On our drive to Charydin's wedding rehearsal I had a bad feeling that Sierah was in trouble, in fact I felt God say there was an impending accident; I stopped and immediatley prayed protection upon her and Callie (my granddaughter who was riding with her).The feeling of dread lessened, but didn't leave.
Within minutes of arriving at the rehearsal hall Sierah called me; I could hear the fear in her voice, "Dad I'n in an accident..." A few months ago a two year old boy that Tammy and Sierah knew from the day care had been killed in that same intersection.
Yesterday the State Patrol confirmed that there is a bad blind spot there, but his next words confirmed what I realized when I saw her totalled car, "You know, if the other driver had hit you six inches further back on your car, you wouldn't be here for me to talk to right now!" Sierah is a good, cautious driver, but she came within six inches and a micro-second of being killed.
We missed a wedding rehearsal, but we could have lost so much more! We must always cover one another in prayer.
Sierah and Callie were both at Charydin and Danny's wedding the next day and what a joyous time that was. I blubbered a bit as I performed the service, but it was a wonderful celebration. My other three daughters were there to send Charydin off into married life and for each one of them and continued life, I just want to say "Thank You!" to our Lord. Amen!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
CHURCH
“THE CHURCH” is Not “ONE LARGE MOUTH” that God speaks through. The “CHURCH” has not only “ONE LARGE EAR” that hears what He is saying. The “CHURCH” is not “THE ONLY EYE” that sees Him moving or “THE ONE HEART” that feels His presence. The true living “CHURCH” of the living God is not “ONE HAND” that reaches out or “ONE BIG FOOT” that moves her forward.
True worship is NOT a spectator event; where ONE MAN performs, while all others listen. NO! The “CHURCH” is all of God’s People; His royal Priesthood speaking the truths shown to them by God; listening for His voice, seeing where and how He moves; multiple hearts intoned to God, feeling His presence, reaching out together in compassion; staying in step with The Holy Spirit.
The platform in the church should be the platform of God’s ideals which lifts Him up rather than a physical one that raises one believer above the rest. Isn’t Pastor be a gift rather than a position? The Word of God does NOT say “AND HE GAVE THESE POSITIONS . . .”
Finally “THE CHURCH” is NOT a building. God has never asked for temple made with human hands; He says that you and I are to be His dwelling place. Wherever we gather together in one place, that is “THE CHURCH”, that’s where HE lives.
True worship is NOT a spectator event; where ONE MAN performs, while all others listen. NO! The “CHURCH” is all of God’s People; His royal Priesthood speaking the truths shown to them by God; listening for His voice, seeing where and how He moves; multiple hearts intoned to God, feeling His presence, reaching out together in compassion; staying in step with The Holy Spirit.
The platform in the church should be the platform of God’s ideals which lifts Him up rather than a physical one that raises one believer above the rest. Isn’t Pastor be a gift rather than a position? The Word of God does NOT say “AND HE GAVE THESE POSITIONS . . .”
Finally “THE CHURCH” is NOT a building. God has never asked for temple made with human hands; He says that you and I are to be His dwelling place. Wherever we gather together in one place, that is “THE CHURCH”, that’s where HE lives.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wow! God is STILL LEADING US!
Family and Friends,
Just over two years ago our church family was over $20,000.00 in debt with dropping attendance and under a general cloud of discouragement.
God spoke to my heart to challenge us as a church to become debt-free so that we could become more effective in reaching the hurting and the lost. The mission seemed so impossible that we lost a couple more families. As the church shrank, I felt the need to do away with the inter-structure of the” church"; we simply didn't need an administrative team if there really wasn't anything to administrate.
As God always does, we took the first step and He has accomplished what would have otherwise been impossible without Him. Little did I realize that God would restructure our whole ministry and call me into bi-vocational ministry, but He did. He also called us to move and in short order call us to move a second time; first to lower rent and then by the generosity and the loving support of a pastor friend of mine (an extended period of "NO RENT"). This as much as Jim and I giving back our salaries has allowed all offerings to the ministry to be divided between touching lives of those who are hurting and needy and debt reduction.
As you can see from the forwarded message from James yesterday we have paid off all our debt, including credit cards down to a balance of just $500.00. A month ago, I was hoping to sell equipment and furnishings that are no longer necessary for our ministry in order to pay-off the debt. Selling the trailer and equipment we own is still on the agenda, but God has raced ahead of us while increasing the effectiveness of the community and ministry of the people called New Hope Community Fellowship.
What does the future hold? Once the debt is paid, will Jim and I "go back on salary?" Will we rent a bigger building or buy a place? I know we won't return to salary and God will need to pick us up and move us again, but as of now, where we are is our promised land; I want to pour every dime and every spare moment into broken lives; we want to build people, not a ministry. We want to lift-up the Name of Jesus that those who have yet to come to Him will have the opportunity. Other ministries have supported us TO ENABLE US to be the hands and the feet to reach the hurting where they are.
God's Word says, "Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, SHALL MEN GIVE INTO YOUR BOSOM. For with the same measure that you mete with it shall be measured to you again."
When God’s people all come into unity caring more about the building people than building their “Own Ministries”, God is gloried and the lost are reached and the hurting (within and outside of the church” are healed. Jesus said, ‘IF I BE LIFTED-UP, I WILL DRAW ALL MEN UNTO ME”.
Join me in thanking our brothers and sisters in Christ who have allowed God to work through them to accomplish this first step toward our greater vision. Amen
Gary
Just over two years ago our church family was over $20,000.00 in debt with dropping attendance and under a general cloud of discouragement.
God spoke to my heart to challenge us as a church to become debt-free so that we could become more effective in reaching the hurting and the lost. The mission seemed so impossible that we lost a couple more families. As the church shrank, I felt the need to do away with the inter-structure of the” church"; we simply didn't need an administrative team if there really wasn't anything to administrate.
