T11:09:00.001-08:00

What Happened To Me

2011-01-30T13:36:00.000-08:00

Sermon Series: The Joy of Partnering In Ministry
(A Study of the Letter of Philippians)
What Happened To Me
Philippians 1:12-19

Have you ever asked yourself this question during times of difficulties, trials, tribulations, and challenges: What’s happening to me? It is true that challenging circumstances often times throw and defeat the believer. John McArthur says “one of the surest measures of a Christian’s spiritual maturity is what it takes to rob him or her of their Spirit of joy. Paul’s maturity is evident in the present text as he makes it clear that difficult, unpleasant, painful, and even life threatening circumstances did not rob Paul of joy but rather caused his joy to increase”.

Life has a way of throwing circumstances our way to breaks down to our knee caps. From one situation to the next it appears that attack is greater than the first. As matter of fact, R.A Williams of McCoy Memorial Baptist here in Los Angeles explains Psalms 3 like this when David says “O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. So many are saying, God will never rescue Him!” Pastor Williams illustrates the text in this fashion: “Trials, tribulations, and enemies are like roaches, they wreck the house at night but scatter when the lights turn on.”

By the time Paul writes the letter to the Philippians, he had experienced serious hardships of every sort. Paul was chased out cities, shipwrecked, placed in jail, his ministry motives were attacked, his integrity had been questioned, and when he wrote this epistle, he was a prisoner in Rome chained night and day to a Roman soldier. No privacy when he slept, ate, wrote, prayed, preached, taught, or visited his friends. Paul was watched 24 hours a day with the possibility of receiving the death penalty. But no matter what he was facing he didn’t allow it to detour him from his desire purpose in life. Paul’s desire should likewise be our desire in life. I believe his desire in life summarizes verse 12-19:

Honor God and promote the gospel no matter what circumstances of life may come your way!

How we handle/respond to life’s difficulties will determine if we’re honoring God and promoting the gospel or dishonoring God and suppressing the gospel.

Well, it is my sincere goal and desire to see the church of Jesus Christ to honor God and promote the gospel. How do we honor God and promote the gospel? Verses 12-19 teach us how the circumstances of life can be used by God for the furtherance of the gospel. Three (3) lessons we can learn from Paul:

I. Let Your Witness Speak For Itself – v. 12-14

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Paul faced a dark circumstance. He was a prisoner in Rome. The dark circumstances stared Paul right in the face. No circumstance could ever be any more severe no matter what they were. Paul was waiting to appear before the Supreme court of Rome. He had done nothing that should cause his arrest and imprisonment. Yet there he was, and he was having to wait to arrival of his Jewish prosecutors with their trumped up and malicious charges. He was imprisoned for over two years, and as is the case with all prisoners, the days wore on ever so slowly, hour by hour and day after day. Whatever the pressures hung over Paul’s head, his tribulations were intense and protracted. But notice something about Paul….

He didn’t grumble and complain
He didn’t questions God and wonder why
He didn’t whine and murmur
He didn’t fall to pieces
He didn’t curse God nor give up his faith

What we must understand is that just because you’re in the will of God doesn’t mean that you are exempt from suffering, pain, and unpleasant situations. Paul is riding down the street of being in the will of God and yet still finds himself in a situation that is unworthy of his desired purpose of honoring God and promoting the gospel.

Where Paul is positioned now is not uncommon to a witnessing attitude he’s had from the start of his ministry. It was common to express, as he did in Acts 28:20 where he says “I am bound with this chain” and in Ephesians 6:20 he calls himself an “an ambassador in bonds”.

His circumstances or the things pertaining/relating to me have turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. Paul did not ignore his imprisonment and he didn’t allow his imprisonment to get him down. While in prison Paul still held the proper perspective of sharing the gospel. He took advantage of his unpleasant situation to share Christ with those around him. What an example!

His witness spoke to the unsaved – v. 13 – Whom did Paul what the gospel? His first contact of sharing the gospel was with the Praetoria Guard, the elite of the Roman army. These soldiers were the Imperial Guard of Rome, men who had been hand picked to protect the emperor and to carry out the major armed functions of the state. There were sixteen thousand of them, most of whom were stationed in Rome at any given time. These soldiers guarded and were chained to the wrist of Paul day and night for two years. Here’s what I like about Paul’s position, those guards got an ear full of the gospel from Paul for two years. Winning people to Christ is no easy task it takes time. Paul’s example teaches us to view every situation in which we find ourselves as an opportunity for spreading the gospel. With this in mind, the Christian can, see a hospital bead as a pulpit and the hospital as a mission field. We cannot save anybody that’s the work God but we can leave a favourable impression of our Christianity on those who don’t know God.

His witness encouraged believers to share the gospel – v. 14 - Not only did Paul’s witness affect the unsaved but it also encouraged other believers to be fearless in their sharing of the gospel. As they saw how God protected him and blessed his ministry despite persecution and imprisonment, their courage was renewed and intensified. What we must understand as believers is that how we respond to life’s situations has a tremendous impact on other believers as well. What they see within us can encourage or discourage them. That’s why we must be careful of what we post on facebook, Twitter, Android and any other social network. Those who no me know I love Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5, Franky Beverly featuring Maze. Those of you who know me know I like to dance. But those who don’t know me will think I’m hypocrite which then can affect my ability to encourage others to share their faith fearlessly. The unknown writer of Hebrews says “Layside every weight and the sin that does so easily beset (Hebrews 12:2). The instruction is that we should give up those things that weigh us down but also that we should not become a weight for somebody else.

Let your witness speak for itsel!

II. Let Your Faithfulness Speak For Itself – v. 15-18

Like the Lord during His earthly ministry, Paul too had many detractors. But one of the most discouraging experiences in life is to experience the envy and jealously of fellow preachers, co-laborers, and pulpiteers. It’s a sad scene (and I love my preaching partners) to see how much jealously and envy is in the pulpit. There are some preachers who won’t listen to another preacher. And those who do stay listen criticize the message rather than trying to hear a word from the Lord.

Upon attending the prayer bowl this year, I found myself critiquing the messages. One message I was very critical of it. What I think is one the most easiest text preach this guy ripped it in pieces (not in a good way). As I was leaving with a pastor friend, we started to reflect over the messages we heard for the day and right when I was about to criticize the message, he responds: “man that guy preached his butt off and I was blessed!” At that point I had to repent, because while I was complaining about the interpretation and structure of the message I was quickly disarmed with my friend being encouraged by the message.

It was at that moment that decided to keep my mouth shut and listen to the voice of God during every message.

While this is my commitment it’s not true of so many others. Envy and jealousy is running buckwild through pulpits throughout the country. But Paul teaches us that a mature believer holds no personal jealousy nor desire for credit or prestige.

Verse 15 teach us about the MOTIVE of preaching. Why do we preach? When we preach is it to be seen or do we truly have a sincere desire in furthering the gospel of Jesus Christ through our preaching?

Verse 16 teach us about the MEASURE of our preaching – “defend the gospel”. Defending the gospel is not with violent acts. I believe when Paul says “he was brought to a Roman prison to defend the gospel” had nothing to do with violence. Think about it, he was chained to a guard 24/7. But I believe defending the gospel is that of remaining faithful to preaching gospel. In other words, the best way to defend the gospel is to make the decision to stay faithful to the gospel message. Don’t change it, don’t add to it, just preach it as it is!

Verse 17-18 teach us about the MISSION of our preaching – “Christ is being preached”. Paul is an example for all of us to follow. Paul didn’t get caught in the foolishness of defending the gospel being critical of other preachers. He recognizes their attitude and actions but the final analysis is that Christ is being preached. Do you not know that God take what we may consider the worst message and save somebody. Not because the message was well structured or the preacher had pure motives but because Christ is being preached. Thank God for all those who preach Christ in the pulpit. May the gospel further because of their efforts.

Verse 18b teach us about the MANNER of our preaching – “So I rejoice”. Paul did not rejoice in the impure motives of those preaching. It is Paul’s attitude that while the primary motive of those guys is to preach out of selfishness by exalting themselves at Paul’s expense. He is confident that the sovereign God nevertheless honored their message when Christ is proclaimed and for that he rejoices. We may not agree with peoples motives in the pulpit or in the streets but rejoice that Christ is being preached the less and God will work out the details.

III. Let Your Deliverance Speak for Itself – v. 19

The statement of this paragraph Paul declares, “For I know that as you pray for me and as the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will turn out for my deliverance”.

While in prison Paul still has a faith that looks to a happy ending. Paul is certain that God will save and deliver him from the situation. He is sure of God’s help and deliverance. Why? Two (2) reasons:

· Prayer – What a glorious teaching for a church, prayer works. We that when the people of the church prayer for their leader, God works on his behalf to continue the work of furthering the gospel.

· The Spirit’s Help – We prostitute the Holy Spirit as if He’s some magician that can trick God into dishing out blessings. The Holy Spirit is much more than that. He’s our helper.

I Thank God For You

2011-01-23T13:43:00.000-08:00

Sermon Series: The Joy of Partnering In Ministry
(A Study of the Letter of Philippians)
I Thank God For You
Philippians 1:3-11

Paul was a pastor/leader who really loved ministry and was thankful for the church. We see his thankfulness for ministry and the church in just about every letter he writes:

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, (1 Co 1:4).

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayer (Eph 1:16).

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. (Ro 1:8–10).

Giving thanks to the Father which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light (Col 1:12)

What a lesson for us! If Paul thanked God for believers who were so far away from Him, how much more should we thank god for each other everyday. We can call on each, support each other, pray for one another, bless one another, fellowship with one another, study with one another, and visit one another.

However, I believe the relationship between Paul and the Philippian church was a unique situation. My pastor said best while having breakfast I was shared with the brethren how much I love preaching through the book of Philippians. Pastor’s eyes lit up and he made a statement that is the best way to describe the relationship between this pastor and people. He said: “It’s not often we see a pastor write to a church he really likes! Paul and the church at Philippi like each other!”

As I was driving home from breakfast I started to meditate on my sermon notes and pastor’s statement came back to me, “they really like each other”.

The affection between pastor’s and members are often expressed once a year during the pastor’s anniversary, pastor care service, leadership encouragement service, or some special event. And even then one wonders how genuine are the expressions between both the pastor and members.

But for Paul, he genuinely loves and appreciates the church at Philippi.
Paul could not think of the Philippians without giving thanks to God for their fellowship in the gospel. The word ‘fellowship’ refers to sharing or holding something in common. We have a tendency to use the word very loosely these days. Any gathering of Christians in which there is a feeling of happiness and camaraderie is called ‘fellowship’. We have almost made the word synonymous with good food and a few laughs. But that, of course, makes Christian fellowship no different from what unbelievers often enjoy.
We can be sure that the apostle had something far different—and better!—in mind. It was more than merely enjoying each other’s company. It was partnership.[1]

Paul is so thankful to the church at Philippi for their love and support while he’s prison that he opens this letter with prayer of thanksgiving. And the point of this prayer is this:

I THANK GOD FOR YOU!

The affection Paul shares in this letter is so beautiful that calls of us to learn from it. Three (3) lessons to learn from this letter is this:

A. It is a prayer of AFFIRMATION – v. 3-6

Philip. 1:3-6 (NKJV)
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, [4] always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, [5] for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, [6] being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

- Paul’s affirmation is genuine

Philip. 1:3 (NKJV)
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

The phrase “My God” reflects Paul’s deep intimacy and communion with the Lord, to whom He belonged and whom He served. His thankfulness for the Philippians was to God, emphasizing both that the Lord is the ultimate source of all joy and that it was the Philippians relationship to Him through Christ that caused Paul to thank God.

Bruce Larson, in his book Wind and Fire, points out some interesting facts about sandhill cranes:
“These large birds, who fly great distances across continents, have three qualities. First, they rotate leadership. No one bird stays out in front all the time.
“Second, they choose leaders who can handle turbulence. And then, all during the time one bird is leading, the rest are honking their affirmation.
“That’s not a bad model for the church. Certainly we need leaders who can handle turbulence and who are aware that leadership ought to be shared.
“But most of all, we need a church where all are honking encouragements.”
—Robert Sweat

These verses screams honkings of encouragement and affirmation from pastor to people. Paul says every time I think of you I thank God. Wow! That is a big difference from much of what we see in our modern day relationships between pastor and people. Oftentimes, when we get in a room filled with other pastors, preachers, and lay leaders there’s more negativity than appreciation. I think it’s true and should be said of many pastors as it is said of many people who are looking for a perfect church. “If you find a perfect church don’t accept the call to pastor it for as soon as you do it will become imperfect”.

Paul’s appreciation for the church at Philippi is a continuing thankfulness. Sitting in a prison chained, bond, and closed in he still thanks God for the people in partnership with him in furthering the gospel.

I’m learning that no matter how numerous the difficulties of ministry work that I can still be thankful of the work being done to further the gospel. I may not be in prison physically but the challenges of financial resources, people resources, space limitations, low weekly attendance, or whatever ministry challenges are presented at any giving time it doesn’t change the thankfulness of being in partnership with God’s people to further the gospel of Jesus Christ.

- Paul’s affirmation is joyous

Philip. 1:4 (NKJV)
always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,

John McArthur says another indispensable element of joy for believers is interceding before God on behalf of others. Those who are obedient to the Holy Spirit will delight in the privilege of intercessory prayer. Faithful and sincere intercession is much more than an obligation: it is a joy.

- Paul’s affirmation is encouraging

Philip. 1:5-6 (NKJV)
for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, [6] being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

As the apostle gave thanks for the Philippians’ participation in the work of the gospel, he could not help but add a word of thanksgiving for the work of the gospel in them. He was thankful ‘… that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ …’

Paul was very good at slipping little nuggets of breathtakingly glorious truth into the mundane portions of his letters. This verse is one of those nuggets. It tells us the following:

• Salvation is God’s work. The Philippians did not begin the work of salvation in themselves only to have God come along and add a little to it. It was entirely his work. God provided the way of salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ, and he even enabled the Philippians to receive that salvation.

• Salvation is a good work. Salvation lifts the sinner from eternal condemnation and ruin and makes that person part of God’s family and a partaker of God’s eternal glory. Who would dare say that this is not a good thing?

• Salvation is a sure work. God does not begin it and then abandon it somewhere along the way. He does not pull his people from the flames of destruction only to allow them to slip back and be consumed. God completes the work of salvation. We know what it is to plan a work and undertake a work only to see it fail. But it is not so with God. We must not picture him looking over the redeemed multitude in eternity and saying: ‘We did fairly well. Eighty per cent of the saved finally made it home.’ God will not have to say such a thing because all his people will make it home. Not one will be missing! The faithful God will faithfully complete his work![2]

B. It is a prayer of AFFECTION – v. 7-8

Philip. 1:7-8 (NKJV)
just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. [8] For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

Note how closely bound together Paul and the church were.

1. They were partners in heart. Paul loved them as he loved himself; he held them ever so dear to his heart and they constantly filled his thoughts.

2. They were partners in the sufferings of Paul. This means...

· that they were sympathizing with Paul in his imprisonment.
· that they were sending hope to Paul while he was in prison.
· that they had or were themselves suffering because of the gospel just as Paul was.

The point is this: the affection between Paul and the Philippians was so tender that their hearts went out to each other. What one experienced, the other felt, even the sufferings of each other.

What a striking picture of the kind of sympathy needed for those who suffer. We must learn to be partners in suffering. Then and only then can we bear each other’s burdens and truly minister to each other.

“Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body” (Hebrews 13:3).

3. They were partners in the gospel. The Philippians had not given up the gospel, nor had they become silent or complacent in sharing the gospel. They were actively defending and proclaiming the truth of the gospel. The church and its members were busy for Christ—actively bearing witness to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. They were taking the great commission of our Lord seriously.

4. They were partners in the grace of God. Paul was expressing the wonderful grace of God—the favor and blessings of God. And the Philippian church was expressing the same grace. God was pouring the richest blessings upon both Paul and the church. Why? What was it that was causing God to so richly bless these two? Their faithfulness: as this passage shows, they were bearing the marks of mature believers.

C. It is a prayer for godly ATTRIBUTES – 9-11

Philip. 1:9-11 (NKJV)
[9] And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, [11] being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

As the apostle began expressing his gratitude for the Philippians, he mentioned remembering them with joy in his prayers (v. 4). He then proceeded to share four requests that he had been offering on their behalf.

That their love would abound (v. 9)

This may seem to us to be a very strange request in the light of what we have already noted, that is, that the Philippian church was already characterized by love. We can be sure that Paul is not now denying what he has already stated. He is rather affirming that love is a grace in which we can always advance. No matter how much we love, we can love more.

He is also praying for them to abound in a certain type of love, that is, love with knowledge and discernment. He will soon find it necessary to warn them about the ever-present danger of false teachers (3:2, 18–19). The Philippians would make themselves easy prey for such teachers if, in the interest of being loving, they were uncritically to accept everything that these teachers were presenting.

We should be keenly aware of this danger. How often the church today has refused to stand against doctrinal error because someone argued that we must be loving! And, of course, love was understood to mean being agreeable and tolerant.

No one believed more firmly in love than Paul, and yet he did not hesitate to rebuke a fellow apostle for compromising the truth (Gal. 2:11–21). Paul did this because he understood that love and truth are not enemies. The most loving thing we can do is stand for the truth in a loving way.

That they would approve the things that are excellent (v. 10)

The word ‘approve’ means to ‘distinguish’. The idea of seeing through to the heart of a matter is involved. Paul is praying that his readers would be able, in the midst of competing issues and concerns, to see what is truly important and deserving of priority, and that they would be able to make wise spiritual decisions.

That they would be sincere and without offence (v. 10)

The word ‘sincere’ translates a word that originally meant ‘pure’ or ‘unmixed’. In ancient times merchants would often patch cracked porcelain with wax. A merchant who wanted his customers to be assured of his integrity would advertise his porcelain as ‘without wax’.
Paul’s desire for the Philippians was that they be ‘without wax’, pure and blameless in their conduct, so they could stand unashamedly before their Lord. Paul constantly lived with that day on which he would stand before Christ in view, and he wanted his readers to do the same. The key to living this day is to remember that great forthcoming day.

That they would be filled with the fruits of righteousness (v. 11)

William Hendriksen writes: ‘Paul prays that in the hearts and lives of the Philippians there may be a rich spiritual harvest, consisting of a multitude of the fairest fruits of heaven; such as, love, joy peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22–23), and the works which result from these dispositions.’
As Paul reflected on the fruits of righteousness, he undoubtedly called to mind the words the Lord Jesus spoke to his disciples on the night before his crucifixion: ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing’ (John 15:5).

It is not surprising, therefore, that Paul reminds his readers that the fruits of righteousness ‘are by Jesus Christ.’ And because they are produced by Christ, they are ‘to the glory and praise of God’ because Jesus did all for the glory of God (John 8:29; 15:8; 17:1, 4).

Greetings Ministry Partners

2011-01-17T08:28:00.000-08:00

Sermon Series: The Joy of Partnering In Ministry
(A Study of the Letter of Philippians)
Greetings Ministry Partners
Philippians 1:1-2

The love bond between Paul and the Philippian believers may have been stronger than the one he had with any other church. It was in large measure because of the joy that their love brought to him that the theme of Paul’s letter to the Philippians is joy. The depth of their relationship with him encouraged the apostle during his imprisonment and added to his joy. He was concerned about their unity, their faithfulness, and many other important spiritual and practical matters. But his overriding concern was that their sorrow over his afflictions would be tempered by their joy over his faithfulness to the Lord and the great reward that awaited him in heaven. Paul wanted them not to be sad, but to share in the fullest measure his deep, abiding joy in Jesus Christ. It is a noteworthy testimony to the maturity of the Philippian believers that, although Paul warned and encouraged them, he made no mention of any theological or moral problem in the church at Philippi. That also brought the apostle joy.

MacArthur, John: Philippians. Chicago : Moody Press, 2001, S. 11

Paul opens this letter in his typical fashion of writing with a greeting to the church at Philippi. In this greeting he identifies himself and Timothy as servants writing to all the saints and leaders. Paul’s priority of writing is not to warn against any potential danger in the church or coming to the church. He didn’t write because false teachers infiltrated the church at Philippi. There was no immoral wrong taking place in the church. No church fights during business meetings. No firing of a pastor or excommunication of a member. The only problem we see in the church of Philippi is in chapter 4 between two women Euodia and Syntyche. But the argument was short lived because after verse 3 we hear no more about it.

This church and leaders had one thing in common, furthering the gospel. What an amazing church! This church is broke, afflicted, struggling, and worried about their founder/leader who’s in jail. Yet, they kept the priority a priority….furthering the gospel.

