Wow, where does time go? Here we are, already into the third month of the year 2009 and it seems just like yesterday we were getting ready for Christmas. Zoom and time passes you by. If you are not careful today is here and gone without you realizing it.
I noticed that it had been a few weeks since I have been able to write a blog. So many things have happened and changed in that time since the last blog. Job changes have taken place for both Melinda and I. Both of our mothers have been ill, needing more of our attention. Some life changing decisions have been made by all of us. A good friend became ill and then passed from this life. Time changed, messing me up a lot. Some of these things happened one at a time and others piled on top of each other.
As I thought of these “events” I realized these are just part of life. Life sometimes comes at us so fast, but it is just life. Life has its good times and it also has its not so good times. There are those moments of tranquility and then those moments pandemonium. Times when we feel like we are in control and it is all going our way. Then there are those times when we would grab life by the tail if we could only find the tail. That is life!
I have come to notice, in fact a friend brought it to my attention, that when life becomes chaotic it is often the enemy trying to cause us to lose our focus. In the past weeks we have been so blessed to witness God moving in special ways in every service we have been in. Lives are being changed! Broken hearts are being healed! Bruised lives are being liberated! Eyes that have been blinded by the lies of the enemy are being opened to what God is doing! Lives that have been held captive by the past with its disappointments and failures are being set free! God is filling people with the Holy Ghost! He is refreshing and renewing! The enemy would like nothing better than to distract us and get us worried about the things of life rather than the things of God.
A passage has been running through my mind
“So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” Is 59:19
How many times have you felt like life was overwhelming you? I remember a few years back hearing a gurgle and realized the basement of the Church was flooding. It rained ten inches in less than twenty-four hours and we ended up with a flooded basement. We just happened to be living in the basement at the time. We struggled for seventeen hours before we became so exhausted we had to stop. The water just kept coming and coming and then it kept coming. Life sometimes comes at us that way.
This passage tells us that when we feel about to be overwhelmed, God will bring it to a stop. One writer said He will blow on it and make it disappear.
“But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.” 1 Cor 10:13
I guess when life gets chaotic we need to remember to rely on Jesus! When life is changing on us at an accelerated pace we need to remember that Jesus Christ is always the same, He never changes. We can always depend upon His constancy.
Just a Thought! God Bless
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
In Memory of Sis, Jean Daniel.
I first met Jean and Will Daniel in December of 1970. They had been studying Search for Truth with Mike and Margie Power for several months and that Sunday they came to Church for the first time. A few weeks later, in a Watchnight Service, they were baptized in Jesus Name and God miraculously filled them with the baptism of the Holy Ghost in March of 1971.
So many things changed in our lives and in the Church from that time on. There was a new energy that came to the Church. Never one to do anything half way Sis. Jean was involved in everything. She started off as a soul winner, recruiting others to join her and Will in their home Bible Study, Slim and Rose Daniel, Peggy King, David Daniel all joined in at different times and all were baptized and received the Holy Ghost during the same week as Sis Jean.
Tragedy struck her life, as well as the Church, with a tragic boating accident that took the lives of Will and Maureen Power in August, just five months after they had received the Holy Ghost. Our concern was would this new spiritual baby survive such a blow? Although it was hard and there were many questions and lonely hours, she immersed herself into the Word of God and prayer. She gave herself to the Work of God and fought her way through the battle.
We were just talking about what a giver she was. Some of you might remember the 1971 yellow and black Datsun that she drove the wheels off of for Jesus. Miles were put on it selling Peanut Brittle in Rio Dell, Fortuna, Ferndale, Crescent City, Ukiah, Fort Bragg, Garberville and points in between. Driving to fellowship meetings in Oroville, Chico, Redding, Yuba City. Driving to Dinsmore, Bridgeville and Carlotta to teach home Bible Studies. Loading it up with 7 and 8 kids to carry them to Sunday School week after week. When she finally retired it with over 300,000 miles on it she bought another car and ran the wheels off of it for Jesus.
