A Time For Us

The last few weeks of my life have been a whirl wind and literally so stress filled that I've not slept well for more than a week. If you know me, you know I don't sleep a lot anyway, so when I say I've not slept well, I'm talking 3 hours or less almost every night. Anyway, I did take a sleep aid last night and actually slept for close to 6 hours, but today find myself feeling "hung over" from the medication. But as I'm sitting having a cup of coffee and catching up with friends on Facebook, I kept hearing a song in the back of my mind. I could not place the song for the longest time, but a few minutes ago, it hit me as to what it was. It is a song that Julie Meyer sang at a conference I was at about 5 years ago. The lyrics begin like this, and this is what was playing over and over in my mind...

Come and sit with me awhile
Come and sit with me
Just to be with me awhile
Come and be with me

And it hit me like a ton of bricks falling on me... the Lord was calling out to me, telling me that I needed to stop and come sit in His presence, for more than just a few minutes... actually spend some time with Him. 

I'm thinking, "But I have to go get the tires changed. I have to go get the materials for the new sign. I have to go visit Marty. I have the counseling session this afternoon. I have to..."
And suddenly I thought, "Something is BAD wrong with this picture!"
When I have so much stuff that I "HAVE" to do that I don't have time to spend just worshiping God and sit in His presence... then my life is out of balance. Only thing on that list that really "has" to be done to day is the tires, and I can reschedule anything else. The most important thing in my life is my relationship with God, and I'm in essence telling Him that I don't have time for Him.  
That ain't gonna work. 
If someone gets upset with me, they will just have to be upset, because my life's goal is to please the Lord, and to walk out Christ before this world. And as I sit here thinking, I recall several times where Jesus withdrew from it all to pray. My goodness, if Jesus found it necessary, who in the world do I think I am to think I can do without it?

If anyone that I reschedule today or finds me unavailable to talk, I am sorry, but I need time with my God. I need a refueling and refilling. I'll catch you next time, but as soon as I get these tires changed, the rest of today belongs to the Lord. 

I leave you with the words of that song Julie sang... Maybe some of you want to know him this way too.


Come and sit with me awhile
Come and sit with me
Just to be with Me awhile
Come and sit and be, be with Me 
 

I want to know Your passion
I want to love Your name
I want to feel Your mercy when I’m
Standing in the middle of the flame

I want to know God
I want to know Yah 

I want to know
The secret place of Your thunder
I want to hear Your voice
I want to know
The hidden secrets of the Ages
And down ancient paths to walk
I want to know God
I want to know Yah

He Is

When you are at the point of greatest need, He is the God who supplies your every need.
When you are completely helpless, that's when He is the most helpful.
When you feel totally dependent, He is most dependable.
When you are at your weakest, He is made strong.
When you are feeling all alone, He is ever present.
When you are feeling small, that's when He is the greatest.
When you feel the most useless, that's when He is preparing you for His service.
When you are in your darkest hour, He is the light to guide your way.
When you feel the most shaken, He is your Rock and foundation.

When you are most humble, He is most gracious.

He is... what ever you need.

A Funny Thing Happened While Ago

I'm sitting here tonight and suddenly I find myself thinking of a song that I have not thought of in awhile, "Without You" by Big Daddy Weave.  As I thought on this song, I remembered writing a blog about this song several years ago, and the search was on for that blog entry. I read that post and then linked it to Facebook because the words to that song spoke to me so strongly, and I recalled that night, almost 5 years ago when on another Saturday night, panic was setting in upon me, for I did not have a Word for the next day. I was getting so desperate to hear from God and "I" was trying to put it together. When I stopped with my efforts, and I began to worship God, it was THEN, there in that worship that God spoke to me. The really funny thing is that when I was just now reading this, I realized that it was at that moment, when I acknowledged that "I" was in the way, repented before God and just gave into worship... that was the night the Lord gave me the River vision that has shaped my ministry and mission for Harvest Church ever since. 

There is something powerfully profound in what God just reminded me tonight. When "I" (that's each of us) get out of the way and just give our selves in reckless abandon in worship and adoration to Him, the vision is established.