In spite of his difficult circumstances as a prisoner in Rome, Paul is rejoicing. The secret of his joy is the single mind; he lives for Christ and the Gospel. Paul rejoiced in spite of his circumstances, because his circumstances strengthened the fellowship of the Gospel (Phil. 1:1–11), promoted the furtherance of the Gospel (Phil. 1:12–26), and guarded the faith of the Gospel (Phil. 1:27–30).

The word fellowship simply means “to have in common.” But true Christian fellowship is really much deeper than sharing coffee and pie, or even enjoying a golf game together. Too often what we think is “fellowship” is really only acquaintanceship or friendship. You cannot have fellowship with someone unless you have something in common; and for Christian fellowship, this means the possessing of eternal life within the heart. Unless a person has trusted Christ as his Saviour, he knows nothing of “the fellowship of the Gospel.” In Philippians 2:1, Paul writes about “the fellowship of the Spirit,” because when a person is born again he receives the gift of the Spirit (Rom. 8:9). There is also “the fellowship of His sufferings” (Phil. 3:10). When we share what we have with others, this is also fellowship (Phil. 4:15, translated “communicate” in KJV).

So, true Christian fellowship is much more than having a name on a church roll or being present at a meeting. It is possible to be close to people physically and miles away from them spiritually. One of the sources of Christian joy is this fellowship that believers have in Jesus Christ. Paul was in Rome, his friends were miles away in Philippi, but their spiritual fellowship was real and satisfying. When you have the single mind, you will not complain about circumstances because you know that difficult circumstances will result in the strengthening of the fellowship of the Gospel.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Eph 6:21). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.

Paul’s greeting to the Philippian church is more than saying: “hello”, “dear madam or dear sir”, “to whom it may concern”. This greeting sets the tone for the letter to the church at Philippi and serves as a model for us to follow:

Keep furthering the gospel as a priority!

The question to ask ourselves is what does it take to insure furthering the gospel is our priority:

I. The Character of Ministry Partnership – v. 1a – Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus…

Paul identifies himself and Timothy as servants of Christ Jesus. Interestingly, I found out something worth mentioning as well.

The Greek name “Paul” meant “little.” There have been several theories about the origin of his name: (1) a nick name describing his physical height, the second century tradition that Paul was short, fat, bald, bowlegged, bushy eyebrowed and had protruding eyes is a possible physical description of Paul. (2) Paul’s personal spiritual evaluation in passages like I Cor. 15:9; Eph. 3:8; I Tim. 1:15, where he calls himself “the least of the saints”.

“Timothy” means “honored by God” or “honorer of God.” He was converted on Paul’s first missionary journey to Derbe/Lystra (cf. Acts 16:1). Paul invited him to join the missionary team on the second missionary journey. He became Paul’s faithful apostolic representative and trouble-shooter (cf. Acts 16:1–17:14; 18:5–19:22; 20:4; Rom. 16:21; I Cor. 4:17; 16:10; II Cor. 1:1, 19; Phil. 1:1; 2:19; Gal. 1:1; Philm. v. 4; and two books, I Timothy and II Timothy. Paul sent him specifically to Philippi to help the church (cf. Acts 19:22; Phil. 2:19–24).

When looking at Paul and Timothy, I believe we find a working definition for the character of ministry partnership that is God honors those who don’t think much of themselves. This is true because Philippians chapter 2: 3-4 says: Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each one esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others. Therefore,

a. Servanthood is Teamwork for a Joyful Partnership – Paul and Timothy

We do not see ministry teamwork only here in this text but we see ministry teamwork throughout the NT.

For Jesus calls twelve men to join Him in the work of ministry

John the Baptist had his disciples to join him in ministry work

After the resurrection of Jesus, the disciples had themselves and Mary and Martha to do ministry work

In Acts chapter 4, Peter and John were arrested for preaching the word of God

In Acts chapter 6, Peter tells the people to choose 7 men to serve tables so they can spend time prayer and word

In Acts Chapter 12 we see Saul (Paul) and Barnabas appointed to return to Jerusalem to fulfill their ministry.

In Acts chapter 16, Paul and Silas have a prayer meeting in jail, freed, and a security guard saved.

In Philippians 1, Paul and Timothy are writing to the church at Philippi while Epaphroditus brings financial aide to Paul in his time of need.

The point is simple here, we need each other in ministry to be successful ministry partners.

b. Servanthood is Essential to a Joyful Partnership – Mark 13:32-34

"But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father. [33] So keep a sharp lookout, for you don't know the timetable. [34] It's like a man who takes a trip, leaving home and putting his servants in charge, each assigned a task, and commanding the gatekeeper to stand watch. - Mark 13:32-34

Jesus’ final words are the ones we should study very carefully. He tells us to be constantly alert to serve Him while we are waiting, for He may return at any time and yearns to find us ready to greet Him. If we all spent as much time concentrating on how to live for Jesus until He returns as some do drawing attention by-laws, Robert rules of order, choir uniforms, financial graphs/charts, and speculation of future revelation and how it fits together, the church would be a much more loving and serving institution.

The church needs servants and not celebrities. We need workers and not wimps. We need worshippers and not entertainers.

Serve the Lord with gladness!

c. Servanthood is Dedication to a Joyful Partnership – John 12:20-26

There were some Greeks in town who had come up to worship at the Feast. They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee: "Sir, we want to see Jesus. Can you help us?" Philip went and told Andrew. Andrew and Philip together told Jesus. Jesus answered, "Time's up. The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
"Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal. "If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you'll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.

Allow me finish this first point the way I started, God honors those who don’t think much of themselves in ministry. John 12 calls us to dedicated service by following Him at all cost. Be ready to serve Him not matter what’s required to insure the work is done. And the final outcome is that God will reward the faithful servant.

II. The Companionship In Ministry Partnership – v. 1b – To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi , with the overseers and deacons

Paul identifies two (2) groups of people, saints and leaders. This is not to say one is more important than the other. This is significant because this church is so obviously focused on ministry that while leadership and membership is evident they shared a common purpose in furthering the gospel that blended together in unity and yet I believe that the responsibilities of the membership was understood at Philippi that it didn’t cause any problems as to who’s doing what in the church. Therefore, we see….

a. A Corporate Call To Ministry Partnership – “to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi…”

Saints literally means “holy ones”, those set apart exclusively for God’s service. This is not a reference to a sinless lifestyle, but the believers’ forensic (legal) position in Christ. It is always PLURAL except in 4:21, but even there it is used in a corporate context. To be saved is to be part of a family. Although the term “saints” relates to the believers’ standing in Christ, it is not incidental that the root word is “holy” . Believers are called not only to salvation, but to a progressive sanctification. Believers are predestined to “holiness”, not just heaven; to service, not privilege.

This corporate call to ministry partnership in holy service is not just for the church but also for the leaders as well. It speaks to the fact that as a church we are all called upon to live right for God and serve to Him reverently. That’s the spiritual side of the corporate call. The practical side of the corporate call is I’m responsible for you. In other words, we need to look out for each other spiritually and in service.

b. A Clear Call to Ministry Partnership

The clear call is stated with these words: To all the saints of Jesus Christ who are in Philippi, “with the bishops and deacons”. In all of Paul’s writings, when greeting the church he does not make any reference to any leaders:

Ro 1:7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Co 1:1-3 1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Co 1:1-21 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:1-2 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Titus 1:1-4 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

It is safe to say that church government is evident in the church at Philippi. I don’t have time to run the record of the type of leader that is needed in the church but let’s just suffice it to say that we can all be saints but we all cannot be leaders.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, [12] for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, [13] till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; - Ephes. 4:11-13 (NKJV)

III. The Covering of Ministry Partnership – v. 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

When a church is strong, it is always full of vision and planning, and it is always working out a strategy to carry forth the gospel.
A strong church launches ministry after ministry and program after program. It is never still and never complacent neither the minds of the people nor the hands of the people. Because of this, there is always the danger of differences of opinion: differences in vision, desires, concern, emphasis, and interest. There are always different ideas as to which ministry or project should be undertaken and supported and a host of other differences.
The point is this: the more strength and activity a church has, the more attention it must give to unity. Because a strong church has more minds and bodies working, and where more people are working more differences are bound to arise. Consequently, the members must give more attention to unity.

The membership maintaining unity in the church is only one aspect of it plus as humans we are frail creatures who fights with our flesh on a daily basis resulting in our inability to maintain unity. However, God as covered us with a covering that cannot be tampered with nor will it dissolve:

1. We have a Precise Covering – Grace and Peace

Paul typically mentions grace and peace in the introduction of his letters. Grace is God’s favour and peace refers to inner serenity. The furtherance of the gospel is possible because we the favour of God on our side. In other words, nothing can stop the gospel from going forward.

Not only do we have the favour of God but the furtherance of the Gospel is protected by the peace of God. What this means is that the peace of God keeps us so the work can keep moving forward.

2. We have a Parental Covering – from God our Father

What a blessing! As a parent watches and cares for their children so God watches and cares for His church.

3. We have a Provisional Covering – The Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is our provisional covering meaning from this day to eternity the gospel will still work.

Introductory Sermon to Philippians

2011-01-10T11:33:00.000-08:00

Sermon Series: The Joy of Partnering In Ministry
(A Study of the Letter of Philippians)
Introductory Sermon

For a short letter of only four chapters and 104 verses, Paul's Letter to the Philippians is amazingly profound. At one level it is a poignant epistle from a jailed apostle to a beloved supporting church. At another level it contains an exhilarating hymn of Christ's humility and exaltation, a glimpse into Paul's intense passion to know Christ, and a discerning reflection on prayer and the peace it brings.

I personally love the letter to the Philippian church because of the joy, fellowship, love, thanksgiving, peace, support, confidence, passion, enthusiasm, zeal, excitement, and unity it shows between the church and it’s leader.

Certainly Paul’s circumstances were anything but joyful! He had been arrested illegally, taken to Rome, and was now awaiting trial. There was division among the Christians there (1:14–17), and some were trying to make matters worse for the apostle. How was he able to have such joy in the midst of uncomfortable circumstances? He had the “single mind”—his concern was not for Paul, but for Christ and the Gospel. Five times in this chapter he mentions the Gospel (vv. 5, 7, 12, 17, 27), and Christ is mentioned seventeen times! Paul looked upon these circumstances as sent by God (v. 13) for the purpose of exalting Christ (v. 20). If Paul had been double-minded, he would have complained because life was so uncomfortable.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (560). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.

Paul was not focused on his circumstances. His main concern was the furtherance of the gospel and the Philippian church supported the furtherance of the gospel by supporting Paul while in a Roman jail. What a church!

The partnership between Paul and the church Philippi is an example for all of us to follow. This team is a model for the 21st century church. The love of the leader for the people and the people for the leader produces a love for gospel ministry and is something worth noting. If there isn’t a genuine shared love for one another ministry will not be joyful.

On my job my boss makes a statement at least three times a day when referring to teamwork in the workplace. If something goes wrong he makes this statement. The statement he makes is this: “Get on the same page”. This is his way of promoting teamwork among the employees he supervises.

The letter to the Philippian church makes a statement that is not in the exact words but definitely obvious in it’s writing and we will see it throughout the whole letter. The statement that pours out of this letter is what I want to center everything said about this letter in the coming weeks:

“We Can Do It Better Together”

Coming together as a church with common goals and passion for ministry will ultimately lead to a ministry that desires to see the gospel spread across the community that surrounds us.

So the outline of the book shows what makes for a joyful ministry together.

I. The Success of Ministry Partnership – Ch. 1

Prayer – 1:3-11

Preaching – 1:12-18

Perseverance – 1:19-26

II. The Source of Ministry Partnership – Ch. 2

Unity – 2:1-2

Humility – 2:3-4

Christ Example of Humility – 2:5-11

Sanctification – 2:12-13

Service – 2:14-18

Passion – 2:18-24

Patience – 2:25-30

III. The Sufficiency of Ministry Partnership – Ch. 3

The Work of Christ – 3:1-11

The Purpose of the Christian – 3:12-16

The Perspective of the Christian – 3:17-4:1

IV. The Strength of Ministry Partnership – Ch. 4

Proper handling of conflict – 4:2-3

Maintaining Spiritual Attitudes – 4:4-7

Protect Your Mind – 4:8-9

Generous Support – 4:10-19

Hospitality – 4:21-23

It's Me

2011-01-06T09:01:00.000-08:00

On my train ride to work, I began reading a book entitled “Changing Lives through Preaching and Worship – 30 Strategies for Powerful Communication”. There is no one author for this book but many contributors. Great preachers/pastors/authors such as Gardner Taylor, Warren Wiersbe, Chuck Swindoll, Jack Hayford, Eugene Peterson, and many others.

I read part on Personality – Your Preaching is Unique written by Warren Wiersbe. As I read finished reading I had to pray and ask God to forgive me because at the end of 2010 I was extremely hard on myself in personal/private ministry. However, Warren Wiersbe’s writing has made think as well as repent for attitude and actions as it relates to my pulpit ministry. I want to post a few statements of pastor Wiersbe’s writing that has reshaped my thought process for the assignment I’ve been given.

The Difference a witness makes – page 7

A Christianity Today/Gallup Poll some years ago showed that ministers believe preaching is the number one priority of their ministries, but it’s also the one thing they feel least capable of doing well. What causes this insecure attitude toward preaching?
For one thing, we’ve forgotten what preaching really is. Phillips Brooks said it best: Preaching is the communicating of divine truth through human personality. The divine truth never changes; the human personality constantly changes—and this is what makes the message new and unique. – page 7

God prepares the person who prepares the message. Martin Luther said that prayer, meditation, and temptation made a preacher. Prayer and meditation will give you a sermon, but only temptation—the daily experience of life—can transform that sermon into a message. It’s the difference between the recipe and the meal.

The experiences we preachers go through are not accidents; they are appointments. They do not interrupt our studies; they are an essential part of our studies. Our personalities, our physical equipment, and even our handicaps are all part of the kind of ministry God wants us to have. He wants us to be witnesses as well as heralds.

The myth of “The Great Sermon” – page 9

As an itinerant Bible teacher, I know what it’s like to “hit a place and quit a place,” and I can assure you it is not easy. After thirty years of ministry, which included pastoring three churches, I’ve concluded it is much easier to preach to your own congregation week after week. You get to know them, and they get to know you. You’re not a visiting Christian celebrity, but a part of the family. It is this identification with the people that gives power and relevance to your preaching.
Accepting what we’re not – page 12

I learned very early in my ministry that I was not an evangelist. Although I’ve seen people come to Christ through my ministry, I’ve always felt I was a failure when it came to evangelism.
One of the few benefits of growing older is a better perspective. Now I’m learning that my teaching and writing ministries have enabled others to lead people to Christ, so my labors have not been in vain. But I’ve had my hours of discouragement and the feeling of failure.
God gives us the spiritual gifts he wants us to have; he puts us in the places he wants us to serve; and he gives the blessings he wants us to enjoy.

I am convinced of this, but this conviction is not an excuse for laziness or for barrenness of ministry. Knowing I am God’s man in God’s place of ministry has encouraged me to study harder and do my best work. When the harvests were lean, the assurance that God put me there helped to keep me going. When the battles raged and the storms blew, my secure refuge was “God put me here, and I will stay here until he tells me to go.”

A word from the Scottish preacher George Morrison has buoyed me up in many a storm: “Men who do their best always do more though they be haunted by the sense of failure. Be good and true; be patient; be undaunted. Leave your usefulness for God to estimate. He will see to it that you do not live in vain.”

My prayer: Father, forgive me for believing in my own accomplishments and ambitious expectations to determine Your usefulness for me. You’ve called, prepared, and predetermined my future. So Lord, help me to be disciplined personally to avoid those temptations that seek to destroy Your divine purpose for my life. Lord, help me to be disciplined in my study and prayer time to insure proper interpretation of Your Word to Your people that will foster life change. Lord, allow my worship to be filled with truth and spirit that will spring forth worship in the atmosphere of every worship service. I’m in Your hands do what You will as I remain faithful to You and my assignment. In Jesus name, Amen!

Looking Back

2010-11-30T12:08:00.001-08:00

Looking Back

This past Thanksgiving, I shared in a combined worship service with Pastor Payne of Full Gospel Church and Pastor Severe of Cathedral of Praise Church. All three (3) pastors gave a 15 minute exhortation:

The Motivation of Thanksgiving – The Parable of The Ten Lepers – Pastor Severe

The Manner of Thanksgiving – 1 Thess 5:18 – Me

The Mandate of Thanksgiving – Psalms 100 – Pastor Payne

The service was high spirited and all three (3) exhortations were challenging as well as encouraging. However, I am stuck on what I believe to be a difficult exhortation in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God through Christ Jesus concerning you”.

There is a follow-up question I believe to this exhortation; “Does the bible really mean give thanks in everything?” Let’s think about this for a moment:

- You go to the kitchen to find something to eat only to realize that there is nothing there. Do I walk away saying: “Lord, thank you that I have nothing to eat!”
- You go to the doctor for a checkup only to be called back in with some disappointing news that you only have 6 months to live. Do I walk away saying: “Lord, thank you that I’m about to die in six months!”
- You come into work on Monday morning only to be told that you’re services or no longer needed. Do I walk away saying: “Lord, thank you that now I’m unemployed!”
- Your marriage is headed to divorce court with no sign of reconciliation. Do I thank God that I’m about to be divorced?”

The point is simple yet difficult to understand and practice at times. Yes, the bible is clear that we should give thanks to God in everything because it’s His will for us to be thankful no matter what happens in our lives.

This year has not been the best of years for me. Bad choices, mistakes, complaining, and complacency blocked my ability to be thankful in all things. But when I look over the year, I realize I really do have much to be thankful for. In the midst of adversity, God has been good to me. In the midst of failures, God still watched over me. During a recession, God has been covering me and my family financially. With the loss of friends, God has removed some only to place new ones in my life. In the midst of ministry challenges, God still provides me the power/anointing to preach His word on weekly basis.

Yes, this has not been an ideal year for me but I am thankful. What about you!

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-22T17:18:00.000-08:00

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to 'clean up' the bird's vocabulary. Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even more rude. John, in desperation, threw up his hands, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer.

For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute. Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions.
I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior." John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, the bird spoke-up, very softly, "May I ask what the turkey did?"

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you all!

The Joy of Ministry Partnership

2010-11-12T10:01:00.001-08:00

In a few weeks it is my goal and desire to preach through the book of Philippians. Here is my homework of background analysis. I pray this study will be enriching for all who hears the messages.

Sermon Series Title: The Joy of Ministry Partnership

Sermon Series Thesis: The letter of Philippians shows that ministry is a joy when leader/people share the same passion in ministry.

Cross References that led to thesis conclusion:

1:5 - "I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now."

1:7 - "... All of you share in God's grace with me."

2:1 - "... if any fellowship with the Spirit...."

3:10 - "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings...."

4:14 - "Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles."

4:15 - "Not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only."

Philip. 2:1-30 (NKJV)
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, [2] fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. [3] Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. [4] Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Author: Paul

Place of Writing: Rome

Overall of Letter: joy and fellowship

Occasion and Purposes

Paul's immediate concerns in writing this letter are:

To recommend to the Philippians one of their number, Epaphroditus, who had come to help him in prison, but had fallen ill and was being sent home.
To let the concerned Philippians know about the current state of Paul's welfare.
To prevent the Judaizers from persuading the Philippian Christians to submit to circumcision.
To encourage the Philippian believers to quiet their dissention and be united.

Through the letter, however, Paul does much more than this. He provides the inspiration and encouragement of a friend, mentor, and fellow believer who finds Christ's strength and peace while struggling with opponents, anxiety, physical needs, and fear for his life. To see how a man, an apostle, meets obstacles and overcomes them in Christ, makes this letter very relevant for our day, too.

5000

2010-10-22T08:59:00.000-07:00

I'm preparing a message on one of the most passages of scripture: "The Feeding of the 5000" in John 6:1-15. When preparing a message from a famous passage such as this is sometimes difficult because I begin to remember all the sermons, lessons, and illustration I've heard in time past. However, this particular study is becoming very enriching for me and I wanted to share some of my observations on the text thus far. Most of this information may never reach the sermon this week but it will soon or later.