I remember my dad asking her to teach the Jr. High class. She had only been in the Church a short time and felt inadequate but she never said no when asked to do something, so she taught the class. Her students were David Doran and Mike Power, Jr. They should have never been allowed to be in the same class anywhere and here was a new teacher with these two "star" students. Every Sunday after Sunday School the teacher and the students had a meeting with the Pastor, but she stuck it out. Both students are living for God today and active in ministry.
She worked as a Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Supt. Outreach Director, Home Bible Study Director, Choir Leader. She played the piano, taught several to play the guitar. She made candy, sold candy, made crafts and sold them. She baked and sat at bake sales. The list goes on.
However there are two things about Jean Daniel that stand out in my mind when I thought about her life. One was Jean Daniel was a pastor's best friend. Not only was she a hard worker in the Church, but she went out of her way to take care of her pastor in any way possible. Many years ago several came to my dad and asked if he would go full time for the church. They pledged to pay 20% tithes to help him do this, they felt it was that important. Many years later, after Dad had retired and I was pastor, Sis. Jean was still paying 20% tithes to help her pastor and the work of God. I don't know how many times I had called her and said I need you to pray about this or just with me. I would hang up the phone and know that she was already on her knees praying. Dinners, after church refreshments were all taken care of by Sis Jean. I was 13 years old when we met. She watched me grow up, learn to preach. She saw the mistakes and failures I made as a young man. When I was asked to become pastor my reservation was the people I would be pastoring were people who had known me "when." Yet, I can honestly say there was never one time when I felt Sis. Jean did not honor and respect us as her pastor, although I am sure it must have been difficult at times.
Sis. Jean was a nourisher, but naturally and spiritually. Although she never had any natural children of her own, she adopted every little stray that came by and made them her children, even to the discomfort of some. It was just natural for her. When she taught some one a home Bible Study, she adopted them spiritually. She prayed for them. She visited them. She called them on the phone. She drove miles to bring them to church. She talked to her pastor about them. Anything she could do to help them to live for God, she did it. They were her children.
Just before he died, Sis. Jean's father, Bro. Burl Horn asked her to promise him she would take a Bible Study. She promised and kept that promise. When the news came of her promotion I couldn't help but think of what must be taking place in heaven this weekend. There are some warriors of the Cross who are welcoming home another warrior, saying Well done. There is a heavenly jubilee taking place as Burl Horn, Will Daniel, Maureen Power, Mike Power, Ronnell Tyler, Dora Estes, David Doran and others welcome home another one.
We will all miss Sis. Jean... but will never forget her, she has left too many fingerprints on too many lives to be forgotten...
Just a Thought...
Monday, February 16, 2009
TEAM Ministry in Salem, Arkansas
This past Sunday TEAM Ministry ministered in Salem, Arkansas with Pastor and Sister Art DeAscentis.
We ministered Sunday morning with Jared preaching of how God wants to refreshing our souls and spirits. God touched the hearts of both young and old alike. (Sorry we forgot the camera!)
Sunday night God met with us again as we ministered of the signs of the Apostolic Church and how God wants to start making a difference in our lives.
There was a tremendous resposnse to the manifestation of the power of God. Young people began to touch God and allow Him to begin working in the spirits.
As it began to slow a bit there was a such sweet spirit that swept over us and we began to sing that old song, "Jesus...there's just something about that name..." God spoke to us again, confirming His Word with tongues and interpretation confirming His love to His children.
We were blessed with a surprise visit from Jarus David from Colton, California. We have known Jarus and his family for over twenty years. It was wonderful to be with an old young friend.
There is nothing as beautiful as young people who have been worshipping, praying and allowing God to touch their lives. We appreciate Shelisa's intercession for the service.
What a wonderful time we had in the precense of the Lord! Please keep this church in your prayers. A year ago this week their building was destroyed in an arson fire. They are now worshipping in what will be the fellowship hall of their new building and need a financial blessing to be able to finish the work.
God Bless!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Forgiveness is NOT an Option!
Don’t you just love those evenings when for some odd reason you have nothing that you have to do? You can stop and ask yourself the question, “What am I going to do tonight? Will I read a book? Should I listen to some music? What am I going to do?” Aren’t those rare occasions great?