Just Wanna Say Thanks

So much going on the last two weeks and dealing with so many issues and I've seen so much pain, so much confusion and heartache. I've held a woman strung out on heroin in my arms and whispered in her ear that Jesus still loves her.  I've talked to the daughter who cannot understand why dad is rejecting her. I've sat and cried with a woman whose husband told her that he's moving his girlfriend into the house and that she needed to go. I've seen the pain of broken promises and dreams shattered. I've seen the tears of one who thinks everyone has turned their back on her and she stands alone. I held the head of a teenage girl on my shoulder as she sobbed and wondered if there is anything worth living for any more after the boy who promised he'd love her forever used her body and then dumped her and bragged about his "score"... humiliating her and leaving her to feel dirty and used. I spent the night on the phone with a young man persuading him not to pull the trigger when he came home and found his wife had left him for another. I've witnessed so much pain in the last 2 weeks that it has taken a toll on me emotionally to where I cannot sleep. And as I sit here tonight crying for the hurting around me, I feel it all over again...  such love for my savior, Jesus Christ, and I thank Him for the grace that he poured out on me. I know I deserved nothing but judgment and damnation... yet in love, He took me in. I'm reminded of how incredibly blessed I have been and am today because He rescued me from a life exactly like these I have described. And I just want to express my love and my gratefulness to the Lord, and say to anyone who might read this and not know Jesus, TRY HIM! He really is the answer that you've been looking for and the hope you need.

A Cheap... Worthless "Gospel"

The recent book by a well known pastor who I will not even dignify by mentioning his name here makes the claim that everyone ultimately will be saved, with many being saved after they die. I'm astonished at the number of Christian's who are eating this stuff up! People... are you thinking? If everyone is ultimately saved, whether they accept Jesus or not, then that would have to therefore mean that it was not necessary for Jesus to die. Yet, the Father saw fit to send him to the earth to suffer the most cruel form of death imaginable. What kind of God would send his only son to die, if it was not necessary and everyone was going to be saved anyway? Further, what kind of God would allow countless men and women to die for the cause of the cross of Christ as martyrs, if it were not necessary?

This is a cheap imitation, and it will lead even more souls to eternal damnation.
I am so offended of anyone who would dare preach or teach that it is not necessary to believe on Jesus for salvation, or that those who die without having accepted Jesus are just going to be ushered into heaven because of love. Love came, walked this earth, bled and died and rose from the grave so that we might have eternal life, if we believe and accept his blood as the atonement for our sin. Yes, love wins... if you will accept it. But the choice is up to each one of us to make, while we are alive. 


Don't cheapen the price my Jesus paid for our salvation.
This new gospel is cheap and it is worthless.


I leave you with the words to one of my favorite songs.


Your love endured the cross
Despising all the shame
That afternoon when midnight fell
Your suffering cleared my name
And that sin-swept hill became
The open door to paradise
The cost was great yet you paid the price

You paid much too high a price for me
In tears and blood and pain
To have my soul just stirred at times
Yet never truly change
You deserve a fiery love
That won't ignore your sacrifice
Because you paid much too high a price

You grace inspires my heart
To rise above the sin
Of all the earthly vanity
That seeks to draw me in
Then to tell a jaded world of love
That truly saved a life
A love that paid
Much too high a price

Looking Back... Speaking LOUDLY Today

Sometimes we make folks mad.. and that's OK

Today I was reading in 2 Corinthians chapter 7 where Paul is talking about how his previous letter upset the people at Corinth, and he says in verse 8 that he did not regret it, because (vs 9) his making them angry (sorrowful) led them to a place of repentance. He points out in verse 10 that there is a difference between godly sorrow/anger and that of the world. Most translations use the term "sorrow" in this passage, but in context, it is obvious that these people were not happy with Paul for what he said... but only for a little while, because his words caused them to think and then to repent. One thing to be certain, Paul did not say what he said with the intent of hurting anyone, but rather to bring about repentance. (See verses 12-13)

But there is another key to this passage that I saw today, and that is how the Corinthians dealt with his words. The words surely cut, and they did produce some anger and sorrow; but verse 11 says, "you sorrowed in a godly manner. What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication!" What he is saying is they used their anger in a constructive way to examine themselves and when they discovered that Paul's words were correct.. rather than lash out at him, or attack him, they repented and made things right! Now that is a novel concept, isn't it! Do the right thing! Amazing! 
It seems that most of the time in the church world anymore, rather than using the energy to examine ourselves and make sure we are in a right standing with God (being righteous) people tend to start talking trash against the preacher/teacher who has spoken the word to them. They begin to do what I call "circling the wagons". That's where you find as many people as you can to side with you, and then you make your defense. Kind of like the old cowboy and indian movies. The only difference is they don't take a defensive posture, they usually go on the offense, trying to take out as many as they can to prove their circle is right.