While a lot of attention is placed on the lad with a small lunch. The focused attention is not on the lad and his lunch but on what the disciple saw Jesus do with the lunch.
The disciples learned from the miracle that God can be trusted with every care of the world, even hunger.
The disciples learned that God cares about every detail of our lives: sickness, pain, and need
The bread in Jesus' day was cheap food but for the people it was a gourmet meal. Don't complain about what God provides it may short circuit an even greater blessing. There was sufficient leftovers at the end of the miracle.
This miracles teaches that a true is not an event but continuance. Jesus fed the 5000 and then sent them home satisfied and not empty handed
"after these things ..." - this is the 4th miracle performed by Jesus. The disciples saw Him turn water to wine, raise a dead son, and heal a man at the pool of Bethseda who laid there for 38 years. Why is this significant? If we, Christians don't believe God's ability to do the impossible, who will.
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke in their account of the miracle they mention "a lonely place". Why is it a lonely place with so many people there?
The miracle is in the leftovers
When following Jesus, He never sends you away empty handed
"200 denarii isn't enough to feed so many people" is this a statement of good stewardship, being cheap or frugal, or recognizing reality?
Lesson to learn: the reality of a situation can cloud your faith of the situation. When reality meets faith, faith will always when.
God demands active participation when meeting the needs of others.
Short on money, short on food, trust God He can still make it happen for you.
Here's a biblical account of a 3 dimensional recession: physical - sick people in the crowd, spiritual - lack of faith, resources - not enough food or money.
Life has many lessons and the best time to learn is when you're short on everything.
Many people follow Jesus for all the wrong reasons but still get blessed. The text says "many followed Jesus because of the signs and wonders He performed"
Was there anything significant about the ppl in the crowd of 5000? Yes, they were hungry.
What dies the txt mean that Jesus had compassion?
The difference between Jesus and the disciples in this story is that Jesus cared about the needs of others while the disciples wanted to send them away hungry.
This story is truly a miracle but what can we learn practically from the miracle?
This text also teaches us that the needs of people a great and too great for one person to handle.
Spiritual bean counters are necessary in the work of the Lord. We should count the cost before moving ahead. There's really nothing wrong with bean counting.
This text is also a lesson on vision. Vision will always exceed budget. However, God will make up the difference when the vision is in line with His will.
"there's a lad here..." - a lad oftentimes refers to the age of person or even the maturity of person. The lesson to learn is God can use an immature person to be a blessing to the God's people.
Jesus thought a plan through before asking how much money was in the account. True leadership thinks before it acts.
This miracle has so many lessons to be learned:
1. There's a lesson to be learned on faith2. There's a lesson to be learned on leadership3. There's a lesson to be learned on servanthood, sacrifice, stewardship4. There's a lesson on leadership and lay people relations5. There's a lesson on vision and church work6. There's a lesson on ministry and people relations
The lad in his young age understood the significance of being actively involved in the ministry of meeting peoples needs. Don't count out what our young people understand about the ministry. Take what they have to offer no matter how small or large their contribution maybe. It's worth it!

This study was birth out of my message from last week on "Can We Live Again" from Ezekiel 37 the story of the valley of dry bones. Our church is faced with a huge monthly bill with few people resources resulting in few financial resources and all that goes along with it.

The feeding of the 5000 helps me as I remind myself of an observation in this passage:

Jesus teaches us a good lesson on leadership do not panik in what may seem as a stressful situation. Huge need to be met with little resources. God is able to make up the difference! And I believe it!

Can We Live Again - Ezekiel 37:1-14

2010-10-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

As it were, the devil one day decided that he was going to have a yard sale and in this yard sale he would have for sale all of the weapons in his arsenal. And he would sale them to some sinister creature that would take his place. So he made the advertisement that his weapons were for sale.

Then one day walking up his drive way he saw a dark, hideous sinister creature looking at him and saying to him,” I want to be the next enemy of the world”.

The devil takes him through his yard sale and begins to show him all that he has for sale. As they begin to walk up and down the rows of tables they see on the tables weapons like
-covetousness
-lust
-worry
-envy

and as this dark sinister creature sees all of these things he says, “my goodness what wonderful and powerful tools these would be in my hands to stop the work of God in the earth and to keep the people of God from being what God would have them to be”.

But then the devil turns to this sinister creature with a smile on his face and says to him, “yes these weapons have been used wonderfully and yes of course they have accomplished the work that I have wanted them to do, but I want you to see the weapon I have used the most to bring down nations and to cause people to give up on serving God and to stop great things from happening in the world”.

As this sinister creature awaits wringing his hands anxiously to see what weapon that the devil is talking about, the devil reaches back in a corner and pulls out a weapon and written at the top of this weapon is the word, “DISCOURAGEMENT”.

The devil presents this weapon before him and says, “by this weapon I have toppled kingdoms, I have stopped people that were excited about the things of God and excited about serving God, I have stopped them dead in their tracks, by this weapon I have stopped people that have made a good start with God, I have made them to give up and lose hope and lose heart, by this weapon I have conquered and by this weapon I have overcome more than by any other weapon in my arsenal. And by this weapon you can well continue on the work that I have begun”.

I want to tell you, that the single greatest weapon that the devil has to use against the people of God is discouragement. The discouragement we see in the valley does not stem from the dry bones from a lack of faith that these bones can live again.

Picture the scene if you will, each Sunday, Ezekiel stands at the cliff of the valley opens his bible, reads his text, gives his topic of discussion, starts to proclaim the Word to silent, lifeless, and hopeless situation. He preaches hard each week, extends the invitation, and no one comes down the aisle. How discouraging can that be? And many of us pastors/preachers, we preach each week to dying and dead generation but no life has come. What do you do when it seems as if your work is non-productive? What do you when there's no life in a church and its members? What do you when you've tried everything possible and the bones don't come together? I'll tell what Ezekiel did, he stayed at the task he was assigned by God.

Many of us are discouraged in life personally and spiritually because we’re too busy looking at the condition of valley rather than the possibilities that can come out of the valley. Life would be so much better if we just learned to stop focusing on bad conditions and start focusing on the possibilities.

We must always keep in mind that, God specializes in breathing life into dead situations.

This may well be the devil’s weapon of choice, when we look at the lifeless valley but I declare what seems lifeless, dead, hopeless, and a waist of time is nothing more than an opportunity to see God work a miracle in our lives and church.

This text offers three (3) facts about the restoration life (Let me says also that these principles are universal. It applies to us individually but also to the church collectively):

I. The Power of God Restores Life – v. 1-3

The Prophet Ezekiel is taken to the valley of dry bones and God asks him the question: “Can these bones live?” God starts Ezekiel mission with the start of question just like Jesus did in John chapter 6 in the story of the feeding of 5000. In John chapter 6 Jesus asks His disciples; “Where shall we buy bread for these to eat?” However, the question was asked not because Jesus did not know what He was going to do. But He asks the disciples to test their in the midst of an impossible situation.

Understand church that before life can be restored, we must have the faith life can be restored. The hardest work in restoration is not the situation in and of itself but getting Christians to see the possibilities of life. I think there is another way of question the same question in a different way: “Do you believe there’s life in the valley?” Or, “Do you believe God can do anything?”

If you can’t get past this question, then that which is dead will remain dead no matter what you do.

(Footnote: Too many people in the church are working in the church but don’t believe that the church can live again.)

I like Ezekiel’s response the God’s question in v. 4: “O Lord God, You know.”

The Living Translation says: “Lord, you alone know the answer to that.”

Illustration: John 11: “The Raising of Lazarus from the Dead”

Point: God has the power to raise dead stuff.
____________________________________________________________________

II. The Proclamation of God’s Word Restores Life – v. 4-7

Ezekiel preached a message of hope in a hopeless situation.

And that’s what preaching is all about, preaching a message of hope; “All is not lost.” Just because the valley looks dead doesn’t mean it has to stay that way.

If we’re going to see life being restored to the people of God and the church we must PREACH THE WORD. This text says that restoration starts with the preaching of God’s Word.

Point: The Word of God can change things.

Secondly, we must TRUST THE WORD OF GOD. It’s one thing to preach the Word of God but it’s a totally different thing to believe and trust that which is being preached.

Point: You can depend on God’s Word.
____________________________________________________________________

III. The Promises of God Restores Life – v. 8-14

What does God promise when life is restored? God promises complete restoration.

God promises unity – v. 7-8

God promises strength – v. 10

God promises freedom – v. 11-13

Point: It’s not over until God says its over.

My Lil Blk Book

2010-09-14T07:28:00.000-07:00

In 1995, I purchased a little black book (and no it's the little black that people think of for men). This was (and still is) a very important book to me. It's not a book filled with phone numbers. Instead, it is a book filled sermon, bible study, and conference notes over the years. I remember sitting in a preaching class with Pastor H B Charles and he challenged us to never go to the pulpit without pen and paper, especially when you're not preaching. It was his belief that preachers should never stop learning of which I agree. So later that day I went to Word of Life Bookstore here Los Angeles and purchased my first lil black book.

This past Sunday as I was preparing for church, I pulled it out of my desk and began to flip the pages. Man, this is some valuable information. I have notes of sermons, bible study lessons, and conferences from some of the greatest pulpit speakers of our day, pastors/preachers such as: my pastor Richard D Sanders, H.B Charles Jr, Kevin Willis, Maurice Watson, Ronald Saunders, Dr James Borror, Henry Brown, Kelly Taylor, Darnell Dyson, Anthony Thompson, Barry Severe, R.A Williams, Lance Mann, Reginald Payne, Bishop Noel Jones, and so many others. Man, what preaching. teaching, and conversations.

Many of these guys voices will cease when they leave from earth and into glory. Many of them will not be heard of on a national stage of media, television, internet, radio, newspaper, book writing, commentary work, or anything. But they are some good pulpiteers for all to hear.

I value this book because its been a source of invaluable information. Whenever I studied a difficult text this book was used as a commentary. When needing to provide advice to someone, this book has been a source of information. When stuck in a preaching drought, this book has helped me through (in other words, yes, I preached some of these sermons before). When discouraged, this book has been my encouragement. This book has also taught me not to judge another preacher's message. People may deliver a message like I do but that doesn't mean that it wasn't for me at that time. I've taken some of these notes and validated what was said in the pulpit is accurate in biblical intepretation . Not for judging purposes but for learning purposes.

The point is that as Christians, we should never stop learning. And I find that as a preacher, I'm still learning about God, His church, His people, myself, etc. I will soon purchase another lil black book as the pages of this book has been consumed.

I encourage you who's reading this blog to purchase yourself a lil black book and take good notes when in worship, bible study, or wherever/whenever you feel it necessary to learn.

We Have Much To Be Thankful For

2010-08-17T08:58:00.000-07:00

This weekend I will be starting a mini-series entitled “We Have Much To Thank God For”. This mini-series was inspired from our Wednesday night bible study lesson taught by Pastor Payne out of John MacArthur’s book “The Master’s Plan For The Church – The Internal Structure: THANKFULNESS”.

The point of these sermons is to challenge our membership to become thankful Christians based on things eternal and not on earthly temporal things. I believe the thankfulness of your heart will dictate your worship life and style. Therefore, if we worship primarily for houses, cars, a new job, a promotion, winning the lottery, a good marriage, well behaved children, etc then our worship life/style is exciting and wonderful. The flipside is that when things in life take a turn for the worse our worship life becomes dull, stagnant, un-exciting, and boring. We come to church with our heads hung low, heart heavy, and an unrealistic expectation of the pastor to preach something to make you feel good. Or, expect the choir to sing a song that makes you feel good. What a waste of time!

I want the members of our church to be true sincere worshippers that worships God with a heart of thanksgiving based on things of eternal significance.

I resist the temptation to preach on the goodness, grace, and mercy of God because I believe we, Christians, minimize God’s goodness, grace, and mercy to deliverance from trials, struggles, and pain. However, the passages I’ve selected will in one way or another cover all three (3).

Mini-series sermon outline:

- We have much to be thankful for in DANIEL 2:23 - Wisdom and Strength

"I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king's demand."

- We have much to be thankful for in Romans 1:8 – Be thankful for those who hang in there

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.

- We have much to be thankful for in Romans 6:17-18 – Changed Lives

But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

- We have much to be thankful for in 1 Corinthians 15:57 – Victory over death

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

- We have much to be thankful for in Revelations 11:15-17 – The Return of Christ

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.

May God create within us a heart of thankfulness on things eternal!

Back To School Budget Shopping

2010-08-12T17:01:00.000-07:00

(1) Take an inventory of your child's closet

(2) distinguish between wants/needs

(3) Spread Your spending - no need for sweaters in the summer

(4) Don't allow peer pressure to dictate your spending

(5) If all else fails be honest with your child and tell them you don't have it.

Lift Leadership in Prayer

2010-08-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

Let me briefly walk you through the story here in Exodus 17 and then we will draw from it principles to practice.

On the journey to Sinai, the events taking place illustrate the Israelites need for Law. They complain angrily about food; yet God supplies meat and manna (Exodus 16:1-35). They quarrel with Moses and question God’s commitment yet God supplies water (Exodus 17:1-7).

Now Moses and children of Israel is faced with another challenge, the attack of Amalekites. This is the first fight on their way to the land of promise. The Amalekites seem to have attacked the Israelites in the same way and through the same motives that the wandering Arabs attack caravans which annually pass through the same desert. It does not appear that the Israelites provoked any reason for the attack, it seems that Amalekite army attacked them merely through hopes of plunder (to steal from them). In the most treacherous and dastardly manner, for they came from behind them to attack this weary and feeble group of believers. Attacking every person in the camp (children, women, young and old) taking all that they possess.

Isn’t life just like that sometimes, when the enemy comes to attack you’re not looking and unaware. He comes up from behind and attacks to steal your joy, your self esteem, your faith, your emotions, your money, your family, your children, your job, your success, your mind, and your zeal for God. He attacks you when your already struggling with God’s presence, power, and participation in your life. You’re wondering where is God in the midst of this? It’s at that moment when the enemy comes up from behind and attacks you.

Moses tells Joshua to choose several men and go out and fight the Amalekites. While in battle, Moses assures Joshua that he would be on the mountain with the rod of God in his hand. While Moses hands were lifted the Israelites were winning but when his dropped they started loosing. Hands lifted they’re winning, hands lowered they’re losing.

I do not understand, in a literal sense, how the lifting and letting down of Moses hands influenced the battle with the Amalekites, humanly speaking. It is, however, likely that he held up the rod of God in his hand as a banner to the people. It is recorded in the Exodus chapter 9 that hands lifted and spread out is a posture of prayer and supplication. The Jerusalem Targum says, “When Moses held up his hands in prayer, the house of Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hands from prayer, the house of Amalek prevailed.”

The lifting of Moses hands in the battle signifies Moses spiritual strength to pray over the people of God while in a battle for their lives. However, what’s troubling in the story is that Moses’ hands become heavy and starts to drop signifying Moses physical and spiritual weakness.

The text says; “Moses’ hands became heavy!” Heavy meaning burdensome. The heavy is explained in various portions of OT passage as being described in the following:

- “…for the famine was severe in the land” – Genesis 12:10

- “So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe.” _ Genesis 41:31
- “Now the famine was severe in the land” – Genesis 43:1

Moses hands becoming heavy was like a famine hitting the land, no more, it’s all gone! Here lies the reality of leadership, Moses had no more in him. Meaning there are times when leadership has reached its point where every part of his spiritual being has been exhausted.

Here’s something you need to understand about leadership, when God uses his power to touch lives with his power, it often leaves his servant drained and vulnerable.

Pastoral leadership is an endangered species and every pastor is at risk. Why, you ask?

Pastors have more responsibility
Pastors are more subject to temptation
Pastors are the biggest target for spiritual warfare
Pastors have more influence on others
Pastors have more visibility

Pastoral leadership is at risk and we’re seeing the attack on leadership greater today than ever before. Pastors are falling be the wayside. Losing their lives, families, money, ministry, self-esteem, credibility, and pulpit/personal influence because of the attack of the enemy when they’re weak and vulnerable.

Pastors are at risk and something must be done!.

This text provides the solution for a burden, vulnerable, and spiritually zapped leader, here it is:

LIFT LEADERSHIP IN PRAYER!

The text says that when Moses’ hands were heavy, Aaron and Hur came alongside of him, sat him on a stone, and stood to the left and to the right they lifted his hands.

What a beautiful scene! Pastor Moses is being lifted by the church. Translation, pray for your pastor!

Several years age while at Mt Sinai, Pastor H.B Charles taught a lesson in our Tuesday night bible study entitled; “The Responsibility of the Flock to its Shepherd”. It was a lesson instructing the members of the church to pray for their pastor. While studying this passage of scripture his outline came to mind and I want to use the same outline today to instruct the members of this church to pray for your pastor.

Let’s consider five (5) ways you can be a prayer shield for your pastor.

Ask God to give you respect for the office of pastor.

1 Thes. 5:12-13 (NKJV)
And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, [13] and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

1 Tim. 5:17 (NKJV)
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

Hebrews 13:17 (NKJV)
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Petition God to help your pastor be faithful to his divine calling

2a. Pastors are called to oversee the congregation

Acts 20:28 (NKJV)
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

2b. Pastors are called to set an example of godliness

Philip. 3:17 (NKJV)
Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.

2c. Pastors are called to preach and teach the bible.

2 Tim. 4:2 (NKJV)
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

2d. Pastors are called to develop godly members

2 Tim. 2:2 (NKJV)
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2e. Pastors are called to nurture the members of the congregation

1 Thes. 2:17 (NKJV)
But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.

Pray that your pastor will use the right ministry tools

- True ministry is done with prayer

- True ministry is done with the Word of God

Acts 6:2-3 (NKJV)
Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. [3] Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;

Pray for the ministry team that supports the pastor

There are four (4) things that will sabotage a man’s ministry:

Ministerial laziness

A neglect of personal holiness

A Non-supportive wife

A uncooperative team of leaders

Pray for the specific needs your pastor has

Pray for his personal concerns

Brethren, pray for us – 1 Thess. 5:25

Pray for his family life

If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church? – 1 Timothy 3:5

Pray for his physical/spiritual health

Meditate on these things; give yourself to them, that your progress may be evident to all – 1 Timothy 4:15

Pray for his pulpit ministry

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. – Acts 20:26-27

Pray for his pastoral leadership

And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our suffering is from God – 2 Corinthians 3:4-5

What was the result of Moses hand being lifted by Aaron and Hur? The result is found in verse 13, “So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword”.

Victory is given to the church when we keep our leader lifted in prayer.

Don't Touch the Tithe

2010-07-18T08:36:00.000-07:00

Genesis 2:15-16-chapter 3

“One of the greatest missing teachings in the American church today is the reminder to men and women that nothing we have belongs to us.” - Gordon MacDonald

The American way of thinking is that we are self-sufficient and that we are responsible for all that we possess. The Bible provides a different perspective, of course: that we are merely the overseers of God’s earthly domain, responsible for taking care of His resources until Jesus returns. Getting people to understand and accept our role as managers rather than creators of wealth and resources is a crucial element toward encouraging good stewardship.
Scriptural Perspective

• Genesis 14:17-24 (Abraham acknowledged that his victory spoils were a gift from God).
• 1 Chron. 29:14-18 (everything is God’s; we watch over it on earth).
• Psalm 24:1-2 (everything belongs to God).
• Psalm 50:10-12 (God created, knows and owns everything that exists).
· 1 Cor. 4:2 (Paul exhorted those being trusted to prove themselves faithful).

However, there is another passage of scripture on the level of stewardship that we often times don’t see as a passage on stewardship or one as a lesson on tithing. This passage is recorded in Genesis 2:15-17.

Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. [16] And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; [17] but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."

What does it mean to be a steward? To be a steward is to be a manage of God’s divine resources. Understand that being a good steward is not that of being cheap, stingy, over-protective, and/or a numbers watcher. A good steward is a good manager for manager.

A man doesn’t decide to become a steward after he has been saved, nor after he begins to make good money. He is a steward—good or bad—when he becomes a Christian.

Stewardship in the Christian life demands that a man take good care of his financial affairs because he has been commissioned by Christ to manage those affairs for the Lord.

Stewardship is seen in how we manage our time, talents, and tithe. And the beginning account of scripture teaches us that God expects us to:

- Work: “tend and keep”
- Eat: “of every tree of the garden you may freely eat”
- Tithe: “of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat”

Here’s the underlining theme of the message we all need to get. As stewards of God’s divine resources make sure you don’t touch the tithe. I believe our stewardship is measured by how well we stay away from the tithe.

Well, let’s unwrap this text so that we can become better stewards (managers) of God’s divine resources.

I. The Call to Stewardship – v. 15

Understand that the book of Genesis is the book of beginnings. It is in Genesis that we read, witness, and believe that God spoke into nothing and created something. It is in Genesis where God forms the oceans, lakes, and land. It is in Genesis where we see God separate the moon and sun. It is in Genesis where we see God hang stars in the sky. It is in Genesis where we see God create the birds of the air, fish in the see, and animals on the land. It is in Genesis where we see God create man from the dust of the ground in God’s own image.

By the time we get to chapter 2 God breathes breathe into the nostrils of man. In verse 8 of chapter 2 we see God now creates a Garden which is named the Garden of Eden. In this garden, God placed 2 trees. One tree is the Tree of Life and the other Tree of Knowledge of good and evil and there where other trees in the garden as well.