Several years ago I remember having one of those nights. At that time they were very rare. We had all three of our children at home. We were pastoring two churches and had a daughter work also. Between those responsibilities, along with teaching Home Bible Studies, being the principal of a Christian School and trying to be a husband, father and a son, there were not a lot of evenings when I didn’t have something that was demanding my attention. On this particular evening, not only was it free, but I was home by myself, which meant I could pretty much do what I wanted to do.
I remember deciding I wanted to have someone preach to me. I felt I needed to be spiritually fed, I needed some input. I went to our preaching tape library and just grabbed a tape and put it in. I wasn’t really caring who I was going to listen to or what subject they would preach on, I just was going to relax and say, “Pour it on!” Then let whatever happened happen. Needless to say, God obviously had something totally different in mind!
I don’t believe there are any accidents with God. You might have an accident while driving. You might even have an accident in that you drop a glass of water. However, I don’t believe it is an accident when you hear a message that is from God and it makes a difference in your heart. I believe these are actually “divine appointments.” Times when God desires to mold and shape us into the person He wants us to be.
The message that I listened to that night was about “Forgiveness.” As the title was given and the message started I kind of sat back in my chair and thought, “Well there is no problem here, I will get some good information for a message. However, I don’t have anyone that I need to forgive.” Yet as the message began to unfold I began to get uncomfortable. So much for a night of relaxation! I began to get a good old case of conviction, to the point I had to ask God who I needed to forgive. I went down the list in my mind and couldn’t really think of anybody and so I told God that.
Can you imagine my shock when I felt God speak to me and tell me, “You have forgiven everyone else but you haven’t forgiven me?” My response was first shock and then it was horror. I quickly moved just in case fire came from heaven just for the thought that I might have something against God! As I began to converse with God about this He led me to understand that I had feelings that I was afraid to admit, because of disappointments and failures from my past. In my heart I felt that God had let me down and I had failed to forgive God. This started me to begin to study forgiveness. Let me share a few thoughts with you.
In Matthew chapter 18 Jesus likens the Kingdom of Heaven to a king who takes inventory. In doing so he finds there is a servant who owes him a large sum of money. The king sends for the man and asks to be paid. The servant explains he doesn’t have the money, we have all been there, but will do his best to raise it. The king feels the man has had enough time and commands that he, his wife and children all be thrown into prison. The servant falls on his knees and begs for mercy and the king is merciful. The king doesn’t give him more time, he completely forgives the servant of the debt that is owed. One writer says he canceled what was owed.
The servant leaves the kings court. He walks down the street and it reads as if he is on the prowl, looking for someone who owes him money. He finds a fellow servant who owes him a few dollars. He grabs the man and demands payment. The fellow servant says he also doesn’t have the money to pay the debt. Now the servant pays no heed to the promise of payment or the plea for mercy. He has the fellow servant thrown into prison for the owed debt. The amazing thing is the servant was forgiven ten thousand talents and he was owed only one hundred pence. In today’s money and I mean as of 9:11 PM Central Time on September 23, 2008, this man was owed $11,594.99 and he owed the king $3,580,532.19. He had been forgiven an incredible debt yet couldn’t find it in his heart to forgive a fellow servant a debt that was owed him.
There are a couple of things I would like to bring to our attention. It is obvious the king is likened unto God. It is also obvious that Jesus is talking about forgiving our brother when He is speaking of the two servants. Peter has asked Jesus how often a person is required to forgive someone who sins against them. Jesus said we are to forgive seventy times seven and then Jesus goes on to say the Kingdom of heaven is like a king and then tells the story. He ends by saying so likewise shall my heavenly Father do unto you.
The first thing we need to understand is God has forgiven a great debt that we owe. Each and every one of us owed Him a debt that we could have never paid. The only hope that we had was damnation. Yet God was merciful to each of us and forgave us that debt. He did not just give us time to try and figure out a way to pay it, He forgave it. That means He pardoned us. We were absolved from the debt. We have been exonerated or completely set free from what we owed. It is gone and forgotten.
