The Gospel According To John Q

Notes from week 1 of "Let's Go To The Movies!"

Our Movie John Q. Archibald staring Academy Award winner Denzel Washington.

John Q. is a drama about the extraordinary chance one father takes to protect his son, becoming both an unlikely hero and a criminal in the eyes of the law.

Movie Quotes: “I am not going to bury my son! My son is going to bury me!” “It’s the only way…” “He needs a donor. Somebody has to die for him to live. I’m his father…it’s me”.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJV)

16 "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. 18 Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. John 3:16-18 (MSG)

It is a great representation of God’s love for us.

1. The Father’s passion for the world. “God so loved the world…”

“God showed how much He loved us by sending His only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love. He sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” 1 John 4

2. The Father’s present to the world. “…that He gave His only begotten Son…”

“All have sinned…”
“The wages of sin is death.”

3. The Father’s proposal to the world. “…that whosoever believes in Him …”

“The free gift of eternal salvation is offered to everyone. One’s nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant. Such things mean nothing. Whether a person has Christ is what matters and He is equally available to all.” Titus 2,

The word “believe” in Greek is “pisteuo” which means, “to trust in, cling to, rely on, and commit to.”

4. The Father’s promise to the world. “…should not perish but have ever lasting life.”

All of God’s children are guaranteed heaven. The problem is everybody is not in God’s family. We need to understand the distinction. Everybody is created by God but not everybody is a child of God. Only those who choose and say, “God, I want to be in your family” are actually in his family.

The assurance of knowing that you are in Gods family is to:

Admit that God has NOT been first place in your life & ask Him to forgive your sins.
Believe that Jesus Died on the Cross to pay the price for our sins and rose on Easter morning!
Accept God’s FREE gift of salvation & don’t try to earn it.
Ask Jesus to come into your life and be your personal Lord and Savior.

Transparency is dangerous BUT here goes

I am an introvert. From all public appearances on Sunday morning that surprises many people, but in my private life and with those closest to me there is no questioning of that fact. If anything, I have become even more introverted the larger our church has grown. I can wish I was otherwise, but this is how I am wired. Being an introvert has its downsides as a pastor.

Here are 7 pitfalls of being an introverted pastor:

1. 1. People often think I’m arrogant, aloof or unfriendly. I’m a lot of negative things. Those are not really the main three. I sometimes have to go back and apologize once I hear someone thinks I avoided them. This happens especially with extremely extraverted people.




3. 2. I hesitate to make the connections I should sometimes and miss opportunities to build my network.




5. 3. I’m worn out after a long day of talking and need time alone to rejuvenate, which can impact my family time if I’m not careful. It also leads to people at the end of the day telling me I look tired…guess what? I am!




7. 4. Crowded rooms, which I love in terms of reaching people for Christ, are actually intimidating to me as a person.




9. 5. I’m not as quick-witted when in crowds and sometimes appear awkward on first impressions when I try to be.




11. 6. I realize the need to talk with people…it’s what I do, but wrestling through the introverted tendencies actually adds even more stress to my life.




13. 7. If I’m not careful, and thankfully I’m fairly disciplined here, I will close out people from really knowing me, which subjects me to all kinds of temptations, anxiety and even depression.

How’s that for transparency?

Random Thoughts for this Monday after Easter

Monday Morning Arm Chair Quarterback Thoughts Random Thought From Some of the Greatest Minds & a few Pastor G's oneliners

(1) People feed pigeons but they shoot at eagles! If your haters are shooting at you, they know your an eagle!

(2) "We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated." - Maya Angelou

(3) "The best way to FIND yourself is to LOSE yourself in the service of others." - Mahatma Gandhi

(4) Thanking God 4 some things I wanted 2 happen that didn't happen that opened my eyes 2 something better that happened!

(5) Quitting is more about WHO you are than WHERE you are.

(6) "Today I will do what others WON'T, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others CAN'T." - Jerry Rice

(7) "When the water starts boiling, it is foolish to turn off the heat." - Nelson Mandela

(8) If you keep doing the same things...you'll get the same results!

(9)When the pain of where you are is greater than your fear of the unknown, you will move!

(10) In the sport of basketball when there's a full court press, the pressure is on the 1 w/ the ball. If your under pressure, you must have the ball!

4 things I learned after our Easter Celebration

(a)evaluation is tough but NOTHING cause you too grow more than anything else:

(b)Innovation leads to frustration that leads to great organization.

(c) If people would stay in their lane.....it would be fewer accidents!

(d) If you keep doing the same things...you'll get the same results!)

Leadership tip: Preparation is a most important part of a successful project...(And God's Spirit can work in preparation too!)

Random Things about Pastor G

Here are 10 random things you should know about pastors?.these are true for me, but I suspect they may be for your pastor too:

The temptations you face?I face?

The larger the church gets?the less I know about anything?

I may not be the best person to ask?but I can point you to the right people?

The better the message?the longer is takes me to prepare it?

Even though I?m teaching it?I may not yet have mastered it?but I?m working on it?

I get nervous every time I start to preach?sometimes sick to my stomach nervous?

Sunday is not the only day I work?Honestly?

Your story probably doesn?t surprise me anymore?but I am never callous towards it?

To my family I?m not a pastor?just a husband and dad?

If you tell me something on Sunday morning?you probably should back it up with an email to remind me?

How to Grow Your Church Attendance The Sunday After Easter

As we approach one of the largest attendance Sundays of the year Easter

Sunday, April 24, 2011

The Front Door

Before a guest ever steps foot on your church’s physical campus, a family seeking or church shopping has probably already checked out your church website. Exciting news we are developing a brand new website and one of the first things we are developing is a link so that church shoppers can find out how casual we are. It will also share FAQ's to address service times, directions, parking, music, dress and preaching style.

What Stinks

It’s important that no church ever underestimates the sense of smell. While sight is the strongest sense for short term memory, the sense of smell is the strongest and most vivid for long-term memories. Every church has the potential for positive or negative smells. Mold is a bad smell. Coffee is a good smell. Bleach is a bad smell. Citrus is a good smell. Many churches have restrooms that are disgusting and smell like urine. This lack of attention to detail can be costly and discourage many from ever returning.

Park Here

If it’s difficult for newcomers to go to your church, they won’t go.” Some would argue that guests want to remain anonymous and don’t want special parking. Of course some want to go unnoticed and will choose to park in regular parking (a minority), but for the rest of newcomers, they are appreciative for a close parking space; it’s a kind gesture in an already intimidating and nerve-racking experience of attending a church for the first time, especially a large one with a huge campus.

Programs & Preaching notes

A worship guide and message notes are two that that has radically changed the spiritual atmosphere and growth of Bethel more than anything else we have implemented. The worship guide is a tool that allow you guest to feel at eased and at home. The guide also allow you to give valuable information about locations, order of service, information on other worship experiences times, exciting announcements as well as FAQ about membership, mission, message and minister.

Give It Away

Something subtle, but powerful is a church that has a generous spirit. Too many churches charge for everything and wonder why no one buys CDs of the message. If you want to bless people and create a generous spirit throughout your church, give away free coffee and message CDs (and other surprises throughout the year).

Security Counts

One issue that is huge to a secret shopper and visiting families is security. If a parent is worried about their child’s safety, they will not enjoy the service and will likely not return. A children’s classroom must be clean, safe and secure. Security also includes the check-out process. If anyone can walk into a classroom and pick up a kid, you’re asking for trouble and will turn off potential newcomers. It’s important that your kids’ volunteers are trained well and know to ask for the parent’s sticker when picking up their kids. This is vital and goes a long way to ensuring a tragedy doesn’t occur and a parent has peace of mind.