As pastor, it is never easy to speak a word from God that you know is going to make someone mad. If I knew they would follow the practice of the Corinthian church, it would be easier, but sadly, I know that most often they will circle the wagons.

Does God Ever Annoy You (part 11)

Note: If you are not a long term reader to my blog, allow me to share with you that I started what became a series of "Does God Ever Annoy You" posts back in February 2006. I would have never dreamed that 5 years later I'd still be adding to this. Actually, this is the first entry into this series in 2 years... but yesterday, God really got under my skin. (Don't get upset with me for saying that God annoys me. I'll bet if you read them you'll find out/admit that He annoys you too!)  If you are interested in the series, I'll add the dates of all the previous entries as a comment following this post. You can find them in the archives to the right of your screen.

And now, chapter 11...

If you attend my church and were there yesterday when I preached, you got a glimpse into this. I shared yesterday in my sermon that prior to the church service, I had quite an attitude. The previous week had been a tough week. Problems were crawling out of the wood work like cockroaches and my stress level was off the charts. I won't go into great detail here, but suffice it to say that sheep bite each other. Then there were people who really needed some time with me, and my life was so busy that I could not find time for them. I had a wedding to put together with 3 days notice. There was also a funeral thrown into the mix. Things that needed to be done had to be not only put on the back burner, but some taken off the burner until a later date. People were being people, and that ought to say enough. And of course, this week our worship leaders were out of town, which meant I had to get music together and teach our praise team this stuff... and time was just not there. Ah, life can be so pressing some times. 

Saturday, I made a post on Facebook about how I was glad the week was over and behind me and I was looking forward to a new week and time in worship the next day. I went to bed thinking, "It's behind me."  

Yeah, right.

When I got up on Sunday morning, before 7:30 I already had several text messages and a missed phone call and messages online and the battle was raging. My 'tude was getting sour. When we got to church to run over the songs we would do in worship, the sound board was going insane and kept adjusting the volume of the music up and down and I'm thinking, "Great, not only are we going to have to use 'canned music' but it's going to be BAD canned music."  Things just kept going from bad to worse, and I knew I had to get it together or I was NOT going to be fit to preach. I headed back to my office to pray and deal with my attitude, but before I could even get to my office, someone ripped into me because the toilet paper roll was getting small and I should have changed it. (Yeah, this one just about caused me to blow.)

Now here is where the crux of this whole annoyed at God thing comes into play. I went into my office and began airing my grievances to God and asked him to help me with my attitude. As clear as can be, I heard God speak into my spirit, "You fix it. I didn't give it to you."

Now, I don't know if you've ever had this happen... but my prayer became a whining session as I said to God, "Do what? Have you been paying attention to anything going on in my life for the past week? Have you seen any of this stuff going on this morning? Do you get that I'm ready to blow?"  And God said to me, "Yeah... what are you going to do about your stinking attitude?"  Honestly, for a minute I was dumb founded. I sat down in my chair and was trying to figure out how I could explain to God that my stress was through the roof, I'd had about all I was gonna take and I needed help... NOW.  As calmly as can be, I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit say, "What does all this have to do with YOUR attitude?"

I began to realize that I was trying to "fix the world" and in my Superman complex I was allowing other people's stuff to come in between me and the Lord and our relationship. 

My lesson learned.. and my does God ever annoy you point?  

I discovered that God is much more interested in my attitude than He is about what caused it. 

The really cool part about all this? When I asked God to forgive me for my attitude, I walked out of my office feeling like 500 pounds had fallen off my back. Nothing else mattered but going after God in worship, and we had a tremendous worship service, and people were blessed. God's anointing was so tangible and real that there was a freedom to preach the Word like I had not felt in some time. The problems of the week? Literally before the day was out, many of them were suddenly resolved, and I was not involved in any of the solutions. God just did what He does best. Amazing.