Out of all the things we see in the Book of Genesis, we see a very important concept here. We see the concept of stewardship in the book of Genesis for in chapter 2 verse 15 the text says; “God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” The verse shows us a very important concept here that we cannot forget and miss. God places Adam in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it. In other words, God places Adam in the Garden to manage that which God has created and given unto him. Here’s what we need to understand:

- Everything belongs to God

- Everything we possess is a blessing from God – v. 9

- God provides and sustains our every need – v. 10-14 – understand that no rain had come to water the garden. However, God provides and sustains the garden by allowing water to come from the ground to water the garden. What that means is that God can provide and sustain the stuff he places in your care.

II. The Command in Stewardship – v. 16-17

Chapter 15 of 1 Samuel reveals the developed flaws in Saul’s character that serve as warnings to believers today. Once humble, power made him so arrogant that he disobeyed God in the name of godliness. God regrets Saul and sends Samuel to call king Saul on the carpet. In verse 13 Saul feels as if he obeyed God’s command to destroy Amalek. Saul and the people of Israel pick the best animals to bring to God as an offering of sacrifice. In 1 Samuel 15:22 (NKJV) we read these words:

So Samuel said: "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

The message that Samuel brought to Saul is the same message that God brings to us today; sacrifice and obedience is not the same thing. More than what you bring to God, God wants your obedience. See, if we get being obedience right, we won’t be fighting with God, the pastor, and/or church over how much we ought to give of our time, talents, and tithe. God wants you to obey Him!

There is a positive and negative command here for those who obey to voice of God:

Positive - Satisfaction – The text says; “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat.” 1 Tim. 4:4 (NKJV) “For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving…” See many of us are not satisfied with what we have because we’re not thankful for what we have.

Negative - Suffering – The text says; “If you eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you will surely die”. Will a person physically die from being a bad steward? My answer is “I don’t know”. It is possible. Romans 6:16 (Msg) says – “You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!” In other words, when we disobey God we open ourselves up to a life of suffering and pain which can lead to death physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Disobedience breeds consequences. But if you keep reading chapter 6 you will find out that while Romans 6:23 (Msg)
You work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.

The only way out is to do what God tells us to do.

III. The Challenge in Stewardship – Chapter 3

The challenge of stewardship is seen in chapter 3.

First, the TEMPTATION – v. 1-5

As a little boy my mother would tell me over and over again, Clint don’t touch that, don’t do that, stay away from that. Don’t play with matches. Stay away from the electrical socket. Stay out of that field. And everything she told me to stay away from seemed like that’s what I wanted to do most. I heard her voice with the command of what to do and not do but challenge was trying to stay away from it.

The challenge in life is resisting temptation. We fight hard to resist all temptations of life but when it comes to our money we tend to be care-free. We give in to the temptation to spend what we know we don’t have, for things we don’t need, to impress people we don’t like (and they don’t like us). The serpent tricked Eve into believing that her disobedience was the right thing to do. He made her to think that she will not die nor will there be any consequences for her actions. And that’s what temptation will do, it makes you think it’s the right thing to do even when you know it’s the wrong thing to do.

Second, DISOBEDIENCE – v. 6-8

The 2nd challenge of stewardship is just as important and vital as the first, disobedience. Yielding to temptation leads to disobedience. I’ve learned a new definition for disobedience, disobedience is being spiritually stubborn. Nehemiah chapter 9 describes this spiritual stubbornness during the time when scripture is being read and study and true revival takes place with the people Israel. As they confess their sins to God in response to the word of God, v. 26 of chapter 9 gives this description of stubborn disobedience;

"Nevertheless they were disobedient
And rebelled against You,
Cast Your law behind their backs
And killed Your prophets, who testified against them
To turn them to Yourself;
And they worked great provocations.

Here is what you need to understand about disobedience, disobedience is never rewarding! Throughout all of Scripture, you will learn that disobedience doesn’t bring any good to the one who disobeys. Nehemiah 9:27 says;

Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their enemies,
Who oppressed them;
And in the time of their trouble,
When they cried to You,
You heard from heaven;
And according to Your abundant mercies
You gave them deliverers who saved them
From the hand of their enemies.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God and the text says their eyes were opened, they covered themselves, and tried to hide from God.

Disobedience is never rewarding!

Third, ACCOUNTABILITY – v. 9-19

God held the serpent, Eve, and Adam responsible for what took place in the Garden of Eden. The point is simple here, there is no escaping God’s accountability. He will hold you (and I) accountable for everything deed done good and evil.

Praise God that the story doesn’t end in Genesis chapter 3 with Adam and Eve being kicked out of the Garden of Eden. And praise God that whatever was lost due to our disobedience can be restored. Here’s a few suggestions to help each of us get back on track with God on this issue of stewardship:

- Confess Your Sins - James 5:16A
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

- Pray Hard - James 5:16b - The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

- Be realistic (frugal) - Luke 14:28 (NKJV)
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--

- Stay away from people, things, and places that will tempt you to spend the tithe - 1 Cor. 15:33 (NKJV)
Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

My final suggestion, pray harder than the first time:

Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;Each victory will help you some other to win;Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue,Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.
Ask the Savior to help you,Comfort, strengthen and keep you;He is willing to aid you,He will carry you through.

Let’s pray!

Restoration

2010-06-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

What has been lost spiritually, morally, emotionally, and physically can be restored...

James 5:15 (Msg)
Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven—healed inside and out.

Hebrews 8:12 (Msg)
They'll get to know me by being kindly forgiven,
with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean."

Hebrews 10:17 (Msg)
He concludes,
"I'll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins."

1 John 1:9 (Msg)
On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing.

Mark 11:25 (Msg)
And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it's not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins."

Luke 6:37 (Msg)
"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier.

Psalm 103:12 (NKJV)
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Isaiah 43:25 (NKJV)
"I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake;
And I will not remember your sins.

Galatians 6:1 (Msg)
Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out.

Psalm 51:12 (NKJV)
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

The Danger of Spiritual Suppression

2010-06-21T19:38:00.000-07:00

Suppression is defined as conscious exclusion of unacceptable desires, thoughts, or memories from the mind. Suppression is a defense mechanism aimed specifically at affect, which intends to abolish it from consciousness without allowing its re-entry into the unconscious. This notion of "unconscious feelings" was progressively elaborated on, and in "The Ego and The Id" (1923b), Freud wrote: where feelings are concerned "the Pcs. here drops out—and feelings are either conscious or unconscious" (1923b, p. 23). With the introduction of the second topography the affects described by Freud typically become complexes. An unconscious sense of guilt, anxiety as signal, grief, sorrow, etc., are all affects that are articulated through various fantasies, notably around the loss of the object. The signal of anxiety that the threat of the loss of the mother represents for the child is the paradigmatic example of this new conception of affects associated intimately with fantasies (from Freud's second theory of anxiety). Since affect and representation are thus considered to be closely imbricated with fantasies, the defense mechanisms relating to affects are not differentiated in any specific way, and as a result the affects themselves are also likely to become unconscious.

I’m not doctor (nor do I claim to be), however, in laymen’s terms the best way to define suppression is the ignoring of present reality. Reality is our loved ones will die, people get divorced, everybody (including you) is not perfect, people will loose their jobs and homes, the economy is not getting any better, and list goes on and on.

While I believe suppression is relevant in everyday living, I also believe there is a new attack of the enemy using suppression as a weapon to take out the Christian community, starting with church leadership. Over the past few months, I’ve been trying to figure out my own spiritual breakdown. It has taken me a while but I think I’ve figured it out, spiritual suppression. Using the definition mentioned above as well as understanding scripture, I have determined that we as pastors/preachers, church leaders, and Christians, spiritually suppress present realities for fear of being deemed as faithless or spiritual failures. If a person recognize present reality then their spoken of as people who don’t believe or trust God to take care of all their needs. Pastors spiritually suppress present reality to maintain an appearance of faith before the congregation because we taught that as a visionary if the leader doesn’t believe in the vision then the people won’t believe in the vision. I believe it’s dangerous to spiritually suppress present reality.

The bible doesn’t teach faith is ignoring present reality. It does say; “We walk by faith and not by sight”. It does says; “Faith without works is dead”. It does say; “Without faith it impossible to please God”. But, do these verses tell us to ignore present reality? Of course not!

I know for a fact that I’ve suppressed present realities as it relates to my pastoral ministry. However, reality is I have present realities that cannot be ignored as well as God doesn’t require of me as a leader to ignore them. And even when we look back at the testimonies of people in Scripture it is apparent that they “kept faith by recognizing their present reality”. For instances:

- God promised Abraham that he would birth a nation. Reality, he and Sarah were too old to have children. They believed God anyway.

- The women with the issue of blood. Her reality is that she was sick but she pressed through the crowd to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment.

- The man who laid by Bethesda’s pool, reality he laid in the bed for 38 years waiting for someone to help him into the water. But when Jesus came and instructed him to get up and walk, he was healed.

- Ezekiel preached to a valley of dry bones. He kept preaching and them bones came to life.

I think you get the picture. Suppression your present reality is an indictment on your faith in God’s ability to handle your situation no matter how difficult it may be. Faith doesn't ignore reality, it faces reality head on believing God to change things around.

So how do you fight against spiritual suppression? I have a few suggestions that pray will help you in days to come if you ever (like did) find yourself spiritually suppression present reality:

First, Be Honest with God and Yourself. For some reason we think God doesn’t know our current condition, He does! You’re not telling Him anything He doesn’t already know so be hones with Him. Be honest with yourself! You’re not perfect, you will make mistakes, and don’t let the opinion of others define you. I did (and have) but the only person who knows my unique ability is God. Furthermore, I understand that I have faults but I’m not a failure. God still has work for me to do!

Secondly, Pray and pray hard.

Thirdly, read the word.

Fourth, Talk. Find someone you trust and can talk too with confidence knowing they will give you godly advice.

Fifth, if you fall to spiritual suppression which may lead to some other failure, get up, its not the end to life. We serve a gracious and merciful God.

Sixth, Get rest and a lot of it. We become vulnerable to the enemies attack when we’re tired.

May the Lord bless you and keep is my prayer, my friends!

Something Has To Be Done

2010-05-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

Contemporary pastors are caught in frightening spiritual and social tornadoes which are now raging through home, church, community, and culture. No one knows where the next twister might touch down or what values the storms will destroy. As a result, pastors ask themselves, "Does pastoral ministry make any difference in morally turbulent times?"

Society cannot flourish without godly pastors. how alarming for the Christian cause when men and women of God feel forced to brood about the future o fministry as they watch their work get harder and their world grow more corrupt.

Something has to be done. Ministry hazards are choking the hope out of pastors' souls. They feel disenchanted, discouraged, and often even outraged. They question why they should be expected to squander energy on trivial matters when evil threatens to wreck the human race. Fatigue shows in their eyes. Worry slows their stride. And vagueness dulls their preaching.

The church faces a perilous future when pastors find it so tough to survive emotionally and economically. Many flounder for meaning and mission as traditional morality keeps buckling under brutal unrelenting assualts from secular society. For good reason, pastors dread what will be next as the moral richter scale shoots up to a shocking six most days and sometimes tops ten. Some pastors consider their lives to be shadows of what they dreamed they would be, because many old formulas for ministry no longer work.

Something has to be done. Overwork, low pay, and desperation take a terrible toll as pastors struggle to make sense of crammed calendars, dectic homes, splintered dreams, starved intimacy, and shriveled purpose. Some quit in utter hopelessness to sell used cars, hawk Amway, or peddle water softeners. Others lapse into passivity like holy robots. And many of the remaining stouthearted hold on by their fingernails, hoping to find a hidden spring to refresh their weary spirits and scrambled thoughts. No aspect of pastors' lives has been spared, neither personal nor professional.

Something has to be done. Just when they are most needed, pastors are going haywire. It is obvious that nothing but vital faith will revive our times and culture. Now more than ever, a disintegrating society needs the spiritual salt that pastors provide.

Something has to be done. Pastors are at risk. The risks they face demand an all-out corrective action by the church. All this squandered devotion and wasted talent must be stopped so ministry can be restored to equilibrium and usefulness. Surely God intends pastors to be whole persons, flesh-n-blood examples of how the Gospel works in this kind of a world.

Something pastors can do. To enjoy a fulfilling future ministry that can transform our culture for Christ, pastors must intentionally move their focus away from trivia to singnificance. In the process, pastors will be reawakened spiritually and challenged professionally. God always enriches the worker busied with his work.

Effective pastors for the new century must be whole persons who deliberately balance being and doing, family and church, person and profession, worship and work. That means wounded healers must allow themselves to be healed through the same Gospel they use to bring recovery and wellness to others. The results: those now victimized by high demands of ministry will become triumphant victors (Pastors at Risk - H.B London, JR and Neil B Wiseman - pp. 11-13).

Introduction

2010-05-20T15:40:00.000-07:00

This is the introduction to my online book on bivocational ministry entitled: The Journey of a Bivocational Pastor.

In Sept of 2002, I started a journey of as a bi-vocational pastor and 8 years later I’m still a bi-vocational pastor. Without a doubt, I have dreams of being in full-time ministry but only God knows what lies ahead.

I don’t regret my decision to enter along this journey of bi-vocation ministry. As with most journeys, there is (and will always be) bumps in the road as well as speed limits changing, crazy drivers on the road, signal lights, stop signs, directional signs, freeway traffic, and detours. I will admit that I never thought it would be this difficult juggling work, family, church, and my own personal needs (spiritual/emotional/physical/ministerial/etc).

It is the challenges of bivocational ministry that has burdened my heart to write on the issue and offer what I believe to be helpful advice and suggestions to such a difficult task for many of us. I’ve searched the internet for resources, conventions, or whatever I could find to assist me along my journey. What did I find? Not much and the information I did find was so general that it was not helpful. The only convention I find offering some helpful information is the Southern Baptist Convention on the website http://www.lifeway.com/. I’ve found who has now become a favorite writer of mine, Pastor Dennis Bickers who’s been a bivocational pastor for over 20 years. I’ve found that his blog page http://www.bivocationalministry.blogspot.com/ has been extremely helpful as well as his book entitled: “The Bivocational Pastor – Two Jobs, One Ministry” and “The “Work of a Bivocational Pastor” both provides valuable information. Other than that, there isn’t much information that can and will assist those in dual ministry.

Denominational work, minister’s conferences, preaching seminars, leadership development, etc are held during the day and those of us who are in dual roles cannot attend. So we miss out on valuable information, networking, and fellowship with local pastors in our area that can assist us in building the kingdom of God.

Over these past 8 years, I’ve had questions about bivocational ministry challenges and began doing my own biblical research to help me understand bivocational ministry from a biblical perspective. I am under the belief that when we as Christians approach anything in life we should look to the bible for answers. So, I’ve approached my writing looking to Scripture for understanding, meaning, and purpose.

Not only do I want to write from a biblical perspective but I want to write using real life issues that are challenging to bivocational pastors. These real life issues are not limited to just bivocational pastors but I believe will be helpful to all pastors, ministers, and lay leaders who’s serious about ministry work in both full-time or in dual ministry.

I have a series of questions that I believe I’ve answers for in regards to bivocational ministry. Questions like:

Is Bivocational ministry a biblical practice?
Is Bivocational ministry for everybody?
How does a bivocational pastor manage his time?
Does our secular career supersede our calling?
What is the relationship between bivocational pastors and the church?
How does a bivocational pastor prepare for weekly sermons and lessons without consistently cheating?
Should a bivocational pastor forsake his own spiritual development?
How does a bivocational pastor handle sermon droughts?
Is there a balance for pastoral ministry in the work place?
How should we handle family life?
Should we compromise our biblical convictions to keep a job?
Does a church with a full-time pastor grow faster than bivocational ministries?

Many of these questions will be combined as I write and new ones will no doubt be explored.

Bottom-line: ministry, in general, rather full time or bivocational, is very a fulfilling ministry.

Hey Ya'll

2010-05-17T07:40:00.000-07:00

I've been a away for a minute, it's been extremely busy over the past few weeks. As a brief catch up on things:

Everything at the church is going well. We still have our challenges but God has been gracious and kind to us. We've seen some new guest at least every other week which is good. Our church implemented, Membership Partners which is the care ministry of our church. Each member in the church is assigned a fellow member who has not been to church in a while to call on, pray for, chat with, and build a relationship. So on mother's day, they asked they're partners to come to church which had a positive result. We celebrated their presence by giving them small tokens as well as Tracy gave away baskets by drawing names. It was a good day!

I've been struggling for past few weeks with me sermon series in James. I love the letter of James but there has been so many interruptions in my study time that I've been getting started too late in the week which is bad for me. I don't think that quick like I used to. But our study has been very helpful to the church. I will continue to press through.

Yesterday, Rev Larry Harold of the California Southern Baptist came to worship with us. I've been considering becoming a part convention work and doing some research on conventions in the area. Thank you. Rev Harold for joining us on yesterday. Our attendance was of because of some stupid carnival that had our street blocked off all weekend. I don't get involved in political stuff but I think I will to keep the carnival from happening next year. Too much hassle this year in more ways than I care to discuss. Giving back to the community is not what its designed to do.

Saturday, we held a movie screening at the church of which I played a role as Pastor Evans in a short film entitled: "Heads or Tails" written/produced by Raenelle Jones. The attendance was off due to the carnival but it was positive feedback about the film and the actor's chemistry. DVDs are available for $10. Contact our church office for your copy.

Well, gotta go but will talk to you soon. Peace.

A Believers Response to Deception

2010-05-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

As we have seen, James writes about very practical problems and needs of the Christian life. Although he writes in very practical “how to” kinds of principles, he does not always organize his material into specific paragraphs.

For example, verse 16 is a transitional verse and poses a challenge of understanding for me. Between his teaching on the important subject of trials and temptations and his specific consideration of the goodness of God[1], is a short discussion on deception. Pay close attention to the proceeding verses as well as the next verse:

- v. 13-15: “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

- v. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren

- v. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Verses 13-15 deals with sin; verse 16 deception; and sandwich in between is deception. How’s does verse 16 flow into this discussion of sin, deception, and blessings?

The important teaching of verse 16 could be included at the close of the previous verses (v.13-15) or at the start of the next verse (v. 16). I’ve decided to look at the verse by itself.

Understand that the evidence of spiritual maturity will be evident in how we respond to deception. Deception will effect our ability to live practical Christian lives. Therefore, your response to deception will determine your outlook of life’s challenges (v. 1-15) and the blessings of God (v. 17-18).

This verse helps us to recognize and how to respond to deception by presenting three (3) present realities of the attack of deception:

I. Recognize the SOURCE of Deception

Deception is an attack of the enemy. We saw/see his attack in the beginning of creation in Genesis chapter 3 in the story of the fall of Edam and Eve. We discuss the act of their sin but not much of the attack. Often times we tend to overlook the deceptive conversation between the serpent and Eve. God tells Adam and Eve not to touch the tree of knowledge or they will die. The serpent in deception says: “You will not die but adds “surely, you will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." With this deceptive assurance, Adam and Eve ate off the tree that God told them not to. After the act of sin, God calls Adam and Eve, knowing what they have done asked them “what have you down?” Eve explains: “The serpent deceived me and I ate”. Let’s give Eve a break here, Eve has done what many of us struggle with on a daily basis, she didn’t recognize that she was being tricked by the servant. The enemy preys on our vulnerability, weakness, struggles, stresses, and ignorance to the command of God. And the struggle is that many of us mature and immature believers don’t and can’t recognize the attack of the enemy through deception.

From that day forward, the enemy has used (and is using) deception as an instrument to pull the worse out of us.

Deception means craftiness, trickery, cunning, cleverness, shrewdness, evil design. It means a person will do anything and use any means to get what they want.

So what happened to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden happens to us everyday. The devil attacks us with deception to pull us away from God.

Not only did we see deception in the Garden of Eden but we also see deception in the birth of Jesus Christ in Matthew 2 when Herod calls the wise men in hanger to go search for baby Jesus that he might worship Him. Herod had no intentions on worship the young child. Herod wanted to kill Jesus. But Herod’s intentions was flipped because when the wise men saw Jesus they began to worship Jesus and in a dream God warns to not go back to Herod and instead they left their own country.

Adam and Eve yielded to deception but the wise men were protected from deception that no harm would come to them or the Jesus.

Sin is deceptive, and Satan is always seeking to deceive us.[3]

Peter was right when he warned us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).[4]

In contrast, God never deceives. He always deals with truth. Jesus came declaring, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Jesus said if we would know Him we would know the truth, “and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). He proceeded to call the devil “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

And so the wise counsel of James is that we should not be deceived. And, since this verse is the transition between two important paragraphs of truth, it is appropriate for us to apply both truths to the teaching of this verse. First, we should not be deceived regarding the source of evil—that is Satan. He is the one who would tempt us to do evil and who would delight in leading us to sin and death.