The Visible Pastor

Accessibility of the senior pastor is another subtle and powerful statement of a church. Even pastors of the largest churches make an intentional and strategic effort to be seen, greeted and hugged after a service. They may have a body guard present for security reasons, but they are available and willing to pray with people that need to speak to their pastor. @Bethel we are preparing what we are calling "The After-Party" and "QT with the Pastor at which the our staff will be present and available to meet with newcomers.

Finish Strong

It’s simply not enough for greeters and parking lot attendants to say “Hello” or “Welcome” when one walks into their church. To go to another level, have your first impressions team stationed at their posts when the service ends to say “Goodbye” or “Have a nice week”. This goes a long way to wrapping a bow around the entire morning experience and will send them off with a lasting positive impression.

The Lessons I Learned While Building A Church

I was asked by one of my professors who knows that Bethel has on this journey of moving to a new location, building a new building and trying to maintain and grow a church by building its members spiritually, “What I learned during the process and what advise would I give to another pastor, who was embarking on the God-Giving Vision?” After I wiped my eyes, picked my bottom jaw off the table I cleared my throat and said, “Can I get back on that one…”

After praying myself hot, thinking myself clear and I am attempting to pour myself empty: Let me just mention a few things up front, I’m going to be brutally transparent and vulnerable which for anyone who knows me is a huge, colossal, gigantic, enormous, and massive but it’s doctor’s orders. Just a few note before I get down to the bullets:

7 Reasons People Disappear From Church

7 reasons people disappear from church:

Burn out - These people came out of the gate too strong in the church. They showed up, got excited, and signed up for everything. They got so busy doing church they failed to enjoy being the church.

Injury - People inside the church can be cruel. These people experienced some of those people and they couldn't get over it.

Distractions - These people got distracted by seemingly good things. Over time, their lifestyle of attending becomes the habit of not attending.

Life change - These people had a lifestyle change, such as divorce or re-marriage, or they move to a new community and never connect with a church.

Mistakes - These people messed up?they made a mistake and the place that should dispense grace appears to refuse it. Many times this is more perception than reality and based on the way a person feels about themselves, but sadly sometimes it is reality.

Power struggle - These people had an agenda and when it wasn't met and when they couldn't overpower the system, they left.

Immaturity - These people never grew spiritually; there was never any depth to their faith, so church soon became a chore rather than a joy.

Keep Your Dream and Vision Alive

"Keep Your Dream and Vision Alive"

Today, was a great worship experience at the Bethel Church. As we move into Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Ressurection Sunday, the LORD birth a new message series called "HISTORY...The KING has one more move!" God is doing something special in the body of beievers in Bethel. Over the last 2-3 years we have endured so much some self infected and some by outside influence BUT we learned to "KEEP Believing, Doing, Acting and Knowing!" In this blog post I celebration and I dedicated it to all the folks who are trying to keep their dreams alive.

This is for everyone who has ever:

*Had your hopes, dreams or visions attacked.

*Had to deal with haters and fake friends

*felt like your dreams were fading to black and white. Don't let your dreams lose their color.

Keep your dream alive because that's what we have to do sometimes. I could sit thinking about a million things that are wrong, but instead I choose to think on what is right. So "as a man thinketh so is he". In order to see any kind of good success you've got to think positively so that positive things can start to happen in your life. This I know for a fact--IT WORKS! Your thoughts are so powerful. You've got to rise above negativity. Not all of it, but most of it. I say that because even the smallest battery has a positive and negative charge and they both are needed in order for it to work. If you get criticism that is vitriolic and full of venom, don't let that in. Venom kills the spirit. If you get criticism that is constructive and full of love, take it under consideration and learn. It takes a little wisdom to be able to know the difference.

That's the life lesson that the great builder Nehemiah teaches us. When Sanballet, Tabiah and the others heard about Nehemiah's dream of rebuilding Jerusalem's walls they became angrey, plotted together and stired up trouble. What did Nehemiah do he kept his dream and vision red hot! Follow his example stay on higher ground. I don't come down from the safety of a higher place to deal with the foolishness or danger of what is beneath me. I tell you it works. It frees your soul to be free. If you haven't tried it you should. It will mess your enemies up. If I can leave you with anything, I will leave you with this--in this life there will be a lot of things thrown at you. Take them as they come. Some things you fight, but most you don't. Keep your dream and vision red hot!

I believe in you and pray that you will protect the purpose and plan God has place in your spirit and DON'T LET ANYBODY or ANYTHING steal your dream and vision!

You can follow me on twitter @pastorgaddis or on facebook Teron Gaddis/facebook
Live Life On Purpose!

8 Things You Need To Learn About Your Pastor

1.

A good Pastor-Leader has a vision that includes other people…

2.

A good Pastor-Leader will typically be the ones who are willing to think bigger…

3.

A good Pastor-Leader will usually take greater risks…

4.

A good Pastor-Leader will dream bigger than he can complete without others…

5.

A good Pastor-Leader takes people where they are afraid to go…

6.

A good Pastor-Leader strategizes plans they can never accomplish alone…

7.

A good Pastor-Leader aren’t just talking about it they will be about it…

8.

A good Pastor-Leader is actually going somewhere don’t get left behind…

If the goal is not bigger, further, more difficult and risky than today… It’s Not of God!

You may not be able to teach a old dog new tricks, but you can certainly teach it to love new treats. Pastor Ron Edmondson

6 Things That Makes Our Church Special

At the core of what makes our church special are the people......God's people. We are blessed to have a diverse group of loving, accepting, talented, hard-working, fun-loving people in our congregation. Our family consists of kids, teens, young adults, singles, families and seniors at are seeking to become fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ by Worshipping God’s Name, Belonging to God’s Family, Studying God’s Word, Serving God’s People and Sharing God’s Story. Our worship is contemporary in style, and we strive for excellence in our message, music, media, ministries and mission. What make Bethel so special are our Worship, Witness, Word, and our Welcome! We strive to treat people like they have never been treated and do worship like they never seen before.

6 things that makes Greater Bethel Church special:

BEHAVIORAL PREACHING (James 1:22)

ENERGIZED BY PURPOSE (Matt. 22:36-40 & 38:19-20)

TARGET DRIVEN (Colossians 4:5 [GN])

HEALTHY ACCEPTANCE (Romans 15:7)

EVERY MEMBER A MINSTER (Romans 12:5-6)

LIFE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS (Ephesians 4:13-15 [Ph])

Seven Things My Daddy Taught Me

I miss my daddy alot these days. Daddy was a gift to me and my brother. He was sometime difficult to understand. He didn't share alot of his feelings and emotions. He didn't express himself too much with words, but when daddy spoke he was always teaching. So I wanted to share a few things my daddy taught me that I hope and pray that I can teach my sons and grandsons. Seven things my daddy invested in me, taught me an shared with me...

1. There are some things in life you will never understand.


2. The lust for a woman can destroy your life.


3. You need other men in your life. I can only take you so far. Always surround yourself with men you aspire to be like and let them invest in you.


4. You need to invest in other men; especially those younger than you.


5. Be willing to risk everything to follow God's call on your life now; while you are young. (Then never get too old for this principle.)


6. Always be a dreamer. It keeps you young; plus your dreams for your life will never be bigger than God's vision for your life.


7. The greatest things in life money can't buy.

Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places

A lot of people in ministry are looking for love in all the wrong places (please excuse the poor humor) in other words looking for joy in all the wrong places. As pastors and leaders, we want to find it in building, buddies, bodies and bucks; cash, crowds, compliments, clothes and cars; people, peers, power, property and pews (okay its 5am in the morning and I'm sitting in the airport what else can a preach do too pass time other than play with words). Yet we do this in vain. We won't find joy, love or satifaction in any of these.