I hope I've learned a lesson. 

Sometimes It Only Takes a Kind Word.

Today I was running around looking for something that I needed for a project I am working on, and my journey took me into a couple of pawn shops, Goodwill, Salvation Army and another thrift shop. In the process of this, I spotted a woman whom I had not seen in almost three years. Some of my readers knew, and others may recall my talking about Louise Piggee who was a dear friend of mine who left this life about two and a half years ago. Louise had occasionally brought this woman to church with her. She had struggled with drug addiction and other issues off and on. She actually quit coming before Louise passed away, and I have found myself thinking about this woman from time to time, and I was happy to see her.

I walked up to her and I could tell by the fearful look on her face that she did not know who I was as approached her. I spoke to her, calling her name and I said, "you don't remember me, do you?"  She looked puzzled at first, until I said, "Miss Piggee was one of my dearest friends and she introduced us."  I called her by name again and told her who I was. Her eyes lit up and I said, "Hello... (I don't want to use her name)."  She literally threw her arms around me and began to laugh and cry at the same time. She talked about how much it meant to her that I would remember "someone like me" after all this time. We stood and talked for a few moments and I could tell she was getting uncomfortable. Her physical appearance told the story, and I told her that no matter where life had taken her, Jesus still loved her, and that I believed that he sent me by to say that to her today. She said, "Bishop, I believe Jesus did send you here for me today."  I asked her if I could pray for her and she said she would like that. She would not tell me where she was living, but she took my card, and I am hoping that she will call. I'm believing God to pull her back to sanity and away from the hell she is trapped in. She told me that she really wants to get clean and serving God again, but that she is trapped.  I'm asking for people to pray with me that the trap is released and she calls on the name of the Lord and He sets her free.

The KJV Only Battle Rages On

The following was written on a messaging board that I use at times and I thought was worth posting here for my readers to check out. I contacted the man who uses the pen name "Lord Chancellor" and he graciously granted me permission to use his post here. The post is entirely his, with the few exceptions where I have added a comment, which will be in red.


A man who attends our church whom I love and respect very much, invited me to attend a "Bible Conference" at an Independent Baptist Church in another town. I know he prefers the KJV of the Bible and the first time I ever met him, he asked me "Are you a King-James-Only Christian?" I promptly and honestly replied that I wasn't- that I was simply a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ. He is also a very talented and skilled general contractor who built the church we attended, tonight. I knew he was particularly proud of his work (which is fine with me - like I said, he's very talented). So, I knew part of asking me to attend was so he could show me the church. I also felt pretty sure that this might be a KJV-only rally, although he didn't say much about it, and knowing he also probably wanted to show me the church he built, I agreed to go with him.

Anyway, I was right. It was a "celebration" of the 400th "Anniversary" of the King James Bible (or, the "perfect Bible" as it was commonly referred to throughout the service).

This "Bible Conference" is to last all week and each night will feature a different speaker.

Tonight, a young man spoke twice during the service (one message on the history of the KJV Bible and another sermon on the KJV itself, after a 10 minute intermission).

I thought I'd share with you what I "learned" from the speaker, tonight, at the 400th Anniversary of the Authorized, Inspired, Perfect King James Version of the Bible.

1. Those of us who use and read "cheap imitations" of God's Word are "Sodomizers " and we have lots in common with "Sodomizers." (I would like to know, even if you are a KJV only person, how do you make the leap to call someone who uses any other version a "Sodomizer"?  That is an incredible leap; is it not?

2. At the end of this week, if we have attended the services and heard the speakers, we will be forced ("if you are an honest person") to make a choice between the true Word of God and cheap, Satanic imitations. (I would be fearful of calling all other translations "Satanic." What, pray tell did people do prior to 1611? What about people who do not speak English?

3. Salvation can only come through the King James Version of the Bible. (I thought Salvation came through the blood of Jesus.)