Then, we should not be deceived concerning the One who is the source of all good—that is God. He is not only the source of good, but He is the One who is committed to making all things work together for good for His children, those who are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28).

II. Be Aware of Self Deception

Luke chapter 18:9-14 record the story of the Pharisee and Tax Collector. Luke 18:10-14 (Msg)

"Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. [11] The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: 'Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.'
"Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, 'God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.' "
Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you're going to end up flat on your face, but if you're content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."

The bible warns us against being more than we think we are.

- Spiritual ignorance is self deception: 1 Cor. 3:18 - Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

- Spiritual Arrogance is self deception: Galatians 6:3 - For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 1 John 1:8 says: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

- Hypocrisy is self deception: 2 Tim. 3:13 – “evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived”. And James 1:22 says “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves”.

- Religious practices is self deception: James 1:26 - If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless.

Practical Christian living is not lying about where we are as Christians but admitting we are sinners trying to be all we can for God.

III. Be On Guard for Scriptural Deception

One of the most prominent deceptions taken place in our day and time is the false teaching of scripture. Many pulpits around the nation are being filled with lies on scripture. People are being deceived about the truth of Scripture. The sad indictment is that many believers are not able to recognize scriptural falsehood. So they go with anything that sounds good but everything that sounds good is not necessarily good in sound.

2 Timothy 2:17-18 says: “And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some”.

What’s the remedy for guarding against scriptural deception? 2 Timothy 2:15 says; “Be diligent (study) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”.

Sunday Thoughts - 4/11/10

2010-04-12T12:03:00.001-07:00

This weekend was unexpectedly busy for me. Friday night, I went to hear Pastors Lance Mann and George Hurtt at Cathedral of Praise Community Church, Pastor Barry Severe, as they celebrated 1 year of ministry together. Both Pastor Hurtt and Pastor Mann preached powerful messages. After service, we went to dinner Carrows. We had good conversation and the fellowship was wonderful. I don’t hang out much but after clearance from Tracy, I’m glad I did.

Saturday, we spent time at the house eating fried chicken, fish, shrimp, FF, salad, and hot dogs (Lance only…lol). Good conversation except for the fact that Aysia and Lance played with their Blackberry phones all night (lol). Tracy, Kari, and Summer were doing wedding planning stuff. But we had a good time at the house chilling.

I was so far behind in my work that when everybody left I went to the church to prepare for Sunday’s assignments. Needless to say, when I finally locked myself in the church, I sat in front of the computer and stirred at it. I went to sleep with hopes to get started in the morning, nothing happened. Ram in the bush, Pastor Tyrone Boyle of Full Gospel Baptist Church stood in my place and did a good job. Thank you, sir.

In the afternoon, the church and I went to Cathedral of Praise to close out their anniversary celebration. Good time of worship! I preached James 1:12 – Hang In There. I think I did a pretty good job. I pray Pastor Severe, Cathedral of Praise, and all those present were helped by the message. It was also good fellowshipping with Pastor W Charles Harris and Village Baptist Church. Pastor Harris is a humble, good pastor! Thanks for the fellowship.

Lance and Aysia picked Rocoe’s Chicken and Waffles for dinner. They put us out, so we took the fellowship to the parking lot. When I got home Tracy and I were both exhausted but tried to have some conversation. Well she tried to have conversation with me. As usual, I fell asleep.

I have a break for the next two (2) weeks with bible study and I’m taking another Sunday off to rest this coming weekend.

Keep me and my family in your prayers and I will keep praying for you!

Resurrection Sunday

2010-04-04T21:43:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful weekend of worship celebrating the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord.

Friday night, Tracy spoke for the first time in a Good Friday service on the seven last sayings. It was a service given by my friend Lamont Bradley of Lord B4 Us Productions featuring first ladys in our church community. It was a good service just long. Tracy did a good job explaining "thou shall be with me in paradise". And I didn't help her with it! Great job!

Saturday a few of us met for prayer and evangelism to pass out fliers promoting our services on Resurrection Sunday. I had one rejection from a lady who would not accept my flier. But she was the first out of the 100 I passed out. Good seed planted in the community.

Saturday night I came home to make some jambalaya and watch the NCAA tournament as well as the Jones vs Hopkins fight. My commentary, I like Butlers chances in the NCAA finals but I think Duke will be too much for them. As far as the fight goes, I was disappointed with both fighters. Hopkins was a cry baby in the fight. He's a dirty fighter so why should he complain about getting in the back of the head and he was hit on the red belt line and didn't need 5 minutes. Bottom-line: DISAPPOINTED!

We offered 3 services for Resurrection Sunday, 6, 9, and 11:15 am. Pastor Robert Calvary of Praise Chapel preached at our 6 am service and set the tone for the rest of the services. Thank you pastor Calvary. Pastor Payne preached the 9 am service. What a blessing, thank you pastor Payne. I preached the 11 am service from Luke 23:50-56: "The Significance of the Tomb of Jesus". Major point: Christ needed a proper burial in order to have a great resurrection.

All services were well attended!

After service I came home, ate, and went to sleep. There was a 7.1 earthquake off the coast of Baha, Ca but I didn't feel it because I was in a deep sleep.

I watched the Trumpets Award today and I'm so glad that Franky Beverly and Maze finally received their due reward. 40 years without a Grammy, Soul Music Award, or anything...WOW! It's about time they received some kind of recognition. If you have not figured it out yet, I'm a fan for life and it won't change.

I'm going for the underdog, Butler in the NCAA finals! Go Butler.

Three (3) Opportunities

2010-03-31T07:42:00.000-07:00

Hang In There

2010-03-16T15:46:00.000-07:00

The bible is filled paradoxes. A paradox is a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true. Scripture contains many paradoxes, telling us that the weak are strong, the empty are full, the slave is free, the cursed are blessed, and that death brings life. G.K. Chesterton gives this definition of a paradox: “a paradox is truth standing on its head shouting for attention”.

The 1st chapter of James shouts for our attention with paradoxical statements. The opening sentence of this epistle says: “when you fall into trouble be glad about it (paraphrased) in verse 2 and verse 12 is no different, “A person is blessed who endures trouble”. To the human, this makes absolutely no sense at all. I’m blessed because I hung in there through the midst of trying times. I’m blessed in trouble. I’m blessed with no money in my pocket. I’m blessed when my marriage is on the brink of divorce. I’m blessed when my child was shout in a drive-by-shooting. I’m blessed after receiving a pink slip on the job. Here’s another way saying: “Am I being blessed in the midst of hardship, trials, tests, troubles, sufferings, and pain?

James, is concerned that the pressure of life does not take over the life of the Christian to instability. So to encourage them he writes paradoxical encouraging statements to provide stabilizing wisdom to hang in there in when hanging in there ain’t easy. Listen again to these statements (but listen carefully):

“Brethren, count it all joy when you fall into a lot of trials.” – v. 2
“Let the brother of lowly degree (or in humble circumstances) be elevated in due time” – v. 9
“Let the rich be humble for his stuff will perish in due time” – v. 10-11
“Blessed is the person who hangs in there” – v. 12

Translations:

Amplified: Blessed is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive, the victor’s crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.

NLT: God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Phillips: The man who patiently endures the temptations and trials that come to him is truly happy. For once his testing is complete he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to all who love Him.

Msg: Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

Here’s the C.E V (Clint’s English Version): Hang in there, God wants to bless you.

Let’s open the shell of this oyster to uncover the pearls inside. The pearls of wisdom I see in the text are:

I. The PRINCIPLES OF HANGING IN THERE

Blessed is the man who endures temptation;

How can a believer conquer trials and temptations? Answer: A person can conquer trials and temptations with…

A. The Principle of Disposition – “Blessed…”

The text starts with the word “Blessed”. An interesting word within the circumstances of the text presented before us. Blessed is the same word used in Matthew 5: 3-12 in the Be Attitudes. Blessed means to be happy. It is the ability to live independently of daily cares and worries because his every breath and situation is in the hands of God.

The Greeks in using the word “blessed” used in reference to the dead who were “the blessed ones” because they reached the place free of trials, problems, test, struggles, and strains. They also used this word to refer to the socioeconomic elite (filthy rich people). In short, the Greeks felt that one had to be either dead or filthy rich to be considered blessed. However, if we stay with the Greeks usage and meaning of the word it says we have to die or be filthy rich in order to be blessed. Now, let’s talk for a moment, I don’t want to die to be blessed although for the believer dying is a blessing to spend eternity with God. And if I have to be rich to be blessed then I’m in big trouble right about now.

Thank God, that word “blessed” as a wider meaning. John McArthur explains the word to mean happiness is a divine pronouncement, the assured benefit of those who meet the conditions God requires. Therefore, blessed is a state of existence in relationship to God in which a person is blessed from God’s perspective even when he or she doesn’t feel happy or isn’t presently experiencing good fortune. Ultimately, blessed means the state of those who believe in Christ and in so possessing God, posses everything. Being blessed means possessing the favor of God. Warren Wiersbe says: James started and ended with joy to express to the reader that OUR OUTLOOK DETERMINES OUR OUTCOME!

It’s not in the believers DNA to live defeated lives. Charles Haddon Spurgeon says: “Untested treasures may be worthless; not so with those which have endured the fire”.

Here’s what we need to understand today, you’re blessed!

- Blessed when all hell breaks loose in your life
- Blessed if you loose your job
- Blessed if your marriage is falling apart
- Blessed if you loose your job
- Blessed if the doctor gives you a bad report
- Blessed during the gossip
- Blessed during times of test, trials, troubles, and strains
- Blessed in good days and bad days
- Blessed in up and downs
- Blessed rich or poor

You’re blessed because being blessed is a state of mind that lives independently of life’s difficulties.

B. The Principle of Decision – “Blessed is the man who…”

There is a principle here in the text that I believe is vital to your survival during difficulties. Here it is: “You gotta make the decision to hang in there”. The easy decision to make is quit, give up, sit down, and totally shut down. James is a practical letter written to believers who must make decisions to live in a manner that will glorify God. Look at all the examples of Scripture of people who had to make a choice to live for God no matter what comes there way.

- Abraham had to believe God’s promise of being the father of many nations while his wife Sarah laughed at him and God

- Noah built an ark for flood he’d never seen before and warned the people for 120 years that it was going to rain

- Job lost everything in one day but declares; “Tho He slay me yet will I trust him.”

- Jeremiah wanted to quit on God but couldn’t because he says: “It’s like fire shut up my bones.”

- The three Hebrew boys would not bow to the golden image, placed in fire, but decided to stand for God in the fiery furnace.

- Daniel kept praying before, during, and after the lion’s den.

- Rahab made the decision to hide the spies until the enemy left

- Ezekiel kept preaching in the valley of dry bones until they started living again

- Jesus decided to hang on the cross; “Not my will but thy will be done”.

- Paul and Silas decided to have a prayer meeting while in the jail

Point here is beautiful to behold, hanging in there is decision you must make!

C. The Principle of Determination – “Blessed is the man who endures temptation…”

When I started studying this text, I will admit I tried to re-visit the word “endure” for some new revelation. I was looking for a rhema word from the Lord to help e understand what endurance or hanging in there meant. The discovery I found wasn’t anything new. The word endurance means exactly what says hang in there. The Greek meaning comes back to the same meaning; hang in there. Hang in there under the pressures of life. The word in the original language is really intense. To remain under the pressure is not that of remaining under trial with resignation. That means hanging is not hanging in there living defeated or like a victim. The one thing God doesn’t want us to do is live life always feeling defeated and/or sorry for yourself.

The meaning of endure or persevere is descriptive language.

- Bearing up under the trying ordeal is to be our habitual practice.

- To remain under

- Robert Louis Stevenson says it like this; “Saints are sinners who keep on going.”

- Here’s my definition of the word endure, you gotta keep pushing.

By perseverance the snail made to the ark (Charles Haddon Spurgeon). Today’s mighty oak is just yesterday’s little nut that held its ground. Even the woodpecker owes his success to the fact that he uses his head and keeps pecking away until he finishes the job he starts (Coleman Cox). Though Christians be not kept altogether from falling, yet they are kept from falling altogether (William Secker)

II. The PURPOSE OF HANGING IN THERE

“…for when he has been approved…”

Why is it important for us to hang in there? What’s the purpose? Why so much talk about endurance? What’s at the end of this? I prefer to give up rather than deal with this mess?

Have you ever made statements like these are similar statements? Before you totally loose your mind this explains the purpose for enduring hardships. Here’s the purpose, “for when he has been approved”.

In the ancient world there was no banking system as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was made from metal, heated until liquid, poured into moulds and allowed to cool. When the coins were cooled, it was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges. The coins were comparatively soft and of course many people shaved them closely. In one century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens, to stop the practice of shaving down the coins then in circulation. But some money changers were men of integrity, who would accept no counterfeit money. There were men of honour who put only genuine full weighted money in circulation. Such men were called approved. It is said that we are put to the test for the purpose of being approved, and having me specifications, having the stamp of approval placed upon one.

Enduring and coming out of the test is God stamping His approval on your faith.

I remember a sermon preached by Pastor Maurice Watson, “It’s only Test. He gives an illustration of going to the doctor to his annual check up. The doctor wanted to check the strength of his heart so he placed Pastor Watson on a treadmill and explained to pastor Watson what the test entail. The doctor says; I’m going to start the treadmill and each progression is going to get faster and faster in an incline. The purpose of this test is to test your endurance. The treadmill began and pastor Watson says it was a breeze for him. He was an athlete. This was nothing for him. The doctor warned him that he was going increase the speed and incline of the treadmill. It became a fast walk. The instructed pastor Watson that the speed and incline was going to increase, his walk became a jog. The speed and incline increased and his jog become a run. The doctor says this one is going to prove your endurance. Both the speed and incline were increased to full blown. Pastor Watson describes the experience as a person running for his life of which he ultimately looked at the doctor and told to stop this thing, man, you trying to kill me.

- The purpose of hanging in there is to pull the best out of you

- The purpose of hanging in there is to glorify God: 1 Peter 1:7 (NKJV) - that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Hanging in there is for sole purpose of glorifying God.

III. The PROMISE FOR HANGING IN THERE

“…he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

What can we expect from hanging in there?

The promise of the text for those who hang in there is this the crown of life. The believer who endures the temptations of life shall be crowned with life itself, eternal life, life that will go on and on, never ending. This is living life with the hope of a better tomorrow but don’t limit tomorrow to eternity for that’s the ultimate life for us to live.

- We have life now

This text not only speaks to our future life but it encourages us in living for today. The sad indictment is that the pressures of life causing men and women to take their own lives to escape the stress and frustration that life brings. However, this text encourages that we live today in order to live tomorrow. We live today so that we may see a better tomorrow. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalms 23:6)”.

- We have life in the future

We not only have life today but we also have life eternally. Just imagine the actual moment when Christ will crown us with the crown of life. The crown of life will fill us with unbroken joy and rejoicing. The crown of life will bestow on us honor and glory. The crown of life will give us a deep and perfect sense of victory and triumph. The crown of life will conform us to the image of eternal royalty.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1-2).

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17).

“For our conversation [behavior] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Phil. 3:20-21).

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

“And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life” (1 John 2:25).

The crown is the emblem of spiritual success, given by the King of the universe to those who keep their faith in the midst of suffering and temptation. Life should be taken as identifying the reward and that reward is life itself.

O the friends that now are waiting
In the cloudless realms of day
Who are calling me to follow
Where their steps have led the way

They have lead aside their armor
And their earthly course is run
They have kept the faith with patience
And their crown of life is won

67th Church Anniversary-Thank You

2010-03-15T09:41:00.001-07:00

Thank you to everyone who shared in our 67th Church Anniversary. Your support in services, prayers, and finances has encouraged our church family in more ways than one. Many friends and family members came out to help us celebrate this special day and we say thank you for encouraging us with your presence. We were surprised with the presence of a dear friend and member, Donna Bell and her brother Kenneth Bell. Donna moved away about 4 years ago to Erie, Colorado. It was good seeing her and her brother who lives in Lancaster, Ca.

I continued our series, “Practical Christian Living” with our focus on James 1:12 – Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he is tried, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord promises. Sermon topic: Hang In There. It was truly a message that we needed to hear as a church and as individuals. I will post full manuscript later this week, if I get a chance.

We didn’t catch any in the net yesterday but we pray seed fell on good ground.

After our morning service, we shared in a good meal prepared by the members of the church.

Our afternoon service started a little late of which I apologize. We’re not used to having a two (2) hour break between services now that our service is at 11:15. Before our break between services was 3-4 hours. But overall, the day was good and Tracy did a great job coordinating the service.

Pastor Ronald Saunders preached us crazy with a message from Exodus 15 entitled: How I Got Over? Good and timely message for all present. Thank you, pastor.

As well in our afternoon service we gave honor to Deacon Charles Loud. Many of you know he’s been struggling with health issues for the last year. He’s contributed a lot to the ministry over the years and as a church we thought it was good to honor him in the service. He came to church in the morning service but was unable to attend the afternoon service. Deacon Loud, thank you for your service to First Goodwill Church. God is not unjust to forget your labor of love that you’ve shown to the members of First Goodwill.

I hate spring forward! I need my extra hour of sleep.

I do request that we keep the family of Damon K Hill in your prayers as they mourn his passing. A loss is a loss and loosing a loved is hard to handle under any circumstance.

May God continue to richly bless until we meet again.

Current Event Preaching

2010-03-08T17:45:00.000-08:00

There is a rise in what I call “current event preaching”. Current event preaching is taking the latest current event or hot topic of the world and building a sermon around it. I have mixed emotions about it. On one hand, I think it can be very beneficial because people in our churches (as well as society) are looking for answers to explain all the chaos taking place in our world. And then, I believe it can be very dangerous and harmful because our attempts to answer people’s concerns can lead to stripping the text from true interpretation. It is the heart of a pastor to wants to address issues that affect the members and I can truly appreciate that. However, there are others who use current event preaching as a form sermon preparation cheating. You don’t have to work hard to talk about the hot topics.

But if we must, allow me to suggest what I believe to be helpful hints when discussing current events:

Point People To God – It’s important to remember the sovereignty of God in all situations. Yes, God is sovereign and He’s not an angry God sitting in heaven waiting and wanting to rain down terror on the wicked. No God is a loving God who cares for humanity. In the midst of adversity, people doubt God knows what He’s doing and it’s the responsibility of the preacher/teacher to remind them of what kind of God we serve. We may not understand everything that takes place but God knows more than we do. We have to trust Him, no matter what!

Stick to the Bible – Let scripture do the explaining. Stay away from your opinions, ideas, and philosophies. The bible has the answers to our questions. We may not like the answer but it does give an answer.

Pick and choose the current event wisely – There’s just some stuff we don’t need to discuss from the pulpit. I heard a guy preach a sermon on Michael Vick’s conviction for dog fighting, WHY! Another person preached a sermon of Tiger Woods, FOR WHAT! These topics are not worth the time and energy.

Lead people in a time of prayer – The best response to life’s questions is a prayer response.

May I Have This Dance

2010-03-05T15:16:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, Tracy and I attended a class for pastors and their wives. The discussion was good and very helpful. One of the topics that came up was the do’s and don’ts for the pastor, here’s one of the don’ts, “Pastors shouldn’t dance!” Immediately everybody started commenting but they were commenting on the holy dance (or the shout). I knew what he was talking about and asked him to clarify what dancing he was talking about and of course it was not “the shout”.

This week, I received a text message from a member of the church asking me, “Is dancing a sin?” The question being asked had to do with dancing at parties, weddings, for leisure, exercise, etc.

Allow me state an objection as well as explain my conviction on the matter:

First, I think we’ve made Christian living entirely too complicated with do’s and don’ts that have no biblical soundness but filled with philosophy and opinions. Therefore, painting a picture of Christian as boring. Being a Christian is not boring. We have our challenges but this lifestyle is refreshing and joyful.

Secondly, my answer to the text message question was this: “Dancing is morally neutral. There’s nothing wrong with dancing in and of itself. However, it’s your motive while dancing that makes it sinful”. Dancing in a seductive way that will entice a people to sin makes dancing a problem for the believer.

The bible speaks of dancing as being a leap for joy (Eccles 3:14, Job 21:11, Isaiah 13:21). It is also symbolic for rejoicing as seen in Psalms 30:11 which says: “You have turned my mourning into dancing”. One of the most popular illustrations for dancing is David in 2 Samuel 6 where he danced out of his clothes before the ark of God rejoicing or shouting (doing his holy dance). Footnote: David got away with dancing out of his clothes but you need to keep your clothes on.