Paul talks about this in his letter to the Philippians. He said: "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ." (Phil. 3:7-8 NIV)

Paul was joyful despite being imprisoned as he is writing this letter.

What shouts me is the phrase, "I consider [it all] rubbish that I may gain Christ." The translators were being polite. The word isn't rubbish it's dung, manure, its "ish" (okay a little bit too far). He's not mincing words. Paul says that everything we have is worthless garbage without JESUS!

Let Go And Let God

This song has blessed me tonight by DeWayne Woods. Hope it does for you what it hass done for me!!

I couldn't seem to fall asleep There was so much on my mind Searching for that peace But the peace I could not find So then I knealed down to pray Praying help me please Then He said you don't have to cry Cause I'll supply all your needs As soon as I stop worrying (soon as I stopped worrying) Worrying how the story ends (When I let go) I let go (And I let) and I let God (let Him have) (Let Him Have) Let God have His way (That's when things) That's when things start happening I'll stop looking at back then I let go and I'll let God have His way

There so much going on Sometimes I can't find my way And often times I struggle Struggle from day to day I have to realize that it's not my battle It's not my battle to fight I have to know if I to put it in His hands That everything will be alright

Let go Let God

Lessons on Leadership I Learned during the Storm

This is just flowing so I have to get it out. Leadership is the most difficult part of the Pastor’s job. As young preacher we are taught how to preach or handle scripture but not much about leadership. So here are a few other things I’ve learn during the storm @Bethel.

1. Never allow yourself to get so busy your don’t spend quality time with God

2. Never allow yourself to get so busy your don’t spend quality time with your spouse

3. Never allow yourself to be without a Pastor or a Mentor to be accountable too

4. Never allow yourself to compromise Biblical integrity for a crowd, Preach the Word

5. Never allow yourself to wasted energy on people who are trying to tear your ministry down

6. Never allow yourself to be control by your haters criticism

7. Never allow yourself to become comfortable always Walk By Faith…Risk

8. Never allow yourself to forget that the church is God’s bride NOT your’s

9. Never allow yourself to be caught up in pleasing others just please God

10. Never allow yourself to neglect your children for God’s children

Favor Ain't Fair

When the Lord's favor & wisdom is upon you, you shall be the head & not the tail, look at Daniel & his friends " In all matters of wisdom & understanding about which the king examined them, he found them TEN TIMES better than all the magicians & astrologers who were in all his realm."

Daniel 1:20 (NIV) 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.

Seven Things I Cannnot Expect As A Leader

• I cannot expect to win arguments with those who don?t want to settle the argument, they just want to fight for the sake of fighting. ?(II Timothy 2:23)


• I cannot expect people to read my mind. ?(I Corinthians 14:8)


• I cannot possibly expect to have a complete and detailed plan from God that tells me exactly what His plans are for the next 20 years. ?(Psalm 119:105) He doesn?t promise to let us see years in advance, but He does promise to show us our next step!


• I cannot expect to be a follower of Jesus and keep everyone around me happy at the same time. ?(Proverbs 29:25)


• I cannot expect to stay the same and see progress ?(Isaiah 43:18-19)


• I cannot expect to please God without taking steps of faith (Hebrews 11:6)


• I cannot expect to hear God?s voice if I am always running at an unsustainable pace! ?(Psalm 46:10)

The Sufffering Shepherd

Pastors, People always grow more from your suffering than your successes if you're willing to be authentic about your failures and fears. Be a REAL Leader and help your church grow.

The Issue is God, Not Odds

There has been a lot that I've learned over the last two years, but I believe the most important lesson is DON'T ALLOW PEOPLE TO PUT A PERIOD WHERE GOD HAS PUT A COMMA.

@Bethel people from within and without have counted us out. Some members have quit atttending, others have move their memberships, while others have stayed at the sence of the crime just to see the outcome. The good news is that at every turn God has continued to be faithful through positive meeting, faithful members and faithful messages.

Someone asked me if I could start over again would I do it again? At the time I didn't have an answer and didn't want to answer but NOW I have a answer, YES...YES....YES. Tbe benefit of the storm has strenghten my faith in God and a greater resolve to help people develope a genuie relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

So here's my message...Beware of dreaming too small and asking God for too little. You do not know when he may touch your simple task and turn it into gold.

Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote one of his most famous and moving poems when he was eighty years old. He wrote it on the inside of a used envelope during a twenty-nine minute ferry ride while crossing from Lymington to the Isle of Wight off the southern coast of England.

It's about the approach of death. It helped that he was eighty.

Your most lasting achievement may yet be decades in front of you. Do not calculate the odds of this. The issue is God, not odds.

Finally, let me wish our oldest son, Kentrell a happy 28th BIRTHDAY. Eyes have NOT seen NOR ears heard the great things God has prepared and planned for your life. Love you much, Your Dad

Backroom Etiquette

In serving your leader there are unwritten protocols that you must abide by. Even if your leader didn't sit down and explain these to you, they exist. Most leaders' prayers are that the armor bearers learn certain protocols in the School of the Spirit. Therefore, allow the Holy Spirit to sharpen you in your service. Consider some of the "Back-room Etiquette Rules" listed below:

1. Know when to leave your leader's presence
This practice is crucial. Remember, you are not your leader's peer. There will be times when you are serving your leader and he gathers with their peers (i.e. conference, meetings, roundtable, etc.). Unless instructed to remain, always leave your leader's presence when he/she is having discussions with their peers. Leaders often discuss leadership issues. Many times, pastors need to discuss with their peer's issues of other sheep in the flock in order to get advice. You [as the armor bearer] don't need that information. My belief, in this case, is the less you know the better off you are. Why? Once you know something, you are accountable for it. You don't need exposure to certain things you don't need to know another leader's weaknesses. It's not for you to be exposed to the difficulties a leader may be facing in the ministry. All of these exposures now create more points of prayer in your own life. You can't afford to share information or even judge someone because of something you've heard discussed that you should have never been exposed to. When you have the opportunity, run form these chances to be exposed. Unless you are nosy, you should not desire to be privy to certain information.

2. Share your opinion only when asked
There will be times when your leader will have discussions with others on a topic that you may know well. There will be subjects you may [possibly] know much more about than your leader. Even when this is true, you should not offer your advice without it being requested. You must defy the temptation that will come for to interject when you know a subject or topic that your leader does not know. There is nothing you have to prove to your leader or your leader's peer. Don't interrupt your leader's discussion with your own advice or counsel. If it is requested, then proceed. But if your advice or knowledge is unsolicited, override the temptation to speak.

3. Avoid the tattle-tale spirit
For some reason, there are believers that believe that tattle-tailing is a sure way to promotion. Not true. Tattle-tailing is a sign of immaturity. When you have difficulty safekeeping intimate issues that are revealed around you when you hear them because of the privileged of being around your leader in confidential situations, it's a sign that you are immature. I'm not talking about unethical [or immoral] things, but confidential things that leaders deal with in the ministry. Again, what you may become exposed to because you are in the presence of your leader is never to be shared with others. Often, a leader's confidentiality can be destroyed by a tattle-tale spirit in the servant.

This is why I suggested earlier to avoid being in the presence of your leader when they are with their peers. It prevents you from becoming liable because you know too much.

4. Avoid self-promotion
As an armor bearer, you must remember at all times that what you [help] make happen in someone else's life will take place in your life. You have been called to help your leader. If you want to have a successful ministry one day, then [help] make your leader's ministry successful. You must flee the temptation of promoting yourself. There will be ample opportunities for yourself when the time is right. When you are with the man or woman of God, you will gain exposure. However, what you do with that exposure will make or break you.