4. The KJV has never changed since it's creation (that was news to me). (Suffice it to say at this moment that it has in fact changed/been revised more than once. I may add another blog about this later. The original 1611 had some serious errors in it which totally refutes the moniker of "the perfected Word" which they claim.

5. Psalm 12:6-7 is a direct reference by King David to the King James Version of the Bible- made, what, 3000 years, ago?

6. The original manuscripts were not inspired since they no longer exist, and any argument made that it is the original writings of the Bible authors that is inspired and not the KJV is false. That is one of the stupidest thing I have ever heard!

7. Scholarship and academia are of the devil. Yet many of the people who I personally know who embrace KJV only are teachers, college professors and in school administration. Sorry, you cannot call education evil when it comes to our Christian beliefs, but not in the secular world.

8. It doesn't matter what the original languages of Scripture said, we have it in English, and that's all that matters and all that we should believe. (You've got to be kidding me!) It also doesn't matter what Greek and Hebrew scholars said passages mean. Again, we have it in English (all this after spending 10 minutes giving the qualifications of the KJV translators, including their expertise in the original languages that qualified them as infallible expert translators).

9. The KJV underwent 15 reviews before it's publication- a feat to which no new translation even comes (more news to me).

10. Those of us who use and read those cheap imitations of God's Word simply didn't have any faith that God could preserve His Word. As opposed to those who do not have faith that God could preserve the integrity of His Word through different translations, generations, and languages?

Anyway, I thought all of you guys who use and read those cheap imitations of God's Word (a.k.a. the ESV, NASB, NKJV, NLT, NRSV, etc., and especially the NIV) would like to know that you're going to hell.

I could be wrong, but I'm fairly certain that even in the KJV it is clear that we're justified by faith, alone.

During the intermission, I couldn't help but pick up my English Standard Version Bible and read about how Israel worshipped the bronze serpent.

What Are People Thinking?

I just came in after a really hectic and stressful day to grab a cup of coffee and chill for a few minutes before running back out. As I said, I'm stressed, so maybe it is my attitude... and if so, I will apologize. But I returned a couple of phone calls and then checked my email and then checked out what was happening on Facebook. And this is where I got myself in a bad mood. There were a number of friends on my list who had changed their profile pics, and some of them just jumped out at me. I was on the phone with a friend and I said to him, "What in God's name are these people thinking?"  He asked what I was talking about and I said that picture after picture was so trashy that they might as well be gracing the cover of "Sluts Are Us" magazine.  He started laughing, but I said that I did not think it is funny at all. I cannot figure out why any woman/girl would post any picture of themselves that makes them look so trashy and cheap. It infuriates me. Especially when so many of these women/girls are supposed to be Christians, but for any woman. Do you honestly believe that any man with an ounce of integrity or honor wants a woman like that to spend his life with? They don't want someone that they think everyone else has had a go with, or even looks that way. As a single man, many will certainly use you in a heart beat, but trust me, when it is time to settle down, they want the "un-used" variety. 

Women... young ladies... PLEASE do not cheapen yourself like this! I don't say any of this to hurt you or to sound judgmental. I'm sincerely trying to help you and I hope some of you will listen and stop trying to look like some floozy of the river front district thinking you are going to win you a man. You better believe there will be guys drooling over those pictures and you, if you all allow them... but they are dogs on the prowl, not men looking for a mate. Keep that in mind.

Makes a Daddy Proud!

We closed out our revival (the meetings, not the spirit) last night, and afterward both of my kids (at separate times and without the other knowing) shared with my wife how God had stretched them in their giving this week. I would not presume to share the amounts, that is between themselves and God; but God challenged them and stretched them, and they both obeyed. This is a college kid and a high school senior, and for each of them, it was not something they could just give and it not be a challenge. First and foremost, I am SO thrilled to know that my kids have an understanding of God's principles when it comes to giving. I know if they walk this out in their lives, they will be blessed people.  One thing that was just so cool is that when Ashley heard God speaking to her about an amount to give, she wrestled with it. She even argued with God about what an odd amount it was. (That's my girl!) She sat and wrestled with the things she owed and for something she was trying to save up for...but she obeyed.  Now, you have to understand, Ashley had told no one any of this at that point. She simply did what she knew God was asking her to do. After church, some of us had gone to McDonald's and my wife told her that we were going to be paying an obligation she had and that we were going to buy something for her. Turns out, these were the two things she had wrestled with with God had asked her to give. She still did not tell us about what had happened at church with her giving. Instead, she came home and made a post on Facebook about how awesome God is. Through that post, a little debate arose with a girl claiming to not believe in God. I won't go into it all, but that girl is coming to church with her on Sunday!  That's my God!