Dancing, biblically, was reserved for religious worship and festivities and the gradually became a practice of common life on occasions of rejoicing as seen in Jeremiah 31:4, “Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice”. The women of scripture danced by themselves and that explains why many times we see women dancing by themselves at functions, it was a biblical practice. As well as, many guys can be jerk when it comes to dancing because they dance with their eyes and not with their legs.

The bible is very clear that dancing is a time of rejoicing. As well, dancing can be very therapeutic to escape the pressures of life. Dancing is a form of exercise to burn calories. Dancing can a time of bonding for married couples (Christians and pastors).

There are many dances that are fun and non-seductive. For instances, I like the Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide, Macarana, break dancing, pop-lock, the jerk, etc. These dances can be done with a group of people without becoming seductive and sinful. For couples: the Cha-Cha, Salsa, Chicago Stepping, etc are fun and it may help enhance the romance level of your relationship. Many people met their mates dancing somewhere before you got saved so why stop now!

Bottom-line: Dancing is not sinful. It’s what you do with it like anything else makes it sinful.

So dance like David, but keep your clothes on.

Peace and Blessings

Man, Save Your Family

2010-02-28T09:38:00.000-08:00

The society in which we live has neglected to teach men about their role in the home, in the church, and society. The worldly view of a man's role is that he should provide financially for his family, but we shouldn't expect him to be very engaged with home life. In spite of all our talk of feminism, we have left the job of making a home and raising the kids to the female of the household. The role of leadership, of teaching and correcting the kids has fallen to the feminine side of our society. This is both unwise and unbiblical. As a result our homes are very weak and the enemy finds it very easy to destroy our families through divorce, rebellion, addictions, molestation, and child abuse.

In a quote from Leon Podles, who wrote the book “The Church Impotent” he remarks:

“Women go to church; men go to football games. Laymen attend church activities because a wife, mother, or girlfriend has pressured them… If a man goes to church, he goes because a woman has wheedled him into what hi would normally consider unmanly behavior. But if he goes voluntarily, he suffers suspicions about his masculinity. A devastating criticism of Christianity is many men see it not only as irrelevant, but as effeminate. As one man put it, ‘life is a football game, with men fighting it out on the green, while the minister is up in the grandstands, explaining it to the ladies.’”

The tide of leadership has changed drastically in our society, homes, and churches and women have been forced into areas that God did not intend for them to be. And while this maybe true, I believe that many a men and women do not understand their God-given roles while here on earth. God bless our fathers, grand-fathers, uncles, friends, and other adults for their attempt to try and teach us as men, our roles in society. However, much of what they taught us was based on what they were taught when they were coming up along with life long experience. So we as men have been taught:

That crying is for punks.
That success of a man is based on his economic status.
That beating a woman into submission is mucho.
That our sexual activity and little black books determine our worth in life.
That the woman’s role is in the kitchen and the bedroom
That life is what we make it.
That man is the bread winner of the family.
If we hurt, we’re told to suck it up and stop crying
If we’re sick, we’re told stop whining like a big baby
If we have to much fun, we’re told you’re nothing more than a big kid
If we we’re any other color outside of black, brown, and blue, then we’re gay (Homosexual)

And the list goes on and on and on……. And it’s this teaching that we’re judged by. We’re judged by our bank account, car, house, credit, looks, success, leadership, and our sexual performance.

I can continue on talking about the confusion of a man’s sexuality heterosexual or homosexual (the down-low syndrome). I can beat us up about what we’re not doing and congratulate us on what we’re doing right. But that’s not what I want to do today in this message. We’ve been beating up enough over the years by the church and society.

I have a two-fold agenda with this message today:

To give us as men an understanding of our roles in society, in the home, and in the church. I believe the principles to be rendered here today will apply to all three areas of our lives.

To call us to repentance for missing for so long, restore us to the place of godly leadership and stability, encourage us to hang in there even when the going gets tough.

The story of Noah presents to us three (3) principles for saving our families:

I. The Reasons for Saving Our Families (Why should we save our family?)

The story starts with a tragedy, God is angry with humanity because of their immoral living. What’s such a tragedy to me in this story is that just 4 chapters earlier God says: “Let’s make man in our very image”.

Now, four (4) chapters later, God is angry with the very creation He just created. Unfortunately, I believe God’s anger with humanity started in chapter 3 when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Then Cain kills his brother Abel. Now, in chapter 6 the text opens with sexual immorality and God is angry and ready to wipe out all of humanity.

Reason 1: Save your family from worldliness – Ch. 3 and Ch. 6:1-2

- Compromising Situations: The serpent approached Eve

- Carnal People: The children of God, among whom the true religion was at first preserved, corrupt it by forming matrimonial connections with irreligious women.

Reason 2: Save your family from the wrath of God – Ch. 6:3, 6, 7

Reason 3: Save your family from you – Ch 6: 5

II. The Requirements for Saving Our Families (Seeks to answer the question: What does it take to save our Family?)

a. Be Different – Ch. 6:8-12

b. Be Ready to be used by God – Ch. 6:13-20

c. Be a Provider – Ch 6:21

d. Be Obedient to God – Ch. 6:22

III. The Reward of Saving Our Families (Seeks to answer the question: What should we expect from saving our family?)

A. God’s Protection – Ch 7:1-24

B. God’s Provisions – Ch 8:19

C. God’s Blessings – Ch 9:1

How Do I Answer This Question

2010-02-24T15:45:00.001-08:00

In recent months, I’ve been asked the following question:

- Have you done enough?

I’m not sure if there is an answer to this question that would be appropriate. And to be quite honest, I’ve never thought of an answer. As well, I don’t know where this question (and others like it) is coming from. The struggles at First Goodwill are no different than most churches in the USA that can be summed up in two words: LIMITED RESOURCES. The struggle of limited resources is not isolated to the size or location of a particular church. However, I am becoming more and more cautious to whom I talk to about the challenges of our church. Actually, I’ve stopped talking to people and started praying to God. I recognize that when God is moving that the enemy will do whatever he can to block, slow down, or hinder the progress of God. Yes, the growth of our church is moving at a snails pace. But believe you me, if we keep plugging along our roots will be strong where lives are being changed for the kingdom of God. I don’t want a revolving door congregation. Our motto is developing a membership that sticks and stays. This is another way of saying; we want to open the front door while closing the back door at the same time.

There is also the saying: “Fine wine takes time”. I believe the principle applies to the church: “A strong church takes time to develop”. I don’t believe in overnight success. Success does not come without some type of struggle and perseverance. Who determines the success of a church? Who says a church is healthy because they have bodies, bucks, and a building? Why do we judge a church based on membership size? The church belongs to God and He determines our growth factor. It’s my responsibility and the responsibility of the members to hang in there.

I love the church and people God has given me to pastor. We have our struggles but God has kept us thus far. As a matter of fact, the 2nd Sunday of March we will celebrate 67 years of ministry at First Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church. GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL TO OUR CHURCH!

Have I done enough? Probably not according to the standards of others. One of my favorite passages of scripture is Hebrews 6:10; “For God is not unjust to forget your labor of love that you’ve shown towards the saints…”

The answer to this question is simple, now that I think about it, “Brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

God enlarge our territory in the near future.

The Goal Of Life's Tests - James 1:1-4

2010-02-19T07:39:00.000-08:00

As a brief introduction to James, let me say, I think we've made Christian living entirely too complicated. We’ve placed religious rules, traditions, philosophical opinions, by-laws, church attendance, religious practices, and Robert Rules of Order as a potential gauge for measuring a person’s and/or our own spiritual growth. As well, we use our spiritual maturity to measure someone else’s growth. If they don’t do it like we do then they have not grown in Christ.

Accountability is no longer accountability for the sake of helping each other become more Christ-like. Accountability has now become a judging match between 2 people that eventually creates fights and quarrels (James 4:1). Let me caution you to be careful judging someone else’s development against yours for when you place your supposed maturity next to the holiness of God you will discover you still have a little more growing to do.In addition, we allow supernatural events to be our gauge for measuring our spiritual growth. The more of the "supernatural" (whatever that means to you) we experience the more we feel we have grown in Christ. So, being healed physically, financial prosperity, near death experiences, and so many others, we assume, are valid experiences and expressions to measure our spiritual growth. This letter teaches that Christian living is practical and doable. The measurement for spiritual maturity rest in practical Christian living day-by-day. James writes; “So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything (NLT)”.We’ve all asked this question (or ones similar); “Am I growing as a Christian?” But when you ask this question what type of answer are you expecting? Are you expecting a heavenly voice to trumpet down and say; “This is my son/daughter in whom I am well pleased?” Are you looking for others to validate your spiritual maturity with a word of congratulations? Are you living a false spiritual maturity that on the outside says “I have everything together” but on the end side you’re just as sinful as you can be?Whatever the case, I believe the only real measurement for spiritual development is in areas of daily living disciplines.

The letter of James shows us practical daily disciplines as a means to measure our spiritual development. I want to outline the book of James in question form to help each us look at our spiritual development in a different light.* How do you respond to the struggles of life? James 1:1-4* What is your process for making decisions? James 1:5-8* What is your financial goal in life, to be rich or honor God? James 1:9-12* Do you own up to your mistakes? James 1:13-16* How do you view God’s blessings? James 1:17* Are you a quick tempered person? James 1:18-20* Are you honest with yourself about your spiritual development? James 1:21-27* Do you show favoritism? James 2:1-17* Do you trust God at all cost with everything? James 2:18-26* Can you control your tongue (WOW, this will show who’s growing)? James 3:1-12* Are you a selfish person? James 3:13-18* Do you like to fight? James 4:1-10* Do you respect other people? James 4:11-12* Are you impatient? James 4:13-17* What’s your focus here on earth, temporal satisfaction or eternal security? James 5:1-11* Are you an indecisive person? James 5:12* How is your prayer life? James 5:13-20* Can you be trusted? James 5:16* Do you believe God to do what you’ve requested? James 5:17-18* Are you on speaking terms with God? James 5:19-20Will we ever reach spiritual maturity at it’s best? I don’t know but we can try our best.

James wastes no time getting to his imperatives: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2). Has James lost his senses? He is writing to beat-up brothers and sisters and he says, “Consider it pure joy,” or as the NEB says, “count yourselves supremely happy.” How nice . . . a letter of encouragement from Pastor Whacko! “Don’t worry . . . be happy!” Then and now James’ command to “Consider it pure joy . . . whenever you face trials of many kinds” sounds irrational! Put this verse on a sign next to the expressway and it would appear to be the work of a crazed fanatic. Indeed, to any culture (including ours) determined to insulate itself from trials, even from discomforts, this sounds crazy. Tragically, it even seems irrational to many who identify with Christianity.

The first practical evidence of daily Christian living is our response to life’s tests. Let’s be honest, life has a way of pulling the worse out of us. Some people respond cussing, fighting, drinking, gambling, immorality, adultery, drugs, stop coming to church, stop praying, stop reading the Word of God, no fellowship with other believers, we go in our shells and dare someone to knock on door to get us out. Here’s what we need to understand about life:

- No one is exempt from trouble
- Life is filled with difficult days
- Life is filled with difficult people
- Life will inevitably put you in unpleasant situations
- Life has its disappointments

The point is this, it is a misconception to think that just because you’re a Christian that life will take it easy on you. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen that way. Yet while we have to face trials, tests, temptations, and tribulations, you can control how you respond to the difficulties of life.

Listen to James’ instruction, again:

James 1:2-4 (NIV)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. [4] Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4 (NRSV)
My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, [3] because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; [4] and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4 (Msg)
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. [3] You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. [4] So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

These verses teaches us three (3) practical principles regarding how to profit from trials:

I. Respond with JOY – v. 2

What does James’ command really mean? In answer, we must first understand what it does not mean. James is not ordering all-encompassing joyful emotion during severe trials; nor is he demanding that his readers must enjoy their trials, or that trials are joy. He knew, as did the writer of Hebrews, that “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful” (Hebrews 12:11).
James was not commanding that we exult upon hearing that our career position has been given to our secretary, or that the neighbor’s children have leukemia, or that one’s spouse is adulterous. Rather, James is commending the conscious embrace of a Christian understanding of life which brings joy into the trials that come because of our Christianity. James says, “Consider it pure joy,” which means to make a deliberate and careful decision to experience joy even in times of trouble. Is this possible? Yes. Paul told the Corinthian church, “in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds” (2 Cor. 7:4). Luke reports that the Sanhedrin “called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name” (Acts 5:40, 41). Later, Luke tells us, Paul and Silas, having been severely flogged and being in intense pain, were in prison, and “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25). Their concert so pleased God that he brought down the house! This apostolic experience is still the experience of the church today.
Several years ago the Presbyterian pastor Lloyd John Ogilvie underwent the worst year of his life. His wife had undergone five major surgeries, plus radiation and chemotherapy, several of his staff members had departed, large problems loomed, and discouragement assaulted his feelings. But he wrote,
The greatest discovery that I have made in the midst of all the difficulties is that I can have joy when I can’t feel like it—artesian joy. When I had every reason to feel beaten, I felt joy. In spite of everything, [God] gave me the conviction of being loved and the certainty that nothing could separate me from him. It was not happiness, gush, or jolliness but a constant flow of the Spirit through me. At no time did he give me the easy confidence that everything would work out as I wanted it on my timetable, but that he was in charge and would give me and my family enough courage for each day: grace. Joy is always the result of that.6
James did not say, “Consider it pure joy if you face trials” but “whenever.” Such trials are a part of every believer’s life. We are to thoughtfully find joy in our own diaspora experiences — when we feel alienated, disenfranchised, unpopular, even when difficulty and tragedy come our way which have no apparent connection with our Christianity. Such joy may seem irrational, but in Christ it is perfectly rational.

II. Respond with ENDURANCE – v. 3-4a

The rationale for such joy comes from knowing that the various trials we face have spiritual value. James says there is a two-step process through which our trials elevate us.

The first step is to understand that “the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:3) Elaboration on what is meant by perseverance will unlock rich truth. J. H. Ropes renders this “staying power.”7 Martin Dibelius calls it “heroic endurance.”8 And the NEB translates this as “fortitude.” James is talking about toughness — “the testing of your faith produces toughness.”

Here is how this works: we develop toughness or fortitude by repeatedly being tested and prevailing. The more tests we pass, the tougher we become. As a boxer engages in bout after bout, he toughens and becomes wiser and stronger. After a time he develops such fortitude, perseverance and staying power that he can take on the best. There is no way a fighter, or any of us, can develop toughness without testing! The endurance and fortitude of the Apostle Paul or William Carey or Corrie ten Boom did not come overnight and did not come apart from trials. Paul, in Romans 5:3, confirms this truth: “but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.”

Nature teaches us the same principle. Free a butterfly from its chrysalis, and thus from the struggle of liberating itself, and you destroy its life, for it will never develop the strength to soar as it should. When fortitude is lacking in one of God’s children, he has a time-tested remedy — “the testing of your faith.” With this in mind, James’ irrational call — “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” — becomes brilliant.

III. Respond with the GOAL IN MIND – v. 4b

The rationale becomes even clearer when we observe the second step: perseverance produces maturity. “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4). Spiritual perseverance or toughness produces a dynamic maturity. “Mature” refers to a personality which has reached its full development. Regarding the corresponding synonym “complete,” Peter Davids explains: “Perfection is not just a maturing of character, but a rounding out as more and more ‘parts’ of the righteous character are added.”9Thus, maturity is a dynamic state in which a thousand parts of us are honed, shaped, tempered and brought together, making a dynamic wholeness.
It is commonly taught that trials bring maturity, but it is not so. Rather, fortitude and perseverance in times of testings produce maturity. In troubled times we must practice spiritual toughness. As we endure “trials of many kinds” — economic stress, disappointments, criticisms, domestic pressures, persecution for our faith, illnesses — the multiple facets of our being are touched with grace. Dick Seume wrote beautifully about this:
Life on earth would not be worth much if every source of irritation were removed. Yet most of us rebel against the things that irritate us, and count as heavy loss what ought to be rich gain. We are told that the oyster is wiser; that when an irritating object, like a bit of sand, gets under the “mantle” of his shell, he simply covers it with the most precious part of his being and makes of it a pearl. The irritation that it was causing is stopped by encrusting it with the pearly formation. A true pearl is therefore simply a victory over irritation. Every irritation that gets into our lives today is an opportunity for pearl culture. The more irritations the devil flings at us, the more pearls we may have. We need only to welcome them and cover them completely with love, that most precious part of us, and the irritation will be smothered out as the pearl comes into being. What a store of pearls we may have, if we will!10
The key to a graced life, pearl-tipped facets of personality, and thus full maturity is constancy, tenacity, perseverance. Spiritual toughness is the key to saintliness!
The idea that when we “get it all together” our trials will lessen is a falsehood. Paul told Timothy the truth: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). Life will always be full of testings for the true Christian. We must not imagine they will lessen with time — say, less trials at thirty-five than twenty-five, or at forty-five than thirty-five, or at fifty-five than forty-five, or at sixty-five than fifty-five, or at seventy-five than sixty-five. Trials are not a sign of God’s displeasure but are opportunities to persevere in the Lord.
James commands the irrational: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” Is this crazy talk — pious prattle? Not when we embrace the double rationale:

1) Testing brings spiritual toughness — “because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:3). When we, by God’s grace, tough it out, our entire person becomes pearly.

2) Toughness brings a dynamic maturity — “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4).

When God wants to drill a man
And thrill a man
And skill a man,
When God wants to mold a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Watch His methods, watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which
Only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lifts beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses
And with every purpose fuses him;
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out —
God knows what He’s about!11

Such logic makes the command rational and supremely sane: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” James calls for a decisive act — to consider our troubles opportunities for joy and endurance. May we in prayer so acknowledge today and in days to come!

Through It All

I've had many tears and sorrows,
I've had questions for tomorrow,
there's been times I didn't know right from wrong.
But in every situation,
God gave me blessed consulation,
that my trials come to only make me strong.
Through it all,
through it all,
I've learned to trust in Jesus,
I've learned to trust in God.

Through it all,
through it all,
I've learned to depend upon His Word.

I've been to lots of places,
I've seen a lot of faces,
there's been times I felt so all alone.
But in my lonely hours,
yes, those precious lonely hours,
Jesus lets me know that I was His own

I thank God for the mountains,
and I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.
For if I'd never had a problem,
I wouldn't know God could solve them,
I'd never know what faith in God could do.

It's Been a Minute

2010-02-13T09:04:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything not because things are going bad but simply been too busy to do so. As a matter of fact, January was real busy and February hasn't slowed up any either.

My new place of employment is really demanding with un-realistic expectations and standards that no one person can ever live up to. It's been a true struggle for me working on this job and doing ministry work. I'm being tested in so manys and if I was to be graded right now...I think I would get an F. Thank God for grading on a curve with grace and mercy. I've been standing my ground to not work so much overtime on this job so that I can be prepared for Sunday worship service and my boss is not liking it at all. My heart, mind, and soul is totally on ministry and don't like juggling the two. But, I have to do what I have to do.

My church is going through yet another transitional period. We have come together with Pastor Reginald Payne and the Full Gospel Baptist Church. No, this is not a merger but two churches coming together in one building to build the Kingdom of God while maintaining our identities a two churches. At first, I was a little overwhelmed because I have a small congregation. The feelings were mutual among the members of First Goodwill as well as Full Gospel sensed our overwhelming feelings. We prayed and things are going pretty good so far. We have a 3-4 month trial period of living together before we really finalize the partnership. The reality is that this is a win-win situation for both churches as well as a test. This could be a good witness to churches, Christians, skeptics, and the world that two churches can come together in one building and work together. But it can also be a bad witness to churches, Christians, skeptics, and Christians if it doesn't work out. I believe it can work out eventhough pastor Payne nor myself have all the answers. So we're praying our way through the process. Combined Wednesday night bible study is wonderful. We have classes for everybody and my son Myles said to me: "Dad, I like this!" That was a plus. The fact that pastor Payne and I alternate on the teaching assignment of the Fundamentals of the Faith is a plus. I like that we don't have the pressure of preparing a lesson every week and we both can be fed the Word of God by one another.

I've finally landed on a new sermon series, Practical Christian Living - A Study of James. Taught through James a couple of years ago in our Wednesday Night Bible Study but I want to preach through this wonderful letter. I start tomorrow with "The Goal Testing Christians" - James 1:2-4. This will be fun and I'm looking forward to it.

Keep us in your prayers and I'll do the same

Sunday Thoughts - 1/31/10

2010-02-02T07:42:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful day of worship Sunday! As well as, we entered into ministry partnership with a sister church in Pastor Reginald Payne and the Full Gospel Baptist Church which holds it's service at 9 am and First Goodwill Missionary Baptist Church services will be at 11:15 am. Sunday was the first official Sunday of two (2) churches worshipping in one building.