I'll never forget one incident that happened years ago while I was serving in the capacity of an armor bearer. I was driving a guest speaker to the church for a conference that we were hosting. The guest speaker proceeded to ask me who my favorite speaker was. He seemed shocked when I responded, "My pastor is." Often, the man or woman of God will drop questions on you to expose your heart. An armor bearer with a strong soulish ambition will fail every time. Your heart must be towards the advancement of the one God has called you serve, not yourself.

The exposure that you gain from serving is not a time to promote yourself, your anointing or your agenda. Allow your servant hood to speak for you. Be known for your service. Elisha, at one time of his life was just known as the one who poured water on the hands of Elijah. The prophet Elisha was anointed and being groomed for the ministry. But when he was spoken to during the times of his serving as an armor bearer, he was known by his service not his anointing.

I have found that some of the following practices will successfully prevent you from walking in self-promotion:
Don't carry your own business cards during ministry
Never give out your own contact information (always the church information)
Always talk about your leader [positively] and never yourself
Listen twice as much as you talk
Speak when spoken to (don't wrestle to demonstrate what you know)
Remember, you have nothing to prove to anybody

5. Never Discuss your Leader's Weaknesses
Throughout the course of serving your leader, there will be weaknesses of theirs that will be revealed. The revelation of these weaknesses should never be used to harm the leader. Many times, your leader's weaknesses have been revealed to you for you to tag-team with God to intercede on the leader's behalf to eradicate the various weaknesses.

The most harmful thing you could do is to discuss your leader's weaknesses with others. If you imagine that you could earn brownie points with others by sharing your revelation or certain weakness existing in the life of your leader - you have been misled.

This is illustrated well in the story of Noah and his two sons. The Bible says that one saw the nakedness (weaknesses) of his father and spoke about it. Whereas, the other brother walked backwards and curved his father's nakedness. We are called to cover our leader's weaknesses and not broadcast them.

6. Never speak negatively Speak about your Leader
There will be times that you may have disputes and disagreements with the one you serve. We all make mistakes. Therefore, there will be times that you may not agree with a stand that your leader takes. You have a right to disagree with what your leader decided does or say. However, you should not voice those disagreements to others. The principle says never complain down, always complain up. Most of the time up is your leader or God.

7. Never Speak Negatively about the Vision
There will be times in the ministry that you may not agree or even understand decisions that are made by your leader. You may not agree with the direction the ministry chooses to move in. There will be times God gives your leader a directive for the entire ministry and He does not even explain it to your leader why. Therefore, what makes you think you would know why?

The important issue here is that you're not to ever speak negatively about the vision that God has assigned you work toward with your leader and never complain about the vision. Fight for your leader's vision. Work hard towards the vision. Commit to the vision. Give your life to the vision. But never speak negatively about the vision.

Holding Up Your Pastor's Arms

Sometimes pastors are the loneliest people in the church. Often their hours are long, the pay minimal, the criticism considerable and constant. Feelings of disappointment, discouragement, and defeat may begin to plague the best of them. One of the most frustrating things for a pastor is that there is never enough time to get all the work of the ministry accomplished. Time is always short. Help your pastor by recognizing that some matters can be handled by other mature believers in the church.

ARE YOU THE ONE WHO COULD POTENTIALLY CHANGE THE WHOLE OUTCOME OF YOUR MINISTRY BY BEING THE ONE WHO WILL HOLD UP YOUR PASTOR'S ARMS? Exodus 17:8-13 (MSG) 8 Amalek came and fought Israel at Rephidim. 9 Moses ordered Joshua: "Select some men for us and go out and fight Amalek. Tomorrow I will take my stand on top of the hill holding God's staff." 10 Joshua did what Moses ordered in order to fight Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 It turned out that whenever Moses raised his hands, Israel was winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, Amalek was winning. 12 But Moses' hands got tired. So they got a stone and set it under him. He sat on it and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side. So his hands remained steady until the sun went down. 13 Joshua defeated Amalek and its army in battle. The victory in the valley was determined by the victory on the mountian top. When Moses' hands where rasied Israel was winning, but whenever his hands got tired the enemy would began to win.

Thank God for Aaron and Hur! Their responsibility on the mountian top was just as important than Joshua's in the valley. Every pastor need someone who can fight Your Pastor needs some tried and true hand to help carry the load of ministry. Don't let him suffering in silence and fall prey to discouragement, defeat, doubt and darkness.

Another One of God's BEST Goes Home

Today, I sat down with my family and made arrangements for life Celebration for Ms. Ozella Carter 81 years. She was the Mother of 9 children and I've been blessed to be with her youngest daughter Janice for nearly 30years. Ms. Ozella Carter "Mother" is what I called her was much more than a Mother-in-law...She was what most people my age and older would describe as a "Mother." Someone who never turned away a child who needed love, compassion and correction. She not only raised her own children but many, many others. She cared for her own mother until her death and care for her oldest child "My Buddy" Clavin who is handicaped. I salute her today for work well done!

Saturday @ 11am at the Greater Bethel Church we will celebrate the life of wonderful woman, Ms. Ozella Carter. Please keep this family in your prayers and thoughts.

Building A House of Prayer Through Praise & Worship

The way to build a house for God’s manifest presence is through worship.

God promises to be present when we worship Him.

3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. Psalms 22:3 (NIV)

There is the omnipresence of God, which affects everyone because He is everywhere.

There is the promised presence of God, which comes when He guides us, walks with us, and speaks to our hearts.

There is the manifest presence of God, which is seen at a group level when people move together in a spirit of worship that welcomes the presence of God’s power.

As the church of the Lord in this world, we are in battle against forces of evil that want to see us brought down. But the Bible promises 37… in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37 (NIV)

When we praise God, the Holy Spirit comes in power and defeats Satan. Everything that tries to destroy each one of us, like sickness, pain, poverty, sin, discouragement, strife, and failure, can be reversed with praise. When we worship God, He works powerfully to defeat anything that opposes us.

“There is peace and resource of strength and confidence in the presence of God, no matter what else happens in the world around us, but it doesn’t happen without praise and worship. Praise destroys the atmosphere in which sickness, defeat, futility, and discouragement flourish. Praise upsets the climate which furthers the growth of so much of life’s suffering, confusion, turmoil, and strife. Praise beats out hell’s fire and breathe heaven’s life…” Pastor Jack Hayford

We are not just trying to get God’s attention and stir up God’s interest by praising Him. He is already attentive and interested. We are not just trying to flatter Him so He will favor us and answer our prayers. He already favors us and has promised to answer our prayers. By praising Him, we are expressing our love and reverence toward Him and being obedient to what He asks us to do.

Building a house for God’s presence happens when we set ourselves to worship God His way and make it our first priority.

We are not interested in building a big church but building big people!

The church is not just a building, the church is the people. The church building is a place where believer can gather to be nurtured, grown and prepared to go out and do God’s work.

It’s impossible to grow and develop to your fullest potential independently of other believers.

The Power of Two

19 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:19 (NIV)

The word “agree” is the Greek word “unity” [sumphoneo] where we get our English word “symphony.”

In order to have harmony in our prayers, there are a number of things we need to agree on.

1. We must agree that Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life”
2. We must agree that the Bible is inerrant and inspired by God.
3. We must agree on certain foundational truths.
4. We must agree on what we are praying about.
5. We must agree on how we are going to petition God in prayer.
6. We must agree on what we are believing God for in prayer.

The power of a praying church is a formidable force with unlimited and untapped possibilities.

