It is officially summertime!

It is officially summertime! Summer, Summer, Summertime, time to sit back and unwind – sorry lyrics from one of my favorite D.J. Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince (Will Smith) song. Sunday afternoons are great when we’re not scheduled to be in service. After working so hard to make sure everything is done with a spirit of excellence and after a week long of studying and cramming for the message. Praying that you’re able to deliver the in the fashion that it was received from the original author. Just wanting to do a good job in your exposition of the text and allow the Holy Spirit to do what He wants to do with the message. I try not to but it’s hard not to rehearse everything but most Sunday evening until movie time…I’m asking myself what could I’ve done better in my presentation of God’s Word. There are so many challenges that most member who sit in the pews will never know. First, the pastor is always the pastor but he has to separate himself enough to worship God in church [I’m praying that I can get better at that. Not allowing everything to hinder my worship.] Second, no matter how long you’ve been preaching there is always a sense of nerves. Early in ministry you’re nerves because of crowds and always the Word because of a lack of confidence. After you’ve been in the ministry a while the nerves don’t leave they just moves from worry about the crowd to worry about am in line with God’s Word and am I pleasing Him.

We’ll the “Sugababies” are here but I want to share one more thing. Last night I attended my 25th High School Class Reunion and I actually enjoyed myself. Janice and I attended it started out really uncomfortable because there is one thing I’m really not good at and that remembering people. If I’m forced to I will get it repetition but it had been 25 year and people were expecting me to know them and it just wasn’t happening. Now everyone that was apart of the Waltz Way family [all the kids that grew up and played together], it was easy to spot them. What I was really impressed with was that being a 98% white all through school I probably didn’t give them a chance to get to know me because of my preconceived ideas or my predisposition to think all white people was prejudiced. I’m not really sure what happened maybe we’ve all grew especially me. I had friends who would date some of the white girls but I never did. I was simple the athlete and I had few white male friends but I normally just stuck to my own. I was talking to a classmate of my name “Nancy” who said she never cherished any of the thinks from high school because the time was so bad for her. I really felt what she was sharing because has it not been for Janice I’m not really sure how things would have ended up. She has always been there for me and I owe here so, so much.

I know it’s a lot of rambling and when I do that I simple don’t post it. I spend more time fixing it but I’m too tired this evening. I’ve been working ever since I got hope and I’m about to spend sometime relaxing and loving on my some “Sugababbies!”

I'M STILL STANDING

Today, we celebrated another year on leading the Greater Bethel Church. My prayer for today was simply that with all of the excitement surrounding the celebration that we would not lose sight of God. Well as always God answered came through. We were blessed by Grammy nominated psalmist Pastor Beverly Crawford (Simply Bad). One of my favorite singers of all time. Second, my childhood pastor Dr. J A Reed Jr came through and wrecked the house (that's preacher talk for doing a great job). I thank God for him and all that he has meant to my life, family and ministry. Accompanied by his wife Dr. Patricia Reed, who has been a great supporter of everything we've ever attempted as well as a consistent intercessor for Janice and I.

There is much work to be done. God has so much that He wants to do for us, in us and through us. I know that God will see us through and I can't wait to see the beginning of the vision. I say the beginning because I know that this is God's plan and purpose this bigger than just me. Right now God is preparing his next leader who will continue his work. I'm privilege to lead His people and in spite of the most difficult times and days of pastoring. God could have chosen any one but I thank God He has smiled on me.

What a grand opportunity to declare God's Word! To speak in to the lives of people week after week. To declare God's power, purpose and pleasure.

God is surrounding us with some spiritual people who understand leadership. This makes pastoring a pleasure and a challenge. Eyes have not seen nor ears heard the great things God have prepared for us.

Away For A Few Days

Some days I wake-up with what feels like the weight of the world on my chest. Not knowing why I feel what I feel, just nervous and uneasy I have to fight my way through what I know is an attack of the enemy. I have to constantly remind myself that nothing will happen today that God cannot handle. I often wonder how people who do not have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ make it through life without the bless assurance that those of us who are save have. My heart goes out to those individuals and fuels my passion to see people come into the saving knowledge of how Christ died for our sins and rose on the third day morning. This along with the fact that the Lord Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for me gives me the strength and the determination to keep moving on

Today, I have a break in schedule during the EK Bailey Expository Preaching Conference hosted by EK Bailey Ministries here in Dallas, TX. This is my 12th year attending and let me quickly say “God is awesome!” He has used this conference to solidify the importance of prayer [not that I didn’t know that prayer was important] but God has been revealing a lack of genuine spiritual growth in our church family. As the spiritual leader I have questioned what could I do differently but I realize that it is not about sermons or lessons it about moving people into to a deep relationship with God through intimate communion in prayer. It has been for a lack of better term ‘enlightening’. I have my work cut out for me when I get home trying to assimilate everything and began this never ending journey of teaching people to live life, to live more abundantly and live on purpose.

My ‘Good Thang’ is with me and that make all the difference in the world in traveling. We’ve been so very busy that it’s been really hard to try to spend some quality time together. This has been a great two days with all the sessions, we’ve found time to share some special moments. In my maturing in ministry my goal is to learn how to relax and be more of a husband, father and grandfather. Entering into ministry as a boy plus being a bit of a workaholic doesn’t make for a good thing. I thank God for my wife and family who have continued to love me but there is a thin line between love and hate.

I was very proud of my ‘Jan’ she hates when I call her that this past Sunday as she stood to speak at the Tabernacle Baptist Church during thier Women's Annual Day. She was awesome as my childhood pastor would say. She is becoming more and more conformable doing what I feel but she denies is her destiny. God has his hand on her life but she’s fight him all the way but I think that what God desires most those who don’t want to go. Some people desire the lime light or the spot light and all God wants is those who desire The LIGHT! Continue to pray for her obedience to God.

This weekend will be the close of our 15th Anniversary Celebration of Pastoral Ministry. I don’t think I’ll ever get use to the fuss [the good or the bad] that come along with this. I know that it is God’s Will but it’s tough because the enemy is always busy. I’m always humble that the church would take out the time but I’m always glad when it is over. I do always enjoy having one of my bestest friends Rev. Raclius Douglas and my pastor Dr. J. A. Reed Jr. to come through the Bethel Church.

Looking forward to the rest of the conference we’ll worship this evening at the Concord Church where my friend Pastor Bryan Carter serves as Senior Pastor. We had a chance to go out lunch and I appreciate him and his wife Stephanie taking the time out of their busy schedules to be kind to Janice and me. Oh, yea I most forgot Rev. Vance Roland and his wife Bev are here with us, we’ve been good for each other.

The maids knocking on the door so I better get going. Later

Today Was A Good Day!

Let me quickly say because I’m a few days late. Happy Birthday to Janell! Janell is my oldest granddaughter and she turned 3 the other day. She is truly a blessing. She has been attending summer camp with the other children because her Sugar-mama is the teacher. She has master most of the camp memory requirements while being one the youngest attending. I’m a very proud Papa!

Today was a good day [to borrow a line for the hip hop generation]. First, got a chance to get to some very needed honey do’s around the house. We made it a sort of family affair everybody pitched in. Second, Janice and I cook, she handled the kitchen and I did a pretty good job holding down the grill, If I have to say so myself. Third, we had some extended family over and watch a great movie “Pride” a must see.

Well, better rap things up. Got a busy day tomorrow, funny thing is after a day off you work harder the next. Janice took the opportunity to head south for the evening, she just call made it save, thank God. So, I’m turning it in, really tired. Looking forward to getting some must needed rest!