I will admit that during our very first pilot service in November that I had mixed emotions as well as many of our church members. Our second pilot service was not so bad, I stayed focused on ministering my church and leading them through the process from the pulpit. This past Sunday was a good for me and the church. The members came ready to worship and I was ready to preach. I will also admit that both myself and Pastor Payne don't have all the answers in this process. We've did our best to think it through as best we can. However, there is grey spots that require continued prayer, thinking, talking, and more praying. No transition is smooth and all transitions takes time.

This is a transition that I've committed to prayer every step of the way for both churches. My prayer is really simple: "Lord, let this partnership be a positive influence (good witness) on both churches, the world, and the Christian community. Just like everything in life, people are watching and hoping this venture fails so they can say those famous words: "See, I told you it wouldn't work!" There is a lot to gain and lose for both churches and we're now in the spot light. I've been hesitant to write or say much about it only because I believe the best thing for both churches is to submit everything we do in believing prayer. This past Saturday we had a combined prayer breakfast with both churches as well as with Praise Chapel that worships in our small building. The prayer breakfast was a success and God blessed the prayers of Pastor Calvary, Pastor Payne, and myself.

All is ask that the members, skeptics, friends, family, pastors, and the Christian community to do is prayer with us and not against us!

Sunday, I preached a pretty heavy message: God's Tips for Women - Proverbs 31:10-31. The message was challenging but I believe the members and our guest were blessed. I'm correcting some typing mistakes but as soon as that's completed I will post the manuscript. In the afternoon, we held our first women's minstry fellowship. I had planned to preach Titus 2:3-5 but Proverbs was still in me so I preached it again and the people were blessed. Thank you God for your word.

I was planning on starting a new series of sermon in 1 John but I think I'll put it off for a couple of weeks or so.

This Sunday was mission Sunday for us and I challenged the church to set aside a special offering to support mission work. Praise God for the positive response. It is our goal and prayer to fulfill the Great Commission of making disciples of all nations by supporting mission work in foreign and inland countries. As a church we're going to sponsor a child through Worldvision as well as join local churches in rebuilding Haiti.

I'm excited for 2010 and expect God to do some wonderful things for us! Please keep us in your prayers.

Sunday Thoughts - 1/17/10

2010-01-20T05:41:00.001-08:00

How do I describe this past Sunday's worship experience? Long day. Good day. Informative day. Busy day. Blessed day. I made it through day.

Our worship was good but I didn't give 100% because I had no energy to do so. We continued our study in Matthew 28:18-20 with our focus on verse 20a - "teach them oberve all things that I have commanded you." Sermon title: The Assimilation of Fulfilling the Great Commission - Pt 2: Teaching. Good outline and study material but just no energy. It was my plan to compile this series in a CD package until I founf out that only the first message was recorded. So, it's my plan to go to my cousin's studio and record the sermons on CD. That's my plan but lately my plans have not been going the way I've planned. So we'll see.

I stayed at the church all day in preparation for the MLK Midnight Musical given by Favored By God Productions - George Johnson - CEO. As usually, it was a good time of worship. There was a skit done entitled "Distractions", WOW! I want to do it Easter Sunday.

One of the reasons why my weekend was so long is because as a Christmas gift to Tracy we went to hear Frankie Beverly and Maze on Saturday Night. No new material in 40 years but they still rocked the house. Tracy and I had a good time.

I still have not gotten used this new job of mine. New and trying experience!

Baptism!

2010-01-15T07:32:00.000-08:00

All verses in Matthew 28:18-20 as one thing in common, “MAKE DISCIPLES! The power God declares in verse 18 is the foundation for us to make disciples. The mission of “going”, “baptizing”, and “teaching” are principles for us to “MAKE DISCIPLES”. The assurance Jesus declares in verse 20 is an assurance of presence while we, “MAKE DISCPLES”. The Great Commission is given to believers and the church to make disciples. This is what the church is called to do.

While the evangelistic method of the great commission is relatively an understandable method, baptism is not so easy for many people to understand. The reason for this is because oftentimes children and others are being baptized but not understanding what it is their doing. How many times do we see children being baptized not because they understand salvation or anything of that nature but because their parents/guardians forced them down the aisle with these words to follow; “You’re joining church today!” Some adults have come to join the church by being baptized and yet they don’t understand what it is they are doing. So, later in years after going back into the world they come down the aisle to recommit themselves to God through….baptism.

The ordinance of baptism has been, in my opinion, reduced to an initiation process of the church, like the initiation process of joining a gang. The reverence of a baptism ceremony has been loss in our worship services. We don’t celebrate the new life of a believer like we used to. We sing the song: “Wade in the water” so dry and monotone that baptism feels like a funeral service (and I guess in many cases it is a spiritual funeral).

My goal in this message is to help us understand the meaning, message, and manner of baptism in the truest since possible. Baptism is more than a ritual act within the worship service and in the life of the church. And while denominations have different opinions about the mode of baptism, baptism is an important step in the life a new believer.

In his book Baptism – Sign and Seal of the Covenant of Grace; Brian Russell says; “Though baptism is an act of obedience that is not its primary meaning. It is, essentially a sacrament of grace… a sacrament of divine initiative, not of human activity”. He goes on to say that “baptism signifies the union of the believer with Christ, the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Spirit, all of which stem from God’s grace and mercy towards undeserving sinners. It seals to us the blessings of the new covenant”.

Therefore, baptism is a symbolic act of God’s grace and mercy in the life of undeserving sinners such as you and I. Baptism is a gift from God!

Let’s look at three (3) essential principles of baptism – a symbolic act of God’s grace and mercy:

I. The Meaning of Baptism

Seeks to answer the following questions?

- Why should I be baptized?

It’s a command of Christ – Matthew 28:19

It’s a biblical pattern to follow –

B1. Christ was baptized – Mark 1:9
B2. John the Baptist was the baptizer – Matthew 3:13-17

It demonstrates that you are really a Christian – Acts 18:8

It illustrates Christ’s burial and resurrection – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

It’s a picture of your new life as a Christian – Colossians 2:11-12

II. The Manner of Baptism

Seeks to answer the question, how should a person be baptized?

The Greek word for baptism is baptize which means to make fully wet. We as a church baptize by immersion. That is to say that we put your full body in under water.

Great teachers of church history agree:

“I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed, as the word imports and the mystery signifies”. – Martin Luther

“The word signifies immerse. It is certain that immersion was the practice of the early church”. – John Calvin

“Buried with him” alludes to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church. – John Wesly.

We baptize by immersion because it best symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We baptize by immersion because Jesus was baptized this way – Matthew 3:16

Under the manner of baptism I also want to answer the question; who should be baptized?

- Every person who believes in Christ should be baptized – Acts 2:41

When should a person be baptized? One answer: IMMDIATELY! – Acts 8:36-38

III. The Message of Baptism

There is a lot of controversy over how a person should be baptized…

- In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as commanded in Matthew 28:19

OR

- In the name of Jesus as recorded in Acts 2:38

While I don’t want to spend a lot of time in apologetics, it is my conviction that baptizing according to Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 28:19 is because baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is a great depiction of our salvation story. Here’s how the bible tells the story:

- God, the Father: Planned our Salvation – Ephesians 1:2-6

- Jesus, the Son: Provided our Salvation – Ephesians 1:7-14

- The Holy Spirit: Protects our Salvation – Ephesians 4:30

Sunday Thoughts - 1/10/10

2010-01-12T05:47:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful worship service on this past Sunday. God came through First Goodwill church and took control. I had everything planned out but God changed that and did what He wanted to do. One of the most refereshing and powerful reflections of Sunday was Deacon Loud's prayer of thanksgiving. For, I know, the past 6 months he's been in and out of the hospital and there a few times we thought we loss him but God spared his life.

Sunday, he prayed a simple yet powerful prayer of thanksgiving, thanking God for the simple things in life. I mean he said his prayers. When he finished the church and myself was done and burst into jubilant praise for about 10-15 minutes un-controllably. Reading this you may not understand why but for our church he's our answered prayer. He's walking with strength. He's breathing on his own. He's gaining his strength slowly but surely. Praise God for answering prayer!

I continued our study on Matthew 28:18-20 with our focus on v 19b: "...baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit..." I will post sermon outline later today.

After church I came home, ate and crashed. I was so tired! Friday night we celebrated with Pastor Barry Severe as he turned 50 years old. The party was extremely nice and so much fun. One segment of entertainment that had me on the floor was the rendition of the World Class Wrecking Crew and this one guy was killing with his performance, it was so funny. Happy B-Day brother!

Saturday, I helped my mother move out of the house and when we finished at 8 pm everything on my body was hurting.

It was long yet good weekend. On yesterday, I went to the Minister's conference to hear my Pastor R.D Sanders preach. His text was Luke 15:25-31: "An Empty Seat". He walked that text.

I will do better at posting but this new job has my schedule all off. But until next time be blessed.

Sunday Thoughts - 1/3/10

2010-01-04T21:20:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful day to start the new year!

As a church, we celebrated a new year together by remembering the work of Christ during communion. A wonderful time of remembering. We had guest to attend our church. The messages out of Matthew 28:18-20 has given me a brand new charge and focus to fulfilling the Great Commission. I am excited about 2000 and 10 (2010)...lol

It was a long day, however! After morning worship we had our 2010 Church Conference. This year I didn't do my normal planning by outlining ministries, programs, services, budgets, and so forth. Instead, I reminded the church that the best made plans can go astray but our faithfulness counts for everything.

Our theme for the year is GOD IS ABLE - Ephesians 3:20-21! We are small congregation with big dreams and God has not failed us yet. But, we can focus so much on our realities that God's ability is forgotten and I don't want us to forget that our God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or think...The meeting went extremely well and I'm looking forward to what God is about to do.

After our church conference, we ate lunch together before going to a vision service with my home church Bishop Richard Sanders and Mt Pilgrim Baptist Church. This was a wonderful experience for the life our church. The purpose of the service was to have each of his sons share the vision and plans of their perspective churches for 2010. As we shared our visions/plans with the mother and sister churches, it created a prayer list for pastors and members for the year of 2010. This is something not heard of for me but it was encouraging to know that others are praying for us as we are praying for them. As usual, the service was high spirit but I was extremely nervous because I was on to preach. I left my bible and manuscript at the church so I had preach by memory but God helped me to remember and really blessed the message.

I preached my message from last week; The Atmosphere of Fulfilling the Great Commission - Matthew 28:18. This message was still burning in my heart from last week and I had to preach it again. In addition, I was extremely nervous because this was the first time that Bishop Sanders, Mt Pilgrim, and sisters have heard me preach. So I had the anxiety of preaching my first sermon all over again. But praise God for strength, power, and opportunity. They received the message, me, my family, and our church very well and for that I say THANK YOU.

Overall, it was a good day!

I'm back now and looking forward to writing again in 2000 and 10...lol...why do we add the "and"...lol...I was corrected yesterday about it and I've been laughing every since...Thanks, Tracy...lol

See You In the New Year!

2009-12-29T20:18:00.001-08:00

See you in 2010. Happy New Year and the best is yet to come!

It's Been A While

2009-12-20T19:10:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since my last post because I'm still trying to adjust to my new employment assignment which has me with somewhat mixed emotions. I thank God for my job, especially in times like these, but I my heart, mind, and soul was set on full-time ministry. Now, I start as I finished with my last job, tired and stressed. Not a good feeling! I plan to write my own reality blog show entitled; "In the Life of a Bi-Vocational Pastor". It will be raw, real, and relevant. I'm not holding anything back in this blog segment. I believe people need to understand that the life of a bi-vocational is intense with many struggles that most of you reading this do not understand. My purpose in writing this blog reality "In The Life of a Bivocational Pastoring" is to people understand and appreciate their who is in bivocational ministry. My God increase our understanding and appreciation for such a difficult, yet, fulfilling assignment.

Today worship service was good. We had our second ministry partnership trial service that went extremely well for both congregations. I intended to start my 4 part series on Matthew 28:19-20 but did not. So I preached an "ain't alright message (I'll explain later what that means) out of Luke 2:8-15 entitled "We Have Much To Shout About". Our attendance was good and God really showed up in our service.

Friday night had the privilege of spending the evening with my pastor, Bishop R.D Sanders. The dinner was done with excellence as food and fellowship was the order of the day. The conversation gave me much to think about as well as pray about in my own public ministry and private life. Bishop Sanders is proving to be a pastor's pastor and pray that will continue to increase our fellowship and friendship. He and the members of Mt Pilgrim served us crab legs, cornish hen, sirloin steak, wild rice, green beans, and some other meat I'm not familiar with but it was good. Desert was peach cobbler and coffee. The setting was done with excellence! Thank you pastor for such a good time of fellowship.

I won't be attending Palm Springs this year for the Western Baptist State Convention's Congress of Christian Education due to my new employment and limited finances. I will be praying that all goes well for all those in attendance.

Ok, it looks like I will be blogging now on Sundays rather than Mondays but we'll see.

Until next time, may the Lord bless you real good.

Sunday Thoughts - 12/6/09

2009-12-07T08:48:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful day of worship and the word on yesterday. My friends Nathan and Suzanne Young came to minister in song during our morning worship. My God, what a ministry! The tone for worship started at the beginning of service with Lamar Campbell’s worship song; “Love You More Than Anything”. It was a song right on time with this being the last first Sunday of 2009 as well as our sharing the Lord’s Supper. What a privilege to close the year reminding ourselves of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

The service was well attended and Deacon and Sis Loud came to worship and it was a joy having them both in worship with us. We’ve been in a short-series of stewardship messages and we continued with a message out of the book of Hebrews:

Topic: A Faith For Life’s Uncertainties
Text: Hebrews 11:8-10

Thesis: A faith for life’s uncertainties is a faith that trusts God when we don’t have all the details.

I. A faith for life’s uncertainties is an obedient faith – v. 8
II. A faith for life’s uncertainties is content faith – v. 9
III. A faith for life’s uncertainties is an expectant faith – v. 10

I enjoyed worshipping and preaching, yesterday. Yesterday was the first time in a long time that I was able to sit back and enjoy worship without leading worship. It also helped that Nathan helped us on the organ as well. I tried my best not to get used to it but I sure did take advantage of it.

I’m now preparing for 2010 and as I look at 2009 I must say, God has been good and has favored our church in so many ways. With all of the challenges we faced this year, God has come through more than I can explain. What a mighty God we serve! Thank you Lord for continued mercies and grace!

Last week was my first week of work. It was challenging because I got use to going to the church. Now, I have to get back into the mood of studying on the go where I can fit it in as well as at times burn the midnight oil. I really can’t complain nor be ungrateful about working right now. I was laid off 9/30/09 and found a job on 11/15/09. I know there are some in the world still looking for a job for over six months (if not longer) but God showed me favor and for that I’m really grateful. So when you read my post and/or status updates on Facebook as to my job venture, please don’t take it as if I’m ungrateful or complaining. I am truly thankful for all that God has done and I accept His Sovereign will for my life during this season of my life. God knows what He’s doing, not I. I’m adjusting to the change.

Until next time live like you’re blessed!

Sunday Thoughts - 11/29/09

2009-12-01T14:17:00.000-08:00

I’m getting back into the swing of working now.

This past Sunday service was good. God blessed every part of our worship Sunday. I preached a stewardship message entitled; “The Stewardship of Remembering God” – Deut 8. The point the message is to challenge believers to not forget about in good and/or bad times. I can’t remember the points off the top of my head right now.

We had a few guests who came in late but enjoyed what they did hear of the message.

I had to apologize to the church on Sunday because last week in our church conference meeting I made a comment that I feel may have hurt the morale of the church while I was exhorting (no, I was fussing). I commented that people were not giving financial like they should and could in the church and we’re now in a challenging position. I saw the look on their faces but I took it like I should lay into them more. So, I did!

In effort to finish some things before going back to work I created a financial spreadsheet to help with accurate record-keeping. I was only going to enter the first quarter of 2009 until I notice something unusual and encouraging; There’s people giving to the church now, consistently, that was not giving since I’ve been pastor. I started praising God but then my heart sank when I thought about what I said during our church conference. I told them I made a mistake in what I said but the exhortation of stepping up in our financial support still remained the same. Praise God for growth! People really paying attention.

After church, Tracy, the kids, few members, and I went to Deacon Loud’s house to eat the rest of their Thanksgiving dinner. It was good spending time with him and I believe the presence of some of the members really encouraged he and Sis Loud. He’s doing extremely but still a little weak so please keep him in your prayers,

Our women’s ministry held their final fellowship service of the year. The attendance was good and the service good. Tracy did an excellent job this year with our women and I applaud her efforts.

I started work again this week and I have mixed emotions about it. Trust me, I thank God for finding work in a short period of time but my heart, mind, and soul is at (as well as on) the ministry of First Goodwill. Right now is not the time for me to be a burden on the church. I’ve gotten used to going into the office praying and studying. I was just getting into a rhythm but not it’s changed. Mmmmaaaaaaannnnnn!!!!!!

I took the train for the first this week because the commute is going to kill my pocket-book in gas. It was a good experience and I think I will continue as long as I’m working in Culver City.

Please pray for me and my family as we adjusting to having our home broken during the Thanksgiving holiday. Now, I sleep with one eye open even though I know God has me covered.

Until next time live like you’re blessed!

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!

2009-11-25T09:09:00.000-08:00

Click to play video! From me to you! Have a great holiday and be safe!

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My Experience in Psalms 23

2009-11-23T12:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we concluded our study of Psalms 23 with verse 6 – “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house the Lord forever”. Here’s the sermon skeleton:

Topic: I’m Living This Life To Live Again
Text: Psalms 23:6

Thesis Statement: I’m living this life just to live again!

Let’s look at the three (3) key components of living now just to live again:

I. The Certainty in this Life to Live Again – “Surely…”

A. The Certainty in this life is that God Is God
B. The Certainty in this life is that things will change – Psalms 30:1-11
C. The Certainty in this life is a reason to celebrate – Psalms 30:12

II. The Qualities of this Life to Live Again – “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my Life”

A. The Power of Goodness and Mercy – Goodness provides our daily needs and mercy pardons our sins
B. The Person of Goodness and Mercy – God looks out for our best interest
C. The People of Goodness and Mercy – What kind of legacy will you live behind?

III. The Perspective in this Life to Live Again – “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”.

A. The Commitment to Live Again - Remember, this is not God speaking has a promise but David speaking with a perspective that this world is not his home.

B. The Security of Living Again - We will never want for anything throughout eternity.

Preaching through this Psalms was enriching, challenging. Inspiring, wonderful, and a great study for me personally.

Throughout my study of this Psalms, I tried my best to look at the scripture with fresh eyes by ignoring all sermons, illustrations, Sunday school lessons, and some advice of others to really discover what this Psalms means to me. For the most part I think did a decent job. And I have grown as personally in my relationship with God and as a preacher in hanging in there when my study got tough.

There is one thing I have learned from this Psalms is that it’s more than a funeral Psalms. Often times, this Psalms is used to comfort a bereaving family during a funeral service. Even when researching for additional material most of the material found focused much of it’s attention on verse 4: Yea, tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil. For You are with me. You rod and staff they comfort me. Many of my commentaries explain in detail verse 4 but verse 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 are explained in brief. This made it a little difficult to validate my interpretation of the text was accurate. Thank God for studying grace…

This Psalms does not just speak to us in dying times but it speaks to all of life’s realities with the ultimate purpose of leading the reader into a deeper and intimate relationship with God. Here’s what I mean, this Psalms to speaks to the reality of life that says:

- Life gets hard sometimes: While this Psalms is filled confident assurance that God will take care of us. It does not promise that us that we will not experience hard times. The opening verses says: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me besides still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” What’s on the other side of satisfaction – discontentment, frustration, unhappiness, and disappointment.

What’s on the other side of peaceful rest – chaos, pandemonium, confusion, and

David speaks in confident assurance that God is provider and protector. However, life has a way putting us on our backs when we are lacking the basic necessities to survive in daily living. When we don’t have any peace at night from the nightmares of a hard day of trying to make it from day to day. When we experience poverty, bad health, placed in dangerous situations, and loose our joy. The reality of life is that life is hard. People are dying due to senseless violence because of the color of their skin or where they live or the color of their clothes. Life is hard. When health care cost is rising, job loss increasing, unemployment benefits are no longer beneficial, suicide statistics plummeting in percentages unknown in our life time. Our savings account is no longer a savings but needed funds to survive from day to day. Life is hard sometimes when you don’t know how bills are going to get paid and where your next meal is coming from.