“The church needs to be unified in believing that the invisible realm is real and that they have been given a place of privileged authority and access in it. Most people know they should pray, but many don’t believe it’s going to make a difference. If they recognize there is a very real penetration in the invisible realm, it emboldens them, they can believe with greater faith. Jesus came to change things, to save people, to heal the sick, to transform families and circumstances, and to impact nations with a moral turnaround in the souls of people. And the power of a praying church is the key to that.” Pastor Jack Hayford.

15 One Anothers

Relating to each other is essential and extremely important. The words "one another" are mentioned many times in the Bible and each time they are, it is clear that we are to treat others as if they are significant and valuable. The following are things we should do for each other... Mourn with one another Have peace with one another Be affectionate to one another Be like-minded toward one another Receive one another Care for one another Serve one another Bear with one another Be kind and forgive one another Submit to one another Comfort and edify one another Consider one another Love one another Have compassion for one another Minister your gifts to one another The one that is mentioned by far the most frequently in the Bible is to "love one another." We are commanded to come alongside others with love and pray for them. Love Letter to God: Lord, we come before You today and thank You that You are our heavenly Father. Lord, We praise You for who You are and all that You have done. There are times in our lives when we have felt invisible, insignificant and irrelevant but You Oh, Lord welcomes us into your presence and transform our lives. So we take our attention off of us and turn our attention to You, Your ability and what You say about us. You have been our Deliverer, Counselor, Peace, Rewarder, Wisdom, Shield, Refiner, Overcomer, Redeemer, Wisdom, Forgiver, Strength, Resting place, Provider, light & Refuge. We would have been destroyed had You not been there for us in our time of need! Lord, we surrender our day totally to You. We ask that You will bless our worship experiences on tommorrow as well each and every time we meet together. We surrender and acknowledge You and ask that You will direct our path. Lord, help us to speak only words that bring life to those who hear us. Monitor our mouths so that every word proceeds from our lips is loving, truthful, kind, comfortable, edifying, wise, encouraging, and glorifying to You! Bless our homes, our businesses, our block, our church, our town or our nation. Continue to transform our church into a powerful, prayerful and purposeful people. In Jesus' Name Amen!

Day 16 Finding a Partner

To many church congregations just sit and get fat on the teaching of the Word. We were supposed to be doers of the Word as well. Pastor Jack Hayford says, "One of the hardest things about being a pastor is getting sheep to move. The sheep need to get up and go someplace, but sheep don't like to move, they like to eat. The problem is if the sheep keep eating in the same place and don't move, they eventually get down to just stubble. We all learned quickly that we were expected to grow. God accepted us the way we were, but He certainly doesn't leave us that way. We are asked to keep growing, going and stretched. All the time! In order to please our heavenly Father we must grow in the area of prayer. Praying for each other makes God smile. As we touch and agree powerfully each time we participate on...on-the-job training in praying for others.

Day 15 Unanswered prayers

Jesus promised that if we will spend time with Him, learn of Him, get to know, be honest with Him and acknowledge our sins to Him, then we can ask of Him whatever we want and He will answer. "If you abide in Me and My word abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you," John 15:7 The key is wanting what He wants. When we do that, we end up doing His will and we find our prayers answered. Praying is actually working in partnership with Him to see His will done on earth.

Day 14 What if I need power

Jesus told His disciples that they had not asked anything in His name before, but now they should ask everything in His name so that they would receive God. When we walk close to God and pray in Jesus' name, we too will see great power unleashed through us and amazing answers to our prayers. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. 25 "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. The greatest source of power is the name of Jesus. 1. Praying in Jesus' name affirms your dependence upon who Jesus is and what He has achieved through the cross 2. Fasting and praying being your body into submission by informing it that it is not in charge If you are facing what seem like insurmountable or impossible obstacles and you need more power in your prayers, don't just try to survive the battle when you can win the war through fasting & prayer.

What to do on your knees

Jesus when asked by His disciple to teach them to pray gave them what we call the model prayer. My grandmother Gladys Frazier taught me every thing I know about cooking. She taught me recipes and how to season food. A good cook understands his ingredients. I think the same thing is true when it comes to pray.... If prayer is going to be powerful we must have the right ingredients. 1. Acknowledge God as your heavenly Father 2. Praise God for Who He is and what He has done 3. Choose one of God's names and thank Him for being that to you 4. Present your day to the Lord 5. Present your body to the Lord 6. Confess your sins before God and ask Him to help you live His way 7. Ask God to help you to only speak words that bring life 8. Ask God for whatever you need 9. Pray for God's will in your life 10. Pray for other people around you Remember these are on ingredients and seasonings you can mix them and experiment with them to make it fit your personality

Joyful...Joyful

Recovering from Sunday is getting tougher and tougher. After three weeks of meeting and traveling I'm tired. Sunday's sermon was a challenge, I was working on the message and God flipped it on me. I'm thankful to the people of Bethel for allowing me to be creative in my preaching. The Narrative on Jacob's wrestling match with God was exciting. The Holy Spirit was in the house...people began to come for prayer. Members held hands and prayed for each other.

Day 12 "How To Maintian A Powerful Prayer Life"

The Lord is teaching me in our spiritual journey and consecrated focus on prayer (both personal and corporate) two very important yet practical points I want us to ponder today. One is, praying with others without spending time alone with God will compromise the effectiveness of our corporate praying power. Two, we have made praying so mystical and deep, but prayer is simply talking to God and allowing God to talk to you. Understanding these to two very important facts we ought to jump in with both feet into prayer.

Here is some earth shaking simple ideas to an effective and efficient personal prayer time.

Just Do It! Don't allow a day go by that you don't take or make time to talk to your Heavenly Father. He longs to hear from His children.

Set a time to pray but not the amount of time. In the beginning don't set an amount time you are going to pray. Just do it. Setting a time in the beginning is setting yourself up for an attack of the enemy in order to defeat you.

Don't force it just relax and let it go. Let it happen naturally as your relationship with God grows. The more time you spend with God and the knowledge you have of Him the deeper your prayer life will be.

Ask God to help you carve out time to pray. Ask and allow God to show you things that you can eliminate from your schedule, or at least shorten to the point of giving you an extra 10, 20 or 30 minutes. Remember it’s not about good verses bad but good verses best. What is the best use of the 24 hours God grants us everyday? There is nothing more important than prayer so make or take the time.

Start each day off with prayer. I love Morning Prayer. It’s as if my thoughts are much clearer. Rather than at the end of the day when my mind is so cluttered with everything. Your prospective will be better in the morning. You have the thought of yesterday and a brand new day ahead to allow God to lead and guide you.

My Love Letter To God (Prayer): Father, We worship You because You are Eternal, Faithful, Holy, Immutable, Impartial, Incomprehensible, Infinite, Just, Loving, Merciful, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient, Righteous, Self-existing, Self-sufficient, Sovereign, Wise and Good. You are full of promise and perfection, majesty and mercy, bounty and beauty, truth and trust, values and virtue, fruitfulness and faithfulness, glory and generosity, holiness and hope, justice and joy, forgiveness and freedom, righteousness and redemption, salvation and satisfaction, completeness and control. It is with honor, adoration and reverence that we humbly approach Your throne. We will continually offer to You a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips as we acknowledge Your Name. Today, We request nothing of You but have come to worship You for who You are. Thank You for being our God. Thank You for giving us Your Son and comforting us with Your Spirit. Some would say that You cannot be found and some would say that You are far away. But I know You're the God who lives in me and I know You will always have my heart. We worship You with gladness and with joyful songs. We know that You are the Lord our God and it is You who made us, and we are Your people and the sheep of Your pasture. For You are good and Your love endures forever throughout all generations. Thank You for leading us into this spiritual growth journey in prayer and allowing us to witness and experience You move as we pray together. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Day 11 "What Makes Prayer Work"

As I sit in my office pondering all that our church family has endured over the last two years…I am so grateful. Two very famous passages of God’s Holy Word comes to mind Genesis 50:20 & Romans 8:28. Genesis 50:20 reads You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Then Romans 8:28 says And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. No doubt this has be a rough, rugged and rocky ride but today I realize that all the night I was sitting up wonder what God was up too. When I think of the many long days and tough nights when I was so depressed, down, disappointed and discouraged. All the days, weeks and (yes even) months when I couldn’t find the words to use in my prayer to describe what I was feeling. Sometime sobbing, sometime crying and sometime screaming. Today, I finally understood what God was doing…(He let me in on the secret) He was simply answering my prayer and the prayers of many in this church family. Over and over again we prayed too NOT become the biggest church in the world but the healthy church in the world. That’s what God has been doing in the life of Bethel, granting us our prayer request. I don’t know what the future holds for Bethel but I think we’ve come through too much to give us now! God is working…bless His wonderful name.