On the flip side, we have been done wrong. We will have people do us wrong again. We will even feel if we are honest with ourselves that God hasn’t completely done right by us. Yet, no matter how big the wrong which someone does to us it will never compare to the debt we owe! The debt I owe is far greater than any and all debts owed to me. So, with this in mind, the key to feeling forgiveness is forgiving. I didn’t think this up, someone shared this with me and I put it into practice and it works.
Watch this! The servant is forgiven by the king. He is feeling good, in fact it seems as if he has found a new power in life in that when he finds the fellow servant he grabs him and demands payment of the debt owed to him. Now when he refuses to forgive the debt owed to him he is brought before the king a second time. The king reminds him of the mercy that is showed to him regarding his great debt. Then the king reinstates the debt and the Bible says he has the servant turned over to the tormenters. What had been forgiven was no longer forgiven because of the forgiven would not forgive.
When I fail or refuse to forgive then I lose the privilege of being forgiven. I come to an altar of repentance and confess my sins and feel God cleanse me of those sins. I am free! I feel so good and refreshed! Yet a day or so later, it may even be a week or so, I begin to deal with the same feelings of guilt, shame and condemnation. It is inner torment! Why? Because I have not forgiven those who I feel owe me, who have done me wrong.
In His pattern of prayer, Jesus prayed, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” If we don’t forgive, can God forgive us? It is a small price to pay for freedom, for peace. You see forgiveness is not an option. We must have it to live free from torment. We also must give it to live free from torment.
Forgiveness is not an option. Neither is it something we will only have to do one time. I have had to go to my knees many times and ask forgiveness and also forgive. I have had to seek the face of God for help in forgiving. I have had to forgive God and make sure things were right between me and God. I have had to forgive others who have knowingly and unknowingly hurt me. I have to make sure things are right between us. Yes, I have also had to forgive myself. I have hurt myself so many times. I have let myself down and disappointed myself many, many times. Yet, if I want peace in my heart and a relationship with my Savior, forgiveness is not an option!
Just a Thought! God Bless!
Several years ago I remember having one of those nights. At that time they were very rare. We had all three of our children at home. We were pastoring two churches and had a daughter work also. Between those responsibilities, along with teaching Home Bible Studies, being the principal of a Christian School and trying to be a husband, father and a son, there were not a lot of evenings when I didn’t have something that was demanding my attention. On this particular evening, not only was it free, but I was home by myself, which meant I could pretty much do what I wanted to do.
I remember deciding I wanted to have someone preach to me. I felt I needed to be spiritually fed, I needed some input. I went to our preaching tape library and just grabbed a tape and put it in. I wasn’t really caring who I was going to listen to or what subject they would preach on, I just was going to relax and say, “Pour it on!” Then let whatever happened happen. Needless to say, God obviously had something totally different in mind!
I don’t believe there are any accidents with God. You might have an accident while driving. You might even have an accident in that you drop a glass of water. However, I don’t believe it is an accident when you hear a message that is from God and it makes a difference in your heart. I believe these are actually “divine appointments.” Times when God desires to mold and shape us into the person He wants us to be.
The message that I listened to that night was about “Forgiveness.” As the title was given and the message started I kind of sat back in my chair and thought, “Well there is no problem here, I will get some good information for a message. However, I don’t have anyone that I need to forgive.” Yet as the message began to unfold I began to get uncomfortable. So much for a night of relaxation! I began to get a good old case of conviction, to the point I had to ask God who I needed to forgive. I went down the list in my mind and couldn’t really think of anybody and so I told God that.
Can you imagine my shock when I felt God speak to me and tell me, “You have forgiven everyone else but you haven’t forgiven me?” My response was first shock and then it was horror. I quickly moved just in case fire came from heaven just for the thought that I might have something against God! As I began to converse with God about this He led me to understand that I had feelings that I was afraid to admit, because of disappointments and failures from my past. In my heart I felt that God had let me down and I had failed to forgive God. This started me to begin to study forgiveness. Let me share a few thoughts with you.