But in the midst of the harsh reality of life, this Psalms comforts us. It does not say we won’t experience the hardship but reading this Psalms does help us to make it during life’s harsh realities.

- Life is fill with dangers, seen and unseen: Verse 4 says; “Yea, tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and staff they comfort me”. May I suggest that living life seems to become more and more dangerous every day? I was watching a video post the other day of man posing as a robber with a stocking over his face. He would walk into a store or restaurant to get the reactions of customers and workers in the facility. Each place he went people ran for cover, others fell to the ground and rolled under desk, counters, or whatever they could find for safety. Others started pleading their case to live longer and to not be hurt. Ask I watch this video clipping, of course, my first reaction was to laugh because it was funny seeing people’s reaction. But, then I began to think that while I’m laughing at what is to be a practical joke the reality is that people are scared to death now of what potential danger is out there that could harm them, their children, and family. Some dangers we see coming like a bad doctor’s report and then there are others we don’t see coming like a drive by shooting or a drunk driver.

But in the midst of dangers (seen and unseen), we have this assurance, God is with us!

- I have on more reality of life that this Psalms seeks to provide comfort for us, here it is, I’m still here! You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of me life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I will experience hard times (no, I have experienced hard times, life is filled with dangers (seen and unseen) but the final analysis is I’M STILL HERE! I’m still standing, I’m still breathing, I’m still walking and talking, I’m still living!

I'm Blessed - Psalms 23:5

2009-11-19T05:47:00.000-08:00

Verse 5 presents a change of emphasis in Psalm 23. Note that in verse 4 the pronouns change. Until now we’ve been talking about the Lord--he makes, he leads, he restores, he guides. But now we no longer speak about the Lord; now, we speak to the Lord: For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. And verse 5 begins with this intimate relationship as well: You prepare a table before me. You anoint my head with oil.

Here we have a shift of emphasis because the role of the Lord appears to change. Up to this point the Lord is my shepherd. Now the Lord appears to be a host who prepares a table before me, anoints me as a guest, fills my drinking cup and invites me to stay in the house of the Lord all my days.

There is much debate as to whether David leaves the analogy of the Good Shepherd to discussing God as a Good Host. I believe the analogy is still the same. David doesn’t transition from discussing the intimate relationship between Shepherd and sheep. If anything the discussion has become more precious, comforting, and encouraging.

Notice that in the first three verses, David refers to God in the third person: “The Lord is my Shepherd. He makes me lie down…He leads me…He restores my soul.”

Then, in v. 4-5, David shifts, referring to Him in second person: “I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me…You anoint my head with oil.” And then, he closes by returning to third person: “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Why does David switch from talking about God with ‘He’ to talking to God with ‘You,’ and why does it happen in v. 4? Why didn’t he just go on to say, ‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for He is with me; His rod and His staff, they comfort me’?”

May I suggest that the change “He” to the more intimate “You” happens in v. 4 precisely because it’s there he speaks of the valley he has walked. He has felt the shadows closing in. Verse 4 describes the crisis points in his life. And in those times, something deep happened between him and God.

You’ve noticed it too, haven’t you? We’re more prone to talk about God when we are in the green pastures and more prone to talk to God when we’re in the dangerous ravine. In the light, we are prone to wander off in pursuit of greener grass. But in the dark, we hug His knee.

David changes from comments about God to communion with God at God’s table.

Psalms could be broken into two (2) parts: first part we see God as Shepherd in verses 1-3 and in the second part we see God as Host. Many try to tie the metaphor of Shepherd to verses 5-6. I guess you can do that but I believe based on the reading and outline of the text that the overall theme of Psalms 23 is the demonstration of love and care from Shepherd towards the sheep. However, when we get to verses 5 and 6 there is a transition that does not wipe away the metaphor of Shepherd/sheep relations but it intensifies the relationship to show God as a gracious host.

Verse 4 David says, “Yea, tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff they comfort me. Verse 5 begins with You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over. The comfort of Psalms 23 is that God is not only the Shepherd who provides and protects but He is also the Shepherd who blesses His sheep.

Let me put it this way, to experience the hospitality of God is a blessed privilege for us to enjoy!

Say what you want about the relational transition from Shepherd to Host there is a common thread of confidence with the sheep that extends into verse 5. This text provides three (3) blessings to enjoy that is birth out of God’s hospitality:

I. God’s Hospitality is a FESTIVE Blessing

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies”

Point: The table is a place of safety and satisfaction. Our enemies can't stop what God has already prepared.

A. The table is an invitation to eternal life – John 6:53-56

B. The table is intentional for joyous living – John 16:22

II. God’s Hospitality is a FAVORED Blessing

“You anoint my head with oil”

Point: The anointing is God's stamp of approval! The anointing is not the power of God but a sovereign act of God.

This could be tricky in that many will suggest that one person has more of the anointing than the other but that's not true.

A. All believers are anointed at the time of salvation
B. The anointing is not for the glory of man

III. God’s Hospitality is a FLOWING Blessing

“My cup runs over”

Point: God gives us more than enough, consistently!

Can Two Churches Function Together

2009-11-11T11:29:00.000-08:00

Several months ago, a few prominent pastors had a discussion relating to the survival of the African American church on the eastside of Los Angeles. The suggested conclusion was that if African American ministries don’t merge they will not survive much longer. In part, I believe the survival rate of the African American church is increasingly in danger of becoming non-existent. Each week I notice more and more black churches closing their doors and the Latin community re-opening the doors. On a numerous occasions, I have had the question asked by both Black and Latin people want kind of church First Goodwill was. The question was not in reference to domination but race. I’ve seen black people drive into our parking lot only to turn around because they thought it was a Latin church. This can be disheartening but it is also an opportunity to reach the community we’re in for Jesus Christ.

I believe the black church can come together to save our identity in the Christian community on the eastside of Los Angeles, in merger and partnership, it really depends on the black and their mission as a church.

Many people believe that we, African-American churches, cannot partner or merge together with a common cause without there being competition and/or ego tripping among the brethren. So then the question becomes, Can two churches live together under the same roof?

No doubt the answers to this question can comeback with negativity and concern which is to be expected because it’s human nature to respond negatively with things that sound un-doable, unlikely, and unreasonable.

But let’s not forget there was only one church birthed in Acts 2. There was one church with one purpose. Therefore, I see four assurances that 2 churches can function together in one place:

Assurance# 1: Unity Holds Us Together as churches – Acts 2:1-11

One Accord: the same mind or spirit; oneness of mind and heart. It means to be one in spirit and purpose. Homos means same and thumos means spirit or mind. The believers, all 120 of them in the upper room, were of the same spirit, of the same mind. The idea is they were after the same thing, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They were focusing and concentrating their thoughts and energies upon seeking God for the promise of His Spirit.

The word is used only eleven times in Scripture, ten of those times are found in Acts, one is found in Romans.

One accord in prayer (Acts 1:14; Acts 4:24).
One accord in one place (Acts 2:1).
One accord in daily worship and the Lord’s supper (Acts 2:46; Acts 5:12).
One accord in obedience (Acts 8:6).
One accord in a business meeting (Acts 15:25).
One accord is needed to glorify God (Romans 15:6).

The phrase “one accord” is also used to refer to the unity of unbelievers and enemies of the gospel (Acts 7:57; Acts 12:20; Acts 18:12; Acts 19:29).

Two churches can function together when they share the same mind and spirit.

Assurance# 2: Two Churches can function together on Biblical Proclamation – Acts 1:12-42

The teaching and instruction of the apostles would include both what Christ taught and His death and resurrection and ascension or exaltation. It would be the same teaching and instructions...

  that are shared in the New Testament.

  that the disciples wrote to various churches and bodies of believers.

  The teaching would be no different. There is only one message, only one Word that saves and roots and grounds people in the Lord—the Word of God Himself, the message of the New Testament. On the day of Pentecost, the persons who were saved needed to be grounded in the faith. And the only message that could ground them was the message found in the New Testament. It was that message, that doctrine they taught.

Assurance# 3: Two Churches Can Function together when they Practice the Same Principles - Acts 2:44-47 (NKJV)

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, [45] and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. [46] So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

The principles of the text are ministry, worship, evangelism, discipleship, and fellowship. These practices allow the church to keep the same perspective in everything done in the church. Any deviation from these practiced principles can potentially result in disharmony.

Assurance# 4: Two Churches Can Function Together in the Growth of the Church – Acts 2:41, 47, 4:4; 5:14; 11:24

The results were twofold: they gained favor with the people, and the Lord added souls to the church, daily. It is in the present tense, “such as were being saved.” Salvation is a present experience of the believer as well as past and future.

The idea is that those who were being saved were being added to the church day by day.

“Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand” (Acts 4:4).

“And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women” (Acts 5:14).

“And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7).

“And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord” (Acts 11:21).

I am concerned about the survival of the African-American church on the eastside of Los Angeles. However, consider what impact the church can have if we considered partnering together for the sake of kingdom advancement.

My 7th Leadership Celebration

2009-11-10T09:41:00.000-08:00

This has been a wonderful and well needed moment of encouragement for me, my family, and the church. Words really cannot express how appreciative I am to have shared these services with all of you who participated.

I made a comment during my remarks that is my way of expressing the sovereignty of God in the planning of these services: “Thank you for saying yes and thank you for saying no”. God had who wanted there to be there and we had a good time.

I had one request, “Lord, speak to the members heart with your word!” And believe me, He did just that.

In our first service, Pastor George Hurtt and Mt Sinai came through and blessed us. Pastor Hurtt preached: “What is Truth” – John 18:37-40. The challenge for me as pastor of FGMBC is preach the truth and the truth will prevail. Thank you pastor Hurtt. It was so good seeing the members of Mt Sinai and the new faces God has blessed them with. Keep impacting the kingdom of God.

In our second service, Pastor Kevin Stafford and Zion Baptist Evangelistic Temple and Pastor Michael Albert and Mt Aaron Church blessed us with their presence. Pastor Kevin Stafford preached: “Act Like You Know” – Psalms 46:10. The challenge to me as pastor is to trust the sovereignty of God and power of God. Thank you, pastor Stafford. Pastor Albert lit us up with words of encouragement. Thank you, pastor.

In our third service, Living Gospel Church blessed us with their presence as Bishop Jones, pastor Jones, and pastor Green ministered to the church in a powerful way. Pastor Jones preached, with simplicity, “Preach the Word” - 2 Timothy 4:2. Powerful message and the challenge was set in the opening phrase of the text, “Preach the Word”. Thank you pastor E.A Jones

Friday, I picked Pastor Lance Mann from the airport and we went to a soul food restaurant named Flossy’s, excellent food. Lance thought I was going to be standing at 6’5” because I refer to myself has baby Jordan so much. I told him I’m big man in a little body. My mother-in-law got on me because I wasn’t in a suit and tie but in shorts and a t-shirt. I wanted to be comfortable.

Our musical Friday night was a blessing! I invited ministries that have blessed me over the years of my ministry as pastor. Atone and Team Jesus, Jamelle Jones and Freed, One Voice, and Shervonne Wells (formerly of the Kurt Carr singers) blessed us in tremendous way. The highlight for me was having my big sister, Shervonne Wells with us. She is a blessing to the body of Christ and I am so glad she came to minister. She needed to catch a plane to Memphis early Saturday morning so cut her off. But truth be told, I could have listened to her sing all night long. One Voice is an awesome group of young adult who led us in a worship experience like no other. Jamelle Jones and Freed blessed with a song Minister Jones wrote: “Rain on Us”. He’s a gift to gospel music. Atone and Team Jesus is charismatic group with a lot of energy. We had a wonderful time and I thank God for everyone who participated in the musical.

Saturday was the highlight of the entire weekend during our Pastor’s fellowship breakfast. The following pastors were in attendance: Pastor Reginald Payne, Pastor Keith Green, Pastor Ronald Saunders, Pastor Lance Mann, Pastor Al Johnson and his father, Pastor Barry Severe, Pastor W Charles Harris, Pastor F D Harris, and Pastor Anthony Thompson. The food and fellowship was excellent. Thank to my mom and Sadie for all that you did for us. After breakfast; pastor Harris, pastor Thompson, pastor Saunders, pastor Mann, pastor Sever, and myself went into my office and ministered to one another for six (6) hours. We didn’t gossip about other ministries or pastors, we ministered to one another. What a blessing! Something I needed desperately. These pastors started opening up about ministerial struggles that I pray and hope that those in attendance will keep to themselves. Afterwards we spent some time in prayer. What a blessing!

Later that night, we had a live recording with Pastor Theo Wilkins and Sounds of Praise. If this CD does not make the top 10 list for gospel music I will be very disappointed. The music was outstanding!

Sunday morning Pastor Lance Mann killed us with “When Life Makes No Sense” – Proverbs 3:5-6. What can I say? Pastor Mann is a gifted preacher and singer who loves God, the church, and ministry. The church received him well and my family, the kids, started calling him uncle Lance. I thank God for our friendship. This is my first time hosting an out of town guest and I hope that I’ve done well to make his stay enjoyable as well as memorable. After service the members prepared dinner before the next service and we hung out my office joking around. I think pastor Mann is an undercover comedian because he had laughing like crazy. So much so, that my kids didn’t want to get out my office. I pray God richly blesses his ministry in Newark, NJ.

In the afternoon service Full Gospel and Pastor Payne, Bishop R.D Sanders and Mt Pilgrim, and Pastor Barry Severe and Cathedral of Praise were our guest churches. What a blessing! We also had a special treat because Daniel Johnson of Israel and New Breed led praise worship with Full Gospel. This young man is gifted praise and worship leader.

My pastor, Bishop R.D Sanders and Mt Pilgrim came through in a big way. Bishop murdered us with “How to get your needs met” – Philippians 4:19. Expository masterpiece! For the last year, I prayed for direction for a pastor. There were three (3) guys he placed on my heart and Bishop Sanders was one of them. The other is dear friend that I respect, admire, and enjoy our friendship. I didn’t want anything to potentially ruining our friendship mixing pastor and friendship together. I met with Bishop Sanders two (2) months ago to discuss my decision and desire and he graciously consented. The church has received me well and I look forward to what the future fellowships with Mt Pilgrim. I respect him and he respects me and my family.

After church, Lance wanted Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles so we took him there for dinner.

I can sum up my leadership celebration in one word, AWESOME!

Sunday Thoughts - 11/1/09

2009-11-02T13:26:00.000-08:00

Good day!

I preached a challenging message yesterday. Every year during the pastor's anniversary, I generally preach a message on pastoral ministry. So yesterday I preached:

Topic: Can A Pastor Depend On You?
Text: Philippians 4:14-20

Thesis Statement: Your financial support aides the minister and mission of the church.

Transition Sentence: It is the mood of this text to communicate to the church that Christian fellowship is bound by mutual support.

1. The Decision To Support - v. 14-16

The text shows two (2) areas of support that need a decision. Understand that the decision to support these areas is not a decision to support one or the other. But a decision to see the work of the Lord progress locally and universally.

A. There is a decision to support the minister of the church- v. 14, 16
b. There is a decision to support the mission of the church - v. 15

2. The Description of Your Support - v. 17-18

a. God sees your sacrifice
b. God is well-pleased with your sacrifice

3. The Delight of Your Support - v. 19-20

The message was good but I felt like I was beating the members up when in fact I was not. My overall goal was to challenge our membership in their level of financial support that ultimately supports the man of God and mission of God. I'm in a unique position because my church, in it's history, as never supported a full-time pastor. The church has always been a bi-vocational pastoring church. Now, it is possible that God wants to move us into a full-time pastoring church. I'm not sure but I am praying hard as what I should do, go back to work or stay full-time at the church.

We continued our pastoral anniversary yesterday with Pastor E.A Jones and Living Gospel (Compton Ave location), Pastor Keith Green and Living Gospel (Main location), and Pastor Robert Calvary and Praise Chapel Church. The service was high spirited from start to finish.

The words of wisdom from Bishop Jones was awesome and inspiring and challenging. The one thing that Bishop Jones stated that I will hold on to for as long as I'm pastoring is "Whether you pastor 10s, 100s, or 1000s always remember these are precious people and God is watching how you deal with them." WOW!

The words of encouragement by pastor Keith Green and pastor Robert Calvary awesome. The sermon from Pastor E.A Jones was right on time, "Preach the Word"!

I kept from giving remarks until yesterday because I knew as soon as I stood I would breakdown in tears. I have not told the full story of the many challenges I've faced this year personally and in my public ministry that really has taken a toll on me but I refuse to quit. These service thus far has been an extreme blessing to me, my family, and the church. Thank you all so much!

I'm enjoying the visit of my mother-in-law. She's so funny and can talk your ears off. But good time having her here.

This week is going to be pretty busy with work at the church. I'm trying to do as much as I can at the church until receive clear direction from God as to what I should do, continue in bi-vocational ministry or trust God and stay in full-time ministry. Not sure yet.

There's preparation for a live recording this coming Saturday at the church with Theo Wilkins and Sound of Praise. Looking forward to that. And there's a concert on Friday with some of California's best gospel artist.

My friend and brother, Pastor Lance Mann, will be in town to preach for me on this coming Sunday and I'm looking forward to the fellowship. This is my first time someone from out-of-town and myself as well as the church is looking forward to it.

Keep us in your prayers, until next time, be blessed.

Sunday Thoughts - 10/25/09

2009-10-27T07:35:00.000-07:00

Sunday was a pretty heavy day for us as a church because we are very concerned about Deacon Charles Loud's health. He's a long time member, worker, and leader of First Goodwill Church and his presence is missed terribly. We're praying that God's will be done in this challenging moment for him and his wife, Georgia. Please keep this entire family in your prayers.

We resumed our study of Psalms 23:5 - You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. I titled the sermon: "God Favored Me". Decent message, I tried something that I don't normally do, preach without a manuscript. I remembered the outline but failed to make my points clear because I was thinking too hard in the process trying to remember everything rather than just letting it flow like a conversation.

The microphones were messing up and I'm teaching my son, Myles, how to operate the board from the pulpit. It get's frustrating sometimes but I know he's doing his best and he's doing a good job.

I played softball Sunday afternoon and we lose because we didn't have enough ladies to play but the umpire let us play anyway since we were all there.

My Cowboys didn't disappoint me Sunday, thank God!

This week plans to be very interesting, exciting, and busy as we continue our 7th pastoral anniversary service this Wednesday night with:

Pastor Kevin Stafford and Zion Baptist Evangelistic Temple Church
Pastor Nathaniel Haley and United Christian Baptist Church
Pastor Michael Albert and Mt Aaron Christian Church

In addition, we have a special treat, my mother-in-law, Ellen Charles will be in town with us. Tracy has not seen mama Erllen in a couple of years, so as a anniversary gift her mother will be town. Pretty excited about it!

I've been a little laxed in blogging lately, not because I don't have anything to write about. I have a lot to write about. I'm still trying to adjust to being in full-time ministry right now since being laid off from work a month ago. It's a big adjustment for me (at least much bigger than I anticipated). It's going to take some time but I do enjoy thinking about ministry stuff without interruptions from a secular job.

So far God has met all our needs and for that I'm grateful.

Until next time, keep us in your prayers.

7 Years of Pastoral Service

2009-10-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

Tonite starts the 1st of 4 services, celebrating 7 years of pastoral partnership between pastor and people. Line-up is as follows:

10/21/09 - 7 pm
Pastor George Hurtt and Mt Sinai MBC
Pastor Terry Brown and Liberty Baptist Church
Pastor W Charles Harris and Village Baptist Church

10/28/09 - 7 pm
Pastor Kevin Stafford and Zion Baptist Evangelistic Temple
Pastor Michael Albert and Mt Aaron Christian Church
Pastor Nathaniel Haley and United Christian Baptist Church

11/1/09 - 3 pm
Pastor E.A Jones and Living Gospel Church (Compton Ave)
Pastor Keith Green and Living Gospel Church (Main Street)

11/6/09 - 7 pm
Musical Celebration: One Voice, Jamelle Jones and Freed, Atone and Team Jesus, and many others along with a surprise special guest

11/7/09 - 9 am
Pastors Fellowship Breakfast with Pastor Lance Mann of First New Zion Baptist Church of Newark, NJ

11/8/09 - 10 am
Pastor Lance Mann of First Zion Baptist Church of Newark, NJ

11/8/09 - 3 pm
Pastor Reginald Payne and Full Gospel Baptist Church
Bishop Richard Sanders and Mt Pilgrim Baptist Church
Pastor Barry Severe and Cathedral of Praise Church
Pastor Barry Wilson and New Life Baptist Church
Pastor Eric Woodson and Second Mt Carmel Baptist Church

If you live in the city and don't have a commitment your church or will be visiting the Los Angeles area please join us in any of the above the services at 6900 South Compton Ave * Los Angeles * Ca * 90001.