I Have the Keys!

In November of 1993 the church were I was pastoring was set on fire by an arsonist and the building was destroyed. I remember that when I received the call from the fire department, I rushed to the church, and it was already engulfed in flames. When I got my car parked and ran back to the building, the firemen were trying to break down the front doors so that they could get into that part of the building to try to stop the fire from spreading there. The building happened to be about 130 years old, and had solid oak doors, that again, were 130 years old, and whenever the fireman would swing his axe, it literally was bouncing off the seasoned wood, barely making a dent in it. As he continued to swing, hitting the doors with blow after blow and barely making any progress, I was standing behind the retaining rope shouting at him, "I have the keys!" He continued to swing away until finally one of the other firemen walked up to him and said to him, "You need to stop and listen to this guy, I think he said he has the keys."  They stood and talked for a moment or so and finally the second man walked over to me and asked, "Did you say that you have the keys to this door?"  I handed him the keys, they opened the doors and went inside.


I was sitting here a little while ago reflecting back on that night, and the thought hit me about the scripture in Mathew 16 where Jesus said: "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."  I thought, "how many of us act like that fireman, working so hard to gain access to something that we already hold the keys to?"  Think with me about what Jesus actually said here. He said that he was giving us the keys of the kingdom... that the gates of hell could not prevail against. We so often treat this as a defensive scripture, that hell cannot come against us; but this is not what Jesus said at all. He said the gates of hell would not be able to stop us from gaining access! Read it again and see if that is not what he said!  Our mission, our purpose as the living breathing Body of Christ is to launch an assault on the forces of hell, and taking from within those gates what is rightfully ours.  So many of us need to stop acting like helpless victims and understand that Jesus has made us to be priests and kings, with full authority, and the keys, that enable us full access to assault the gates of hell and bind the forces of darkness. We need to shout, "I have the keys!"

When God Takes the Lid Off

I rarely, if ever have spoken to something as direct as I am about to write, but I have been deeply stirred in my spirit, even to the point of being feeling nauseous  for the past two days. What is stirring in me is that the Holy Spirit has been showing me that he is getting ready to "take the lid off" things that have been hidden. I am speaking directly to my community, Galesburg and Knox County, Illinois. The lid, the covers are about to be removed and hidden sin is about to be exposed. It's not to be vicious or to hurt, but rather God is cleansing His house. People have been crying out for a move of God, but there has been sin in the camps of our churches, and before God will move and bless, he will always first call for a cleansing. Already within the the past 24 hours, I have walked into situations and the Holy Spirit has spoken a Word into my spirit and when I spoke it out, sin was exposed.  By no means am I daring to claim that I am the agent of exposing these sins. I believe God is going to begin speaking to his people and in the spirit, they will literally see the sin exposed around them. God is calling to His people, saying that NOW is the time of repentance for the uncovering has begun.

Make Your Move

When it comes to having things happen in our lives most of us would really like it if God would just hurry up and do something. We want Him to light the fire, to send the power, to cause revival. We definitely can not do anything without Him.
Sometimes however the problem is not that God is not moving – the problem is that we are not moving.
Consider what God has already done:
- He sent Jesus.
- He has cleansed us from sins stain.
- He has released us from sins power.
- He has given us His Word as a foundation and a weapon.
- He has given each of us the measure of faith.
- God has provided the whole armor.
- He has filled us with the Holy Spirit and with power.
- He has broken the curse of the law.
- He has promised to meet all our needs.
- He gives us access to come boldly into His presence.
- He took the stripes for our healing.
- He has given us the authority to act on his behalf... setting the captive free, releasing the bound and oppressed in the power and authority of His Name!
Given all of this I cannot help but think that perhaps there is now something that we are supposed to do.