Though for today: “God created the earth and then He created man to rule over it. Man lost his rule of the earth because of disobedience to God’s laws. Satan gained control and his goal is to destroy God’s purpose for every person. God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and break the power of the enemy. In other words, Jesus took the penalty for man’s disobedience, which is death, so that those who believe in Him can live fruitfully on earth and spend eternity with God. When Jesus rose from the dead, He commissioned everyone who believes in Him to destroy the ruler-ship of the enemy and restore ruler-ship to man. THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE THROUGH PRAYER!”

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving Your Son Jesus as a ransom for our disobedience and to die for our sins in order to break the power of the enemy. Teach us to apply Jesus’ victory on the cross and take the ruler-ship away from enemy and establish Your rule. The enemy is a liar and we proclaim Your truth over our lives, families, church, communities and world. We declare that You have brought down the enemy’s strongholds and have set the captive free. We declare health for the sick, love for the fearful, forgiveness to the condemned, revelation for the spiritual blind, and we declare wholeness where there is a shattered life. We ask that You will continue to do great things in us, through us, and around us. It is our pray finally today, that you will make and mold us into a powerful, prayerful and purposeful church. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!!

Day 10 "Why is Praying Hard Sometimes"

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Thanks be unto God for His Unspeakable gifts…in my best Pastor C. C. Cooper’s voice. Our Midweek Worship Experience is growing exponentially. We are praying for God to bless us spiritually, financially and numerically as a church and He is doing it right now. What an amazing God we serve! Ask and it shall be giving, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be open (The Gaddis’ Translations). You ever notice that if you take the first letter of each of the key words in this scripture it says the same things? A – ask, S – seek and K – knock…You pick up on it already, it spells ASK.

In our experience we had a surprised Pop Quiz and I think the membership did well. Then we worked through some application from our daily reading and sermon from Sunday. What exactly is prayer:
Prayer is communicating with God
Prayer is praising and worshipping God for who He is
Prayer is telling God we love and adore Him
Prayer is telling God we need Him
Prayer is making our request know to God
Prayer is serving God His way

We close with a look at the fact that if we think that a future in heaven is the sum of Christ’s gift to us, we will live out a spiritual immature existence, pointed toward heaven, but pointless on earth. Genesis 1: 26-28. We are given dominion, authority and responsibility to govern earth because God gave it to us. Sin has mess it up but because of Jesus we can reclaim our position on earth as King’s Kids! We join together as a people and declared dominion over everything that has had dominion over us. Asking God to give us ridiculous faith, radical faith, crazy faith in God, Who has no limitation and NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE for Him!

After the movement of the Holy Spirit we realized that “What Makes Praying So Hard” is the fact that we don’t do it. There are a number of reasons why prayer has become difficult but they all will be washed away in the life of someone who becomes dedicated to the practice of prayer. I find praying is difficult because there are many different kinds of prayer and I’m not sure how to pray…pray and God will take care of it. I find praying difficult because I don’t think I do it well…pray and God will take care of it. God is waiting to be invited into your human existence to take over. I once thought it would be impossible to pray an hour but once I gave myself to the practice of prayer an hour isn’t long enough, but it start with just taking baby steps. A few words from a heart full of words move the Hand of God more than many words…remember that.

Prayer: Father, continue to move in our congregation. Breathe on us until we become people of prayer making up a powerful, prayerful and purposeful church. You are the head and your church is the body. Director us, lead us, teach us and most of all have your way with us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Days 8 & 9 "The Power of One & What Is Prayer?"

Dr. Ralph Douglas West says, "Confession is good for your soul but bad for your reputation!" So, here's mine...Monday I just didn't do it I prayed @ 4 but didn't make my daily reading priority. So there you have it even the pastor gets caught up sometime. If you miss a day don't give up or become discouraged. The enemy would make you feel like you're going to hell with gasoline undergarments on but the devil is a lair. Just catch up and get back in step. Now here's the trick I have to figure out what I want to share because this is shouting me. Nothing excites me more than a good book that ushers me closer to my God.

Thought for day 8: #1 "If a soldier is wounded in battle, during his recovery time no one should expects him to be out doing daily drills he is in no condition to do. We can become casualties in the spiritual battle sometimes and though we are still in the army, the agenda is to get well..." Pastor Jack (I wish I would have read this earlier in the year, I was blessed by it as pastor.) #2 "The prayers of others are vital and can help us survive, but to really sense the fullness of God's presence in our lives, we have to be alone with Him every day." Stormie

Thought for day 9: "There are two sides to prayer. There is the fellowship side and the partnership side. The fellowship side of prayer is when we come just to be with God in the intimacy of relationship. The partnership side is when we exercise the responsibilities of partnering with Him to see the reintroduction of His rule into our circumstances.

Prayer: "Father, we know You are real and we want to spend time with You. You are wonderful, almighty, all-powerful, the God and Creator of all things. We exalt You above everything, and We worship You for who You are. We love You, Lord and we thank You for loving us. We need You for everything. We need You to save us, forgive us, heal us, deliver us, fill us, restore us, redeem us, free us, guide us, protect us, lift us above our limitation and move us into the plans and purpose You have for us. Lord, we have no need that You can not meet. We acknowledge that what we pray for may seem impossible to us but with You ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! In Jesus' Name, Amen!!!

Day 7 "Arriving At Your Destination"

Today was an awesome day of worship beginning as early as 815a when our prayer ministry met to intercede for our church. Our 9am service attendance was the largest of 2010 and our discussion was rich and very healthy about SEX. At 1045a we kicked off in high gear with praise and worship...a set of songs that lead us into the presence of God. God is beginning to heal our church from the attack of the enemy and the immaturity of a few members. We are a new church and God is doing a new thing. I'm excited about the future of Bethel... And am so proud of the members who have endured some of the most negative day any church could have experienced and yet grew stronger. Bethel is a Great CHURCH. We have just come to the end of week one of our 40days of prayer. God is speaking volumes to us as His people. He is calling us upward in prayer and to the understanding of importance, power and practice of prayer. Today, it was very difficult to decide on just one thought but here goes...

Thought of the day: "When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He told them that if they would walk His way, He would make them a kingdom of priests. And they would be a people who moved in a realm of authority that was related to their priesthood. They would have a relationship with the One who was the head of the kingdom. But Israel lost that opportunity because they didn't want what God wanted. As a result, they never arrived where God intended for them to go. But we can arrive where God intends for us to go because we do want what God wants."