As God always does, we took the first step and He has accomplished what would have otherwise been impossible without Him. Little did I realize that God would restructure our whole ministry and call me into bi-vocational ministry, but He did. He also called us to move and in short order call us to move a second time; first to lower rent and then by the generosity and the loving support of a pastor friend of mine (an extended period of "NO RENT"). This as much as Jim and I giving back our salaries has allowed all offerings to the ministry to be divided between touching lives of those who are hurting and needy and debt reduction.
As you can see from the forwarded message from James yesterday we have paid off all our debt, including credit cards down to a balance of just $500.00. A month ago, I was hoping to sell equipment and furnishings that are no longer necessary for our ministry in order to pay-off the debt. Selling the trailer and equipment we own is still on the agenda, but God has raced ahead of us while increasing the effectiveness of the community and ministry of the people called New Hope Community Fellowship.
What does the future hold? Once the debt is paid, will Jim and I "go back on salary?" Will we rent a bigger building or buy a place? I know we won't return to salary and God will need to pick us up and move us again, but as of now, where we are is our promised land; I want to pour every dime and every spare moment into broken lives; we want to build people, not a ministry. We want to lift-up the Name of Jesus that those who have yet to come to Him will have the opportunity. Other ministries have supported us TO ENABLE US to be the hands and the feet to reach the hurting where they are.
God's Word says, "Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, SHALL MEN GIVE INTO YOUR BOSOM. For with the same measure that you mete with it shall be measured to you again."
When God’s people all come into unity caring more about the building people than building their “Own Ministries”, God is gloried and the lost are reached and the hurting (within and outside of the church” are healed. Jesus said, ‘IF I BE LIFTED-UP, I WILL DRAW ALL MEN UNTO ME”.
Join me in thanking our brothers and sisters in Christ who have allowed God to work through them to accomplish this first step toward our greater vision. Amen
Gary
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
owwww
After one day with a Trainer, I AM SORE AND TIRED. I keep saying to myself, "exercise profits little!" I am pressing on even though I am in no shape to exercise.
Jesus came for the unhealthy
“IT IS NOT THE HEALTHY WHO NEED A DOCTOR, BUT THE SICK.” MATTHEW 9:12
This passage has been playing over and over through my consciousness’ for weeks now.
Jesus came for the unhealthy, the unspiritual, the unworthy, the undesirable, the unlearned, not the sort of people you see featured on TBN or the 700 Club. He loved God with every fiber of His being and His fellow man without condition, more than He loved Himself.
He shunned the religious leaders who proudly wore their haughtiness as crowns. He ate with prostitutes, drunkards and thieves. He was tempted by every sin that we are and yet was without sin. He never built a church building or erected a sign; He met sinners where they were and loved them into an eternal relationship with God Jesus never promoted Himself and He never considered the “Ministry” His’. He only did what the Father commanded. He never owned a home and possessions never owned Him. He found His purpose and therefore His contentment in His obedience to His Father.
I once saw a picture which depicted Jesus asleep on the front pew during a church service; I somehow believe that He would find much what we do as believers as either boring or sin; most of our religious traditions have no more to do with Christ, than did the religious traditions of the Scribes and Pharisees. John Michael Talbot once asked in song, “Would You Crucify Him – if He walked right here among you once again?” He concluded the song with the conclusion, “I think we’d crucify Him – if He walked right here among us once again!” I concur. I don’t think more “believers” would do any better at recognizing Him today than our forefathers did when He walked among us the first time. Why?
We would be looking for a messiah that fits our image of God, just as Israel was looking for one in their own image.
Religious men proclaim, “I am without sin – alcohol has never touched these lips, I have never said a bad word, I have never have sexual temptation”
Spiritual men say, “ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD AND I AM THE CHIEF OF SINNERS!”
With whom do you think Jesus would be found; the first or the later?
Jesus said, “IT IS NOT THE HEALTHY WHO NEED A DOCTOR, BUT THE SICK.”
This passage has been playing over and over through my consciousness’ for weeks now.
Jesus came for the unhealthy, the unspiritual, the unworthy, the undesirable, the unlearned, not the sort of people you see featured on TBN or the 700 Club. He loved God with every fiber of His being and His fellow man without condition, more than He loved Himself.
He shunned the religious leaders who proudly wore their haughtiness as crowns. He ate with prostitutes, drunkards and thieves. He was tempted by every sin that we are and yet was without sin. He never built a church building or erected a sign; He met sinners where they were and loved them into an eternal relationship with God Jesus never promoted Himself and He never considered the “Ministry” His’. He only did what the Father commanded. He never owned a home and possessions never owned Him. He found His purpose and therefore His contentment in His obedience to His Father.
I once saw a picture which depicted Jesus asleep on the front pew during a church service; I somehow believe that He would find much what we do as believers as either boring or sin; most of our religious traditions have no more to do with Christ, than did the religious traditions of the Scribes and Pharisees. John Michael Talbot once asked in song, “Would You Crucify Him – if He walked right here among you once again?” He concluded the song with the conclusion, “I think we’d crucify Him – if He walked right here among us once again!” I concur. I don’t think more “believers” would do any better at recognizing Him today than our forefathers did when He walked among us the first time. Why?
We would be looking for a messiah that fits our image of God, just as Israel was looking for one in their own image.
Religious men proclaim, “I am without sin – alcohol has never touched these lips, I have never said a bad word, I have never have sexual temptation”
Spiritual men say, “ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD AND I AM THE CHIEF OF SINNERS!”
With whom do you think Jesus would be found; the first or the later?
Jesus said, “IT IS NOT THE HEALTHY WHO NEED A DOCTOR, BUT THE SICK.”
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