Have you ever been frustrated by someone who doesn’t know it is their move?
Ever play a game and you sit waiting on the other person to move, only to discover that they did not realize it was their turn?
Or get behind someone who is so preoccupied that they sit through the entire green light? One that frustrates me to no end is when you get to a 4-way intersection and people cannot seem to figure out how this thing is supposed to work, and some will sit there... and sit there, while others keep pouring through another section not allowing others to proceed.

Something I have come to understand is that as believers we need to know when we are to wait patiently and when it is our move!  There are so many times that I somehow get the feeling that we are sitting around waiting on God to move, yet the reality is… IT’S OUR TURN TO MOVE!  In the parable of the talents, the nobleman told the workers to take the talents given to them and occupy until he returns.  In our way of using this word, "occupy" means pretty much to sit or stay in that space or place. But the word literally means, "to do or carry on business."  In that context, we (the Body of Christ) are to "occupy" here on earth, until Jesus returns. We are to carry on "the family business!"  What is that business?
To seek and to save the lost.
To heal the sick.
To preach the good news to all people.
Everything we see Jesus doing in the Word of God... THAT we are to be doing now.
Each and every one of us that has believed on his name for salvation.
It is our turn... or our move.
What are you going to do?


(Adapted from a sermon I preached in 2004)

It's a Matter of Choice

Our church has been in revival this week, and it has been awesome, and that is minimizing it. Along with the evening services, our Evangelist, Tom Scarrella has been doing some teaching during the day on personal evangelism and how to win souls to Christ. It's a real stretching time for all of us, including me. If you know me at all, you know that I am really a very backward, shy person. It is really difficult for me to meet new people, but I am working at this. I've had chance encounters before were have met and led someone to Christ, but intentionally going out to find people, introduce myself and then endeavoring to lead them to Jesus, it is really stretching me... but I'm getting there and will keep at it until I become comfortable with this... and then watch out!

The interesting thing as I've gone out these first two days and tried this out, is that there are people who brazenly have said that they were going to hell and that they were fine with that. Literally. When I asked if they knew if they were to die today if they would go to heaven, I've had two people tell me that they were going to hell. One said he was fine with that and did not need some (blankity-blank) Christian trying to change things. Another said that he was going to hell and was proud of it. When I asked if he would like that destination, he said, "why the hell would I want to go to heaven."  I told him that I was not there to argue with him, but that I wandered if he realized what he was saying. He said, "F... yeah! I'm going to fry like bacon for eternity! I said, "well, sir, I just hope you know that it really is a matter of choice, and if that is what you choose, then I guess that is up to you, but you will remember those words throughout eternity." 

I have not been able to get my conversation out of my mind all day. I'm just stunned that someone with half a brain could say and mean something like that. But it is his choice. I was talking with a young woman today whose boyfriend is not a Christian and is constantly trying to tear down her faith. She said that she has tried to lead him to Jesus but he simply chooses not to accept him and wants her to give up her faith as well. She wanted to know what to do. I told her it was time to leave him, because he has made his choice. Something we all have to learn and accept, we can tell them and show them the love of God, but we cannot make the decision for them. As Tom reminded us all, when Jesus told the parable of the sower, only one of the four seeds fell on good ground.

What Bible Have You Been Reading?

I started to just let this go without any comment, but I just can't. Twice today there have been people post negative things on Facebook about our upcoming revival which starts Sunday. I don't know who, but someone else had apparently sent invitations to these two women to come to the revival. First, I have no idea if these two women know each other or even if the same person invited them both. But the the first comment was posted  on the Event Page for the revival that "this stuff is not my cup of tea."  I came really close to making a post to ask what about it they did not agree with, but I just left it alone. Actually, I deleted the comment rather than allow it to become something to draw a debate on that page.  Any way, a few hours later, another woman made a post on that page, saying that they did not believe in all this "miracle crap" or that God healed people the way that was shown in the video I posted. They further stated that God wanted us to behave ourselves in church and sit politely and reverently and listen to the music and preaching. She went on to say that this dancing and laughing and waving flags like she heard we did at Harvest Church was completely non-Biblical and that she even questioned if we were Christians at all.  Again, I deleted the comment, but I've been chewing on this now for an hour or more, and I cannot keep my mouth shut. I don't know if this woman knows me or frequents my blog, but I hope she sees or hears about this and gets this message.