Today's Prayer: "Father, thank You for what we experienced today in worship. Thank You for meeting us there and allowing Your Spirit to manifest Himself among us. Thank You for allowing me to have the privilege to lead such a wonderful people. Thank You for surrounding me with a supporting team who loves You with all of their heart and mind. Continue to mold us and shape us into the church You desire. Thank You for the privilege of prayer that penetrates earth's realm with Your kingdom. We pray, Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We invite You into the mix of our problems, pains & predicaments. We ask that Your will, Your way and Your work will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We invite Your sovereign power to manifest in our earthly suffering and circumstances. Use us for Your kingdom purpose and plan. Teach us how to become Your ambassadors. Help us to learn to surrender our will to Your will, way and word. We recognize that we will never pray effectively unless we move in the power that You give through Your presence. We desire Your kingdom to be done in our church, our homes and our communities as it is in heaven. Thank You for giving Your Son for a ransom for us. Make us during this journey into a powerful, prayerful and purposeful Church!! In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Day 6 "Navigating the Danger Zones"

We are approaching the end of week one and there is something special happening within our church. As we come together and pray daily for our families, church, fellowship and community. Just a few suggestion as we pray together each day @4pm for 4 minutes for 4 things for 40days. I've made it a practice to call the names of each of my family member down to my grandchildren. With a short request for each from a parents and husband standpoint. As I pray for our church I pray for the spiritual, numerical, and financial growth. Then I pray for our fellowship asking God to strengthen our love, worship, study, ministry, fellowship and sharing. Lastly I pray for our community each day focusing on a particular area such as law enforcement, Arm forces, School board & teachers, medical personnel and so on. Just allowing God to lead me through His Holy Spirit. 4X4X4X40 (@4pm, 4mins, 4 request, 40days).

Thought for today: "Some people are crisis 'pray-ers.' The don't pray for good health until they have poor health. They don't pray for safety and protection until they have an accident. They only pray when things go wrong. Once you understand the power and authority you have in prayer you will fine yourself praying all the time about everything and before bad happen."

Prayer for today: "Father, teach us the discipline of prayer, daily communion with You. You said we should pray without stopping. Help us to fall in love with dialogging with You. You want to hear about our dream, desires, wants, needs, hurts, pains, questions and doubts. And we want to hear what You have to share with us as our heavenly Father, who knows everything before they every exist or happens. Give us your heart so that we may please and server You. Thank You for telling us who we are and where we are going. Thank You saving our souls and giving us new citizenship. For writting our name down in the Lamb's book of life, that registered us in heaven. We are excited about our heavenly home which is grounds for the authority that we secured through Jesus Christ by putting our trust in Him. We claim the victory over the work of darkness and submit ourselves to Your will! Father, move among us as we seek to worship You in spirit and truth in our worship experience this Sunday. Help us lift holy hands, sing songs, dance in disappointment for deliverance, wave in worship, testify to the truth and watch You work among us. During these next 34days continue to transform us into a powerful, prayerful and purposeful church so that we will bring glory and honor to You holy and precious Name. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Day 5 "Driving Under His Influence"

In the words of Jamie Fox, don't blame it on the alcohol." Ephesians says "don't be drunk with wine but be filled with the Spirit...when we pray we ought to pray under the direction, anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. Are we praying under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit? Maybe that's what the "old church" meant when they talked about prayer not getting passed the ceiling. If our prayers are to be effective as the writer of James shares when must pray in concert with the Holy Spirit.

Thought for today: "Jesus always moved under the Holy Spirit's influence. His disciples observed that. They personally witnessed Jesus healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out demons and performing miracles. They also saw Jesus go privately and pray often. They recognized that Jesus had a source of power they didn't have. They obviously knew there was a connection between power and prayer because they didn't ask Jesus to teach them how to have power but Lord, teach us to pray."

Today's Prayer: Father, Thank You for allowing us to participate in these 40day of prayer. Thank You for already changing us in ways we never imagined. We are growing through our daily time with you and our reading. Infuse us with Your power. Help us to be empowered by the Holy Spirit who is our Teacher, Helper, Guide and Companion. Move us to invited Him to be in the driver's seat of our lives so that He can guide us where we need to go. Teach us to pray with fervency and passion. Teach us to have love and compassion for others, even those who are hard to love so that so that our prayers are rightly motivated. Again, we pray that You will make us a powerful, prayful and purposeful church. In Jesus' Name Amen!

Day 4 "Unleashing the Power"

Would that the people of Greater Bethel learn how to have this kind of faith. The church is the place where people should find healing for their hurts, a shoulder for their sadness, a friend for their failures and a word for their worry. What happened to the time when people prayed for each other? A time when the members of the church prayed and interceded for each other. A time when church was a one big family. I would that the church would return... To the old landmark. I know that sounds funny coming from me but there are somethings that the church should never get to big, educated, sophisticated, technology astute that we leave prayer out.

Thought for today: "The Holy Spirit is the one, who by His presence flowing in our lives, generates the power in us. When we pray, we are opening an avenue for the release of His power. The Holy Spirit brings the power of God into our lives and enables us to be conduit of it. We become like a lightning rod as we transmit the power in prayer?"

Pray for today: Father, You have taught us that Your power works through faith-fill people who pray. Teach us during these 40days of prayer how to become people of prayer, believers who pray and a church that understands the power of prayer given to us. Each and every day we encounter people who feel worthless, useless, purpose less, a failure and no good. Those whom play those old tapes over and over and over in their heads. Let our Greater Bethel be a lighthouse. Let our church be a hospital. Let our church be the family one needs in order to find the love they need. Set free those who are bond by the hold of the enemy whether it is emotional, physical, spiritual, financial, or social through the prayer of the church. You said that if we touch and agree you would hear and answer our prayers. Unleash Your power in us, for us and through us. For Your glory and honor. Again, we pray that You will make us a powerful, prayerful and purposeful church. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Day 3 "Starting The Engine"

There are some things that just go good together: peanut butter and jelly, cream and coffee, cake and icing, tea and sugar, batman and robin, long ranger and tonto, chris tucker and Jackie chan and the list goes on and on. Today we learned that the power of prayer and the power of God are divinely connected and goes good together. There a scripture that came to mind as I read our book today Romans 8:26-28 26 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. 27 He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. 28 That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. Romans 8:26-28 (MSG) We are simply spitting in the wind if we are trying to become a powerful people and a powerful church without the Holy Spirit.

Thought for Today: “Have you ever wondered why there are good people who love God, read His Word, and pray, but they don’t see His power move in response to their prayers? Their lives don’t seem to affect or change the world around them for God’s kingdom, and so the world looks upon their faith as being irrelevant. Often the reason of that is many people don’t understand the need to ask for the Holy Spirit’s power. God’s power is made available to us in order to do two things. One is to accomplish God’s purpose here on earth. The other is to give evidence to people around us that Jesus is alive but we cannot do either if we attempt to pray without the Holy Spirit.”

Today’s Prayer: “Father, we recognize that all three persons of the God head are vital in our walk to please you. You have invited us to call You our “Father.” You have given us the privilege to pray in “Jesus’ name.” And today, You have given us not only the keys to the kingdom but the power of the kingdom in the “Holy Spirit.” We desire desperately Your Holy Spirit so that our prayers will be powerful but more than that, that we would even know how to pray. We don’t know how to pray. We don’t know what to pray for apart from Your Spirit. Infuse our prayer with Your Spirit. Teach us! Lead us! Remind us! Revive us! Renew us! Restore us! And refresh us through Your Holy Spirit. Even rebuke and remind us of our sins so that we can be cleansed and that nothing will stand in the way of You blessing us, using us and lifting us. We receive a fresh anointing of Your Spirit so that we can accomplish Your purpose for our lives and to be Your witnesses in this world. Give us the words to say so that we can become a powerful, prayerful and purposeful church in our community. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

Day 2 "Finding Your Keys"

Today, it took everything in me not to keep on reading...it was powerful! I know that many of you felt the same way but we must remember that part of the power of our spiritual growth journey is unified consentrated focus (our goal is one prayer, one voice, one church, one vision).