In Matthew chapter 18 Jesus likens the Kingdom of Heaven to a king who takes inventory. In doing so he finds there is a servant who owes him a large sum of money. The king sends for the man and asks to be paid. The servant explains he doesn’t have the money, we have all been there, but will do his best to raise it. The king feels the man has had enough time and commands that he, his wife and children all be thrown into prison. The servant falls on his knees and begs for mercy and the king is merciful. The king doesn’t give him more time, he completely forgives the servant of the debt that is owed. One writer says he canceled what was owed.
The servant leaves the kings court. He walks down the street and it reads as if he is on the prowl, looking for someone who owes him money. He finds a fellow servant who owes him a few dollars. He grabs the man and demands payment. The fellow servant says he also doesn’t have the money to pay the debt. Now the servant pays no heed to the promise of payment or the plea for mercy. He has the fellow servant thrown into prison for the owed debt. The amazing thing is the servant was forgiven ten thousand talents and he was owed only one hundred pence. In today’s money and I mean as of 9:11 PM Central Time on September 23, 2008, this man was owed $11,594.99 and he owed the king $3,580,532.19. He had been forgiven an incredible debt yet couldn’t find it in his heart to forgive a fellow servant a debt that was owed him.
There are a couple of things I would like to bring to our attention. It is obvious the king is likened unto God. It is also obvious that Jesus is talking about forgiving our brother when He is speaking of the two servants. Peter has asked Jesus how often a person is required to forgive someone who sins against them. Jesus said we are to forgive seventy times seven and then Jesus goes on to say the Kingdom of heaven is like a king and then tells the story. He ends by saying so likewise shall my heavenly Father do unto you.
The first thing we need to understand is God has forgiven a great debt that we owe. Each and every one of us owed Him a debt that we could have never paid. The only hope that we had was damnation. Yet God was merciful to each of us and forgave us that debt. He did not just give us time to try and figure out a way to pay it, He forgave it. That means He pardoned us. We were absolved from the debt. We have been exonerated or completely set free from what we owed. It is gone and forgotten.
On the flip side, we have been done wrong. We will have people do us wrong again. We will even feel if we are honest with ourselves that God hasn’t completely done right by us. Yet, no matter how big the wrong which someone does to us it will never compare to the debt we owe! The debt I owe is far greater than any and all debts owed to me. So, with this in mind, the key to feeling forgiveness is forgiving. I didn’t think this up, someone shared this with me and I put it into practice and it works.
Watch this! The servant is forgiven by the king. He is feeling good, in fact it seems as if he has found a new power in life in that when he finds the fellow servant he grabs him and demands payment of the debt owed to him. Now when he refuses to forgive the debt owed to him he is brought before the king a second time. The king reminds him of the mercy that is showed to him regarding his great debt. Then the king reinstates the debt and the Bible says he has the servant turned over to the tormenters. What had been forgiven was no longer forgiven because of the forgiven would not forgive.
When I fail or refuse to forgive then I lose the privilege of being forgiven. I come to an altar of repentance and confess my sins and feel God cleanse me of those sins. I am free! I feel so good and refreshed! Yet a day or so later, it may even be a week or so, I begin to deal with the same feelings of guilt, shame and condemnation. It is inner torment! Why? Because I have not forgiven those who I feel owe me, who have done me wrong.
In His pattern of prayer, Jesus prayed, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” If we don’t forgive, can God forgive us? It is a small price to pay for freedom, for peace. You see forgiveness is not an option. We must have it to live free from torment. We also must give it to live free from torment.
Forgiveness is not an option. Neither is it something we will only have to do one time. I have had to go to my knees many times and ask forgiveness and also forgive. I have had to seek the face of God for help in forgiving. I have had to forgive God and make sure things were right between me and God. I have had to forgive others who have knowingly and unknowingly hurt me. I have to make sure things are right between us. Yes, I have also had to forgive myself. I have hurt myself so many times. I have let myself down and disappointed myself many, many times. Yet, if I want peace in my heart and a relationship with my Savior, forgiveness is not an option!
Just a Thought! God Bless!
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