In all sincerely and honesty and with love, ma'am, I would like to ask you what Bible you have been reading? For that matter, do you read your Bible? Have you read in the Bible where Jesus laid hands on the sick and they were healed? Have you read where he told us that we were to be doing the very same thing? Have you ever read the Psalms and how they worshiped God with the loud instruments, with dancing and shouts of joy?  Have you ever read any of this? You live in Knoxville, just a 5 minute drive from our church. I invite you to come and check it out for yourself and then tell me what part of what we do in worship and prayer is not in the Bible. For that matter, bring your friends. Bring YOUR pastor, and he is welcome to point out to me where we are in error. I am open to discussion and learning. The question is: "Are you?"  If I can show you in the Word of God, everything we do, will you accept it and admit your hateful allegations were off base? If I were to introduce you to a young woman who was deaf in one ear and was healed in our church... or if I introduced you to another young woman who doctors have confirmed has miraculously been healed of severe liver damage... what would you say to these things? 


I wish I had written the names of these women down, but if any of my readers know who they were, please direct them to this blog. Please give them my phone number. I'd love to sit and examine the Word of God with them and let's just see what God's Word, not some denomination says.

I'm Sick and Tired of Teacher's High Pay!

I received this in an email today and had to share it in light of all those ripping on the teacher's and how "overpaid" they are.


Are you sick of highly paid teachers?
Teachers' hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or 10 months a year! 
It's time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do - babysit!
We can get that for less than minimum wage.
That's right. Let's give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. 
That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch and plan-- that equals 6 1/2 hours).
Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. Now how many students do they teach in a day...maybe 30? 
So that's $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day.


However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations.
LET'S SEE....
That's $585 X 180= $105,300 per year. 
Wait a minute... there's something wrong here. That can't be right. I think my calculator needs new batteries!


Yes, there is something wrong here.
The average teacher's salary (nation wide) is $50,000. 
$50,000 divided by 180 days = $277.77/per day.
30 students=$9.25
Divide $9.25 by 6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student.


That is a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your kids!
WHAT A DEAL!!!!..

Nope, It's Not Always The Way You Think It Is

I wrote a blog entry some time back about how things are not always the way that they seem. Today, that thought hit me hard once again. I've really been sick for the past week and a half, and my daughter surprised me by bringing me home a piece of cake this afternoon. Not just any cake mind you. Those of you who are close to me know exactly what she brought! It was THE cake! That German Chocolate cake with coconut caramel icing that I've talked about for several weeks that just was tempting me to death at Innkeepers! I've been so good, not giving in, but hey... my baby brought this to me. YES! So, after dinner, I got me a glass of milk and sat down to enjoy my cake... and I took the first bite... and I was like, "REALLY?"  Don't get me wrong, it was not bad (I ate the whole thing) but it was just such a let down. This cake was just so beautiful! I'm telling you, it was the best looking cake I have ever laid my eyes on... and I've had cake all over the US and 5 other countries.  But somehow, this cake just did not live up to it's appearance. Again, it was not that the cake was bad... it was just not what I expected.


Isn't that how it is so often in life? Things we look forward to with anticipation just did not meet the expectation... leaving us feeling unfulfilled. I personally believe that this is one of the biggest things destroying marriages. People live with this fairytale notion and they get married based on a feeling... and then the stress and trials of everyday life come and bursts the bubble of expectation... and people bail. They have not learned that marriage is something you work hard at, fight for and defend, because the pitfalls of life will try to steal the joy of life, and if you don't make a 100% commitment, you will never make it. It is that way with drinking, drugs, sex and so many other things. We look to it with excitement and expectation... we will sell our souls for it... and then we discover, that it is not at all like the 30 minute comedy on TV that we laugh at. It is real, and the outcome and destruction and pain... it is all real... there is no commercial break or cute wrap up at the end of the show. It's not what we expected at all!  


And it is just as true in reverse. TV, the movies and the media make those who are Christians out to be buffoons and losers... so the vast majority of the world, when they consider the church, or seeking out this whole "God thing" they have a tainted view Christianity. But I would say to those people... "It's not always the way you think it is."