We achieve this goal by:

(1) HEARING together all 7 messages that I will be preaching,

(2) READING together from our chosen book,

(3) PRAYING together for our church, leaders & community,

(4) INVITING together a few friends to attend worship & pray with us,

(5) DISCUSSING together what we've learned in a small group setting,

(6) REMEMBERING together a weekly verse & BRINGING together our tithes & offerings to God.

Jesus prayed that His followers would be one as He and the Father are one. So as tempting as it is don't allow the enemy to get us out of step. I'm proud of you!

Today's Thought: "There is very little power in the key that fits my car. The car engine has power, but it does not come to life without my key being put into the ignition. In other words, I don't have the power to go outside and get myself going 60 miles an hour, but I have access to a resource that can get me moving at that speed. Jesus said, I give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19) Keys represent authority, privilege & access! Keys give you the legal right to the car. In the same way, because Jesus gives us the keys of His kingdom, we have the right to come before God in the power of prayer" Pastor Jack Hayford

Today's Prayer: Father, You have given us the keys to the kingdom. That give us authority, privilege and access. Some things will not be turned around unless You turn them around. Some things will not be turned on unless You turn them on. Some things will not be set free unless You set them free. Teach us to release the power of prayer. Thank You for the right to come before You in prayer. Make us into a powerful, prayerful and purposeful church...in Jesus' Name, Amen!

Day 1 of 40 days of Prayer

Today we embark on a brand new journey that is surely going to transform our church, families and community. A friend of mine who has been very supportive of me for some years and have been a confidant during the darkest period of my life shared the story of David and said maybe it time for you to take the fight to the devil rather than him taken the fight to you. It was those word that sparked something in my spirit. I had been allowing the enemy to beat me down without me evening protecting myself or even throwing a blow. The next forty day we will claim God's promise that upon this rock I build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail. God wants too build our church. He wants our collective prayers so that he with is mighty hand lead us according to his will.

Today's Thought: "I found out that if I wanted my prayers answered, I didn't just send up a list to God as though He was a great Santa Claus in the sky. There was something required for me. I had to get my life cleaned up and set on the right track. I needed to be reading the Word of God and living in obedience to God's ways. The good news was that I didn't have to make it all happen by myself. The Holy Spirit in me would teach me all things and enable me to live the way I should. Understanding the Holy Spirit was the key to seeing the power of God move in response to my prayers." Stormie "The power of a praying church"

Today's Prayer: Father, make us a people of distinction, loving, caring, enlighten, full of life, purpose and clarity. show us how to distinguish between our sin which we are responsible for and the enemy's plan to destroy us, which is not our fault, then reveal to us how we will triumph victoriously over the plans of evil and fulfill your plan for our life instead. Let our church be one that overflows with new life. Pack our sanctuary full with people of all, colors, ages, sizes and shapes. Set the pulpit on fire, select the music, scripture, sermon and prayer. Allow those who come in to feel a strong, loving, comforting, healing and freeing presence. Cause the Holy Spirit too be so thick and soul-stirring that we worship you the way you deserve, demand and dictate. Make us into a powerful, prayerful, purposeful church. In Jesus' Name Amen!

Watch and Pray

Each day brings about another opportunity to learn and grow. Well, today I learned how the enemy leaves for only a season "When the devil has finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time" Luke 4:13 (NIV). Directly after Jesus was baptized in the Jordan my John the baptist the Bible said He was lead by the Spirit into the wilderness. Tuesday, August 3th I delivered my annual address to the East Zion Consolidated District Pastors and Ministers Conference. Directly after I was blind sided by the enemy. I've always been very careful after ministering God word to protect my heart from attacks by the enemy. Normally, people really don't understand what it takes to stand and share God's Word. After delivering the Word a preacher is at his most venerable state and is subject to the enemy's tricks and skims. Protect your pastor/teacher after he has been under the Spirit of God. Man and women of God beware of who talks, touches and drives you.

Silence of the lamb

Silence of the lamb...one of my favorite movies. I haven't figured out why I have use this blog for my own sociologist session. Maybe because I've been hurt so bad by people I trusted. Only to learn of the betrayal. Maybe because I really don't think anybody even cares. Maybe I just don't have the guts to let another back-stabbing two-faced fake friend in to betray my trust one again. The last two year I've been hit with a lot...I can't even to begin talking about it. It’s beginning to take its toll. My only Solis is when I stand to teach and preach. I'm tired and I want to quit life! Is that possible?

Picking up the pieces is how I feel today. After such a tough year I'm struggling to put it together. Each day is a fight to keep pushing. It’s easy to give up and/or throw in the towel. I'm not a quitter and I'm determined to make my way through this valley. Through Christ who gives me strength.

My First Entry for 2010

All I can say is what a year 2010 has been.

Have you ever gotten tired of the struggle and fight of the race? I mean if it isn’t one thing it’s another. One problem turns into another problem, one situation turns into another, one long night turns into another. How does one survive without becoming bitter and become better?

That was MY dilemma…Yes, even the Pastor, the spiritual leader and the local theologian has the same fights, fears, frustrations, problems, pains and predicaments as those in the pews. For some reason this is the misunderstanding that the pews have about preachers/pastors. I’m sorry to be the one to put to rest that lie. We don’t always have it together. We don’t always have the answers. We don’t always make the right decision. We don’t always know the right spirit, know the right scripture and know the right step. For some who read this blog this is going to cause a mental mystery because we sometime sit in the pew of our local church and think that the personality in the pulpit has life all figured out. NOT TRUE! The particular calling on your life doesn’t exclude you from living in the real world. Family issues, financial issues, frustrating issues and future issues are things that all of God’s children have to face. We’ve all heard that we put our pants on one pants leg at a time or if one is cut regardless of race, religion, or creed we all bleed red. So how does one survive life’s hardest hits without becoming bitter and still hold on to our heavenly Father?

1. Hold on to God’s unchanging hand! Hallelujah! (God is the same today, yesterday and forever more.)
2. Hold on to God’s unchanging scripture! (The grass withers the flowers fade but his WORD will stand forever.)
3. Hold on to God’s unchanging family! (We are a part of God’s holy huddle and should bear one another burdens.)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone! My prayer is that 2010 will be your year! That you will realize your dreams, recapture what you've lost, revive your life again and regain those things that are important.

FAITH is my word for this year.

One thing that I have found is that the more I think I know about God's Word, the more I find out that I don't know. And, through the years of studying His Word, there are still some things that are hard to believe.

That's where faith comes into play. In spite of human resistance; faith latches hold with Heavenly acceptance, and believes that God said what He meant, meant what He said; and, He offers no disclaimers at the end.

In spite of all that God has revealed in, through, with, and by His Word, there are many Christians who still refuse to live by faith, but choose to live by facts. If I could put it this way, every believer must be a Christian; but, not every Christian is a believer.

Not every Christian takes what God has said in His Word and deposits it into the bank of faith. Someone has wisely said, “All that believes is not faith, and much of what is being called faith today is not faith at all. Any day now someone is going to sue God for breaking a promise.”

Faith doesn't require that we understand it; it only requires that we STAND UPON IT! In verse 6, Faith is DEMANDED. Verse 6 is the crux of the chapter. It is the hinge on which the rest of the door of Hebrews 11 swings. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

In other words, if you and I are to have any hopes of living lives that are pleasing to God, then faith is not a luxury, but a necessity. We cannot please God without faith. We cannot know God without faith. We cannot serve God without faith. We cannot approach God without faith.

God has wonderful things in store for you...I can't wait to see it. Be Blessed!!!!